RP:Klaie finds the first of four keys!
Background
Klaie comes to Muraski's shop after hearing of the various amulets and keys the clan might need. She meets the store owner for the first time and after a few rude words between LeskoVac and Klaie they departed upon the mission for the first of four keys. They took a horse in the middle of the night, deep into Quicksand valley. Their amulet leading the way, they hit a sudden snag as the trinket read the key was somewhere underneath them. Suddenly, the earth gave way and the two fell some twenty feet into a small buried chamber of sorts. Once inside, several more snide remarks were sent between the two, until they found the key. A brief scuffle was had, until finally Klaie stood victorious with token in hand! However, those who had left the keys behind were not so foolish as to go without soem kind of plan. Her prize began to burn, into her flesh, and without thought or idea in mind, Klaie held tight to the key. The object burned into skin, removing nerves and causing severe damage. Muraski rushed her out of the cave, back to the horse, and now the two are undergoing some kind of treatment towards the injured limb.
Klaie finds the first of four keys!
Klaie 's sea foam hued irises adjusted quickly to the firelight of the over-impressive establishment, and flitted about the room in an almost indifferent manner, rose tinted lips pouting slightly at the sight of the guarding minotaur. Klaie's chestnut colored tresses were windblown and left to flow freely to her hips, swaying unbridled with her slow gait, and was clad only in a simple worn dress, the color of a starless sky, which left her slender shoulders and bare feet exposed. The young elf felt as out of place as she looked. She stopped her slow pace to place a gentle hand on one of the books that sat on the wooden shelves, then remove it to flip through the pages with feigned interest before setting it back. The girl had put this off for as long as she could. The irises that had once been sea foam now searched around the shop again tinted as light as clear fountain water. "I'm looking for a man by the name of Maruski?" She asked the cashier, after another slow walk to the front of the store, keeping her voice light and pleasant. You would have to be listening closely to her the uncertainty in her voice.
Muraski sat upon his usual chair staring into the fire, orange and reds flickering across the lonely optic. His mind pondering over the last few days, the weird ways it had turned out to bad, very unorthodox indeed. When a soft whispered word was heard, the troll motioned towards him. LeskoVac's eye fell upon her, he stood, steely eye to bare down upon her with the intensity and intrigue that every person had felt when he stared at them. Slowly he rose from his chair, several confident, dignified, steps to be made, each to make a definitive sound upon the floor. His tuxedo was straightened, tie was placed even, and cuffs tugged upon to make sure he was presentable. Once upon the elf, his brow raised slightly, "What do you need, love?" If she looked upon his face, she would notice only one eyeball, the other a socket with bone and skin seemingly savagely cut into. Cuts and scrapes all about it, as if someone had taken a knife and forced the orb out of his head. "I got just about anything you could possibly need."
Klaie might have jumped at the appearance of the man, but he seemed to have made sure she was aware of his presence long before he arrived, so instead she took a steadying breath before she turned. Her practiced smile faltered upon a glance to the man currently in front of her. "Hello," She managed dumbly after a while of unbridled ogling towards the man's fine clothing, so much so that she hardly glanced at the wounds on his face. Her voice was still soft, and edged with a bit of tension now. She was out of her mind and her element. "I heard… You were the man to talk to about…" The elfish woman trailed off, eyes glossing over and looking somewhere past the man. What was she supposed to ask him? Right! No, that was the trader of Kelay, think! "I was supposed to ask about… Did you know your shop is damned hard to find!" Now Klaie's voice was raised slightly, and her brows furrowed as she picked up a ring of dark hair to twirl nervously. "I was supposed to ask you about something important." Klaie finished, decidedly defeated. "But I've walked all this way just to forget."
Muraski sighed as the female began to stare off into the distance, his fingers to snap in front of her to grab the attention of the elf. "I'm the man to talk to about a lot of things love, what specifically?" It was about this time that she went off on how hard his shop was to find, a roll of his optic to greet her. "Well, as you can tell it's not a very inviting business and unless you start figuring something out, it's going to reinvite you with the cold. Understand?" Her final statement caused a blink of remorse, "Alright, let's figure this shyte out already. You came here? From where?" And then the troll chimed in with the way she spoke his name, "And it's Mur Ahz key, Les Koh Vahk."
