"Yes, but in this heat I doubt you'd be able to fight any creature. Your best bet would be to run and I doubt you'd be able to get far in that ridiculous get-up." Fauna says. "If social convention is more important than your life then you might want to get your priorities in order, Sir Issac."

Sir Isaac's moustache ruffles a bit from annoyance when she bastardises his good name once again, but he doesn't say anything. Proper speech and etiquette were always hard to pick up for the more simple species. They were like children, he would have to be patient and understanding.

He then ponders a bit on what she said. "I suppose you may be right, Lady Fauna. Maneuverability and the ability to tactically retreat if necessary might outweigh the advantages of armour, considering we know not what lurks in these woods. Mayhap it's something that can tear right through my plate armour, making dodging the only fruitful strategy." Sir Isaac says, but doesn't believe. Clearly armour was superior to having no armour. And what kind of animal could pierce his precious family armour, aside from some great beasts that wouldn't even fit through these trees?

As he compares the advantages of keeping his armour to the few small advantages of taking it off, a sense of drowsiness washes over him. His eyes almost fall shut immediately, but he fights off the sleep. The same feeling of tiredness he felt back at the rock suddenly lingered strongly around him though, the sensation of being so tired that he simply had to sleep. The sensation that stopped when he heard Lady Fauna's music, and which returned now that the strange glowy look of the forest was fading.

"Anyway we better get going." Fauna says, turning around and walking deeper into the forest. Sir Isaac follows her, wondering what the melody was. How strange. He thought she was a ranger based on her gear, but perhaps she was a bard instead? Was the song one to strave off sleep? Would it really wear off so quickly, or was the distance between the two of them at the time the reason it didn't work on him as long?

Or was there something else at play? The forest critters did just scatter, as if a predator was near. Though that might just as well be him, considering how foreign he was to the area. Sir Isaac continues to follow Lady Fauna, glancing over his shoulder one last time. He didn't spot the dim light eminating from a wand-shaped object nearby, nor the one wielding the spell. They knew how to remain hidden until it was the right time to strike.

[OOC: I'm glad you're enjoying it, I'm greatly enjoying myself too. Fauna is being so headstrong and sober, she's a great counter-force for Sir Isaac's ignorant self.]

"Of course I am. All the monsters here that I can't kill with one arrow we'd be better off fleeing from." That being said she hadn't come across any hideous beasts yet, excluding Sir Issac. She smiled at her own joke. She kept her eyes ahead not even looking back to talk to him. She wondered if he'd collapse before they reached the stream. If he did there wouldn't be much she could do for him. Perhaps she could play a song to wake him up but she didn't know how he'd handle it, the crashes from the song sucked and wouldn't be great in the heat. She found Sir Issac to be quite ridiculous she could tell he thought very highly of himself but she was yet to see too many good qualities in him. She hadn't talked to many humans before, were they all like this? It seemed unlikely but she knew so little about them that it was a possibility. 

She reached out beside her as she walked and let her hands run across the bark of the trees. They all felt so very different from each other, like the faces of others, but yet so similar. There were so many red oaks here, there were only a few in the forest where she was from. She was used to tall birch trees white like bone tall and elegant. 

She could hear the stream louder now and it was likely loud enough for Sir Issac to hear now. The stream had a calming rhythm it was soft yet loud and violent. It was the only river in the forest and the source of the forests life. By now they were pretty deep into the forest, for all Sir Issac knew she could be luring him into the forest to kill him. She'd never be this trusting of a stranger. Sir Issac kind of seemed like an idiot.

Word Count: 320 words

Notes:-

Sir Isaac slowly begins to hear the running of water, a welcome sound that makes his mouth water and his legs go faster. He slowly closes the distance between him and the nimble deer girl who manoeuvred through this forest so much easier than him.

"Of course I am. All the monsters here that I can't kill with one arrow we'd be better off fleeing from." Fauna says, smiling at what she said. Perhaps there was some hidden joke in there, or she considered it fun to run away from monsters. Perhaps she laughed at the idea that she could run faster than him in the forest, thus escaping the monster by not being the slowest one. Well, Sir Isaac would not turn and run if something vile appeared, so he didn't have to be fast. Despite that, he laughs with her to be gallant.

Another spell of drowsiness washes over him, and Sir Isaac stumbles. Fauna looks at him with something akin to concern, probably, but he guessed she already weighed her options regarding his feinting and chose to leave him behind if it would happen. Well, at least it meant she wouldn't slit his throat in his moment of weakness.

