RP:That's One for Paranoia

Abandoned Home North of Scenic View

Antioch had entered the lodgings after climbing the steep grade. He was on his way to Arkhen's temple for yet more training in his divine passage. Since Redovian cuffed the leadership of the Champions to him and all the teachings of light he forsook, Antioch had been there to accept mantle and responsibility. The light of Hope would not fade. Tired, with sweat on his brow, he stopped here for rest. Twin sabers rested on his hips along with wings of a spectral azurean on the ranger's shoulders. Like writhing tendrils yet serene and calming to look upon.

Styx was crouching in the dark corner, shadows keeping her form concealed from the time she sensed Antioch's approach. She stared at him quietly, and while she couldn't specifically remember him, this intrusion on her temporary home was quite unexpected. She stepped with the silence of a cat as she began her maneuver, slipping out when Antioch wasn't looking. She wanted to catch him off guard. A dagger appeared in her hand--a sinister sleight of hand. She made her move quick when she was in range. She moved to grab one of the man's wrists and turn it a way it was not meant to be turned--but not break. She would try to push him up against the wall, with the point of the dagger threateningly pointed at his neck. "Who are you, and why have you come here?"

Merrien is outside of the lodging and meandering her way up the hills. It's an absolutely beautiful day outside and the bard decided early on that it was far too lovely to spend the afternoon cooped up in the caves again. She had been spending most of the heat of the afternoon in the mines and one could definitely tell by the looks of her, covered in soot and swinging a pickax in her hand. She begins singing a lively tune as she walks up to what appears to be an abandoned domicile near the beautiful overlook that she'd grown so fond of since her arrival here, "There's nought upon the stern, there's nought upon the lee, Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we; But there's a lofty ship to windward, and she's sailing fast and free, Sailing down along the coast of the High Barbaree."

Madigan had been resting just outside the domicile, appearing to the world as a massive oak tree. A well-hidden chestnut-colored owl rested upon her branches, the crown of the tree shading the owl from the disturbances of the sun. She's been here for most part of the day, relaxing and absorbing the sun and nutrients from the earth. The best way to regain strength for her was to revert to her most basic form - the tree. So, here she is. And there she was when a woman entered the abandoned domicile. She was still there when the young man she knew as Antioch entered, and she stays here as the singing miner approaches. She liked to leave most people alone when she was in this form which was why she neither followed nor pursued any of the first two, but her mind was still curious about why the two went into the abandoned home. She giggled inwardly at the thought of Antioch already finding himself a lover. For a rural boy, he sure moved quickly. Her leaves rustle in the welcomed breeze as she sighs a tree's sigh and enjoys the miner's tune.

Antioch cringes as he was shoved against a wall at knife-point. The brown hair of his head having grown rapidly in the last few months, did something to hide the pained expression on the better portion of his face. He tenses as he hears the feminine voice up close, and the odd singing in the background. This wasn't the company he expected to say the least."Easy... let's not do anything rash." He slowly raises his hand up, he wasn't going to reach for a weapon. Palm is placed to the wall as the glinting metal of the dagger can be seen hovering by his throat. "I came to visit a friend who used to live here. Did you kill him...? You're in his house." Very calmly, he would look for any opening to turn the tables on this person. If that meant playing their game he had no other choice. "I am Antioch. Head Ranger of the Larket Rangers, and the light of Arkhen himself. Who are you?"

Styx sustained the hold she had on the ranger, probably the last person to trust anything. "Did I kill him? Dust on everything, nothing's been touched in a long while. No, I didn't kill him, Antioch, but you on the other hand..." Outright murder was never a solution Styx was fond of. It led to investigation, which led to more people hunting her. "Who is Arkhen? You must be the Hand, come to kill me." She pressed the dagger tip so it would remind Antioch that she could have killed him, but is deciding to let him live.

