RP:A failed romance - Malkin and Tysinni's tumultuous affair

Background

A quiet evening in Kelay Tavern is interrupted by the entrance of an oversized patron in the form of the giant Malkin.

A gentle and romantic soul, the giant takes a fancy to the woman Tysinni, and pledges his heart to her, promising to take her away from the drudgery of Kelay.

But no moment is perfect, as there was a rival, and the rival's erstwhile sidekick, to contend with.

Love is ever rife with conflicts.

Scene One: Love kindles in Kelay Tavern

Tysinni listens curiously, following the conversation as best she could. Figuring she had the gist of it, she sighs exasperatedly, before turning to Ranok. "Do you adopt every stray you come across?"

Malkin throws open the tavern door as he lumbers his way into the building. Droplets of blood trickle down from his skin and clothing, the awful odour of combat accompanying him and permeating to the denizen's noses as he moves to the bar and orders his cauldron of ale from Mesthak.

Ranok shakes his head, "No, no. Gott, no. Nia iz more den enough for me. She's defiant enough as it iz. Dis vun Hy'm chust helpink. Tough, Hy kan herdly do dat if Hy don' know vere she kurrently iz. Hence vy Hy need Kornelius here aliff to tell me."

Tysinni grins and pats Ranok on the hand. "See, I always knew you were selfless." Her nose wrinkles as an extremely unpleasant odour afflicts her olfactory senses. "What in the..." Ty trails off, looking around the tavern for the source of the smell.

Cornelius nods to Ranok, even as he keeps a wary eye on the new, oversized, patron "She is, at the moment, in the mansion of a merchant who owed me a favour. He still owes me plenty more, mind you. Save a man's life, and he becomes incredibly helpful, wot. Anyway, it's a nice place in the country, fresh air, the kind of place a man could retire to. Good for healing, lousy for company. No doubt Isabella shall be glad to return to Cenril. How soon will you be ready?"

Malkin noisily slurps and gulps down the alcohol, saturating his garb and letting it wash some of the sanguine fluids to puddle at his feet. Turning to the gathered few, he emits trembling belch, which only goes to add further stench. "Evnin!" A deranged grin cracking his lips.

Ranok glances at the blood strewn giant. A hand pulls out a pocket watch and flicks it open. It really wasn't one. He only pulled it out to catch Ty's eye, as shiny as it was, "Now. First stage iz easy. Hy kan take de measurements dat Hy need und den make de attachment. The second stage vill take a few days. Two if Hy kan keep the fiddy stuff to a minimum."

Cornelius waves cheerfully to the giant "Evening, dear albatross!" He diverts his attention partially back to Ranok "Well, old bean, we shall have accommodation and food for as long as is needed for the task to be achieved. I imagine you'll be bringing your own tools? I cannot guarantee the merchant will have what you'd need, wot"

Tysinni is drawn, predictably to the shiny 'watch' in Ranok's grasp. Shiny things always made her happy and filled her with the impulse to acquire them. Ty leans forward trying to get a better look at the device in her friend's hand. Her attention momentarily wavers as the stench in the tavern is increased and she turns her gaze to the giant again, her eyes beginning to tear a bit. Tysinni said to Malkin, "Er....good evening."

Ranok straightens his lapels as he's examined.

Malkin silently continues to stare, the expression on his face unchanged, but somehow appearing increasingly emptier...dumber. All of a sudden, his massive boots begin moving, clumsily carrying the giant closer until he towers but a few feet away from Tysinni. He pauses, scanning his brain for an attempt of communication, "You're a pretty thing."

Cornelius murmurs to Tysinni with a smile "I think you made a friend, you smooth and seductive siren."

Ranok tucks the thing away. In reality, it wasn't a pocket watch, but a throwing weapon. Blades popped out the sides of it, producing a very handy device. "If hyu mean dat vunce dere, ve vill be schtayink ontil de kompletion, den Hy vill pack everyddink Hy need. It schould be simple. Tough Hy prefer to vork at home." Another glance at the giant. Uh oh. "Hy tink he likes hyu, Ty."

Tysinni looks equal parts disconcerted and faint from the smell emanating from the giant. Rallying her good humour, she offers the giant a rather dazed smile. "I, uh, thank you. You're rather....tall." She blinks up at him, not quite sure where the conversation is going, but willing to be congenial until something bad happened. Without looking at Cornelius, she answers him quite dryly, "Yes, I do seem to attract all sorts of attention. I think perhaps its my hat."

Tysinni said to Ranok, "Why wouldn't he? I am extremely likable, you know."

Malkin smiles even wider, in his boulder-sized brain, the synapses faintly flicker. Without another word he reaches down, his massive digits finding the waist of the half elf and slowly encircle her, "I take you with me."

Ranok stands up rather quickly, "Voa, dere, buddy. She's, uh. Mine. See de rink?" He hope that Ty had some kind of ring that resembled a wedding or engagement ring on her somewhere. He hadn't looked.

Cornelius nods "Well, we could collect her, then bring her to your home, if that would give the best overall outcome for Isabella. Either way works well for myself, old bean. I have some time to spare before Kuzial finds my little ...'love-letter' as you so amusingly called it." The dandy smiles, then murmurs to Tysinni "I hope you like the married life. I did, for the first and second marriages. Well, most of the second marriage. At least you won't have to worry about his ability to defend you from bandits and wolves and thieves." Cornelius is deliberately ambiguous as to which 'he' the dandy refers to

Tysinni is appalled to find herself being manhandled. Really, it had so surprised her, she hadn't even thought of dodging the rather large hand. "Hey now, I say! I'll not be dangled from your fist like a dead fish." She gives Ranok a rather panicked look, before holding out her hand that had a plain, simple ring on her third finger. "Er, yes. I'm already taken." Ty holds her hand out to the giant, trying to show him the ring. "Please, put me down now."

Tysinni shoots Cornelius a brief, albeit furious look. "You better not be laughing about this. My love life may have just gotten stranger than yours."

Cornelius isn't laughing, but the Herculean effort that takes might very well give the man an ulcer. He chokes out "Indeed. You seem to have a taste in ...large... gentlemen" then clamps his mouth shut to keep the laughter from burbling out.

Malkin , unfortunately, was not looking at Ranok as he spoke...He may have had an understanding of the man's words if the oaf were. His trained warrior eyes do, however notice the man suddenly rise. Instincts are his first reaction as a massive open-handed backhand is sent toward Ranok's chest, accompanied by a shower of saliva, "Arrgh! Stay away! She mine!" The grip on Tysinni becomes tighter, lifting her from her feet with her arms still having free range, ignoring her words as he remains in a battle-mode now.

Ranok is a large man, but being swatted by a giant is no joke. He goes stumbling back. Though appearances showed Ranok to be wearing a suit, the reality is that it was a little more then that. The vest he wore was woven Ghroundium and had strips of metal through it. What it meant that he was probably spared a fractured rib. It still hurt and winded him, however. But, Ranok, the ever hardy man he was, springs back up quickly. The pocket watch he had earlier was in his hand, though he's yet you touch the stave, "Hokay, dat vas not pleasant. But it bears repeatink. She's mine. Vould hyu kindly let her go?" If not, then the watch would be squeezed and the thing would have blades spring out. Out into the air the thing would soar, right for Malkin's face. The spring inside the thing made the blades spin and produce a delightfully wicked buzz as they did. The objective was to make the giant drop the woman, ideally by word before force, but whatever worked.

