RP:A Dance with Death

From HollowWiki

Part of the How to Train your Wizard Arc



  • Ilydia, Fanged Elf, Herbalist.
  • Kasyr, Vampire Revenant, Kensai.
  • Kirien, Vampiric Foxkin, Terramancer.
  • Satoshi, Kit-vampire, Frost Singer.




Frostmaw Tavern


The tavern is slightly chilled, and more uncomfortable to those who enjoy the warmth that other buildings and inns have to offer. As you glance about you see normal sized chairs for visitors such as humans, dwarves, elves, and the like of medium sized humanoids that would enter and leave this place. Along all four walls lays a large oak made booth, suitable for its giant inhabitants to sit and enjoy their drinks and meals in comfort, among the booths lay various blood stained marks as well as chips and cracks along the surface from older brawls that had taken place in the passed. Upon further inspection, this massive tavern seems to have a skeletal head of a large dragon hanging from the cieling, wrapped and constricted in pale blue chains, while your eyes continue to explore, you notice a rather bulky and well toned frost giant behind the bar. Upon his left eye, which you notice is blinded, a scar travels down and along his jaw, traveling even further to his neck, and vanishing under the heavy clothing that rests on his chest. The large bartender simply watches you, awaiting to see if you are here to rest, or order from the menu, as well, beside the old giant awaits a massive sized war-axe, incase you would be here to start some trouble.




Svilfon was nursing a glass of watered wine. The wizard is caught between anger and sorrow. The captain, slain by his teacher. The human knew how stupid what he planned was - to go against the lichdrow was to die. But never was the wizard one to contemplate consequences. So he finishes his glass before pouring another. His Xalious wood wand is used like a make-shift poker. With barely a thought he'd heat it up, before plunging it into the drink. It hisses and steams, before the wand is returned to the table and the wizard goes back to sipping his warm drink, oblivious to everything around him.


Satoshi busies herself with the papers blanketing her table, the pages covered in runes, sigils, arcane circles, and magical formulas. An occasional mutter escapes the kit, and a slightly more frequent glance is sent the wizard's way as he drinks himself into a slow stupor, but aside from that she's quiet.


Kasyrs' entrance to the bar is quiet enough, a bare minimum of noise produced by virtue of him stepping in on the heels of a giantish patron. Really, the only thing that might draw the attention of a stranger to the vampire is the blood spattered sword he was currently balancing over his left shoulder, and the particularily predatorial look which accompanied it. With barely a glance reserved for those present, the Kensai simply makes his way over towards the bar- quietly praying for some relief from the inane babble that seemed to follow the parasite and his lack-a-body lackeys.


Ilydia entered almost silently with only the sound of the calm wind to give away that she had announced her presence. She smiled kindly towards Satoshi as she brought out a small gift, two in fact. Her small hands deftly moved as she knelt before her master's wife, presenting both bottles as a gift even as she moved, both appearing in her hands as if doves from a magician's hands. It was as if she had practiced her movements a thousands times and then again and indeed she had. With her head tilted downwards, looking at the floor, she spoke with her soft yet strong voice, "For you, my lady."


Lahk enters the pub shaking the dappling of snow from his monstrous fur shrouded shoulders and makes his way quietly but surely to the fitful flames in the hearth. His ears twitch at overheard snatches of conversation and mutterings from the band of conspirators as he turns his snout to observe those entering and the fire mage heating his brew with a bit of enchanted twig. Still eyeing that same splinter of twisted tree with unblinking eyes from across the room, he says quietly but clearly in a voice thick around his fangs, "Strange how mages rely upon their wands and staves."


Svilfon slams his hand suddenly on the table, knocking over his now-empty bottle. "God damn drow!" He ignores the stares some patrons may give him, before picking up the bottle and righting it again on his table. A sigh escapes the human, before he turns his gaze to Lahk and speaks in a tight voice, "Wizards are filled with more tricks than you can imagine. Assumptions are shame." He glares for a bit after his uncharactaristic outburst, before going back to his warm drink.


Satoshi twitches in surprise at Ilydia's abrupt appearance, the kit having been momentarily lost in scrutinizing a sloppily written charm. Startled as she is, Satoshi forgets the anger and jealousy she has on reserve purely for the little fledgeling and instead merely blinks, utterly thrown off her guard. "Erm. Thanks?" Cautiously the bottles are accepted and set beside herself--no drinks allowed on mage paperwork, dammit--before Ilydia is eyed carefully. "Where'd you pop up from, pet?"


Satoshi 's gaze briefly flickers to Svilfon at his outburst, but she doesn't comment. Best to let the wizard work through his anger.


Ilydia ||Looking up at Satoshi, Ilydia spoke with soft words, "My beautiful lady, I have been looking through the lands to observe the actions of many. In the course of the manner, I thought I would bring a snack for you as your were hard at work. " Ilydia's smile widened, an obvious hint at her thoughts, "I thought you would like it after it was just done, but just in case that was not to your liking, I also found a more... aged finery." Ilydia giggled slightly. "I came because I felt like I would find you here, after all, my lady is of the luxurious ice and where else would I find the best ice but here?"


Lahk raises what passes, barely, for hand in his current state and says in the same even voice, "It was but an idle remark, you will indulge me." His grey eyes shift to the fireplace, echoing the silent play of its light. He muses to himself, a bit louder than strictly necessary perhaps, "Should one who is inclined to the arcane arts be deprived of a bough of Xalious, their powers would continue, to be sure, but may perhaps be drastically depleted." After a pause, he resumes, "Enough, perhaps, to turn the tide against one who so often rides the waves of victory."


Kasyr can't help but issue a faint sigh of relief upon ascertaining that this particular board has, at least for now, managed to escape vandalism via Vuryal. In the end there's very little that manages to hold Kasyrs' attention, save for curious little the exchange between Satoshi and Derry. Nonetheless, it's not long till Kasyr has turned back to the tavern at large, with Ilydia and Satoshi earning a brief wave before Svilfons' outburst manages to momentarily arrest his attention.


Svilfon turns his angry gaze back to Lahk, "Were I not bound by loyalty, I would dismiss my wand and show you what we can do without it." He glares, tempted to hurl away the shackles of his promise and face the vampire here and now. But he will not - loyalty was a cloak the wizard wears with pride; no words spoken were enough to deter him from the path he is walking. "I will remember you." Is the last thing he says to the man, before flashing his gaze briefly over Satie and Ilydia. With a slight shake of his head, he goes back to drinking.


Satoshi can't completely resist the urge to sit a little straighter at Ilydia's compliments, for while she may dislike the fledgeling, Satoshi's also a terribly vain creature that can be driven to preen at the slightest praise. "Clever pet, aren'tcha?" she offers by way of response, nudging one of the bottles a tad closer to Ilydia, even as her attention diverts to the unknown lycan that's caught Svilfon's attention.


Lahk swipes at the remaining drops of snowmelt clinging to his furred brow and flicks his clawed hands to dry them. Rubbing the pads of his fingers together, he continues, "A mage would never allow their prized staff to be taken from them, which is why any action must be done unawares, preferably as you say, in a manner which causes them to cast their wand away by their own free will." He considers, "During the sordid events over the past few days in that miserable town below, when all the gallery was arrayed in the square, I could be sure I spotted a quick footed thief slipping betwixt the spectators, relieving them of purse and jewel alike. It is one such as that, who might be of use, when subtlety is key."


Kasyr shifts away from his position at the board, slipping between patron and chair alike with a fluidity that ought to be reserved for water. It's only upon finding an empty table that the Kensais' pace slows once more, one foot casually hooking beneath a chair leg if only so that he can draw it towards him with a sharp jerk- the seat caught as its' still spinning, before Kasyr collapses onto it, albeit facing the back of the chair with his arms draped over it. Gospel has , by this point, dissapeared as it normally does. "Quand meme, Cherie. Have a little faith in my choices. I did pick tu, after all." Despite the conversational 'mood' that the hybrid seems to be in, he's still maintaining a rather fixed bit of attention on the party engaged in a 'heated' discussion, as it were.