Merrien is in the middle of her next verse when she hears fell voices speaking within the domicile. She had thought it much abandoned with its state of dilapidation and the lack of anyone being in the area as far as Merrien could tell for the last couple of weeks. She tries first ignore them, as it was really none of her business what went on in dark houses, but then she begins to recognize the voices and her curiosity overtakes her. She rubs the dirt off one of the windows and peers inside. She cannot really make out much, but she does see a man backed up against the wall and a hooded figure in front of him. Merrien quickly steps back and sincerely hopes that she wasn't interrupting anything...

Madigan watches the singing miner as she abruptly stops and approaches the window to peek inside. Oh, she couldn't bite back the curiosity! She morphs down to her tiny, 4'8" humanoid form, her skin thick and textured like bark. She wears absolutely no clothes, and where she'd stood in her tree form lands a flustered Castanops atop her belongings that'd been hidden by the thickness of her trunk. It's apparent that, in this form at least, Madigan doesn't have the usual anatomy of a female, but she still holds a feminine figure, even if petite. With her dreaded white hair pulled back into a high ponytail, she sneaks quietly over to the soot-covered miner to stare over her shoulder. She loved catching lovers in the woods; they were such a comical sight to behold most of the time. Instead of lovers, though, there seems to be a threatening exchange between the two inside. Before Madigan can react, the miner backs up into her and knocks the dryad off balance.

Antioch was no helpless victim Styx could do as she pleased with. He very well understood her message which sent a rush of holy energies into his body, focused by his anger and immense willpower at the not so subtle threats. This burst of white light would collect from his core and expand outwards, his spectral azurean wings becoming electrifyingly active. Both would attempt to thrust his captor back so he would stand on even ground with her. If she was hoping to hold onto his arm, she would be disappointed, he didn't train every single day to be out-strengthed by a female. Indeed the only thing that truly held him at bay was the dagger at his throat, promising death. But it was now time to shed that fear. The energy shatters anything glass within the house, windows shattering into thousands of pieces, waves of power rippling from the source. If he did manage to free himself, he was already turning, his hands inbound to the hilts of the sister swords at his sides, the draconian steel welcoming the chance of battle. He would get at least one of his swords regardless of success and make sure Styx saw it as he pointed the tip against her, "Arkhen is my patron God, and yes, I am his will and his hand. Perhaps there is something you wish to confess to me on his behalf? Forgiveness may be found early without the need for bloodshed, it is entirely up to your wisdom at this point."

Merrien feels herself backing into the dryad and yelps as she turns swiftly to see what exactly she could have bumbled into. She looks the girl, only a few inches shorter than herself, up and down and is about to comment on how...earthly the girl looks and ask her if she was dropping eves as well when she hears a strange humming sound coming from behind her before taking a back full of glass as the window shatters. The girl falls to the ground, taking the brunt of the explosion, shielding the dryad unintentionally. She lays on the ground, stunned. 'What on earth is going in there?' she wonders as she hears louder voices. Merrien pushes herself into a sitting position and asks the girl, "Well...this isn't how I usually like to do things, but are you hurt miss? I think the people inside here are crazy or worse, but I recognize the voices. I think we should get in there before someone gets hurt besides me."

Styx tried to hold on, but the shadow that had bonded with her hissed. She was pulled away, but she wasn't trained in the art of assassination for nothing. As her body was flung backwards, the dagger dragged through the side of Antioch's neck. A non-lethal blow as Styx vanished into the blinding light only to reappear a few moments later, twenty feet away, smoking slightly. "What makes you hunt me, Hand of Light? What purpose does your evil god give you?" She sidestepped through a bit of the overturned furniture. "I don't want forgiveness. I confess only that I have no regrets..." Of course, Styx's dagger--the one she had to Antioch's throat--was poisoned. A toxin that worked like a tranquilizer, even with just the slightest prick. She would attempt to wait for Antioch's 'sleep'.

