Author: boneami, Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:45 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

((Wow! We're really good together! :) Thank you sooo much guys. You can't know what playing with you has meant to me. But it's meant a LOT! ))

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:26 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel gathered his thoughts and prepared to speak with everyone to ensure they all knew what they would be doing. "Everyone, if you don't mind I'd like for all of us to review what each of us will be doing when he proceed to stage the great disappearing act tomorrow. At the moment I am clear on my role as well as Marthaen and Bethany's, however I don't recall anything regarding Alistar aside from procuring the costumes?" He then explained what he and Bethany had discussed in detail for the other two. "The general gist of the plan is as follows. Marthaen pretends to attack the village and gives his speech, he then aims to snatch up Bethany in his claws while she screams. However at that moment I will cast an illusion that renders her invisible while simultaneously an illusory substitute appears in Marthaen's claws as he swoops up into the sky. While everyone is duly distracted, the real Bethany will slip away to safety, out of sight. She will however leave behind a piece of clothing as to maintain the impression that she was taken. After that, it will come down to an elaborate display of smoke and mirrors where I supposedly drive Marthaen off. And that is where my understanding of the plan ends. If there are any points which I may have left out on accident, or items that require adjustment and clarification, please state them."

Hopefully they would all be on the same page, figuratively speaking. He did his best to be as plain as possible in his explanation so Marthaen could understand, and so he would be informed on how exactly the more difficult portions of the staged acting would play out. "A few places that I am still not clear on are how exactly will the orchestrated scene will end and how to deal with what comes after. Bringing an act to an end is equally as important, if not more so than the beginning. At the end of the day, our objectives are to mislead the townsfolk into believing the dragon menace is gone, and to dissuade them from continuing the practice of human sacrifice." All this time he had been so focused on what he was supposed to do that he had forgotten to ask how they would wrap up the entire matter. How exactly were they going to convince the townsfolk out of what might have been a long-standing superstition?

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 12:35 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"That's nice Mr. Marthaen…….. Anyways, you don't owe me anything Ms. Bethany. I love helping and don't need anything from you. Your appreciation is just perfect." Alistar smiled, sitting down and playing with Sona, acting like it was a dancer. "Sona? Are you going to do this yourself? Or am I going to have to continue?" Sona jumped out of his arms and started dancing. Alistar clapping along and humming a sweet, little tune. "You're so lively when you wanna be Sona! You should express yourself more!" Alistar said quietly. Watching Sona twirl around.

Author: boneami, Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:14 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Bethany carefully raised spoon to lips and sipped at the offered food. Her eyes widened and she dug in with relish. She hadn't eaten anything in a long time and this was the best thing she'd ever had by a wide margin. Though it should be noted that she'd never had anything but the poor fare her family ate. "Alistar! This is WONDERFUL! And the bread! You don't even have to wet it to chew it. Amazing."

Marthaen eyed the stew suspiciously. Anything cooked was in his experience likely to taste pretty bad. Give him a sheep or cow any day. Still it would be rude not to try it. To his astonishment it tasted alright, good even. He stuck his face in the bowl chasing the food around it before finally turning it up and pouring it into his mouth. "Mrmph!" He announced happily, his face still stuffed with food. He knew he'd be hungry again as soon as he transformed but for now this body was full.

Bethany quirked an eyebrow at him before turning to Alistar, "I agree with his sentiment, if not the way he expressed it. It seems I owe you a great deal more gratitude than I may ever repay as well as Cymbel. I don't enjoy owing people. It's a new experience for me, thank you very much for a delicious meal and for these wonderful clothes!
She turned to Cymbel and said, "I'm not familiar with magic and I'm sure I know my part in this act. Marthaen "attacks" me and I slip away while all the attention is on him. Then Marthaen lands and roars out his fear my wrath speech. Will you and Alistar already be in the village? I also want to make sure Marthaen knows what you two will be doing so he knows when to leave. We'll make a game out of it for him." She patted Marthaens head, "You want to play a game with us, sweetie? It's very important for all of us that you do a good job."

Marthaen nodded eagerly, "I like games but most people just run, or fall down, or stick me with pointy things. It'll be fun playing with all of you! You don't do any of those things.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 8:00 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel remained silent as the three-year-old dragon attempted to explain the definition of a virgin to Alistar. As he and Bethany likely knew, 'companion' was not what being a 'virgin' meant. But the topic was already awkward as is, so he didn't try to correct them. It would be rude, seeing Bethany was the only woman here. He saw the understanding smile the woman had which mothers would give when preparing to dispel their children's foolish misconceptions, and knew she was likely thinking the same thing he was too. It was a strange feeling being the adult in this situation, having been the youngest in his family. When she returned his cloak he did his best to not make her feel more embarrassed than she already was. "That's alright, though to be fair I haven't exactly been able to stop and wash my clothes since the last time I left a city. If you still decide to wash it, I appreciate your consideration."

He was aware that she had probably never seen magic being performed in such a way that he and Alistar used, thus her discomfort was reasonable. "I have no objections if you wish to discuss things more after the meal. It seems I should also start rehearsing what illusions I intend to cast." Experiencing a faux pas in the middle of their performance would be absolutely unacceptable. Once the table was set, Cymbel took a seat. "Thank you, Alistar. I'm sure your culinary skills won't disappoint us." The meal was a welcome break from working out the fine details of their plan. He himself was still imagining how to best conduct his part, as to make it all flow smoothly. As long as he had the timing down it would be fine, he encouraged himself. He could only wonder what Marthaen would think about what to do when it was time for his big moment.

When the meal was over and the dishes cleared, he set the utensils used to soak. He was slowly picking up the basics of housework, having been deprived of the opportunity to learn for two centuries, and admittedly had a ways to go before he could truly call himself independent enough to manage household chores on his own. Finding Bethany he asked her, "So what did you wish to talk to me about before the meal started? I do recall you asked to know what else I had in mind." By now the sky was dimming, and his eyes were feeling much better with the day's harsh sunlight fading. He wasn't as tired as he had been before, and unless he absolutely needed to, he required little sleep. Having physical needs which were much lower maintenance than most creatures was a blessing for someone like him.

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:59 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"Well, Mr. Marthaen, a majority of us are not ruby dragons. But, it is easier for me to do other things this way. Oh, it's ready. Here, hold that and place it down where the table is, if there is one. I'm going to cut up the bread and hope that it taste good. Most of my cooking is experimental. So, I just hope you all love it." Alistar pulled some bowls out of his seemingly endless bag, as well as some spoons. He places them down and starts cutting the bread up. Once that is finished he smiles. "Andddddd that should be all! Hope it taste good!"

Author: boneami, Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:34 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

As Marthaen and Alistar entered the cabin Marthaen was happy to share his knowledge of virgins. "A virgin is… like a companion I guess. Bethany was my first one and now I guess you and Cymbel are as well. It's like Sona is your personal virgin."

Cymbel and Bethany were talking about virgin sacrifices and Marthaen actually felt a tinge of regret. After all, if her father hadn't sacrificed her he'd never have got the chance to be around her. And then there'd have been no need for a healer and he'd never have met Cymbel and Alistar. It's funny how this had all worked out. How through a series of seemingly random events they'd all come together and were now working together t'ward a common goal. One that was meant, even though he didn't understand it at the time, to keep him alive. Still… it might have been nice to have a few more virgins around. He was certainly enjoying the company of this group of them. "I wonder if all virgins are this nice, or is it only mine?"

Bethany smiled at Marthaens comments about virgins. Eventually she'd have to explain to him what the term actually meant but… well he was, after all, only three years old.
She had to agree with Cymbel that the sacrifices had to stop but she felt the same as Marthaen. Without this outdated practice she'd have never have met her gentle giant and crazy as it was, her life now was a hell of a lot better than one she could have hoped for before.

She'd accepted the clothes from Alistar with a small squeal of delight. They might seem plain to him but they were many times better than the hand me downs she'd lived in all her life. Clothes that were never this nice even when they were brand new. "Alistar! Thank you so much!" Slipping them on she was finally freed of the cloak Cymbel had so kindly given her. Handing it back to him she blushed a little, "Ummm, I need to wash that out for you. After me wearing it, it's likely to be a bit… ripe."

Marthaen piped up and said, "She means it stinks." He said helpfully. She sighed pensively and added. "I'm more than a little nervous about all this Cymbel. Let's talk some more about what you have in mind." Alistars' flaming hand made her hiss audibly, that could NOT be comfortable but it didn't seem to bother him at all. Once more those little niggling doubts about him gave her pause.

"And yes Marthaen, that's what I meant. Thank you ever so much for clarifying that for me." Once again the sarcasm had no effect and Marthaen went back to watching Alistar preparing the food.