Klaie dropped the lock of hair she was toying with to place her hands on her hips with an insulted 'huff!'. She glanced over her shoulder to give the troll and icy glare lined with thick lashes, not really sparing him a word, and turned back to face the man with the same heavy lidded orbs of bright blue. Her cheeks were already stained pale pink from the cold, and she really didn't fancy being back out so soon, but she was a quick tempered girl. "I guess you can't buy manners," She remarked coolly, her eyes trailing over him with something akin to disapproval, all traces of rambling and muddled distraction gone now. "I need to ask you about the…Aphelion Coalition!" Klaie tilted her head slightly, sending the tresses of chestnut spilling from her shoulder again. "And, about an amulet, I think."
Muraski ignored her insulted huff with a uncaring shrug of his own. Her eyes met with his one once more, "Apparently not love, manners are something earned here in Cenril, not something bought of given. If you would like them, you must treat me with respect and earn them, understand?" After some time she spoke again about the Coalition and Muraski's optic rolled. He moved behind the counter, forcing the troll between him and her so that she wouldn't see then dug around inside the hidden safe. A paper and amulets were removed, his head to turn towards her briefly, "Follow." He gave a quick tilt his head towards the wall. Hand pressed against stone, a flash of white could be seen coming from his back followed by the hidden door to suddenly descend into the ground. Had she comes towards him and was within grabbing distance, his arm would snap for her wrist and tug her into the staircase. Once inside, the door closed, having only a ten second window to enter it made haste important. He then proceeded towards the loft upstairs, still with hand clenched around her wrist. Three couches and two rooms were easily distinquishable, along with a table inbetween the three seats, all seemingly pointed towards another fire which was placed above the one downstairs. "Alright, love, you're interested in tracking down one of the keys, I see?"
Klaie | All of the perfectly nasty and insulting words the girl could have thrown at this rude man were cut off. Business it was then. She bit her tongue and waited for him with barely concealed fury, fair face set with lines of anger. This man wasn't going to let her get another word in edgewise, so she didn't bother. Klaie followed like she was asked, opening her mouth to make a snarky remark only to have it replaced with a startled yelp. Was he really yanking her around to foreign rooms? If this was a test, the elf would surly fail, because the quick and small way they had walked was enough to send her reeling. She wasn't fond of violence but the notion of leaving a mark on that arrogant cheek of his crossed her mind more than once. When they finally stopped, it took her a moment to find her footing again, so her lips were closed for the moment, orbs of muddled dark blue glancing around the new rooms. It was a small moment before she answered. "Bloody hell! Give a girl a warning?!" She huffed, instead of addressing the question, pushing the fallen strands of hair from her face with a quick, absent flick of her wrist. "And, yes, that's what I've come for." She kept her gaze on the fire now.
Muraski didn't even notice whatever was so angry about the female, he just drug her up the stairs and brought her into the main room. He set the papers upon the table, thrust an amulet into her hands and spoke up, "Recite this line." He pointed towards the one about the eyes not working, "Then, follow where that leads is what I gather." The words of her to give him warning finally addressed, "If you're offended by the fact I gripped your arm, then perhaps you should leave already. No offense love but I ain't in the business of making friends here. This isn't a pleasant business, it's dangerous, members have already been attacked over it so if you can't handle a little grab on the wrist this ain't for you. Either man up, or get out." He made a gesture towards the staircase, "If you want to work with me however, we can figure out where to go and find it tonight, if you're willing?"
Klaie found herself rolling her own eyes. "Don't give yourself so much credit," She muttered, more to herself, then squared those bare shoulders of hers. "'Man up' is really a poor phrase," She remarked louder, her voice was steady now, and she met his gaze unflinchingly, chin held high. "I'm ready if you are," On a sigh she looked down to the amulet in her hands, studying it with great care, and tracing it's outline with her finger. "Where do you suggest we start, Sir Chatty," She asked distractedly, voice lowered and light, her tone far away again. "You seem to have all the answers,"
Muraski moved towards the sliding door and pushed upon it. The exit opened, "Come along then, I have horses, we'll ride there tonight. I believe it to be held out in the desert. So, it's time to go exploring, specially now when the sands are cool so that our skin won't boil and you won't go dehydrated." He stepped outside once more, moved towards the edge, then fell off the patio to the ground. "Come along child."