"My, you must be quite confident of your archery, if you think you can fell any but the most ferocious monsters with just one arrow." Sir Isaac says, intentionally misunderstanding her words at least openly. "Or perhaps you think that if we encounter a beast that cannot be felled by normal weapons, we shall be completely defenseless against it? I can assure you, I have a few tricks up my sleeve for those cretins."

Sir Isaac straves off the drowsiness and raises his back. Strutting forward, he walks the last few steps to the river bank and quickly washes his face with the cold water. The next handful is sipped up, spreading a blissful sensation of cold through this throat into his stomach. Getting back up, turning around and spreading his arms, he falls backwards into the stream. A large splash erupts when he lands in the soft sandy bedrock of the stream, cold water running through the gaps in his armour and cooling his body. He could feel his overheated muscles relax. His dehydrated mind clearing up. His sweaty skin cleansening. His drowsiness fa-

Sir Isaac quickly opens his eyes. Awkwardly like a turtle combined with an old man and a broken construct, he gets up while teh water in his armour drains away in miniature waterfalls. With some water still sloshing inside with his every move, he places his hand on the hilt of his sword and tries to peer through the forest. His drowsiness, it didn't fade. It didn't lessen. It didn't react to the cold water being splashed in his face. And now that his mind was clearer, he could tell it wasn't his drowsiness either.

"Head's up, Lady Fauna. We're not alone."

With water still running from his armour, his wet hair an intangible mess around his head and the grass- and mud streaks on his armour diluted to a messy panorama, a very serious-looking Sir Isaac suddenly turns vigilant and tense. Then he quickly readjusts his stance as one of his feet slowly sinks into the mud, and looks serious again.

Fauna turned back. She was confused to hear laughter from him, perhaps her smile made him think she was trying to make a joke. It seemed he only laughed out of politeness because her statement was nothing resembling a joke.

"My, you must be quite confident of your archery, if you think you can fell any but the most ferocious monsters with just one arrow."  "Or perhaps you think that if we encounter a beast that cannot be felled by normal weapons, we shall be completely defenseless against it? I can assure you, I have a few tricks up my sleeve for those cretins."
"No, any creature which I can't fell with an arrow is likely a danger to me. It's not my job to slay beasts," She wondered if he was the kind of guy who'd actually kill monsters or if he was the kind to just brag about it without having done so. "And if I can't run there are other methods." she said leaving him to wonder what she meant. 

It wasn't long before they reached the river, Sir Issac fell into the stream and she could see him overcome with relief. Fauna sat down on a nearby rock, she wondered if he'd be able to make it far once he left the forest. He didn't seem to have a horse with him or any way to get home besides walking, which made her even more curious. How did he even get here in such heat with such bulky attire? 

She saw him get up and furrowed her brow. Why did he get up so quickly? "Head's up, Lady Fauna. We're not alone." her heart dropped when she heard those words. She could feel fear course through her veins her hands began to shake. she bolted up from her seat. She didn't have much time, her reed pipes or her bow? Her reed pipes could instill fear or put creatures to sleep but it really depended on the type but Sir Issac could take it down with his sword if it was the kind of creature that could be killed by arrows. She quickly opened her satchel and snatched out her pipes. She put them to her lips watching the brush closely for any sign of movement. She didn't know what song to play and she wouldn't know until the creature popped out from it's hiding place.

Was that the same creature from earlier in which she dismissed? Had it been following them the whole time? and for how long?

Word Count: 432 words

Notes:-

Sir Isaac looks around, trying to distinguish anything in the dark and red that surrounded them. Streaks of white occassionally drew his attention, always just out of his peripheral. He couldn't tell if it was their opponent, or just his mind playing tricks on them. Or perhaps the creature might know illusion too, if it could cast sleep.

With one hand still readying his sword, Sir Isaac quickly rubs his hair back to keep it out of his face. He takes a few steps forward to reach more solid ground, and rolls his shoulders to get some of the last water out of his armour. Fauna jumped up and looked doubtful at her sashel. Making a decision after a second, she pulls out her pipes. As they stood still and vigilant, Sir Isaac still dripping and Fauna with the reed pipes readied on her lips, time passed without anything happening. No rustling of leaves, no chirping of crickets, not even the wind broke the silence.