"Why don't you just breathe fire out of your mouth?" He asked Alistar curiously." Meanwhile Bethany was humming a little tune and searching through the cabinets and cupboards for anything to use for the upcoming meal. "If it tastes half as good as it smells, Alistar, this will be a feast indeed!"

None of them said anything about their upcoming journey to the village. They had a lot riding on the success of this little venture not the least of whom was Marthaen and as it happened, he was the one who had the most riding on it. But that was tomorrow, for tonight they could all enjoy a meal together and bask in the warmth of both the fire and friendship.

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 4:13 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"Okay! It'll be done in a bit! Though I'll just do it myself, it would be quicker." Alistar pulls out a pot from his bag, filling it with the meat and water. He crumpled up a few spices and spreads them through the pot. Stirring it, his hand burst into flames. He puts it under the pot and keeps stirring. "If someone could cut up the bread please? It would be very helpful. The knife is where I left it."

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 3:12 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"Anything is fine with me." Cymbel replied to Alistar's question. There was no point in asking for something fancy, especially in their current situation. As long as one could eat well and sleep well, they were blessed. "I have a tinderbox you may use if that is what you need." He offered. It was fortunate that he had purchased one way back in Endapano. He wouldn't have managed to come this far without it. The costumes Alistar brought back were satisfactory for their purpose. Simple costumes could be just as convincing as flashy ones, in the right setting.

Returning to the discussion with Bethany, Cymbel agreed with the important point she mentioned. "Yes, I know just the thing to convince them to stop that outdated practice. It's rooted in superstition, though in truth the situations in which sacrificial purity is relevant are few and far between. A majority of the time, it achieves absolutely nothing. It's a terrible thing, really. It's no better than sending youth to the slaughter, just as their lives are starting. Nothing good ever came of it." Inside the hut he removed his kettle full of tea to make room for the soup in the fireplace. The over-steeped tea was no longer palatable now, but perhaps Bethany could use it to wash up. Without any soap on hand it was the next best thing. He began setting the table for the meal, checking things twice to ensure he didn't miss anything. He was nervous. Soon it would be time to put their plan into action, but would it work out in the end? Only time would tell, and he prayed that Marthaen would deliver on his part. Then it was a matter of using a great deal of misdirection, before they could call it a day.

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:42 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"Of course we're friends! If we weren't then that would be horrible! And I also have no idea what a virgin is, but I bet it is something good, I hope. And I can teach you a lot about cooking too!" Alistar walked inside and smiled at Bethany and Cymbel. "Hiya! Ms. Bethany, I have your clothes. I also ordered some costumes. Oh, and I need a fire. Can Mr. Marthaen breathe fire in a human form? If not I guess I could do it myself. But, it may take longer for the food to be ready." Alistar sighed, pulling out some meat and water from the bag Bethany had brought in. He pulled out the spices that he had bought before he came here. He got out a knife and started cutting the meat. "Now, you all are okay with having just some soup and bread right?" Alistar spoke quietly, still cutting the meat.

Author: boneami, Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:07 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Marthaen grinned happily as Alistar ran his way. He found it strange that he'd missed the diminutive angel and while he seemed very odd, to be fair everyone seemed odd to Marthaen, he liked all three of his new friends. "Friends," he tried out the word he knew the general idea the word was meant to convey but how it felt to actually have them was a new experience and was one of those rare times he enjoyed a new experience. Most of his previous "learning situations" involved pain either emotional or, in most cases, physical.

"Alistar! I am *he took a moment to consider what word best described how he felt* happy to see you again. I hope you and your virgin are well. Ah! And I smell new things from you? Have you brought more gifts for everyone? That's very nice of you. It looks like Bethany and Cymbel have gone back inside and carried your food inside with them. *He chuckled at the small ones' suggestion they discuss food preparation.* I'd be happy to talk about food with you! Though I have to admit I'm not sure what soup and bread is, and my experience with food that bi-peds consume is very limited to say the least. Food prep for me is finding it and swallowing it but I'm happy to learn more about it. Maybe if I learn enough I'll finally understand why things are "cooked." Shall we join the others inside? Maybe you can help me with something else, are we friends? And if so what does it mean to be a friend?"

Bethany nodded, "I like that idea, Cymbel. You can always tell them that your magic has driven him off and is now protecting their village from him. Oh! And let's make sure to make it clear that virgin sacrifices make him angry. The last thing we want is more people going through being rescued by that giant child. *She shuddered again at the memory of her own sacrifice.* Though I must admit in my case it's easily the best thing that's ever happened to me I'm pretty sure I'm the exception that makes the rule."

She laughed as his stomach growled in protest and hers answered in kind. "Aye. Let's go see what our guardian angel of death brought us to eat." And headed inside carrying the bag of food to the now cold hearth.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 9:57 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"For arranging both you and Marthaen's disappearing act, it should be easy. In your case once the people are sufficiently distracted you can easily run off, but for him it might be harder. Since creating an illusion of a fallen dragon would be too draining and backfire, if we have him fly away and then transform back into a human once he's out if sight it should suffice. And having this all take place before dusk is an excellent proposition. People won't be walking around outside for long and it will lower their chances of accidentally seeing something they shouldn't see." The last thing they all needed was to break the immersion. Once that happened, it would take more than all the charm and suggestion in the world to fix that mess and that would seal any chances for recovery.

When Bethany brought up Alistar's claim to be an 'angel of death', he shrugged. "Well, I suppose he's just odd. Perhaps swinging a bit too wildly across the emotional spectrum, but as long as we don't provoke him things should be fine. Even if he truly was an agent of the Reaper, what can we do?" He understood her misgivings about the strange child. The boy seemed a bit too happy about things when he was excited, and not in a very comfortable way. He was sure he had seen that extreme polarity somewhere, and it wasn't a fond experience. Hearing the crimson dragon returning from his fool's errand, he saw that Marthaen did not look pleased. Hopefully that wouldn't affect his cooperation in the act later. "Oh, he's back. And looks like Alistar's returned as well." Hearing a loud groan from his stomach, he clutched it in embarrassment. "…We should probably eat soon. I doubt any of us will be able to focus with empty stomachs."

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 2:33 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar had been absent-mindingly think about what he should make. "Oh! I could make something different for everyone. They have all got to have different eating styles. Especially Marthaen, he could eat the whole village If hungry enough. Hmm, I could make a broth with the excess of meat, and the bread could be on the side! With the herbs I got it should be filling and quite enjoyable if I make it right!" Alistar stated to himself, hoping no one was around to think he was crazy. Though, he could barely deny that fact, considering that he could tear a city apart if he was angry enough. "It's settled then, I'll make a sort of soup with meat and bread for a side, it should be filling and taste good as well. My mission is set, time to prepare!" Alistar exclaimed with a smile. He spots Marthean down the road and waves. "Hey Marthaen! I have an idea for food today! Wanna go over it with me?" Alistar yells while running up to meet him.

Author: boneami, Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 1:45 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Bethany considered the plan for a moment. "I think it's brilliant in it's simplicity and simple is something we're going to need. I know Marthaen doesn't like hurting anyone or anything so I'm sure he'll do his best to avoid that. The mock battle need not take very long, actually the less time the better." She shuddered when he mentioned how his healing worked. She had been very near to losing consciousness when he'd healed her but even in her fog she could remember that sharp agony and it wasn't something she ever wanted to endure again. "He's already learned the whole introduction speech and spewing flame in the air. If we use that again I think he'll be ok. Then, as I understand it, after he's defeated Marthaen and I will be hidden by some sort of magic or other leaving you and Alistar to deal with the villagers. Will he be able to fly off under cover or do we need to stay in place until dark and then walk away? If the latter's the case we should do this around dusk. The bit with the flame will be all the more spectacular then anyway. Frankly I'm a bit nervous about Alistar too. He seems every bit as twitchy as Marthaen, more actually, and I find that whole "Angel of Death" thing un-nerving. I'm still not sure what to make of that. Do you suppose he's dangerous?

Marthaen was busily searching for shiny things when his rumbling stomach reminded him of his second objective: Food. His sharp eyes found a few targets but the easiest mark was in a large clearing. A rather sizable bear foraging for food before winter sat in. She'd be fat and make a satisfying meal that would hold him over for several days. He circled once then began his dive aiming as always to finish it in one swift blow. No suffering. Not for the first time he wished he could be more like bears. Oh they'd eat meat given the chance but they apparently could live on a diet consisting mostly of nuts, berries and the like. But as he neared the clearing a cub came running t'ward it's parent. Her head looked back and saw cub and Marthaen at the same moment. She roared running t'wards certain doom, desperate to defend her young. Marthaen pulled up as hard as he could barely avoiding hitting them then swinging back out away from the mountains face. He could've taken them both of course. She wouldn't have had a chance against most any dragon, much less a ruby of Marthaens size, but there was no way he would kill mother and child. Once more he wasn't sure why he knew it was wrong. He just did.

