RP:Finding Skylei

From HollowWiki
{Act One}


Tyler shuffled through the busy streets of Chartsend with his arms crossed neatly before him. The human, who was usually found garbed in pitch black robes was instead found walking about in a blue traditional ninja suit with the mask tucked away in his pocket. Due to recent events he found himself stuck in his room at the Slippery Eel unable to move due to injuries and his regular wear had suffered from such as they began to reek like Gamorg's finest. Thanks to multiple visits from one of Gwenilyn's healers and a lot of bed rest the human had finally begun to look as if he weren't better off in a casket and despite the present pain in his neck, found himself out wandering the streets in order to search for his beloved wood elf, Skylei. It has been days since he last saw the half-blood and while he wasn't worried he found himself missing her. As he approached the small apartment the duo had shared his hand raises to knock at the door. He thinks of the other, the woman Skylei had spoken of Jasmine? Jacy? Something like that. A hint of fear rushed over him as he struggles to remain calm unless someone besides Skylei arrived to greet him. But his body acts faster than his mind and three quick taps are given to the door followed by his arms crossing and gaze quickly falling to the ground.


Josleen :: Perhaps Tyler should be worried. Josleen certainly is. She sits in in her shared apartment with Skylei, practicing guitar just to pass the time, but she lacks the focus true practice requires. Her legs jostles restlessly and she glances towards the door often. Where is Skylei? During one of those impatient glances at the door, Tyler knocks. Josleen jumps in her skin, practically throwing the guitar off her lap! She jumps to her feet and rushes the door, calling "Sky?!" Of course it isn't Skylei - the ranger has a key! Who could is be? Eli? Probably Eli. That's pretty much the sum total of her social life in Chartsend as of late: Skylei and Eliason. Imagine her surprise as she finds a blue ninja! "Uh… may I help you?" She peers at the stranger as the gears in her mind click into place. "...Are you Tyler?" She looks past his shoulder, searching for her missing roommate and best friend.


Tyler jolts as Josleen rips open the door and begins her questioning, the man offering a single step back away from the door as he gains a tick in his eye. "I, erm, uh..." His hand finds it's way to the back of his head and scratches nervously as he tries to speak. He was well aware that Skylei had already informed Josleen of his existence but he had literally no idea it would be so difficult to cope with another being knowing his identity. "Eh, I'm... I-I... Yes. Yes I am." The male swallows the ever present lump in his throat and moves his hand from his head to pull up his neck warmer to cover his mouth and nose as well as to hide his immediately present blush. A stressful inhale is given as he glances around his shoulder to try and catch a glimpse of whoever Josleen was looking at, though apart from some random street-goers they were the only two present. "I didn't mean to b-bother you, or anything. I-I, erm, I was just wondering if S-Sky... Skylei was home?" Caramel hues hide from view as the human closes his eyes and berates himself for being so awkward upon meetings. His feet ache and knees shake as his mind screams for him to just run back to the Eel and dive in bed for the next week.


Josleen :: Tyler's stammering tests her patience. Normally she has all the patience in the world, but right now, she's too concerned over Skylei to be her best self. She blinks twice in alarm when Tyler has no idea where Skylei is either. Her lips set humorlessly into a flat line which deliver flat speech. "You don't know where she is?" Ever restless, she paces back into the living room and snatches up her purse and a note. She hands the note to Tyler as she gathers her things and makes to leave. The note read 'Jos, Going to the library for the day. - Sky'. As Tyler reads the note, her finger comes over its top margin and taps it twice. "That was two days ago. Two! I thought… well, I hoped she was with you!" Having witnessed Tyler's difficulty with a simple greeting, Josleen lacks the patience to wait for him to get on the same page as her. She reaches to clutch his hand, and if successful, the clutch is awkward and impersonal. It's like a claw over the outside of his hand - it's just how her hand happens to fall on his and it serves its purpose: to drag Tyler through Chartsend to wherever she is going next! "Come on, we need to find her!"


Tyler remains near fearful of Josleen's demeanor, the human struggling to find a moment of peace as his eyes shift rapidly between the excited woman and, well, anything else. As she shows him the note he only has long enough to narrow his eyes and swiftly scan the hand writing before the woman mentions the date of the writing and snatches his hand. "Oh!" He exclaims - ready to pronounce that he doesn't need to be tugged about but, then again, perhaps it was necessary. So the mans lips fall shut and seal themselves as his face turns ever more red as civilians offer amused looks of a full-suited and well-armed ninja being pulled through the streets by a bard as if he is a spoiled child. Humiliation and worry set into his already fragile mind and the only thing heard from the man is a short, quiet puppy-like whine.


Josleen drags Tyler through the busy streets of Chartsend much as he described: like an anxious woman dragging a reluctant, difficult child who is also costumed as a blue ninja through the streets. Only Tyler is not a child, and his blue ninja attire is not a costume. Indeed, the agile armor concels a small arsenl of weapons unbeknownst to Josleen. She never stopped to ask. Her hand clutches Tyler's awkwardly, and from the looks of it, painfully. Her hand sits like a claw of the back of his hand, impersonal and cold. Her fingers may be slender, but they are accustomed to playing string instruments and as a result pack a surprising amount of strength. They needle into the back of Tyler's hand so harshly they blanche. She barely seems cognizant of the person in tow. As Josleen reaches the garrison, she ask guards for Eliason's whereabouts with the confidence and familiarity of a woman who's been here often, and the glossy-eyed stare of an imagination already running pessimistically wild. No one seems surprised to see her, but they are surprised by her living cargo. Atypical to her cordial personality, she paces past acquaintances without slowing for even so much as a simple 'Hello.' They point her in the direction of the training field.


Tyler remains mortified as he is pulled through the town and as they pass through the garrison he is flooded with horrid memories of his duel with Javier and then onto the training field where he now feels sick as he recalls the taunting of the patrons of this area. Wait, the name? Eliason. Aww, crap. Now he was going to have to face one of the first people he met in Chartsend as well. He pictures the large male in his mind and thinks back to the day they met on the beach, the day of Tyler's first battle in the Chartsend tournament. He hadn't said more than three words to the guy and wasn't very fond of seeing him again. Despite a seemingly calm presence he just seemed so much... better in comparison to the smaller framed ninja. Tyler tugs at his neck warmer once more to pull it higher up on his visage as he grunts in dismay, allowing the woman to continue dragging him about until they found their destination.


Eliason : The pair find the commander squaring off with one of the newer recruits. The boy had been daring enough to challenge the commander, thinking that he could impress the other recruits. The sound of steel crashing against steel rings across the Training Field as the recruit makes his first move. The attack is a common one and Eli easily ducks low and sweeps the boy's feet from under him. With an audible grunt the recruit lands upon his back and finds Eli's sword at his throat. "Never rely on your sword as your only weapon... A skilled fighter can attack with any part of his..." The big man's words, however, are cut off as he catches sight of Josleen and Tyler. A brief glance is enough to tell the commander that this is no social call. "Dismissed," he calls out, allowing the small crowd to disperse before approaching Josleen. "Hello, Love! What this all about?" He gestures toward Tyler with his words.


Josleen 's take-charge attitude to the problem of Skylei's disappearance vanishes as she joins Eliason. It's an interesting dynamic that develops organically amongst some couples. Until now Josleen had assumed (correctly or not) the full weight of locating Skylei, but as soon as she can see the one man who's always been able to shoulder and fix her problems, she relinquishes the burden of responsibility. She trusts him to take that weight from her, and believes he will do a better job of it than she. As quick as a blink, she moves from the figurative driver seat to the passenger seat: Eliason's here, things will be alright. She releases Tyler's hand and moves to embrace the sweaty legionnaire tightly. She's a jumble of nerves; her panic is evident. She pulls back slightly to speak more comfortably, her arms still cradling his. "Collin, it's Skylei." She speaks far quicker than usual. "She's gone! Missing for two, nearly three days now. I don't know where she is, and I just have a bad feeling about this." She frowns severely. "She told me she was going to the library, but you know how Skylei is." She shakes her head slightly. Why must Skylei always lie about these things? Remembering that Tyler exists, she introduces the men unaware they've met before. She is also unaware of the clandestine nature of Tyler's identity and his relationship status. Skylei and Tyler may want to invest in social circle memos! "This it Tyler, Skylei's boyfriend."


Tyler brings his hand to massage the other that held the ungodly vice grip of Josleen's wraith upon it. The blue-suited ninja casting caramel eyes to face Eliason and offer a swift nod in his general direction of acknowledgement. As Josleen introduces the human he feels his heart sink once again. When did he completely lose control of his own life including introduction? Still feeling abused the man would move to cross his arms while the duo before him interacted with one another. With his head tilting up to the sky he fights the urge to panic over Skylei's disappearance, shout in frustration at his current situation and breakdown from the panic attack that was quickly trying to set in.


Eliason takes a moment to shut out the world when Josleen embraces him, reveling briefly in the feeling of the bard in his arms. However, as quickly as the moment begins, it ends with Jos stepping back and speaking her words. The commander listens, then turns to Tyler upon being introduced. "Tyler... You were in the Fighting Championship, weren't you?" Though Eli has met the unmasked Tyler, he has only seen this one in action during his first duel. Quickly shaking off the question as unecessary, Eli steps back and regards the others. "Alright, let me make sure I've got this right... Nearly three days ago, Skylei told you that she was going to the library and never returned." He gestures toward Josleen to indicate that he means her. He then turns his sapphire gaze upon Tyler. "Skylei is your girlfriend and you don't know where she is... when was the last time you spoke with her?"


