RP:Pilar's Trials, Part 1

Part of the I Write Songs Not Tragedies Arc

Summary: Pilar fetches Yozenra from Alithrya and together they travel to Chartsend, where Pilar's quest leads her.

NPCing by Reginae.

Alithrya

Pilar had rested on her laurels long enough. Cassy or no Cassy, she'd been given a task and she had to complete it. But she was still afraid of going it alone. And so, she had gone to Alithrya, hoping she might find help from her friend and teacher... Or her teacher's capable guard. Reginae was probably super busy, but she hoped Yozenra might have some free time. If they could both come, so much the better.

Reginae was no where to be found in Alithrya today. If Pilar asked around, she would find out the woman had gone off to see about getting Hureig back home in one piece. Yozenra however was milling around the gardens and patrolling the city streets in case any outsider were to travel this way in search of the queen. Most notably, she was left with the instructions to watch over things in Reginae's absence even though Regi would be back in the morning. When Yozenra sees Pilar on the path, she'll lift her trident in greeting and approach the vampire.

Pilar smiled at the guard. "Hello, Lady Yozenra." She was dressed in black again today. A sign of her continued mourning? Or just habit now? "It's nice to see you. Um, is Reginae around? There's... something I need help with."

Yozenra narrowed her slitted gaze at Pilar. "Lady?" She said with a confused tone before laughing. "I'm no lady." The naga waves her hand to dismiss the notion. She's a warrior, that's all. "Reginae isn't here." Yozenra frowns, "But she put me in charge until she gets back. What do you need help with?"

"Well, it's... a bit of a story." Pilar then went into detail about how she received a magical guitar from her adoptive sister and that it gave her a vision, sending her on a quest. She was completing the quest with Cassy when she died, and she hadn't had the will to continue. "... but I've been thinking it's high time I got back to it. I thought Reginae might be able to help. Or... Maybe... You, if you have time? Not right this second, of course!"

Yozenra listened to Pilar's story, nodding and silently absorbing the situation. A quest? "Reginae might not have time with all this...madness." She gestures to the city, as if it's a bit annoying to her now. "But I'd be happy to go when she gets back. When are you wanting to head out? And just where are you going?" 

Pilar nodded. "I thought so. I'm glad you're here. To help." Pilar cleared her throat. "There's caves along the sea cliffs in Chartsend, west of Venturil. I searched them and found a short song carved into the rock. When I played it, it opened a door leading... I don't know. I was too nervous to go in. After a few minutes, the door closed again."

Yozenra listened with interest. "A song that opens a door?" It sounded exciting! Just the kind of thing Reginae would love to know about, and just the kind of thing Yozenra would love to do. "Where is Chartsend?" She asked, unfamiliar with all the regions outside of Alithrya. West of Venturil? She didn't know where that was either. "What kind of place is it? Will it take long to get there?" Pilar had told her it was by the sea, so the naga assumed it was humid and mild. 

"It's a small, peaceful fishing village settled by elves and humans, mostly. It's a fair way off, so it will take... Maybe a day or two? Depending on how fast we move. But if you don't mind flying, it will take a couple hours. My couatl, Emielle, is waiting by the city entrance."

Yozenra hesistated. "Flying...?" 

Pilar smiled reassuringly. "Land it is, then. We can rent a carriage, don't worry. I'll send Emielle home."

Yozenra couldn't help it. Flying was a big deal. Naga and avians had fueds over this very thing. Naga weren't meant for the skys. "Ehrm...it's your...quest. We can do it how you like." She felt guilty for imposing her preference on Pilar. "I've never flown before." She admits, clearing her throat.

"It is nerve-wracking the first time. But when you get used to it, it's exhilarating and... liberating. Maybe one day we can give it a try. There's no hurry here. We can go by land. Wouldn't want you feeling sick before our adventure."

Yozenra relaxed. "All right, I just have to wait for Reginae to get back...Then we can go? Shouldn't be more than a day at most." Afterwards, Yozenra would lead Pilar to the Palace, to the same room she'd stayed in months ago. "Let me know if you need anything." She bowed and then left Pilar to her own devices until Reginae's return. The next day, around noon, Reginae slithered back through the gardens and was greeted by Yozenra. They discussed where she'd been and what had transpired with hushed whispers until Yozenra told Regi that Pilar was here and needed help with her quest. "Of course you should go," Regi waves the naga woman away dismissively. "We'll be fine here for a while. It might do you some good to get out of here for a little while." Reginae clapped Yozenra's shoulder, before heading back into the palace to find Pilar. First she'd try the guest room. Her pale knuckles knocked on the dark wood. "Pilar?" Reginae called. "Anyone home?"

Pilar took a detour to send Emielle home so the poor couatl wouldn't keep waiting for her. But first, she retrieved her things from the saddlebag. A change of clothes, a bottle of blood, and a guitar. Pilar found herself practicing with her guitar for the rest of the day. Her music could be heard throughout the hallway until nightfall. She and Yozenra had a pleasant dinner together in the kitchens before both retired for the night. In the morning, Pilar got back into her black dress, drank a gulp of blood, and slung her guitar over her shoulder. The knock drew her attention from the bed as she was making it. "Come in!"