A shock of surprise went through Madigan when the windows exploded. There wasn't much she could do but nod at the miner and stand up quickly from the ground. Before charging into the darkened home, though, she thought it wise to peer inside once more to make sure it wasn't the dumbest move ever to go inside. Antioch seemed angry and so did the woman she didn't recognize. What the hell is going on? She casts a worried and confused glance toward Merrien. "It's not my place to interfere. I don't know what their issue is. They've both consented to combat, so it's not my place to interfere. Animals exert dominance all the time." Her eyes look back in through the shattered window as she mumbles again, "Animals compete all the time for dominance..."

Antioch pulled away instinctively as the blade dragged against him. It caught, seemingly rewarding the cowardice of his attacker, drawing a thin red jagged line down his neck. He didn't know of its poison but sure enough he would be feeling its effect soon. For now all he felt was a rage building up at being held at knife-point. With his dueling sabers in his gloved hands he growls, manically searching the abandoned house for Styx, unknowing of the people outside. When his blue eyes finally set upon her his brows furrow angrily and he steps forward, clutching the sister swords, his dull green cloak whipping at his heels. "I already told you I'm not here for you but your business with Arkhen is business with me." He snarls. He stumbles accidently, suddenly wondering why he felt so light headed. "Beast of darkness..." He utters, seeing something evil in Styx, "What have you done?" He drops to a knee, swords clattering on the floor. His body temperature had risen from the poison and he was sweating profusely at this point. The poison chewed away at his vitality faster than he wished.

Styx kept her guard up until Antioch stumbled. The divine light from earlier kept her from hanging on to Antioch. She saw how rapidly the poison was working, and seemed pleased. "In my line of work, there is no room for a God or Goddess... They are all so evil..." She moved closer to the ranger, kicking his dropped swords away to the corners of the room. She would take his jaw between her two cold, pale hands and speak softly. "Sleep, hand of light... You acted rashly." Styx whispered quietly into Antioch's ear. "I'm so tired of being hunted..."

Merrien sees what is transpiring within the room and her eyes widen in alarm. She sees the strong man she had met only yesterday fall to the ground and the paranoid woman called Styx looming next to him. She hears talk of foul play and turns halfway towards the dryad, her back beginning to ooze in rivulets, but she seems to take only a minimal notice. "Well, I've barely met the man, but that girl can be dangerous and she's got the paranoia of an old sailor and a gypsy combined. He'll do something to scare her and she'll react and it won't go well for either of them in the end." Merrien moves away from the window and moves towards the door. She opens it and peers inside, "Styx?", she questions lightly, "I don't think that man means you harm, and if he does, I'll put a stop to that alright? We can solve this without hurting anyone any worse."

Madigan witnesses Antioch fall to his knee and all Mother-Hell breaks loose. Her maternal instincts kicking in, the dryad climbs through the window and crouches beside the attacker and Antioch. Madigan's eyes turn a fervescent green as she hisses protectively at the other woman. She may not have given birth to Antioch, but he was still a boy according to a dryad's life span, and Madigan felt oh-so inclined to protect him in this moment. Her bark-like skin creaked slightly as her body tensed. Her long, pointed ears stretch past her ponytailed dreads, the edges jagged and threateningly sharp like a broken tree branch. She will not allow the attacker to harm Antioch, but neither will Madigan engage her first. For now, Madigan just stares the woman down, trying to protect her nest by hissing threateningly, and if the woman doesn't step far enough away from Antioch, then there will be trouble between the two women.

Antioch couldn't think straight, couldn't control his body from shutting down. The woman's cold hands and cruel words sending a sickening sense of defeat throughout his senses to which he can only stare intensely to convey his wrath, brows furrowed indignantly, jaw locked in a snarl. He did all he could to fight the poison and stay awake but he drifted away, eyes closed shut as he drifted forward, all vestiges of emotion being lost to sleep. He didn't notice the others come into the room as his world went dark and he was at Styx's mercy.