Svilfon replies to the lycan, "You are an idiot. Would a warrior give up his sword? Would an archer give up his bow? Tools of the trade do not denote the mastery behind them. They are merely that... tools." He shakes his head. "I tire of this. I have more important things to think of than indulging your idle attempts to rile me. When my task is done, and the lichdrow has been defeated, I will come find you, and we can settle this in the way you obviously desire." He tips his hat to the lycan, more by habit than anything, before resuming his drinking.


Lahk lopes over to the human in mid-quaff, extending an arm to draw shapes in a puddle of spilled ale, designs which flow and take life, telling a tale of snatching triumph from sure defeat. "Look here, a mage, cast in dark porter." His fingers sketch in the beer. "A /dark/ mage you might say, oft encased in dank depths as sure as the barrels that once housed this brew." He draws the implements of magic, a long and turned staff. "The mage is fearsome alone, yes, but doubly so with his staff. Take the staff.." At this he drops a none-too-clean towel over the drawn staff, which is rapidly absorbed, drawing ever more from the connected beer-body of the mage. "..drain the mage."


Ilydia ||Surprised, Ilydia seemed to turn to stone, figuratively speaking. She could not tell if the bottle was an offering to drink together or if something else had been implied. Her mind contemplated many possibilities as she remained 'frozen.' Still, she recovered quickly and spoke, "My lady, I am not worthy of drinking such refined liquor." Ilydia glanced away with what an observer could swear to be a slight blush on her face despite her lack of blood. "I will drink, if it pleases one as noble as you, though I would be much happier serving you. You deserve to be served though to be truthful, you deserve to be served by better than a fledgeling such as mine self."


Satoshi glances again between wizard and lycan, baffled by the exchange, before looking toward Kasyr. Feigning a frown, the kit sticks her tongue out at him after trilling, "I'm unique, though~. The pet can't compare." The pet -better- not compare, more like. And that same pet is regarded now with narrowed eyes. "You're sounding like a slave." The statement is laced with unspoken threat, fueled by the foxkin's hatred for those that willingly adopt the role of obedient slave. Oddly enough, it was one of those types that had led to her meeting with Svilfon...


Svilfon turns to Lahk and shakes his head. "I do not understand why you think I care about any of this?" He stands, and moves himself to the other side of the table, closer to where Satoshi and Ilydia are speaking. "Your opinion of mages means less than nothing to me. Your opinion of anything means nothing. Your words are like wind rustling leaves - nothing but empty noise." The wizard shakes his head again, "Stay the hell away from me. Go find someone else to impress."


Satoshi might have facepalmed for Svilfon's sake at this point, but sticking her tongue out at Kasyr had used up her quota of unrefined gestures for the day.


Kasyr glances over towards Satoshi with an amused look, "Oui, You're far more willful et destructive, mon amour. Surely, a unique catastrophe that noone can hold a candle to." Curling his arms up on top of the chairs backing, he simply sets his chin down upon the 'bridge' formed, a look of mild irritation cresting the Kensais looks, "I'd not hold it against Ilydia all that much, you know. I was very, very specific in the wording of our pact- given what she desired. It needed a few prices to be exacted, en fait. So, I can honestly say she probably can't help it, yet." With a bemused look, the vampire simply adds, "Don't worry, I imagine she'll gradually become unruly hanging out around you."


Kasyr quietly adds to himself, "But I could certainly hope otherwise."


Kirien shouldered open the heavy door of the tavern, a whirl of snowflakes and chilly northern wind heralding his arrival along with a couple of raspy coughs. He paused just inside the door after it had swung shut behind him, tugging awkwardly at his gloves and looking as though he could not quite move his fingers properly. "..Ah." Once or twice, the vampire clenched and unclenched half-frozen fingers before amber gaze raised to travel the room and eventually locked on to the familiar presences he'd picked up on unconsciously. Svilfon was eyed more than the others and it was the wizard that Kirien approached to prod sharply in the shoulder with a frosty finger. "You. Thaw me out a bit?" His expression added a wordless, "Please?" He might've glanced to everyone else, once or twice, but his focus was currently mostly elsewhere.


Ilydia inwardly smiled, from her observations, exchanges became stronger through anger, and a stronger effect could be felt when one party was angered and then appeased. Her voice now became softer, her words surely only meant to travel as far as her master, "A slave? Why would I be a slave? A slave works for nothing. I value my work far more than that. Though I do not intend to take from you, my lady." She paused there for effect. "You see, a servant is often not seen by the public for their gaze is attracted to the one with power. Being invisible, they are more likely to talk and discuss things that they would not in front of, say, a stranger or an enemy. I seek that information as I have seen things moving yet I am missing some fine details." Ilydia looked at Satoshi carefully, her eyes open, calm. "Would you, my lady, deny me of such a chance to find what I seek?"


Kirien had frost in his hair, too.


Lahk closes his eyes briefly before leveling them across the table at the human one final time. "Nights past when the drow who lives in death, the lichdrow you call him, fell upon the lands below, one of my kind fell as well. A wolfslayer is he, and if it is your task to dispatch him, you roll the dice of fate." He nods once slowly, "If it is your bent to gamble, you had best load those dice in your favor. Allow me to spell it out for you.." He drags his claws across the table top, forming crude runes which inscribe: lich and staff are one/minus the staff is less or none. With this he turns his back to the party and resumes warming his bones at the hearth.


Satoshi can feel that wraith-induced headache creeping up on her between Kasyr and Ilydia's words, and promptly presses a pair of fingers to the bandage around her temple to provide the soothing contact of ice. "Two schemers and plotters, really? This hardly seems fair to me," the magus complains, to herself mostly. She might have continued on that route, were it not for Kirien's sudden entrance. A fact that has the kit brightening anew. "Bright Eye~."


Svilfon turns to Kirien with an angry glare, before his expresssion softens and he tips his hat. He remembered the fox-kin from Kelay Tavern, he'd liked the man. So with a gap-toothed grin he places his hand on Kirien's shoulder and spoke a few words. Convoluted, and with far too many vowels, they ring awkwardly in the freezing air, as if a contradiction to everything Frostmaw stands for. But their effect is as potent as ever: His hand glows for a moment, before the heat flows from him into Kirien, warming the vampire maybe a little too much. When he pulls his hand away, he spoke again to Lahk. "You do not understand that which you speak about." The wizard shakes his head, still not moving from his place before Kirien. "Watch." Svil lifts his hand and whispers a word, the wand that was left on the table fades from sight, before snapping back into reality grasped tightly in the wizard's hand. "Understand now why your words mean nothing?"


Satoshi adds to Svilfon's display by lifting her hand and uttering a dulcet command. In response, her own Xalious staff crackles into existence within her grasp. "Fun toys, these."


Svilfon turns his gaze to Satoshi and flashes a brief gap-toothed smile, "Quite."


Satoshi wills the staff away once more so that she can return her hand to soothing an aching skull.


Kirien might've quirked a brow at Svilfon's attitude and that short flare of fiery anger, but he quickly realised it was not meant for him and instead shifted his focus briefly to Lahk, one of the two present in this little gathering that he'd never met. The man was scrutinised but a moment before attentions were drawn back to the wizard and the intense warmth flowing into his body with little warning; despite himself, Kirien flinched at the abrupt change in internal temperature, and quickly found himself a seat beside Svilfon before he fainted. "Maybe-- maybe a little more gradual next time?" he managed, knowing he'd probably feel this odd burn for a good while. There was a nod and a slight quirk of lips to Satoshi, the fox half-slumped across the table. "You sent me a message an' I came. See? Though it was…vague, what you sent." To say the least.