Reginae opened the door and came inside, Yozenra on her heels. "I hear you are off on some grand adventure." She teased the vampire, her long tail coiling itself under Regi's torso as she moved to close the door. Yozenra stood, anxiously at her side. "Yozenra will be accompanying you. Do you need any supplies?" In the woman's hand, she held a green canvas pack. "I brought some, just in case." Like a mother, excited to send her children off the summer camp, Reginae beams. "It'll be good for you to get out of the city, " She reminds Yozenra with playful matronly affection. "And it'll give you a chance to test your powers too Pilar. Bardic and Illusionist."

Pilar smiled at the two. "Thank you, Reginae." Pilar took the pack and slung it over her shoulder, then looked to Yozenra. She could see the warrior's nervousness. "When were you last outside the city?"

Yozenra looked at Reginae, as if worried what she would think about her answer to Pilar's question. "I never have." She said. "I was in training from the time I was young until I left the time flow. When I came back, it was here and here I've stayed." Reginae looked at Yozenra and laughed. "You might want to put on a pair of legs if you are going out there," The naga queen suggested. Yozenra looked down at her ebony tail, purple dreads draping her shoulders before she looked at PIlar and remembered Pilar's naga tail. It was only fair right? With little concentration, Yozenra's scales bubbled like a cauldron over the fire. The glossy black of her scales turned into a olive color, to match her skin. A pair of shorts, in place of her tail, kept her modest and the warrior smiled and stretched her legs oddly. She hopped once or twice, before shaking her head. "These aren't stable," She complained, smiling at Pilar for confirmation. 

Pilar chuckled. "You'll get used to them. Don't worry, everything will be fine. I'm sure you'll find plenty to love about the outside world. So, shall we?"

Yozenra took a few awkward steps towards the door while Reginae held it open for them, waving them off. "Be careful!" She calls as Yozenra turns to Pilar with a hopeful grin. "Lead the way!"

Pilar smiled and waved to Reginae as they walked down the corridor. Pilar took Yozenra to the teleportation room. "You ready?"

Yozenra looked back at Pilar, sweat beading on her forehead. "Where to?"

Pilar took Yozenra's hand, hoping to soothe her worries. "Kelay. It's a town in the middle of Sage Forest. We can get a carriage there to take us to Chartsend."

Yozenra's posture relaxed when Pilar took her hand. "To Kelay," The naga said before following the vampire into the portal and thus preparing herself for her first ever teleportation to her first ever visit to Kelay.

Kelay Town

Pilar had teleported before. She didn't like the sensation, but it wasn't too unpleasant. They landed in the middle of a street off the main road. Some children playing nearby gaped at the new arrivals, then ran off to tell their mothers about magical appearing women. There were a number of nice houses lining the street, and one could see the main thoroughfare from where they were. Pilar looked to Yozenra. "How are you doing?"

Yozenra could not maintain her shapeshifting while teleporting. This was important information to have, because as she's reconstructed in the street of Kelay she goes from being a woman with long snake tail, to being a woman with two shaky legs and nowhere to run. She's tense, and apprehensive, watching the children run away with the expectation that they will bring back bigger and stronger parents to fight her. Her grip on her trident increases with her left hand, and she's quick to push Pilar behind her and eye the busy humans on the street suspiciously. "Get behind me..." 

Pilar patted Yozenra's arm reassuringly. The children came back out of their house and returned to playing, occasionally glancing at the pair. Mom and Dad evidently weren't interested in materializing women. No one attacked them, though the trident was getting some looks. "Let me show you the tavern," Pilar offered. "It's kind of famous around here."

Yozenra lowered her trident, keeping a watchful eye on the children who bobbed and weaved around in their game. Huh. That was strange. When Pilar asks to show her the tavern, the naga nods before asking "What is it famous for?"

Pilar chuckled. "Mostly for surviving disaster after disaster. But the food and drink is pretty good, too." Pilar led her to the main road and they walked westward. The trees of Sage Forest could be seen in the distance, and the Xalious Mountains rose behind them. They reached the tavern and Pilar opened the door. The place was pretty busy as people came for breakfast. Dwarves, elves, humans and more were crowded inside.

Yozenra keeps her eyes on everyone, concentrating carefully on making her legs work properly. It was a muscle she didn't quite understand how to use immediately. No one stopped them along the way, but when they walk into the tavern, the naga feels the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. So many different people, and all crowded in one place. Is this what Reginae wanted? Would they ever accept her if she'd walked through the door as a naga? Immediately tense, she follows silently behind Pilar, since she knew her way around.

Noticing Yozenra's apprehension, Pilar gave her arm a squeeze and led her to the bar. Mesthak and Nancy were busy, so they had time to peruse the menu. "Everything here is really good," Pilar said. "I love their pies, especially." She patted Yozenra's shoulder. "Order whatever you like. My treat."

Yozenra nodded, deciding it best to stay silent while she looked over the menu. The pies she was use to were full of meats, so these fruit pies were a little confusing. "What kind of pie do you like? I'll try that?" 

"Their apple is delicious," Pilar suggested. Nancy finally made her way over and Pilar said, "Two pieces of apple pie please, a glass of milk, and... anything to drink, Yozenra?"