Styx was indeed merciful. She caught Antioch's unconscious body, wrapping her arms around his muscular form and relaxed for a couple seconds. This was until she sensed movement. She turned quickly, seeing first the dryad speeding toward her and she released Antioch, drawing her dagger and taking a defensive stance, pointing it at the odd tree-thing. Of course, there was that odd sweet voice Styx remembered, and out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Merrien. While most, given the amount of time spent together, would consider each other friends, Styx distanced herself from such weighty relationships. She levelled the dagger at Madigan, again in a defensive manner. "Move closer, and I will end him." In her free hand, she had a throwing needle, laced with a rather deadly concoction. She pointed it at Antioch. But Merrien was her next target. "If you come any closer, Merrien, I won't hesitate to put you in harm's way." A fair warning, but she at least liked Merrien enough even to give a warning. "Back off, tree... thing..." The half elf glowered at Madigan, standing with a threateningly protective stance. If one could be achieved. "I would not have you take him yet."

Merrien puts up her hands in a defensive gesture and speaks as softly as she can, "Alright everyone, let's -all- calm down ok? Styx, that man is out cold and cannot do you any harm. The ranger is about as calm as he's going to get I'd wager...and Miss Other-Person-At-The-Window, she won't harm the man as long as he's not threatening her anymore. So let's all just back away from each other...Styx, is that poison lethal or just for putting him out for a while?" she needed to know this before anything went any further.

Madigan bares her teeth ferally as the woman called Merrien pipes in as the voice of reason. Although she is very reasonable and Madigan is capable of understanding her, she's still reluctant to submit to the threat looming over Antioch's head. "Harm him and I'll snap every bone in your body as if you were a twig. Ever seen someone get forcefully flung into a tree?" She smirks viciously as she straightens, showing she's willing to let up and come to a compromise, "Imagine that, only the tree coming at you." With that, she backs up a little, her hands up in surrender, but as she steps back, her dominant hand morphs into a jagged stake to show she's not surrendering completely to Styx's will. The dryad mentally prepares herself for whatever may come, whether that be Styx coming at her with the dagger or her sticking Antioch with the poison. The dryad's eyes never leave Styx's, a promised threat dancing in the green of her eyes.

Styx stows the needle, but keeps the dagger pointed at Madigan. She moved back to Antioch, eyes never leaving Madigan. Styx crouches near his unconscious body and she begins searching him for other weapons besides the rapiers that were now somewhere within the mess of this dark house. She'd spare a glance at Merrien while she searched. "He's quite alright... He'll be awake soon, and I want to talk to him." She eyes Madigan severely. "Interfere, and no one else talks to him again... Discounting necromancers." She was still close enough to deal a lethal blow with her dagger, should it really come down to it, but she hadn't done something this crazy in months. It felt good. "Of course, if I need to convince you, I could always give him a slow-acting poison to which I know how to concoct the antidote..." She left that threateningly open, but with Madigan in mind. "Merrien, be a dear, and calm her down for me? I wouldn't like to actually carry out my threat this time..."

Merrien takes a deep breath before turning her attention to Madigan, "See miss, she doesn't want to hurt him any more than we do. She just wants to talk to him after he wakes up. We can all stay here and walk around each other like we're stepping on the broken glass in my back or we can all sit down, maybe chat a little and at least put the weapons out of sight. I mean, you're going to have them pointed this way or that way anyways, but it would make me feel just a whole lot better if we could put them down a few degrees, eh?" she takes a wary step towards the rest of them. "Now if you all don't mind, I'm going to ask you miss...tree lady for first your name and then I'm going to ask if I might sit next to you so that you can pick this glass out of my back. I can sing myself a nice song and close up the skin, but that won't do me any good if there's glass in it when I close it, hmm?" She puts on her most able smile at this point and once again waves her weaponless hands.