Lahk feels his hackles electrify with the bit of magery slung about the room and turns his sleek onyx muzzle to say, not unkindly, back at the besotted human, "You speak so casually about your own assumptions, no doubt you are ingrained in them true and through. I would not be so hasty to assume I know nothing of craft and cane. Try your trick once more with the splinter split in twain, or sealed away in a cask wrought of its brothers."


Ilydia bowed to Satoshi politely as she spoke, "I do hope that you consider my request. I fear that any other way of finding out would take far too long." Still, if her lady had what appeared to be some sort of pain in her head... She quietly moved to buy a small item, or perhaps several.


Ilydia bought one Ever-Chilled Water . Ilydia bought 1 Winter Berry-Juice. Ilydia gave 1 Ever-Chilled Water to Satoshi. Ilydia gave 1 Winter Berry-Juice to Satoshi.


Satoshi is gonna drown in all these drinks Ilydia gives her. She's onto your plot, pet! >O


Svilfon didn't seem too bothered by Kirien fainting. He had too many things on his mind. Though he did answer with a brief, "Next time you should say please." He flashes the ghost of a smile at the fox-kin, before looking back at Lahk. "Let's go back to what you said. I roll the dice of fate..." The wizard stands straight, hiding the effects of his drinking completely. "I will challenge him openly and fight him under even terms. " He takes a step forward, locking his gaze on the lycan's. "I damn the drow in one breath, I will not copy their nefarious ways in another. Ask the queen," he makes a vague gesture in Satoshi's direction. "I do not do subtle. I will face him, and I will live or die. Such is the price of my loyalty... a price I willingly pay."


Ilydia smiled at Satoshi, "If you pour out about a third of the water, or perhaps drink it, mix in about a fourth of the juice and then touch it with a little of the fine wine, it should do just the trick to help with any head pains you may have. It won't be as strong as a better remedy but it should lessen the pain."


Satoshi gives Ilydia a blank look from beneath her hand. "Offer...?" Apparently between the headache and the fledgeling's roundabout way of talking, the kit's caught little of what was actually said. The collection of liquids are accepted numbly, Satoshi preoccupied trying to sort out what she missed while also eavesdropping on the other conversation -and- answer Kirien, all at the same time. No wonder her head injury hurts so much right now...


Satoshi said to Kirien, "Vague's important in letters, y'know."


Kasyrs' attention once more drifts away from his little bout of banter- momentarily engrossed by the example provided by Svilfon. For a few long moments, the hybrid stares at the mage- seemingly transfixed upon the dilemma presented. The situation, after all, is fairly familiar to the hybrid given that it's a trick that he can replicate with Gospel, without even mentioning the parallels contained within the myriad minds he'd consumed. Finally, he couldn't help but muse, "I wonder, what would fair better in larkets arena- A mage, or a lich, magical in nature. I doubt, in either case, that staff or wand could find a way to their wanting owner. Certainly easier than shattering an artifact, or contemplating Conspiracys." Yawning, the kensais' attention finally drifts back to Satoshi, "Anyways- you shouldn't worry so much. You have Kirien for company, after all. Et perhaps others, whether sooner or later."


Satoshi corrects Kasyr absently, "Wizard."


Kasyr said to Satoshi, "Fine. Wizard. The point remains."


Satoshi counters with, "Not when you should be talking about Gualon's arena, not Larket's."


Svilfon turns to the Kensai, his gaze still angry. "You know, warrior... Warriors," his gaze shifted to incorporate Lahk, "You guys give the god damn worst motivational speeches I have ever damn well heard."


Lahk stops himself mid-fall into a fireside seat, his back to the mage, a bark of genuine laughter pealing from his lips. He completes his seating and raises a polished flagon of some nefarious Frostmaw brew he swiped from a passing maid. His mock salute to the fire, he trails his free hand idly in the air, "Even terms? Openly? My good sir, it is rare I have heard these words spoken in the same sentence with the underelves. Meanwhile you dismiss anything other than a frontal assault, while thinking only of ways to fail at subtlety." His mirth fades, "You are already defeated."


Satoshi said to Svilfon, "Not nearly as good as us spell-weavers. Nothing says motivation like three words to summon a fire under your tail."


Svilfon said to Satoshi, "Or the sharp prod of an icicle, Satoshi queen."


Satoshi said to Svilfon, "I hate to say it, but you might want to heed the wolf. Sometimes their barks carry a bit of wisdom. Especially in cases involving the drow-ish sort."


Kasyr blinks at Svilfon, one brow lofted in an overexagerated manner, "Motivational...? I was simply pointing out that -even- terms would likely only be presented with the annulment of -both- your powers. Still am, really. It was an interesting puzzle, en fait, to figure out how one could deprive him of his staff."


Kirien puffed his cheeks a little at the wizard, but he hadn't the energy to complain at him right now. Like his wyvern, who'd slunk off to that warmed cavern on the other side of town to recuperate, he was tired and not in the best mood. Recent events had not helped to cheer him up any at all. A hand now free of frost waved absently to Satoshi. "Well-- now we're not in letters, so you can be less vague, sis. I'm assumin' I'm here for a reason an' not just because you missed me." He might've grinned broadly enough to confirm his heritage at that point. Kasyr was eyed, then waved to as well, Kirien's ears giving a slight twitch.


Satoshi , in response to Kirien, shakes her head and immediately regrets it, biting back a yelp of pain until it's merely a sharp hiss. "Not here either, Bright Eyes. But I do have something for you, yes. As well as I've missed having you around. Not nearly enough adventures otherwise."


Kasyr pauses and gives Kirien a very direct look, before slowly inclining his head towards Ilydia, "I'm not sure if you've had the pleasure of meeting your....other sibling, of sorts. If you have not, introductions may, in fact, be in order."


Ilydia moved away from Satoshi before she looked at Kasyr. Quietly, she moved as if she was a feather floating on a gentle breeze. Carefully, she passed Kasyr as she spoke, "Master, I believe my lady needs some form of break, is there anything I can do to help her?" Even as she spoke, she passed Kasyr and ended up by a wall. Studying the wall, she leaned against it before she allowed herself to fade into her surroundings.


Satoshi snaps, "Pet, not sibling."


Satoshi 's mean to Ilydia. Awrawr.


Svilfon sighs then, before shaking his head. He drops back into his chair and picks up his now-cold glass of watered wine. "There is no wisdom in what I do..." He speaks quietly, almost to himself. "But it is what I must. Loyal unto death, I said. So am I bound."


Lahk thinks Ilydia keeps coming back for more.


Satoshi said to Svilfon, "If I didn't know what your blood tasted like, I'd say you were part wolf yourself. Stubborn, loyal git."


Satoshi means that as a compliment, obviously. She does sort of admire wolves for that tendency.


Kirien , splayed half-across the table, yawned. The beginnings of darkened circles were forming under his eyes due to a good lack of sleep the past few days. "You have somethin' for me? Now I'm definitely curious." After a long pause, he'd manage to peel himself away from the table surface and stand, shifting round to sit beside the cryomancer and content to politely shove anyone out of his way unless there was an unoccupied seat nearby her. She'd be hugged then, an arm wrapping round her shoulders to draw her against the yawning fox. "Sorry I wasn't here earlier. Messes an'...such." A sigh escaped him before he'd be glancing to Kasyr, following the cant of head in Ilydia's direction as a certain sort of curiosity entered his blind gaze. "Another sister?" He looked sidelong at Satoshi. "…Or pet. Either way, hi." The other fledgling would earn herself a lazy wave.


Svilfon said to Satoshi, "My blood was a sign of my loyalty to your cause. Did I not give my word to you upon the couatl's back? I did the same to the wolf."


Satoshi said to Svilfon, "...I know."


Lahk gazes at the reflection in his glass of the slumped Svilfon behind him. Downing the dregs of the awful liquid served in the vessel he stands, the embers of the inn having had their desired effect, and helped none the less by the fire in the drink. He strides to the door as if to leave in silence. Then, pausing at its jamb, he murmurs, "Bound until death, you say? A problem and a solution in one." And he is gone into the ice and void.