Josleen :: Eliason quickly falls into the role Josleen expected of him, reinforcing that dynamic. This is exactly why she comes to him. When he repeats her story, she nods a confirmation. As the paladin speaks to Tyler, her hand snakes down to interlace with Eliason's. It's such a different grasp. It's warm, comforting, familiar. Her fingers neither needle nor blanche. As the men speak, she scrutinizes Tyler: his attire, build, mien. Is there a hint of condescending judgment in her stare? The bard does her best to keep her criticism hidden but she doesn't benefit from a ninja mask.


Tyler attempts to keep his eyes off of the couple before him but confronts himself as the action could be taken as rude, then again isn't it rude to stare? While he is busy simply trying to decide if it's alright to look at them, Eliason drops a question that makes his heart skip a beat. How the hell did he know he was in the tournament? His eyes jolt to look at his current clothing and an "Oh... right." moment occurs. Tyler inhales deeply through his nostrils and concentrates as he moves to calm himself. He begins moving his thoughts from actions and self-presentation to the true matter at hand, Skylei. As he exhales the shaking in his legs would slowly cease and his eyes would refocus into a look of determination rather than confusion and fear. Gripping the warmer around his face he tugs the wool cloth from it's rest to reveal his full complexion. An idle glance is provided to Josleen as he takes note of her judging stare but pushes it from his mind as his own misinterpretation. His attention then falls upon the behemoth standing a few feet before him. As his lips part, his voice is presented in a more calm and firm display than when he'd arrived at Josleen's doorstep. "Friday. She came to visit me at the Eel and spent the night. When I awoke, she'd left. I've been stuck in the dirty pub all weekend and simply assumed she'd been caught up in work or catching up with this one." A slender digit is offered in the direction of the bard before the hand falls upon the hilt of one of the multiple Kunai resting on his belt.


Eliason raises a brow but offers no comment as Tyler reveals his face. This is the same man that he'd met on the beach with Raphaline? Interesting. He files that information away for future reference. The legionnaire then spares a glance toward Josleen, catching sight of her disapproving look toward the man before them. Silently his mind works through the stories, trying to come up with a timeline for what could have happened. After a moment, he shakes his head and calls out. "Ackeron!" The man watches as a burly dwarf approaches them. "Ackeron, I want you to take anyone that's not on patrol and sweep the town. I'm looking for Lady Skylei of the University. I want her found immediately..." The dwarf lowers his head in acknowledgement. "Yes, sir." He then turns and runs off to begin the search. Eli then turns his eyes back to Josleen. "Did she which library she was going to? This is important..."


Josleen 's eyes follow Tyler's hand to his weapon and narrow there for a moment before lifting towards Eliason when addressed. "She didn't. She just left a note saying she was going to the university for the day. But… I mean, it's Skylei. For all we know, she was going to Rynvale. She's just-" Instead of finishing the thought, Josleen purses her lips and shakes her head in disapproval. "I just hope she's alright. I hope my bad feeling is nothing more than that." She pauses briefly as she recalls a recent conversation with the other half-elf. "She's also been doing some mysterious work in Vailkrin, of all places." Suddenly Tyler is good enough to be glanced upon with interest rather than suspicion. "Do you know what she's been doing there?"


Eliason shakes his head, offering Josleen's hand a light squeeze in reassurance. "We'll know soon enough if she's in Chartsend. If she's not, then we'll find her." His gaze rests upon Tyler, silently appraising the man for a moment. The commander doesn't like the man's evasive explanation about why Skylei was upset with him, but he reserves judgement for the moment. "You know Skylei... She could have just found something interesting to study and lost all track of time. But I won't rule anything out at this point. In these lands it's too dangerous to do so. If something's happened we're going to need your knowledge of her... So, please continue to think about it. If you think of something, don't be a hero, let us know so that we can get her back together. Agreed?"


Josleen shakes her head at Eliason's optimism. "No, she would send a note. She is secretive sometimes, sure, but we always write to let each other know we're alright, and so far, if one of us isn't writing, it's because we're not alright." Her palms open upwards as she shrugs in small apology for her pessimism; that's the short of it. "I know Skylei. She is like a sister to me." Apparently Josleen knows Skylei better than Tyler. Her faces searches Eliason's for the next move. "So what do we do now as your men search Chartsend?" Despite the grim situation, a small thrill vaults through Josleen as she utters the phrase 'your men.' It's pretty hot.


Tyler lets his gaze shift between Josleen and Eliason, the man confronted with feelings of admiration and disgust upon the both of them. In his mind it had become clear that Josleen had been judging him since they met mere moments ago, and after all she'd already made an ass of him by pulling him through the streets. Why did he let that happen again? He then stares to Eliason and all he can seem to think about are the various stories he's heard of the man. A moments thought is given to Eliason's request and a curt nod is given as the face warmer is pulled back above the bridge of his nose and his full mask is pulled from it's hide within his pocket and pulled down around his skull to hide the defiant smirk that now plagues his visage. "Yeah, no heros..." The man's voice holds a different tone now, one close to anger as he begins moving away from the duo when Josleen inquires of the trios next move. "You two can do whatever it is you people do, but I'm not gonna' sit here and twiddle my thumbs relying on some bloody jarheads to get anything done. I'm heading to Vailkrin, if I find her, I'll make sure she writes." His last remark clearly a punch of jealousy towards Josleen's relationship with Skylei. His back turned to the love birds he finds himself caring little for their aid or well-being. The awkward encounter only brought about raw emotion and memories of why Tyler hated people in the first place.


Eliason lofts a brow at Tyler's sudden condescending voice, his wavering opinion of the man suddenly diminishing to zero. Shaking his head, he waves a dismissive hand toward the "ninja" and turns his full attention to Josleen. "I think the best thing we can do now is to search the apartment for anything that may tell us where she might be. Maybe she's left something behind that can point us in the right direction..."


Josleen mimics Eliason's growing impatience for Tyler. Where Eliason's brow lifts, Josleen's knit as she narrows her eyes hawkishly at the man. Eliason dismisses Tyler with much more tact than the bard would have. As Tyler turns his back on them, the bard mouths to Eliason, 'Who is this guy?' She takes a deep breath to let the awkward moment pass before calling out to Tyler, "Would you just stop? I want to go look for her too, and we're better off in numbers." She turns a pleading look to Eliason, preemptively requesting his understanding as she assumes the paladin won't like her physical involvement. "Tyler's right about one thing. I can't just sit here either. Why don't we go back to the apartment, look through her books for clues for the next hour or so. By then most of the city will have been swept and we'll know whether or not we need to set out for Vailkrin, or -somewhere else.-" She emphasizes the last pair of words for Tyler's benefit. Her tone implores him to consider the possibility that Skylei may not be in Vailkrin and he is setting off on a goose chase with zero evidence. "Knowing Skylei, she isn't in the city, but I am glad men are searching for her here. If she doesn't turn up in a couple hours, we need to look at other options. I just want to make the most of time, Collin."


Tyler can feel the burning stare of Eliason and Josleen in his back as he moves to make his exit, though it is upon Josleens' specific request for him to halt that he finds his feet planted firmly on the ground. Why was he doing this? His breathing was rapid and despite his best at trying to hide his distress it looked as if his heart were literally beating out of his chest and his knees were shaking. His jaw spazzed and flexed uncontrollably as he argues with himself to simply keep walking and leave these two to depise him in peace. Though for some reason, he doesn't. Turning on his heel the human slowly approaches the duo again and keeps his head aimed down to the ground. It was clear, Tyler didn't like either of them and the feeling was mutual. Though despite his personal issues with the new found acquaintances, his want to find Skylei was greater than his distress and so he decides to remain at the side of the snooty judgmental bard and by-the-books military brat. He would offer them no words as he felt it would only cause more issues. Instead, he simply stands idle ready to follow their lead.



{Act Two}


Eliason rubs his eyes wearily as he searches through the books and scrolls upon the bench. The return of the dwarf soldier with news that Skylei was not in Chartsend had elicited a panic in his friends, thus bringing a new urgency to the search. Through it all, Eli has tried to remain calm and focused; attempting to provide an anchor of positivity especially for Jos. Gritting his teeth against the frustration of not finding any clues yet, the big man sets the last book back on the bench and shakes his head. It is at this moment that one of the instructors makes their way through the door and looks at the Eli inquiringly. "May I help you," she asks, obviously not happy with a military presence in this place of learning.


Josleen :: Less than a half hour has passed since the group split to find Skylei's trail. Josleen went home to root out clues from Skylei's mess of things. The women have different expectations for levels of cleanliness, which is to say Skylei has none and Josleen dislikes dust bunny sculptures. It's a difficult roommate situation, to put it mildly. During her sleuthing, the bard found a melted piece of toffee wedged between the cushions on the sofa Skylei sleeps on. Were Skylei home and well, Josleen would likely have turned a stiff lip to the discovery, but given the circumstances, the toffee nearly brought her to tears. It may be a gross thing, but gods dammit, it's Skylei's gross thing. Eliason may have noticed Josleen's reluctance to have him over at her apartment. She always has an excuse to not see him there, and Skylei's uncontainable mess is definitely one half of that equation. The other half remains a mystery! The bard makes a beeline for the paladin, waving half-hearted greetings at a couple of acquaintances she's met through Skylei as she passes by. The busybody instructor is given an assessing once-over as Josleen joins them. With a cordial charm and rehearsed smile she asks, "Could you please give us a minute?" If Josleen notices the instructor's suspicions, she opts not to give them credence by dwelling on them. Act like you belong and people will think you do! She gives Eliason an urgent look, holding up a book and a notepad for him to take. "I think I found something." The book discusses at length the lycan pack in Vailkrin and the notepad collects Skylei's musings and interests in werewolves. "...This is really dangerous, Collin."


