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Post by Widdershins on Jul 13, 2006 16:03:36 GMT
Eliana smiled ruefully. Now this was much better, and it played to her strengths. She needn't show off any magic that would be too intimidating. "It's my way." she replied, tucking away her wand, which had still been in her hand when the creature took hold of her, and pointedly did not touch her weapons before crossing her arms, standing impassively.
"You wanted to ask..." she prompted, seeing that the creature was obviously waiting for something.
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Post by Verius on Jul 13, 2006 16:34:19 GMT
"Wonderous..." He said with an air of irritation. He put a hand to the back of his neck, as though he were scratching it.
"What's your name?" He asked rather bluntly, "... and just who are you running from? What is it about that stone that someone would chase you for it?"
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 13, 2006 20:56:08 GMT
"My name?" Eliana smiled. "I am known by most as Widdershins." She frowned slightly. "Who am I running from... you probably don't know him. A mage, much like myself. I happened to... humiliate him, once, long ago... he has turned quite evil since then. Thus far he was only a fool, now he is formidable. So... I had to stop him. His power is based by this stone... and I need to keep him away from it. You need to know no more, those are minor and insignificant details."
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Post by Verius on Jul 13, 2006 21:08:03 GMT
((Comment removed. I need to learn how to control myself, and move on. It's just so hard... since this keeps happening. *Sigh* It's down to the point where nothing lasts even 3 weeks, infact, it all ends... in some way that would make me feel horrid, even though nothing actually began.))
"Mmm... strange." He looked quite bored by it all, as if expecting something much more exciting. "'Happened to' ... right. Yet, at the same time, I find that somewhat hard, if you humiliated him... that is. You don't really seem much like the type... unless you drove him mad with those moving pictures, and then decided to make your jests." He clearly wasn't afraid to speak his mind, as he was still somewhat annoyed by her having woken him up. He stepped forward and circled her, stepping slowly. He stopped during one circle, when he was at her left side, and they faced oppsite directions. He turned slightly, raising a clawed hand, and ran it lightly across her cheek. "So then, you aren't just some pretty face trying to hide something pointless. You've got something to keep secret, and someone to run from." He noted the birthmark on the back of her neck. "Why is it always, that the pretty ones have so much to hide? He spoke with malice, as if there was more behind his words than was said.
He paused a moment, his face close enough for her to realize that it wasn't entirely cased in bone. He stared with a mild asphyxia, as though he were remembering something... important, or at least, something that threw him off. He appeared to be almost normal for a moment, and seemed peaceful. His arm dropped back to his side, and his spine tail dragged itself on the ground heavily.
"Fine, I'll help you."
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 14, 2006 9:01:15 GMT
Eliana smiled mysteriously. He didn't have to know what actually happened between her and the mage, but nonetheless she decided to clarify that point, lest the creature think her only capable of weaving Illusions - though she had already demonstrated other things. "I used no Illusions on him. I defeated him in a fair duel, and he's never lived it down with anyone present. He tried to cheat, of course, but I wouldn't let him. The fool." Eliana laughed suddenly.
Eliana didn't reply to his next comment, merely smiled a small smile. That was the way things happened in life.
It was difficult not to sigh in relief. She allowed herself a smile, though, and reached inside her pockets once more to produce the gem. "I thank you. Have you anything to ask for in return?" that was the part she was dreading. She wasn't exactly rolling in riches, in such pressed times, but if the creature asked for something else, she might be able to produce it.
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Post by Verius on Jul 14, 2006 16:12:54 GMT
"Mage duels... they sound too easy, really..." He said quietly, as if he were only talking to himself.
He turned and stepped toward Eliana, holding out his hand to recieve the small gem. The white bone appeared to have small dots of something that glistened slightly, like a liquid. They were also scattered down his face, and on the bone that was fixed to his own. "What do you plan to do, once you have given me this? How long does it need to be hidden?" He said slowly, as though avoiding her last question.
