RP:A Reunion in Larket
Synopsis: Raevyn finally reuinites with her friend Artia in Larket, although, she seems to have brought something undead back with her.
Date: Nov. 20th, 2017
Ranch Home
Entering this ranch styled home you are greeted by a large foyer. Floors are layered with cherry wood planks, three different hallways leading to three different parts of the ranch. To the right is a hidden door with stairs behind it leading up into a loft bedroom. To the left is a large living room with book shelves along the walls. The books are full of different spells, potions and other magic topic books, some on different races of creatures within the land. This room would be a bookworms haven. Varies soft leather couches fill this room, wide windows are full in the walls. With cream curtains, and silver rope holding the curtains open. A grand pearl fireplace is pressed into a wall, offering heat and light. A cream color door is in the far back of the room. Within is Odhranos' joint study and bedroom. Half of the room is taken up by a simple wooden frame bed, set low to the floor and strewn messily with just a plain duvet. The other half of the room, the study, is strewn with all of the paraphernalia that a terramancer, architect or inexperienced dad might need, from piles of stacked scrolls and set squares, small crystals and piles of sand, to pacifiers and stuffed teddies, all thrown together haphazardly into a chaotic mess. Straight in front of you a hallway leads to a wood burning stove kitchen. The countertop is on its own island with granite tops, and a basket full of fresh variety fruits. Beside the fruit basket resides wine glasses accompanying wine bottles. Brass candle chandelier hangs directly above the island. Opposite side of the kitchen stands a large Bay window looking out into a backyard, with a four person glass top dining table. A white door is in the far off corner, leading to a bathroom. The bathroom walls are soft grey, with soft blue curtains for privacy from the window here. A natural looking spring, large in ground bath is seen under the large window. Floors here are a reflecting granite to allow the candles along the walls to illuminate a better glow.
Raevyn slowly traverses along the path from the south, her features concealed mostly by the large tattered robes that protected her from the elements. She was a bit of a mess still, hardly adjusted to her return from that forsaken forest on the outskirts of Vailkrin. Her hair was in dire need of a cutting, perhaps a proper wash, and her cheeks were hollow and sunken in- A side effect of not eating much for quite some time. Today was the third time in which she would try to see if anyone had been at the ranch. So far, each day she came to visit, not a soul had been around. It was strange for a place that often had visitors come and go; Raevyn, at first, was starting to suspect that maybe the ranch had been abandoned. And then the letter came. She had been alone in the dorms, reading upon her cot, when Brenwyn entered with mail for the young woman. A sign of hope at least! So, here she was today, trying once again to see if a familiar face had finally returned. As she approached the door, Raevyn adjusted her robes and knocked three times.
Artia had just returned, Ava had strict orders to stay at the stable helping out as a stable hand. In which she was returning home today, to see someone at the door to the ranch. Moving up beside the female, Ava being five foot three, with black curls to her shoulders. Looking over Raevyn with her one blue and one grey eye, “Are you looking for someone?” Ava opened the door, stepping inside around her. “Mom! Someone is here!” Looking back to the female she offered a smile, “I am Ava, Artia daughter. Who are you?” By then Artia had descended from the spiral stair case, moving to stand In front of the door. The once tan flesh was porcelain white, “Raevyn!” She took the girl by the hand leading her within the ranch, and into a hug if allowed. Using her foot to bump the door closed. “I been so worried.”
Raevyn startled with Ava's unexpected appearance, the dead eyed woman quickly stepping to the side almost defensively. With no sense of danger present, she smiled, head bowed in a polite manner toward the young Ava. "It is nice to meet you, Ava. I... am Raevyn. I am lo-" her words were cut off by an eruption of a deep hacking cough, one arm lifted to contain the spread of germs. before she could return to her main thoughts of focus, Artia would come into view and earn a very warm smile. With a hasty entrance and a tight hug, the frail woman looked over Artia carefully, taking note of any and all changes that had transpired since last they spoke, nearly two years prior. "I am sorry, Artia. I tried to go home. I missed my family. I..." Another deep cough interrupted her words. "I should have left a note. I am so sorry."