Sighing he resigned himself to going hungry again and turned back to the small cottage the little group was calling home for the time being. He spotted Alistar making his way back and since there hadn't been any food or shiny things up here he thought he may as well meet him there. "No food. No shiny things. Stupid mountain." Finally landing with a thud and sliding down the road several hundred yards down the road near the cottage. This time it didn't hurt. In dragon form he was indeed hard to injure and often wished he could stay that way but… shrugging off the thought he stood and said "human me." As he neared the rest he said, "clothes" being very careful to concentrate as he did so. He'd had several "wardrobe malfunctions" before…

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 10:39 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar skipped childishly back to the tailor, holding a basket as to hold the items. 'Maybe I should've told them that I forgot about all the herbs and spices that I needed. Whatever, it won't hurt them, I'm getting them now anyways. But if they touch the food before anything else I'll kill them.' Alistar thought happily. He entered the tailor. "Hello? I've come to get the dress I asked for." Alistar stared at the man behind the counter. "Of course, wait here for a moment." The man disappears in the back for a moment and comes back with a plain white dress, with red and orange trimmings. "Thank You! Oh, and I have a few more orders." Alistar described the two costumes and got a weird look from the tailor. "Those sound a bit flashy. But hey, you're paying, so I don't care. Thank you for your service ma'am." Alistar smiled cheerfully before walking out, he slams his fist into the side of a building and cracks the wall. "Idiots." Is all he said as he buys the few spices he needed and made his way back to others.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 8:35 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel nodded in understanding. "Yes, I can see why that would be a problem. His full-body dexterity is…lacking. However not to worry, I think I have a solution that will allow us to circumvent the need to have him snatch you up. It will involve several illusions and precise timing, but if done right it will be just as convincing with none of the hazards." He paused before explaining what he had in mind. "During the act, when he swoops down at you your natural instinct would be to scream. But instead of having him take you, I can substitute you for an illusion. Here's where it becomes complicated. One scenario would be to have you walking with a shawl around you, and for him to suddenly appear to take you away. But before he does so, you would let out a scream–signalling me. Right after that, you drop to the ground and duck while I deploy an illusion of you still standing upright–making you look like part of the ground in the process. As soon as Marthaen comes down, I then create an illusion of you being caught in his claws. While everyone is busy being focused on the sky, that will be your time to escape out of sight leaving the shawl behind to give the impression that you were taken. Once that part is done, then the plan will go as Alistar stated with me and Marthaen having a mock duel."

It was tricky and the timing of the actions were critical, but he knew he could do it. The sheer scale of the illusion would tax his capabilities to where he wouldn't be able to maintain his usual glamoured appearance, but that was fine. The townsfolk had already seen him as is, which gave him more power to focus. "Do you have any questions or concerns about my suggestion? Even if the performance is supposed to be believable, we can't have any casualties or collateral damage. Although I may be a healer, I'd rather not have to put you or anyone else through the painful process of healing when prevention would be a better cure." Just because magic healed wounds didn't mean it would numb the pain that came with the healing process. Unfortunately, that was how it went. If he had a way to dull the pain, he would have used it when he patched the two up last night.

"Afterwards we might try to convince Marthaen to relocate to a new area as a short-term solution. A more permanent resolution would be to work out his personal misunderstandings and aim to have him better socialized to better blend in with people. All which would take time." No matter where he went, seeing a large dragon would be a red flag for any form of civilization. Since this was a rural area there wasn't enough manpower to organize a hunt, but if Marthaen had flown over a major city… To put it lightly, he would have to worry less about a few angry mobs and more about fully mobilized armies or mercenaries with the intent to subjugate. 

Author: boneami, Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 11:30 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Bethany watched Marthaen and Alistar as they each left on their "missions." Both seemed child-like in their own way, though Marthaen was easily the biggest child she'd ever heard of. She was more than a little worried about this little quest they were about to embark on. Although he was certainly not as flighty as Marthaen she wondered how stable Alistar would be, though he did seem excited at the chance to play his part. In the end she didn't really see any choice but to go through with this little play they were about to put on. They needed some way to remove the idea that Marthaen was a threat and not just for his sake. Three year olds could throw EPIC tantrums and when they were hundreds of feet long and could breathe fire… she shuddered at the thought of what he might do in the heat of the moment. Just by saving her he'd proved he wasn't interested in hurting people, or even just allowing them to be hurt. But he was certainly capable of it even if only accidentally.

She turned to Cymbel, "One thing I'm not comfortable with is having Marthaen pick me up. He could've done so easily by getting me down from the cart instead of carrying me in it and from his description of how things went with his flying into a castle I'm not sure he's all that familiar with using that giant body of his. Also we should probably do all of this outside the town. I'm not sure he'd fit in the streets between houses and we don't need to destroy half the place to make all this work. Hmmm, it'd be best I think if we "forced" him to never bother that particular spot again. He's bound to be spotted flying around if his home's as near as he says it is and we don't want them calling for help from someone else. Either way that goes that wouldn't turn out well."

"As for me, Marthaen's probably right about my smell, though he could be a little more diplomatic about it." She muttered,  "I'm going to look around for a stream to bathe in. Would you mind seeing what Alistars' idea of food is? I saw a large pot inside so hopefully we at least have the ingredients for stew. Hard to go wrong with that. Even I can make stew."

Author: boneami, Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 6:55 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

[Sorry guys. Got some RL interference right now. I'll try to reply tonight or tomorrow. I'm having a great time. BBS!]

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 4:15 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar quietly ignores the comment about not being dead. Angels were always dead, they just looked alive. He turned towards the two and smiled childishly. "Well, I guess it's settled then! Mr. Cymbel, you'll be in charge of stage direction and illusions. Ms. Bethany, you are in charge of making sure that Marthaen doesn't destroy everything. You are really good at that. And I'll go back up to the tailor and get costumes made! Ohhhhhhhh this is so exciting! Oh, and one more thing. Hmm…….no, not there………..maybe here?……..There it is!" Alistar exclaimed cheerfully as he pulled a mask out of his bag. "I've enchanted this mask to change to what you where. So, your mask will match the costume! Please, try not to break it while I'm gone. Oh! Ms. Bethany, I'm sorry, I forgot all about the dress they were making for you. I'll go get the costumes ordered and bring back the dress. Bai bai!" Alistar said quickly before running off.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Thu Jun 8, 2017 11:26 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel listened as Alistar give his take on the plan, and was pleased. Once Bethany had sent the dragon away with a distraction, he spoke his mind. "I too believe the idea to be satisfactory. As for keeping things simple, sometimes seeing is enough to make the most scrutinizing critic believe. If we are to have Marthaen play his part well, perhaps I could assist with creating a lifelike situation. I have several…years of  personal experience in the art of acting, and everything starts with having the stage set." Illusions were one of the few things he was better at, and sometimes all you needed were some well-timed tricks of the eye and a convincing attitude to pull off a bluff. This was far less stressing than what he had to go through on a daily basis back before he had left his family's house, so it should succeed without a hitch. 

The mention from Marthaen about his odd smell before he had flown off to find something that likely did not exist alerted Cymbel that he wasn't under the effects of his glamour anymore. He went silent for a long time, before he resumed speaking again. "Picking berries and wild herbs…that doesn't sound half bad. I wouldn't mind such errands if it meant I could spend time away from home." Hearing Bethany's fantasies of adventuring far from home made him smile halfheartedly at how honest and simple they were. "If one were to ask me, I would dream of living in a quiet and peaceful place–away from the busy streets and cities." His tone was now somber and empty, having returned to the state of stiff formality it once held when he had lived under the authoritarian hold of his father. "Not all things that are wondrous are joyous, or good. Sometimes the simple things are what give a man happiness." 

It was time for him to admit the obvious and address what the other two were likely asking themselves already. "…I am what some refer to as 'the fair folk', or the common term 'fairy'. Yes, it is apparent that I do not have wings. The words 'fey' and 'fairy' are broad terms which generalize a wide variety of creatures and beings outside of the well-known small, flying winged sprites." Not wanting to continue talking about himself, he shifted the topic back to the task at hand. "I am willing to play the part of the hero; the role is simple. I can cast an illusion on a scale large enough to make everyone appear to vanish while enveloped in a shimmering distortion, drawing attention away from our true locations as we discreetly exit stage left. We will need to ensure our key player is properly coordinated, lest it all fall apart at the seams." Ah yes, their ruby red dragon. Words seemed to confuse him often, so Cymbel considered using visual guidance via his illusory skills. Even if Marthaen didn't fully grasp the idea of pretending and acting the opposite, he would react to something he thought was real.

