RP:A Dragon's Loyalty

From HollowWiki

Part of the Rest in Pieces: Vailkrin! Arc


Summary: Mais seeks payment for the wolf bounty and pledges his loyalty to Larewen.

The Hanging Corpse

Larewen sat within the Hanging Corpse, perched upon a stool at the bar rather than her usual place. The elf spoke quietly with Steadmen, no doubt about the current state of the warring city. House Dragana armed guards stand guard both outside and inside the establishment, and some patrol the street in front of it. The other houses are allowed to pass through, but face judgment from the darker of their aristocracy. The elf was dressed in verdant finery, mismatched eyes fixed upon the one-eyed barkeep as she sipped at a glass of bloodwine.

Mais paces into the tavern. On his shoulder, an undead crow caws loudly upon entering the establishment. Behind him a possible human skeleton enters the tavern carrying what seems to be a wolf carcass. The dragon guised in a crowd face makes his way to the bar top and takes a seat. "Whiskey, and...." He browses the menu "hmm fish... Uncooked" he says before taking a seat on the barstool.

Larewen glanced sideways at Mais, noting the undead crow and, for the moment at least, overlooking the skeleton and what it brings. While her left eye, green, studied the drow, her right eye, brown, read the threads of magic that were bound to him. Necromancy... and something else. He was disguised. Dragon, she assumed, but she didn't speak it. In fact, she said nothing at all; she only watched.

Mais pulls his head back in somewhat shock "You don't..." He pauses a moment "what do you don't have any whiskey?" He rolls his eyes then looks over the menu again. "Fine. I'll take a double of the moonshine" he says crestfallen. His gaze looks around lays upon the skeleton following him. "Dismissed," he says, and with a wave of his hand the animated bones fall to the ground with clanks played in various notes around the deceased wolf which now lies on the floor. As Steadman brings up his order, the pseudo-drow taps on the bar top in front of the fish. Thorne jumps down from his shoulder and begins to peck away at the fish. "I was wondering if either of you could help me find someone" he says addressing the bartender and the other in the bar.

Larewen finally spoke, canting her head toward the wolf carcass on the floor. Steadmen narrowed his gaze at her and muttered something unsavory regarding dead mutts. Larewen retorted with an all too sweet smile. "If that corpse over there is any clue, you're probably looking for me." Her voice was clear and sweet, like silver bells. The kind of voice that didn't exactly match up with the kind of woman Larewen was. She returned her gaze to the pseudo-drow, pale tongue making an appearance as she moistened her lips. A wave of the elf's hand saw the air between them shimmer and she reached in. When her hand withdrew, there was a small satchel of coins, which she tossed on the counter in front of Mais.

Mais looks down at the gold placed in front of him. He reaches into the purse pulling out five of the gold coins. Placing them on the counter to pay for the drink and the fish. he slides the rest of the purse back to the woman. "I'll trade you" he says. Pulling up the glass of moonshine, taking a sip of the dark liquid. "295 gold, to be let in" he sets the glass onto the table. "I'm not sure what it is you're doing with the wolves, but I have this unknown urge to help. So, here I am"

Larewen arched a brow as the coins were slid back her way. With a wave of her hand and a shimmer of magic, they vanished from the counter top. She raised her glass of bloodwine to her lips and drained it, sliding it toward Steadmen for a refill. Rising from her feet, she walked over to the wolf corpse and unceremoniously picked it up, slinging it over her shoulder. "Come then," she said, paying no mind to the fact he was still enjoying his drink. I'll show you, but if you tell... well, it won't be pretty. There are things to discuss that I'd rather not have listening ears for." She lifted her chin toward Steadmen. If she offended him, she didn't care.

