An adventure (Back-track RP)

Intyalle · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 12:35 am Post subject:

Tel'Erusva gave the girl a wry smile in return. "You'll find soon enough that being practically the same person makes for a degree of effeciency above and beyond 'a good team'. Well, in some cases, anyway. In other cases we just drive each other mad. Erm... madder, that is. You can't really call anyone with quite this degree of split personalities sane to begin with. Especially not when one of those personalities does little besides sitting there grinning and nibbling herself."

Meanwhile, Kathcantavaria gave a small smile of amusement at the display the lionman before her was putting on, and her tail twitched slightly with the same emotion. "My name is Kathcantavaria, or Varia for short. And truly, I find that panther form seems to appeal more than lioness on the whole, I don't know why. Cheetahs are good, too, but only in a large open space. Panthers deal with tight spaces much better."

"Now I believe I shall display one of the strongest parts of Our nature - curiosity. And, on second thought, the desire for honesty too," she told him. "You started to say something else before you said Leo. What was it, and why are you hiding it from me? I assume it is your real name, from the context. I can think of few reasons to hide such, and not all of them are good."

Leonardo495 · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 20

Leo was, again, awestruck with the lioness. Her name was as beautiful as her face, as it was complex and fluid along Leo's tongue. Her full name seemed to come naturally to him as he repeated, "Kathcantavaria" and grinned brightly, his white teeth and fangs glaring brightly.

In her introduction, she brought forth the attention of his previous jumble for words. With this he scowled at himself, and his voice almost immediately took a sharp cold shift. He glow abruptly ceased, and the lustre of his fur and almost his entire aura dulled. He felt the world collapse and turn grey and lifeless around him. A monsoon and tsunami of depression, regret, shame, and anger flushed and crashed around him, swirling all his happiness and joy down a black drain of no return.

He stood there in his sadness, and looked up at the lioness. With the faith and warmth he had left, he choked up a reply in desperation to not leave a conversation as cold as himself, and to leave the person in conversation feel awkward.

In a dark, cold and deep voice, he slowly replied, "Ruisine"

He sighed in a withdrawn and surprisingly patient matter, and continued, "That is my name. The name Leo covers it, to say what I look like, not what I am."

"Ruisine," he shivered at the name, "is the birth name that was given to me. In my native tongue...it means 'Disgrace'."

He clenched fists with his paws, digging his sharp claws into the rough, calloused palms of his paws, drawing small drops of blood, which ran down along his knuckles, and dripped down into small pools beside his pawed feet.

He desperately sought recollection for his first impression with the lioness. He choked back tears of anger and distress, and looked at her in her cat eyes, waiting patiently for a response, attempting to calm himself from his episode.

In a sudden shock of regret, he quietly whispered, "Sorry" and lowered his head in apology.

Intyalle · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

"I apologise for bringing up a painful topic," Varia said. "But I beg to differ on the count that Ruisine describes what you are. You must have had truly cruel parents to give you such a foul name at birth, for truly no babe is in itself anything at birth. They must become something as they grow, and you will only become a disgrace if you believe yourself incapable of anything else."

She paused for a moment, thinking. This poor half-lion needed a morale boost badly, and a new name too. Leo was a rather boring name, truly, inadequate to describe this glowing half-feline, but carrying around a name that meant 'disgrace' would lower anyone's self esteem. Varia flicked through what she knew of the Elvish language, the language in which Tel'Erusva had named not only herself and Varia but most of them.

"Ruisine is not a good name for you, so I shall give you another one. Romenraa, Sunrise Lion. I feel it suits you much better."

Leonardo495 · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 20

With Varia's kind words, the dulled aura surrounding the regaining half-lion began to deminish, along with the sadness, pain, and all other grey, black and blue feelings with it.

He spoke, now without a lump of pain in his throat, "Romenraa," and pondered over the meaning, "Sunrise Lion."

At the thought highly of the name (and as his name no less) he began to glow fairly brightly. The shine the emenated from him began to rise to intense levels. As far as he could feel abnormal heat surge through and from his body. He felt lighter, stronger, faster, and most of all happier. He no longer was known as a disgrace or a failure to what he was.

The intense glow died almost as instantly as it came about him, but still clung and hovered around the now newly named, Romenraa. Through the sudden, and never before felt sensation, Romenraa's mane and other bodily fur as such transformed from the dark woody brown, to a bright lush shade of orange, much like the sunrise. His golden-brown fur remained unchanged. He faced Varia with confidence.

"Varia...Thank You," he smiled very warmly, "if there's anything in this world that you have shown to me is the unfamiliar feeling of happiness, and should there be anything I can do in return of this gracious favor, name it and it shall be done." He took a step back and bowed, "For now, I will dutifully join you on your crusade to the future."

