[Outlands] The heart of her problems [Wildcard]

[Jade Alanon]

Third Cycle of Optia, Season of Summer

Traveling in the outlands wasn't normally a brilliant thing to do, especially for a young woman that traveled alone in the early darkening. Jade hadn't been sleeping well as of late, nightmares of her victims kept her from truly sleeping well, her heart crying out with each life she took. Nymira heard her sister crying in the night, could see the pain that she felt but she was denied entrance into her sister's mind, into her very dreams. Zinn'Sunn was a place of beauty that held mystic power deep within it's grounds, ancient wisdom lay all around and appeared to those the spirits and gods deemed worthy. Jade had come here once before, finding the Stone Lantern shrine and learning more about herself, about her past and such.

At her side was Nymira in her Virkyn form, watching around them carefully, it was dangerous enough coming out here in the brightening, but it was even more so in the darkening, spirits and creatures roamed the outlands, not that Jade and Nymira were defenseless, far from it really. Jade clutched her staff in hand as she always did, her bracers in place and her dagger Aganadara in her small leather pouch. She wore a black strap across her body beneath her light green cloak, small compass rose shurkins snug in the pockets but ready in case she decided to use them quickly. Jade was a warrior and was often ready for anything, fighting was how she worked things out, but when it came to her nightmares and such, she was frustrated because she was defenseless against them and always would be.

Odd sounds could be heard all around them and while they seemed to frighten Nymira, Jade was unafraid, she didn't focus on the sounds for her mind was elsewhere, focused instead on her dreams and deep thoughts. She found a stone jutting from the ground and took a seat on it, taking the blade from it's pouch to look it over. This weapon was made from her own flesh and blood and harbored her anger and lust for revenge inside it, giving it a sort of life to it, a heartbeat. Aganadara was apart of her and she felt odd not carrying it with her, one reason she took it everywhere, but she had no formal training with it in this life. She had been a bladesmaster back in the Sanguine times, blades had been her life, but now things were different, she was different...wasn't she?

Aganadara had been made for one mission, to end Jerack's pathetic life, the fire was meant for him, the passion and strength Jade had placed in the blade had been meant for him. He would breathe his last breath with the dagger embedded in his ribs, his blood staining the ground as he died looking up at Jade, then at last her family could rest in peace, she could rest in peace. Nymira stood at attention, her dark eyes watching around them as the last bit of light left with the suns departure, the moons hidden behind clouds, leaving them in darkness for the time being.

[Wildcard]

Warming up to it's owner like a freezing reptile, Aganadara enjoyed the body heat of Jade's pulsing skin. The weapon seemed to change shape each and every day, given the mood of it's master or the tension in the air. Today it was sleeker, more refined and glowed brightly along the center of it's body.
The dagger did not beat with life of it's own, but amplified Alanon's mood swings and posture. It felt malleable to her touch, but when it decided to cut into any object other then the Sanguine, no diamond was harder. Her own chest beat loudly though, and Angadara was the bloodhound. Motioning her forward, the dagger tugged at the woman's fingers as if demanding she push in the direction it suggested.

Peering through a bamboo forest, Jade cound make out the crest of a hill beyond her gaze. Sitting stoically beneath the sway of green staves was a kemite male. He appeared to be asleep, or meditating while resting on a rock clutching the hilt of an worn katana. His features were young, stern but self aware with a single scar running from his topknot hairline through the left cheekbone reaching the jaw. Wearing a traditional white kosode combined with a matching black kataginu and hakama, the man sat alone in peace; blinking an eye undisturbed should any stray insect decide to land upon his brow.

As the assassin's gaze caught the kemite's outline, Aganadara almost leaped from her hands demanding she pursue a course of action that would draw herself deep into the wilds of Zinn'Sunn and towards this young male. Presently, Miss Alanon had several directions which looked appealing, but none that drove her magic bloodbond like that one. There was a small creek that bent and twisted towards the east, which hinted at a larger body of water. While behind her a black tailed heron stood silently in a grownover ricefield, posing majestically on one leg. Another option would be to head back to the great city and ignore the urges of her dangerous debutant. Who was in control, and who was the slave? What did her new found killing instrument want.. why did it so venomously demand an audience with this calm warrior? To discover the potency of the blue blade, perhaps by temporarily granting it's request she could discover more about the nature of it's needs.
Calling softly, the heron flapped it's wings, arching a long kneck to scratch behind.