Ranok more wheezed spoke, but he was about as clear as he usually was.

Tysinni lets out a strangled yelp as she's lifted off the ground by the massive fist gripping her. "This cannot be happening." She winces as the giant strikes out against Ranok and she starts struggling, pushing at the fingers wrapped around her. "Let. Go." As strange and unappealing as her current situation was, she didn't feel as if she were in so much danger yet. Perhaps she was in shock. Ty winces as Ranok stumbles, the sound of the impact slightly sickening to hear. "Hey!" Twisting in the giant's grip, she glares up at him furiously. "That was not nice! Bad giant! Put me down!"

Bella frowns.

Tysinni said to Cornelius, "I think this one is a bit too large for me."

Cornelius ducks as the giant's arm sweeps in Ranok's direction. Chest-height is head-height for a sitting man, and Cornelius likes to keep his head both level and intact. "Why now? I have things that need doing!" The dandy slips from his chair and steps around so that the giant can see him. The dandy smiles, arms wide and speaks slowly and loudly "You have my sister, and that man's wife"

Bella said to Malkin, "I have cookies!"

Malkin allows a guttural growl to escape his throat as he stares the human down. The grip on Tysinni has not loosened one bit, barely allowing her lungs to expand to full capacity. Malkin is not a smart creature. His eyes might have been distracted by the shiny object were he in a less feisty mood. Through brown, clenched teeth he responds to the now duo standing in front of him, "No! You get a different! She mine!" He turns back to Tysinni, her words not being registered, "Don't worry. I keep you safe."

Ranok probably should put the buzz watch on hold to wait to see what Malkin does.

Malkin does not respond to Bella's words which must have been spoken from a great distance away. Any attempt of her to get close enough to be recognized by the giant would have registered as a threat and he would keep her in his target-sights as well.

Ranok reconsiders throwing the watch. For now. Maybe a little more coaxing will do. "She iz mine. Hy vas vith her first. Remember? Hy'll find hyu anodder vun. Chust as goot. Promise. Chust put her down."

Bella has no intention of getting closer to the big brute or sharing her cookies either.

Tysinni coughs, her wriggling intensifying as she tries to make Malkin loosen his grip. "I'm sure you would, but the thing is, I'm not in danger. You can put me down, no one is going to hurt me." Ty warily eyes the giant, looking for any signs of weakness. She continues to push at the fingers, alternating between trying to force them to loosen and banging on his fist in an attempt to make Malkin listen. She briefly registers Cornelius' words, amused despite the situation she was in. "I seem to have a remarkably larger family than this morning."

Malkin stares down at Ranok, his mind trying to make sense of this offer. "Why I want another!? I have! See!?" He pulls Tysinni into his chest, smearing her face and body in the mixture of vile liquids and overpowering odour of sweat, "You get another!"

Cornelius considers his options. Wearing armour, the dandy knew he wasn't as fast and agile as when unarmoured. On the bright side, maybe his ribs wouldn't suffer quite as much as usual. He casts a glance at Tysinni "Well, sis, do we fight for your honour, or do I get to be the bridegroom at your wedding?"

Ranok squeezes the watch. Now the blades click out. He gives Cornelius a subtle look. How best to go about it. He'll run chicken this time while Cornelius gets around back. Ranok would sigh heavily, "Alvays ven Hy vant to vear zumddink nize."

Bella said to Malkin, "Why would you want that icky peanut lady anyway?"

Malkin roars loudly as his massive brown orbs train onto the human's hidden weapon. "You see!?" He turns his fist to allow Tysinni view of Ranok, keeping her unintentionally at level with his face. "They try hurt you! They try take you! I no let them! I protect you, pretty thing!" Malkin reaches with his free hand to snatch up his fishing rod...Obviously a much larger one in length and strength to be used by a being such as himself.

Bella said to Malkin, "I bet there's lot of giant ladies like you, die for a bit a hunky hunny like you ! "

Tysinni tries hard not to retch as she was assaulted on all senses by the foulness that covered Malkin's body. "Nooooooo!" Beating at his chest with her fists, she tried valiantly not to gag. "Let go of me you brute! Let go, I say!" She tries not to think about just what exactly is coating her skin and clothing, a sense of dread finally hitting her. "If you want me to be your friend, you best put me down!" She sends fulminating glares at her would-be heroes. "I hate to act all damsel-in-distressy, but save me!"

Bella tries to `help` but ends up flying way and hiding.

Cornelius shakes his head slightly to Ranok, as if to disagree with the plan. A slight shrug of dwarven-designed platemail illustrates his reasoning, then the dandy springs forward. Against a normal human, a solid kick to the knee makes life horrendously painful. Against a giant, well, a kick wouldn't do it. The dandy assassin improvises with an explosive shoulder-charge, winged pauldrons set to target the cartilage beneath the giant's kneecap, in the moments before impact, he shouts "Drop the woman, you oaf!"

Tysinni said to Malkin, "That is very...sweet, but I insist you put me down. Surely, I'm a bit small for your tastes? I can help find you a nice large woman. With pillowy bosoms."

Ranok frowns. He wasn't about to be outdone. It was so strange. Cornelius, wearing armour. Ranok, the fine dressed gentlemen. What the world must be coming to. Back Ranok's hand goes, and then throws the bladed thing in his hand. The evil buzzing sound was completely unnecessary, but more for the rule of cool and to be a little more intimidating. Not to be outdone in the reckless department, Ranok reaches onto his left hand, yanking out the cuff link to reveal a hook. The other one was a lock pick that could be taken out, the this one was hooked to a bracer inside the sleeve he wore. 'Impossible to steal', indeed. The stave on his back remains where it is for the time being. Instead, he yanks up his chair and then charges in a flying leap.

Malkin did not feel much pain, though his body did absorb Cornelius' tactical blow by quivering it just enough to bring the powerful giant down to a knee...Unfortunately for Cornelius, his plan did not have an escape in mind as Malkin's entire weight comes crashing onto that one leg, directly above the head of the dandy. At the last second, he hears the buzzing sound of Ranok's invention zipping it's way towards the fray. It is already known the stupidity of the giant, but Ranok outdoes him by firing a projectile weapon directly for his hostage's sternum. Were it not for the immediate flick of his hand, the blade would have buried itself inside Tysinni's body. Instead it merely lodges itself in the giant's palm.

Bella said, " Don't hurt him! he's just confuzzled"

Cornelius does what any self-respecting streetfighter of Vailkrin would do when a giant comes down on one knee for him. "Yes, I do accept your hand in marriage!" comes out of the dandy's mouth as he uses his own momentum to spin around the giant's leg to the inside. As the Giant approaches a kneeling position, with all that weight coming down, Cornelius applies a technique known in the bare-knuckle fighting scene as the 'Gualon nutcracker'. The name is easy enough to understand as Cornelius delivers a plate-mailed uppercut towards the giant's descending groin - a punch the giant is hopefully distracted from by Ranok's attack.