Yozenra looked at Nancy, her feet twitched against the bottom of the bar. "Water?" She asked after Pilar turned the attention of the conversation to the naga in disguise. "Is this where you live? In Kelay?"

Nancy nodded and went to fill their order. "No, I live in Frostmaw. It's northwest of here, in the mountains. But I hope to have the money to move to Chartsend soon. Frostmaw is... It's nice I suppose, but not for me. They worship Aramoth there, and I don't have a problem with that, it's just not for me. The focus on being a warrior. You might like it there, if you can stand the cold. I hope to have the money to move to Chartsend soon. It's a small, peaceful village. Much more my taste."

Yozenra recognized Aramoth's name and reflexively stiffened and saluted. Though, for some reason, guilt flickered momentarily across her face. It's unclear if it's for Pilar or herself. "It sounds nice, this Chartsend. Reginae told me a bit about Frostmaw and Hildegarde when they were at war with...an Ice Giant?" She tried to recall but the details were slim and it wasn't Yozenra's policy to think about places outside of Alithrya. It had been and always would be her home, in her mind. "You're a skilled warrior though." The naga commented, while Nancy brought around their water glasses with a silent smile. "Why would you want to move away from that?" 

Pilar thanked Nancy and took a sip. Putting the glass back down, she said, "I don't feel like a skilled warrior... But whether I am or not, I just... don't like fighting. I know it has to be done, sometimes, like when Balgruuf stole the throne and started terrorizing Frostmaw's citizens. But I much prefer a quiet, peaceful life." She sighed. "I don't think I'll ever get that, though... There's always something to fight about."

Yozenra narrowed her gaze on her own glass. She hated to admit it but Pilar was right. The fighting was almost never done because without conflict...what would life be? Boring, unchanging and safe. Something that seems good from the horizon but up close? What is life if not riskes? "I think there's a place for everyone, regardless of what they want." She smiles, her lips tugged back by the notion of safety. It was a nice thought, but she didn't think it was practical. Naga always fought. What would Yozenra be without her spear? Happier? She didn't know. "Tell me about Chart send? It's by the ocean and it's peaceful? Who lives there?"

Pilar smiled. "Mostly elves, humans, and half-elves, but they're very welcoming. At least, I've never been troubled for being a vampire. Then again, I guess I can pass as human." Nancy arrived with their pies and Pilar's milk, and Pilar thanked her before taking a bite. "Mmm, she warmed it up for us. So good."

Yozenra looks around again, scanning the patrons and then her own shape shifted tail turned legs. "I guess I can pass as human..too." She said, just as Nancy brought their pie. The naga dipped her head in thanks and watched Pilar as she went about taking a bite. Pick up the fork, apply pressure to the side and...cut the crust to form a bite. Put the bite on the fork and consume. Yozenra waited as the warm, melty texture of the pie passed her lips and savored the sweetness. 

Pilar took a couple more bites before she spoke again. "So... Do you like it?"

Yozenra wasn't sure. It was odd, to eat something warm but also sweet. It reminded her of the desserts Pilar had made in Alithrya, in that way. "It's delicious." She says, "But do you eat things that aren't sweet?" The naga blinked, afraid of offending her friend. 

Pilar chuckled. "Yes, I do. But as a vampire, what I eat is more for enjoyment than nutrition. So when I feel like a steak, I'll get a steak. When I want corn, I'll get corn. I just happen to really like sweets. What about you? What kinds of things do you like to eat? I imagine you have to have a strict diet to stay in shape."

Yozenra laughed, even if that wasn't a joke on Pilar's part. To stay in shape? Nagas could stay in any shape they like! So diets weren't the biggest concern on the female's plate. "Mostly...meat." She smiled, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "That's a fighter's diet!" She laughted, still nervous and focused on the pie in front of her. "Sweets are nice though, once in a while." The plate has successfully be cleared, leaving only some of the pie filling in place of Yozenra's slice.

Pilar cocked her head, not getting what was so funny. Maybe it was just... nervous laughter? Yozenra did still seem tense. Pilar took a swig of her milk. "That makes sense. So, shall we move on?" She placed a few silvers on the counter to pay for their meal. 

Yozenra watched the coins meet the bar's top and nodded enthusiastically. "Where you go, I'll follow." She chirps happily before trying to slither away from the stool she occupied. She had forgotten her human legs and stumbled into the stool, causing a small commotion. Clearly she was nervous, though the reason why isn't evident. "L-lead the way!" Yozenra cheers, following Pilar out of Kelay's finest dining establishment. 

Pilar reached out and caught Yozenra's arm, helping her keep her balance. "You okay?' She looked around. Some people were looking but most had ignored it. "Um, okay. Let's go." She led Yozenra out of the tavern and to the carriage house. About ten minutes later, they were in a carriage heading west toward Xalious. They went at a quick, but not hurried, pace. Pilar looked out the window. "Spring is so nice. My favorite season."