Artia :Ava had heard the cough, watching her covering it up to keep the terms from spreading. Stepping out of the way once her mother entered, watching the embrace. Moving to lock the door, then to the kitchen to start warming a bowl of soup for the stranger who needed to put some weight on. Artia placed a hand on the back of Raevyn’s head, caressing the hood against her. “Don't be sorry, you're here now. Ava is warming you up some food, what do you want to drink with it? Also how long have you been sick? Symptoms? Let's get you better. This is your home too, did you get the letter and key?”
Raevyn put on a bit of a smile as she answered, "I am fine with just water, really." The hood finally fell back to reveal her malnourished features,, spiny digits used to move the hair that had fallen over her face. Those heavy mud-caked boots of her were the next to go, both untied and kicked off next to the door as to not track the outside all over those wonderful floors. "I.... do not know. A week? Perhaps two? It has mostly been a cough and some fevered sleeps. I have been meaning to have it looked into." The young woman soon found herself crossing the main foyer and into the living room, where she would slump onto one of the sofas to relax and get warm. To Artia's last question, she nods and smiles, "I did, thank you. I appreciate that you would open your home to me again. I... missed it here." With a deep breath she would cough for a third time. "How... how have you been? How have the others been? So much time has passed."
Artia would not had cared if she put mud or any of the outside inside. She was glad Raevyn was safe, and home. "Juice it will be than." She winked with a chuckle, not saying anything on how rough Raevyn looked. Forcing herself to not show it on her face, "Uh huh, I use to be a healer so perfect place to be. I'll grab some medicine for you, after you eat you need to go rest in a bath with some medicine. I'll put some lavender and mint bath salts in it to help you rest. Let's get you rested up, then we can catch up. Deal?" Giving her another hug, of course had followed her. "You were missed, and you need this place as much as we do." Ava entered up a large bowl of beef stew and some rolls, placing it on the table nearest to Raevyn. While Ava was hear to keep an eye on Raevyn to make sure she was truly okay, Artia went to her cupboard in the kitchen to grab a mix of medicines. Ava placing her hands behind her back, "Its nice to meet you...everyone is fine. Dad left mom because she is a vampire now, I'm cursed I should be almost a year old but instead I am sixteen." Artia came back into the room with two vials, and one bag. "This back had honey lemon drops, they help with the cough. The blue vial is a cough syrup, the white is an antibiotic since you have had this for a while you need it."
Raevyn stared into the flame of the fireplace, almost entranced by its mesmerizing, flickering dance. She felt more at ease now, less rigid than she had been in the past few days. "Sounds like heaven..." she comments to the suggested actions of food, bath and medicine. When Artia disappeared to fetch her supplies, Raevyn would come to be surprised at the strange and peculiar things Ava would share. "One year? Sixteen? I don't understand." But that was not what had gotten her attention most, as was noted by her next words- "A... vampire?!" Raevyn looked frightened now. She had always heard tales and legends of the creatures. She had read the stories in her books. In her mind, of all that she understood, vampires were dangerous. The disheveled woman almost recoiled when Artia returned, almost hesitant to take the offered medicines. "A-Artia... what... what does Ava mean? You're... a vampire?" As the question was posed, there was a sudden passing of a black shadow across one of the nearby windows, as if someone or something had wandered by outside.
Artia ::Ava nods, "A curse caused Larket children to age, like myself or babies to be born early. Mom is working on a cure for me, worried I'll continue to age." Ava picked up on Raevyn being scared, with good reasons vampires were usually wicked. "Yeah, but she is a rare good vampire. Honest." Artia had overheard the worry, "Raevyn...my sire came to claim on a deal made. I'm not the normal vampire, I don't feed on blood or do that mind control stuff. Your as safe as Ava is around me, I swear it. Have I ever harmed you before or caused reasons to not trust me?"