Ranok drops the chair into a lovely position as he charges so he can hop up. It was a lovely manoeuvre, like he'd rehearsed it. Up the man sails, right at the kneeling giant. The hook is brandished, but not to attack. He was using it to hook into the first bit of armour he could, or if Malkin wasn't wearing the armour he seemed to be, the cloth. Once attached, Ranok would scurry with all the deftness he could muster. The suit restricted, but not as much as an off the shelf one. Custom tailoring one was expensive, but worth the investment. If he was on the giant, he would take a half second to consider what to do next. Climbing giants wasn't really taught to him in his days of soldiering. Then he gets it. To the back of the giant the man would attempt to scramble.

Tysinni watches the fight progress with both fascination and slight horror. She is of course worried about all those involved, mostly herself of course. Ty cheers for her rescuers, becoming silent only when she is just saved from a grievous wound. Her struggles increase in energy, now trying to pull herself up through the giant's fingers. Rather panickedly, she tries to get the giant's attention by banging on his chest. Meanwhile, she notices Ranok attempt to climb the giant and tries to help him by attempting to distract Malkin.

Kirien entered the tavern in the middle of a fight, it seemed - a fight that blocked the fox's path to the bar and his morning drink. Pouting somewhat childishly, he hovered near the door and waited.

Malkin makes an upward swipe with his wounded hand, still brandishing the fishing rod as his only weapon. The swing misses and carries on behind him, allowing Ranok his hook and climb opportunity. The powerful line already has plenty of slack with the initial swing and Malkin arcs his arm forward to smash down upon Ranok. Though there is some resistance in his usually effortless cast, the rod follows true above his head...and with it follows the very rare Cornelius-fish. The hook had caught hold of one of his back armour segments and snatched him up off the ground and over his head just before his uppercut made contact. Even as the rod falls down to meet with Ranok, the hook, line and street-fighter end up continuing on their path toward the storeroom door.

Cornelius had not been expecting that. Kicks, yes. Punches, yes. More foul and putrid smells - certainly. But for all his nautical yearnings, the dandy assassin had never really considered himself a fish. He flies through the air, as elegant as any armoured, falling bird. He executes a perfect, crunching landing against the back wall of the tavern storeroom. Unfortunately, the dandy forgot that the perfect landing was one that you could walk away from. However, being somewhat unconscious at the present moment, the dandy was not cognizant of such delicacies of definition.

Tysinni makes a rather muffled curse as she watches Cornelius flying through the air, only to crash into the wall and become quite still. The smell of Malkin's body is starting to overwhelm her senses, dulling the sharp acrid sting of uncleanliness. She is still uncomfortably clamped in one of his massive hands, and she fights to twist in his grip, wanting to help with her own rescue. "Bad Giant! That was not nice!" She's yelling now, and moves to smack him with both hands, even as she tries to use the foul smelling stuff coating her body to lubricate her way out of his hand. "I need a bath -so- bad."

Ranok isn't really in a position to be dodgy. As a result, he would be whacked with the fishing rod. Luckily, blunt weapons fishing rods were not. So, he would most likely be fine. A fine bruise would be sported, but nothing lethal. He keeps a hold of his 'mountain' by virtue of the hook. And despite the pain, he would continue his trek to the ultimate goal: Malkin's back, where he can do the damage he wanted.

Malkin roars loudly at his attack's ineffectiveness. He drops his weapon, opting to forego his trusted rod in exchange for his bare hands to fend off this tiny man. Unable to get a grasp on the man, Malkin does the next smartest thing that he can think of. He spins. Around and around he goes, like a...like a...well, come up with your own simile for a giant spinning with a human on his back and a half-elf in hand. Though, before he can manage to throw Ranok from his back, dizziness takes its effect. His grip on Tysinni loosens ever so slightly as the giant stops and tumbles backwards, his back and the inventor supposedly still scaling it making a rapid decent to the wooden planks below.

Tysinni stops struggling briefly as the giant begins to spin. She blinks, trying to focus her eyes and keep from becoming too dizzy. As suddenly as it started, its over and she feels the giant shift, his weight starting to change directions. Ty sucks in a large breath as the large hand gripping her starts to loosen. She starts to move frantically, the disgusting filth covering her body aiding her as she attempts to extricate herself from the giant's grip. She spares a thought for poor Ranok and the danger he's in, thankful that he had come to her aid. "Let. Go." She grunts and shoves down on his fingers, hoping that she'll eventually get loose before anyone gets seriously hurt. Well, other than Cornelius who is still laying on the floor unconscious.

Ranok clings on for dear life. Around he would spin with the giant, the hook embedded in whatever it was. His other arm tries to grab on to what it could, but it wasn't always a sure thing. However, he manages to. When the giant slows down, he takes advantage of it...and sorta half crabs along the giant's back. Malkin wasn't the only one who was dizzy. This would save him. Half way off track, only his arm would be pinned under the giant instead of the whole thing. The man was still in some dire straights, and a long string of swears is uttered as his arm gets more or less crushed. The man lies there, trying to figure out what next to do under the haze of pain he was in...and then got an item. But, that one would hurt too. Not like he had a choice. As his left arm was trapped, the right one fishes a ruby red ring out of a pocket and worms it on. The rock facing inwards. He was ready for what was next to come.

Malkin does not yet realize the outcome of his merry-go-round methods, his head brains scrambled and his eyes straining to focus as they look up at Tysinni. He reads her lips moving to her voice...'Let go' becomes 'Let's go'. With a slight strain and a burst of adrenaline he quickly makes it back to his feet, his eyes targeting the door and any who stood in his way...not that it mattered, the giant would plow over anyone standing in his way to escape with his 'pretty thing'. Thunderous footfalls cause the tavern to tremble, shaking it enough to wake the dead...or at least the unconscious. With Tysinni in his grasp screaming the whole time, still beating against him, the two vanish into the night.

Tysinni looks horrified as she is carted off to parts unknown. "No, you don't! Put me down! Help! Help! Abduction! Kidnapping!" She continues to struggle and yell as she carried out of the tavern clasped in the giant's fist. Spying her battered and bloody rescuers, she ramps up the struggling even as they exit the tavern. "Ranok! Cornelius! If you've killed them, Giant, I will be very upset!"

Tysinni shouted, "Put me down you brute!" Tysinni shouted, "I will not be manhandled this way! Help!"

Cornelius blinks, starting out of unconsciousness with a slight groan "Oh gods... and I haven't even been drinking." The dandy stumbles out of the storeroom, feeling the bruises as they develop underneath his armour. Then he sees the fight is still going, Ranok... swashbuckling? Impressed despite himself, the sore man mutters "Oh bloody hell's bells..." then staggers a bit before picking up a painful momentum - painful to Cornelius, that is - before slowing as the dizzied giant crashes backwards. He stops a moment at the storeroom entrance as the giant leaves, then sighs and follows, wincing as his battered body complains.

Scene Two: This is where love dies - a steep cliff

Malkin holds Tysinni close bringing his free hand to his mouth to pluck out the inventor's blade from his palm with his teeth. He spits it out, allowing it to drift harmlessly off the cliff. He turns his captive Tysinni to face him, "They try kill you. I save you, pretty thing."

Ranok appears from the south.

Malkin lets out a bellow as he backs up, his heels knocking pebbles, rocks, and small boulders from the edge of the cliff to the abyss below, "Stay away! She mine!"