Yozenra had never ridden in a carriage, so she spends a few minutes trying to acquaint herself with the mechanics of the system in case their carriage driver becomes incapacitated. She knows how horses work, thanks for the tutorial. When she climbs in, she sits across from Pilar, to admire the views that move out of the vampires vision. Spring? They didn't have seasons underground, other than the waters would become a little warmer in Summer. It didn't affect the plant life. Maybe the hunt able prey was changed by the seasons? Yozenra wasn't sure. "What's your favorite part?" The naga asks, relating her leg shape shift so her tail crowds the bench beside her. The ebony tip of her tail flicks thoughtfully.  "When the plants start to bloom again and all the baby animals are born... When the days get longer... I'm not sure I can pick just one thing I like about it." Pilar smiles at Yozenra. "It's just because it's when everything comea alive again."

Yozenra nodded politely but she really had no clue. "We live underground so...I never can tell." She admits, looking out the carriage window to notice a field of flowers in bloom. Butterflies and other insects buzz around the bulbs that sway lazily in the afternoon breeze. 

"I see." Pilar looked out the window at the field, then calles up to the driver, "Stop the carriage for a moment, please!" To Yozrnra, she said, "Wait here." She got out and walked into the field, picking several blossoms until she had a nice bouquet. She got back in the carriage and the driver started them off again. Pilar pulled a yellow ribbon from her bag, one she usually used to tie up her hair, and tied the flowers together. She then presented them to Yozenra. "A souvenir of your trip. You can press them in a book to preserve them, or just enjoy them until their natural end."

Yozenra watched Pilar go with a quizzical look on her face. Should she follow? But before she could try, Pilar returned with the flowers and fills the carriage with the scent of spring. "A yellow ribbon." Yozenra comments. "There's a song we sing, about a woman wearing a yellow ribbon in her hair because she remembers lover, who went off to war. It's supposed to be a reminder of a person." Smiling, Yozenra takes the flowers and smells them. An angry bee buzzes inside the stem and floats lazily out the window as the naga laughs. "Thank you, Pilar." She says, with no small amount of blush creeping into her face. 

Xalious Village

Pilar smiled. "You're welcome. Heh, I just wear yellow because it's my favorite color." The remainder of the ride to Xalious passed uneventfully, and they arrived in the mountain village as dusk was settling. The duo got out and Pilar paid the driver his fee, plus a tip. "Welcome to Xalious Village, home of the Xalious Tree, nestles in the Xalious Mountains. They'rr big on Xalious here." She pointed to a large structure to the north. "That's the Mage's Tower, home of the Mage Guild." She then looked to the south. "The tree is that way... Do you mind if we visit for a moment?"

Yozenra falls asleep at some point during the ride. Her head bobs lazily on the side of the carriage until they stop and Pilar pays the tab. She's still holding the flowers and makes sure to shift back into Human mode before climbing out of the carriage. "Xalious?" She asked. "Who is that? Some warrior?" Being a child of Aramoth, in Alithrya they don't preach other religions. There is only one, and Yozenra isn't entirely convinced it's the best way to go about things. It's just all she's ever known. "Not at all, I'll follow right along." She smiles, readjusting herself to walking as they make their way towards the tree.   "The god of magic. He's said to have become the tree itself." The tree was massive, with gold and silver leaves and a strange blue glow around it. Its likeness was on Pilar's arm, though the tattoo had the addition of a heart on the trunk. Pilar placed her bag and guitar case on the ground and approached the tree. She knelt there and placed her forehead against the tree. Tears began to stream down her face. "Mi rosa..." she whispered. "This is where we met, me and Cassy... I dreamed of marrying her under these branches." She looked up into the foliage. "My friend Daermon says I will love again... But I'm not sure I want to."

Yozenra watches as Pilar approaches the tree and places her forehead against it. "Aramoth is a god of war but he supplies us with magic so it's...maybe similar." She offers, before Pilar starts to cry. The naga's face becomes conflicted. She's not sure what to do. Advice on love isn't something she's knowledgable about. She's never been in love. "Please don't cry..." Her tone is low, apologetic without knowing how to process it. "If loving someone else would make you happy, would Cassy want that for you, do you think?" She asked, awkwardly. Was that advice? It made her feel like her stomach was a seperate naga, tail and body all knotted together for no reason. 

Pilar sniffed. "I... I think so, but... It still feels like it's a betrayal." She wiped her eyes and got to her feet, taking a shaky breath. "Sorry, I just... needed to get that out." Tears were still streaming down her face, though she tried to wipe them away. "I... I just miss her so much..."

Yozenra felt funny. This emotional display seemed like to should be private but Pilar was trusting her to be present. To witness her in a moment of weakness. It was a high sign of trust in naga culture and the naga does not believe herself worthy of this honor. What would Reginae do? Yozenra slithers forward apprehensively and wraps her arms around Pilar in a loose hug. "Hearts are like palaces. There are many rooms for many people." That's something she's heard the Queen say before, on one of her lectures about granting access to different races. She'd said as much at the meeting, before taking her place on the stage. It all felt so long ago. 

Pilar returned the hug without hesitation. She did trust Yozenra. She had been nothing but kind to her. "Thank you, Yozenra. That... That means a lot." They stayed like that for a few moments before Pilar wiped her eyes again and looked up at the naga. "So. You must be hungry after that ride. We should get something to eat."