Lahk exits west.


Svilfon whispers his reply to Satoshi. "And so I am bound."


Satoshi sighs and slumps against Kirien, not even bothering with further words. The fox is a comforting sort of pillow, after all.


Kasyr cants his head towards Ilydia once she begins to address her concern, offering his Vassal a curious look that is a cross between amusement and curiosity, "Madamoiselle, Whilst I certainly appreciate that you are concerned with her- I do believe it would be best if you addressed such requests to the one you aim to aid. The lady Satoshi es quite independant, after all, et may at times find it a bother to be 'attended to' when she did not ask for it. Better safe than sorry, thus." With that particular matter dealt with, the vampire resumes his lazy bit of lounging, his gaze fixed upon Svilfon, "..Wizard, as it were. You are truly devoted to the idea of avenging Leo, than?"


Satoshi can at least take some solace in the fact that, if Svilfon's confrontation with Tiphareth goes the way the lycan seems to think... well, she'll be the one that wins the Mage Tower betting pool on how the wizard met his end.


Svilfon looks over to the Kensai, "I would do the same for her." He motions towards Satoshi, "If you left anything left, of course." He grins then, faintly; his joviality cannot be hidden forever. "But yes, warrior, I am."


Kirien leaned his chin gently atop Satoshi's head, because damn was it comfortable and he still felt a bit light-headed after Svilfon's little thawing spell. And he was tired, damn it. Mention of Leo had one of the fox's ears perking up some.


Ilydia gave only a faint nod at Kasyr's words and a respectful curtsy to Kirien. Quickly, with an envious glance at Kirien, she moved to a shadow before she hid herself and sat. Ilydia wanted to be a comfy pillow also.


Kasyr said to Kirien, "You're the only family she es to have. I pray you do not make that road she walks harder than it need be, given what trials she has ahead."


Kirien is the comfy pillow and comfort guy of hollow or something. >>


Satoshi doesn't catch the wizard's motion toward her, as excessive wordplay, work, pesky headaches/concussions, and Kirien's relaxingly warm presence have all combination into a concoction that's lulled the kit to sleep. Kirien is stuck as a pillow. Sorry, kiddo~.


Kirien might've picked up on that spark of envy but he said nothing of it, nodding to Ilydia before he'd turn to Kasyr, bemused. "This make me a pet or somethin' too?" He wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. "What trials?" That was spoken in the midst of another yawn.


Kirien didn't really mind. He may have grinned faintly down at the sleeping cryomancer, however, and resisted finding something to draw on her with.


Satoshi will payback Kirien later tenfold if she's drawn on. Just you watch. Revenge and cold are synonymous.


Kasyr is all but about to reply to Svilfon when Kiriens address causes him to abruptly click his teeth together, a brief glare shot the way of the cozily cuddling kit. With an apologetic look sent towards the wizard, the vampires attention would quickly flick over towards Kirien, "..You're not a pet, nor is Ilydia. Coven is family- as simple as that. And despite Satoshis' desire to exert her dominance over Ilydia-" A quiet mumble of "and soothe her wounded ego" is interjected at that point before the Kensai continues, "I'll not allow Ilydia to be acknowledged as a 'mere pet'. Nor, in that same breath, would I allow you to be considered such. Are we clear?" With a sigh, the Revenants attention drifts back towards Svilfon, shoulders rising and falling in a weary manner, "The captain was my friend as well..et alors, I must inquire to what ends do you intend to pursue, what path will you walk to achieve this vengeance."


Svilfon stares for a long moment at the Kensai, the wizard's gaze unreadable. When he replies it is in quiet tones, "What path can I take, master warrior?" The wizard shrugs his own shoulders. "I will find him. I will challenge him. Fairly..." A slight frown then. He could not expect the same from the drow, but he would not lower himself to their level. "And with honor." He continues to look at the Kensai then; all others have mocked him for his desire to fight on even terms. He expects nothing else from the powerful warrior.


Kirien 's ears pinned back some at the Revenant's somewhat agitated response but he quickly ducked his head some in acknowledgement, knocking Satoshi some in the process but thankfully not sending her to smack her forehead off the table. There was a muttered curse and he'd shift her carefully back into position with her head resting against his shoulder, as compared to half in his lap where she'd ended up a moment ago. "Right. Clear, definitely clear." Attentions shifted to Svilfon, a certain curiosity entering the kit's expression. "You're gonna…avenge the Alpha?" He looked mildly surprised, but there was also the slightest of smiles forming on lips that'd almost forgotten the feeling of one.


Kasyr looks, in all honesty, annoyed- though likely not for any reason the wizard may formulate within the few moments of silence that follow his comments. Finally, the vampire can't help but say it, "Stop with that whole...bit. Honoriffics, titles et all that crap, it's fine in a court- but not here, right now. It's Kasyr, or Kas, or Ashen. Take your pick, enfin." With that outburst aside, the vampire simply tilts his head off to one side, eyes fixing upon Svilfon, and words becoming a quiet monotone, "So, than- how are you going to prepare? It's all good et well to know where you intend to go, but that says nothing of the path you intend on treading to get there. Or es it that simply intend on challenging a lich as you are, bringing nothing but the heat of your words & the ire in your heart - righteous indignation to be your weapon, et your oath, unshakeable as it es, as your shield? Es that how you intend to honour Leo?" Despite all his practice as a diplomat, the vampire can't help but glower somewhat.


Svilfon turned briefly to regard Kirien. The wizard nods his head, slowly, "Aye, I do." Before Kasyr's words are spoken in a voice layered with... annoyance. "Kasyr, then..." The wizard's own tones were growing hotter; his own anger, so barely suppressed, coming to the surface. "Prepare? I will take my wand, find the damned lichdrow, tell the rotting bastard his crime, then cut his quacking," though the wizard doesn't say quacking, "head off." Svilfon draws a deep breath, then. The cold air doing something to soothe his anger. "I will honour Leoxander..." A slight shudder as he speaks the captain's name, hidden beneath a shake of his head, "The only way I know how to, Kasyr. I will stand, I will fight, and I will either live or die. Is there any other way?"


Kirien seemed comfortable in keeping silence now, snuggled up with Satoshi and quietly drawing comfort from her closeness. Her naturally chilly nature had never bothered him so much, especially not now, and he was content to stay close until the time came to carry her off to a proper bed for the night. Sleek tail wrapping about her waist and chin now resting back atop her head, he mulled things over to himself while keeping an absent focus on the wizard and kensai nearby, ears pricked in their direction.


Ilydia ||In her corner, she muttered something about not dying in vain and how a pile of dead bodies all rooted to a certain captain would not be the way to honor a certain captain. Of course, it was all just mutterings that very few would hear.


Kirien might have heard that, or maybe felt it, perceptive as he was, and huffed in response. He may have almost agreed though, but he didn't voice that. The kit knew Tiphareth's power far too well.


Kasyr allows himself a glance towards Ilydia, trying to ascertain if she's still doing her best impression of a wallflower. The vampire only intends on sparing a moment from his conversation if she is, a brief beckoning motion made to her- before he'd abruptly point her over towards Kirien. Whatever the case, it's not long before Kasyr is once more focused upon Svilfon, "So you would rush, ill tempered and ill prepared, into the lair of a race reknown for treachery and cunning?" Pausing, the Kensai pushes himself up, hands now gripping the back of the chair firmly, "I'm not telling you to curb your path, et forgive this affront. ..I've avenged more than my fair share of fallen friends. I'm simply advising t...you to be wise about this. There are routes one can take to empower themselves- have you explored them? Be it the power that resides within books, bonds, or blood- you ought to take some consideration into steeling yourself. Especially if you intend to survive so that you can honour your word to protect my wife."