Tysinni shakes her head vehemently, leaning as far away from him as the grip around her waist will allow. "No, no! They're trying to save me, not kill me!" She looks completely worn out, clothes and skin and hair covered in slimy, smelly goop, weariness from her struggles and yelling tiring her out. She still summons enough strength to glare and attempt to smack him with her fist. "I demand you put me down right now!" Ty lets out a squeak of fright as the giant gets rather too close to the cliff's edge for her comfort. "Stop! STOP! You're gonna make us fall!"

Cornelius canters up on an old nag he had purchased in a quick transaction from a very confused and drunk farmer. Well, 'canters' is perhaps too generous a phrase for the horrible creature's ungainly and disgruntled gait. Cornelius, fortunately, can handle a grumpy nag as well as he can a fiery stallion. "Unhand her, you stupid buffoon!"

Kirien had forgone his morning drink in favour of tailing the giant and his captive, it seemed. Whether he possessed a shred of conscience for the abducted girl or not was highly questionable but he followed regardless. Silent steps took the fox in the thunderous wake of both beast and girl all the way out of town and up an incline to a cliff edge; though he might be blind, it was not at all difficult for Kirien to tell where the giant had gone, feeling the heavy thrum in the ground. He slipped off to the side of the track before Malkin would spot him, however, ducking into the bushes with a light flick of white-tipped tail, his gaze flickering briefly toward Cornelius as he passed by. If he caught sight of him, Kirien might have raised a finger to his lips in a sure sign for the man not to give away his presence.

Malkin looks absolutely stunned as Tysinni's blow, however weak it was, connects to the cheek of the oaf. It's power did not strike at his body, but rather at his feeble mind and massive heart. A literal bucket of tears begin forming in each oversized eye as the giant takes another half-step back, a portion of his heel now hanging over the edge of the cliff. "You- You no want Malkin?" Looking through the half-elf his eyes fall upon Cornelius and Ranok, completely missing Kirien, and his sadness is transformed into rage. No longer does he hold Tysinni close. Instead, he extends his arm, dangling her far past the final portion of earth separating the two from a lethal drop. "I not have her, you not have either! She mine! She no want me, I no want her either!"

Cornelius curses, and unhitches the simple rope 'rein' from around the nag's neck. A walking leash for a horse, or a lariat? Tomato-tomato. Cornelius canters up, applying pressure to the nag with his knees to swing her around while he hurls the lariat's noose-end to Tysinni "Grab hold, if you want to live!"

Tysinni had been somewhat relieved at the appearances of both Cornelius and Ranok, alive and mostly unharmed. However, her relief is short lived as her actions had the wrong effect on the giant. She yells as he holds her over the side of the cliff, the sight of all that empty air and long drop making her almost as dizzy as the smell had earlier. "No!" She grabs a hold of Malkin's thumb with all of her strength. "Don't you dare drop me! I was wrong, don't let go!" Valiantly, she tries not to panic, though the urge is simmering right below the surface of her emotions. Tysinni leans forward at the sound of Cornelius' voice, reaching out to grab hold of the rope as if it was her only lifeline. Which it probably was.

Kirien flinched, briefly, when the giant turned to hold the girl out over the cliff edge. Her panic hit him and he might almost have moved, but it seemed Cornelius was already acting and so the fox remained inconspicuous and silent. The element of surprise might perhaps prove useful at some point; who knew?

Ranok takes one look at the situation. The contraption in his hands is considered for a moment. Then he raises it. The thing was a work of art. His finest craft went into the weapon. What Mirabelle was, essentially, was a tube mounted on a stock. A breech where the tube met stock, presided by a hammer straddling the middle. On the underside was a trigger. That trigger was squeezed by Ranok as the man runs full bore at the giant. The device gives a *ka-WHOMP* sound, and a flash of light comes out. No smoke, however. It worked by the specific use of crystallized magic. A sliver of it to propel another projectile. A very neat and efficient sling, as it were. But the payload was not as benign as a mere rock. It was another crystal of magic. This one would explode in a brilliant display of light, concussive force, and a spray of crystal shards. It wasn't deadly, but it was very, very painful. The concussion was enough to throw men off their feet. Or, giants their legs. If they happened to be standing very close to a cliff. His aim was the giant's wrist. He was trying to get him to let the girl go. As all this happened, the man was pelting full bore at the pair. Almost like he intended to charge right off the cliff.

Ranok knows what he's doing! Cornelius looked at Ranok.

Malkin is caught off guard, distracted by Tysinni's plea to calm the giant's frustrations. He watches, slightly confused as Cornelius' lasso comes into view, and grabbed for dear life by the elf hybrid. He turns to the action, taking up his size-fitting pick axe and with the precise aim of a proficient warrior, slams it upon the twine, severing it from originating point, plunging into the earth and leaving Tysinni holding merely a useless fragment of the rope. The other half might have come in handy for her as Ranok's concussive missile meets its mark, hitting the right nerves and releasing Malkin's grip on Tysinni and letting her plummet to her doom below... "No!" He cries, as he dives to grab hold of his 'pretty thing's' flailing wrist, grabbing her once more as he holds on to the hilt of his pick-axe with his lone free, yet injured hand. Those close enough to the couple can see the pick begin to slowly slide from its geo-entrapment.

Cornelius slides off his horse the moment the pickaxe starts to descend, tugging at the rope so that there is a decent length of it left after the giant's sabotage. He shields his eyes with a hand as Ranok's weapon flashes, causing bright spots to appear in his vision, then again hurls the now-frayed rope-end down to Tysinni and calls out to the giant in a cross tone: "If you don't help her up, I'll tell your mother that you've been a bad boy!" Lies, of course, but what did it matter? Anything for a crisis.

Ranok trucks right on by and leaps off the cliff wholesale. He goes into a swandive immediately, cutting the air. However, it was less swandive, and more reaching out. His face is one of serious concentration. The plan had better work. To him, time had slowed to an utter crawl. Tiny, insignificant details were noted and discarded right away. Mirabelle free falling where he let it go. The ache in his formerly dislocated shoulder. His right hand, the windswept gauntlet out reaching. The only piece of armour he grabbed. And, for a reason. A whispered word, torn away from his lips as he fell. And then a sudden, roaring rush of air. A column of it would slam upward from the cliff, enough to pick up the fallers and slow their descent. Ranok would catch up to Ty a handful of seconds and would grab her, bodily. A twist of the abdomen, and then his back was towards the ground, her around facing upwards. And still the roaring and rushing of the wind. The casual onlookers would have little clue as to what was going on. Perhaps a freak storm. More crystallized magic? A god's intervention? The reality was that the gauntlet about his right arm was one made to call the wind. And call it he did. At a great cost. It was designed to skim the energy off the life around him, and failing that bounty, from himself. On the edge of the cliff, little plant life grew, and the gauntlet would not draw something to death. That meant he was bearing the brunt of the cost. The enormous rush of wind, coupled with the energy spent getting there as fast as he could, the fighting, and dealing with the pain left him previous little to deal with. The wind would taper just as he hit the ground and completely blacked out. The pain of bearing the brunt of impact from the cutout, the drain, and the aches took their toll. The whoop was not as loud as it could have been, but would be enough to hear as the bushes and foliage break underneath the sudden weight.