Eliason nods to the instructor, cordial, but not friendly, as if to say, "Wait just a minute, we're not done..." The big man meets Josleen's urgent gaze with a reassuring smile. "Alright, let's see..." He takes the books and notes, ruffling through them quickly and scanning them for anything that might jump out at him. Whispering a very unpaladinlike expletive under his breath, he snaps the book shut and hands it back to the bard. "Dangerous... yeah, I wish she would have just left a note or something telling us where she was going..." He pauses, chewing on his lower lip as he thinks. His thoughts are cut short, however, by the woman that has been standing by not-so-patiently. "Who? Skylei? She went to Cenril..." Eli's sapphire gaze snaps toward the woman and he steps toward her. "How do you know that?" he demands. With a huff at the man's brutish appearance and threatening manner, she turns and walks toward the door. "That's where she said she was going..." the girl's voice trails off as she exits the door. The commander clenches his jaw, looking down at the clues that Josleen had found and comparing the threat with the instructor's words. "We can't count on anything.... I'll go to Vailkrin and look. And I'll send someone to Cenril to see about that."


Josleen perks up when the woman mentions Skylei. Her lips part to ask for more detail, but before she can make a sound Eliason cuts her off by bullishly stepping towards the woman and demanding answers. He scared a clue right off. Josleen follows the fleeing woman, clicking her tongue in disapproval as she passes Eliason. "Was that really necessary?" she protests, her words hushed and disapproving. She follows the stranger into the hallway, calling out softly, "Wait a moment! Please, I only need a minute!"


Eliason rubs his face in frustration as Josleen brushes past him to follow the woman. Silently, he wonders to himself what has truly gotten into him. In the time since their return from Frostmaw, the man has shown a marked lack of patience with those serving under him. And those not serving under him, the residents of the town have shown a fear of the man's presence where they had shown only acceptance before he had left. Idly, he rubs at the slowly diminishing scar on his forehead from the Winter Wolf's bite. The sign of movement draws his eyes to a mirror on the wall near him and he stops to take a good look at himself. With his new scars and the strange wild look to his eyes, he finally begins to understand what people see when they look at him. For a moment, he feels like he is not looking at Collin Eliason, but at Trarg, once again. He quickly averts his gaze from the horror staring back at him and lowers his face into his hands.


Josleen :: The chase proved fruitless. The woman didn't know much more than 'Cenril.' Josleen returns to the room to find Collin with his face buried in shame. Her demeanor softens considerably as she steps towards the soldier. "Hey…" she coos. Her hand comes to rest habitually on his back, but to her frustration finds armor. He can't properly feel her soothing touch through that. She adjusts, reaching up to stroke his hair, and if he looks up from his face, to caress his cheek with her knuckles before fanning her thumb across the same rough flesh and cupping his jaw. "What's wrong, -?" The questions sounds incomplete. The cadence allowed for a pet name - some term of endearment - but she cuts herself off. She's yet to ever call him by anything other than Collin. No love, no dear, no honey.


Eliason quickly swipes away at his eyes at the sound of Josleen's approach. It wouldn't do to have her see him so vulnerable when Skylei is in danger. But, as always, she sees right through his mask and intuitively knows that something is going on within him. The feeling of her hand on his hair elicits a softening of his features and he raises his head to meet her gaze. His eyes are red, but a genuine smile creases his lips as he meets her eyes. "It's nothing... I just want to find Skylei. I'm frustrated that she could just disappear..." He knows that Josleen will hear past his words and see that there is more depth to his sudden sorrow, but he hopes that she will not press the issue yet. The man is not sure that he can talk of his time of captivity yet. Though he's been healed by her touch and returned to himself, the scars of his captivity obviously run deeper than he has expressed.


Josleen doesn't buy his story for a second, but knows him well enough to refrain from pushing. Instead, she kisses him sweetly, rising onto the balls of her feet to reach. "Why don't I go with you to Vailkrin? The long trip will be good for us. I wish it were under different circumstances, but…" It's the silver-lining, and an opportunity for them to talk about whatever troubles him. Unless Tyler comes along - in his maddening ninja outfit. It's like babysitting. She grins at a private thought, her stare smoldering to a knowing, impish flirt as she opts to share her joke with the paladin to cheer him (and also cut him off before he can protest about her tag-along idea). "You know the city's recent population boom problem? Tyler is a perfect poster boy for family planning. Just picture an illustration of him play fighting with the tag line 'This could happen to you' over a bin of lambskins." She laughs cruelly. Tyler brings out her mean girl. For whatever reason, he gets under her skin in the special way only a special ninja can.


Eliason is just about to protest, their last trip to the Vailkrin area coming immediately to mind, but he is cut off by her flirtatious smile and that look in her eye. How does she disarm him so easily. Her joke even draws out a low chuckle from the man and he shakes his head, reaching up gently push a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You always know how to cheer me up, don't you? I guess it's pointless to try to convince you that Vailkrin is too dangerous..." Indeed, he knows even as he says the words that the bard will be at his side for this trip and the thought is too comforting to ignore. Though he worries about her safety, Eli is a sucker for having her near him as much as possible. An exasperated sigh escapes him, however, as he remembers the idea of Tyler. "I suppose he's going to want to come along... I wonder if we can convince him to lose the suit."



Josleen grins at her double victory: Eliason has been cheered for the moment, and she is going to Vailkrin without debate. She pushes her cheek against his hand as he plays with her hair. At the mention of Tyler's suit, she rolls her eyes. "I don't know. I have no idea what Skylei sees in him. He can barely stammer out a word, always hunched over. I can understand being shy, but he is beyond shy. It's like a sickness!" The fact she could just as easily be describing Ezekiel, of whom she has a very different opinion, flies right over her head. "Should we get going?"


Eliason cannot help but return that grin, his previous dismay at his appearance in the mirror momentarily dispelled by the woman's presence. "I don't know... From what I saw the other day, he's like two different people. As soon as that mask went on, he wasn't so awkward..." He pauses, thinking about the strange behavior of the ninja-man. "Anyway, yes, I suppose we should head out as soon as possible. I'll have some horses saddled and at the gates with travel provisions. Do you need to pack some things?" The silent question behind his inquiry goes unspoken... Do you want me to come to your apartment with you to help? The unspoken dance between the two may be different, but it is just as present as the early days of their friendship.



Josleen :: At Eliason's insight into Tyler's dual personality, Josleen spares the paladin an approving side eye and knowing finger wag: clever, clever. "That's it. I couldn't quite get my finger on the 'weird' factor, but that's it." Her playful facade fades fast as Eliason fishes for an invitation to her apartment. This is a new step in the dance: the apartment routine. Eliason fishes for an invitation, and Josleen, unable to say 'no' and unwilling to say 'yes' invents a logic-proof excuse. "Oh. Well. I do need to pack, but don't you need to as well? May be more time efficient if we do that individually and then meet up at the gate. I'll try to find Tyler at The Eel too." See? It isn't that she doesn't want him to come over, it's about time! Last time is was a bad stomach ache. The time before that, Skylei was taking a nap (Skylei wasn't home).



Eliason grins at Josleen's agreement about Tyler's odd behavior as he lets his hand move away from the soft caress of her cheek. That grin fades into a wry smile at her effective dodge of his unspoken question. He has his answer, tacit as it may be. Running a hand through his hair, he silently wonders what it is about her place that she wants him not to see. Last time she did this, she was hiding Ezekiel from him... But he has given her his trust and promised her all the time that they need to figure out this new life that they are creating and he will not go back on that promise. "I'm always packed...," his words are uttered with a smile, silently communicating that he is not hurt by her denial. "I'll get my things and try to find Tyler. Meet you at the gate, then?"



Josleen was right to not be nervous about her evasion. So far, he's never pushed. She nods at his question and makes to leave, but stops short. Thinking better of it, she turns to him again and pushes onto her toes to kiss his lips briefly, taking a moment to smile into his eyes. He tries so hard. The least she can do is try harder. "See you soon, -." There it is again, that introduction to a term of endearment unfulfilled. She leaves.



Act Three


Eliason stands waiting at the gates, three horses saddled and loaded with supplies. While he waits, the paladin's eyes drift out across the western lands, obviously lost in thought. Where his thoughts have taken him are anyone's guess, but those sapphire eyes seem to constantly drift toward that bush that now covers up the spot where he had first battled for Josleen's life.


Tyler appears from the west without much commotion. The human garbed in his traditional blue-hued ninja suit along with a long flowing scarf wrapped tightly around his neck and the neck-warmer shielding his complexion from the bridge of his nose down. His satchel is wrapped tightly around his torso and his arms crossed neatly as he approaches Eliason near the gate to Chartsend. No words are offered to the male as he approaches, only a silent stare from glossed caramel optics. The bags under his eyes signal a sleepless night and he decides to remain idle by the man's side until Josleen would grace them with her presence, however this doesn't last long as the overwhelming urge to touch one of the horses before him takes hold and the man approaches the closest to him and pets it's snout - hiding a smile beneath the warmer.