[Jade Alanon]

Each time Jade took out the beautiful dagger, she noticed that it looked different, she was sure of this now, for the dagger had taken on a sleeker, more refined look, glowing in the center of it's body. It was beautiful and deadly, much like it's owner, both really just tools to kill. Jade had never so much as cut her finger on the blade, sometimes she didn't think it was possible, she had her bracers and had nicked herself on their blades as well as the shuriken blades she owned, but her own blood had never marked this blade, it was almost like the dagger didn't want to cut her. Aganadara was a mystery to Jade, it hadn't really been explained to her by the Question Stone, she just knew what it was for and how it was forged.

Jade was surprised when she actually felt Aganadara motion her forward, tugging at her as though she was to move in the direction Aganadara wished. Nymira watched her sister with some worry, but decided to simply watch her, she would follow unless asked not to. She stood slowly and walked to where the blade pointed, she pushed through some of the bamboo in front of her and peered through, all she saw was the crest of a hill, what was so important about that? She realized then that what was on the hill was what Aganadara wished her to see. Jade studied the man sitting so stoically on the crest of the hill, his eyes closed as though he were sleeping or perhaps meditating. He was a kemite and by the way he looked to Jade, he was a warrior much like her.

Jade started to move back, but gave a small cry as she felt Agandara almost leap from her fingers, as though it was demanding an audience with the meditating warrior, but why? Jade held tight to her weapon and looked around before she actually made a decision on where to go, she could go whever she wished really, though her blade continued to drive her towards the warrior, something Jade wasn't sure was a good idea, she had no idea his skill, his temperment, and whether he even wished to be disturbed. She knew how it was to want to be alone during meditation and how irritating it was when you were disturbed, but she had to understand why Aganadara pushed her in that direction.

"Everything all right Jade?" Nymira had to voice her concern as she came beside her sister to look over the man as well. Jade snapped out of her thoughts and smiled, nodding her head. "Stay here while I go speak to that man, but keep your eye out in case something occurs." Nymira didn't like that plan, but she nodded and sat on the ground to watch, Jade could feel that she didn't like it, but was glad Nymira was being unusually docile that brightening.

Jade moved through the bamboo forest to begin to walk towards the hill, the staff clutched in hand, she placed Aganadara back in her pouch so she didn't look threatening, though he would probably be able to sense the predator aura around her, most warriors could. She moved up the hill, not tiring easily since she was well conditioned to withstand long distances, she had no idea exactly what she was going to say the man, if she would say anything at all, but she wished to listen to the desire of her blade, see if it had reason. She came to the top and looked over to where Nymira watched, seeing her dark eyes in the distance and feeling safer knowing she had her sister nearby. She came to stand next to the meditating warrior but said nothing, just watched him, he would be able to feel another's presence nearby and would he move from his mediatation to speak with her?

[Wildcard]

Sapphire blue sky offset the vibrant emerald stalks of bamboo before her. The forest floor presented a clear path over unearthed rock, rich dirt and dead leaves. A wind rustled the culms round the Assassin, knocking hollow into one another with modest restraint. This forest's sense of serenity and solitude could not be frequently matched, with hints of branches above adding to the spacious ambience.
Leaving her sister with a look of reassurance, Jade strode beneath the timber, placing the catalyst of her latest adventure safely away. Arriving closer, Alanon observed the rigidity of the sitting figure's posture, the even flow of his breath, and the subtle sense of confidence exuded from every angle of his limbs to jawbone. The human held between his open palms, the naked and glisteningly sharp blade of a stark katana. Every poise and intention of the young male was focused into his sword. There was something reverent and majestic about the way he sat, unmoved by the presence of Jade Alanon.

Silence was peace in stalemate. Neither party moved, if Jade was waiting for something.. this figure was not. He did not move or respond to any imposing threat from above... only breathed in and breathed out. Again and again as sunlight filtered down over the skin and clothing of both strangers present.

Aganadara was not at a loss for words, it pressed the momentum of the female's hips forward, driving through her satchel. It's tip glistened with the strength and willpower of steel, using Jade's startled motion to throw it's self passionately towards the man's forehead. Considering the Assassin had any sense to stop the weapon, it's surprising power moved even swifter then good intentions. The weapon did not fly, only strike subtly using the force of her waist to slingshot the gap between them.

Looking down, the kemite was not there.