Madigan takes her eyes off of Styx only after she feels Styx's threat isn't going to be enforced and allows her arm to reform in the shape of a humanoid hand. She nods at Merrien. "If you can bring me my bag that's outside, I can give you something for your wounds, too." She then looks at Antioch and glances up toward Styx, "And something for him that could speed up the process of waking him up, if you really want to talk to him." The dryad stares at the scene before her, aggravated with herself for giving the other woman the upper-hand. She inches closer only slightly - not enough for anyone to actually notice, but it still gives her some peace of mind knowing she's at least that much closer to being useful to him and his life.

The search of other weapons on Antioch would prove to be a tad fruitless. Besides his draconian blades there was only a sling that held his blackwood bow and quiver. His body was limp as he was searched, though at this point she might see the chain around his neck and the precious ankh that hung from it. This relic stored elemental energy inside it and glowed softly as if it worked to repel the agents in his blood, working up a cure. The sweat still glistened on his forehead as his chest raised with gentle but steady breath. His wings had disappeared however, along with all traces of pious magic. The white mammoth horn that hung from his belt, trimmed with gold and ornate details, was also another item of interest the man used to lead those under his command. A weapon in its own right with the combined skills of the Larket Rangers to be brought down on his enemies in but a single breath.

Styx worked over his body, finding any trinkets that might be magical, or a holy symbol to channel the divine powers. She would pile them all in a far corner of the room, and by pile, she flung them as such that even she did not know where they lay. "You will do nothing to him." She spoke in response to Madigan as she was finishing up her search. "And I want to talk to him... alone for a minute..." She eyed Madigan as the grave tone her voice normally carried wavered slightly. Styx seemed to be preparing herself, mentally for something as she arranged Antioch's body. She pulled out a pair of iron manacles, the size of which one would wonder where on earth she kept them on that svelte-looking frame of hers. She clapped Antioch's wrists in the irons before setting up a chair, and dragging his limp body into it.

Merrien shakes her head lightly, unwilling to go outside and leave the volatile motley crew alone for even a few moments, seeing as she was probably the only reason this whole place wasn't a powder keg. "Just get the glass out lassy, I can take care of myself from there. Bit of the old elf magic in my blood still, even if it's just by half." she smiles as she approaches, keeping her hands raised as a show of good faith. "I can't really use it at will, but when I sing, the emotions kind of do the work. It is rather unfortunate when I'm angry sometimes and sing, small mammals just drop from the trees..." she talks with a pleasant tone, though one might be able to sense her worried state beneath her soft, diplomatic voice.

Madigan reaches out gently for Merrien and moves her to sit in front of her, back turned toward the dryad. She lifts up Merrien's shirt, unconcerned about what the half-elf may not want to show off to the world and starts to pluck out the pieces, her eyes focused. The dryad occasionally glances over toward the other woman, making sure no ill befalls Antioch. When she returns her attention to Merrien, she says, "I'm Madigan, by the way. I'm a dryad." Casting a glare toward Styx, she adds, "Not a tree-thing," her voice raising only slightly enough to let Styx know that was a comment to her. Madigan continues to yank out the pieces of glass without interruption, retort or no.

Antioch felt his belongings be ripped from him, but most of all the Ankh. Such was his mother's gift to him and held innumerous power and value to the ranger. With his wrists manacled together he slouches in the seat before coming to with the realization it was missing. He tries to break the metal bindings he was now cuffed inside but obviously fails. "Where is my Ankh, you witch!?" His anger was ignited quickly like it was before. He was weak but that did nothing to stem his ire. He would have gotten up and attacked Styx then and there were it not for that sapped strength. He looks around, spotting the stock pile, and Merrien and Madigan. They were a welcome sight but not too welcome. After all this predicament was rather embarrassing to the ranger. To Styx he says, "You will find neither comfort nor safety for the rest of your life unless you free me from these shackles and return what is mine. Not even the Gods you fear will stop me from getting my vengeance. Do you hear me?"