He felt guilty for blindly leading him along, but he'd rather not wait for the villagers to find a real dragon-slayer to finish the job when in truth the dragon was simply inept at reading the atmosphere. They'd have him dead before he could even get the chance to explain himself. Once it was all over they would explain this to him in detail, but for now it was best to keep it a secret. Angry crowds armed with torches and pitchforks were very difficult to persuade and placate.

Author: boneami, Posted: Thu Jun 8, 2017 11:27 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Bethany stood and reflected on the past few days. Only a few days ago she knew what her lot in life would be. Since she was "of age" now, her father would have taken her in to town and basically auctioned her off to the highest bidder. Though in the name of propriety everyone called it a dowry but they all knew what it meant. Then it would be her turn to scratch out a living in the poor soil. Her best hope was that whoever she ended up with would be kinder than her father though in truth, it was hard to imagine it could be any worse. Now she was consorting with a dragon, an angel, and… well she wasn't sure exactly what Cymbel was yet. Marthaens' description of his past did help her understand a lot about the way he acted. He was, after all, only three years old and hadn't had the chance to interact with people enough for him to understand the subtleties of it all. He was still an annoying pain in her butt, but then what three year old wasn't? He was awfully good with language for his age though. She'd have to ask him about that… Marthaen was speaking and she winced and shook her head even as she smiled.

Wait. You're a dead angel?" He asked Alistar. "You don't *smell* dead. You smell  awfully strange though." Then he turned to Cymbel, "You smell strange as well though neither of you smell as bad as her." He turned to Bethany, "Did you wallow in something before I found you?"
For a moment her eyes flashed with anger but there was only simple curiosity in his question and gritting her teeth she repeated over and over, "Three years old, he's just three years old." She thought back to the stories she'd heard as a child and asked sweetly, "Marthaen? Do you like shiny things?

"Oh yes! Yes I like them very much!" He hopped up and down at the thought. "Do you have any?"

"No. But I'll bet if you fly up around these mountains I bet you'll find some." She looked at the bundle that Alistar had brought back and seriously doubted that it would be enough to feed the ruby giant before her. "And if you're hungry maybe you can find something up there to eat as well, yes? Just be sure to be back before dark!

Marthaen favored her with a huge grin though in his present form it was more than a little intimidating. "Thank you Bethany! I'll be back before dark, I promise!" And he leaped into the air heading up the slope above the tree line. Truly happy for the first time in a very long while.

She looked at the other two, stating the obvious, "We're going to have to keep this all as simple as possible. If this whole performance lasts any longer than a few minutes I'm afraid he'll get distracted and wander off. I like your basic idea Alistar, " She made a mental note to come back to this angel of death thing. That announcement had made her skin crawl. "What do you think, Cymbel? I'm afraid my experience with acting, both performing and watching is limited to exactly none. You both have seen many wonderous things I'm sure." Her eyes sparkled at the thought. "This is actually my first time being away from home except to pick berries and gather wild herbs. It's funny. For years I've dreamt of the adventures I would have. Being swept away to live in a far away land. "She chuckled wryly," Never in my wildest imagination could I have foreseen all of… "She waved her hand all around her," this. 

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 5:26 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar raised his hand in the air. "I have an idea! How about this, we still use the idea of the dragon. But, we have to add all of us in the process. Picture this, Mr. Marthaen terrorizing the town as his giant dragon self. Ms. Bethany will be casually going about the streets, when Mr. Marthaen snatches her up and starts to soar up. This causes a mass panic  and terror. Then, the hero comes in, wearing a mask, as to hide your identity. That will be you Mr. Cymbel. As well as his sidekick, me! We battle heroically and, just as it looks like we are about to lose, the hero burst out with a special move! Slaying the dragon and saving the town! Only to disappear, along with the dragons corpse. But obviously you won't actually be killing Mr. Marthaen , Mr. Cymbel. It will be part of the act! So, what do you think? I enjoy it myself, though I created it. But, it isn't too flashy and follows a basic storyline! Giving just enough action and suspense to start bringing in some good money!" Alistar exclaimed cheerfully, he looked at the others with a twinkle in his eyes.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 8:36 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel shook his head, feeling remorseful. "I'm sorry Marthaen, but that isn't something that I can heal. I…all I can do is give my sympathy." He understood what it meant to be the unwanted one in the group, the one who had the least amount of skill compared to others. Although his own family did not exile him, they were already ostracizing him in their attitudes and actions. In the end, Cymbel was the one who took the initiative and left on his own accord. "I dare not speak of myself as an expert in anything, but perhaps I could give some instruction on how to better improve your theatrical performance?" he asked. It was ironic that he was now teaching another in what he had been seen as a failure by his peers in the past.

He then listened to the child called Alistar, who called himself an 'angel of death'. Cymbel didn't pry for more information and assumed it was an euphemism for the word 'assassin'. Right now he still had too many things swimming in his mind and a few problems that still needed resolving. Turning to Bethany he asked, "So is this all that we have as a solution? I'm afraid I don't have anything better, though if either of you have a suggestion then by all means–please tell." The most important element was that it was convincing, convincing enough so it would leave the right impression and hopefully distract them enough as so they wouldn't question it later.

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 4:01 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar giggles with delight as he walked up to the dragon that Marthaen became. He gently stroke one of the scales and it felt…..odd, as though it was tough, but soft at the same time. He ended up zoning out and poked his finger with one of the scales. He feels this slight pain only barely, but just enough to snap him out if it. Before anyone could see he wrapped a rag around his finger. He stared at it wistfully, as if hoping something would happen. But, no red had appeared on the rag. As though he had no blood at all. He hid his look if depravity and bounced cheerfully back to his place next to Cymbel. "Well, since you guys were kind enough to share some of your past. I guess I could at least tell you what I am. Well, as you know, I am Alistar Evee……….Angel….of…….Death…." Alistar said quickly without thinking, once he had blurted this out he enclosed both his hands over his mouth as to stop the words that had already left his mouth. He had been too into the moment to realize that blurting out something like that could ruin any chances of getting to know these people. 'They may be loud and annoying but they at least have goals and are not all human. Maybe they will accept you for killing multiple people that were about to die. As per being a kind if reaper-angel. It is your job…….ish……'

Author: boneami, Posted: Mon Jun 5, 2017 8:15 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Marthaen sighed heavily as Cymbel hit the ground. "Typical." He murmured. Though when his appearance altered so radically he was truly concerned. "Bethany? What happened to him???" She trotted over unsure herself what had happened but he was breathing and she couldn't help but smile as she told Marthaen.
"I think it's alright. Though I'm not sure why he looks so different now… Let's give him a few minutes. In the meantime, Thank you Alistar. I'm sure whatever you got will be fine. My family had barely enough to keep us all clothed. Though now that I'm gone I'm sure they'll be much better off. They'll still know the joy of my drunken fathers' belt but if he doesn't spend the extra on more wine, everyone else should at least have a bit more to eat." She spat the last bitterly. "Though I doubt that will happen. Oh! And don't worry about touching Marthaen, I'm sure he won't care. Mind those scales though they may be rather sharp."
Marthaen breathed a little easier. He'd had plenty of people "fall asleep" when they saw him but never had their appearance changed so radically. He wondered idly what caused that and hoped this wasn't some new thing he'd have to get used to. When Bethany told Alistar it would be alright to touch him he rolled his eyes but truth to tell he didn't really mind. Even in Marthaens' limited experience he knew this ones actions weren't normal. It was nice to be around someone who at least stayed awake though.

When Cymbel came to, Marthaen and Bethany both breathed a sigh of relief. "I can only tell you what's happened in the last, has it only been two days??? It feels like a life-time. Anyway… I was a virgin "sacrifice" to Marthaen to protect my fathers" muttered cursing, "Sheep. In the end he not only saved me from the elements but in an odd quirk of fate saved me from the hell that my life has been and would have continued to be for the rest of it I'm sure. My life has been a dark shade of grey. Working from sun to sun during the spring, summer and fall. Followed by dark days of winter trapped inside. Hoping against hope that my fathers' supply of booze would last until he could at last venture back into town for more. The nights when he was drunk could be bad but the nights at the end of the winter when the alcohol was gone were much, much worse. " She shuddered at the thought. "He has given me a gift of something I've been bereft of for many years now. Marthaen has given me hope. As for the rest I'm not really certain about where he came from or indeed who Kharendaen is. I do know he is a gentle giant and the more I know of him the more I… enjoy his company. Now for as long as he will have me I am his "virgin". And he is my dragon. As for the rest of his story, I'm afraid Marthaen is the only one who can enlighten us all. Marthaen?"