Tysinni is holding onto the rescue rope with both hands but is distracted as Ranok launches into his attack. She's quite dazzled by both the mechanical expertise of such a weapon and the brilliant flash of light that nearly blinds her. Having been distracted herself, she is unprepared for Malkin's next action, watching in horror as he severs the rope to her salvation. "Damn it all!" What might have became a very impressive rant is cut short as Ty is suddenly released from the giant's grip, beginning the long plummet downwards. She lets loose a scream, sure of her imminent demise when she is yanked to a stop by a strong, painful grip on her arm. Dangling from Malkin's hand by her wrenched arm, she can't help but start yelling again. "Pull me up! Pull me up!" Cornelius' second attempt at rescue is gratefully received and she attempts to grab onto the end of the rope with her free hand. Even as she missed the rope, she would hear something like a roaring wave and suddenly find herself airborne. Much of the next few seconds are a blur and the feel of arms around her. She closed her eyes tight and waited for whatever end would happen.

Kirien scrunched his nose up instinctively at the explosive burst of unseen light and crystal shrapnel that followed to decorate the area, though he was most concerned about the residual mana filling the air in the wake of such a device's workings. A hand raised to quickly tug up the respiratory mask over the lower half of his face before the fox finally seemed to want to act, Tysinni's fall and the giant's diving after her prompting response. Kirien'd a soft spot for girls, after all. But alas, it appeared he acted too late and before anything could be done on the empath's part, Ranok had dove over the cliff edge and-- well, -something- had happened but being blind, Kirien was not quite sure what. He felt bodies hit the ground though and blinked a couple of times, sensing the tingle of foreign magic coursing across his skin and raising hairs. He might have shuddered, but managed not to sneeze due to a wise choice beforehand to pull on that mask. Kirien might also have muttered, "Damn it." And sniffed.

Malkin bellows in horror as his envisioned bride-to-be turned hater falls from his grasp. His eyes were still affected by Ranok's previous strike and the continuing torrent of tears. Looking up, he struggles to pull himself up, in his weakened condition, he most likely would have fallen if not for the powerful burst of wind which has managed to give him just enough momentum to continue his climb. Reaching up to grab for the ledge, his hand instead grabs a dangling rope, held by the also partially blinded Cornelius. Using the combined strength of the winds, his own grip on the pick axe, and the rope, he pulls his upper body up to surface, balancing with his waist, whereupon a final tug upon the rope should send the human vaulting off the edge, tug-of-war-style...After all, he is partially the reason why Tysinni fell to her death.

Cornelius blinks as Ranok leaps headlong over the cliff, and shakes his head. He'd say something, but really, it would be hypocritical of the dandy, who had pulled similar stunts, albeit with the aid of careful use of grappling hooks. The rising blast of wind spooks the nag who, now riderless, heads off to find the drunken farmer Corny had bought her from. That poor drunk man would awake later, purse of gold clenched in fist and being licked by his horse, and decide that it must have been a damn good night. Cornelius, in the meanwhile, stamps his booted foot in a fit of pique "Dash it all! I've been upstaged! Damn magic, gets me every time!" His attention is gained, however, of the giant's torso, Cornelius drops the rope, just as the giant tugs on it. Whether the lack of resistance sends the giant back over the edge or not would take a moment to discover, but the dandy was now reaching the point of 'quite miffed'. He unhitches his langenschwert, a light and versatile two-handed blade, and rests it on his shoulder as he approaches nearer the giant. "Listen, you great big lummox, I've had quite enough of your tantrums. She didn't like you, and you need to get over that, rather than run around like a big crybaby, ruining everyone else's day. Now, apologise!" The dandy bounces the sword on his shoulder, the raven's head pommel staring down the giant. It would be relatively easy to use that blade to ruin the giant's precarious purchase on the cliff edge.

Kirien was quiet for a long few moments after, senses going to work; fingertips pressed briefly to the soil so as to pick up the telltale threads of melodies and heartbeats that told him the two at the bottom of the cliff (and the giant climbing back up) were all still quite alive, if perhaps bruised or otherwise injured but he could not tell that from here. A pause and he eventually broke cover, slipping out into the early morning light and moving easily, as if it were no surprise at all for him to be here. After patting Cornelius briefly on the shoulder in some form of silent greeting, lengthy strides took the fox quietly to the edge of the cliff - far enough away from the giant that he should not be grabbed hold of, at least. Peering sightlessly over the precipice, Kirien made a face beneath his mask, frowning softly. "You two all right?" he'd call down, tempted to just go and see for himself.

Ranok stirs. That groggy twilight state between waking and sleep. Only it wasn't peaceful rest he was waking up from. He felt...well. Words couldn't really describe his state. And then some jolly fellow was up there shouting down to him. That bastard. A sarcastic reply bubbles to his lips but naught comes forth but a vague mumbling. A pity. It was a fairly good one. He hadn't realized it, but his arms were wrapped tight around Ty. Slowly, he forces them apart. His limbs were protesting more then they were reluctant to let the woman go. He tries that speaking thing again, "Hyu are sittink on my kidney." He was a mess. That lovely suit of his was pretty screwed up. The vest was torn, showing the metal plates underneath. His pants had a lovely rip down the side. Hopefully Cornelius would be able to recommend his tailor.

Tysinni lets out a groan, slightly the worse for wear, but glad to be alive. She feels something underneath her moving and it takes a second to realize that it was a person, namely Ranok. "Urgh..." At his words, she rolls off to the side, blinking up at the sky. She was thankful to be alive, but it was time to figure out the damages. She peers up at both the person calling down to them and what appeared to be Cornelius staring down her former captor. She frowns and gingerly sits up, noticing some slight aches and pains, most notably in her arm, that felt as if it were dislocated. Time enough to check on that later, she turns and looks down at Ranok, alarmed at the sight of him. "You look horrible." Her attention is split between her injured friend and the scene happening with Malkin and her other saviour.

Malkin growls lowly at Cornelius' taunts, taking a firmer grasp of the pick-axe which is now loose enough to tug out with relative ease. The giant has enough centre balance to keep himself balanced and make a swing if needed, should either Kirien or Cornelius get close enough. "No! I no apple-gize! You apple-gize! You killed the pretty thing!"

Tysinni said to Kirien, "I'm not sure...I think I'm in better shape than he is."

Scene Three: Hitting rock bottom and bouncing back

Cornelius turns slightly at Kirien's approach, and nods in greeting "Kirien old bean. I'm not sure what Ranok pulled, but hopefully it worked. Now, I just need to lecture this idiot a bit longer." He times the moment carefully, and as the pick swings by the dandy steps in just far enough to deliver a swipe with the flat of his blade, aimed at the giant's knuckles, even as he lectures "No, you big fool, -You- killed her, by preventing us from saving her. If anyone is to blame for her fall, it is you. You took her. You dropped her. You stopped us from saving her. You. Are. A. Bad. Giant." The dandy, with the timing and footwork perfected in countless duels and battles, is careful to avoid any backswings of the pickaxe, and will take any opportunity presented to rap the giant on the knuckles.

Ranok lifts a heavy hand. He points at the fallen Mirabelle. "Gimmee her." His words were said with force. He was still miffed. If anything, even more pissed off then before.

