RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Where the people from the towns can meet and interact
Wandress

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Wandress »

They did not, in fact, leave that night, nor did they leave the night after that. It was instead nearly a week before she had made the necessary preparations (though she certainly did not feel prepared) to leave. Though it was true that she did have much to account for before they could leave, the appropriate arrangements at the Temple had to be made for her absence, as well as her duties with the town; she herself knew that the long delay was procrastination, hesitancy to go on such a difficult journey. As the days wore on, she could sense Hephastion's tense impatience, his desire to get going sooner rather than later, quite opposite her own taciturn obstinacy. But she couldn't avoid it forever. One afternoon she returned to her cottage empty of excuses; Hephastion knew it as soon as she walked through the door.

She rather wished his delight at the outing wasn't so plain on his face; was at least a little reluctance in escorting her to the place of her ruin too much to ask for? The days were getting longer as spring stretched towards summer, and their evenings to travel would be getting ever shorter. They had some hours to wait while the sun took its time sinking towards the horizon, and only when it was well hidden and the sky tinged a dark orange did Hephastion deem it safe enough to leave. They were quick in shutting up her cottage, though in truth she had not much to take. The small bits of furniture were rough and certainly not valuable, nor were the few kitchen items or the strings of fresh herbs she had strung up to dry. The rest of her belongings she carried, either in the small bag slung on her back or on her person proper. Once the last window had been shuttered tightly, they shared a silent glance before turning to follow the north road.
Hephastion

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Hephastion »

He felt a pang of guilt as they left her cottage, but it had been a week since she had agreed to leave and longer since he had told her of his plans. He could almost forgive her for delaying so long, but he had began to wonder if she was trying to hold out until the nights were so short that he would be limited to only short periods, not enough to travel by. His mind had went over that possibility on his hunts in and around Bravia while she slept.

As they left the town, the Mountains in the North were still visible and only a couple of days travel away, if they managed a good pace through the night they could be at the foothills before the sunrise caused him any problems. It was here he had travelled from before he returned to Paz, the same night he had met Wandress, and now fate had them returning to her Glen together.

It had been a few years since he had seen the coast on the other side, having spent the last few travelling and drifting in the realm of Bravia before making the decision to return South. The mountains they were heading for stretched from the East of the Bravian Peninsula all the way to Cork and eventually levelled as into the border of Fenia, a place he had not been in many years, the same road he and Modius fought on that fatefull night.

He knew of a few places they could stay over, some would be to her liking and some...well he just hoped she could cope for one night or day, given the natives were a little less than welcoming to outsiders, most of whom ended up never being seen again.

He still had a feeling she would turn back for the first hour or two, but as they passed the outskirts of Bravia and the stars began to fill the deep sky, he could feel her relax, although he still wasnt sure how to strike up a conversation, asking her if she was looking forward to to seeing her Glen was certainly not it. Instead he enjoyed their silence, and hoped she would begin a conversation....about anything.
Wandress

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Wandress »

The darkness retained the memory of the day's warmth, and the clear sky made their travel easy. The road north was relatively empty, they had met a few travellers just outside Bravia's gates, stragglers from Cork that hadn't travelled fast enough to make it before dark. They would be questioned intensely by the guards at the gate; there was always suspicion with those travelling after night had fallen, too many suspicious characters lurking within the walls as it was. Little did they knew the most feared character was strolling casually by Wandress' side.

They had gone about half-way to Cork before diverging from the road northwards. Hephastion had told her about the mountains far to the north of Bravia. Her own memories of her flight from the Glen to Bravia two years past was fuzzy, shock and grief had blocked out most of her travels, but she was sure once she got closer to the mountains her memories would return, and lead her to her old home again. The underbrush thinned quickly as they strode amongst the trees, the moon and stars above partially obscured by the twisted, budding branches of the canopy. Soon they would unfurl their leaves and shut out the sky completely.
Hephastion

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Hephastion »

The walk went quicker than Hephastion had orginally thought, Wandress seemed keen to set a good pace and the closer they got to the foothills the more enthused she seemed to get there. At this rate they would probably stumble on her Glen in a day or two, he hoped she was ready for it. He took thirty years to return to the place that haunted his dreams, she had barely let two years pass.

