Damsel in Distress }{ Hero or Bad Guy?

[cordana]

Two fiery orbs from beneath the piece of cloth seemed to gaze at the the large man. She was wondering why the girl stayed with him. Was she being manipulated by the foul beast? Or was she just one of the many other demon worshippers. The last option was immediately ignored. If that was true then the girl would have some residue on her from fel energy.

Slowly Cordana stepped forth, from the shadows into the light, appearing in full in front of the two in front of her. In her hands she was holding her Elvish curved longsword. The air around the elf seemed to crackle with demonic energy. The smaller plant-life around her seemed to have their life-force drained away as they slowly withered.

"What are you doing with this girl, demon?" Cordana said with a cracking voice, speaking in demonic. The sound of her voice seemed to be from another world. "Surrender her now and I'll let you go." she continued in the strange language. Slowly she pointed her sword towards the man. Strangely the man didn't react. "I said surrender the girl, demon."The elf now said in the common language. To empower her words, she let magic flames envelop her free hand. "Now." Cordana added on a calm, serious voice.

[skuggflamma]

[glow=GREEN,2,300]ANIRA MORELA[/glow]

"Please, don't let me go with her... please don't make me...She looks evil." The woman looked ...scary! Ofcourse the human girl was afraid. Anira stayed hided behind the trunk. Darn, why did this happen now? She was still naked under the cape, and her dress still not dry...

[Talwyn]

The only reaction Tal showed to the demonic was his eyes narrowing even further. He had NO idea what the woman was saying. He was worried about her sword however. His skin basically served as light armor, but really fine swords could still cut through it... and the womans sword looked like it was a really fine sword.

When she finally spoke in the common language Tal laughed. "You of all people don't have the right to call me a demon. Besides, the girl asked me to help her get home safely and I gave her my word that I would."

Hearing Anira plea to him to make sure she didn't have to go with the woman, he turned his head slightly. Enough to look at Anira, without losing sight of the strange woman in front of him. He gave her a friendly smile in an attempt to calm her down. "Don't worry Anira, I promised to take you home didn't I? And I don't go back on my word."

Turning his full attention back to the woman he muttered a quick incantation under his breath. It was so soft, not even cordana would hear it. "Gnomus, custodian of earth. I beseech thee, let the earth below me skewer those who oppose me."

He didn't release the spell yet, he just kept it ready to unleash it at a moments notice. "As you heard, the girl has no interest in going with you, nor has she asked you to stay. So either leave, or lower your weapon and neither of us has to get hurt. But I warn you woman! If you try to lay even a single finger on the girl I swear I shall cut you down."

His voice didn't sound hostile, he merely stated his honest desire to protect the girl.

[cordana]

The sword was being held high while Cordana's left hand grabbed the hilt. Slowly she steadied her legs and made sure she stood balanced. She wondered for a moment why the man looked so confused at the demon language but she shrugged it off.

Still when her target called her a demon she frowned. A creature like him calling her a demon? How absurd. "I'll gladly give up my elven form if it means I can stop your kind." Cordana looked at the girl in the back, gazing with fear. It was quite normal people got frightened. Still she seemed to feel confortable with the man. It was most likely she is under a spell. "A demon giving his word? Preposterous! You have no such thing. you can claim to be a noble creature but my sight allows to see you how you really are. The demonic aura betrays you."

Suddenly Cordana saw in a disturbance in the magical streams. The one in front of her was casting a spell! "Trying to suprise me with a hidden spell? It won't work, demon." She said on a calm tone. Suddenly the tatto's on her body started glow and suddenly, while a sudden shock could be felt trough the earth, Cordana's body was surrounded by a shell of crimson flames. Now she looked even more dreadfull. "Last chance." She said.