Josleen isn't long behind Tyler. Instead of carrying the giant rucksack she took to Frostmaw, she packed light today. Perhaps it's an omen, but most likely it's an act of optimism. She doesn't expect to be stuck in Vailkrin the way she got stuck in Frostmaw. She catches Eliason lost in thought as he stares at the bush, quickly assuming the nature of his thoughts with no way of knowing whether or not she's right. "Hey," she calls to the paladin, before tossing a wave towards Tyler. "Ready?" She glances at the horses and heads for the smallest once, keeping in line with her knack for assumption and guessing Eliason chose that one for her. She isn't a very good rider, but hopefully this trip won't call for any fancy equestrian skills.


Eliason turns quickly at the sound of Josleen's voice, realizing that they have both arrived for the first time. It is not often that the man is caught unaware... Good thing Tyler wasn't intending to kill him. "Yeah, I'm ready." Moving to Josleen's side, he offers to help her into her saddle before heading over to the largest of the three and lifting himself up on the stirrup to mount the creature. "Ten men have already left for Cenril. They will find us in Vailkrin if Skylei turns up there." With a smile to Josleen and a nod toward Tyler, he gently spurs his mount onward toward the Xalious mountains.


Tyler continues to run his open palm against the helm of the horse until Josleen arrives, his hand swiftly retracting as she waves a simple nod given in reply. The immediate feeling of being an outcast begins to set in as he hears the two lovers greet one another and he attempts to remain invisible. Tyler stands alone as Eliason helps Josleen mount up before he himself follows suit and sets off. He remains in waiting until Josleen follows before he takes a deep breath and pulls himself into saddle, a few more brushes of the mane offered to the beast before he offers a light kick to get things moving.


Josleen :: It's always taken Josleen a while to figure out a new horse. She never formally learned various riding methods, and as a result, can't pick up a horse the way one would pick up a bicycle. On average, it takes her a little over half an hour to truly become the dominant species in this riding outfit, but today it takes her longer than usual. Her horse stops often to eat, and eat, and no matter how much Josleen kicks and urges him on, he does not budge until Eliason circles on back and gets the beast of burden, well, burdening again. Everytime, Josleen smiles sheepishly, beet red, waiting to vanish under the sheer will of her embarrassment. About an hour into the trek, her horse is still finding green to munch on. They've barely made any progress.


Eliason reigns his horse in, allowing Tyler to take the lead while he turns about and heads back to Josleen who is sitting all red-faced atop her mount and probably uttering a few choice curses to the animal. The paladin doesn't want to presume anything or in any way shame the bard, so he moves up next to her and sets a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I don't know what's gotten into this one... He's not usually like this. You can ride with me if you want, or I can just tie his reins to my saddle... What do you think?"


Tyler had passed up Josleen and then Eliason. He found it hard to stifle a smile and light chuckle and waited until he was out of range to have a moment of humor in Josleen's struggle. He trots on twenty or so feet in front of the two before pulling at the reins to cease his mounts movement. Glancing over his shoulder to check on the two before tilting his head to face the sky, holding back frustration of the delay he tries to reason with himself to be patient with Josleen. Behind closed eyes he forms an image of Skylei, the woman's feature bringing his mind to ease as he reminds himself this is her best friend whether he like it or not. Releasing a heavy exhale through his nostrils he would turn his mount and back track to the duo and remain in waiting until they were ready to proceed.


Josleen :: As Eliason speaks to her, Josleen can only glare at Tyler's mocking, fancy dancing pony tricks. When Tyler calms himself, she answers Eliason, "We can tie him to yours… Maybe he's just young?" No, the horse is really old, and one of the most docile, but good on you for trying, Josleen. Once they get underway again, Josleen, freed from her difficult steed, has a moment to reflect. The open road and infinite peace around them (perhaps deceivingly so) inspire her to reach out to Tyler. He is, after all, Skylei's beloved - for better or worse (worse, definitely worse). "So, Tyler, You mentioned that you travel between Chartsend and Kelay? What's in Kelay for you? Do you work there?"


Tyler is slightly taken by surprise that Josleen has decided to speak to him, the human certain of the fact that he was neither Jos nor Eliason's favorite person in Hollow. Though after processing the question and deciding to leave out the bits of thievery, sleeping beneath the stars in Sage Forest and how Skylei has paid for his room and board he decides to indulge Josleen with a short story of why he has taken Chartsend as his home. "Uhm, no. I arrived in Hollow roughly five or six months ago now and haven't had much luck finding full time work apart from, er, a few odd jobs. I managed to get enough coin to rent a room at the Kelay Tavern for a while. It's where I met Sky." A smile spreads beneath his mask as his eyes fall to the ground for a moment as he recollects the unique meeting of the wood elf and himself. "I had just managed to get myself entered into the Chartsend fighting tournament and was begun traveling back and forth between my fights. I had no idea Skylei laid rest here. She had been moving between the two to visit me and well, after my elimination from the tournament and taking a blade through the stomach from that bulk brat I wasn't in much condition to travel nor did I care much for Mesthak's crummy brew. So, I decided to pack up and rent a room in Chartsend so I could be close to Skylei and she could be home more often. I don't know how long I'll be staying though." A short sigh is offered as he is reminded of his money issue, where the hell was that Kitsune with that job!? "My rent is due soon and I've still been unable to find work... Although I guess I've always kinda' wanted to sleep on the beach." He chuckles at his own misfortune and questions why he has provided such personal information to the two. It was odd for him to speak with anyone apart from Skylei about anything to do with his life, although perhaps his identity being exposed to them both so early on is what aided in the situation.


Eliason rides along in silence, allowing Josleen to talk Tyler. The man's thoughts drift as he focuses on the sound of the horses' hooves on the path. Where his mind has gone is anyone's guess, though he does take in the information that Tyler presents during his description of his time in Hollow. Some of his attention rests on the whereabouts of Skylei and the mystery surrounding her disappearance. If the scholar had truly gone to Vailkrin to meet up with a lycan pack, there is no telling what could have happened to her. This leads him to think about the time that he had gone to see Jos's show outside of Vailkrin and the events following that trip. He absently touches his stomach, memories of the feeling of being disembowled coming back to him. Gritting his teeth against the memory, he wrenches his mind back to the present and raises his gaze to the path before them.


Josleen has also been told the story of how Tyler and Skylei met and fell in love. Contrastly, it doesn't bring a smile to her face. Despite this, as Tyler speaks, Josleen is receptive. She can Identify, with a capital 'I', with Tyler's money woes. She missed her half of last month's rent and Skylei had to front the full amount; this month isn't looking any better. Tyler's financial situation is spared from scrutiny. In fact, in a surprising change of pace, Josleen finds herself commiserating with the ninja. "I hear you. I too have not been fortunate in the job department as of late. And Chartsend's population seems to outpace its commerce." Belatedly she adds, "Sorry to hear about your elimination in the tournament. I'm sure that was a disappointment. Happy to see you've recovered from the injury." The well-wishing is spoken like a formality. Tyler may not be her favorite person, but the bard doesn't wish ill on others without severe provocation, and Tyler has yet to provoke. The motive of the journey prevents her from pursuing casual conversation any further, and the silence is quick to grow oppressive with each step closer to Vailkrin and the answers they hope it has for them. Once the silence settles in, it's difficult to evict, forcing each traveler to turn to their own thoughts for company. Although she endeavors to remain optimistic, Vailkrin's the place where hope goes to die and be reborn as gloom. As they travel, Josleen privately works herself into a state of melancholia: surely this mission is doomed. Soon they reach the dark forest, and within it each traveler is exposed to these wood's preternatural powers - powers which slowly inspire fear and despair. The clever trick of this forest's game lies in the subtlety with which it cultivates fear within each individual. It doesn't suddenly grip Tyler, Eliason, and Josleen, but rather helps them slowly psyche themselves out, drawing on their latent anxieties, then robbing them of the tools (courage, morale, loyalty, etc) to face that which perturbs them. As always, Josleen's fear seeks out Eliason's light. "Collin," she calls softly, reaching a hand towards his, seeking the soothing rinse their connection affords them both. "I've never been to Vailkrin proper…" She glances over her shoulder at Tyler to gauge whether or not he's eavesdropping, then drops her voice several decibels. "I'm frightened."


Tyler paid little mind to Josleen and Eliason as the trio closed in on the dark forest. Caramel hues scour across the immediate area as he takes in the environment. Despite his social issues, you'd be hard pressed to find the blue ninja paniced through any macabre means including some enchanted twigs. He considers using his illusions to erradicate the bleak images of the barren forest in aid to the knight and bard though he finds better to keep his abilities to himself for now. Rather, he would grip the reins in his grasp and kick the horse into a jog to pass Eliason and Josleen in order to take point and allow the two a bit more privacy.


Eliason rides along in stoic silence, closing his eyes after awhile and allowing his other senses to take in their surroundings. The paladin knows when the trio is approaching the dark forest long before he opens his eyes. The creatures have grown eerily silent and the air seems to cling to the skin. Even the wind seems to avoid this place as the stirring of leaves is oddly absent as well. Opening his eyes to the gloom, Eli seeks refuge from the sapping of his strength and courage within the divine light that rests within his mind. As Josleen draws closer to him, he laces his fingers through hers. Where their hands meet, a soft glow fades into existence and the light is passed between them, affording some relief from the despair of the forest. "It's okay to be afraid, love. This is not a place for the living... But I've always made it through okay in the past. The sound of Tyler's mount passing them diverts the man's attention momentarily, but he offers the bard's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, I'm here and we're going to be okay."


