Irk Deaths: Round One

---// Crow Killing Montage \\---
  --// Round One: Fight! \\--

You have emoted: Breandryn rises from her meditation, stretching lithely.

With a sad sigh, you say to a fierce timberwolf, "Come. It's time for the second death."

A fierce timberwolf flicks an ear. It's clear that something in the girl's tone sets him on edge.

The Kiakodan Community Stables.
Superimposed over this location, an ethereal forest reaches up to the sky. A sign suggests you can use STABLE commands here.
You see a single exit leading south.

You have emoted: The crow immediately shrieks as he catches sight of the girl, battering his wings against the edge of his stall - it's unclear if he's trying to escape or to attack, but Breandryn quickly assesses this and takes precautions.

Sternly, you say to a fierce timberwolf, "Stand."

A fierce timberwolf does as commanded, standing still and obedient as the girl begins to buckle a set of armour about him. His ears flatten against his skull, and he softly growls, but he obeys, enduring it patiently.

You quickly pound the iron into a thin but protective sheet of armour and bend it around a fierce timberwolf, joining it together with some small rivets.

You have emoted: The wolf protected, Breandryn nods once to herself, squaring her stance to block the stable exit.

You move over to block the south exit.

You have emoted: The crow's fury has only risen - wood splinters as claws gouge out wide furrows from the door, while the bolts creak beneath the strain of each barrage. Carefully, very carefully, Breandryn reaches out to the latch.

A fierce timberwolf tilts back his head in a low, resonant howl.

You have emoted: The door shudders, meeting her fingers as they fumble with the latch. "Calm, Irk. Calm," Breandryn commands, attempting to instill a stern authority into her tone. For a moment, it seems to work. The crow stills, retreating back from the door. The girl lifts the latch quickly, stepping into the entrance of the stall and blocking retreat.

Tone shifting to a soothing voice, you say to a massive, dappled grey crow, "Calm, Irk. Good, Irk."

You have emoted: This only enrages the crow again - his wings beat, scraping the wooden walls of the stall, and he hops towards her, beak snapping furiously as his one red eye rolls rabid and raged. Breandryn weaves to one side, narrowly avoiding a stabbing peck at her arm, but that brings her in range of the bird's churning wings. Powerfully, Irk buffets her closer to him, and his talon slices a long slash across her torso.

You have emoted: Breandryn lets out a sharp howl of pain, and reflexively strikes back, her training and instincts, amateur as they are, kicking in. One arm crosses across her body, gripping the sword sheathed at her hip, while the other reaches forwards, fingers burying in feathers to grip at the bird's throat.

The girl's howl is barely out of her mouth before a fierce timberwolf lunges towards the crow, leaping upwards to bury his teeth in the joint of one wing.

You have emoted: The choke is not enough to distance Irk's claws from Breandryn's flesh, and again he slashes her, shredding through her leather armour. She cries out sharply, tears running down her face, before she screams, "Just die, Irk, please! You HAVE to die!" and twists her body, hips jerking to one side to swing her arm upwards, sword plunging into the bird's heart.

You strike at a massive, dappled grey crow's body with an ornate platinum rapier.
The blade shears through a massive, dappled grey crow's body, coming clean through the other side with a strangely quiet swish. He appears momentarily surprised, before his eyes glaze over in death and he collapses to the ground.
You have slain a massive, dappled grey crow.
A massive, dappled grey crow, your loyal companion, has been slain by Serenguard Breandryn, Warden of the Moonhart.
A massive, dappled grey crow shimmers and fades away from sight.
A massive, dappled grey crow has lost a level.

You have emoted: The attack instantly ceases, talons curling back as the bird hunches in on himself. He lets out a strangled, gurgling caw, and then his body slumps downwards heavily on Breandryn , Irk's blood mingling with her own as she collapses to the kennel floor sobbing.

You have emoted: As the bird dies, his body shimmers away, leaving Breandryn slumped alone on the floor, sobs wracking her body.

A fierce timberwolf pads towards the girl, panting from the battle. He noses her cheek with a bloody muzzle, leaving a crimson smear across her face. She says nothing, and he whines, butting his head against her shoulder.

You have emoted: Breandryn gradually becomes aware of the wolf. Her hand lifts, gripping his fur, and she uses him as a support to stand. She stumbles a few times on the way up, wincing as the wound down her side is jostled.