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 14, 2006 16:52:12 GMT
For the first time since this odd conversation, Eliana's expression darkened at the creature's comment. The creature's attitude was beginning to irritate her. She knew very well how dangerous duels could be, and how formidable an opponent a mage was - to face one as one was not something to be taken lightly either. Though her dweomer didn't tell her very much - apart from something that confused her - she sensed that the creature did have some sort of magic; it didn't make sense to her then that he would be so nonchalant in proclaiming a mage duel as 'easy'. The feeling passed quickly, however. Perhaps one day he would be of a different oppinion.
She smiled again.
"What I shall do? I shall stay as far away from you as I can, so as not to put you in danger." Her smile faded as she gave him a more serious look. "It needs to be hidden as long as possible. Once I am able to, I shall return for it. I do not know how long that will be, however. Of course," her smile was back, "you needn't keep it for longer than you wish to. If you are not able to keep it for a long time, then I shall return for it sooner than later. What do I owe you?" she repeated her question, needing to know the worst before she could continue.
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Post by Verius on Jul 14, 2006 19:38:22 GMT
He grimmaced slightly as she spoke, most of the action was hidden by the bone dragon skull covering his face, "Interesting... I guess... Wouldn't it be easier for them to track the stone, however... and not you? He spoke quietly, as if almost timid, "They may know you'd planned to pass it off to somone..."
He shifted thoughtfully, "Wouldn't it also be easier just to kill the man? If he's without power... it would be a simple task..." He sounded as though he couldn't understand why it hadn't been done already. Again he neglected to answer her question about what she owed him. Though it was visable that he'd heard her ask it; His attitude changed eached time she'd asked it, he stopped being as outgoing, and stopped voicing his opinions so strongly, his voice also reflected the change.
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 14, 2006 21:43:34 GMT
For a moment Eliana seemed to ponder before she replied. "No." she said simply. "They would indeed expect me to be devious and cunning, but exactly because of that they make the accurate assumption that I don't trust anyone. This is far too an important task for me - in their eyes - to merely pass it on to someone. They would expect me to keep it, they would also expect me to want to use it and treasure it. But as I said, I care little for such things, and its power is tainted."
"Kill him?" For a moment, it seemed as though Eliana didn't understand the suggestion. "Oh, no. I cannot merely kill him. He has wormed his way too far into mage guilds for me to be able to kill him and not be suspected - everyone knows he hates me, especially those who were present at our duel. He is not powerless," Eliana ventured to say eventually, looking as though she were pondering again, "but that is an immaterial fact. No matter what he's capable of, with or without the stone, I have proven to be the better. Which is a fact that he cannot live with." She shrugged, almost as if she didn't care. "Half of the assassins sent after me were sent by him... but he hasn't got a knack for finding ones who could match my prowess. No matter... he tries anyway, and I kill them all, and he keeps sending them. He hasn't got enough honor in him to come to me personally and save his dignity and respect. I warned him back then - if he ever dared challenge me again, I would not be as merciful as I was then, I would kill him without hesitation. I had made a mistake then I believe... I thought him a fool, too weak and cowardly to stay alive while dabbling into evil, but somehow he did managed to stay alive; mostly because of this." She nodded her hand towards the gem. "If he doesn't have it, he'll die a slow and painful death anyway, I need not spill his blood. It will be a day for profound irony - those he calls his friends will be the ones to kill him." She smiled again, relishing the thought of his demise. "The world will be a better place without him. Now pray tell me, what do I owe you for helping me in this noble cause?" Eliana changed subjects so fast that if one wasn't careful enough, they could let slip the answers easily, and without noticing. It was a verbal tactic that she often used, but like every other weapon she had, different ones worked with different people.
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Post by Verius on Jul 14, 2006 23:04:19 GMT
"Wonderous..." He mentioned sarcastically, "If it's not one tainted magical object, it's another... However, should any of them find me, I cannot promise to make it discreet." His bones appeared to bristle at his comment, though it was hard to tell.