Klaie gave another long-suffering sigh at Muraski's words. She was quiet sure he was implying that she would be the weaker link. She let it go… "I am not a child," She muttered, again, it seemed her words would be for only herself. She followed quickly, only hesitated for a second over the jump from the patio to the ground, then followed there as well. She only swayed to her left for a in instant… Or three. And managed to right herself with what could almost be grace, the amulet tight in her grasp.
Muraski walked into the front of the shop, a horse already awaiting them watched over by the minotaur. He hopped on first, hand extended down towards her, "Come along, I'll help you up love." If she grabbed his hand, a sharp tug was to be had to pull her up onto the horse behind him. "Grab my waist." With that, a sharp kick of shoes to horse was delivered and they were off.
Klaie eyed the horse warily while following, she had a mild distrust of large beasts, Muraski's earlier words burning at the corners of her mind as she hesitated to take the man's hand, and for that very reason, she took it. The girl snorted at he second order, but when is took off she did just as he said, pulling her arm all the way around him tightly, and muffled the girlish squeal she wished to release as the horse took off.
Muraski /and Klaie rode upon horseback all the way to the sands in silence because even if Klaie spoke, Muraski simply ignored the female. In fact, the only words exchanged was when they approached the quick sand dunes for the first time, already having sand everywhere from the long expansive desert, Muraski had grown quite irritable with the whole thing. He looked towards her, “We close?” To which she replied a confirmation or denial and pointed them in the proper direction. It even made indications of up or down. When finally they got to the indicated spot, it showed something directly below them, Mura to give her a wary glance. “You sure you know how to use that love?” And that's when it occurred to him, he had entirely forgotten his manners.
Klaie hadn't thought to speak unless spoken to on the whirlwind ride to the godforsaken desert of a place, but she had known how to read the amulet in front of her. "Yes, Sir Chatty, I'm rather sure I read the bloody thing right," She replied grumpily, thought the woman refused to remove the death grip she had on Muraski, her left cheek leaned against his back. She was going on the limited vision of a sand filled and only slightly open right eye, but Klaie was sure. She remembered to 'man up' and promptly sat up straight, though her hands were still firmly gripped to that fine shirt of his. "Where are we?"
Muraski /dismounted the horse, a hand held up towards her once more, “Apologies, you have to be rough when in Cenril. It's my town, I know it better then most and when I reclaim it, shyte in there will be different but as of now, if you don't act like a hardass, if you don't walk the walk, talk the talk, you die. Understand me when I say I'm apologetic for the way I treated you but one can never be to safe.” He gave a brief nod to the woman, hoping she might understand. When finally they had gotten off the horse, a nudge was given towards it so it might give them some space. He looked down upon the amulet held in her hands then back at her shamefully. A bow was given towards her, artfully, gracefully he lowered his head and body before her, “Muraski LeskoVac, humble merchant of Cenril and your name might beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?” Suddenly the ground below them began to collapse and should she not move, she would find herself to fall down a good twenty feet with LeskoVac.
Klaie was sent into quiet a shock for almost the third time tonight, and all by this one man. Her brows furrowed into confusion as they so often did, and in the dark her eyes were shining a very clear indigo. Klaie was wondering if even when the man was being apologetic, would she ever get a word in? But before she could playful tease him about anything, the sand beneath her bare feet shifted. The terramancer felt it an instant too late, and had taken a quick step toward Muraski to warn him before she went plunging down with him. Buggering sand bogging up her senses. The shrill scream she let out could have woke the dead…
Muraski /took his sweet time with getting up, sore, so sore, and he soon figured out why. For, as they fell and as she approached, he to felt the shifting of the sand. His arms reached for her waist and if she didn't move she would soon find herself on top them as they plummeted into the earth. When Mura found out that she was on top of him, assuming she was grabbed, he gave a sigh of relief knowing that his companion was alright. Slowly he rolled over, a look given to the woman where she lay, “Y'all right pointy one? I didn't quite catch the name through your ear shattering scream.”