Kirien cast a wary glance or two toward the giant but beneath his mask, lips might've quirked into the semblance of a grin at those words. Smart enough to keep well out of reach of the brute's swing, instead he teetered dangerously on the edge of the cliff and looked for all the world as if he had no problem with it at all. A laugh was cast back in the direction of the dandy. "Any more scars, Cornelius? They're alive though, no worries." He was sure enough of that. The shout from below then had white-tipped ears perking up and the fox looked back round, reaching to tug his mask down and out of the way so as to smile broadly. He'd the audacity to wave as if they were simply meeting in the tavern, and not at opposite heights of a cliff after a near-death experience. "D'you want me to come down? Or maybe you'd like back up?"

Kirien seemed to enjoy asking Cornelius about potential scars rather than whether or not he was doing all right. Priorities.

Tysinni glances over at the device Ranok pointed to, before woozily crawling over to it. "This thing sure does pack a wallop." Crawling back over to her friend, she hands 'Mirabelle' over before tilting her head back to once more face Kirien calling down to them. "Er....I'm not sure yet." She gives Ranok a look as if assessing him for visible injuries.

Malkin emits a powerful roar. Not at the whacking of Cornelius' blade, but at his words. "No! No! No! I save her! You try kill her! You make me drop her! You kill her! You! *thud..* You! *thud..crack* YOU! *THUD...crack*" With each bellow of denial, the giant kick his feet at the side of the mountain. A horrible moan forces its way from the earth which once had held such vibrant strength, it's life sucked out of it by Ranok's daredevil assault. Tremors crackle through in a wide arc, far too wide and deep for the man, busy teasing Malkin, to escape with a single leap. Lifeless soil and plants carry the rocks which were shaken from their stability by the pounding begin falling away, dragging both Malkin, Cornelius and a massive portion of the mountain down below where Tysinni and Ranok lay recovering...Only Kirien was left able to avoid the avalanche of boulders, the foxish elf making sure to stay far enough away.

Tysinni belatedly regrets not yelling up at the giant herself as he begins throwing a rather large tantrum. "Bad giant! BAD!" Knowing that its too late, she still wanted to yell at some of her frustration. The ominous rumbling continues as the cliff starts to give way and she grabs a hold of Ranok by the most convenient means necessary, trying to scramble backward and pull the large man with her at the same time. "Let's move!"

Ranok sits up. He gives an enormous groan of pain. Oh, that was a branch in an uncomfortable place. He shifts slightly. A tired hand and a practiced thumb flips the catch open. White dust pours out of the weapon. He withdraws another shell. A white coloured shell is placed into the device. He tries to sight the giant hanging on the cliff, but can't hold his arm steady. He tries to hand it to Ty, "Take her. Use it. Finish dis."

Ranok also scrambles out of the way as best he can. He holds tight to Mirabelle as he flees away with Ty.

Cornelius murmured to Kirien "Well, Kuzial did manage to open up a hole in my right shoulder, and my left cheek now bears a slight mark from his blade as well. He was worse off though. I had to have him healed afterwards, the poor bastard" and then the giant pulled the earth from underneath them. A single phrase went through the dandy's mind then: "Bloody giants!" and he took the one option available to him: riding the giant down like one big, stupid pillow. Any attempts to dislodge him would be met with a brutal style of close-in swordwork, gauntleted hands wielding the langenschwert like a bladed half-staff, one hand grasping the blade beyond the hilt for close-range leverage and a sturdy defence.

Kirien flinched; his tail stood abruptly on end in surprise, a strange position for the sleek appendage which normally swished elegantly away behind the fox. Turning just in time to feel the first wide crack split the earth nearby, his mouth was opening to interrupt Cornelius and shout a warning when the ground ruptured beneath both dandy and giant, the two and part of the cliff sliding on a dangerous downward tumble. A growl and only a moment's hesitation before Kirien was following, though he would surely have escaped the flow of rock had he remained where he stood. Breaking into a run, the empath made a valiant leap into the fray, a shrill call leaving him - the earth gave a murmur and a rumble; a rough, forlorn sound in answer to the call of Kirien's abilities before rock exploded with a roar beneath him. With each lithe jump, another solid step formed for him to land on but Kirien's main focus was on doing something -- anything! -- about the massive amount of stone rolling rapidly toward Tysinni and Ranok far below. It was far too much for his skill but a good half of the rock at least would hit the base of the cliff with far less of a crash than expected; it hissed, was blown softly by the wind, shifted to sand at the last possible moment by the fox some ways above. Of course, not all that rock was within his ability and some boulders would still strike hard, leaving rough craters while Kirien faltered, sneezed, and fell the last distance to land in a heap of limbs atop a pile of sand and rocks, coughing. It was not exactly the triumphant pose he had wanted to strike.

Ranok doesn't really aim. He just wings a shot off with Mirabelle at the falling rocks. Another whomp, another flash, and the shell would impact the group to kick it all over the place. A dangerous series of projectiles for Cornelius, the only person in the radius that he really cared about, but the whole point of the gesture was to kick most of the rocks away in a wider scatter, to pelt himself and Ty with small pebbles rather then a shower of pain. It was a bucket of water into a fire burning merrily, and the larger boulders wouldn't even shift. He had no more tricks, however. Ranok was a defiant man, to the last. Thankfully, his little trick in calling the wind had pushed them further out then just the base of the cliff, after all. Some scrambling saw the pair through. The man sags a little. This was really just too much. "De tinks Hy do to be de goot guy." He would stand in front of Ty, anyways. Just in case a stray rock came their way. He was a gentleman, after all.

Tysinni continues moving out of the way of the falling debris, half dragging and being dragged as she and Ranok move to escape. Its hard to notice where the others are without looking up and she is using her uninjured arm to cover her head, so the other fallers wouldn't be noticed at the moment. Several small bits of rock and debris bounce off her, causing little more than a mild stinging sensation. A brief flash of familiar light and she's certain they will be able to make it to safety. Coming to a halt, moves around Ranok, unwilling to let him be harmed for her sake anymore that day. "You're the best. This is the worst…" She trails off seeing the collapsed figure of Kirien a little ways off. Muttering to herself, she takes off to check and see how badly he's hurt, a wary eye out for the whereabouts of both Malkin and Cornelius.

Malkin's arms swing wildly, attempting to regain an upright position in his downward spiral, this would be difficult enough, though with Cornelius hanging onto him, the task seems nearly impossible. He has but one choice...save them both. With slower speed than one would have preferred, the giant ties the remaining rope to the end of the pick axe and tosses it upward. As claimed before, he was a dumb oaf, but his survival instincts were as high as any in the land. With a mighty toss, holding onto the rope, the pick axe makes contact with the remaining steady wall, driving the pointed edge a deep length inwards. Weathering the falling rocks upon his own form, unconcerned to their damage they could do to the presumed murderer clinging to his back, Malkin swings on the rope and slams into the wall. The two dangle above the scene, the stunned giant holding on for his life and Cornelius'.