Marthaen shrugged as though this story was a very common. "There's not much to tell really. I was born twelve seasons ago I believe that's three years. I was this size when I first awakened though I understand that's not the usual way of things. I was sent to a clan of gemstone dragons who had no ruby among them but…" He continued sadly, "They did not want me among them. Both my body and my magic were fully formed at my birth by one I call Mother and she sent me to be among the others of my kind. But my magic is wild and untamed as is, well, pretty much everything else about being a dragon and when I tried to land at a castle of some humans that named my clan allies… well it turns out that a fully grown Ruby can do a great deal of damage by smacking into it at full speed. If you ask me that was a stupid place to put a castle anyway. So, though I truly believe Kharendaen was loathe to do it, the others of the clan and their allies demand I be banished. I awoke in an abandoned keep high above a gorge not that far from here. Since then I've tried my best to learn what it means to be a dragon. I've stopped using magic except to change form because the results have been something between awful and truly horrific. When I was born I thought it was a wonderful thing but in sooth it's been nothing but loneliness. Sometimes when I think about it, it makes my chest hurt. Cymbel? You're a healer. Can you make it stop doing that?" He asked hopefully.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Mon Jun 5, 2017 4:58 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel was confused for a while, wondering why Bethany was trying to get Marthaen to imitate a circus performance. He found it very strange. How would this help them solve any of their problems? It might work for the food and clothes perhaps, but how would this resolve the issue of the red dragon? Finding Marthaen's sorry attempt at acting too much to bear, he shook his head. Even if he wasn't exactly the best example, he felt his performance was in dire need of improvement. Then she told him to change, and the fey had thought he was going to shift into a different set of clothes when he found himself staring at a belly of scales in the reddest crimson. "Wait, what exactly do you mean when you say 'change'?" As his eyes followed upward, before him was an…adult red dragon. Cymbel stood dumbfounded as it spewed forth smoke and flame thundering in a loud voice. Then the realization dawned upon him. "…Oh. Ooh…OH BY THE GODS-"

The combination of a severe lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, and being confronted by the very dragon he had been sent to dispose of was too much for him to handle all at once. At the very sight of Marthaen in his draconic form, Cymbel's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he promptly fainted. His body crumpled into a heap on the ground as his glamour spell finally failed and the color drained from his hair and complexion. His hair had gone completely white, and his face lost its color. In truth he always looked like this, but to them it appeared as if he had blanched in shock. It took him at least ten minutes to regain consciousness, getting back on his feet slowly. When he saw the dragon was still there, he held his breath and closed his eyes, then clasped his hands as if in prayer while he exhaled. With the panic over, everything made more sense now. From Marthaen's odd speech, his general lack of tact, and Bethany's mention of how they had come to the abandoned hut.

"I'm fine…" He said shakily, the words more addressed to himself than the other three. Pressing his hand to his forehead, he sought to confirm what he knew so far. "So I assume that the reason why Lady Bethany is here, and why I was sent here–was because of Marth-er, Lord Kharendaen?" He wasn't sure what his mind was following anymore.

 

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Mon Jun 5, 2017 2:31 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar stared at the two in shock. "Okay, A: I got you a dress, it is being made as we speak. B: I'm male, feminine, but male. And C: Are you serious!? You are so cool! Oh, and D: You called him 'dear', So adorable!" Alistar stared angrily, before giggling like a child. "Can I touch your scales sir? I've always wanted to feel a dragon's scales! If I don't I could just die!" Alistar begged, looking at the two with puppy dog eyes. "Oh, and I got some bread, meat, and some water. Also, I didn't have your sizes ma'am, so I made a prediction. I just hope that the cotton was right. Oh, and I also hope you don't hate the colors. I wanted to make them look nice." Alistar said cheerfully, smiling and tilting his head slightly, a horrible habit of his.

Author: boneami, Posted: Mon Jun 5, 2017 1:46 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

As the trio walked out of the little hut Bethany saw Alistar coming back up the road, though he wasn't carrying any clothing. Ah well, she thought to herself, I wasn't sure he heard me anyway. She waved him up and asked him to stand next to Cymbel in front of the hut they were all calling home for the time being. "We've asked you out here because I think I have a way for us to get clothing and food without spending a lot of money or possibly any in fact. She'd once seen a traveling show so she raised her arms theatrically and said, "Lady and gentleman," making the same mistake with Alistar as the clerk had, " I present to you, Marthaen. Ruby of the clan Kharendaen. Lord of the air and protector of virgins. See him now in all his glory!" And she waited to see the look on their faces but… nothing. She looked back and Marthaen was just standing behind her smiling. "Ummm, Marthaen? Don't you have something to say?"
He looked at her curiously, " I like sheep." She smacked herself on the head and muttered, "Say what we talked about!"
"Oh right! Look upon me mortals and fear my rats!"
Bethany looked over her shoulder and said, "It's wrath dear, fear my wrath." Speaking as if she were talking to a little child and in many ways she was. "Ok. Go ahead and change, just do it the way we talked about."
He felt a little foolish but he nodded and said, "Me." Instantly the slight, young man dissapeared and in his place was Marthaen in his true form. He sat back on his haunches and raised his snout to the clear blue sky, roaring "I AM MARTHAEN!" And he spouted flame that more than doubled his own height. His ruby scales glowing bright cast a shimmer of red around him and in the sun the reflection was almost blinding. For several seconds he waved his head back and forth, the flame reminiscent of a giant snake made of flame writhing in the still air. Then he settled back down to all fours landing with a thud that shook the ground. He lowered his snout to the ground next to Bethany. "How was that?"
She smiled and reached up to pat him and said, "I think that will be fine Marthaen." Then she turned to the two men in front of them with a big grin. "What do you think? Will the villagers be impressed?"

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Mon Jun 5, 2017 11:49 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Alistar made his way into town, quietly humming as he bussled about the streets. "That woman, Bethany was it? I'm pretty sure she asked for some clothes, perhaps I could get them without causing much suspicion. I mean, a male shopping for female clothes is cause for suspicion. I think." He talked quietly, trying not to look insane. "Well, whatever. She asked for some and I'll get some." He walked into a few more shops, grabbing a few things before heading to what he thought was the cloth shop. He walked in and asked for the tailor to make a plain dress. Nothing to flashy, as to help blend in. "Will that be all ma'am?" He asked, looking up at him. Alistar thought for a second. "Yes, that will be. Oh, could I get that by today? It would really help." Alistar asked politely, flashing his cute look. "Yes, you can get it in about three hours." He sighed out, not looking up. Alistar grumbled out a thank you and stepped out. "That should be everything. Guess I could go back and wait." Alistar stated as he made his way back to where the others were.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Mon Jun 5, 2017 9:22 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Cymbel recognized that look in her eye, and felt a pang of unease. He was familiar with what that tone of voice implied, and though he did not know what Bethany was planning–he had an inkling. "Personally I'd prefer the title of arbiter or mediator than 'hero'… Twenty years from now I'd rather not come back and hear exaggerated stories lauding my non-existent talents. Nevertheless, I'm willing to hear what you have in mind." When she asked the man named 'Marthaen' if he knew what the word deception meant, Cymbel looked aside with his hands behind his back. Ah yes, deception. He and it were on speaking terms more often as of late, due to traveling from place to place. So far the villagers and a certain female dragon were the only ones who had seen his true self physically. Realizing that going back with either Bethany of Marthaen in town meant he would have to disclose a few things about his appearance, much to his chagrin.

Keeping a straight face as Marthaen attempted to prove that he understood the concept of weaving falsehood, he was very much relieved as Bethany cut him off before the man would further embarrass himself. For once, Cymbel was surprised that there existed a person with less subtlety than him. He had been sure that others could always see right through him like a piece of tempered glass. Seeing that she suggested them all step outside, he nodded and followed suit. It was time to see what kind of plan Bethany had in mind. What he wasn't aware of was that he was now the only one present not privy to a very important piece of information relating to his task. 