Styx weathered through Antioch's ire, her expression not changing from that same grave look. She glanced at the other two in the room, realizing she wouldn't be able to speak aloud for what she wanted to say to the ranger. She sits on Antioch's lap, calmly, and moves in to whisper softly into his ear, desiring a private conversation with the man. And she seemed to feel confident enough to actually sit in his lap--a feat for Styx to be sure.

Styx whispered something to Antioch.

Merrien blinks warily after Antioch's outburst, but Styx remains calm. She can sense the girl's desire for privacy, but as the last pieces of glass are being plucked from her back, the bard finds herself having no desire for things to revert back to the way they were before she got here. Merrien tries to give as much privacy as she can by beginning a song and infusing it with her magic to start closing up the wounds that have been already plucked. It was loud enough so that Madigan and herself would not be able to easily overhear the whispered conversation, but not so loud as to impede it either. "The Diamond is a ship, my lads, for the Davis Strait she's bound, And the quay it is all garnished with bonny lasses 'round; Captain Thompson gives the order to sail the ocean wide, Where the sun it never sets, my lads, no darkness dims the sky~" As she sings in her lilting soprano a sea shanty about sailors looking for a paradise, her wounds seem to sew themselves shut and nary a mark is left upon the half-elf's skin and as she continues singing, a sense of calm engulfs the room and almost seems to pacify if you hear it. Merrien's desire for peace and healing apparent, she is content to hum to herself after her back is made new.

Madigan watches Styx and Antioch with wary eyes, looking for any signs of a threat to him. She cared not that the woman sat on his lap - Antioch is much too young for the dryad's tastes, anyway - only that he was safe from harm. As Merrien began her song, Madigan started to relax, not caring about the whispered conversation. The dryad leans her head against Merrien's back and relaxes, feeling comfortable and safe around the half-elf. It became apparent to Madigan that Merrien was always her ally, though in an unconventional sense. By being an ally to resolution and harmony, the half-elf made herself an ally to Madigan. The dryad didn't care to fight anyone, but she didn't want the young man with so much potential to be harmed. It was her only concern that seemed to be slowly slipping away as the half-elf continued humming her song.

Antioch stares down Styx as she comes to sit in his lap, his hands bound behind the chair, leaving that spot dreadably open. Merrien's song seems to quell the ranger's seething anger just a little as it seems his chest doesn't rise and fall so violently now but does so steadily, resolutely and calmly. Her words confuse the man greatly, part because of what she said and something that lied under it all that he could not view. He cringes but lifts his chin up and proceeds to answer, trying not to come under her deliberately mischievous sway. Though perhaps it was far too late.

Antioch whispered something to Styx.

Styx seemed visibly irked toward the end of Antioch's retort. She moves in to reply in kind.

Styx whispered something to Antioch.

Merrien watches the two converse back and forth and notes their various changes in facial expression, but makes no move except to pat Madigan on the head as she rested. Merrien found the dryad rather adorable when she wasn't fuming. Merrien also keeps a close watch on the door, seeing as it didn't look like anyone else was and with all of the random foot traffic that had gathered in this area within such a short amount of time, Merrien didn't want any other potentially explosive personalities joining the fray.

Madigan relaxes into Merrien's touch and, with a start, looks up at Antioch to make sure he's still alive. Damn her for letting her guard down. She shakes off the desire to rest and props her chin on Merrien's shoulder to keep her eyes focused on the two even if she wants to slip into a nap. The half-elf's song is definitely effective, though.

Antioch said to Styx, "Then we know where each other stands. But know before the end you will be brought to light. "

Styx shifted slightly in the seat, and reached into her robe to fetch the pendant she wore. She leaned in, and touched the opal to Antioch's forehead for a few brief moments, closing her eyes as she concentrated. Magic swirled around the pair until the contact was broken and Styx rose from the ranger's lap. "A parting gift... I will see you again." She waved a hand and the manacles unlocked, dropping to the floor, but when they hit, Styx had already disappeared without a trace.