Cornelius finds a broad, manic, Cheshire grin creeping onto his face as the rushing momentum gravity imparted them gave the momentary impression of flight. Then the giant starts tying the rope to the pickaxe - which could only mean one thing: trouble. Cornelius braces himself, and pushes his sword through the fabric of the giant's shirt, twisting it around a couple of times. Then the pickaxe was lifted, slammed into the rock face, and the giant swung into the wall - and Cornelius, well, Cornelius launched himself out, using the twisted cloth of the giant's garb to escape his appointment with a cliff-face. And it worked, just long enough not to be crushed between rock-headed giant and rock-faced cliff. Grabbing onto the giant's clothing with one hand, he frees his sword - a task made easier by the damage the edges had done to the twist of cloth - and glances down. Fortuitously, the amount of time taken by the giant had actually left them very close to the ground. The dandy grins, and with a deft whip of his blade past the giant's shoulder, severs the rope. They both drop, of course, but not far - at the last moment Cornelius jumps clear, a diving roll accompanied to the clatter of plate on rock, and stumbles back to his feet. "I say... that was... deucedly fun!"

Kirien's eye closed instinctively when another brilliant light went off somewhere above him, though he would not have seen it even were it open. Most of the rock hit the base of the cliff before he did so now he lay listening only to the trickle of the last pebbles and the sounds of something happening up above in the cliff wall - a pick axe being driven roughly into the stone, an action that sent ripples through the earth to him. Emitting a low groan, the fox slowly assessed his damage; nothing much, surprisingly, save a few cuts and bruises and a deeper gash across the forehead where he must have landed face-first on a particularly sharp rock. Quietly glad it didn't punch further into his skull, he took a moment to struggle up into a sitting position, blinking blearily. Abruptly, he was overcome with another sneeze and the empath's entire frame trembled with the force of it. "G'damn. What--" Taking note of the fact that Tysinni was making her way toward him, Kirien paused then said, "I'm fine. I think. Where's Cornelius?" just before the man himself hit the ground near enough that the fox jumped. "I wouldn't call it fun--" A third sneeze. He reached for his mask.

Malkin leaps up, snatches his pick axe and runs off, happy to have escaped with his life...still never seeing or hearing the living 'pretty thing'...

Ranok mutters a curse. He has a clear shot, he doesn't have a clear shot. He has a clear shot...! He doesn't have a clear shot. While the others might be having 'fun', he was still stuck on the 'kidnapped someone and made me perform shenanigans' thing'. He looks over Mirabelle. She was rather banged up. A dent here that he was pretty sure might accidentally cause a backfire. The trigger was a little loose. The fall was not kind to the weapon. He makes a decidedly unpleased expression. He pulls out another shell. This one was coloured red. This one would produce a gout of fire. His supply of these was rather limited. But, was it worth using? Oh. Yes. Very much yes. Hands slowly go through the loading sequence. Thumb the catch. Dump the powder from the previous shot's propulsion. Pop the new one in. Close the breech. He uses both hands to raise up the device again. His target was clear and his motions slow. No words are said, but he does have a slight sneer on his face. The second he got a chance...

Ranok curses as the giant gets away again. He lowers his arm. "Gott dem, Hy'm tired."

Cornelius watches the giant depart, then slumps a little, using his sword as something of a crutch while he glances around "Ah, you're all alive. Marvellous. It occurs to me that I am coming to be prejudiced against large things, wot."

Kirien might have huffed a bit at Cornelius and opened his mouth to speak, likely to say something indignant, when he paused. "…Hmph. I thought you had a sense of self-preservation. Falling off cliffs and battling giants seems to hint otherwise." A glance toward Tysinni and then to Ranok, the fox's blind gaze lingering briefly on Mirabelle. "Suppose it's a good thing this time."

Tysinni spins around, looking all agog as Cornelius lands near them, for the most part unharmed. She looks up, squinting at the remains of the cliff, before turning and watching Malkin race off. "Well...a rather abrupt ending, don't you think?" She cradles her injured arm with one hand, shaking her head in disbelief at the entire ordeal. She's exhausted, hurt and covered in who knows what. She can feel grime and disgusting things coating pretty much her whole body. Turning to Cornelius and Kirien she gives them a tired smile. "Yes, I'm glad we're all alive. Thank you for being so heroic. Both of you." Ty gives a little bow, before slowly turning in Ranok's direction. "You're a rather handy person to have around, as well. Thank you."

Cornelius arches an elegant brow at Kirien "I dare say, my dear fellow, that this conversation proves that I am indeed possessed of instincts towards self preservation. Witness! I am alive!" The dandy laughs merrily, then says "I really have to try something like this again sometime."

Tysinni pats Cornelius on the shoulder. "You really should. It would be a shame to waste such a fine form and mind like yours in something as senseless as death."

Cornelius coughs a laugh at Tysinni's words "Hear that Ranok? You save her, and we're the heroes. It's a harsh world, wot"

Tysinni rolls her eyes at the dandy's words before moving over to stand next to Ranok. "Its somewhat harder to thank somebody for saving your life than you'd think." She gives Ranok a most sincere look, before placing her uninjured hand over her chest. "You have saved my life. I owe you mine now. Words cannot express my appreciation to you." A stiff but formal bow is given to her friend.

Kirien merely mimicked the quirk of brow right back at the dandy. "You know I didn't mean it like that. An' here you dragged me into it. I almost killed myself." With his own magic usage, but the fox does not bother to state that. Looking to Tysinni then, he blinked a little at her bow and would have moved to do the same had his legs not currently felt similar to the consistency of jelly. "Er-- no problem. Glad you're all right. Well. Mostly." He eyed her wounded arm a moment.

Ranok breaks open Mirabelle again. But this time to unload it. In its damaged state, he didn't trust it to not accidentally discharge. To suddenly propel a gout of fire while it was in your pants would go under 'very bad thing'. He casts a sideways glance to Ty. He looked a sorry state as well. Covered in dirt, dust, and a good amount of grass stains. His vest was shredded, exposing the weave the fabric on the top hid, and those pants? Completely unsalvageable. "Chust hendy, huh?" His arm hurt. His whole body hurt. It was force of will that kept him standing, and that only. The one strange thing is that gauntlet of his. It was impeccable. The metal was bone white, almost enough to hurt the eyes, but it didn't have a single scratch on it. The rest of his arm was not so lucky, a seep of blood stating this fact. He sets Mirabelle over his shoulder, like one would a sword, "Kome on. Let's get out uf here. Dat kliff face looks ready to sag even more."

Cornelius nudges Kirien with his elbow as he chuckles softly then calls out "All the stories I ever read had the saviour rewarded with a kiss, wot." The dandy was, perhaps, having too much fun with this.

Kirien muttered, "Oh, she's quite stable now," as his gaze flickered in Ranok's direction, "…unless you set another of those…-things- off."

Cornelius murmurs to Kirien "D'you suppose a thief knows how to steal a kiss from a dour fellow like Ranok? I feel for the man. He was wearing a tuxedo, wot"

Kirien nudged Cornelius back. Might've grinned.

Tysinni casts exasperated looks at both Cornelius and Kirien. Obviously, they hadn't really taken a good look at her. She looks down at herself, dirty, smelly, torn clothing, one arm probably dislocated. She shudders delicately before replying to their teasing words. "I doubt I could steal a kiss from my kidnapper looking like this."

Cornelius arches an elegant brow at Tysinni, then flicks his gaze to the equally bedraggled Ranok "Methinks you've chosen the perfect camouflage for a stealth assault on the man's cheek, M'dear. Would it help if we didn't look?" With a mischievous grin, the dandy makes a point of turning around, although he stands so his peripheral vision is still in effect.