Artia said to you, "ooc Sorry cooking lunch."
Raevyn seemed quite confused. A curse that ages people? Not a normal vampire? This was all so much to process. The first thing that would come to her mind was her vanity. Now that she was in Larket, would she start aging rapidly too? No no, she had been here a few times. Something would have happened already, wouldn't it? "Well... no." she finally admitted as she looked over her friend. Although, she mostly trusted Artia, she would never admit the newfound level of caution she had taken when it came to dealing with others. After what had transpired two years ago, she could not let her trusting nature overcome a healthy level of skepticism when dealing with 'new' faces. "I'm just.... I guess so much has changed. This news is a little shocking, to be honest. What happened? And what is this curse?" Again, a shadow passed over a window, this time closer to the front of the ranch.
Artia sigh, sitting down on the chair by the couch giving Raevyn her space while Ava keeled at the couch eye balling the stranger. "The curse came from a jar, each part of the land was affected. Luckily you weren't here when it happened, and I am thankful for that. Only children were messed with, I didn't get cursed or any adult. So we are safe. " Glancing towards the front of the ranch she swore she saw something, but for now she left it alone. "Ava, why don't you go rest in your room while Raevyn and u catch up." Ava nods, and leaves pushing on the wall the opened a hidden door to climb up to the loft. Closing the hidden entrance as she gushed up to her room, just in case. "Avians are allergic to the sun, vampires im vailkrin have no thirst or can't get full enough. So stay out of vailkrin okay? Eat and take your medicine, I have clothes you can have so I can wash those. You can sleep on the couch, or my bed and I'll take the couch."
Raevyn opened one of the vials and sniffed at it, eyes narrowed at the idea of downing the stuff. She never liked medicine, even as a child. Most of it tasted awful, despite her mother's attempts at giving the stuff flavor. There was a definite sense of discomfort and an almost gag-worthy look on the woman's face as the first of the vials was put into her body. "The couch is fine, I promise. It must be better than sleeping on a stone floor." The thought of not being able to go to Vailkrin caused the young woman to look disappointed, as she had been meaning to visit the library there for so long. With all that took place in the last couple of years, part of her wanted to go to find answers. yet, maybe Artia was right. It was probably dangerous. Even if she wanted to go, she had no idea on how to even get there in the first place- The maps she had were not exactly the most accurate things. "It's so strange, this curse. From a jar, you say? I could only imagine how something so... ordinary could wreak so much havoc on the world. Must have belonged to someone truly powerful." Raevyn would sit back now with a bowl of soup, probably delivered by Ava, and begin to eat eagerly, first and foremost to get that taste out of her mouth. Before she could speak again though, there was a thud at the front door followed by the sound of scratching.
Artia laughed at the displeased face Raevyn at the taste of the medicine, "Or can use Odhranos room til he comes back from traveling. I'm thinking on moving and leaving the ranch to Odhranos. Build a cabin and a basement, if still willing to live with us I can add you your own room? You never will sleep in the cold or on a stone floor as long as I am alive-ish." Ish because she was kinda not a live but dead. Catching such disappointed look, "Or I can go with you, make sure you stay safe. Rent us a room at the tavern." running a hand through her long waves, "Its an artifact from an ascendi, so very much. Vakamarsh was his name." At the thud Artia jumped to her feet, hearing something scratching at the door. "You leave a pet outside?"