Author: boneami, Posted: Sun Jun 4, 2017 5:21 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

The pair watch Alistar leave. Even as the door closes Bethany shouts, "Yeah! Some clothes would be great actually." Though her growling stomach showed she wouldn't mind something to eat either. She was slight enough that the cloak wrapped around her so she didn't feel the need to just hide behind it anymore. "You know Cymbel, "she said slyly. "I may have a way for us to get me some clothes, all of us some food and for your reputation in this village to be forever the hero. It would involve a bit of deception and, *she looked over at Marthaen and quirked an eyebrow,* a bit of training on his part as deception doesn't seem to be something he's all that good at. I'm not even sure he knows what it means actually. Do you understand what it means to deceive Marthaen?"
Marthaen considered it for a moment and his eyes lit up, "Yes! I heard a male and female human discuss this once. The female claimed the male said he loved her so they could mate, though that's not the term she used, it was…"
"That's fine Marthaen. I don't think we need to hear exactly what she said to get the gist of it." She said quickly. "Your deception may be a little more complicated than that but I'm sure we can explain." To Cymbel she said,"Now I think it's time to get around to those introductions though if you don't mind we should step outside for a moment. You'll understand why in a moment." Before they left she whispered in Marthaens' ear. He looked at her curiously but shrugged and said, "Ok. You understand all this better than I do."
The pair stood and she smiled to Cymbel, "Step outside with us for a moment? And then we can discuss the particulars."

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Sun Jun 4, 2017 12:25 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"I detect a bit of worry and distress coming off you in waves. But no, I have not seen a red dragon. But, wherever it is it has caused mass amounts of fear to come flooding from the citizens. So, wherever this dragon is you should take care of it quickly. Or, maybe it can speak our language and you can convince it to not terrorize the townsfolk." Alistar added hopefully, trying to help. "Maybe convince it to be vegetarian?" Alistar joked, trying to lighten the mood. He made his way to the door, opening it. "I was gonna go and get some bread, does anyone need anything? My treat." He said cheerfully, smiling a closed eyed smile and tilting his head. "Oh, and please try not to destroy the place if you decide to bicker again." Alistar joked again, teasing the two. "Sometimes I think that you two are a married couple." He smiles before closing the door and leaving before he can get anything thrown at him.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Sun Jun 4, 2017 11:54 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

By now the addition of yet another presence in the room was taxing Cymbel's already strained mental processes. His poor tired, sleep-deprived mind wasn't keeping up fast enough with the introduction of new things and the best he could do was continue to keep an understanding smile on his face. After absentmindedly staring off into space he realized that the woman was still tied to a post, which he had completely overlooked while attempting to preserve her personal sanctity, and that she would need a change of clothes soon. "…Oh forgive me! You hands are still tied, allow me to remedy that." Taking his szabla, he carefully sawed the rope bindings off removing them and the pole. With no need to use his broadsword for barring the door, he removed it and set the pole aside to replace it. Next was to process the newest face in the group, one that looked like a child no less. "I suppose I should say you're welcome? I didn't remember seeing you when I came in."

He was sure he should have at least noticed a strange child in the rafters, but perhaps he hadn't being preoccupied with first aid priorities. He would need to go back to the village to ask for a change of clothes for the woman whose name he learned to be 'Bethany'. He still needed to ask what their relationship was, but he was too tired to think at the moment. His face then went pale as the thought of going to the village crossed his mind. Oh right, he couldn't. Not after he had 'dealt' with the dragon, lest they continue to pester him twice as before. Exhausted and feeling quite dejected, he sat down and groaned with his face in his hands. Unhappily he turned to the other three asking, "Not that I would expect you to know, but have any of you three perchance know where I might find a particular red dragon? I've run into a…major misunderstanding with the people here and they requested me to deal with it…somehow. I kept telling them that it was impossible, but they refused to hear it. They say it's been terrorizing their flocks and herds, and they've become desperate enough to beg any stranger to ameliorate the problem." 

Feeling more weary than ever, he put his head in his hands again and shook his head in disbelief. "I can't do it–I just can't. I'm only good at simple parlor tricks like making things shimmer and creating little images out of light. And I can't go back and ask them for a change of clothes without them hounding me on how my progress on 'ridding the dragon' is going. 'Very poorly'–I'd have to say. Do they even know how dangerous and large an adult dragon is? I've only seen one once, but that's a completely different matter." His time travelling with the white dragon Vinsue wasn't anything like this. For one, she was better socialized with humans and essentially lived like a human. He knew dragons could be very territorial, and one that was 'wild' likely wouldn't care for civil conversation.  

Author: boneami, Posted: Sun Jun 4, 2017 10:30 AM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Their own argument finally forgotten for a moment they turned to Cymbel. Both smiling sheepishly at the foolishness of their own self absorption while this one had saved both their lives the previous night. Bethany understood the young looking man was embarrassed and nervous but she knew Marthaen wouldn't have a clue so she answered him first. "You've no need to apologize. Were it not for you neither of us would have survived the night. I owe you my life and this is a debt I do not take lightly. If ever I may return the favor you need only ask and all that I have is yours."
Marthaen had nodded solemnly as she spoke. "She has spoken well and I share her sentiment sir. You saved my life and that debt I may never fully repay though believe me. I shall try. But more than my life you saved the life of my virgin, Bethany. There is nothing more precious to me in this world, though she annoys me without end at times, still… were she gone I… " He shook his head, "My life and I think maybe the world would be the poorer for her absence. Seriously though, you didn't see anything? That's too bad. From what I've seen her form is considered pleasing to humans. A little small for me but I guess all animals have different ideas of beauty.
Bethany smiled softly at the pair and patted Marthaen on the head. "Indeed Lord Dra…. " She stopped herself unsure if the other knew yet about Marthaens secret self." Verily I would miss thee as well. Now I think perhaps introductions are…" And Alistar dropped from his hiding place.
Both watched in at first stunned and then amused silence as Alistar fairly bounced around the room. It was obvious he was addressing Cymbel so they both waited for his response glad for the chance to just stop and breathe.

Author: Alistar Evee, Posted: Thu Jun 1, 2017 8:33 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"Oh thank You! I have had to listen to these two the entire time and they were so loud! My eardrums might burst because of it!" Alistar whined from up above, rubbing his ears. He drops down from up above and politely bows. "Sorry for the intrusion, I am Alistar Evee. I was coming through and needed a place to stay, I thought this place was empty so I kinda just came in here and quietly was up in the corner. Until, you all came in and started yelling at each other." Alistar sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "That was agony just sitting up there with my hypersensitive ears hearing all that yelling. I mean, not to be rude, but you guys are loud!" Alistar giggles and hugged his stuffed bunny plush, twirling it around. "Isn't that right Sona? They are just so loud aren't they? Yes they Are! Yes they are."

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Thu Jun 1, 2017 8:17 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Meanwhile as the two were having their little 'lover's spat', Cymbel was nodding off in his chair slipping between states of consciousness. His attempt to stay awake the entire night had been unsuccessful, leaving him in a half-drowsy stupor punctuated by the occasional jerk of his head when it leaned too far to the side. By now his glamour spell was barely holding, as his hair was now back to its usual waist-length while still maintaining a shade of brown. Their sudden shouting startled him, causing Cymbel to fall out of his chair in a panic. "Aah!! Ow-" Picking himself off the ground he shivered discovering he was missing his cloak, and found it was around a woman on the only cot in the hut above a man lying on the floor. 

In a moment of confusion he had forgotten the details of how and why he came to be here, and more importantly why there were two other people in the room. Averting his eyes, he held his arms before his face apologizing profusely. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so very sorry! Pardon me sir–miss–I-I'll was just leaving! I didn't see anything, I swear!" As he continued to run various ways of begging for forgiveness from his mouth, he caught the scent of lavender and chamomile in the air. Turning to the burnt-out fireplace he stopped in the midst of his train of thought and muttered absentmindedly to himself: "Ah…the tea's gone cold…" The cold kettle with the over-steeped tea then reminded him of what he had been doing the past day before, which led him to realize how ridiculous his momentary panic made him look. "…Ooh." He then buried his face in his hands until he felt his face was no longer red from embarrassment and attempted to figure out how to approach the current situation.

 Following the awkward silence, he sheepishly tried to act as if the past few minutes had never happened. "I see you two are doing well, I hope? Ah…any new injuries or physical discomfort while I was resting my eyes?" He was a bit disappointed that he had forgotten to keep the fire going in a moment of inattention, and would need to brew a new pot unless they didn't mind taking their tea strong. Using his tinderbox, he lit the ashes and worked on getting the fire going again. He decided not to address the obvious question about what had happened the night before, and hoped it would all be forgotten like a bad memory.  