"Lady Fauna, are you fey?" Sir Isaac asks. "I appear to have been besieged by spells of drowsiness for a while now, spells meant to make me fall asleep and become vulnerable. You don't appear to be affected however. Mayhaps you're immune due to your ancestory, or for other reasons."

"And if I may be so bold to ask another question, what was that melody you played before? The one that drew me to you?" Sir Isaac asks. "Whatever it was, it seemed to neutralise their influence. If we can determine exactly as to why you and your magic resist them so much, perhaps we'll be able to deduce what creature we're dealing with here."

Sir Isaac shakes his head furiously to strave off the sleep as another spell of drowsiness hits him. It was easier to do now that he knew it was foreign. More streaks of white play in his peripheral, always gone once he focussed on them.

The opponent was unseen but Sir Issac looked as if he'd collapse. The silence was eerie, the forest so still and silent. Even the animals of the forest froze, the only sound to her was of loud thumping hearts. "Lady Fauna, are you fey?" Fauna lowered her pipes from her lips. "Of course I am. Didn't your parents teach you about satyrs?"  All satyrs were magical gifted with musical abilities. Sure some were better than others, she was about average. She didn't have much time to practice with all the other skills she was forced to learn. "I appear to have been besieged by spells of drowsiness for a while now, spells meant to make me fall asleep and become vulnerable. You don't appear to be affected however. Mayhaps you're immune due to your ancestory, or for other reasons." That did seem to be the most likely explanation as she knew certain species were resistant to different kinds of magic. Humans were easy if they didn't realize what was happening, if they did realize they could try and fight it off. It was the same with dwarves, elves, orcs and other satyrs. Most non-intelligent creatures love spells wouldn't work on. Creatures that experienced little to no fear of course had an immunity to fear spells.

"And if I may be so bold to ask another question, what was that melody you played before? The one that drew me to you?" "Whatever it was, it seemed to neutralise their influence. If we can determine exactly as to why you and your magic resist them so much, perhaps we'll be able to deduce what creature we're dealing with here." "It's called 'Song of Sunlit forest' It's a forest blessing. It's supposed to bless the animals and protect the forest from harm." Usually it didn't work on humans but it most likely worked because she didn't know he was there and he was so close to her. 

She glanced nervously at the brush. What kind of ferocious beast laid ahead of them? She tried to tell herself not to worry, the beast would likely attack Sir Issac first and while he was being attacked it'd give her time to run. For some reason she felt as if that'd be a betrayal to him, but she was more important than him she needed to protect the forests. What has he done for the world?

Word Count: 400

Notes:-

"Of course I am. Didn't your parents teach you about satyrs?" Fauna says indignantly, as if she expected him to know that she was fey. Plenty of beastmen weren't, nor was everything that lived in the forest by default fey. Sir Isaac then wonders about her answer. His parents had told him about satyrs, but he was told that there were only male satyrs. The wild and hairy male counterpart to the always fair and smooth female nymphs. Perhaps that was just another sub-race? Or were his parents misinformed? Didn't matter right now. Sir Isaac asks about the song she played before, now knowing she was fey.

"It's called 'Song of Sunlit forest' It's a forest blessing. It's supposed to bless the animals and protect the forest from harm." Fauna answered.

"I see. I reckon such a spell wouldn't work on an outsider like me, would it? Good. That means the melody interfered with their abilities, rather than boosting mine." Sir Isaac says. "In other words, we're almost certainly dealing with an outsider here. Or a fey being that calmed down after hearing your song, I guess. So we don't really know what kind of being we're dealing with here, yet we know more than before. Probably."

"Another thing I know is that this is no weak foe, magically speaking. I counted at least seven spells of drowsiness in the last hour." Sir Isaac continues. "It might be a simple spell, but it suggests that our foe has ample magical reserves to rely on. Especially considering it seems to be besieging me with them even after I became aware of their assault. If it can cast this spell so freely, it might have something stronger to fall back on. Something that might affect you as well."

"Lady Fauna, you know these woods better than I do. At least, I may assume you do. Would you know any being that might fit this description?"

Sir Isaac falls silent as one of the bushes nearby rustles, a dark figure barely visible behind them. Sir Isaac steadies the grip on his sword, readying it for whatever might come at them.