Svilfon seems like he will respond in anger to the Kensai's rather sensible words, before he hears the final sentence. "You are right. Not just about her..." He points at Satoshi absently, "But I have other allies. To destroy myself would be to betray them, but I cannot leave it as it is..." He deflates even further. "What can I do against an enemy such as he, Kasyr? What path can I walk that does not end in my death?"


Ilydia quietly walked towards Kirien after the motion and stared at him, not quite sure what to say or do. "Hello, my name is Ilydia."


Kirien had seemingly been dozing off, quite comfortable in his current position despite how he was being used as some sort of pillow for his sister. Ilydia's sudden presence and voice close nearby jerked him out of that half-awake state and he shifted to glance up at her, ears swivelling some. "…Hi." A slight pause for a yawn. "'m Kirien." Sleepy Kirien, it seemed.


Kasyr offers Svilfon a helpless shrug, that position held for a few moments longer than necessary, "That depends on tu, monsieur. Your honour demands that you avenge Leo, et yet it also demands that you survive. Thus, tu must find some way to ensure that the odds are not so heavily stacked against your survival. To this end, you will need to cast aside that passionate desire to toss yourself into the spiders den the first opportunity you are granted, instead holding close the resolution to see Tiphareth dealt with in a decisive manner, so that Leo might be properly avenged. Et perhaps, whatever strength you choose to garner might better allow you to fulfill your purpose in protecting others, non?" Turning his gaze upwards, the vampire helpfully adds, "There are a number of ways to gain strength, some quicker than others."


Svilfon spends a long moment thinking through Kasyr's words; the heat of his anger drowned now in the reason the Kensai speaks. Eyes drift shut as his head lowers, before he speaks in a choking voice, no shame shown at his showing of emotions. "Avenge Leo... How could he have died..." The wizard shakes his head, "What strength I can find, I will do so... But where can I look?" He looks around absently, "My wand, my spells, my fire..." He extends a hand to rest it on the table beside him, before resting his weight on the wood, "It is time to speak clearly, Kasyr. What strength can I find that will not pale before the lichdrow's might?"


Ilydia sat on the ground and closed her eyes as she blended into the shadow of the table. She was tired and it had been a long day, perhaps she would rest now.


Kasyr pushes off from the chair with enough force to start it tipping backwards, if only so he can deftly intercept it, and begin to spin it around. "Well, that's an interesting question. I'll go through the list, shall I? At least for those readily obtainable without trouble. First and foremost, there are those books contained within the libraries in frostmaw, Alithyra et...well, the black Library in Vailkrin. There es quite the dangerous assortment of spells et rites hidden within those tomes. Unforunately, that still takes a bit of time to properly research. Alternatively, you could perhaps look amongst the tomes, et see if tu could not form some sort of pact with some otherwordly creature or another- whether it's for a favour or something more visceral..." The vampire shrugs, moving one hand over towards his forehead, if only so he can begin to pluck at his bangs, "Lastly, well, there's the route of 'transformation' as it were. To change your very nature into something above et beyond. Both Lycanthropy or vampirism provide their own unique advantages- though I dare say you would likely make a better vampire, given they tend to 'develop'...certain gifts which reflect the nature of the person that has been turned. If that were the case, I'd likely suggest either myself or Rheven- given the empowerment of a vampire es directly related to the sire. Et, peut-etre less Rheven, in that instance, given he es tied to Thea- et Thea es tied to Tiphareth. Frankly, that might not end well."


Kirien cast Kasyr a quizzical look at the mention of gifts. He'd experienced none of that sort of thing yet, and looked a bit huffy about it; but only for a moment before his expression evened back out into something half-aware and he nuzzled absently into Satoshi's hair, flicking a white-tipped ear.


Svilfon was shaking his head as Kasyr spoke of the first options, before he replied, "I am of the Mage's Guild, Kensai. A library of spells greater than almost any other... I have studied hard." With the words spoken of other world allies, the wizard flashes a grin, "Those plans are in motion, but not before the battle. The spells to summon something powerful enough to face the lichdrow are too taxing... They are lengthy to cast, and the drow would know from where it came. If it was destroyed, he would come for me, I would die..." To the final suggestion, the wizard grins again, flashing the gaps in his teeth. "Rheven is of the guild. He would inform the Eldermage... But you..." The wizard's gaze shifts to Kirien and Satoshi, before resting on Ilydia. "The snow queen calls her slave, and she fawns on you both like a puppy... If you sired me, would I be the same? My will is my own, Kasyr. I will sacrifice it to no man. Plus there's the whole... no teeth... I do not wish to starve slowly to death..."


Kirien yawned and idly said, "You'd grow some, wouldn't you? If you were turned…"


Kasyr offers Svilfon a very amused look, "I also sired Satoshi, et Kirien. The particulars of Ilydia et my pact are just that... Very particular. She desired the specific path which she has been placed upon- so that she may, one day, be as any superb blade. Forged, with the impurities hammered out from her- a force to be reckoned with so that she might achieve her desire. To that end, I've done my best. Your particular desires need not be that extreme. You seek to fight Tiphareth...not save the world, Monsieur." His latter concern is answered with a simple tip of his head towards Kirien, "Aye, you tend to...regenerate once tu are turned. You won't regain lost limbs, but you will at least never be short on teeth, je vous assure." Lastly, the hybrid adds, "I was not talking about siccing an otherwordly entity upon the archmage... I am fairly certain, at least according to certain memories of mine- that such an entity could, despite all other impositions et limitations, not only succumb to dissolution via overwhelming force- but also by virtue of being dispelled in some circumstances, or ...returned to where they originated. Banished, ou quoi-ce-soit." Rubbing at the side of his head, the vampire shrugs, "I meant more as in, a bid for power- since some entities absolutely adore to make deals. Like devils, though tu would be hard pressed to find one beyond Vuryal- et he es the least dependable of any I've met."


Kasyr has had the (mis)fortune to deal with multiple devils, of a varied sorts.


Svilfon laughs without real humour in the sound. "Never the bug, Kasyr, never Vuryal." The wizard doesn't reply to the earlier statements for a while; he lets himself think about it, for the path of damnation is not one to walk lightly... Svil turns his gaze to the sleeping Satoshi and the yawning Kirien. Before he abruptly steps towards them. When close he drops to a knee and stares at the awake fox-kin, before speaking in a quiet voice. "Tell me, and do not lie..." The human sighs briefly, "Was death a price worth paying for what you are today? Are you free, Kirien... are you free?"


Kirien had been falling asleep again when, for a second time, someone appeared nearby enough to jerk him back to awareness. He'd pause a moment to sit up a bit, arm shifting to hold Satoshi up throughout this; amber gaze turned on the kneeling wizard with some hint of contemplation and curiosity breaking through the tired haze over his mind. He shook off the exhaustion so as to lean forward some, squinting over the rim of those gold-rimmed glasses at Svilfon, calculating. "Y'know, I thought as much, when I first met you - that you were interestin' somehow. You'd go that far for him?" There was another of those little smiles. "I'm free, an' it was worth that brush with my biggest fear." Free hand reached out to tug on the wide rim of that eccentric hat.


Kasyr allows the two their moment, simply moving away from the chair mid spin- so that it's clattering back to all fours, even as he goes to the barkeep to get a drink of...something.


Svilfon does not move away from the hand touching his most wonderful of wizard hats; he was tired, was the human. It had been a long few days. To Kirien's words he half nods, a small smile forming on his lips before he speaks quietly, careful not to wake up the snow-queen. "I sailed on The Eternity, Kirien. We were crew. We were family." Again the wizard shows his emotions without any sense of shame; a tear forming slowly, before it casts a lazy trail down his cheek. "It has been said, and recently, I am not the sharpest sword in the rack." A self mocking smile forms then, "But to those who are my friends, I am loyal to. I would die for the captain, I would fight for the captain. His death does not change my loyalty, for good or ill."