As they reached a small glen, the hills rolling away from them on either side, their horizon short, Hephastion began to lok for shelter for the day, the sun was still a couple of hours away from breaking the horizon but he didnt want to take a chance finding a place too late. The sound of bubbling water caught his attention as his memory of this place returned, he remembered a small over hang in the cliff. There was a waterfall whos sound became more apparent as they rounded the bend in the ravine.

"I remember this place, the sunlight doesnt hit that cave" pointing to a dark spot beside the waterfall, not sure if she could see it yet or not, this was one of the few places they wouldnt have to keep watch, at least when he was last here there was no immediate danger the local wildlife tended to avoid people, especially him.

As they entered the cave, he unclipped his cloak and offered it to her as a blanket, he had no need for it really other than for show, he had found out a long time ago that a man not wearing the appropriate attire for travelling led to questions and generally in his case more "Make yourself as comfortable as you can, i'll keep watch" he offered to give her peace more than neccessity.
Hephastion

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Hephastion »

11th May 1650

The first days travelling went quite well with Wandress, we made good time in getting to the foothills. She seems to be quite positive, but I hope she remembers what lies further in these hills. I barely survived and I hope she doesnt plan on going West, im sure the natives wont have forgot what happened the night I stumbled upon their dwellings in the caves.

As he sat at the entrance to the cave, listening to the waterfall, her soft breathing coming behind him, he pondered his journey through these mountains little over three years ago. The night playing most on his mind, he recalled with some clarity. A cave not unlike the one they were camping in now, but it went deeper into the mountains, and curiousity got the better of him when he heard movement and voices echoing through the caves. After a while he realised he had been lured and had been turned and led down tunnels he wasnt aware off. The sound of the water brought back memories of turning into a large cavern, even his own eyes were unable to see the cieling, but the size of the cave was the least of his concerns as he found himself surrounded by what he could only describe as ravenous beasts, human in form, but the similarities ended there.

Wandress stirred behind him, breaking him from his thoughts he turned to watch her stretch her limbs, blinking her eyes at him as she sat up with a smile Your turn to rest I suppose? as her eyes fell on the beginnings of the sunlight sparkling on the waterfall.
Hephastion

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Hephastion »

Not that he knew where they were heading exactly, but he was sure Wandress would tell him otherwise as they continued their journey into the Mountains. The treeline went quite high in some places, offering them or more likely him added shelter from the sun, which would allow them added time to make their journey. For the most part the hike was quiet, a few smaller animals scurrying from them as they approached, and Hephastion lending Wandress a hand here and there over some rough terrain. As they passed between two looming peaks, Hephastions eyes shone brightly as he scanned the rocky ravine, the trickle of water that was probably once a torrent and probably was during the rains distracted his ears. The pitch darkness in here wasnt all he was concerned about. Wandress could easily turn an ankle or worse on the loose rock beneath their feet, but he could sense something else but he couldnt place it.

Holding up a hand for Wandress to use as support, he suddenly froze, jerking his arm to tell her to stop moving. Turning slightly he could see her eyes wide as she searched the darkness. Leaning closer to her, he whispers "Whatever it is, it cant see us either....just dont move" but he had underestimated its hearing, as he turned back to scan the ravine again, his vision was taken up by a huge pair of wings and a thick set body heading directly into him. Too late to move, he quickly let go off Wandress and put his arms up to block it. The assailiant screeched a blood chilling cry as it thudded into him, sending him back into Wandress, both of them tumbling over the rocky floor.

His eyes bright, he looks up to see its silouhette circling over them both, his natural instinct was to give chase, but his mind turned to Wandress. He couldnt leave her on her own in this darkness, not knowing if there were more of these beasts ready to attack "You hurt at all?" his hand reaching for her shoulder as he helps her sit up.
Wandress

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Wandress »

Wandress brushed her skinned palms against her robes to loosen any dirt or stones that had buried themselves in her hands, hardly noticing the faint sting. With a soft intake of breath she embraced the Light, trying to suppress the torrent of joy that inevitably came along with it. She needed focus now. Their assailant had been invisible to her, hidden in the solid darkness surrounding them, and the treacherous ground made it nearly impossible to make a hasty getaway. She had held reservations on travelling on a moonless night, but Hephastion's confidence had won her.