[Talwyn]

((OOC: Sorry Skugg, but to keep things going slightly, I'll post ahead of my turn))


Demonic aura? So thats why she didn't trust him at all. Not only did he look like he did, his aura had been turned demonic as well. And how did she manage to figure out he had readied a spell? Those thoughts and more were racing through Tal's head. He didn't look like it, nor would he ever admit it, but this woman made him doubt his ability's.

Well, first things first, he needed to calm her down and show her he meant no harm. "I'm going to cancel out my spell now, so don't startle and do something you might regret."
After he said that, a sound like fizzling electricity could be heard and Tal's left hand tensed up as a small bolt of blue energy ran across it and fizzled out.

After that, he grabbed his sheath with his left and slowly placed his sword back in it and raised his hands in the air to show her clearly he was unarmed and meant no harm.

"Now, you called me 'demon' three times already." He said the word demon with contempt. "And I wish you'd stop with that. I might not entirely look like it, but I am in fact a human being. Now, cancel out your magic and sheath that sword of yours so we can talk, like civilized beings. That way neither of us has to get hurt in what seems to be a misunderstanding."

[cordana]

The few moments when Cordana was waiting for the demon's response seemed to last hours, while it was just a few seconds. The man seemed to think something trough. The dark elf wouldn't be surprised so she tightened her grip on her sword.

Eventually a strange thing happened. The man in front of Cordana tried to reason with her? What an awkward thing to do for a demon. Slowly Cordana saw the magical energy, that the "demon" had prepared, disappearing. Just as he promised the spell was undone.

Then the man sheathed his sword, slowly, while the mutilated eyes under Cordana's cloth kept watching him. Was he mad? He was unarmed and he raised his hands in the air.

Had she made a mistake? The man clearly had a demonic aura but he acted like a normal human. Of Course this could be a demon trick but still. Cordana gave the man a short nod and slowly the crimson flames disappeared, leaving a trail of smoke behind around the dark elf. With a graceful movement was her sword sheathed on her back. "Speak your tongue and tell me what you have to say. But remember, my sword isn't the only deadly thing on my body." Her clawed fist clenched and her spiked tail slammed into the ground.

[Talwyn]

((Again, sorry to go ahead of turn skugg but yeah =\ ))

"I suggest we make camp then. It is... not an easy tale to tell for me..." He turned his back to Cordana, another sign of trust, and walked over to Anira.

"I am sorry, but I cannot escort you home right now. Your dress is not dry yet, and even if it was we wouldn't reach Tamasha before nightfall. Also, you said you wanted to wash it to avoid questions, I can assure you that walking into town alongside someone looking like her, you'll get questions. And she seems intent on hearing my story so I doubt she'll leave us in peace until she does."

He walked passed her and turned to look at her once more. "I'm really sorry. You're free to join us of course and then I'll escort you home tomorrow morning. Otherwise, I'm afraid its goodbye."

He snapped of a nearby branch, and took a spool of wire from his pouch along with a fishing hook. Quickly making a simple fishing pole, he started to dig for worms. He hoped Anira would decide to stay. He had already realized she seemed to be a curious girl so maybe the temptation of hearing his tale would be good enough for her.

[cordana]

Nodding at the man's suggestion, Cordana followed him, still being very cautious. Afterall she was being invited to the campsite of a could-be-demon and his worshipper or hostage. But then this could be a misunderstanding. What if the demonic aura had another cause? Either way she would find it out.

Slowly the dark elf stept forth, taking up every aspect of her surroundings. Luckily it was an open area, for a forest, and there were many openings between the trees. Cordana heard the man talk to the female. The tone in his voice was quite suprising, either he was a good actor or the dark elf made a mistake.

Then when the man went for his pocket, Cordana grabbed the hilt of her sword in a flash. Then when it appeared to be a fishing line she slowly let go of her sword. Inside she was chuckling to be so paranoid but another part of her said to be better safe then sorry. She observed the man while he was fishing but slowly the golwing orbs glided to the female. After a sigh Cordana decided to break the silance. "My name is Cordana Sarayn. What are your names? If you have any that is." Inside Cordana wondered why she would give them her name. She shrugged it off thinking it was not important.