Kasyr bought 1 Leg-of-Boar for 1 gold, 0 silver, and 0 copper. Kasyr bought 1 Frostmaw Ale for 0 gold, 20 silver, and 0 copper. Kasyr bought 1 Chunk-of-Bread for 0 gold, 0 silver, and 15 copper Kasyr bought 1 Snow-Rabbit-Stew for 0 gold, 15 silver, and 0 copper.


Kasyr thinks this is a meal of champions- and all that delightful extra rare meat.


Kirien was quietly intrigued by that pointy wizards hat, and had he been more awake and perhaps in a more playful mood, he'd have attempted to steal it and try it on. Instead he only gave it another light tug before retracting his hand; and he didn't see that tear but he certainly felt it, and all the emotion carried along with it, contained in that single drop of liquid. "Aha. You're not lyin'." Still, Kirien's jaw tightened some at mention of dying for that man, the fox recalling that night when he'd been forbidden from moving, muscles locked and forced to feel those last breaths and fading heartbeat. "…Dead or not, he's still my Alpha, aye. But this-- if you let him turn you," he said with a jerk of thumb over one shoulder to Kasyr, "you can't go back on that. Aight? Goodness knows you might need somethin' like this if you're plannin' to challenge Tiph though - durability's good for you, especially when you're playin' with someone like him. Actually, durability is good for you in general, so."


Svilfon is quiet while Kirien speaks, before he offers a small nod of his head. "I do not lie... Often. And only then..." He offers a faint shrug, for that was a story for another day. "Aye, something... To beat him..." With an ambiguous wink, the wizard abruptly stands. He tips his hat to the fox-kin. "I cannot go back, but I will not forsake my ally... Maybe just myself." With a final nod to the empath, Svilfon turns and speaks to Kasyr. "Do not bind my will to your own, beyond what is necessary... And I will accept this gift... For Leoxander... For loyalty..." The wizard deflates a little for a moment, before closing his eyes. "For honour, Kasyr, I will die so I can live."


Kasyr glances over towards Kirien, a questioning look on his face, "Kirien, did that trick of mine help tu through the whole process of turning? I'm just wondering if tu would advise doing a repeat of that?" Glancing over towards the wizard, the vampire simply adds, "Unless you are entirely comfortable with being fully conscious through the entire process, instead of when you need to be." The hybrid honestly looks indifferent in that moment- but than, it's fairly easy to look indifferent when you're busy finishing an impromptu meal. Still, despite the seemingly casual air the Guardian has adopted, he still feels it necessary to add, "I will not bind you beyond what es necessary. That being said, this does mean you will be part of the..coterie I've formed here- so that I can ensure you don't run amok, ou quelque chose. It also will help moi prevent tu from getting in over your head. Es this fine with you?" Probably.


Kirien shifted his gaze briefly to Kasyr and might have quirked a brow following Svilfon's decision. There was a light smile of reassurance to the wizard and then the empath was moving, carefully lifting the soundly-sleeping Satoshi into his arms so as to deposit her in one of the small, comfortable armchairs nearby. A pause and he'd shrug off his overcoat and lay it over her, before turning back to the others. "It helped for me, aye…" he said slowly to Kasyr at the question, "though it confused the hell outta me. I can only assume you…showed me an image? Whatever it was, it might work better on someone who can see." Though it'd sufficed for him also as he'd spent most of his time trying to figure out just what exactly had happened. "I can, er, do what Sato did when you turned me, if you want. Don't want him fallin' over halfway through…"


Kasyr said to Kirien, "I'll explain it afterwards. Since before, might..defeat the purpose, en fait."


Kirien canted his head some. "...True."


Kasyr perks up, "Et er, yes, you taking Satos' place would certainly help." Obviously, Kasyr is silently lamenting the fact that his lovely assisstant is asleep. Lament, lament.


Svilfon seems resigned to the fate he has choson for himself. The words passed between Kensai and Kirien drift lazily past the human; their faintly ominous edge seeming not to bother him. He draws breath quickly as he realizes soon it will be nothing but a luxury to do so... "Do as you will, Kasyr. I care not." He is settled then; eyes shut, body relaxed as time seems to slow to a crawl. His beating heart is heard loudly in his ears; the life in his body, usually ignored, is suddenly a bright thing for he knows soon it will be gone. For strength... For the captain. "I am ready..."


Kirien flicked an ear absently before he moved to press up quite casually behind Svilfon, perhaps surprising the wizard if he were paying full attention although he would not easily let go or allow him to jump away as arms wound about the man to hold him in place. There was a certain firmness in that grip that suggested it was probably better for him not to struggle, and Kirien huffed a sigh as he rested his chin on one of Svilfon's shoulders. "No worries, you'll be fine. I'll memorise your heartbeat - if you ever feel like hearin' it, I'll play it to you." He had Leoxander's and Cornelius' too, locked safely away in his mind for rainy days. Kirien glanced to Kasyr again, raising a brow.


Svilfon whispered quietly to Kirien as he settled into the man's grip; no attempts at fighting it made. "For the captain, Kirien... For the captain."


Kirien , despite it all, smiled. "He was my reason, too." Him, and all those other people the empath adored and desired to protect.


Kasyr is simply fumbling with the curious little ring on his left hand, as though the Vampire needs to roll it between his fingers to make sure it's still there. And certainly, given the rings nature as one of Coreliants creations, it wouldn't surprise the former paladin of shadow were it to dissapear some day. Either way, because or despite the Kensais seemingly anxious fumblings, the ring still remains upon his finger, imbued as it is with that potent deception spell by the Ascendi of deceit himself, the same as it was when he turned Kirien. And just like that time, the vampire begins to speak- his words reverbrating with a power that is at once reminiscent of him, and yet carrys a distinctly foreign undercurrent, as though it did not entirely belong. Like a torrent the incantation picks up in pace and intensity, every intonation manifesting a seperate 'shard' of the vampires spell. Svilfon, if he's unable or unwilling to resist, will quite likely be unaware of what the culmination of the spell is- if only because of its' design. For all intents and purposes, that singular moment upon the spells end would be etching itself into the Wizards mind, every facet of it expanding to consume every facet of the mages senses so that he would be, in essence, locked within a fixed moment in time and space. Certainly, things would carry on in the world around him, but for Svilfon, his existance will be be encapsulated within that one section of 'frozen' time, most likely until the vampire needs him to be cognisant again.


Svilfon was resting almost in Kirien's grip; deflated by his lack of choice, he had accepted what was to come. As Kasyr begins to chant in his layered voice, the wizard could feel the magic gathering in the air; he could sense it growing within his own mind, trapping his consciousness within itself. For just a moment he fights it; his natural instinct over ruling his apparent resignation, before he relaxes again. This was his fate, so be it... For... For... He cannot remember what it is he was thinking, and then thoughts seems to drift away. The wizard tries to grasp them in his mind's hand, yet it is like trying to grab hold of intangible smoke. Before he can even panic, it ends...He is locked away by Kasyr's magic, stuck in that single moment of thoughtlessness, unable to appreciate his last moments of life....


Kirien :: Maybe it was for the better that the wizard did not experience those very last moments with full awareness. Kirien said nothing of this, however, keeping quiet behind him; a foundation, a support, and maybe a comfort of a sort if need be. Ears flicked some at the turbulent emotions drifting from Svilfon but then all seemed to even out and he focused on that heartbeat instead, thrumming beneath warm skin and singing to the empath the life that flowed through Svilfon's veins. He might've hummed along with it, just briefly, as he memorised the beat.


Kasyr allows himself a brief look of satisfaction, one hand drawn up as though prepared to snap his fingers, "You know, I -really- like doing that. ..Illusions I mean. Sort of miss Coreliant at times every time I pull one of those tricks out of my sleeves." Despite the relatively upbeat tone the vampires voice carried, his expression was significantly flatter- obviously more than aware of the seriousness of this decision. Nonetheless, he's determined to be as resolute as Svilfon- moving over towards the wizard if only to grasp him firmly by his shoulders, "For your sake, mine, et all those afflicted. I prey you get your revenge, Wizard." And its' on that note that the Revenant sinks his teeth into Svilfons' neck, confidant that the illusion will keep him unaware of what's transpiring. At least, for the majority of this particular ritual. . After all, it was inevitable that the wizard will need to be drawn outside the comfort provided by the deception- if only because there's one thing left for him to do.