Yozenra gave Pilar a skeptical look. Hungry? They just ate pie! "I can hunt something up, I'm sure." She offers, just in case Pilar isn't in the mood to find a tavern or there isn't an Inn nearby. Worst case, their packs had preserved bits of bread and meat. They could build a fire and stop for the night. "Did you get any sleep in the carriage?" She asked, making sure they didn't push themselves too hard the first day of travelling. 

Pilar shook her head. "No, I didn't. I just read a book." She blushed slightly. It was one of E.L. Landon's. "Um. Do you want to see more of the village? Or would you rather go to the inn?"

Yozenra didn't know which would be better. She wanted to see the village but she expected they might be on a time table. They had to rest if they expected to do well in whatever trials were to come. All her warrior's training tells her so. "Maybe we should just rest, we've done a lot of traveling today?" She suggests, gently, trying to pinpoint the direction of the inn from here. She can't see it and will have to rely on Pilar to show her the way. 

Pilar nodded. "Good idea. It's back this way." She led Yozenra back through the village, where a number of shops were still open. There was the dress shop, the toy store, the cafe... Soon they arrived at the Dancing Destrier. Pilar went up to the desk and booked them a room with two beds. The room was simple, but clean and homey. Pilar set her bag and guitar case down in a corner and pulled out a bottle of blood. She unstopped it and took a swig. There, that hit the spot. Good old A positive.

Yozenra didn't carry bottles of blood around, but it seemed like a good idea. She's had blood before, it's part of hunting if there's no time to cook or even debone your food. It doesn't bother her in the slightest. She puts her pack on the bed and unwinds the chords tying it closed. Inside, she finds a small package of meat, wrapped in an enchanted cloth to keep the meat from spoiling, and swallows the meat whole without chewing it. Even with her humanoid form, she was still snake and not human. She holds a slice of the meat out to Pilar, to see if she wants one too. They are small, thinly cut lizard steaks, raw and flush with fluid.

Pilar had never seen a naga eat before, she realized as she watched Yozenra swallow her food. As a piece was offered to her, she put the cork back in her bottle. "Ah, thank you." She took the meat and took a careful bite. She'd had raw meat before. It wasn't as gross as it used to be. She was careful not to get any blood on her dress or the bed, and when she finished she wiped her hands on a handkerchief she had in her bag. She then stretched and yawned. "Long day." She sat back on the bed. "So. What do you think of the surface so far?"

Yozenra thought about Pilar's question while she swallowed another piece of meat. "It's hotter," She remarked on the sun's nearly constant prescence. She's use to caves and pathways lit by magic orbs or faux lights. Not the real thing. "But I like the way the sky feels endless. The air is fresher, you feel...more powerful." She smiles and tucks the rest of the food back in it's enchanted wrap and reties the laces before setting it in the floor. Her shifting loosens and a naga tail takes the place of her formerly stretched out feet. "I'm not sure how much I enjoy walking though. Slithering seems more efficient. More surface area to the ground." She laughs though, because it's silly to judge a human or someone that doesn't have a choice how they walk. At least they'd been able to take a carraige this far. "How much farther is Chartsend? Are you nervous?" Yozenra lounges on the other bed, her tail twitching tip twitching thoughtfully in the floor. 

Pilar smiled. More powerful. She'd never thought of it like that. She lied back on the bed, enjoying how soft it was. Much nicer than her bed back in Frostmaw. "We have to go through the mountains, then Venturil, and then we're there." She stared at the ceiling. "I'm very nervous. I have no idea what to expect." She looked to Yozenra. "I'm glad you're here."

Yozenra gives her a reassuring smile, before leaning over to blow out her bedside candle. "I've got your back. Don't worry. I'm glad I'm here, too." The naga's face, lit by candle flame, slipped into the darkness of the extinguished flame. The room wasn't pitch black, so their outlines could still be seen if you focused long enough. "Goodnight Pilar." She said, the sound of her shifting in her bed punctuating their first day of traveling. Their own little adventure. Yozenra smiled as she drifted off to sleep.  

"Good night," Pilar replied she, too, fell asleep. The next morning, they left the Destrier and headed out across the mountains. The way was too treacherous for a carriage, so they had to make the journey on foot and tail.

Xalious Mountains

As they traveled, Yozenra kept her tail because it allowed her to grab ledges and rocks with ease, and she'd be better prepared to catch Pilar if she should fall. About Mid-day, Yozenra stops Pilar to make her eat something from her pack or encourage her to drink something in her own possession. "We're expending a lot of energy," She noted, "It's important for us to take care of ourselves in the process". 

Pilar, had she been merely human, might have had troube. But with her vampire strength, the trek over the mountains didn't even make her break a sweat. Also she couldn't actually sweat anymore, but that was neither here nor there. At lunchtime, she sat on a rock to rest and took a swig of her blood. "We're almost to Venturil. I think we can make it to Chartsend by nightfall. Then tomorrow, we can--" She stopped, her ears having caught the sound of movement. She put the bottle away and stood. "Hello?" Another sound, louder this time, and three men emerged from around the bend. Two had crossbows drawn and at the ready, the other had a short sword in his right hand. They were dressed in old, worn leather and tattered cloth. The man with the short sword was chewing something. "Afternoon, ladies," he said before spitting a dark brown liquid. Tobacco? "Going somewhere?"