Merrien tries to catch sight of the young woman as she moved swift as a shadow and slipped out of all sight. The bard sighs to herself, as if releasing a long-held breath. "Well, I'm glad that's all over with..." she mutters more to herself than anyone else. She stands and makes her way over to Antioch. She holds out a hand towards the man as if to check him over for any injuries as she says, "We seem to be meeting under unfortunate circumstances sir ranger. I do apologize, but it cannot be helped I suppose...are you quite alright? You're probably tired from trying to detox and I'm certain this event has left us all less than energetic..."

Antioch absorbs whatever he was supposed to. The darkness of Styx's life, walking without the guidance of an immortal, life shrouded by shadows. Even her ruthless, remorseless killings. It churned his insides seeing life from these perspectives that were so clashing with his own. Then, like that, she left and his shackles fell to the floor. First thing he does is rub his wrists feeling like collapsing. The affair had made him weak and full of thoughts. He turns a head to Merrien and chuckles, "Next time, just bring the pain. I don't wish to ever go through this again. At the cost of my life or not." He was a vessel of holiness now, willing to stand ground where others wouldn't but perhaps that mentality really offered too much to his rash side. "I'm.. fine. But I wish to leave. My head is killing me." He collects all of his belongings, puts his necklace on, and replaces his draconian sabers in each appropriate holster. The ranger weakly puts a hand on Merrien's shoulder, "Thank you. Who knows where I'd be without your intervention. And you as well." He says to Madigan. He releases a troubled sigh before making for the door.

Madigan gives Antioch a sudden, pressing hug. She pulls away and presses a kiss to Merrien's cheek, thankful the half-elf had been present to help soothe the atmosphere. Antioch is safe now, but even with that relief on Madigan's shoulders, she quickly disappears behind the door of the dark house before Antioch can leave and returns with her bag and Castanops on her shoulders. No longer in defensive mode, Madigan's skin is a fleshy, sunkissed hue. All of her womanly bits were definable now, or at least they would be if the space wasn't so dark. As she steps toward Antioch, she withdraws her hand from within her bag and hands him a smooth, abstractly formed chunk of fungus as she commands, "Eat it all." From within her bag, she pulls out a small jar of milk. "Drink this after eating that. That'll make the acids in your stomach more reactive and the milk will calm them. The fungus will help excite your body into healing itself." She pauses and, with a glance toward Merrien, adds, "It'll excite other things in your body... but that shouldn't last more than a couple of hours with the amount you'll be eating." She smiles suggestively and gives him another hug before releasing him so he may leave them and recover in peace.

Merrien sighs, but seems to be in a cheerful mood once more. She flushes lightly at the mention of inappropriate anatomy, but quickly recomposes herself. "Indeed good sir, take care of yourself please, and I hope our next meeting will be under more pleasant circumstances." The bard waves him off before turning her attention to Madigan with curious eyes, "So...what were you doing outside there anyways? And how on earth did you sneak up on me so?" Merrien doesn't sound mad, but curious indeed.

Antioch takes the fungus though he wasn't keen putting the stuff in his mouth. He also plucks the bottle of milk from her hands, rolling his eyes at the females suggestive smile. It looked like he better find a place to lay down for a while. "Thank you, Madigan dear. And I shall look forward to a meeting under better circumstances, Merrien. Be well, you two." He hugs the dryad back before he leaves, turning back on the path to travel north to the palace. The place he would rest tonight, it seemed.

Madigan smiles cheerily in response to Merrien and watches Antioch leave. Answering Merrien's question, she says, "I was resting in the sun all day and I saw the two enter at separate times. I thought they were just lovers, really, but then you went up to the window, so I wanted to look too." She looks down sheepishly and then looks up again. "I can move silently when I want to. Over a hundred years in forests and you learn to move without a sound."