Raevyn had moved into a cross-legged position while she ate, the offering putting a smile upon her face. "you are too kind, Artia...." When conversation turned toward the artifact, confusion settled over those sunken features again. "Vak... who? Ascendi? I... I do not know of these people. I think I will need to expand my research." Again, that thud sounded out, and more scratching came from the door. Artia's question was met with wide eyes and a shaken head. "The only pet I had was a rat and he died." Setting the bowl down onto a nearby end table, Raevyn rose to her tired feet and made for the entrance. She peered out the window, but could see nothing. Another thud. She turned back toward Artia and shrugged. Slowly, her delicate fingers wrapped around the door handle and began to turn, the latch unhinged so that the door was free to open. Before she could pull however, the door burst open, knocking the youth onto her hind quarters. There, in the doorway, stood a rather tall creature. It was bald, with brown decaying flesh, eyes purely white with no irises to speak of. Its nose had withered away, limbs missing patches of flesh and muscle. It wore ragged pants and a shirt, no boots or shoes to speak of. The creature stood there and stared upon Raevyn, a low rasp hissing out from its slowly lowered jaw. One step forward it shambled, and then another. A slow stalking approach toward the fallen woman.
Artia was glad to see Raevyn had relaxed more now, seeming the scare of Artia being a vampire was gone. In such made her relax as they continued to speak, "Ascendi are gods, I have a book about them. As before my library is open too you still." The thud once more came, Artia tried to tune into of such thing outside had a heart beat. She heard nothing, "Well then I need to get you a better pet, yes?" She would spoil the girl, as she once knew how it was like to have nothing. When Raevyn rose to her feet, so did Artia, glad she had sent Ava upstairs to safety. "Dint think you should open the door, I haven't renew my enchantment on my house but the upstairs." Moving closer to Raevyn only for the door to burst wide open. Revealing such a ugly creature standing before them, "Raevyn.." The memory of an undead who looked like odhranos an illusion for a necro to get closer to Artia. To use her for his own plan, but was shoot down as she denied him still. Using her vampire speed she picked Raevyn up to her feet and moved them into the living room. "Do you know this creature or is it unfriendly to you?"
Raevyn was frozen. She could only stare upon the undead creature just as it stared upon her. Again, it moved forward with a heavy step, the things seeming to ignore everything and everyone around it. It seemed to be on a set path, and for some reason, that path was Raevyn. When Artia sprang to action, it seemed to snap the young girl back to the present, her gaze finding the vampire when words bounced along her drum. "I have never seen such a thing! Honest!" They now had some distance, but that lumbering undead monstrosity continued to lurch forward, one agonizing step at a time. As another of those raspy sounds echoed out, the black haired youth began to panic, gripping Artia's arm rather tight. "W-what do we do?"
Artia listened to Raevyn saying she had never seen it before, "It definitely wants you though! Are you sure you haven't seen it before? Try to talk to it? Maybe give it a demand? Do you know how you abilities work? Is there a chance you called it to you?" Artia pulled Raevyn behind her, using the arm she cling too. Her fee hand began to leak out a black fog with green particles flashing within it, "If you can't control it I will try to send it away peacefully, if not I'll destroy it best I can."
Raevyn and the undead creature once more locked eyes as she spoke to Artia, "I swear, I've never seen it. I don't know why it would would have been called to me... I don't know anyone in this land. I have no practiced enough of my studies to even be able to control something like this. I could barely bring back a rat!" Another thudding footstep inches the undead entity closer to the pair of women, the rotting corpse now in the doorway that separated the living room from the foyer. Raevyn would nod to Artia and take her suggestions to heart, knowing full well if things don't work out that there was a secondary plan to kill the thing. Raevyn stepped away from Artia, one step toward the creature. "W-who are you? W-what do you want?" There was no response. "Why are you here?! What do you want from me?!" Again, nothing. Raevyn was getting anxious now, looking around for a nearby weapon should she need one. The creature began to move again, another step closer. "I demand that you answer me! Tell me what you want!" Thud... Thud.... Thud... As soon as it was within arm's reach, Raevyn began to back up and she shrieked. "PLEASE STOP!! GO AWAY!!" And just like that, the rotting thing stopped dead in its tracks. It stared silently at Raevyn, soon to cast its morbid view on Artia. There was a bit of a hiss and the thing slowly turned away from the pair, and began it's slow and laboured exit toward the front door.
