Wine & Whispers (OPEN)

[Dyew]

Shino leaned over the map and then relaxed in his seat.  "Its an Ironwood grove.  Those trees make Redwoods look like saplings.  Their bark is as hard as iron and they are damn hard to light on fire but the wood burns for a very long time once it is lit.  Usually allot of ground cover in those places.  Ferns and stuff like that most of the time.  Won't have much trouble moving around but Ironwood groves are usually pretty dark and damp.  Most of the time pretty level ground.  Ironwood trees have shallow root systems compared to their size.”

[Jaden]

"Hmm.. Enormous trees, hard to burn wood. Plenty of cover. Your just making this a peachy nightmare you know?" Jaden says with a smirk on his lips "Oh well, be lucky I'm not ordinary. With spiders as big as you say, the nest is at least several feet large. Not hard to miss."

Looking back at Shino "have there been any recent experiments out there that could cause a change in the spiders or have you always had these kind of spider outbreaks?"

[Dyew]

Shino frowned.  "Ever since the [Mana Stone] became active again, yeah.  The wildlife has been getting progressively more nasty to deal with.  The worst shit happens in [Ten Mile] after dark.”

[Jaden]

Jaden listened, having soaked in a good amount of info about where he would be going. Tactics working through his mind as he ponders how to go about things. 'Mana Stone? A relic of magics it seems...' a curious glint shown in Jaden's eye as he looked to Shino when he mentioned that Mana Stone. As if Jaden wanted it.

'Nasty Wildlife, hah.. if they perk my interest, I'll have some of them too.' he smirked at the thought. "Worst case scenario, I just bag up all the wildlife if I have to camp and endure.." with that he waved his hand over the map, a portal shifting into place beneath his moving palm and setting in place over the map. At first a chain loop would slink down and thunk on top of the map before it began to slide one length out of the portal. The small chain was followed by that of a ball, with a symbol of magic quality resembling that of an eye. "Get off the map you infidel, and look at what is offered.." the chain moved, like a snake, and even had the power to drag the portal with it. "Now what are you doing? I didn't say get off the table!" the chain glanced back at Jaden just as it was about to slink off the table and turned to move to the map once more.

"good, now Shino. This is apart of my friend, oh he's much bigger but thats beside the point. Could you point out where we are now, and drag your finger to where the epicenter is? He's been curious on whats been going on so I decided to let him see for himself on our travels. I know you showed me, but he insists oh and he can hear you. Just don't insult him and all should be well."

[Dyew]

Shino went to flick the little chain but then withdrew his hand and thought better of it.  "Here are we.“  He pointed to Guild Keep and then moved his hand.  “This right here is the Ironwood grove.  He pointed to a shaded section of the map.

The man in green paid his tab and left the tavern.

[Jaden]

The sentient chain looked to where Shino pointed to and then to the next place. It had taken note of Shino's motion to flick but didn't show any signs of retaliation. With a nod it backpedaled into the portal it came from.

"Well that is that.. shouldn't be hard getting there. Just ride on one of the chains my friend would supply. Should cut the trip basically in half if not more." he says while standing up and stretching. "Seems like any other place."

[Dyew]

The night goes by relatively swiftly.  Patrons come, patrons go and the bar eventually empties.  The morning finds Dragan on a bar stool eating eggs and bacon.  At the left side of his seat was his pack and upon his hip was his blade.  Behind the bar was a Keeper that seemed to be in a much improved mood from the night before.

[Jaden]

Jaden had left Shino there for the night. Taking to the keeper for a room and sleeping through the night...

Waking in the morning, Jaden set about drawing a ten foot length of chain from a portal, with a mini looking scythe on the end of it. Jaden didn't carry swords, ordinarily and hardly ever armed himself. But it was just precaution for he knew his companion was not quite as powerful.

The chain he wrapped around his arm several times creating a cast and sheath for his fore arm with the chain. Hooking the blade into a few of the coils he would look to his left arm and lift it. It wasn't heavy to Jaden, however the tolerance his human form was taxing. 'Seems I wont be able to remain in my Human form.. pitty.'

Walking towards the door, his human form began to fade, as if it were melting away revealing the devil that was taking its place. The remnants of his human form that shifts into the air, more so traverse the shadows into his secret pocket. A lick of his black lips, with a equally black tongue could probably make most shiver. 'mm... feels good to be myself again.'

Reaching the door he would pull it open, and move through it only to travel down the hall to turn the key in at the counter of the bar. His jade eyes looking over at Dragan once he spotted him and smirks as he noticed the bag. "Good, it seems you will be traveling with me after all. Armed even, expecting trouble out there I take it." he says while moving to take a seat next to the man.

The attire, the whole appearance of Jaden was changed. Even the eye patch and the necklace were gone, if Dragan hadn't felt Jaden's devil presence before he now would. Though it was tuned down greatly, so as not to suffocate his friend. 'Perhaps he wont recognize me.. But I think he'll know who I am.' Still the same height, and bodily fitness.

[Dyew]

The streets outside were not too active this early and because of this Jaden did not get a large reaction from his transformation.  When he entered the tavern he did.  As soon as the walked in the young warrior fell backwards out of his stool in his haste to unsheathe his blade.  "Demon!"  Once on the floor, on his back he drew out his blade and got halfway to his feet before a man with dark hair and an ivory cloak placed his hands on Dragan's arm and caused him to lower his weapon.