Only a single blue dagger, which had imbedded it's self in the ground, seething...

Over her left shoulder, Alanon heared masculine words trail just behind her head, and the edge of something very sharp grace her kneckline. The flicker before it all happened, she had the shortest space from which to prepare a defense as Nymira was still within eyesight.

"Death chases no matter how many limbs I cut."

The blade broke skin and drew blood.

"Speak your intention, so that I may judge the purity of it's weight. Do not falter."

The male voice contained little anger. It spoke with calm determination, devoid of levity.

[Jade Alanon]

It was odd that Jade would obey the pull of her weapon, it should have been different, Aganadara should have been obeying her, for she was the weilder...wasn't she? She had doubts on who exactly was in control with each tug of the blade, leading her towards the warrior sitting in silent meditation, she wanted to assert her dominance, but she also wished to sate the curiousity she felt towards the mysterious blade, if that meant risking her life in the wilds of Zinn'Sunn to speak with the warrior, then that would be what she would do. "I don't know about this Jade..." Jade brushed her hand against her bondmate's head, reassuring her that all would be well before pushing through the bamboo.

She watched carefully as she moved closer to the warrior, while she didn't want to fight him, she viewed him as an opponent just the same. In Jade's odd world, you were either an enemy, an opponent, a friend, or an aquaintance, none of which really gained much trust in her eyes, Nymira was the only person in Jade's life that she trusted completely and totally. She could feel her bondmate's eyes upon her as she waited, though she wasn't sure what exactly she was waiting for. Now that she was closer, she was able to look him over a lot better, see his weapon closer, Jade admired other fighters and their styles, but there was something amazing about the way he was so focused and silent.

Jade wanted to, but she couldn't bring herself to disturb him from that peace, she half wished she could attain such a level of meditation as well. She thought too much to attain such a thing, too many worries and she had another mind connected to her, thoughts running into hers, her mind was too chaotic. Neither she nor the warrior moved, neither spoke, Jade was tempted just to leave the man to his meditation, she felt just foolish standing there waiting for something to happen when nothing was obviously going to happen. The sunlight shone on her brightly, but the breeze that passed through from time to time kept her from getting overheated, though some of the heat she felt was from Nymira, poor beast was unable to escape the heat in her Virkyn form.

Did Aganadara wish for her to speak with the man or did it wish for her to....

Jade didn't get much time to finish that thought before something completely unexpected occured, Aganadara, that remained in her satchel, somehow pressed her hips forward, helping it to drive through her satchel towards the warrior. She realized now that Aganadara didn't wish for Jade to speak with the warrior, it wished to sink it's silver tip into his body, taste his warm blood dripping over the blade and the hilt. It had a bloodlust that even surprised Jade, watching almost helplessly as the dagger sailed away from her, trying once to grab hold of the blade and cursing when she missed. Calling it back did nothing for it was following it's own desire it seemed, damn weapon was such a mystery to her and now the man was dead...

No he wasn't...Jade had looked back at the spot where the man had been and realized that he was gone, he moved so fast that she wondered if he had truly been there. Aganadara had missed it's target and now lay sticking out of the ground, seething at the miss. She wanted to pick up the weapon and leave, but she didn't dare breathe much less move, for at that moment, she felt a blade pressed against her throat. She didn't bother to panic because she knew who was behind her and if he killed her, she knew why, he believed that she had attacked him and in a way she had.

She felt a surge of panic coming from her sister, two hearts beating as one in fear that they would be killed so easily, if Jade died, Nymira did as well. Nymira growled deeply in her throat as she took a few steps forward, but halted, this man was quick and he knew what he was doing, he would surely see Nymira coming and kill Jade before Nymira even got a chance at him, dying was not an option.

His words meant something yet nothing to the Sanguine, she understood how it was to have Death at your heals, not that she could say such a thing. She tensed as she felt his blade break the skin, a bead of blood running down her throat, though she gave no sign that it hurt, pain was nothing new to her. She kept her body incredibly still, barely breathing so his blade didn't bite into more skin. There was no anger in his demand, it was as though she hadn't just tried to kill him and really, she hadn't, Aganadara had. She needed to be careful with her words.

"I assure you that you will find no purity with anything that comes from my mouth. While I didn't seek your demise, my weapon did." She spoke calmly, as though a blade wasn't held against her neck, if he didn't like her answer, then she would die, easy as that, nothing she or Nymira could do about it.