Klaie was embarrassed. When she was let off of Muraski she allowed herself a few moments of bitter scolding and self-hatred. After her little screaming fit the only noise she had made was a small 'oof' when the two landed. She knew he had gotten the worst of the fall, and that only caused her to curse herself more. Klaie was quiet a while longer, a small comfort being the amulet was still in an iron grip. "I'm sorry." She said finally, voice soft as bells, and moved in the dark to when she could sense him, hands stretched in front of her. "Are you hurt?" She hadn't heard a word of what he had said over the sound of her own scolding.
Muraski /shook his head at she spoke, “Nothing to be sorry for, fall took us all by surprise, you did your best to keep calm. Hell, I'd of expected Bresk to scream like a girl through that fall to.” Bresk, his nine foot tall minotaur friend, who currently resided over his daughters shop, had fought through the preklek war with LeskoVac. They were old war buddies and always enjoyed exchanging a few insults here and there. It's to bad the man wasn't here now, Mura could use a nine foot talk minotaur to climb out of the god forsaken hole. He faced her once more, small traces of moonlight to beam through where they had fallen from, “I'm fine, not a scratch on me just some bruising.” He pushed his check forward, shoulders back and the sound of vertebrae popping into place could be heard. “The question is, however, what might your name be? I believe.” Off in the distance, an orangish glow could be seen from the likes of a torch?
Klaie 's hand's were looking to rest on Mura's chest, then if he didn't scamper away from her prying touch, she walked all the way around him to survey for wounds. Her hands would be flat-palmed against his back when she stopped. She was doing a once over, not really regarding what he said for much truth, because she wanted to be sure. At the mention of someone she didn't know she merely tilted he head. "Klaie," She said finally returning to the front of him again, though she had forgotten to remover her hands. "And you didn't.. Scream that is," Taking a step back as an after though, and inclining her head to that soft light in the distance, her hair gleamed a shade close to auburn in the faint moonlight, cast her elfin face in an almost other-worldly glow. "That way?"
Muraski /scratched at his head when she placed her hands upon his chest, slightly confused as to what she might be doing. “Klaie, if you're thinking of using some kinda magic on me, I'll climb out of this hole with you and push you back in. If not, then continue on.” He really wasn't use to intimacy, hated it usually. Only one person had ever caught his eye, she still did. His mind continued to stray upon the subject of romance, an unhappy sigh released as he wondered if he might ever win over the female until finally she spoke again. Eye fell back upon her and he gave a brief nod, “War is hell kid, you forget how to scream at all the atrocities you see. When your friends die, your commanders flee, and you're the only one left against them, you forget what fear is. I haven't been afraid of a damned thing since that war and I don't think anything will change anytime soon.” That was another area of his life spent on love, not the love of a woman, or a man, but the love for his city. He couldn't remember how long ago it was, it felt so recent and so far away yet the worst part was, the thought that it was coming soon brought him the worse fear. When she motioned towards the glow, he gave a nod, “Aye, thattaway.” His hand extended towards hers to grasp onto it, “Come along, let's not split up this time around, Miss Klaie.”
Klaie laughed. She tilted her head back and just laughed at Muraski. Push her back in? His reminisce of war left her with a heavy frown though as she took the offered hand. Not knowing how to respond she muttered "I would have used magic if you needed it and you would not have stopped me,", she really didn't like for him to have the last word. Her feet were quiet as she followed him, staring down at the amulet with mild fascination. "What is all this for any how?" She said, glancing up for an instant. She had really only just now thought to ask.
Muraski /rolled the lonely optic in his skull and proceeded forward, “Just don't, alright Klaie? I'll be extremely unpleasant and grumpy which since you haven't liked me being rude yet, let's just say you amplify that ten fold and you got me after using magic.” His hand gripped to hers sturdily, the refrain from comments about the war to have his brow lift slightly, even if hardly visible down here. “Something the matter about war?” He paused, an unhappy sigh to be released, “I didn't do it for the glory, Klaie, I did it for the town. I would lay my life down to protect Cenril. It's not for anything but the city, you see? And since it's become plagued by the underbelly varmint, once more I have to fight to defend it.” Another displeased release of air, “This?” His irritance to be forgotten, “This is for the Coalition. We're looking to find some lost relics to unlock their ancient kingdom. Don't know if we'll find anything but hell, Vhys pays well for us to do it. Funds half my operations, my business funds the others, so when he says leap, I'm leaping. Need the gold, or I'd probably tell them to shove it up their arse already.”