Through gritted teeth, you say to a fierce timberwolf, "We need to find a healer."

New desc:
She is a nimble faeling wild demigoddess and is gawky and tall, roughly the height of an Elfen child. Pale skin contrasts dark hair, with a charcoal smear starkly surrounding ice-blue eyes.  A set of bat-like, leathery wings unfolds behind her, membranes translucent and tinted with swirling purples and blues in the stained-glass patterning of a butterfly. Blood smears her face, covers her hands, and oozes sluggishly from a pair of deep gashes along her right side.


---// Hunt for a healer! \\---

You tell Sylari, "...Sylari? Are...are you a healer?"

Sylari tells you, "I'm...I'm very sorry. All I can do is sing."

You have emoted: The pain is too much. Breandryn barely waits for a reply, before she's already tunneling through space towards Sylari.

The sweet scent of cherry blossoms envelops you, and for a moment, you glimpse the unfolding of the beauty of the universe.
Little Bear Tailoring.
Superimposed over this location, an ethereal forest reaches up to the sky. Sylari is here, shrouded. She wields an elder-wood violin in her left hand. She is surrounded by eight pale ancestral spirits. You see a sign here instructing you that WARES is the command to see what is for sale.
You see exits leading north (open door) and down (closed door).

Sylari:
She is a graceful wild elfen and is a small, fey woman whose willowy build lends a nimble, feline grace to many of her movements. Piles of flaxen hair soften her milky complexion, tumbling partway down her back in artfully mussed tresses cut through by twin upswept ears. More round than they are narrow, her large, teal green eyes sparkle with vitality, flecks of grassy motes brightening the pools of her gaze. Delicate features and a button nose lend her an aura of fragility belied by the smile which never seems too far from her plump and rosy lips. Her skin shimmers faintly from a thin application of oil and smells faintly of sandalwood, woody and fresh. She is wearing a twinkling ivory velvet rose pouch, a gathered cloak of soft ivory, a raspberry velvet dress with creamy petticoats, wintry heeled shoes of sumptuous silk and diamonds, a luxurious cream scarf scented with roses and a snow-white fur hat.

You have emoted: There's a cascade of blossoms, before Breandryn appears, falling to one knee as she draws in a ragged breath. One hand is pressed to her side, fingers splayed - it's lost in the swirling petals, at first, but as the flowers drift away, it becomes clear that blood is sluggishly oozing out from beneath her hand. Her face is wan and her lips are drawn tight.

Sylari touches her chest lightly, feeling the tug which manifests as you. Turning slightly to better face you, she chews lightly on her bottom lip. "Is all well?"

Succinctly, you say, "I think I need a healer."

Eleniel arrives from the north.

Eleniel:
She is a graceful high elfen and she is short according to her races standards. Her soft ivory skin shows no scars and does not reveal her age. Her petite slightly upturned nose, large almond eyes, long dark lashes, gracefully pointed ears and round shaped face give of the impression of someone who is very delicate. Her left eye is apple green and her right is forget-me-not blue. Upon the back of her right hand is a heart-shaped birthmark. Her very thick, straight, long onyx hair falls loosely below her knees. Bangs gracefully frame her face. An intricate braid with in season flowers form a headband going from one side of her head in front of ear, above her head and down in front of her other ear. Some of her hair falls over one of her shoulders. Her scent, reminds one of wildflowers in bloom. Preoccupied with the natural world around her, Eleniel appears lost in her studies. Her clothing drapes over her petite, slender, slightly pear-shaped frame. She is wearing a beautiful twilight blue rose ring, a bright red poppy, a yellow lily, an entrancing red rose, greatrobes of shimmering sapphire, shoes of midnight blue and silver, a royal blue leather moondust cloak, a variegated, glittery blue scarf, shoulder-length gloves of ebony leather and a violet woollen blanket.

Eleniel tilts her head curiously.

Eleniel scratches her head looking for an idea.

Sylari's eyes widen as her gaze settles on what must be the wound. Stooping down, she jerks her scarf from her neck and offers it out to you. "Here," she says urgently, "maybe this can help. I..." On hearing Eleniel's footfalls, she glances up and bites the inside of her lip. "Good. Eleniel. Eleniel is a healer."

Sylari gives a luxurious cream scarf scented with roses to you.

Eleniel quickly looks over Breandryn. Softly smiling she says "I should be ab.able to aid y.you."