Romenraa felt this was a little much, but in the end, he didn't care. He had never been happier. He had a name to be proud of, something to live for, and what more was that there was a sveltene half-feline whom he was forever in moral debt, standing before him.

Intyalle · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

"Frankly I'm surprised no-one got to it before me. Ruisine is a terrible name for one to carry around, and you deserve better, I'm sure.Now come, Romenraa," Varia replied, purposefully using the new name which had indeed done the job. "Let us join the others."

Kathcantavaria shifted to the full form of a lioness - it was less energy consuming to hold a full shape than a hybrid shape - and padded back to the others. Intyalle, who had been keeping mental tabs on the conversation, gave an approving nod. The impression of a similar gesture came down the links from Noldokuruni and Tel'Erusva, though Melanaur sneer at the simpleness of any being that could be so satisfied with a meaningless name and Eldalie's feverent disagreement with not being able to be born inherently anything also flowed down. Varia ignored those two - they had their own reasons for disagreement, but that didn't make them right.

Swix · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:29 am Post subject:

"Uh-huh" Nola said absently, rapidly losing interest in this back and forth semi-argument, it wasn't any fun any longer "so... where are you planning on freezing yourselves?"

Kalat saw a bright flash emanate from somewhere over in the crowds, and stared at the lion like creature, now standing out, who had briefly been the centre of it all with narrowed brown eyes. Kalat was usually the one to keep an eye out and protect Nola, hence his earlier actions. Not for himself, but for her benefit since she'd shown him kindness when they'd first met.

Intyalle · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

"We don't know," Tel said. "That's why we're going on this expedition."

Noldokuruni returned with the others in tow. Eldalie was ungagged, but still had her hands tied behind her back. She was glaring at Melanaur. Agarwala was untied but, for now, placid, aware that the time for her to feed on violence may yet come soon. Insanity promptly sat down and started nibbling on herself as soon as they arrived, while both Minerva and SFNut just looked resentful at being dragged along. Again, they all looked exactly the same except for varying lengths of hair, styles of hair and clothes. Well, barring the clearly Elven Eldalie with cat eyes and pointed ears, who just like Varia was another not-quite-human personality.

Swix · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject:

"That's a bit strange" Nola said, her green eyes looking at them all intently "I thought you'd have found a spot already"

Kalat studied them with equal intensity, though he found his brown eyes drawn to the lion man constantly.

"Hey" he called to the other "you coming on this trip as well?"

Leonardo495 · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 20

Romenraa's ears perked, and his eyes gently peered around, and saw one of the teenagers he was following, whom had dark brown eyes, was eyeing his consistantly, and seemed to be gesturing to him.

"Me?" he replied confused, unsure whether this youngling was eyeing him, or anyone else in his direction.

He suddenly got this unhappy gut feeling when he saw the unfamilar (and what he assumed was a) weapon slung around his shoulder, and stressed unbelievably to hide his feeling of insecurity.

In assumption that the young one was talking to him, he replied calmly, "Yes, I guess I'm here to tag along." In which he swayed his long tail from side to side.

Intyalle · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject:

"Strange?" Tel'Erusva repeated, then laughed a bit. "I guess you could say that. But then, we're a bit strange. Personally, I thought it made perfect sense - after all, why would we want to make the trip twice?"

"Did you wish to come with us, or do you merely ask out of curiosity?" Intyalle asked lightly of the cat in front of her after a long silence.

Leonardo495 · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 20

"Personally, I'm a tad confused at the moment," the cat replied, "I don't know who's talking to who, or what. Yes, I am coming along. I have nothing to do, or live for, and everyone here seems friendly enough..."

He lightly shuffled in his stance, feeling like a vulnerable cub again.

Swix · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

"Make the trip... twice?" Nola repeated, scratching her red haired with a small hand as she considered what Tel'Erusva just said "that doesn't make any sense either" the mutant shrugged before grinning at the group "this sounds like fun! Where do we start?... Why do you have that one tied up?" Nola asked, clearly indicating Eldalie by pointing.

Kalat nodded his brown haired head at the lion man at his question of 'Me?' before he answered, nervously, Kalat noticed. Then Romenraa turned to talk to Intyalle and the next question Kalat had for the creature died on his lips. He shrugged his large shoulders and turned back to keep an eye on Nola.

Intyalle · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

((Wrong cat, Leo. I point everyone's attention to the cat that intruded earlier, that Intyalle stepped back to address. Anyway, now to grab a few more characters to save.))
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"Not you," Intyalle said with a wave of a hand for Romenraa, though she kept her eyes towards the cat before her.

"I agree it doesn't make sense," Tel'Erusva said. "That's why we didn't do it - hence why you guys are along before we've found the place. As to why Eldalie is tied... well, if she wasn't she'd probably attack Melanaur until she was somehow diverted by an even greater evil."