Klaie was considering what Mura said, wondering what caused him to hate magic so, but kept quiet, accepting his choice on the matter… Until he asked of war again. "No," She stopped walking then, only for a moment. "I didn't mean the quiet as the question you reasons, we all have them," A sigh escaped pressed lips as she began her pace again. "I just didn't have the words to say to… I may not understand war, but I know hurt when I see it," The girl gives her bare shoulders a shrug. "I'm a healer of physical wounds, and no good past that." Klaie was almost sure she would get a good ear scolding for assumption, but worry be damned, she wouldn't have him thinking she was being snobbish toward him, at the very least. "Hum, for gold then." was the simple remark to the amulet bit. The elf was really only here for the adventure, the rest didn't matter so much.
Muraski /stopped as she did, her single word to once more find that brown brow raised in confusion, “No?” He mumbled to himself. He listened to her words that followed, only to walk once more and take them in slowly. “Ahh, you mean you can't heal the scars of the past, Klaie? Well, love, I'd never ask you to do so. They are my burden to bare and I'll hold it upon my shoulders proudly.” A brief nod was given at the words to confirm what he stated. “For me, it's not about the gold but about the goal the gold brings. Every coin I have, is a little more towards my fund of reuniting Cenril. I need a lot for that, isn't something that's going to be easy either.” An abrupt stop was made as he looked before them, the single torch there and nothing else around it. Inside the coned torch however, seemed to be a solid piece of metal, “Erm, I think, Klaie, that that is our key.”
Klaie watched Muraski as she walked, listening intently. The passionate way he spoke of his city surged a small pang of loneliness that was unfamiliar and far too uncomfortable, but was replaced almost instantly with endearment for the man. When Maru stopped, orbs of clear tourmaline reflected the light of the torch that held the key "Huh," she managed dumbly, and dropped his hand. She could feel the humming of the amulet deep in her bones. Yes, this did seem to be the key. She wasn't really thinking when she took a few steps closer… Then stopped. Too easy, must be a trick. The thought came after those first few absent movements. "Now what?"
Muraski /stared with a similar moronic look into the flame, unsure exactly what should be done, “Sorry Klaie, I'm not exactly sure.” His hand began to slowly raise itself towards the flame when he stopped mid way and turned to face the female. Rather then continuing towards the torch, he leaned in towards her and if she didn't stop him, he would put her into a very romantic kiss. Her body pushed backwards, his leaning over, as his lips pressed against hers. After a few seconds he pulled away, smile upon his face and ready to stick his hand into the fire! No longer worried, heck, if this thing was going to kill him he might as well kiss a beautiful female before he died! Mura was going out with style! Once more he reached towards the light, into the unknown he went!
Klaie was never known to react very well to any surprise. That kiss would be one of those not so swell reactions she was compiling into a list, and maybe going to the top. Her first instinct was to freeze when he began to more toward her, and so she did, but when his lips touched hers, she felt like she had already reached her own hand into that fire. If her lips weren't so busy she might have squealed, the girl was rather vocal… And very unbalanced. After Muraski's desultory kiss and the romantic leaning her back part, she fell, and with her hands having clenched onto his shoulders, she might have even taken him with her.
Muraski /suddenly fell onto the ground, right on top of Klaie and looked extremely embarrassed. Half way through his kiss and suddenly he felt slightly like a fool! He looked at her with an amused smile, “Thanks for catching me, guess that makes us even. Erm, sorry for falling on you.” He rolled off her and went to stand, “Now, for the matter of this key, should probably pull it out of there.” With as much tension as prior to the kiss, he moved for the object within the fire once more.