[Wildcard]

As a rolling drip of sanguine blood touched the figure's blade, it shimmered and split creating a cascading note of singular clarity.
The weapon stayed.

"That is quite humorous as now my sword wishes to return the service."

Waiting in the space and time between two beats of her heart, Jade's words showed the conviction of her inner calibur. A strength that carried through the katana as it finished the cut lightly, was wiped clean and returned to it's guard with care.
The face of the kemite was close now, it was angerless and calm.. containing a resolution and inner soundness that was hard to stare into for shame of the viewer's own irresolution by comparision. Jade held her own, but felt her body take one step back. The dagger calling, like a twisted child.. Tempting.

"Do not listen to the object. Use this."

The warrior flung the young woman a square piece of what appeared to be black lizard skin.

"Wrap the tool. Clear your mind while performing the action."

Looking over his shoulder, this young man swallowed saliva.

"Your dog moves closer, it will perish."

His words were succinct and direct like the weapon that bore his ability. Shadows of leaves forced the strangers to squint in a soft afternoon light, while the single male quietly shifted his weight and placed a smooth hand on his hilt.

"I am considering you are as the others that still live. Witless to the strings and machinations that sway their hands. In service to She whom I will not Name. Hmph. Again and again she seeks to tickle me from beyond...."

Turning his back to the woman, the resolute figure began to walk away.

"Have pleasant dreams, I'm sure we will be seeing more of each other."

The stranger's gait was slow and even, brushing Nymira without a passing glance.. if the assassin wanted more answers, they would need to pried.
Though considering Jade chose to stay and deal with her disobedient dagger, no one would stop her. The smell of incense wafted over the hilltop, with it carring the faint resound of prayer drums. The three combatants were alone only in the compulsion of their defenses.

[Jade Alanon]

Jade cursed herself and her weapon for getting her into such a situation, Jade should have been more careful, she knew this man had been no one to mess with even before she approached him and yet still she proceeded. Aganadara had gotten her into this and while the young Sanguine was still annoyed with the weapon, it only intensified her curiosity about the blade and it's properties. How could a weapon have a mind and will of it's own? Was it because it had been forged from her own skin and blood? Injected with her emotions and convictions? Fueled by the fury and rage drawn out by Jerack, the primal need for a raw form of justice dealt by her hand alone?

So many questions in her mind even as she was held with a blade against her throat, the blade already having taken some of her blood and possibly would take more before the brightening ended. Nymira felt helpless as she watched her sister being held there, but she felt a certain admiration for her elder sister at how she reacted in the situation. Jade was calm, even under the surface, her heart wasn't racing, her thoughts were calm, it was Aganadara that wasn't the calm one, Aganadara was pouting.

Jade was brought from her thoughts and questions by the warrior speaking, his words not angry or threatening, speaking pure fact, almost monotone really. There was no taunts, no laughter at her mistake of going after him. Jade could see how her explanation sounded quite odd, what weapon worked without a weilder behind it calling the shots? Aganadara was special, Jade knew this even if the fighter didn't. She waited to see if the man would allow his sword to take vengeance for the attempt at his life, at least she wasn't being killed by a Rhasic.

Jade found her breath once more when the sword moved from her neck and was returned to it's sheath, despite being momentarily free, Jade made no move as of yet, not wishing to do anything to get the sword back on her or through her as the case might be. Jade looked up into the Kemite's calm face, no longer feeling threatened, he had spared her life, for now anyway. She felt her foot take an involuntary step backwards, completely on it's own. Looking back, Jade realized why she had done so, her dagger was summoning her, wanted her to dislodge it from the earth. It was strange but Jade felt tempted to obey her weapon and pick it up, but the voice of the Kemite brought her out of it, throwing something towards her.

Jade caught the black piece and examined it carefully, it looked like some sort of lizard skin, wait...How did this man know the blade called to her now? There was something about this man, a reason Aganadara had led her to him, whether Aganadara actually wished her to speak to him or just gut him, she couldn't be too certain. Instead of arguing though, Jade did as she was told, taking a deep breath and doing her best to clear her mind, just as she had done when she had gone to the place where this blade had been forged. Clearing her mind was not easy, but she did so, reaching down and wrapping Aganadara in the black lizard skin carefully.