Artia believed her, but for her to show up get scared then all sudden this creature show up. It was a bit curious, "Believe in yourself." Artia moved behind Raevyn ready to guard and protect her if it tried to touch her. First effort, if Artia needed to breath she would had held her breath in hoping it would work. Again it d idnt work, the creature got closer which caused Artia to get closer to Raevyn ready to melt it down if needed. The necrobotanist preferred sending undead vines up inside the creature to force it to leave then damage it. But she had two plans at least for a back up, placing a hand to Raevyn back letting her know she was her still. Artia would not abandon her ever and not even now she wouldn't. If anything at all she would send Raevyn upstairs and fight this thing to keep Raevyn safe. The shrieked words worked, looking between them. When looked at Artia she smirked at the creature, "Uh huh, I guess your ability will surprise you like mine do me." Waiting for it to exit, and when it did she would fix her door and lock it. "So I guess fear called it to you?"
Raevyn was still wide eyed at what had taken place. Looking to Artia as the creature made for the door, she silently mouthed the words 'Oh my god' in a mild state of shock, following closely behind her vampiric friend as the door was shut and locked behind the shambling zombie. The young necromancer moved quickly to the window near the door and stared out, watching the thing move off and into the forest. It did not disappear entirely however, as it seemed to stopped just into the treeline and hover around for no apparent reason. Maybe it would wait and get her when she left the house! "Ability? I... I am not sure. I was not aware that I possessed such things. I was just getting into my lessons before I moved to this land. Such practices.... necromancy.. were very much forbidden. So... my knowledge is quite limited." Again she peaks out the window, spying the thing pacing around the wooded area. "Maybe fear was the catalyst. But why here? It never once appeared while I was trying to go home." Raevyn turned to face Artia, a bit perplexed and somewhat embarrassed. "i'm sorry that happened. Thank you for staying with me..."
Artia remembered when she was turned how the black fog she controlled was actually choking her and came out when she was scared. Maybe this was something like that? Turning to watch Raevyn look out the window. Moving behind her, herself to see out the window too. Why was it still here? Did it only go that far in order to protect Raevyn at this distance? She did say go away, it did. But it obey the young necromancer. "Well, I guess we learn our necro magic together? I never been a necro anything before. When I was sired, my magic went dark and now I do necrobotany." Artia took Raevyn hand, spinning her into her embrace hugging her to her chest. Running her hand along the mess of hair, "You were scared of me, thought I was someone going to harm you. Thus something came to protect you." Placing a finger under Raevyn chin to lift her face to look up in to Artia eyes. "Don't be sorry, I'll always be here for you." She placed a kiss to Raevyn forehead, "You still need a bath."
Raevyn looked at Artia in a confused manner, lower lip folding inward and held under her canine tooth. "Necrobotany? What is that? I have never heard of such a school of magic." This question would soon fall into another line as she inquired further, "What is it to be sired? how were you sired? Why were you sired? I... am sorry to prod, but this is not an area I am familiar with, so I am sort of confused." In the embrace, pale blue gaze lifted unto the vampire when her chin was lifted. "I... I guess. I'm not sure that i like the idea that someone's deceased loved one would come to my aide. Especially since I have yet to even pratice such arts fully. it leaves me with an unsettling feeling." The young woman turns to look toward the window, but her attention is stolen when Artia makes suggestion of a bath. One finger is used to pull at the collar of her robes, a small whiff taken of the body odour rising from beneath the heavy cloth. She was right. There was some definite funk happening. "Yes. I think you are right. It has been some time..."
Artia smirks, "That's for another time, for now you need to go wash up get dress and take a well rest on a comfy surface. For now I need to go put wards back up around the house, then go find some food for myself. Stay inside or sneak out the back if you need to leave."