Josleen is comforted somewhat by Eliason's reassurance, but frowns as the spiritual tether fails to literally cure her of despair. The bard doesn't fully understand how the magic works. She doesn't know that it's designed primarily to restore and save Arkhen's servant, Eliason. The euphoria she felt in the cave was a byproduct of having Eliason and Arkhen work -through- her, which they do not do now. The lack of euphoric rush puzzles her, her frown working to one side under knit brows. Despite this, she reciprocates and rubs her thumb over Eliason's hand. "I know… I know, I know," she mutters, taking a couple breaths to try and convince herself as the fear continues to blossom unabated within her. "I'm just-" A distant, screech which belongs neither to man nor fauna cuts her off. Josleen stills in her saddle, eyes bulging wide as they flit towards the source of the sound. She hisses, "What was that?" Eliason may be able to identify it as a wraith. Her horse identifies it as something not to be messed with, and begins to tug against his reins attached to Eliason's saddle, whinnying in panic. Josleen's own fear feeds into her mount who tries to communicate reason to his handlers. If horses could talk, he'd say 'Don't be stupid - turn back! I'm not going any further.' Josleen struggles to get him under control, and the more she tries, the more agitated the horse becomes. Beside Tyler, a shadow moves against the gust of the wind, approaching him slowly as though trying to camouflage its advance with the movement of natural shadows.


Tyler halts as the screech rings out over the area, his steed reacting in a similar manner of his companions. He tries to plea with the mount by offering choice words and running his hand across her mane though it is in vein as she lifts to knock the human from her back sending him onto his spine with a thud to the dirt below. Teeth grit with a hiss and eyes close as Tyler awaits the passing of the tingling in his back as his mount flees. Pulling himself up to rest on his bum he would slowly open his eyes and turn to check on Josleen and Eliason, he notes the fear in Josleen and suddenly feels a chill run up his spine. His head cranes slowly to either side as the male tries to locate the source of unease, he finds it. He spots the rapid movement through the shadows and holds his breath - caramel hues transform to offer a pool of glowing blue mana and with a puff of smoke the ninja disappears from view. As the illusion is cast the dried leafs from where Tyler once sat begin to stir and crunch as he raises to his feet and begins to retreat from the area back toward Eliason and Josleen. His voice would come as a whisper to the larger man's ear; "Do your thing then, oh great leader." An audible snap echoes through the forest as a doppelganger in Tyler's image appears where he was once seated, bait for the creeping threat.


Eliason reins his mount in at the sound of the screech. The horse goes quickly from nickering softly to pulling at the reins as the creature draws ever closer. The man is quick to dismount, even as Tyler is thrown from his own steed and moves to Josleen's side, easily lifting her from her saddle and setting her upon the ground. He attempts to keep the horses under control, but their fear has broken their training and Eli has no choice but to let them go. Frustration eats at the paladin's patience as the horses rush off, but his attention has to be on the here and now. His mind is screaming with the evil of the closing shadows and he has to protect those that he has come with. Turning about, he finds Tyler gone eliciting a very unpaladinlike curse from him. But Tyler's voice is there in his ear, goading him into action. With one smooth motion, he unclasps and flings his cloak over Josleen's head and whispers a prayer. The fabric of the cloak flares up in white light as it settles over the girl, a light that will ward off the wraith should it try to approach. Once she is protected, the man slips his sword from its sheath and, whispering another prayer, lowers himself into a crouch, awaiting the shadow's attack.


Josleen 's chest tightens as Tyler's brown eyes glow blue just like Ezekiel's would when he called upon his magic, but she can't dwell on the feelings this trigger inspires within her. Survival instinct is stronger than heartbreak woes at the moment. She needs to survive in order to mourn love lost! She's quick to hop off her horse with Eliason's aid and pulls the blessed cloak tightly around her. Unfortunately for Tyler, wraiths don't rely on their sight when hunting life forces to claim and convert into their kin. They see life: the wraith knows who is dead, alive, undead, fighting off death, or neither dead nor alive but a construct - such as the illusion. Additionally, it matters not to the wraith that Tyler is invisible. He still sees two humans, a half-elf, and three horses with robust, tasty life lines. The paladin gives the wraith the most pause. Most of holy warriors' feats have been groomed with the single-minded purpose to eradicate the undead. The half-elf's blessed cloak will prove a nuisance, so the wraith leaves her for last when he has time to toy with and slowly dismantle the cloak's effects; it would be difficult to do in battle as it is a lengthy and tiresome process. The illusionist, in this situation, makes for the easiest prey. No holy god favors him, and if the wraith strikes fast, he can hopefully convert the man into a wraith spawn to help him take down the paladin. The incorporeal creature springs into a strike so quick it robs even the most dexterous and agile of humans with a chance to preemptively strike first or counter with a follow up strike. As the wraith comes into view, it is clear from its ogre-like mass that this is no ordinary evil ghost: this is a dread wraith. The creature's shadowy hand makes for Tyler's throat, and if successful, will start to drain him of his constitution. The man will grow weak, his life force fading fast. It would take about a full minute to claim Tyler's life - which feels like a lifetime in battle. Furthermore, the wraith cannot hold onto Tyler for long because doing so would leave him vulnerable to attack from the paladin. Instead, the wraith begins to flicker in and out of the shadows, aiming to grab hold of Tyler for a second at a time, retreating from Eliason's advances and re-appearing beside Tyler opposite the holy warrior. Slowly, it seeks to chip away at Tyler's strength and convert him into one of his own. The wraith itself cannot be hurt by physical objects, but only by magic and the divine. Magically or divinely enchanted weapons would only afflict magical damage, but not physical, thus reducing their effectiveness but not rendering them entirely useless. The wraith ignores Josleen for now. She'll make a nice dessert.


Tyler finds himself at the mercy of his own ignorance. He is unaware of the wraiths ability to see directly through his rouse and he quickly finds himself at the mercy of the dark beast. His neck burns as the creature lashes out and grips him causing the illusion to fade and his physical form viewable in a collapsed stance as the wraith repeatedly vanishes and reappears. Choking, he reaches quickly for one of the multiple kunai resting at his side and upon releasing it from it's hold, attempts to stab the attacker only to have the blow phase through the creature multiple times. Dropping the useless weapon mana would rush through Tyler's right hand and a large infernal blast would erupt from his palm towards the creature only to once again have no effect. It seems his illusions are useless against the dark foe for the creature doesn't "believe" the attacks are real. Tyler begins to fall cold, his body convulsing as he aimlessly throws his hand out trying to grab the wrist of the wraith only to phase over and over. He is helpless to the creature's assault and eventually allows his body to go limp as his eyes roll up into his head.


Eliason watches helplessly as the creature attacks Tyler. Each time the paladin moves to intercept the attack, the wraith simply disappears and reappears on Tyler's opposite side. Taking a breath to steady himself against his frustration, the paladin assesses the wraiths attacks and retreats. Though he is too slow to counter the beast's movements, he has a quick idea to limit the hiding places of the attacker. Pulling a dagger from his belt, the man holds it, uttering an archaic prayer before flicking it upward where it imbeds in an overhead branch. As soon as the dagger strikes, it bursts forth with divine light, flooding the clearing with light and limiting the shadows within which the wraith can hide.


Josleen shouts Tyler's name several times. Why is this an instinct panicked people do in the midst of battle? What does that accomplish? But Josleen remembers the last time she cried out in panic to save another and her panic manifested in song. She saved a mage from bleeding to death. Would that work now? Her own father is an illusionist, so she recognizes some of Tyler's tricks and it crushes her to see him fail. She may not have carved out a special place for Tyler in her heart, but she's invested in seeing him survive and allows her shouting to turn to song. She sings for his health, sings for his strength, improvising lyrics, "He traveled in the darkness, his only light his life, and like a moth to flame, evil flocked to revel in that light. Be like that flame, the flame which slays the moth, let your light claim the darkness, or at least fend him off. Do not succumb, for you are stronger than its will, and I'll beside you, sheltering you from its chill." Her latent bardic magic has never been cultivated, much to Tyler's misfortune. It succeeds only in prolonging the inevitable. It counters the wraith's draining power, but not enough to overcome it. It's as if Tyler's strength takes one relieving step forward under Josleen's song, then three steps back under the shadowy power of the dread wraith. Eliason's light does burn the wraith, but it does not render it powerless - only natural sunlight can do that.* The wraith howls and shrieks as it ventures into the light, slowed by its power but stubbornly throwing itself headstrong into it despite the pain, hellbent on claiming Tyler's life. In the divine light, it's once obscured face can be seen: it's a terrifying, gaunt, leathery dead face with glowing red eyes. It's aesthetic was chiseled by the most cruel and twisted artisans of hell.


Tyler could feel the effects of Josleen's song but only slightly. His body lay beneath the blinding light of the paladins planted blade and the repeated strikes from the shadowed fiend continue to render him motionless. Pulling together what little strength he has, his boot is planted firmly into the ground as he pushes into the dirt between each blow in a futile attempt to crawl closer to Eliason, his eyes managing to lock with the mans in a silent cry for help. The wraith doesn't relent, Tyler realizes a retreat is pointless and instead continues to swipe his right hand towards the wraith, each swipe engulfing the appendage in a different element fire, water, ice and light repeat themselves as the human struggles and prays to a god he doesn't believe in that the beast will somehow fall for the repeated trick, despite it's unlikelihood.


Eliason takes comfort in the sudden blaze of holy light. Instead of waiting for Tyler to crawl to him, the paladin steps forward until his standing next to the illusionist. Crouching low over the man to limit the wraith's access, the paladin begins to chant loudly. Over and over, the archaic prayers exit his mouth in an ancient invocation. This particular prayer was first developed as a blessing upon the dead. It is a blessing that allows the dead to cross over to the afterworld. Turning his head to Josleen, the man nods, encouraging her to join in his chant. Should she join in, their combined voices should call to the void to drain what life an undead creature has.