[skuggflamma]

[glow=GREEN,2,300]ANIRA MORELA[/glow]

While the demons were busy with one and another. She grabed her dress, pulled the clothing over her head, even if the still was soaking wet. She dropped Tal's cloak to the ground. Anira backed, then turned and ran. Leavning both monsters behind.

~Gone~

[Talwyn]

Tal felt a pang of regret when he noticed Anira running away. Well... thats what I get for thinking someone could actually like someone like me. Still, it was the girls choice and he didn't dwell on it very long.

"I go by the name of Talwyn Greyoak. So stop being so distrustful elf. I told you already, I'm a human... Ah there we go! Thats one." Taking it of the hook he slammed it to the ground to kill it. Putting a new worm on the hook he looked at Cordana. "You really don't trust people easily do you? Well either way, mind getting some firewood? And while you're at it, look for some thin sticks to hold the fish over the fire."

Turning back to the river, he threw the hook in. "I'm not going anywhere. I gave you my word that I'd explain my story and like I said before I keep my word."

[cordana]

Cordana saw the female go away. It seems it became to much. What would happen to the girl, wasn't of Cordana's concern. The abandoned trade route was just a few clicks ahead she it was most likely the girl would get out safely.

The elf listened to the man while he was fishing. "Being distrustful allows me to be alert. It is what makes me able to survive." When dealing with demons one cannot trust his own eyes was something that Cordana learned. Though she didn't had that problem anymore. Slowly her hand went across the bandage.

When Talwyn asked her to get some firewood Cordana just stood up and leaped high up into a tree. After a few moments, some thick branches fell down. The impact created a small dust cloud. A moment after that Cordana climbed down, with some thin sticks being held in her tail.

She threw the sticks on the ground and looked at Talwyn who was still fishing. 'I hope your story shall be worth all this. " Cordana pulled her sword out partly and then sheathed it, just to check if it was still drawable.

[Talwyn]

Tal remained silent until he caught his fourth fish. After stacking the firewood, he started chanting again. A small globe of flames appeared in his hand which he casually tossed onto the wood causing it to ignite. He quickly prepared the fish and placed them around the fire.

After that was done, he sat down near the flames and stared at them, lost in thought. This was not a story he liked to tell. After what seemed like an eternity, he took a deep breath and finally spoke, though he kept staring at the flames. "You call me a demon, and say my aura is the one of a demon... Sadly you are not entirely off the mark. I am a chimera. A magical creation composed of multiple creatures. The creatures used to make me where a rock golem, a regular human being and... a type of lesser demon known as a Varlg Demon."

Having said that, he absentmindedly grabbed the fish nearest to him and checked if it was done. Noticing it was, he took a bite and seemed to give Cordana a few moments to let what he just told sink in. Before she could ask anything however, he continued his tale. He told her that he was born 20 years ago in a small village near Tamasha, and how he had always been more adventurous then the other children. Making it clear that even at a young age, the road and the promise of adventure had called to him causing it to be no surprise that he, secretly, left his home town at the age of 14.

He explained he met, and joined, a group of adventurers and learned how to handle a sword from one of them. His voice turned into barely more then a whisper when he told her of how he was the lone survivor of the bandit raid that decimated the village he and his friends were protecting. And how from that single event he developed a craving for power and strength so that he would never again have to see his friends and innocent people die.

Throwing away the grates of his second fish, he took his canteen and took a few sips of water. Fire suddenly started burning in his eyes when he continued his tale. "It was then, that I met Anexar Bluewind. He is one of the most powerful mages I have ever seen. He took me under his wing and promised me power if I would aid him. Naturally, and foolishly I might add, I agreed without a second thought. Anexar taught me the basics of shamanic magic. The practice of calling upon the power of the elemental spirits in order to use magic. However, this wasn't enough for me. I wanted more, and I wanted it then and there. Anexar knew of a way to give me the power I sought and was more then willing to give it to me in exchange for my servitude."