The Kemite spoke again, saying words that actually scared Jade, the Sanguine nodded and looked to Nymira, making sure her sister understood not to come to them. Nymira didn't like it, but she wouldn't put their lives further in danger by tempting fate, she would remain where she was...for now. Jade was certain that he knew nothing of the connection between the sisters, but no sense in taking any sort of risk when she was sure the Kemite could carry out his threat.

Jade arched a brow when the warrior began to seemingly ramble about some woman, he couldn't mean the Sanguine, there was no way. "I don't think I am who you think I am," she commented softly. "I've no idea who you are and had nothing against you or your life," she doubted he would believe her, but that wasn't really her problem if he didn't. Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears as the man turned his back on her and began to leave, there was a chance for her to escape and chastise Aganadara for nearly getting her killed. She let out a breath and looked over to hear him speak, she was sure they would again as well, it was just a feeling, but she was sure he was right.

Nymira stayed right where she was as the stranger passed by, she didn't growl or make any noise, she simply watched the man move past her, there was no fear in his gaze, he was completely calm. Jade watched as well, her need to know just who this warrior was, how he knew about Aganadara and just who he thought she was, it was all burning inside her. She needed to know now. She started off towards the warrior, following behind him, she felt almost foolish that she was following after him, but her curiousity was too great to ignore. Nymira started to follow as well, but Jade shook her head. Nymira probably should hang back, just in case. "Wait.." She called out as she tried catching up. "How did you know about Aganadara, that it called to me and how to restrain it?" It probably wasn't the way to get her answers, but it was all she could ask.

[Wildcard]

Continuing to walk with his back to the young half-elf's words, the slim warrior's kosode danced under the laughter of a cold breeze. The man said nothing, only placed one sandaled foot over the other, letting the crunch of dead bamboo leaves be his answer to the echo of questions perhaps expected. Slipping down around a bulbous stone face, the man seemed lost in the severity of his own features, quiet yet focused beyond any present surroundings.

"Your eyes. When you close them and imagine.. what color are they?"

The strange question seemed out of place or straight forward in a round about way.. The figure almost smiled as the side of his skull breached Alanon's line of sight. Turning past a bend in the forest path, Jade could hear the drifting force of rushing water and saw a rickety wooden bridge slip into view. The spacious hillside dropped below the horizon line as the swordsman stepped closer to a rise of heavy trunks that held the taunt walkway in place.
A small shrine covered the ajacent pillar, candles and sweet lillies devoted to the stone likeness of a singular crane. White cotton scarves touched the kemite as he passed this tiny altar without a glance.

"What if the things you deserve and take as your own never were.. what if all this time, the strength you feel was an absence.. a loss.. a sick dependancy on something to perfect to be blameless. Imagine yourself without that power... does it scare you? Perhaps it should.."

The man mounted the swaying bridgeline without help or shift in balance. As he touched the midpoint high up above churning dark waters and frothing suds collecting round stone, a figure appeared. This startling outline was dressed in flamboyant red with a haunting face painted like some sombre theatrical actor. The steady top knotted kemite smoothed his dark kataginu and almost smiled.

"Hmmph."

Moving forward without another word, Jade could see the outline of four other strangely clad figures clamber up the treeline towards the edge of the cliff closest to her. One sported a broken straw hat bent from some previous blow, while most of the troupe had their makeup and clothes smeared, torn and tattered.. It was as if some group of mediocre actors had lost their way in the woods cycles ago, finally making contact with wild eyed cannibalistic gazes that locked hungrily beneath their piercing glazed over pupils. The singular swordsman stayed silent, waited.. rocking gently on the fragile twine miles above any form of safety. Abruptly the far ghostman raised a bloody axe in salute.

"Stand and Deliver!"

The bastard's voice trailed with the venom of a singing python... sickly and skewered. Saying nothing, the kemite she had followed stood his ground.. arms locked on the hilt of his sword but no blade had yet been drawn.
The sanguine's position put her abruptly behind the four long haired and ravanous bandits.. if that is what they were... Each one had a special weapon of their own, including a petite female with two sai locked under a white cloth sash.

What did these fiends want.. It was a question worth asking, but perhaps one not valued to answer as the price could become her very life.

[Jade Alanon]

Jade wasn't too sure just why she had chosen to follow the man that could have so easily killed her, was it because she felt that he held some answers to her mysterious dagger that had wished to take his life? Was it because she thought she could learn something from him or was she simply being foolish? A breeze picked at her hair as she followed, her boots crunching over the ground, she had no doubt that he knew she was following, even before she had uttered a word to him, she didn't exactly expect answers to her questions, though she would have greatly appreciated some.