Sorry, Tyler, illusions are useless. You may want to invest in some magic missile spell, dude. Josleen grows frustrated by her singing’s visible lack of utility, and that frustration further fuels panic. Why is nothing working? Even Eliason can’t seem to subdue the creature. Adrenaline pumps through her as she watches the rhythmic flickering of the wraith, still singing. In a moment of bold stupidity, she darts forward and flings the blessed cloak around Tyler and herself just as Eliason had the same instinct to rush forward - and probably a good thing too, what is Jos thinking? Utterly stupid move, borne of over confidence of the powers of her cloak based on zero evidence. This is why you don't bring Josleen to a fight. She takes the paladin's hand and repeats his chant. A bright light consumes them and Josleen finds the euphoria she sought earlier. Once again, she feels everything Eliason feels and merges his consciousness with his. She amplifies his power, enabling him to reach deeper levels of communion with his god. Normally the dread wraith would be too powerful for Eliason to shun to the afterworld alone, but with Josleen's aid, the dread wraith finds himself clawed to the otherside. Granted, it does not consume the undead. It is not slain, but simply transported between planes against its will. It shrieks in defiance, promising revenge on Eliason in the future when it eventually claws its way back out and rejoins the paladin amongst the living. For now, Eliason has managed to get Tyler, Josleen, and himself out of harm's way. If Tyler collapses, he'll likely take Josleen down with him, but she won't care. She holds the ninja loosely, afraid to cause any more damage, and looks to Eliason for aid. "Collin! What's wrong with him?" Indeed, Tyler doesn't looked maimed. He doesn't bleed and his body has not been afflicted - simply his will of life. He's depleted of energy - that's the result of the wraith's leeching.


Tyler continues to flail aimlessly at the beast until he finds himself lacking the strength to move. A final blow is provided before his arms fall to his side and the man is left stricken. As Josleen and Eliason perform their chant in an effort to banish the wraith he feels nothing. The human lay now motionless despite a slow pattern of breathing from what feels like a ten ton weight upon his chest. He hears Josleen's cries to the paladin, though it all simply sounds like a ringing sound. Caramel hues hide behind flesh as his eyes fall shut, the human ready to surrender to the overwhelming sense of; well, nothing. Before him a familiar image appears - Skylei; The flawless replication of the wood elf within his mind stands before him offering an emotionless stare. Not even a smile cracks across her lips, no, it is merely a blank, boring, dulled look though it seems to be enough. A heavy inhale is given as Tyler's hand slowly moves up to take hold of Josleen's and without much warning he burrows his nails deep into her skin. Not in aggression, but in a plea, the ninja wasn't ready for any of this. He was a fool. He now lay in shock, with nails dug into an enemies hand and his mind rabid with thoughts of love, loss and anger. He prays to a god he doesn't believe in for aid, he hopes for the paladin to help, else he might succumb to the dark will of the wraith's grasp.


Eliason takes a deep, shuddering breath one the wraith is taken by the holy prayer. "That's why I hate Vailkrin..." he mutters absently before Josleen's cry catches his attention. The paladin's strength is rapidly fading from the expelling of power and the drain of fighting an undead enemy, but he sinks down next to the pair and looks upon Tyler. "The wraith, it was draining Tyler's spirit...." Gritting his teeth against the gnowing frustration of all of this, he shakes off his fatigue. "Let's get the cloak wrapped around him. The divine energy left in it should help... But it won't fix this. If he gives up, he's dead." Thinking quickly over his studies of undead curses and the draining of life-force, Eli finally shakes his head. "We need to find Skylei... Maybe she can give him strength." Once Tyler is wrapped in the still-glowing cloak, Eli scoops him from the ground and carries the illusionist. Silently he prays that Skylei will not be hard to find and that she is okay. If not, they could lose two people on this quest. "Talk to him, Josleen, if you can. Keep him with us and remind him that we're going to find Skylei. Love is all he's got now."


Josleen grips Tyler's hand back reassuringly, wincing against the illusionist's squeeze but quickly forgiving of the pain given the circumstances. Eliason carries Tyler and Josleen keeps holding the ninja's hand like it's his lifeline - it isn't, but she needs a proxy to feel like she is somehow useful in this situation. The bard does what she does best - she tells stories; stories meant to sustain a man she isn't sure can hear her. "Stay with us, Tyler. We'll find Skylei soon, and she'll be so happy to see you." Will they find Skylei? Josleen imparts the optimistic lie for all their sakes. "You and I both know she has rough edges, but, well, when she told me about you, you should have seen her eyes light up. That edge? It went blunt. That's why I had to make sure we found her together. I know that she needs to see you - that if Skylei has fallen into trouble, you're at the top of the list of people she would want to see. And I suppose that works the same in the opposite direction, eh? That when you fall in a bad way, you need to see her. Well, Collin and I will make sure that happens for both of you, yea? But you have to do your part and hang on, alright?" Whatever feud was beginnin to bud between Josleen and Tyler, it's set aside for now. When they reach Vailkrin, the sensible thing to do is head for The Hanging Corpse. The grisly title causes Josleen to shudder, but she follows Eliason's lead. He always knows what to do. He'll get them to Skylei, she is sure of it.


Tyler lay near motionless in Eliason's arms with his hand held in Josleens. In the right state of mind, the human would likely be sick at the sight but he is in no condition to care. Body limp, his eyes flicker open every few seconds and seem to scour around frantically in fear as he fails to realize the wraith has escaped. He isn't in pain, rather uncomfortable, as if he is exhaling constantly without ever getting a chance to breath back in. His ears ring as Josleen speaks, her words unheard though he somehow knows they are of good grace. His already tempermental mind is racing images of Skylei being harmed or with another man flash along side replays of Javier's blade piercing his stomach. The tournament, slavers, Josleen, Eliason, Skylei, the Kitsune - everything. It's a mess as thoughts fail to stay in place offering only a moments glance into each image. A whine is given as he squirms in Eliason's arms before falling limp once more - his eyes shutting and remaining that way for much longer now. He is tired, he can't feel anything... his grip loosens on Josleen's hand.


Luckily, Tyler is not too heavy, though Eliason has to shift the other man's weight around every once in awhile. The paladin's face is grim as he feels the illusionist's body grow more and more limp with each moment. Once they have made their way into the actual city of Vailkrin, Eli's feet turn straight for the Hanging Corpse. If there is any information about Skylei's whereabouts, it will be found there. And if not, maybe there's at least someone that can help with Tyler's condition. As they walk, Eli's eyes dart all about them, searching for any signs of danger. Vailkrin is not a safe place in general for the living, but it is even more dangerous for those of his profession. With no small amount of luck, the Corpse appears before them and it appears that they will at least make it this far without further incident.



Final Act

As the three make their way into the Hanging Corpse they would find a rather sorry sight. The bar that had, only a day ago smelt of vomit and rum now smells of bleach and sweat; though the stench has not been entirely wiped from the floor. It would seem the place has needed to undergo a heavy clean as of late It’s no darker in here than it is on the eternally black streets of Vailkrin and the clientele is the usual groups of vampires in one corner and lycans in the other, with a sprinkling of other dark characters in their midst. There are few places in all of Hollow that the trio would appear more out of place. As they enter, they group would be given a couple of strange looks and whispers, especially about the presence of a paladin in the unholy city, would not go unnoticed. Approaching Steadman, the one-eyed barman and asking if he had seen someone by the name of ‘Skylei’ would offer little reward. However, a quick description of the girl would lead him on a tirade about drunken hooligans, nearly-naked lycans and a seemingly silver-tongued lad who had persuaded him that she might be allowed to stay for a few days, in spite of the mess she had caused. He would then gesture to the stairs and point the three to the first room on the right.


Taking the stairs and entering the room would offer the three a sorrier sight than the bar itself. The room is beautiful; high ceilings, huge bed and beautiful iron bathtub hidden behind a screen to the right, although its sorry resident does not befit the beauty. Sky, who has been so sought by the three lies clearly on the bed in a fitful slumber. Compared to her appearance the few days previous, she looks beautiful, although by anyone else’s standards she is a wreck. Cuts and grazes line her entire body, though are most prominent on her hands and chest. Her shoulder is swollen; likely broken again for the second time this month. Her face is the worst. Bust lip, that is yet to stop bleeding properly and an egg shaped bruise on her forehead are the latest additions to her visage. She is dressed in naught but blood stained cotton underlayers and is curled up the coat belonging to a man; a man who was unfortunately familiar to Josleen and Eliason. There is a letter in the same man’s hand on the bedside table, along with four vials; three empty and one full. Alongside the bed is a bucket filled with vomit; an unfortunate consequence of anti-venom is the need that the body has to purge its systems. The bucket contains the evidence of that purge. Perhaps the most striking thing about the room, however, is the smell. Vomit intermingles with rum, rotten spider’s innards, days old blood, sweat and, strangely enough, wet dog. It is nauseating to say the least and seems to be mainly coming from a discarded pile of clothes at the foot of the bed.