"I see. I reckon such a spell wouldn't work on an outsider like me, would it? Good. That means the melody interfered with their abilities, rather than boosting mine." That did make sense.  "It might be a simple spell, but it suggests that our foe has ample magical reserves to rely on. Especially considering it seems to be besieging me with them even after I became aware of their assault. If it can cast this spell so freely, it might have something stronger to fall back on. Something that might affect you as well." "Lady Fauna, you know these woods better than I do. At least, I may assume you do. Would you know any being that might fit this description?"
she didn't know too many species who specifically practiced sleeping magic. 
Fauna didn't know too much about the creatures of this forest excluding the wildlife. "It could be another satyr or maybe a type of siren." Satyrs if skilled enough could target only one being and sirens magic worked better on humans than fey. Although there was a chance it could be any creature since many different races could be gifted in magic. "Perhaps a fairy…" She kept glancing nervously back at the brush expecting something to jump out and attack them at any moment. She just hoped it was a satyr because if it was she was safe, all satyrs would help each other as they have a common goal. It did make sense it could be a satyr and that's why he was being targeted specifically. 

She wanted to tell Sir Issac that they should run but she knew he wouldn't make it far, and they were better off sticking together so they at least had some sort of chance at fighting whatever laid beyond the trees off. She hoped Sir Issac was as tough as he acted because they were in need of a great fighter.

Word Count: 320 Words

Notes:-

"It could be another satyr or maybe a type of siren. Perhaps a fairy…" Fauna said, uncertain and worried.

Sir Isaac frowns, wondering about what she said. A siren would make a lot of sense in most regards, including the part where Fauna's music interfered with their song. There was one problem however, and that was the silence. Siren magic was vocal, it had to be heard for it to work. He remembered the stories of old heroes like the heroic maiden Archille, who plugged her ears with cotton to resist the siren's song. She was forced to see her crew jump off the ship to seek out the irresistible lure, but was unaffected herself. It was not a certainty, not a guarantee at all. He could be wrong, there were many unknown creatures and powers out there. But he never heard of a mute siren. He quickly shared his thoughts with Fauna.

"If it's a satyr of sorts, I sure hope you can convince them to leave me be. I'm certain this is all just one big misunderstanding." Sir Isaac says. "And if it's a fairy, then I'm in a heap of trouble. I've never met a violent fairy before, save those damn protective sprites, but I can only imagine how painful it must be for someone in plate to be made weightless, lifted up in the air, and then regain their gravity."

Sir Isaac continues to stare at the shadow, waiting for it to strike. Then, recognising the technique, he quickly checks every direction but that one. The old tiger's trick, for one to stare down their prey while the other sneaks up from behind. Nothing had entered the stream's small clearing, though.

It made sense, though. The rapid movement that this creature had, the spamming of weak spells, the way they couldn't pinpoint its location.

"Lady Fauna." Sir Isaac says with an alert and hushed tone."Whatever you do, do not run. Do not leave this clearing unless there is no other option. I think there's more than one of these creatures, and bet my moustache that they've already got us surrounded. Right now, a single step into the forest's shadow might be a foot in the grave."

The shadow in the bushes rustles the leaves again, drawing Sir Isaac's eyes back to it. Quickly he turns around, trying to cover the sides that Fauna wasn't looking at. He saw nothing in the forest around him, nothing but dancing shadows that might be his imagination. Despite that, the hairs in the back of his neck stood on end and his muscles tensed up.

"If it's a satyr of sorts, I sure hope you can convince them to leave me be. I'm certain this is all just one big misunderstanding." She swallowed she hoped that it was a satyr but that seemed unlikely. " Sir Isaac says. "And if it's a fairy, then I'm in a heap of trouble. I've never met a violent fairy before, save those damn protective sprites, but I can only imagine how painful it must be for someone in plate to be made weightless, lifted up in the air, and then regain their gravity." if it was a fairy she'd be lucky. Fairies protected forests just like she did and if they recognized she was was a satyr she would be able to get away safely, but Sir Issacs safety was not guaranteed.

Fauna shuddered in fear. She looked in the opposite direction he was looking they could see every direction. Her hands shook and she tried to take long and calm breaths but they were ragged and long. Whatever you do, do not run. Do not leave this clearing unless there is no other option. I think there's more than one of these creatures, and bet my moustache that they've already got us surrounded. Right now, a single step into the forest's shadow might be a foot in the grave." Her only thought in that moment was "Who bets their mustache?"
Her eyes were trained on the brush looking and listening for the slightest movement, it was hard keeping her legs glued to the ground a resisting the urge to flee from the imminent danger. 

Word Count: 266 Words

Notes:-