He shrugged, "It'd be a simple task for me to kill him. A whole mages guild after me doesn't really bother me." He grinned under his bony mask. "After all... I can do more then they could ever imagine possible." He proceeded to chuckle at his own comment, with morbid enjoyment.
He paused and turned from her, "Though, how do you know that I am not an assassin? Hmm... I could be, after all. I've shown you that I'm no mere human... However, I'll leave you to decide that one on your own. His body shook, revealing his silent laughter.
He turned as he raised his arm up, to tap an abnormally long tounge with a clawed finger, "Well.. if you really must know... it's that, everything I might want, you - can't - give." He emphasized his last three words and paused a moment, before continuing, "Even so, I wouldn't be able to accept it. I can't enjoy the normal things in life anymore. I couldn't accept any of the things you could give me anyway... it would be a waste. Everything else... wouldn't be able to comfort my frozen heart anyway. I've gone too long without them... I fear that I've lost most of my emotions anyway..." He stepped backward, holding his hand over his face. It appeared that he was continuing to murmur to himself, though it was unclear what he was saying.
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 15, 2006 10:32:35 GMT
"If you are an assassin, I'll know soon enough, and I'll kill you." she said simply. She had already seen some of what the creature was capable of - with her telekinesis she could break any Earth and bone around her, spiked or not spiked, and her Nennas bow never failed to hit a mark. Not to mention that her stone, which forewarned her of danger, remained cool now. He was of no real threat... yet.
"Then it is equally pointless to give you something than to merely give you my thanks." Eliana frowned slightly, her pretty features still not showing much more emotion than whatever she allowed herself to show. "Name something and we can bargain. It is not in my power to restore emotions, but I can help someone find them - if they are willing to find them. But it is your choice," she shrugged, not really believing her own words, "if you wish to keep the stone safe without any payment then I will not object."
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Post by Verius on Jul 15, 2006 11:20:45 GMT
He shrugged cooly, "If you believe so." He spoke smoothly, before moving on. He didn't feel that part of the conversation mattered, only that saying those kinds of things were more likely to make her even more cautious of him.
He scoffed, shaking his head and slightly stamping his foot on the ground, "You wouldn't be able to do something like that for me," He said grimly, "Just look at me. No normal human is willing accept me at all." This part of the conversation was beginning to bother him, though he supposed some of it was his fault. He hated having to be reminded that he was no longer a part of society, especially when every desire he had... required him to be normal. None of his desires could be filled to a bone covered freak like him.
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 15, 2006 11:23:38 GMT
Eliana tilted her head in speculation, for what seemed like the first time since they'd met, looked him up and down, thinking. "You know, Illusions are marvelous things." she smiled wickedly.
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Post by Verius on Jul 15, 2006 11:26:19 GMT
"And? They're rendered pointless if the person knows they're not real. He sighed. "Why do you mention them? What do they have to do with anything?
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Post by Widdershins on Jul 15, 2006 11:43:41 GMT
Eliana's smile didn't fade. "They are only discovered to be not real if I choose it so." As if to demonstrate what she meant by it all, Eliana seemed to suddenly transform completely, and when she was done, her hair was black as the darkest night, her normally blue eyes became a lush, sea green color. Her height changed too, she appeared taller than usual, and her form transmuted from elegant and thin to pleasantly round. When it was done - in a matter of seconds - Eliana smiled. "I am Moira, as real as anyone." She practiced for a moment with flexing her bow - taking care to point away from the creature - then replaced it and searched for something in her pockets, walked along the roof a few paces; all these seemed absolutely futile actions, but they served well to prove her point. She had become a different person. It was different to weave an Illusion on a person than to weave a solid Illusion by itself, such as a weapon or a creature. It was longer lasting and was more effectual.
After she was done, she turned back to the creature, smiling.
"If you were to reach out and touch me, you'd find I was perfectly real. If I look in the mirror, I see Moira, not Widdershins. You see my point?"
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