Author: boneami, Posted: Thu Jun 1, 2017 7:24 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Marthaen had slumped over during the night and as the morning light shone through the dusty windows he blinked into consciousness. He groaned not wanting to wake just yet and rolling over came face to face with the sleeping Bethany. "Ah!" He said softly, "Tis but a dream. It's all been just a dream. Still this is much better than most of my dreams." He reached over to touch Bethany's face and as her eyes flickered open he smiled and said, "Good morning M'Lady.
"She smiled back feeling better than she had in many days, and touched his face as well." And good morning to thee as well Lord… Marthaen was it? I… " Suddenly her eyes opened wide and she shoved and kicked him off the cot, the memory of the previous day cutting away the fog of sleep.
Marthaen's eyes opened wide as he was rudely shoved onto the dirt floor and he realized it all had NOT been a dream and that he was sick and tired of hitting the ground in human form. He sat up and rubbed his once more sore head and shouted, "Why in the hells did you do that? That's some thank you for rescuing you! And you're welcome by the way. Stupid human.
I wasn't unconscious the whole time, though the Gods only know what you did too me that I don't remember. And oh! What a great rescue that was! Flying me in a rickety cart several leagues in the air. You didn't even bother to take me off the pole! And that landing!" She roared with laughter, "In sooth m'lord an thou doth bounce very well."
His eyes narrowed he gritted "You know… I owe you a debt of gratitude. From here on out I'll just eat any virgins I find! Though if they're a bag of bones and smell as you do I'll probably just get sick afterward. And what are you implying about what I did to you while you were unconscious? Ohhhh. You think I tried to mate with you don't you? Ha! You wish! "He looked around the room and pointed to Cymbel," There's the one that rescued us both. I'll bet you haven't even thanked him have you?"
"Have you?" She shot back.
They both turned at once to Cymbel and shouted angrily, "Thank you!" Though clearly their anger was directed at each other and not at him.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 11:20 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

As he raised a hand to knock on the door, he heard a crash and muttered curses from behind. Immediately he ducked and looked upward, then when he saw no sign of the dragon, he turned his attention to the surrounding area. It was oddly still, but then he saw the cart standing out of place. Running towards it, he nearly tripped over some dried vines but quickly regained his balance and footing to continue moving forward. He saw a woman, stark naked–gods have mercy on her–but a check of her pulse revealed she was only unconscious. The other person was a man, clothed but severely injured and bleeding from the mouth. Cymbel's hands shook when he grabbed the man's wrist to check if blood still flowed through his veins, and was relieved that he was still breathing. 

Taking a deep breath, he removed his cloak and covered the woman in the cart before focusing healing energies into the bruised and bleeding man. He placed one hand on the man's chest over where his heart should be and another on his forehead, whispering words only known by the Feeorin fey. Whatever damage the man had sustained would begin to heal, with the pain intensifying briefly before a soothing warmth began to fill his body. Broken bones would mend, bruises would be cleared, and bleeding would be stopped. Unsure of how much he had done to help the man, Cymbel felt himself a bit rude to do what he was going to do next. He carefully pulled back the man's shirt to see if there were any injuries in need of fixing, anything he had missed. There were darkened spots of bruising that were fading from blue-black to the color of normal skin, and the man's breathing had stabilized more. Covering him back up, he moved on to the unconscious woman, and held her hand as he used his power to heal her. Hopefully they both would be cured of whatever ailed them.

Seeing that he would need to give them a place to recuperate away from the elements, he took the liberty of testing if the door to the nearby hut was locked. He found it opened with no resistance, and was greeted by a vacant interior with only a dusty cot and unused fireplace. It looked abandoned as far as he could tell, so he went to work on cleaning the place up. He dusted the cot and wiped away the dirt with some water and a cleaning cloth. With much difficulty, he pushed the cart close enough to the house that he was able to ease the woman out of it while ensuring her decency was still intact. She was laid to rest on the cot still wrapped in his cloak as both a bed sheet and a covering, and brought the man inside. He set the man on the remaining space on the cot, with his back leaning against the wall while sitting upright. It took him a few tries to finally have the man in a position where he wouldn't slump over. 

Once everyone was inside, he then closed the door. Lighting his lantern, he began to start a fire in the hut's fireplace. Feeding the embers with dry tinder from around the house, he fanned them so they would burn brighter. When night fell he wanted the inside to be brightly lit for the patients, even though he was just fine with faint rays of moonlight. Unfortunately he was not very skilled at improvised cooking away from the nearest marketplace, so all he could do was boil some water in a kettle to make tea. When the kettle began whistling, he gingerly opened the lid and poured a handful of dried chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender flowers to steep. Soon the entire hut was filled with the floral fragrance, quietly simmering until needed.

Before sitting down to rest, the last thing he did was to bar the door with his broadsword. He had his curved szabla nearby should he need to defend himself, and blocking the door was only to buy himself more time to react when danger stuck. With everything done, Cymbel felt more tired than ever but kept himself awake in case if one of the patients were to awaken. His glamour spell should still be in full effect, so as long as he remained conscious it would not fade.

Author: boneami, Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 7:46 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Marthaen was flying very high and very fast. It was only a few minutes before he spotted the healers hut and for a moment he began to believe Bethany was going to make it. But as he gazed down his heart sank.The garden had gone wild and a few small plants were growing from the wooden shingles on the roof. Always before that garden had been perfectly tended and with autumn closing in the pumpkins and squash should be ready for the final harvest. Instead only dead vines and withered fruit inhabited the obviously deserted home but one last glimmer of hope remained. A lone man was walking up to the house. Perhaps he was the new owner, maybe even a new healer. With his speed he could have quickly got to the nearest large village or city that would certainly have a healer but he knew from previous experience that he couldn't just land and ask for help. There'd be general panic, and hysterical, screaming people were somewhat less than helpful. But what would be this one's reaction be? Gritting his teeth he only saw one way to go.

He chose a landing site up the hill and around a bend from the cottage and as quickly as he could he dropped behind a copse of trees. For once he landed perfectly perhaps because he was so focused on the tiny woman and cart beneath him. Trying to keep from being spotted he said, "Human me." Unfortunately while the cart had settled gently to earth he changed to human form while he was still about eight feet in the air. Marthaen's face reflected the disgust he felt for himself at this moment. This wasn't the first time he'd made this mistake but it was the first time someone was depending on him. All of that raced through his mind just before he bounced off the ground.

"OOOOFFF" Stunned for a moment he struggled to regain both his senses and his breath using every curse word he'd ever learned on himself many times each. A little blood leaked from his mouth, and his ribs were already turning an angry red and deep black, each breath a new sensation in pain. He'd rarely been in pain before as there wasn't that much that he'd been around that could injure him badly but at this moment he was absolutely sure of one thing. He hated pain. He lay there for several moments until his vision cleared enough that he could see her above him. She was still unconscious, still struggling to breathe. And he drug himself to a standing position.

There were few times in Marthaen's life that he'd managed to truly focus, to be completely in the here and now and never so much as at this moment. His friend, the only person he'd ever cared anything about in his young life was still tied to that damned cart and if the man at the healers old home couldn't help him maybe he knew someone who could. "Clothes," he croaked. Then grimly picked up the cart by it's handles and headed for the house that was actually very near but in his condition it may as well have been leagues away.

His vision faded in and out and at times it sounded like the wind was rushing past his ears. "Concentrate, Marthaen. Concentrate!" Dragging his aching body forward one heavy foot at a time he finally rounded the corner where he could see, if fuzzily, his destination. Hoping and praying that the man he'd seen was still there. He'd fallen several times by then and at one point something had slipped from his neck, something very important, but he was too out of it to notice. Even as it seemed he was going to make it. He fell one last time. Try as he might he simply could not get back on his feet. He wrapped his arms around the cart handles and he began to crawl inch by tortured inch closer. He tried to call out for help but his voice was no more than a hoarse whisper. Still he tried and still he called.

It was only by sheer force of will he remained conscious and while he didn't know it now, the memory of this day, terrible as it was taught him something about himself. About something inside that he'd never found before. In his true form he was strong in body but now he was proving to himself he was strong of will as well. "Stupid, STUPID dragon!" He repeated over and over like a twisted mantra. In the end he simply couldn't continue and he rolled onto his back and looked up at her whispering, "I'm sorry Bethany. An' truly I am." And as his anger, frustration and pain flowed from him, for the first time in his life,so did tears…

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 11:50 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

"Please, o great and mighty sorcerer–help us! A great and terrible dragon has terrorized our flocks and herds for the past months, snatching away our ewes and rams!" The shepherd was groveling, nearly lying prostrate on the ground at a cloaked man's feet. The man in question was noticeably uncomfortable at the display of desperation and had reluctance written all over his face. In order to buy a house, he started taking jobs wherever he could to earn enough funds to purchase a quiet, idyllic place to call home. He had arrived in the highlands on his way to one of the major cities and had passed out on the side of the road from overexposure and exhaustion, and a hunter had found him before any of the local wildlife did. After being towed to the nearest village on a sled, he awoke under an unfamiliar thatched roof out of direct sunlight and was greeted by the curious and anxious eyes of many of the village's inhabitants. The act of opening his eyes elicited an uproar of cheers and amazement, as he later learned from the family whose hut he was in, he had been unconscious for half a week. 