Kirien raised his head some when Kasyr approached for the inevitable biting, shifting away from that shoulder rest his chin had been quite comfortably settled upon. He arched a brow. "So it's an illusion then…" Huffing out a breath, the empath shook his head some, though he made sure not to dislodge Svilfon in any way. "No wonder I couldn't see. You really did just show me a damn image or somethin'." That said, he fell quiet again, looking a little hungry himself as he felt Kasyr's fangs puncture the flesh of the neck so close by him. He swallowed somewhat needlessly, chewing some at his own lower lip.


Kasyr , though busy, is more than capable of giving Kirien 'The Look"- that very expression carrying along with it the unspoken command for Kirien to get under control. Beyond that, the process of draining the wizard is one that is relatively uneventful, the only other notable occurance(s) being the countless looks he's garnering from the other patrons. On the bright side, being Satoshis' king consort means that the curiosity remains 'polite' and, more importantly, distant- thus allowing Kasyr to finish...mostly. On the other hand, this means that the mostly drained Svilfons' time within Kasyrs' innovative illusion is at an end- the sound of a snap serving to herald him back to reality. A reality where the scent of blood is fresh in the air, and Kasyrs bleeding wrist is being hoisted towards the Wizards mouth, "Drink. No questions, just do it."


The sounds of armies marching seems to fill the entirety of Hollow. The footfalls acting more like thunderous applause as the sheer numbers would astound those who dare to view the sight of such a machine at work.


Svilfon snaps open his eyes as the illusion shatters and draws in a sharp breath. He struggles against Kiri's grip just briefly as agony burns through his depleted veins, before Kasyr's command makes its way through his still-hazy thoughts. He flashes half a grin, "Say.. pleas.." He cannot even finish his usual barb, instead his mouth latches onto the Kensai's wrist and the wizard begins to drink his blood; his senses soon swamped by the sickly stench in the air, and the disgusting satisfaction he feels as the revenant's vitae flows down his throat...


Kirien caught that wordless command more than the look it was contained in but steeled himself all the same, fighting back the urge to feed from the poor wizard who already had one vampire at his throat. It was probably a good thing he'd eaten within the past hour or two. He looked quite ready to growl at any who approached the scene of the turning, his tail a sleek banner of russet and white tip behind him; but it seemed the regular patrons of this tavern were wise enough to keep out of their business, bar a glance or a bemused stare from some here and there. "Sssh," he murmured to Svilfon when the man attempted to speak even after being mostly drained, knowing it'd likely exhaust him even more - they really didn't need him toppling into that never-ending abyss -before- he'd drank Kasyr's blood and completed his own turning. "…Now I'm hungry again." This was mostly just his grumbling, a mutter under his breath.


Kasyr lets' out a quiet hiss upon the wiards enthusiastic acceptance of the offered wrist, a moment taken to bare through the experience. Allowing Svilfon a few moments to get a proper bit of blood inside himself does leave the Kensai free to flash Kirien a small smile, at least, "Congratulations, you can take him hunting with tu." And with that the vampire moves to once more bite his fledgeling-to-be, though he's cautious in draining the man this time. He is, after all. more than aware of how much the wizard needs to drink, before the vampire finishes the job and drains him completely. It's an artful dance, of sorts, and one the vampire is becoming quite adept at.


Svilfon pays no mind to the words shared between Kasyr and Kirien. As his body fights with the blood-loss, and the infusion of revenant blood, his mind wanders through the passageways of his life. It is as if he is separated from himself - his body, ravaged again by Kasyr as they dance between life and unlife, acts by instinct alone: Sucking the wrist when offered, crying in pain when being devoured. But his mind knows nothing of this beyond the basest levels: It flows through what he has done throughout his life, leading him to this horrible decision... to forsake life for the chance at avenging the captain... Such is his fate, and he will accept it. He will stand now with his new... family of sorts. And to them he would give his loyalty, until the unlife is torn from his body... He is, or will be, content... If he survives the trials to come.


Kirien had turned focus to the memorising of Svilfon's heartbeat, now waning and ultimately struggling, when Kasyr mentioned hunting and the empath blinked up at him, ears standing tall. Though he managed to mostly conceal his excitement by keeping up an outwardly curious expression, the wagging movement of his tail probably gave him right away to those who knew the meanings behind its motions well enough. "Right! What's most edible round here…" More absent contemplation of knowledge he already possessed of the area, and less a question to the Revenant who was still quite busy draining Svilfon, Kirien went quiet again, seeming thoughtful until he came to a pause and flicked an ear. "Ah. Kasyr. It's stopping…" The beat, that was.


Kasyr is more than aware of that given he's directly 'tapped into' the mans lifeline. Really, all it means to the Revenant is that there is mere moments until the job was finished, and Svilfons' first life came to an abrupt end. It's only when his heart entirely stops that the vampire pulls back, a look of amusement flickering across his features, "I suppose you ought to drag him to a cozy seat in the corner of the room. I can debrief him on..well, what he needs to know- et than tu can find something dying to snack upon. Ou just something big enough that it can walk it off, enfin." That being said, the vampire isn't above 'borrowing' one of the bottles of blood wine that Satoshi hadn't touched. Specifically the one she had pushed over towards Ilydia. "Do apologize to Satoshi for moi- but this will likely take the edge off things for.. theWizard, once he awakens."


Kirien might've grinned, faintly, before he was hefting Svilfon up a little further into his arms, if only so as to make sure he did not abruptly release him and end up with a slowly chilling wizard lying in a heap at his feet. "I'm sure everyone else here would rather I didn't drag in some strugglin' beast for him to snack on…I'll find somethin' smallish." This would be said as the empath spun about, and Svilfon might find his feet dragging some across the floor in the same moment, as though Kirien had decided to dance with his new sibling of a sort. "Don't worry," he snorted, amused, "you'll be much less heavy on your feet after you've eaten. I'm sure you're not a bad dancer when you're on good form!" Mostly a tease, and likely words the wizard may not even properly hear, Kirien followed up on this by ending that little waltz and settled the poor man down in a chair, propping him up and taking a moment to make sure he wouldn't fall over as soon as he pulled away. Then he'd be glancing to Kasyr, nodding, and then heading for the door and out in search of the aforementioned 'something smallish'.


Kasyr can't help but wonder if that's smallish relative to giants, or Kirien.


Kirien had meant in relation to himself and Svilfon. Therefore he'd probably be on the search for some sort of...deer.


Svilfon is dragged through the waltz like a marionette, but damnit! - he was graceful in his own way. All languidly flowing in that space between life and death; no heartbeat heard, his body a rag-doll. But this is his new family. Filled with fox-kin. He should have expected things like this! When their dance is done, and the wizard is propped on the chair, his eyes roll about before falling on Kasyr. There was something about him now... The wizard, once looking, could not break the stare. His mouth drops open some, lips stained sanguine with the Kensai's blood. And there he remains, staring, watching... feeling an insidious hunger growing inside him with each moment passed, but entirely unable to look away...


Kasyr idly chews down onto the cork of the bottle of bloodwine he had 'borrowed', wrenching it out from the bottle before it's gingerly outstretched towards the Wizard, "Well, that es curious. You're surprisingly tenacious, for someone that had most of their teeth knocked out of them. Though, given you haven't gotten them back, yet- I imagine you're going to be rather conscious for the worst of it. Ah, but c'est la vie. or..Unlife, rather. I suppose there really es only one change to endure.." With a casual shrug, the Kensai plunks the bottle into the middle of the table- two fingers remaining upon the lip so it remains upright. "So are you conscious enough to register what I'm saying? I simply need to go over some...ground rules, as it were."