Josleen leads the trio to Skylei’s room and the first thing that hits her is the stench. She immediately clasps a hand over her nose and mouth and switches to mouth breathing. The sight of Skylei, her relative undress, and the vomit sparks Josleen into sisterhood mode. The good news is that Skylei is alive and not in immediate peril from the look of it. Josleen shoos the men into the hallway, glad that Tyler isn’t awake to see Skylei’s sorry state. Sure, the man has seen Skylei broken before, but under the bard’s watch, there is no need for that to happen again. Vanity shall be protected! She mouths to Eliason under an imploring stare, ‘Keep him alive,’ then shuts the door on the men. Inside, Josleen kneels beside the bed and gently tries to coo Skylei awake. Slowly, she makes contact, trying to avoid spooking the fiesty half-elf. She cradles the scholar’s head in her hand and lets her thumb gently stroke along Skylei’s hairline the way Jos’s mother used to do when she was sick as a child. “Hey,” she whispers. “It’s me, Jos.” As she tries to wake the sick, her gaze trails over Skylei’s body to assess all damage and in the process takes in the sight of something heart-stoppingly familiar: Ezekiel’s coat. The very same coat he found by means unknown to her in order to look presentable for her concert. It’s such a simple item; it’s just a coat. But its familiarity summons memories of intimacy, and subsequently, feelings of loss. Josleen’s chest feels tight and her heart heavy. She knows this isn’t the time to do this - she can’t dwell on the coat now. Skylei demands her focus, and Josleen gives it willingly, tearing her stare away from the coat to look to her friend. If the other has still not awoken, Josleen does the only thing she knows when at a loss for anything else: she sings. It’s a soft tune with a familiar, jaunty elven melody meant to rouse spirits.


Tyler feels numb, the man void of all sense of surroundings. It isn't until he and Eliason had been shunned into the hall that his eyes would open partially and scan about. The smells, the sight, the sounds. Where the hell were they? His heart races as he feels Josleen is no longer holding his hand. He is unable to compile this information and tears begin to roll from his eyes and down his cheek staining the cloth of his mask. The hand that once furrowed into Josleen is now raised to Eliason's collar when slender digits pull and scratch to his chest. Tyler isn't thinking. He can't. The grown man lay in Eliason's arms, frightened like a child and whimpering.


Eliason does not offer much in the way of objection as he is ushered from the room. In fact, he breathes freely for the first time once he is through the door. Pushing his back up against the wall, he allows himself to slide into a sitting position with Tyler still cradled in his arms. With nothing left to do in this situation other than try to keep the man alive, Eli reaches up and takes the hand that is clawing at his chest and looks down upon the fluttering eyes of the illusionist. "It's gonna be alright. Skylei is here, she'll be with you any minute. Just hang on, buddy. You're going to be fine." Silently, he prays that his words will hold true.


Skylei begins to regain consciousness at the sound of someone coming into the room. Who could it be? Had Ezekiel returned? No, the mage had made it pretty clear that he couldn’t bear to stay in the city any longer. Then it would be Steadman coming to tell her that his patience had run out and that she had to leave. Sky couldn’t bear to open her eyes to that. Whilst she was no longer at risk of dying any time soon, she hadn’t been able to keep down food or water for the past few days and had a feeling that if she got up or tried to walk, she might collapse before she got out of the undead city. That, combined with the fact that she had drunkenly given all of her coin, save for a few coppers lurking in the depths of her pockets to Senka during her drunken haze meant that Sky was almost completely convinced that she would be unable to get home. And so, eyes are held tightly shut until the voice of the bard makes contact with her ears. She doesn’t believe it. That damn anti-venom was making her hallucinate! Eze must have stolen the cheap stuff, the one with all the side-effects that nobody mentions until they happen. Eyes are kept closed as Skylei tries to force herself back to sleep. But then Joss begins to sing and stroke her hair and Sky is forced to look upon reality and, lo and behold, Josleen is indeed reality. Her saviour has come and Sky wants to burst into tears of sheer relief. Instead she pulls the offending coat across her body, so that it protects her decency as best she can. As she shifts the bottom of her left leg and the corrupted flesh become instantly visible. Against her pale skin, the black veiny pattern is striking; Eze’s anti-venom may have prevented the poison from spreading further into his system but the already damaged flesh needs attention. Her voice cuts across Josleen’s song, though her hoarseness creates a striking disparity with the bard’s voice, “What are you doing here?” In spite of the state she is in the half-elf is, as always, concerned for the bard’s wellbeing. What was she doing in Vailkrin? She would be eaten alive here if she dared walk the streets alone. This leads to the second question after a sporadic coughing fit, “Are you alone or is Collin with you?” The mention of Collin leads her thoughts to Tyler. Had he even noticed that she wasn’t there? If Josleen could appear in Vailkrin and find her then where the hell was he? Joss’ presence was a comfort, that’s for sure, but what she truly wants is her human.


Josleen can't help the ear-to-ear smile that blossom across her expression when Skylei's voice grates against her song. It's amongst the most beautiful and reassuring sounds Josleen could wish to hear. She pulls a playful face at Skylei's blunt and to the point question. "Saving the damsel in distress, of course." She winks at Skylei, her lips pursed impishly though the heaviness of the setting weighs down on her attempts at gaiety. The fact Skylei is still good old Skylei brings the bard some peace. Everything will be alright - probably. They still need to get out of Vailkrin, but the battle seems less uphill. Her friend still has her wits, is in one semi-necrotic piece, and the path before them is clear. Josleen winces at Skylei's leg, doing her best to ignore the coat which screams at her for attention and cooks up a flurry of questions that must be placed on the back burner for now. "Collin is here, and so is Tyler. He uh..." How to put this without sending Skylei flying/hobbling out of this room on rotten legs? "We had some trouble in the forest, but all made it through." Her arm extends like a bedrail, preemptively barring Skylei's departure should she attempt to do so. "They're in the hall - I thought I should clean you up a bit because," she leans in and whispers jokingly, "You stink. It's alright. It happens." Once assured that Skylei won't make any sudden movements or do anything ill-advised, Josleen sets about helping Skylei clean up as quickly as possible, and opens the windows to let out some of the room's repugnant musk. Skylei's desire to see Tyler as quickly as possible is an impatient timer. "Are you alright to walk? We can try to think of some other way to transport you if you can't. Don't over exert yourself, alright? Collin and I will think of something if you need it." And not to mention that it's unlikely Tyler could walk, but Josleen sticks to her non-alarmist policy. The implied timer ticking above their heads doesn't allow for a full bath, but Josleen fetches water for a quick sponge bath and mouth rinse. She keeps Skylei's mind busy and off any pain with talk of Tyler. "He was so worried about you. Impatient too. It was sweet. I can see he loves you very much. He was prepared to do anything to find you." She brushes Skylei's hair with a brush if she can find one, or if she cannot, her fingers will do and she braids the hair quickly. hair looks less greasy in a braid. Leave it to Josleen to impose her standards of vanity on another. As they groom Skylei, Josleen starts to gently prepare the other woman mentally for Tyler's sorry state. "So, I'm about to go ask Collin and Tyler to join us. I don't want you to be alarmed - Tyler is in good hands. Collin knows what he is doing. Tyler is just very weak and needs a lot of rest, but he is in one piece." Once Skylei is presentable enough, she crosses to the hall to let the men in.


Tyler remains near motionless in the paladin's hold. The scrawny human using all of his might to squeeze Eliason's hand as the water works continue. It's hard to breath with his mask on though in a proper state he'd be thankful the others couldn't witness the severely uncomfortable faces he would be making beneath the cloth. His breathing has slowed significantly from the gasps as his chest rises high and falls back. Lips parting beneath the mask he pushes to call out the paladin's name though only a crack emits from his vocals. All feeling remains lost in the human - he even finds it difficult to think of the entire reason they came to this god damned city - Skylei.


The paladin hates feeling helpless! Frustration grates him the entire time that they wait for Jos and Skylei. Tyler's breathing has slowed considerably.. He is just about to set the illusionist on the floor to rise and knock on the door when the portal is opened. Turning his eyes up to Josleen, the paladin gives her a grave look and shakes his head, communicating that they don't have much time.


Skylei groans at Josleen’s assertion that she is the ‘damsel in distress’. Correct as she may be, the half-elf likes nothing less than to admit her own fallibility. Still, she cannot object and listens in silence as the bard updates her on the trio’s adventure. In spite of her concerns for Tyler’s wellbeing, Skylei submits to the bard and allows her to tend to her appearance. Even if she had wanted to run out into the hallway to be reunited with Tyler (and Eliason, though he is very much a secondary concern), she cannot as Josleen’s arm, and her own injuries, bar any sudden movement. Moving into an upright position, the half-elf would wait until Josleen returns with the water. Then, she would wipe as much of the gore from her body as she could. It comes off in thick layers of blood, dirt and mud. By the time she has finished wiping down as much of her body as she can the clear water that they had started with is disgusting. She stays quiet as Josleen plaits her hair and sings Tyler’s praises, submitting to the vanity rituals that Joss has decided she needs. “Clothes” she would mutter as the bard finishes, “Spare clothes, in my bag. Over there. By the dirty clothes” She would wait for the bard to bring over the bag then, when presented with it would begin to redress herself in the crumpled clothes; with the bard’s help where needed. They have clearly been worn before but smell a great deal better than the ones that lie dirtied at the foot of the bed. What’s more is they cover the vast majority of the damage to her body, including that ugly black corruption on her leg and the scratches that mark her body. She doesn’t object as Josleen opens the door, but neither does she notice that Tyler is basically dead on the floor. All her energy has been spent and she simply wants to go home. She would articulate this to the bard, “Can we go home now?”


With Skylei at her back, Josleen's face mirrors the grimness in Eliason's, but when she turns to face Skylei once more, that mask has been replaced with a serene, patiently optimistic smile. "That's the plan, lady. But we lost our horses and the trip on foot may be difficult." She looks to Eliason for logistical solutions as she pats an empty swath of Skyleis bed, indicating that Tyler should be placed there. To Skylei, she explains, "He's been touched by a ghost." That's the extent of Josleen's understanding of what happened. "He will wake, right?" She looks again to Eliason to support her sure-footed claims. She markets what Eliason must deliver: transportation, Tyler's life. No big.