Although weak, he was still in relatively good health. Unfortunately for him, the usual glamour spell he had on at all times had failed once he passed out and everyone had come to gawk at his silver-white hair and incredibly pale complexion. He spent the next few days regaining his strength, and entertained the children who poked their heads through the door with various cantrips such as making orbs of light or glowing butterflies. Occasionally when he heard of someone having suffered a minor injury, he would tend to them and they would be good as new. Yet in spite of his constant reminders of the limits of his magical prowess, the villagers came to believe he was some kind of grand magician who could perform miracles. Thus when one of the herders spotted a dragon flying overhead, they came to him to solve the problem.

"Sir you must understand, I-" "I beg you, your lordship–on behalf of our village and our neighbors! 'Tis a winged scaly beast ten houses long and three houses wide in the deepest shade of crimson red. Surely felling such a creature would be a small thing for you!" "But I-" At this point Cymbel was about ready to break down and cry at this man's insistent pleading. Every time he tried to tell them that it was impossible, he would be cut off before he could finish his sentence. With his current level of magical expertise he could barely fell a troll–let alone an adult dragon. Since the man wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, he asked him where was the last place where the dragon had been sighted, and was given directions. As he trudged away, Cymbel felt his mind go numb while the shepherd wished him luck at the top of his lungs.

Hanging his head with his hood pulled up, he walked and walked without paying attention to where he was going. He was scared to the point to where he couldn't think. Then the panic started to set in as his thoughts started racing. By the gods, what would he do if he actually did run into the dragon? That very thought sent chills all over his body and he recast his glamour spell, changing his appearance to that of a human male with dark brown hair reaching his ears and a less pallid complexion. He didn't really need to disguise himself, but it made him feel better whenever he was under stress. It gave him a sense of security, somehow. Not that it would prevent the dragon from smelling him–or seeing him for that matter.

After walking for an indeterminate amount of time, he came upon a solitary structure on the highlands. A lone hut, by itself and away from the bleating flocks and fields amidst the pastures. Nervously checking the sky for any flying objects above, he hoped whoever was inside knew where he could find the rumored red dragon. Not because he wanted to find it, but so he could find a place to…observe it…from a safe distance. A very, very good length of distance beneath cover and out of sight from large reptilian predators which may or may not be capable of breathing fire. Yes, that was why he wanted to know. Nothing else. Approaching the hut, he looked for any signs of anyone home before hesitantly knocking. If he received no response after the second try, he would leave for the village and attempt to gently break it to them that he saw neither hide nor scale of the dragon.

Author: boneami, Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 8:37 PM, Post Subject: Flight To A Healer[Open]

Marthaen was flying. He loved to fly. It was easily the best part of being a dragon. Now that he thought of it, it was one of the only good things about it. The land below rushed by. The bright green meadows interrupted by the darker green of the forests that broke them up. Smoke rose from a few of the chimneys as the early autumn night slowly relented to the warm sun. Already the tops of the hills were bathed in orange, brilliant red and dull brown telling all who would listen that winter was not far away. It was a day, much like this one when he'd met her. Even now her named slipped unconsciously from his lips. “Bethany.” His first and favorite of all his virgins. He loved them all, of course, but there was a special place in his heart for her. Today reminded him of that autumn day so many years ago…

He was out for a quick snack, just three or four plump sheep would do. He never took more and spread his hunting area as wide as he could to keep the population healthy. He wasn't sure how he knew this but he knew it was true. Truth be told Marthaen always felt a pang of guilt when he killed anything but; well, a dragon had to eat. This day, though it felt like many others, would be a day that would change his life forever.

He circled over an area that he'd hunted before though not for many months. His intent was a quick grab and back to his lair for a nice long week or two nap. But this day instead of sheep in the pasture there was a lone cart in the field and the smell of, “Human?” Curiosity had in his young existence, caused him more than a little grief but also slowly taught him about humans. For one thing he'd learned that in his dragon form many people would scream and fall down asleep when he smiled at them. Rude. Finally he'd tried to size himself down to only about three feet tall and nine feet or so long. An even more annoying thing happened. People started poking him with pointy things and hitting him with brooms. None of them really hurt him, well except for his feelings. With all of those things in mind he landed far behind her. It was likely she felt the breeze and felt the thud of him hitting the earth but she was actually so miserable and near death she barely noticed. "Human me" he whispered and approached considering trying to summon some clothing for himself when he realized she was not only naked but attached to a cross that had been attached to the cart. “Humans are so strange,” he murmured. But if this one was naked he wouldn't bother either.

He walked around in front of her. Her head was bowed and her breathing was ragged. She smelled like… he tested the air and it came to him. She smelled like one of the people who went to see the woman people called healer. Her eyes were closed and he considered leaving, after all he hated it when his own slumber was interrupted but this just didn't seem right. Finally he cleared his throat, “Good day miss. How are you today?”

Bleary eyes opened and even in her present state the deep blue of her eyes was striking. Looking at him she asked incredulously, “How am I doing? How am I doing??? How the hells does it look like I'm doing, you idiot!? I'm tied to a post! That's how I'm doing!” As an afterthought, “Oh pray tell how are YOU doing? And why aren't you wearing any clothes?” Marthaen wasn't very good with the subtleties yet and the sarcasm oozing from her had no effect at all.

“Well you're not wearing any clothes and I didn't want to offend you by wearing any, and I'm well thank you for asking.” He shrugged, “I'm not all that familiar with humans. Just a few more questions please and I'll leave you alone if that's your wish. Why are you tied to a pole? And what is your name?”

“My name,” She gritted. Is Bethany. And I'm tied to this stinking pole because some idiot who will remain nameless but is, in fact, my father thought that if he left me out here that giant behemoth of a dragon that's flying around here would leave his precious sheep alone. I'm the only virgin left in the family and some other idiot told my fathers' idiot self that if he sacrificed me to the dragon the dragon would leave his (several words are not shown in the interest of PG) sheep alone. You haven't heard about all this yet? You must not be from around here. Every strange fire that starts, every time a sheep is stolen, every time someone gets a cold it must be the dragon! Feh, “She tried to spit but nothing passed between her parched lips.” Who're you anyway?

“I am Marthaen. Ruby gemstone of the clan Kharendaen and I'm pleased to meet you Bethany. You've been kinder to me than anyone else in this place has. Maybe if I'd tied them to a post… hmm. Anyway, I'm the dragon you're speaking of but I have no use whatsoever for virgins. No idea what I'd do with one. Do virgins have some sort of magical powers or something?”

Even in her present state Bethany started to laugh, it was more coughing and croaking but it was obvious that was her intent. “Many men seem to think they do, yes. And you…” More attempted laughter, “YOU'RE the evil, giant, red dragon that destroys kingdoms with a single swipe of his mighty paw and decimates towns that no one has ever heard of save the story-teller. You, the small naked man standing before me, the great (mockingly) Marthaen the dragon! Prove it!” She sighed, “I've appreciated the diversion from my impending doom but you should be careful no one see's you. They're likely to think you're trying to rescue me.”

Marthaen found he really liked this woman. Sure she smelled awful and was probably mocking him the whole time but she faced death not just with stoicism but even managed to see humor in the situation. That's when Marthaen made a decision that would effect him for the rest of what would be a long life. When the story spread that Marthaen had “accepted” the virgin gift and left the mans sheep alone, what do you think the others nearby with too many children and not enough sheep would do? “Alright. I am going to rescue you. And since you doubt me, you promise not to scream? She nodded more out of exhaustion than anything else and he said softly,” Me.

Where before had stood a small non-descript young man was the belly of a beast. She looked up and up and saw him up close in all his glory. The setting sun set his scales alight with a ruby glow and he carefully lowered his head and said, “See? I told you I was a dragon. Remember! You said you wouldn't scream.” To be fair she didn't actually scream. Her mouth moved silently before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted. “Why do so many of them fall asleep?” He muttered crossly.

Unsure exactly what to do he carefully grasped her, cart and all and headed to the healers hut. She'd helped other people. Perhaps she could help his new, and only, friend.

((It's a start… This is the beginning of Marthaens back-story. Hope you enjoyed.)))