There was so much she didn't know about her blade Aganadara and the man seemed to know a few things about the disobedient blade, but would he be willing to part with those answers or simply tantalize her with wisps of knowledge?

His question startled her, she had expected some questions, but not one like that. "How foolish is that, my eyes are green." She answered bluntly, perhaps insulting the man wasn't clever, but the words parted from her lips before her thoughts caught up. The sound of water reached her elven ears and she looked around, seeing a worn looking bridge nearby. A hillside dropped out in and out of her view, it was a beautiful place to look but she couldn't figure out why the Kemite was heading this way. Only when she caught sight of a shrine did she realize and wondered if perhaps she should let the man along to worship whatever diety he served. However, he didn't halt at the shrine, he passed right by it as though it wasn't even there, which either meant it wasn't his shrine or he didn't want to go there at the moment. "Come back Jade." Her sister called, but Jade was too wound in her curiousity to heed her sister.

At first his words were cryptic, but she began to realize what they meant, or what she thought they meant and nodded. The thought of being in this world without her strength and power frightened her a good bit, she had worked hard to attain this level of skill with her weapons, to be without it now would be sickening. "I'd rather not imagine myself without the power I hold." Despite her words, her mind began to wonder to just that image, damn the man.

She watched him begin to cross the bridge, her foot had barely touched the first plank before another figure made themself known, between Jade and the Kemite. He was a warrior, with his kataginu at his side, he looked like a ghostly warrior, with the paint that his face harbored, it was disturbing and yet in some strange way, almost comedic. The Kemite said nothing nor did the Kemite Jade had been following, did the two men know one another?

More people began to appear, clambering forward so that they would join their leader, all dressed similiar to the warrior, though their clothes were tattered and their make-up smeared. What exactly had Jade stumbled upon by choosing to follow the Kemite. She saw the look in some of their eyes and was nearly startled at the maddened look in their eyes, which immediately put her on alert, clutching her staff tightly and watching, in case one or more came at her. But for now, their attention seemed on the Kemite that dangled over the water without any form of escape or safety. Despite this, the Kemite remained calm.

Four savages stood before her, their backs to her, though she was able to study them individually, taking notice of each barbarian and their chosen weapons. A female with two sai stood nearby, but just because she was a woman didn't mean she was the weakest of the group, Jade knew this from experience. A cry rang out, the voice was sickening to hear, she felt her whole body just tense at the sound, the whites of her knuckles showing as she readied herself for a fight. But should she enter a battle that had nothing to do with her? It wasn't her business and should she choose, she could walk away now, but no, Jade Alanon didn't run from a battle.

Being that the petite female was closest, Jade chose to strike at her first, hoping that she would have surprise on her side and she would be able to try and even the odds by taking out a few of them, the Kemite still didn't bother to panic nor did he draw his blade, he just seemed to be waiting for something. Jade raised her staff and moved to bring it down at the apex of the female's neck and shoulder, trying to disable her quickly without killing her if possible. She had Aganadara in her bag, wrapped in the lizard skin, but she would bring it out if she felt the need.

[Wildcard]

Leaning into the bend of the bridge's sway, the unnamed swordsman did not faulter. Even with the muted thud of a painted player hitting the telath behind he remained unmoved. Jade Alanon knocked her targeted opponent down with one blow, watching the girl crumple like a doll before the three others turned to face her brutal opening assault. Watching from a distance, these events seemed to break the pale faced axeman's momentum as his long white wig trailed into the wind's breath. The stoic kemite warrior only blinked in silence.. without even turning a shoulder to assist. He felt a light tremor, then all involved felt a strongly violent one that almost twisted the length of the wooden bridge completely horizontal. Still the lonewolf remained, undetered even by gravity.

This uneasy earthquake gave Alanon just enough time to make a return swing of the staff breaking the jaw of an actor brigand so hard that his fake trailing mustache blew into the canyon as attrition. With the backswing leaving the right shoulderblade of the half-elf vulnerable, a fiendish figure masked as a long nosed tengu arched a spiked chainwhip round his attacker's lower right calve muscle with a cry. The two others were lost rushing headlong the calming expanse of the dangling bridge searching for trouble. With only a single flick of the right wrist, the first eager player was left with a final soliloquy while holding his guts in hand. A second strike from a sword left him holding his head too.