Eliason settles Tyler onto the ground long enough to push himself to his feet. He then scoops the illusionist up and carries him into the room, placing the barely-breathing man on the offered space next to Skylei. The paladin, though concerned about Skylei's state, goes straight to the most pressing concern. "His lifeforce has been drained by dread wraith. I hope you know more about these things than I do. I think being with you may help him... I hope so anyway." His eyes search the scholar's bleary eyes for hope. He then rises and looks at Josleen. "There isn't much more I can do... I'll see if I can get us some horses, I guess."


Skylei becomes aware of the extent of Josleen’s lies as Eliason places the illusionist on the bed next to her. Had she been healthy and well-rested she would have easily taken charge of the situation and given her orders to the paladin and the bard. As it is, in her bleary-eyed semi-conscious state she simply stares from Tyler to Eliason to Josleen, mouth gaping open and confusion clear on her face. How had this happened? Of course, she would have been delighted to see Tyler, had he been conscious enough to react to her presence. As it was, she was simply perplexed and devastated. As Eliason rises to leave, a little glimpse of Sky’s true self comes to the fore, “There’s an apothecary down the street somewhere.” An arm would gesture to the four vials and note that lie on the bedside table, “Ezekiel went in my stead. I don’t know where it was, but if they have remedies for spider bites and the other creatures that lurk that damned forest, perhaps they might be a good place to start.” She says little more and her shoulders slump forward with defeat. She takes one of Tyler’s hands in her own and begins to stroke it soothingly.


Josleen frowns as Skylei takes in the sight of Tyler for the first time. It's painful to watch, but not as painful for her as hearing Ezekiel's name uttered. The bard visibly tenses and pointedly avoids Eliason's gaze, shielding her expression from him to ensure she is unreadable. Her hand rubs at her mouth then collarbone repeatedly in that anxious tic of hers as she moves towards the vials. She keeps her back to Skylei and Eliason, busying herself with looking through medicine and collecting knick knacks only to find Ezekiel's note in his unmistakable penmanship, with his name signed and taunting her heartache. She stills, frozen in place, staring down at the note. Skylei's words come as white noise to her. She can only think about Ezekiel. He was here. He helped Skylei. Does he know who Sky is? Is he safe? Did he make it out of Vailkrin and the Dark Forest? Where is he now? Does he think of her? Does he still love her?


Eliason stands to the side, not leaving just yet. His eyes follow Skylei's to the vials and he nods. "I'll check it out..." At least Josleen had avoided his gaze or she would have seen the play of emotions that cross his face at the mention of Ezekiel. Shock, fear, hurt, a brief flash of anger, then that stoic mask that hides what he is truly feeling. The name is enough to explain Josleen's odd behavior since they walked into the room. Thus his announcement that he will check it out may come out harsher than her realizes. But before anyone can question it, he is out the door and headed into the tavern. Ignoring the pointedly unfriendly look cast his way, the man approaches Steadman. "Apothecary?" The barman points out to the street... "Five doors down!" With that deep discussion ended, Eli practically breaks the door in his frustration and haste to get this done with.


Skylei hasn’t realised her folly. She doesn’t know the sensitivities around Ezekiel’s name. She knows nothing of the hurt feelings and broken promises and so, to her, Ezekiel is just another random man on the street. As Eliason leaves, with words a little harsher than expected, the half-elf manages to tear her gaze from Tyler’s body to Josleen. She remains stood over the bedside table staring down at the note from the man who had saved Sky’s life. Though her thoughts are bleary, it would take an imbecile not to realise that something is wrong. Whilst Sky lacks the usual sensitivity she shows towards the bard, her intentions are naught but honest and good, “Is something wrong? It’s just a note. Nice man, he was. A little strange, but nice.”


"Tarter Sauce," Josleen hisses under her breath as Eliason storms out. She shakes her head against Skylei's words as she crosses the room, chasing after the paladin. "Not now, Sky. I'll- Later." She pauses at the door and glances over her shoulder at Skylei, commanding more sternly than is necessary "Don't move. We'll be back with whatever we find." And where exactly would Skylei go? She sprints after Eliason. Her running only makes her look even more like a prey to the vampires which lurk in the tavern. "COLLIN!" she shouts just as he slams the door behind him. She jerks the door open with her version of brute strength, which isn't very much at all, but it too slams. "COLLIN, WAIT! Please!"


Eliason barely catches Josleen's call out to him as the door shuts behind him. So when she rushes out of the tavern, he has already stopped. With her present, the paladin forces his emotions down so that he can appear composed and unphased by the awkward situation. As the bard steps toward him, Eli raises his brows inquiringly. "You shouldn't run around here alone. I would have waited for you if I knew you wanted to come along..." Way to go, Eli... Played that one off! "I have to hurry, though. I don't think Tyler has much time."


As Josleen disappears out of the door, Sky simply stares after her in confusion. What in all of Hollow had prompted that? Maybe Josleen was hormonal. Maybe Joss and Eliason had had a fight on the way to Vailkrin. Either way, Sky is not with it enough to care much. She simply lies back down on the bed next to Tyler, his hand still cupped in hers. Her spare hand reaches for Eze’s coat that lies on the bed behind her, pulling it over her form as a pseudo-blanket. She hasn’t quite realised the urgency of the predicament that Tyler is in and so her exhausted mind simply craves more sleep.


Eliason's not as good as he thinks he is at controlling his features. She falls into step beside him and snakes her hand into his, trying to comfort him through touch. This isn't the time to have a lengthy and intimate conversation about Ezekiel. The apothecary indeed carries the tea Tyler needs to rebuild his life force. Josleen remains silent throughout the transaction, letting Eliason handle everything. On their way back to the room, she whispers, "I'm sorry that happened" and leaves it at that for now. Before returning to the room, she suggests they check with Steadman about renting a carriage, and lo, the fancy inn can hook them up with that service as far as Xalious, at which point they will need to find their own transport over the mountain, which they know is easy enough to do. Back in the room, Josleen does her best to avoid Ezekiel's coat and note and focus on Skylei and Tyler. "Good news, Sky. They knew exactly what Tyler needs. It's this tea, nice and hot. They prepared it for us."


Eliason holds Josleen's proferred hand as they walk, steadfastly keeping his mind from the predicament in Skylei's room. He handles the arrangements with the apothecary and they are once again on their way back to fix Tyler up. The carriage is easily handled as well as a few mages that are willing to escort them for the right price to help them with any creatures that might set upon them during their journey. Josleen's apology is met with a shrug and a soft smile, "Don't worry about it.." is all he offers in answer. Best to ignore it, right? Once everything is set up back in the room, Eli is quick to leave and makes sure the travel arrangements are settled. Settling himself upon the front of the coach, he takes the reins in his hands and waits, his thoughts, though dark, are kept to himself.


Skylei would have been grateful to Josleen and Eliason for all that they have done for her and for Tyler had she not been simply exhausted. As it is, she simply nods in agreement to whatever the two of them say, following their ideas and orders without question. When it is time for them to leave she would clumsily pack up all of her belongings (and Ezekiel’s coat, for that is hers now too), excluding the ruined soiled clothes and follow the paladin and bard wherever they lead her. As soon as she is settled in the carriage she is fast asleep, dead to the world around her.


The journey over to Xalious passes by with little incident. Eliason stays at the front of the coach accompanied by one of the mages and occasionally Josleen, who splits her time between sitting with him and Skylei. Sky spends the journey drifting in and out of consciousness and sleep depending on whether she is accompanied by Josleen (when the two half-elves are together they amuse themselves with irrelevant gossip about the people of Chartsend, avoiding any subject that could cause sensitivity for any of the occupants of the carriage.) Whether she is alone or not, asleep or awake, she keeps tight hold of Tyler’s hand. As for Tyler, having drunk the disgusting tea that Josleen and Eliason had brought back from the apothecary and removed his mask, eventually regains consciousness. His figure is slumped in the carriage for a good hour or so, but then he is able to sit up properly, although he is sweating and shivering at the same time. The tea takes it’s time to work its magic after all. His hand is keeps tight hold of Sky’s for the entirety of the journey, causing both parties hands to become unpleasantly sticky. It’s unlikely that either of them care. The illusionist and scholar don’t exchange any words, but every so often their eyes will meet and they share a tender glance. They pass out of the city of eternal darkness, facing no trouble from attacking predators (thank the gods) before travelling across the bridge that spans the gorge between the city of Cenril and the not-so-sleepy village of Kelay. From there, the four, and the accompanying mages have to make the long incline up the hill to the town of Xalious.

Eliason spends the entire journey on the seat of the carriage, carefully guiding the carriage out of Vailkrin and through Kelay. He tries to avoid any bumps and ruts so that the occupants of the carriage are not too uncomfortable. When the mage sits next to him on the seat, the man is quiet, not offering up any conversation. Josleen, however, at least gains what attention he does not have devoted to the road before them. He tries to keep up steady conversation, but often finds himself lapsing into sullen silences. By the time they reach Xalious, however, his mood begins to lighten a bit. Though he would like to spend some time here and perhaps meet Jos's parents, the travellers are too weary and so he trades some of his dwindling supply of gold for new mounts to carry them the rest of the way west. It is rough going with Skylei and Tyler in such a weary state, but finally the group finds themselves in familiar territory, the walls of Chartsend rising before them.