"I'm fine. What is it?" she whispered to him as he pulled her to a crouch, her eyes searching the sky fruitlessly. The mountains were full of stories of creatures, curious combinations of fur and fang, tail and scales, hoof and wing, with multiple eyes, or no eyes, that have never seen daylight, or only live from dawn til dusk. Some myth, some legend, some horrible nightmare, and few knew any form of truth of it. Whatever creature this might be, she couldn't begin to imagine what it might be.
Hephastion

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Hephastion »

Shaking his head "Ive no idea, but its damned big" an unseen smile on his lips as he scanned around again. It must have taken perch on the cliff somewhere, only a few falling pebbles signalling its landing. Their one saving grace is it couldnt see, or at least thats what he thought for the moment, the one down fall was this ravine would flood with sunlight as soon as it rose over the Mountains.

His eyes scanned the cliff faces again, if they couldnt get rid of this thing tonight they needed to find shelter, at least somewhere they could defend against it. This was one pass he had never taken previously and had never come across these winged creatures before. Standing suddenly, he gripped Wandress' arm and pulled her to her feet "Run!"

The two of them stumbled across the shingle floor, Hephastion using his strength to keep Wandress on her feet on more than a few occassions as they closed in on the base of the cliff. His heart beating harder, he could feel the Vitae coursing through him as he tried to slow everything around them. No sooner had they reached a small out crop, Hephastion pushed Wandress aside, and turned to face the heavy beat of the wings baring down on them, this time more prepared for the attack "Use your fire Wandress!" knowing it was no harm to him if she did strike this thing so close to him.
Wandress

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Wandress »

She inhaled sharply as her shoulder hit against a tall boulder, rolling slightly pressing it against her back as Hephastion shouted. The darkness crowded around her vision as she hesitated, searching out her target against the sky - a shadow, movement, anything. She didn't want to accidentally hit Hephastion. After a moment she flung out her hand, hastily weaving Fire into a white glowing beam that shot into the sky. For a brief moment, the valley floor around them lit up, Hephastion's face a pale rictus searching for their assailant, though all she could catch was the rake of talons inches from her face.

Wandress dropped to her knees and pressed against the boulder at her back, trying to make herself less of a target, or at least more difficult to attack. Her claws raked out against the dark sky again, sending another bar of light arcing across the sky along the perceived path of the creature.
Hephastion

Re: RP - Chronicles of A Vampyr

Post by Hephastion »

Each time the light came the creature, black as the night screeched its blood chilling cry, but it didnt seem to give up. Hephastions ears pricked as he realised why, the heavy beat of wings coming from further up the ravine. His anger eventually took over, the claws of the creature raked at his arms as he defended himself. Wandress was cowering behind him, and each time the light came, he saw the fear in her eyes grow, only feeding his anger.

Whatever this thing was, its life had to end right now before the others joined it. Hephastion felt a rush of Vitae course through him as his eyes shone brighter, the outline of the beast clear in his vision as he leapt up the cliff, scrambling up the loose rocks, he saw the creature lunge for Wandress, but before it got any closer, he pushed off the cliff and thudded into its body, his claws and fangs digging deep as he tore at its bulky body.

Eventually finding what he was seaching for, his fangs grew as they bit deep into an artery, the rush of blood almost choking him. The creature was loosing strength as he drained its Vitae, its cries growing weaker with each flap of its wings or push of its body to try and break free from Hephastion.

Pushing himself onto his feet, the lifeless body at his feet, his eyes fall on Wandress who had tried to push herself further behind the boulder "Its dead, but I think there are others" tilting his head to listen for the movement of wings beating the air. The small overhang they were in offered little enough shelter for one, never mind two of them. His eyes scanned the cliffs again for better refuge for the night.

Maybe these things had a sense or knew when one of their own had fallen, but all around them a low cry slowly built up, causing Hephastions skin to crawl, but he heard no wings or that shrill cry, only a mournfull cry. Maybe they had realised the hunted had become the hunter but Hephastion didnt want to waste any of their opportunity and reached for Wandress' hand and gently pulled her further along the cliff face in search of better shelter.
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