Yozenra wasn't familiar with bandits but she got the sense he wasn't asking them if they wanted directions. Her hands tense around her trident and she watches them with dilated eyes. Did they approach because Pilar says traveling with a Naga? Had Yozenra made things less safe? "No where you're going," she replied, looking at Pilar. Could she move fast enough to avoid those arrows if they were shot in their direction?

The man with the short sword chuckled. "Oh, what a shame. I was hoping we could enjoy your company. But since you'll be leaving us, be a doll and drop that fork before you get hurt." One of the crossbowmen took aim at Pilar and the other aimed at Yozenra. "Now, here's how it's going to go down," he continued. "You," pointing at Yozenra, "are going to drop your stuff and slither away. Your pretty friend here is gonna spend some quality time with us before she joins you." Pilar's skin began to crawl and she looked over at Yozenra. She looked back at the men and swallowed, putting her hands up in surrender. "Pl-please, don't... don't hurt us..." The man in the short sword spat again. "We won't hurt you, or your snake nig--" And then there was a ball of fire in his face. Illusory, but he didn't know that, and he dropped his sword and screamed in pain.

Yozenra grits her teeth while the men berated them. She doesn't waste a second when Pilar's flame takes the man by surprise. Her ebony tail lashes out, like a whip, pulling his legs out from under him. The other bandits are confused. One looses their knotched bolt into the trees, the other swiveled to try and catch the Naga in his sights. She lifts the body of the man howling in pain and tosses him like a rag doll, knocking over one of the other men in the process. Immediately, she looks to Pilar. She didn't know the custom here but she's willing to wager since these rats threatened them, Yozenra can cause them as much harm as possible. 

Pilar dodged an incoming bolt from the one man left standing and punched him across the jaw, knocking him out. As he crumpled to the ground, the other men started to get up. She snagged the other crowssbowman's arm and wrenched backwards, dislocating his shoulder. The man with the burned face snarled, "Bitch!" and swung at her legs with his sword. It clanged off her silver leg, but Pilar winced anyway. That was an unpleasant sound.

Yozenra sweeps her tail around to grab the man as he yells at Pilar around his throat. His face turns plum and he goes limp. Her grip loosens, and when she lowers his body there's a steady rise and fall in his chest to show he's still breathing. "Let's get out of here..." She advises, reaching for her belongings and anything Pilar might have set down.

Pilar nodded and returned to where she'd set down her satchel and guitar case, and the duo left the men, two unconscious and one with a dislocated arm. They began their descent, the town of Venturil just starting to become visible. They walked for several minutes in silence before Pilar said, "You know... A lot of people... wouldn't have let them live." She smiled at Yozenra. "I'm glad you're not like that."

Yozenra doesn't say much because she's listening for footsteps behind them, the bandits might return. When Pilar speaks, it turns her attention toward her companion again. "That's the only way they learn" she says, thinking about the Naga that had picked on Pilar in Alithrya. They didn't deserve to die just because they were wrong... If they'd really hurt Pilar... That would have been a different story. "someday they might not take their life for granted." Venturil came closer as they advanced. She gives Pilar a reassuring smile. 

Venturil

Pilar thought that was a good philosophy to have. Some of her own dearest friends wouldn't have been so merciful, and while she understood that, this was a breath of fresh air. Soon, the ground began to flatten out, and they were walking through the flatlands of Venturil. As they approached the center of town, Pilar asked, "Are you hungry or tired? I wouldn't mind sitting for a few."

Yozenra was still paranoid, disappointed that they'd been caught off guard before. She too was tired of listening for danger and straining her eyes ahead. Rest would be appreciated. "Sitting sounds superb." The Naga turned to buildings in the area,trying to decide where they should go to have such a sit down. 

There was a quaint little cafe nearby. Perfect for sitting and snacking. "Why not there?" Pilar suggested. They approached the small shop, which had a number of tables outside and inside. They served sandwiches, coffee, and tea, amongst other things. The people behind the counter smiled at the newcomers. "What'll ya have?" one of them asked. Pilar looked at their menu and said, "A cup of sweet tea and a ham and cheese sandwich, please. Yozenra?"

The Naga makes sure to shift into her human legs, which makes her so much taller than Pilar. She leans against the and smiles. "I'll have the same," she says, taking the plates and paying for both their meals. If Pilar protests, she'll remind her that she bought the pie in kelay. It's only fair to trade off. Yozenra picks a table by the window and sets their plates down across from the chairs before pulling out Pilar's so she can sit. 

Pilar did indeed protest to Yozenra paying, but she didn't put up too much of a fight when Yozenra insisted. She followed Yozenra to the table and blushed as Yozenra pulled out a seat for her. "Thank you." She sat down and waited for her companion to do the same before she began to eat.

Yozenra streched her arms overhead, glad to be taking a small break and eating something new. A ham and cheese sandwich didn't sound exciting to most people but Yozenra hadn't had one before! Most of the meat she was use to was lizard or creepycrawly related. The waitress brings over their tea with a smile, setting each cup beside their plates before vanishing back behind the counter to take more orders. Even though it's fairly empty, the people there are talking loudly. It's comforting, to be surrounded by voices and bodies not threatening them. Very nice vacation so far. "No problem!" She offered to Pilar's thanks, exposing her fangs as she smiled before biting into her sandwiches hungrily. The bread was a weird texture, crunchy and soft? It stuck to her fangs, but she washed it down with sweet tea. 