Tal went silent again after this. After a minute or so he took another sip of water and sighed once more. "Back then, I thought Anexar was honorable and just... Though I am not sure if I would have hesitated even if I knew the truth. Either way, I agreed without a second thought and without even thinking to ask just how he intended to grant my 'wish'. And so, Anexar started casting a spell. I blacked out from the pain shortly after and when I awoke I noticed what he had done to me. Naturally I wasn't happy about it, but a deal was a deal. And while I might not be happy about how he did it, he had done his part of the bargain. It wasn't until some time later that I learned the truth... I had been nothing but a pawn and experiment. I had, unwittingly, gathered items he intended to use to summon a powerful demon lord to this world. Endangering the world is not what I had agreed to, so I felt that I was finally relieved of my oath and managed to stop him, though I failed to kill him. I have been wandering ever since trying to find a way to return back to normal."

Having told his entire tale he remained staring at the flames. His eyes showed he was reliving his story and he had been pretty detailed about everything, except as to how he managed to stop the mage from summoning the demon. His eyes had shown those memories where even more difficult to deal with then the rest of the tale.

[cordana]

Cordana sat down next to the campfire, which was ignited by Talwyn's magic. She already knew that he could use magic, though it seemed he needed to cast an incantation first. By looking at the magical energies around the fire Cordana could see it wasn't demon magic but from nature itself.

Patiently Cordana waited till Talwynn would start his story. She gave him the time he needed, it would be only fair of her to hear the man out. When he told her that he was a Chimera Cordana started to frown. The aura of a Chimera was much different. But perhaps there was an explanation for that.

She didn't know much about chimairas, it was one of the other studies it was forbidden on the academy and Coldana never took much interest of it. It was fascinating though. It was the first time she ever heard about such a spell creating such a result. Most chimairas weren't intellectual creatures. In fact you were lucky to have one that is viable.

Anyhow Talwyn continued with his story so Cordana didn't give it anymore thought. When she heard that Talwyn loved adventure at a young age Cordana smiled a bit. A long time ago she was like that to, when she was young. It was so long ago the memories had already turned into shadows.

When Talwyn told her that a village, which he and his band were protecting, was raided and destroyed she rubbed her chin. If she was to sentence him on the end of the story she needed to remember every detail. Still the chance of him being a demon had already gotten very small.

The man in front of her was eating of the fish but Cordana didn't show any interest in them for now. The story was more important. Then the name of the wizard he named did ring a bell. He was one of the most notorious demon worshippers in Valear and Cordana was craving for his head for five years.

Cordana listened to the rest of Talwyn's story. The fiery orbs gazed at Talwyn from beneath the cloth. The elf was thinking, the silence between the two seemed to last for an eternity. "Talwyn..." She started. " It seems the demonic aura around you is a residue, from your former master. It threw of my senses which made me accuse you, and I was mistaken." She reached out her clawed hand. "I hope you can forgive me for any problems that I may have caused and I hope I can make it up to you."

[Talwyn]

Snapping back to the present he shook Cordana's hand. "I have no idea what the cause of the aura is. I am no expert in those matters. When you told me I merely assumed it was yet another legacy of my demon part. And don't dwell on it... I am used to being treated with suspicion and hostility."

He seemed to hesitate slightly before going on. "When I mentioned the name of my... 'benefactor', you seemed to recognize it. Whats your connection to him?"

[cordana]

"I have been tracking Anexar for the past five years, as he is a threat to this world if he succeeds. While I'm hunting demons I always try to find a lead towards him." Cordana grabed her own fish and took a great bite from it, then spitted out any grates.

"I almost had him two years ago. I found one of his hidden labs in Ularian Ridge.The bastard lured me into a trap. All the exits were sealed and eventually the whole building started to collapse." Cordana frowned. "I haven't found him since."