Ranok always has enough energy for a glare. He does so. Dagger, at Cornelius. The man would be dead if only Ranok could pitch them with his vision. Witty retort, witty retort. He could do this. Just a little...no. Ranok simply didn't have the energy. "Standink right here. Kall be schtupid, but Hy tink dat tieves don' discuss robbink in front of de target."

Kirien eyed Tysinni, or her general direction at least but hopefully his gaze fell upon her at least once as it drifted. "I got no idea what you look like, lovey - blind, y'know?" Hidden beneath his mask was a teasing little grin but the emotion would be transferred to his voice. He sniffed some. She had an odd scent; but that was likely just the strange substance still lingering on her.

Ranok looks up at the cliff face. That he'd probably have to climb. Or pick his way out of a rocky ravine to get back. He sums up his feelings thus: "Modder fooker."

Tysinni grins tiredly, elated to be alive. She didn't quite care if they were teasing or not, Ranok deserved some sort of reward. "I shall give him a kiss, but only when I'm actually clean." Sniffing delicately, she waves a hand in front of her face. "I can't even stand being near my own self right now." She winks at Cornelius and Kirien, "I'll be sure to let you know so that you can be there."

Kirien nudged Cornelius again to get his attention, probably somewhere in the hip considering he was still sitting down. Using one hand to wipe hair already stained with blood up off his forehead and the deep cut there, he jabbed a finger of the other hand at the cut. "Guess who owes me a bandage and or a trip to a healer." Because it was his fault Kirien was here. Yes.

Tysinni said to Kirien, "We should steal a healer and head to the bathhouse! Er....once we figure out a way back of course."

Kirien made a face that was only half-obscured by his mask. "I deserve a kiss too, g'damn it. Puttin' up with all his crazy crystal shyte and that magic an' almost killin' myself turning a cliff to sand. But maybe later. After a bath." The words came out slightly more muffled than usual, likely muttered.

Kirien said to Tysinni, "..That's a good idea!" He jabbed a finger at Cornelius this time. "But if we have to pay, it's from his pocket."

Cornelius grins at Ranok, looks at the cliff face and then the ravine. "Well, what's a little hike to adventurous heroes like ourselves, wot? I know these wonderful Vailkrinni tavern songs. There's a lovely romantic one about Lycans." Cornelius looks at Kirien, and says with straight face "Tysinni. Her pretty face is the cause of all our woes." The dandy pokes the man in return "But I cannot believe that you would be so ungallant as to make her pay for your medical bills. Stiffen that upper lip, wot!"

Ranok just starts walking away. All heroic like, to boot. Tattered clothes fluttering in the wind.

Tysinni waves expansively with her one good arm. "You will all get kisses as soon as we get clean, I promise. I owe you for coming to my rescue!" She glances in askance at the dandy and the fox poking fun at each other and shakes her head in amusement.

Kirien had turned to eye the towering cliff behind him, a curious sort of frown crossing fine features. Half of his steps were still in place, he noted absently. "…If anyone's got some sorta potion an' can gimme five, we could probably get out easily enough-- without having to listen..." But then Ranok had already turned to leave so the fox trailed off, then shrugged. "Aight. We'll go the long way. An' -you- are the reason I was here." That last remark was for Cornelius. He grinned to Tysinni though, returned the wave with a certain amount of enthusiasm. "I'll hold you to it!"

Tysinni falls in line with the others making their way out of the canyon/ravine thing. She was beginning to feel all of her aches and pains now, though she felt she had escaped remarkably easy. "Bath time!"

Cornelius glances at Kirien "I know I've got a pretty face, old bean, but I was hardly kidnapped." The dandy chuckles "No, it is quite clear that it was peer pressure that got to you. Everyone was jumping off the cliff, so you just had to join in the fun. Really, old bean, don't you have any sense of self preservation?" The dandy starts following Ranok, and calls out to Tysinni "You don't need to kiss me, dear. The world may become jealous, and hunt you down all in a rage. It is best I remain an aloof bachelor so as not to inspire any envy-fuelled murderous sprees"

Ranok mutters, "By vorld he means Kuzial. Dat drow iz in luv vith de dundy." Ranok had some snark in him. He must be feeling better.

Kirien's comment suddenly seemed to have been turned against him. He grumbled something at Cornelius, might've grabbed him before the man could walk off so as to use him as some sort of crutch to get to his feet, but after that he'd let go and the fox would grudgingly be following the same path as the others back toward civilisation. "You still haven't let me touch yer face, so I can't say how pretty you are." A snort in what was perhaps mild amusement. He contemplated finding a stream to push Tysinni in, just to help dull that strange scent a bit.

Tysinni nods thoughtfully, turning to look at the dandy as they all plodded along. "From what I have heard about your Drow, I think I shall not risk his wrath over a kiss." Grinning, she blows him a kiss, feeling that it was safer and still called for. "There, I didn't even touch you."

Tysinni said to Ranok, "You'll be back to your old self in no time!"

Tysinni said to Kirien, "I didn't know you wanted to touch my face. I wouldn't do it now though, that giant smeared me in unspeakable things."

Cornelius chuckles at Kirien's words "You can take my world as a gentleman that I am, in fact, quite beautiful. An incomparable avatar of luminescent loveliness." The dandy calls out to Ranok "A fair point. Kuzial's ego is truly enough to encompass this world." and then, when he receives the blown kiss "See, my dear fellows? First kiss. That is just how wonderful I am. Worship me, and be envious. I won't mind."

Kirien coughed a little, eventually tugging his mask back down so as to reveal the amused grin curling his lips. "I meant him actually." The grin widened some. "But I wouldn't mind touching yours too some time." It all sounded rather strange, but he meant it all in an entirely innocent manner. "…Get your arm seen to, by the way. Feels off," he added with another glance to the dislocated limb.

Kirien then proceeded to nudge Cornelius again. In the chin, if he was lucky, with a rather sharp elbow. "I'll get you one day an' then we'll see how pretty you are, scars an' all."

Ranok just keeps on walking. He was heading home, if anyone was following him. After that, he was going to the Cenril baths. He deserved it.

Tysinni shrugs, not terribly bothered by Kirien's abrupt defection. "I plan too. Hopefully around the same time I scour myself in a hot bath." She picks up her pace a bit, coming along side Ranok and giving him a concerned look. He looked horrible, even worse than how she felt. "Are you gonna be okay?" It was clear he needed seeing to.

Cornelius catches the elbow on one of the wings of his pauldron with a grin "Really old bean. I am shocked you won't simply take my word for it. Shocked and outraged. Disheartened and perturbed. Discombobulated and confounded. In short, old bean, quite taken aback!"

Tysinni frowns and follows Ranok out of the area, worried over just how injured her friend was.

Kirien looked a little exasperated, though his tail continued to swish idly behind him, betraying the underlying emotion of relative content to those in the know. "All right, all right, yer pretty. Jeez." At least the journey back would be entertaining.

Cornelius -={ No doubt the long trip back to Kelay would be full of such shenanigans, but for now, the story ends with Ranok walking off with the stoic trudge of a victorious hero, with a trio of troublemakers trailing afterwards.