"Easy Dragan.  For now, he is okay."  The man with cold blue or steely eyes looked up from his hands and at Jaden.  Strange that his eye color seemed to flicker between those two distinct shades.

[Jaden]

Smirking as he watches Dragan's reaction. It was strange to see, but comforting in a way that the devil that stood before Dragan could still frighten anyone. As soon as the fallen warrior stood back up and held his sword out, another individual came into play. Halting Dragan's actions and looking towards Jaden then. Quirking a brow, Jaden would tilt his head while looking over this new individual. Noticing the eye variation in colors, switching between blue and steely or a mix between the two. It was rather interesting, however Jaden didn't take the time to stare at those eyes.

Looking to Dragan he would smile and partially bow his head "Dragan, I am no Demon, I am the same Devil that you talked to yesterday. I am Jaden Darkfire, and this is just my natural form. I choose the human one so as not to frighten those around me, as I have you just now." he indicates with a point of the finger towards Dragan. "But I mean no one any harm, unless they try to bring harm to me or those I value." Ending his little speech he would then look back to the other guy. Pondering what kind of person this guy is.

[Aidyn Darkfire]

Three months of non-stop travel had become a bit taxing. Traveling from a place with no name to bestow or a location to tell others, only to be found if invited or have already visited once before. A land of shadows or illusion to some, separated from the rest of the world; and from time. The boy traveling had been alone, but not alone in the same sense. He was protected by his own skill and birthright as it be. But for any devil, there are limits to their abilities, and three months of non-stop traveling mixed in with random skirmishes with bandits and the like had taxed him beyond minor repair.

As he reached the opening at the end of a trail through the forest, the boy had seen lights on within a tavern or pub or whatever. He thought it to be a good idea to stop in for a day of rest. Looking down he made sure the coin bag at his side was still intact, as to his liking; it was.  Light from the coming dawn cast a grayish shadow over his outlandish armor. Mid-length silver hair was then attacked by light gusts of wind that flowed past the forests edge. Baby blue eyes scanned the horizon with a silverish glint casting over them.

A blade of abnormal size and style rested across his back, latched on by a simple hook of some kind. It was long, about eight feet in total with six and a half feet making up the actual blade and the rest as the hilt. It’s design was something not seen by many, if any in these lands. Silver on both edged sides with black down the center. Also bearing that of engraved writing, in gold, in a language either forgotten or simply unknown.

Ahead he could see the tavern growing closer with each step. Soon he would be upon it’s stoop to press the door open and walk inside. Hopefully the inhabitant’s within were either the type to keep to their self or simply bare in existence all together. He wasn’t really the type to try and make conversation with many people, more the type to stay to himself and let others be and do what it is they do. Interaction with people wasn’t really something favored by him and hasn’t been since he left the home of Scarlett, his aunt who was granted the joy of raising him by his father. His father, so many memories of him had been lost over the years. He had almost forgotten what the man looked like, but his voice was still true within the boys mind. He still remembered his name though, something he cherished within. “Akaru” He thought silently. “I will see you again one day father. And then you will see how I have grown..”

Upon the stoop to the tavern now, he pressed the door open. A gust of cool air flowed inside at the release of an air tight seal being broken. He stepped across the threshold and entered the room. Without taking notice to any of the taverns patrons, he made his way to the keeper. Approaching the desk, he readied the coin bag at his side into his right hand. “ I would like a room and some food brought to me later, if it isn’t too much to ask.” His words were young in tone but professional and proper in grammar. The man nodded to his request and handed over a key at the same time the boy had handed over the requested payment. A hundred and fifty gold pieces seemed fair to him, maybe to the fact of his lack of care or strong need for rest. He didn’t know, but he paid the dues and took the key. The man asked a name so to put it in the records for the month. “Aidyn Darkfire…” He said and then turned from the man to then begin his way to the staircase.

Once inside the room, Aidyn found the innards to be quite comfortable. It was dark due to the maroon colored shades over the windows, which cast a shadow over the room making it easier for him to gain some rest. He moved over to the bed and sat down then proceeded to remove the armor from his body. After the armor was placed on the floor in a seeming OCD manner, dress-right-dress, he lay back against the soft mattress and placed both hands behind his head. Eyes closed and rested, he drifted slowly and peacefully to sleep. The dreams of years long passed were soon to come.

After his dreaming, he woke feeling refreshed and ready to move on. A few moments went by as he still procrastinated to rise out of bed, but finally shuffling out from under the covers so to set at the edge of the bed. Whipping the sleep from both eyes, stretching and yawning, he worked hard on fully waking up. Looking out at the window he could tell that night had fell upon the land. He was thankful for that as he had a long journey ahead and had no need for the hot sun to beat down on his back.

Redressing the armor upon his finely sculpted muscular frame, he then moved about the room towards the window. Outside a few stragglers were seen approaching the place, probably just the normal crowd that the cat sometimes drags in. Drunkards with hopes to fight their alcoholism and wash away their fears and self loathing, whores with their customers, drifters looking for a place to rest their weary bones, all sorts of people he imagined. Never the less, he had a destination to achieve and would not stop again till reaching it. So he went out of the room, walked to the keeper and handed off the key at the same time of handing a tip of fifty gold coins. After that, he made his exit from the place and continued onward, towards Castle Darkfire.

(Exit Aidyn)

[Dyew]

Reserved to post to Jaden.