Pilar wasn't hungry, but she still liked to eat. It was familiar, and enjoyable. She ate her sandwich and drank her tea, glad for a break. Even with her stamina, the trek over the mountains was long and tiring. "We're almost to Chartsend," Pilar said. "I think we can get another carriage, unless you'd rather stay on foot."

Yozenra was half way through her sandwich when Pilar said something. She chewed the bite in her mouth and swallowed loudly. "Yeah! I'd love to take a carriage." That much easier to outrun those bandits in case they tried to tail them. Also, she wouldn't have to shift her legs or travel in plain sight. Not that she was afraid, just that it had already caused Pilar problems. 

Pilar smiled. "Okay, good." She finished her sandwich and sipped her tea slowly, staring out the window. The sun was dipping low in the sky, over the plains. Around nightfall, they finally arrived in Chartsend.

Chartsend

Yozenra could smell the salt of the sea in the air as they approached Chartsend. The lulling motion of the carriage put her to sleep again, almost immediately. Maybe she was more tired from climbing that she admitted to the vampire. Her head bobbed drunkenly around, landing a time or two on Pilar's shoulder. When the carriage arrived, she stretches her arms and tail out again before shifting to her human legs and taking a look around. "Is there an Inn we can stay in to get a good night's sleep and start the quest in full tomorrow?" She asks, watching small ships bob in the harbor nearby. Such a quaint little space, she thought, smiling overhead at the star speckled sky. Now it felt more like home, the sky a dark blanket of finite height overhead. 

Pilar almost fell asleep herself. Whenever Yozenra's head landed upon her shoulder, she would smile unwittingly. When they arrived, she gently shook Yozenra awake. She paid the driver his fee (plus tip) and looked around the plaza they'd been left in. Buildings blocked the view of the ocean, but there was no mistaking that sea breeze. "The inn is back down the street a ways. I should have had him stop there instead. Sorry," Pilar said sheepishly. The road was quiet but as they approached the inn, things got louder. Inside there seemed to be a party going on. Pilar made her way to the desk and asked for a room with two beds. "I'm sorry, miss," the concierge said, "we only have one room left, and it's just got the one." Pilar blushed slightly and looked at Yozenra. "Well... if you don't mind..."

Yozenra searches the crowded drinking area and nods her confirmation. "Yeah, that's fine but can we get extra pillows and blankets?" She'll look at Pilar and wink, like she has some kind of plan in the works. The concierge hands Pilar the key and another man follows them with his arms full of pillows. Yozenra takes the extra set of blankets and follows them both to the room, with Pilar leading the way. 

Their room was on the second floor, ar the end of the hall. It was a smallish room, with a full bed, a desk, and two armchairs. The bathroom was clean and roomy, and there was even a closet to leave their stuff in. Pilar put her things on the bed and took the pillows from the man. "Thank you."

Yozenra bowed as the man left, offering to take the Pillows from Pilar and throwing them all onto the bed with the blankets in a messy pile. "Oh! They have chairs! Even better!" She cheers, dropping her backpack in the closet and moving to arrange the chairs in the small bit of floor space beside the bed. She has two pillows in her hands, moving the chairs back to back with a little space between them. She's squishing one of the pillows between the backs of the chairs, and throwing the other one on the ground. "Can you hand me one of the blankets?" she asks Pilar, looking at the vampire with a fanged tooth grin, wide as her face. 

Pilar watched Yozenra curiously. Was this some weird naga thing? She handed Yozenra a blanket and moved her things to the closet. She sat on the bed and removed her shoes, still watching Yozenra.

Yozenra moves the materials around carefully. A blanket here, a pillow there, until she's created a small tent with a pillow flooring. The edges of the blanket are pulled back to create a triangular door that she holds open and gesture inside of. "Pilar, go inside!" She looks at the vampire expectantly. The inside of the fort is big enough for two people to lay on the floor, side by side but still be comfortable to roll around or have their own space. It feels bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside, partially because of Yozenra's expert Pillow Fort Skills. The floor is all pillows, with a blanket spread out over them to keep the weird carpet from touching their skin. It's prickly to touch without the blanket / pillows creating a buffer. "Could have used a few more pillows..." she complains, peeking in her head after Pilar agrees to climb inside. 

"What is this?" Pilar asked, giggling. She'd never seen or even heard of a pillow fort before. Living in tents didn't leave much room for such things. She nevertheless crawled inside and sat cross-legged on the pillows. It reminded her of those days, so long ago... Except with a more comfortable floor.

Yozenra bawked at Pilar's question. "M'lady, you wound me! This is the finest pillow fort in Lithrydel!" Soon after, she slithered inside after Pilar, shifting her size down to smaller than average Humanoid. So the pillow she's sitting on is the size of a bed to her. "Since we only have one bed and extra room, I thought it might be fun. It's something I use to do with some of the other female warriors in training camps after a rough day of training. It feels like a safe haven." She grinned, leaning back on the pillow with her hands behind her head. "We can pretend we are anywhere! It can be on a boat, out at sea. We could be lost in a cave far underground or making camp at the top of the tallest tree in the land." She blows a heafty breath at one of the exterior blankets and it ripples softly like wind is blowing around them. 