"She has issues with evil, in case you hadn't noticed, and a very black and white view of who coutns as evil and how they should be dealt with," Melanaur piped up before returning to teasing the glowering Eldalie with a small firebal, a nasty grin on her face.

Meanwhile...

Aisha's tail flicked slowly side to side as she wached the group from the shadows nearby. They were an interesting ollection, all in all, and the identical bunch moved as a well-practiced group - clone sisters, maybe, comfortable wit fighting. No, not clone sisters... different enough to not be that. A couple even differed in base appearance, though not by a lot. Related, definitely. At any rate, if Aisha chose a target from among them she'd make sure the target was isolated first.

When she'd heard of the expedition, her curiosity had piqued. The Shadow Thieves were good, but stil a very small band ad unable to hold their territory against the better established thieves' guilds around. Maybe after 3000 years they'd be better equiped to shake things up - for starters, there wouldn't be five other guilds all keeping tabs on them already. Failing that, expeditions like this would attract lots of curious, ad lots of curious meant lots of opportunity to put her skills into play.

This made it her pet project. Earcutter, their leader, had decided he could do without his second in command for a while and gave her free reign to exploit the opportunity... except that she wasn't allowed to use too many veteran thieves. Of course, if she failed, Earcutter would also get her ear - and the position of second in command would no longer be hers. Tieflings weren't exactly welcomed with open arms much anywhere else, so Aisha needed the stability of her high and respected position in the guild.

Out of the 18 thieves besides her and Earcutter, Aisha had chosen three. Zane and Erica were new to the guild, but each was good in their own way. Erica slipped into shadows and tightspaces with ease just like Aisha herself, and was a good shot with a dartblower. Zane had knife fighting skills with the potential to rival her own one day and despite his heavier build, he still had the ability to float people's purses from their belts. Lightfinger was another skilled pickpocket, though also skilled with locks. Lightfinger may be less skilled with weapons than some other guild members, but he could hold his own in most fights.

Right now, Aisha and Lightfinger were keeping an eye on the group - Aisha could just see his form two buildings away, but only because she knew what to look for. Bad thieves didn't last long in the guild. Erica was next to her, ready to run messages between the two veteran thieves just as Zane was with Lightfinger.

Aisha motioned the girl closer. Erica and Aisha were not only similar in many of their specialties, but both were not exactly human. No-one knew exactly what Erica was, and no-one asked, but with her blue tinted hair and skin, it was clear she was something.

"Go tell Lightfinger to keep an eye on them. I'll set us up a den nearby, and we'll keep a watch on them to follow when they move out. Let him know he can feel free to milk some of this crowd, but to watch out for any other thieves with the same idea. Make sure Zane sticks close to him at all times unless running a message. Got all that?"

Erica paused a second to memorise it all, then nodded. "Yes, Shadowdancer. Where shall I meet you?"

Aisha grinned. "You'll find the den, sure enough, but if I'm there I won't need no messages run. Have some fun with the sheep as well, I'm sure you'll enjoy the sport."

With another nod Erica was gone, practically invisible as she slid from shadow to shadow. Aisha's eyes lingered a little longer on the group before she too slid away to find a good spot for a den in case they'd be staying a night or two in town. She'd rather not go all the way back to the guild den, which was some ways from here.

alakin1 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:30 am Post subject:

Muan rolled his small cat's eyes,

~I have a name, in case you don't know. Though come to think of it, you probably don't know it.~ The Felin stopped for a second to lick his paw clean, looking remarkably like an unremarkable house-cat. Satisfied that his paw was clean, he looked back up at Intyalle,

~My name is Muan, it means nothing, and I am coming on this trip, at least I believe I am, there is no particular reason for my not coming, is there?~ Without waiting for an answer, he suddenly narrowed his eyes in sudden suspicion,

~This freezing, it doesn't involve water does it? Or, indeed, freezing cold?~ He looked pensively for a moment, absently swishing his tail across the ground,

~Only I can't stand water, and I'm not partial to sub-zero temperatures, or really sub-ten temperatures to tell the truth, give me sub-tropical weather any day.~ He remembered what Intyalle had said, about how not all of them might survive or something like that,

~Then again, if we might all die I suppose it won't matter.~

Intyalle · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

"Cryogenic freezing," Intyalle clarified. "I'm pretty sure you're not meant to notice the cold."

"Which is good, cause we hate the cold too," Tel'Erusva said. Melanaur gave a big shudder at that point and made her fireball a bit larger. "We should probably get packing, and you guys probably should too. Meet back in, say, two days? At noon? Kathcantavaria and Melanaur can keep watch and tell any more interested people when to meet us."