Suddenly a thunderous bellow from the dark canyon below lifted the bridge so high that the whiplash almost snapped it on both ends. Holding on for dear life, the second rushing bandit gripped the rope handle with screams of sheer unintelligible terror. The swordsman only stayed the course.. looking back at the shrine with a venomous glare.

"What are you hiding Shoban.. More then prayers have fed your god... I will burn your temple to the ground as I have your brothers under the Garden.. come to me faithful one, let me bestow upon you the fate long sealed and longer awaited."

Bleeding from the eyes like tears, the red clad bandit's fresh grin held the depths of insanity. He lifted his arms to the heavens like a wild demon..

"RRIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

The world errupted at every seam with a rumbling deep enough to shake the very suns from the sky. Jade Alanon felt severe pain dig into her chest like an invisible talon..

Dear gods what had the power to crush her without even a touching glance...

[Jade Alanon]

Jade marveled at how the swordsman could keep calm in such a situation, he was stranded on a bridge with a bunch of murderous people in front of him, how he could keep from unsheathing his weapon and killing them, she didn't know. Her attack had been unexpected and knocked the woman to the ground, her body crumbling and her weapons laying close to her, she wasn't dead but she wouldn't be of any use for the moment. The others turned to see who took down their comrade and she tensed so she could attack these men as well, she didn't fear them, despite their ghastly appearances.

She didn't care if the warrior chose to help in the fight, she wasn't fighting to defend him, she fought because the odds weren't fair and she chose to even those odds, once the others were taken care of, she would leave the warrior and the kemite carrying the ax to their fight. Jade's heart lurched when she felt the ground beneath her tremble, it was small at first but the second that followed was so violent that the bridge looked like it would break. Even with the tremors, the warrior remained stoic, well at least he would die calmly, Jade wasn't about to stand around and let herself die. She used the tremor to her advantage, taking the time to strike out at the other kemite's. The end of her staff struck the one man's face, breaking his jaw with a satisfying crack, the fake mustache was blown right off his face. The look on the man's face was priceless as he fell to the ground, they were dealing with one that knew how to fight and had no qualms about breaking bones or even killing if it came down to it.

Jade had been foolish in looking away from the other fighters for two long, spikes bit into her calf muscle and she cried in pain as the blood began to drip down her leg, the bastard would pay for this damage. She turned to regard the bastard who's weapon was wrapped around her leg, her attention not on the other fighters that were dying. She moved to strike at the actor but was stoped by a great below from below, it was near deafening and Jade could finally see that she had gotten herself in over her head by choosing to follow the kemite warrior that interested her so much. As much as she wanted to kill the man, her attention was turned to the voice that bellowed at the warrior, finally gifting Jade with his name. Shoban.

The bandit was clearly mad as he spoke, she couldn't see his face but she didn't have to, she could tell that he was insane as he threw up his hands and cried for something to rise. Jade's emerald eyes were wide as chaos ensued, the ground was no longer safe as it rumbled and trembled, Jade fought to keep her balance, but that wasn't the worst of it. No, the worst was the pain that was inflicted on Jade. It wasn't the pain of the whip around her calve muscle, it was an intense pain in her chest, it felt as though talons were digging into her chest and tearing into her, gods did it hurt. Despite how much she tried not to, she screamed out in pain, Nymira could feel the pain as well and so she too was crippled, unable to aid her sister against whatever she was facing. How could Jade fight an enemy that she couldn't see?

[Wildcard]

Snapping like a Vysstichi matron's patience, the rope bridge severed two of it's limbs from the bellowing onslaught of breath and noise. Jade Alanon became knocked to the ground but stayed steady enough to give the eccentric rogue a good kick to the kneck. The Tengu faced assailant clambered atop of her body after the last sudden quake, wrapping his serraded chain over and around the young hazel haired female's kneck. He was going to choke, then cut the unlucky traveller's throat clean open like a fountain of blood.. but First.

The hunched actor lifted his limp leg towards the crested cliff, and with a silent grip tossed the half-elf over as piece of baggage. Holding on to dearest life by the squeezed and near punctured space between her lungs and the sky, Jade felt the sharp links cut her hands with ease as she attempted to support her twirling weight by both arms. Swinging back and forth above an empty precipice, the assassin's thoughts were captivated by the sheer height of such a moment.. tethered to the telath by only a sharp hair while crying out in the physicality of pain. Nymira could hear the scream both through the bond they shared and through her ears.. sharing in the sensation as the virkyn's entire length of body hair stood up on end.