A fierce timberwolf whines sharply, circling about the girl. He snaps warily at the two women, doing his best to warn them away.

Sylari offers the timberwolf a scowl. "Do you want her helped or not?" she snaps right back at him before turning her attention back to you and Eleniel, brow furrowing.

You have emoted: "Calm, Greypaw," Breandryn mumbles, stiff fingers fumbling with the scarf as she tries to unfold it. Her hands shake, and she finally gives up, pressing the entire piece of fabric against her side. The cream blushes to deep crimson as the blood soaks through the fabric, and she winces again, before a calmer expression washes over her, prompted by Eleniel's touch.

A fierce timberwolf whines anxiously, slinking back at his bonded's command, but his ears remain flat against his skull and he continues his pacing.

Sylari exhales softly as she pushes herself to her feet. Pacing her own small circle, hands tugging her cloak tightly about her shoulders to make up for the loss of warmth formerly offered by her scarf, she continues to chew fiercely at her bottom lip. "Eleniel has been studying hard," she offers to you. "I think...I think she can help." She turns her gaze upward, only to breathe, "I don't have the faintest idea..." Shaking her head, her expression grim, she glances back down to the injury, her features paling at all the blood she sees. "Oh...oh dear..."

You have emoted: The bleeding slows to a trickle, natural clotting accelerated to incredible levels through Eleniel's magics. Breandryn lets out a long breath, eyes closing in relief as the pain is sapped away, and then begins to mop at what's left of the wound. As she lifts the scarf, you can catch a glimpse of the injury - her hunting suit is rent by gashes, two sets of three furrows shredding through leather and flesh, as if some claw has slashed her open.

Eleniel furrowing her brow at Breandryn 's wound she quickly drops down next to Breandryn. Emptying her pack by dumping it on the floor she reaches for her healing kit. With practiced fingers she grabs her sanitization salve and gently pours some onto a clean cloth. As gently as possible yet maintaining focus that time is of the essence she peels back the cloth from Breadryn's side.

You have emoted: Breandryn winces as Eleniel attends to what's left of the wound, eyes squeezing shut as she bites her lip. "Ow, ow, ow," she mumbles, and tears trickle out of her eyes, cutting through a faint smear of blood across one cheek.

A fierce timberwolf growls again as Eleniel touches the girl, but he remains obedient, hanging back to continue his anxious pacing.

Eleniel quickly she places her hands, hovering over the wound and utters words of healing. A silver light spreads from her hand to the wound as it begins to clot, then slowly heal. Her brow furrows in concentration as she fights back her tiredness and focuses on the healing light.

Sylari sucks in a quiet breath, only to cover her mouth with a hiccup. "Oh, that's a lot of blood..." Her lithe frame sways, kept upright perhaps solely by her bardic sense of balance. "Please...excuse..." Dizzily, she turns away, her foot catching as she edges nearer to the shop's door.

You have emoted: Breandryn's words slowly peter off into a soft sigh as her skin begins to knit together. Her eyes remain closed for a few moments as she savors the soothing sensation, before Sylari speaks. She looks up at her, a blood-coated hand reaching out to her. "Wait," she hoarsely says.

Eleniel vessels stop their oozing and after a bit of time, the musculature of Breadryn's side begin to close. She glances to Sylari to ensure she does not faint. Focusing once more on the wound she wills Breandryn 's muscles to finish healing. Nibbling her lower lip she wills Breadryn's skin to close and heal.

With clear relief, you say to Eleniel, "Thank you...That was...amazing."

Eleniel places a hand on Breadryn's forehead and focuses once more for a few moments. "I beli.believe you will be well, though I r..recommend g..good food, fluids and r.rest until you have r.recovered properly. You h.have lost much b.blood."

The sight of the blood on your hand is enough to topple Sylari over, sending her shoulder crashing hard against the trunk near the exit as, pale and clammy, she sinks slowly into her lean.
Eleniel quickly rises and dashes to Sylari. Concerned she begins to look Sylari over for any wounds on her shoulder or head.

You have emoted: Breandryn withdraws her hand, confused, and slowly turns it over. She blinks, staring at the blood smeared across her palm, and then looks back to Sylari in alarm. "I think she needs help, too," she says to Eleniel, clearly worried.