Merrien nods as she looks back outside of the window, "It was a good day for that for one such as yourself I'd wager. The sun tends to make me blistery, but I like it anyways." she sends the dryad a cheerful smile, "I wish we could have met under better circumstances as well...I don't like tense situations like that, but I'm rather adept at handling them...it seems to be what I've been doing since I've gotten here. People of this land seem to be in constant turmoil, definitely good times for a bard, they could all use some cheering up."

Madigan laughs and nods. "I'm not usually like that, but I know Antioch personally and my instincts take over when the situation calls for it. We don't make a habit of confronting people. We tend to be very pacific, but we're not afraid to get a little scraped and dirty if we need to." After a pause, she says, "How's your back, by the way? I can give you something for it, if you'd like. It would've been better if I used it before you healed yourself, though, since it's a bacteria-killer more than anything, to fight off infections. It's probably useless now, though..." She trails off, rummaging through her bag.

Merrien shakes her head, "That's alright Madigan, you certainly don't have to do anything for me. I've healed up after worse that's for sure."

Madigan stops her rummaging and nods. She could use a healer on her trip to Craughmoyle, actually... "I'm going on a trip soon and it might get a little dangerous. I could use a skilled healer like yourself." She stares at Merrien, anxious for her to agree to join. Madigan had already invited a few useful people, but their skills lied in combat and how useful will warriors be when they're wounded and dying?

Merrien perks up at the mention of a dangerous trip, "Really? Where are you going? I've always been one for adventure."

Madigan says, "I'm heading out to Craughmoyle to collect mithril for Queen Satoshi and hoping to collect some things for myself in the caverns."

Merrien ponders for a moment about where she'd heard that name before and then it hits her and her face lights up, "Ahh Craughmoyle! That's the place beyond the mines, right? I'd love to go spelunking with your expedition. It sounds so exciting, I mean, heavens knows what we'll find down there. Probably some big nasties, right? But we'll have plenty of defenders I hope..." Merrien was getting more and more excited as she thought about it, "When do we leave?" she asks.

Madigan's excitement grows with Merrien's. Her first experience with a dragon had really dampened her excitement for the expedition, but it seems to be coming back to her. "Oh, yes. I have too many of those, maybe, and not enough healers. I only know a basic healing incantation and I'm not even that powerful with songs on my own. It takes a while before I can fully heal a broken arm. Imagine someone getting their chest sliced open!" Oh, crap. She doesn't want to scare Merrien away, so she adds, "Hopefully we won't find ourselves in that situation, though! I guess I should warn you, actually... I'm hoping to find a dragon egg in the caverns, so we may encounter some vicious dragons. I already found myself with one once..." She rubs her left arm at the memory, remembering how frightened she'd been when that white dragon attacked her and the gold dragon came to aid her. She was more afraid of the gold dragon, even though he was there to defend her and it all had to do with his being able to breathe fire. The hair on her body stands on end and she looks down at the fire ward tattooed in red that stretched from under her armpit down to her butt, from the side of her torso to half of her back. She sighs, a little reassured to finally have some real protection against fire. Thank the Mother for Satoshi, she thinks to herself as she presses her fingers against the ward. It seems to hum and move against her at her touch. "I don't yet know when we'll be leaving since I have to wait on the Queen's terramancers before we can head out, but I plan to send word to everyone when the time comes."

Merrien nods, her spirits not dampened at all by the mention of a dragon, "Yes, I've had one of those large beasts right on top of me just this week. It's scary, but definitely exhilarating all the same....I can't wait! I'm afraid I must depart though...it's getting so late and all, but we must meet up again to talk more about this and of course I'll keep in touch so that I know when we're going."

Madigan nods and smiles at the half-elf, happy to have met her. "Soon," she promises as she steps toward the half-elf and presses a kiss to her cheek. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Merrien."

Merrien flushes lightly as the woman makes her exit, "Indeed, wonderful to make your acquaintance."