Svilfon stares up at the husband of the One Lesson Lady, his face blank. As Kasyr speaks majority of the words flow over the wizard, incomprehensible in his state. He eyes the bottle, before looking back at the Kensai. When he speaks his voice is hoarse and barely above a whisper, "I hear you..." His head rolls forward, before he abruptly regains control. "I'm.. hungry..."


Kasyr nudges the bottle closer towards Svilfon, though one fingers remains upon the lip of the bottle, "Take a swig, monsieur. That will ..help. At least a small degree." Only than does the vampire remove his hand fully from the bottle, though it does remain upon the table- just in case the Wizard is somewhat...lacking in co-ordination in that moment and needs an assist. "You know, it always amazes me how much people vary at this stage... Er, but anyways. I suppose I ought to welcome you to...er, my little Coterie, as it es. From this point on, we'll be your family of a sorts. Given you were already forsworn to protect my wife, I suppose the only change here es that we'll be taken a more active interest in you. As a note, you've actually already met all of us, given that it only consists of Kirien, Ilydia, Satoshi, moi..et well.."The Kensai simply stares at Svilfon, to emphasize that particular statement. " So, altogether, I will sum this up as: I'll be doing my best to keep an eye out for tu, et I expect that same sort of commitment from tu for the rest of us. Essentially, I'm simply making sure that those few I've chosen do their utmost to keep an eye out for each other. I'm not the sort to...promote rivalries." Pausing, the vampire glances towards the Wizard, "Name, by the way? And, any questions?"


Svilfon extends his hand out, his gaze briefly feral as he seeks to wrap his fingers around its top. He fumbles a bit, spilling some of the liquid over his hand, before he can muster the required co-ordination to lift it to his lips and greedily drink. It tastes... wrong... But his brief desire to spit the liquid out is drowned by the waves of hunger flowing through his deceased body. So he sips again, mixed between disgust and joy, before the bottle drops from his fingers and falls to the floor beside him. It is ignored completely as Kasyr speaks, and only when done does he nod his head slowly, "Svilfon... wizard..." He feels a burning pain in his mouth, but ignoring it he continues to speak, "We are.. family.. of sorts... Protect each other... I understand... We are your Coterie..."


Kasyr nods briefly, before casting a glance towards the discarded bottle upon the floor. "I do hope you finished that. Waste not, want not, after all." With a shrug, the vampires hands find their way to his pockets, before he continues from where he left off, "Anyways, Yes. We're a family. Et there's two rules you need to follow. One, es that tu must be careful about feeding. Ideally, you will hunt alongside the others within the Coven. You are specifically to prioritize those that are alone, weak, young or...older. Ideally, you choose a target based upon who would draw the least amount of attention to themselves. It es also good to make sure that they are, en fait, as 'harmless' as they appear. Oh, et as a further bit of elaboration... You are to -avoid- killing those you feed from. A trail of bodies es how the attention of vampire hunters es generated, not to speak of angered kin. The last thing we need es another Vendetta playing in tandem with the parasites. Et on the note of not killing someone? This es where the secondary rule comes into play. You are -forbidden- to turn anyone. Should you do this, even by accident. You are to -tell- moi so that I can undo your mistake. Preferably bringing your unintentional...fan along with tu." The vampire finally pauses, one hand moving up from his pocket to tug at an ear, "Are we understood, et do you have any complaints?"


Svilfon nods his head to the vampire before him; he feels the weight of his words spoken, sinking into his every fibre. The wizard flashes a grin at the man as he stops talking, "Avoid.." He stressed that word, perhaps unconsciously, "killing those I feed from. Do not turn anyone... Protect us, and our family..." The wizard slowly lifts his hand to his face as the flaring pain starts again in his mouth. "I agree.." He had no choice, "And will live by your rules... Live? Ha!" He laughs a sad little laugh, "Abide by them, I will."


Kirien brought with him the bitter stench of blood along with snowflakes this time when he re-entered the tavern. Once again the door was shouldered past but it did not immediately slam shut behind the empath, who was dragging with appeared to be a heavy weight along with him; and it became clear what it was soon enough. He may have gotten the term 'smallish' slightly wrong, because Kirien had with him a large, bulky frost mare, some eight feet at the shoulder and still kicking weakly as it was tugged across frost-covered boards to where wizard and kensai had located themselves. There was a rather wide…hole of a sort in the beast's side, currently mostly plugged up by the end of the spine of rock Kirien had summoned to mercilessly impale it with. He'd come to a stop beside the two, quirking a brow to Svilfon in what looked to be mild amusement mixed with agitation. "Sviiil," he'd call, as if the blood on himself and dripping from that horse's wound would not have already drawn the hungry newly-turned's attention, "look, I brought dinner~." The chunk of rock would be tugged out of the frost mare, a small burst of blood following to coat the floorboards. Kirien looked to Kasyr and might have whined. "I want to eat after him."


Kasyr eyes Kirien, before simply shaking his head, "A little more finesse next time, peut-etre? Mon dieu... What a mess." That said, the Revenant simply glances over towards the wizard, offering the man a slight frown, "Don't fool yourself into thinking you're not alive. You feel et hurt all the same. You're still just as accountable for all your actions. You just don't have a pulse anymore, c'est tout." That said, Kasyr simply straightens up and offers the pair a brief smile, "Anyways, it es, en fait, a pleasure to add you to our little group, et to be able to help you. ...Et Kirien, it's big enough that tu could both eat. ..Hell, if you found someone to treat the goddamn wound..." With a shake of his head, the vampire simply waves it off, "Whatever the case, I'm off. Keep an eye on each other while I'm gone. I need to figure out if ...Well. You'll see, eventually. Et it will be of special interest to you, ...Svilfon. As well as the Lady Ilydia."


Kasyr exeunts!


Svilfon snaps his head to the side as Kirien enters, dragging the finest looking meal the wizard has ever seen. As Kasyr speaks, the wizard merely nods, "Yes, alive, accountable." It is clear the words do not register. For just a moment Svil glances at Kirien, the look speaking of absolute friendship - he was so hungry, and here this man had hunted him dinner. It was a debt he would not forget. With a grunting, feral noise the wizard tries to stand, before falling forward. He pays no mind to the undignified position, though; there before him, leaking onto the ground from the great, jagged wound is what he seeks, what he needs... Feral now, his face filled with primal glee, the wizard crawls himself forward and drives his mouth into the wound. Like an animal he feeds, but dignity means nothing as the sweet sanguine vitae drips down his throat. His hands lift to either side of the wound, clawing his dirty nails into the opening and trying to tear it further apart. For a long moment he remains thus, before pulling his face away and flashing Kirien a blood-soaked grin. When he speaks his voice has lost a lot of its hoarse edge, "We are Coterie..." This was, of sorts, an offer for the empath to feed... at least the best offer he could give in his current, rather gluttonous state...


Kirien 's cheeks puffed out a little, the expression of slight exasperation of course directed to Kasyr. "Says the one who just slit an ogre's throat last time." Still, he'd be turning to eye Svilfon and the still weakly twitching meal laid out on the tavern floor for him. Inquisitive as ever, his head canted some at those words. "What'll be of special interest to him?" he asked Kasyr while Svilfon got down to eating, the tear and squelch of flesh being ripped further open and blood dripping causing the empath's ears to twitch, his pupil dilating of its own accord and unconscious need. "It might be interestin' to me too!" Mostly a jibe, and followed up with a faint grin, Kirien turned back to the wizard then, falling smoothly into a crouch at his side, a hand raising to pat him on the shoulder. "We are indeed Coterie~" He'd acknowledge the offer by shifting toward the mare's neck instead, leaving Svilfon to his spot in its stomach while he fed elsewhere and utterly ignored any sensations or feelings emanating from those patrons still present with them.