Pilar smiled. "I've never heard of such a thing. I'll admit... It is kind of nice. Feels like I'm a kid again. I haven't played pretend in a long time." She lied down on the pillows. So comfy. Maybe not as soft as a proper bed, but still nice.

Yozenra smiled so much more freely here than in Alithrya. It wasn't that she didn't like her home but...maybe it felt like she could be more herself with Pilar because she didn't think the vampiress would judge her harshly. When Yozenra was around Regi, she felt a certain pressure to appear a certain way or be a certain thing, even though Reginae never treated her differently. "It's good to relax and do something fun. Even in the middle of something serious. Give your heart and head a break from worry and stress."

Pilar nodded and smiled. "So, what do you like to do for fun? Other than build pillow forts. Do you like to read?"

Yozenra looked up, imagining a large sky full of stars overhead. "I do a little bit of reading but I actually enjoy carving little figures." Yozenra holds up her empty hands, pulsing a weak illusion into her palms. Wooden carvings of small birds and trees circulate through her hand, like a gallery of her works. They are all things she'd previously made, tucked away home in Alithrya. There are small naga's, all with little weapons. Tridents, daggers, fangs and claws. The details on their tails are amazing, each scale delicately cut into the wood by hand. "What about you? What do you do for fun?"

"Oh, they're beautiful," Pilar said. "You're very good." When the conversation turned to her hobbies, she said, "I like to read in my spare time. I also enjoy caring for animals, and dancing flamenco." She lifted a hand and conjured a small group of people, about the size of Yozenra's figures. Inez was there, along with a young man, a teenage boy, and two young girls. They began to dance while upbeat guitar music played. "It's the dance of my people. My family would perform all the time..."

Yozenra's illusions fade while Pilar summons her own. It's a little like telling stories over the campfire. The little illusions putting off their own magical light. "Dancing." Yozenra repeats, watching the figures move with the guitar's music. "That looks like a lot of fun, very passionate." She nods, "You should show me sometime." The naga nods cheerfully, before a yawn cuts her smile. "Sorry, your dance isn't boring, I swear." 

Pilar smiled and dispersed her magic. "It's fine. I'm tired, too. So... who gets the fort and who gets the bed?" Sleeping in a bed seemed so boring compared to Yozenra's Epic Pillow Fort. 

Yozenra smiled. "Lady's choice. I am here to follow alongside you so if you like, I will also become the official creator of Pillow Forts for you." She laughed, the sound bouncing around the inside of the small fort before slithering her small form over to collect more of the floor pillows and pile them on Pilar's side of floor. Her points her index and thumb at the entrance, triangle and open, to create a small ball of light, flickering lazily like a candle in the window. "Good night, Pilar." She said before bending and shuffling backwards to exit the fort and close the blanket 'door' before Pilar gave her answer. It was more fun, she thought, to make something for someone else than for herself. Yozenra's heart pounded loudly as she curled up in the bed and drew the remaining covers over her shoulders, and propped up her neck with the last surviving pillow. The imaginary candle in Pilar's fort would continue to flicker and glow until Yozenra starts to snore on the outside. 

Pilar smiled. Yozenra had such a lovely laugh. "Good night, Yozenra,' she said as she lied down. She smiled softly, though it faded with Yozenra's light. Tomorrow... Tomorrow she would be walking into the unknown. It could be dangerous, and she was putting a friend in danger. She felt a pang of self-recrimination. How dare she risk another's life for her own benefit? She slept fitfully that night, all her worries coming to life in her dreams. When morning broke, she slipped from the fort and went to the closet, grabbing her things before ducking into the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later, dressed for adventure in cotton pants and tunic, leather boots, and a belt with a number of small pouches on it.

Yozenra didn't dream. She slept well and had no memories of restlessness when she heard Pilar shuffle around in the closet. Her first thought was concern but her brain rebooted the previous days events and so she stayed in bed, lingering as long as possible in the soft fluffy sheets. The same could not be said for the mattress but nagas have slept on worse. When Pilar appears, dressed for her adventure, Yozenra uncoils herself from bed and stretches. "Very nice," she says, encouraging the vampiress with a grin. In the meantime, she went about checking her trident (it didn't need to be sharpened) and waxed her scales before presenting herself adventure ready. "Let's leave the fort in case we bring back a lot of loot." She laughed, confidently. 

Pilar didn't share in Yozenra's laugh. She shuffled her feet and looked down. "Um... Yozenra? Are you sure you're... you're okay with this?" She picked at her fingernails. "I mean... I don't want you to get hurt..."   Yozenra tilted her head, smile fading into concern. "Of course I'm okay?" she replied. "Are you getting cold feet warrior?" She asked, clasping her hand down gently onto Pilar's shoulder. "I won't get hurt. I've seen hundreds of battles and there's nothing that can outsmart a naga." She nodded, quite sure that everything was fine. 

  Pilar looked up at Yozenra and nodded. "Okay... Okay. Let's go."