Muraski /watched as suddenly a hand shot past his for the key and without thinking, he smashed his fist into the side of the torch. It fell from where it was held, rolled upon the ground some distance, and then allowed the key to fall free. An extreme orangish glow was given off and the very sand below it began to turn into glass. Without thinking, Muraski began to move towards the object so he might grasp it before she!
Klaie |If she had time enough to sigh at the man, or yell at him, Klaie would have, but instead she dove for the key. She was on autopilot now, moving quickly and hoping the foot that was placed just in front of his path by no conscious effort, that she would admit to anyway, would slow Muraski down enough for her to reach the key first. The elf wasn't really sure what possessed him to try and grab or knock the thing down in the first place!
Muraski /found himself planted firmly into the sand floor of the building and watched almost stupidly as the female grasped the key before him. Horrified and worried she was going to be extremely hurt, he reached to pull her away from it, hoping he might get there before it happened but alas, he was to late!
Klaie was not over come with a sense of joy at grasping the key. Actually, it was not at all any sort of feeling she thought she would experience. As her hands went around the damned key her vision went to white, and the last thing she saw was sand. The girl had thought that a body was only supposed to feel a certain amount of pain before that body either grew used to it or blocked it away, but she was bloody wrong. The thought of dropping it never crossed her mind, though that had to have been impossible, and Klaie's body clasped over itself. It almost looked like she were holding something very precious to her as she sat there on her knees, doubled over the key, dark hair fanning around her in tangled curls… And she screamed. She wasn't aware that she had been for a while now as the key burned its way into her clenched right hand, the left one wrapped tightly around the back of the first.
Muraski /watched as she went through an agonizing pain, his own damage to be caused knowing he had let her take the brunt of it rather then himself. He moved towards the female, a flinch to be had as she screamed from the pain. At first he tried to pull her from the key, it didn't work, in fact it failed miserably as she seemed to shake further from pain. Rather then worry about the removal, he simply knelt down in front of her, placed his hand upon her back, and gave a slight push. Over she tumbled, right onto his shoulder, and soon he lifted her into the air and proceeded towards the exit. Once their, the vambrace for the coalition was pointed upwards, fired, and the grappling hook was sent up. He tied her to the end of the clothing and climbed up himself. As he finally reached the top, he pulled her up as well, until both were upon the surface once more, to which he proceeded to force her upon his shoulder once again. With that, they moved towards the horse, her body flung over it, tied down, and his to sit upon the top. He planned to take her back to his place, it was the least he could do to take care of her.
Klaie ||The only thing Klaie knew of now was the white-hot pain that traveled from her hand and through every muscle and bone in her body. She unwound her body from the tight coil she had around the key when Muraski was pulling her up from the hole, but before she could do much else she lapsed into grateful unconsciousness again. The screaming stopped, replaced by trembling and small whimpers.
Muraski /went upon horseback all the way to his house, constant checks behind him to make sure she was alright. When finally they arrived, the animal was handed towards the minotaurs and then he seemingly disappeared into a cloud of smoke. His feet carried him towards the back of the establishment, somewhere few knew existed. Her body already placed on top of his shoulders as once more he worked the family seal's magic into the building. The door moved downwards and he proceeded into the underground basement that only he knew of. A dark area greeted them, only torch light, little sound, and it seemed very doom and gloom. He proceeded towards his room, the spot in the far back, an opening to be had upon a wooden door, this one not needing to be opened by the seal. Once inside she was laid down upon his bed. He moved about the basement, gathering supplies, anything he might, until he felt he had all the medical material he would need. With that, LeskoVac returned to her side, a pain killer forced down her gullet, her hands restrained upon the bedside, he needed to pry that key away.. And once all that was accomplished, he finally began to work upon the wound. Some time had passed and by now, it was blistered, blackened flesh, charred, no more nerves left within her hand it might seem. Grisly, something even the Merchant had never thought of before. He wasted no more time, ointments pressed to wound, alcohol poured over it, everything and anything he might try that was without magical prowess and yet he knew in the end it would be needed. She had taken far to much damage to her palm and digits to allow it to work properly for some time without magical assistance, for now, all he could do was ease her pain. So, he sat there, by her side, while she slept, tending to anything he thought she might need. The key, upon the granite floor by the bed.