Below two groundless feet lay a chasm so deep, their master could barely make out the form of a churning river amid rapids and heavy stone. Rising now like a swift blink came a truely immense monster. This was first and foremost two mouths, wide open with as many teeth as sins and as many scales as mummified cadavers hung from the planks of wood and cord. They seemed to know it was feeding time, and this brand new guest would become the duel headed monstrosity's first fix.

Staring below his own sandled feet, the lone swordsman lowered his weapon, letting the black sheath fall from it's steel, to bounce off the mass of hide and yellow jaundiced eyeballs. The reptilian pupils bore red hunger, and it's six matching nostrels imitated the skull of a dragon but heavier with slanted girth and unsymmetrical spikes. The heavily breathing creature panted evenly on it's slow approach, with six sleek arms fanning out to grip at all rocks which would assist it's ascent. A long double spined tail whipped out crashing into porous stone to amplify this tension and ready it's desire to feast, while a ribbed and fanned kneckline arched out indicating aquatic ancestry.

Both knecks vibrated evenly like plucked strings as another striking bellow lurched Jade's uneven captor over the darkened cliffline then down towards the beast below. This pair of predators looped round and round in midflight.. Jade and Brigand; only to hook swiftly onto the edge of a lowered precipice. Dangling end to end, the masked actor kicked at Alanon's lingering form, hoping to use her struck momentum to lift himself up and over before either jaw could find him.

The Assassin was in a spot of trouble.. If only Nymira could fly.
The studded chainlinks dug deeper into the girl's narrowed kneckline. Darkness would take her oh very, very soon.. It was just a dream of sweet breath and of sharpest fang. Letting go would be simple. Effortless really.. to let it all


go.

[Jade Alanon]

The pain that dug so deeply into her chest continued as she lay on the ground, knocked over from the tremors, gasping for breath over the pain and trying her best to fight her invisible attacker. Nymira was close to panicking where she was, unable to bring herself to get very far without stopping to gasp herself, but she was determined to get to her sister somehow, she had to be with Jade. If they were going to die, they would die together, that was Nymira's only request to the gods as she slowly inched her way to where Jade was.

Jade was in a haze of pain, so she was unable to stop the warrior whose serraded chain was wrapped around her calf muscle from climbing over her near limp body. The chain dug deeper into her muscle with every jerk of the earth below her, tears bordered the edge of Jade's eyes but being the warrior that she was, she fought them back, she wouldn't allow tears to fall during a battle, only blood. Screams of pain echoed from Jade's throat as the Tengu wrapped the serraded chain and around her neck, Jade was a tough woman and it was hard to make her scream, but never had she been in as much pain as she was now. Any lesser woman would have been tempted to give up and surrender to the dark claws of death that reached to them at this point, but Jade was stubborn and she had a duty, she couldn't be killed off merely because she had been foolish in a decision.

Jade was weaponless, she felt foolish for this because she had been taught to keep a handle on all her weapons. During the tremor, her staff had been knocked loose from her hand and Aganadara lay on the ground nearby.

Her screams were cut off as she began to choke, the blades cutting deep into her neck, the man wasn't aiming to cut her up first, no that death would have been of mercy and the Tengu obviously didn't have a merciful bone in his body. Instincively, Jade brought her hands up to try and remove the thing that was obstructing her breathing, the serraded blades cutting into her calloused hands, pain seemed to be the only sensation that Jade could feel as she lay on the ground in a pool of her crimson blood that only got larger the more she struggled to fight against her assailant.

The Tengu seemed to realize that choking her wouldn't be as torturous as one could get, so he changed his mind on how he would kill the woman that had attacked his other comrades. He got a good grip on the Sanguine who continued to try and fight back and quite easily tossed her over the side of the cliff were all Aeternia was breaking loose with the rising of some creature. Jade didn't have time to think, the serraded chain was still wrapped around her neck and if her neck didn't break from the jerking stop, the blades around choke her to death as she dangled over the cliff, no she had to do something. Her cut up and bleeding hands gripped at the blades, the blades cutting savagely into the skins, marking them forever if she got out of this alive. Despite the excruciatiing pain that Jade was in, she was able to grap onto the chain and support hersel