Mais snaps his fingers before picking up his own glass and draining it in a gulp. Thorne regretfully leaves the fish on the plate and takes a half flight, half jump leap from the bar top back to Mais' shoulder. He stands from his barstool and ready to follow behind the woman. "After you"

House Dragana

Larewen navigated the forest with familiarity, and eventually the pair would be brought to the sprawling expanse that was House Dragana. She did not enter the estate, but rather walked around it, guiding Mais into the forest behind. Things could be heard moving around, their bones creaking in the darkness. Larewen paid the sounds no mind and instead threw the corpse down on the ground before looking to Mais. "What I'm doing is raising an army. The first step will be the wolves. If you wish to join me in this, then that can be arranged. I am renewing my assault on Vailkrin."

Mais follows through the forests following through a vague sense of familiarity. The noises if meant to spook or startle him failed. Following behind to the back of the estate. He looks at the corpse and nods. "And the end goal is to be queen of the city I presume?" Eyes trail into the forests. "If you'll take it I'll offer my assistance but I believe you'll need more then a few beasts to claim the throne"

Larewen lifted her chin in acquiesce. "You are correct; however, these wolves are hardly the first and won't be the last of my forces. Even now, House Dragana guards patrol the streets of the city. The city is at war with itself, and I incited that. Now, I am building additional forces, as you will see. I would tell you the rest of my plan, but you are not among my council. I will allow you to watch as I create the first of my new creatures." It was a show of power, and that was something the elf loved to do. As she spoke, verdant shadows gathered at her finger tips. Her hands lifted, and with each sway of her wrist, magic began to dance along the body of the fallen wolf. In time, it began to twitch, to rise, to stand once more. A simple spell, making it undead. That was not the end of her casting, though. As the wolf took its first step, it began to mutate and twist. Its head split into four quadrants and bloomed like a flower, its neck elongated as new rows of teeth lined its mouth. Spines burst from the flesh upon its back, crafted of pure bone. Its tail split into two, and began to twist in ways that were not natural for the lupine creature. Like whips, they swung about and spurs grew from the vertebrae that twisted and writhe. Its eyes were sucked into its body as a verdant glow took over.

Mais dips a hand into his best pocket and produces a small obsidian pipe. Eyes transfixed as he watched the transformation of the beasts. "Impressive," he says as he snaps a flame over the pipe sending scents of vanilla and tobacco into the air. After a pull from his pipe he exhales a cloud of smoke. "Must say, very well done. And to my remark earlier I wasn't prying. We've only met but a few hours ago. I wouldn't trust me either right off the bat. Not until we get better acquainted that is".

The creature shook its head and loosed a horrid howl before loping off into the woods to join the rest of Larewen's creations, leaving the pseudo-drow and the necromancer alone. Her gaze swept back toward Mais and she studied him for a long moment. A dragon would be useful, she thought to herself. She'd been wanting one as an ally for quite some time. Perhaps that desire might come true. The elf didn't extend a hand to him, she's not nearly so polite, but she did speak again, "And how do you propose we do that?"

Mais takes a second pull from the pipe "well if it's dinner and a show you're after there's some sort of fight happening in Larket, but that's hardly the area of knowing people. So I purpose a few drinks. A few rounds of questions and answers maybe trade a few stories. Not saying we'll be best friends but maybe enough to be allies"

Larewen curled her lips at the mention of Larket. Her relationship with the Queen had shifted dramatically over recent years. Now... drinks and a chat? She could probably spare time for that. "Just give me a time and a place," she said.

Mais shrugs "Any place that doesn't think moonshine is a substitute for whiskey is fine with me. "

Larewen nodded after a moment. "Kelay then. Tomorrow evening, perhaps?" As she spoke, she turned back toward the manor and began walking quietly. "Or you could come inside. I've got whiskey. We keep things stocked for our... living... guests."

Mais cracks half a smile. "I've got nothing else to attend to. So now works for me as will" he says warmly. "And I promise to be a perfect guest" he turns to his shoulder. "Narrowing his eyes the crow gives a caw and takes flight, flying off to the dark sky.