Eleniel frowns and says sternly "H.help me find out where this blood is coming from." Gently she begins to probe and examin Sylari

It takes several moments for awareness to return, Sylari's sightless eyes slowly focusing with several hard blinks. An ear twitches, a bit belatedly, and she mumbles, "No...no...I'm just bad with-with things like this." Her gaze lowering, she hunches her shoulders and admits, "It took a full year for Reyna to help me learn to...to even kill an insect."

You have emoted: Breandryn wipes her hands off as best she can on the scarf - given how drenched it is in blood, there's not much clean fabric left, leaving her hands still rather messy. She slowly stands, exhaling slowly as she tests her body, cautiously stepping forwards. Nothing breaks or bursts, so she nods to herself, and continues towards Sylari, extending her hands to assist however she can, arms hovering behind the Elfen in case Sylari_she swoons again.

Confused, you say to Sylari, "Things like what? Healing?"

"Blood," Sylari says faintly. Lifting a hand to her brow, she wipes away some sweat that gives it a sheen, and she offers the two of you an exceptionally embarrassed, apologetic smile. "I'd promised to meet Eolae within Lord Hoaracle's realm, too. Oh, I'm in no shape for this at all."

Eleniel furrows her brow in concentration as she notices Sylari waking. "Stay still!" Noticing the blood oozing from a cut on Sylari's shoulder she leans closer and whispers in her ear to keep Sylari distracted. Deftly she places her hand over the cut and wills it to heal.

Eleniel smiles as the cut on Sylari's shoulder healed close.

Glancing between the two women she softly smiles and, Glimmer of Moondust, Eleniel says, "I th.think you b.both need to rest and a b.bath. I am sure y.your companions will u.understand."

You have emoted: Blood? Breandryn blinks at that answer, unsure how to take it, before she finally gives a slight, confused nod and steps back, rubbing her hands on her pants to clean off the remnant blood. She bows again to Eleniel, gratefully saying, "Thank you, so much. I was...bad off."

Eleniel blushes slightly and says " I r.rather heal th.than fight. It was a pleasure to aid you. If you are both well, I n.need to bathe and r.rest myself."

Eleniel's hands begin to glow with scalding warmth and she passes them over the surface of her body, removing the dirt and grime covering her.

You have emoted: Breandryn nods in agreement. "Does the commune have hot springs?" she asks. "I ache, everywhere."

For whatever reason, Sylari looks completely and utterly crestfallen, her gaze going distant for several instants. When she focuses once more on her immediate surroundings, she blinks slowly, and turns her attention to her arm, as though only now aware of the cut that had once been there - and no longer is. "Oh."

Eleniel tilts her head curiously at Sylari.

Glimmer of Moondust, Eleniel says to Sylari, "Are you w.well?"

Softly, Sylari says, "Oh, Eolae just had to return to his slumbers. I've been waiting forever to speak with him, and...I suppose forever will last a bit longer.""

Now that the Faeling is healed, a fierce timberwolf finally ceases his growling and pacing, padding closer to nudge her with his nose. She rests a hand on the shoulder of his front leg.

A rueful smile tugs at Sylari's lips, but she turns and pushes herself off the trunk, straightening properly. "I'm very glad you're better," she says to you. "What...happened?"

Eleniel's exhausted mind can stay awake no longer, and she falls into a deep sleep.

You have emoted: Breandryn flushes bright at Sylari's disappointment, gaze dropping. "I'm so sorry," she breathes, ashamed now. "I didn't know who to ask. I shouldn't have intruded."

Eleniel opens her eyes and stretches languidly, a smile on her face.

Sylari shakes her head at you, a frown furrowing its way across her brow. "Don't apologize for bleeding all over the place," she firmly insists. Now that the bleeding has stopped and the elfen's senses have returned more fully to her, she settles her hands on her hips, causing her cloak to fan out like wings draped about her elbows. "What hurt you?"

Eleniel glances around in confusion. She notices Sylari, Breandryn and the blood. Blushing furiously she says "S..sorry! I d.did not think I was s.so tired to f..fall into a deep sl.sleep like that!" She hears Sylari's question and curiously brings her gaze to you.

You have emoted: Silence meets your question, at first. Breandryn's gaze is downcast, eyes closing, and at first it seems her wound may have reopened, so pained is her expression. She draws in a breath to speak, but it turns into a hiccuping sound, words catching in her throat. She swallows, trying again, and mumbles, "Was my crow. He...He was mad."

Sylari slowly lifts one hand to her hair, threading her fingers through the flaxen locks crowning her as she considers your words with a small frown. "A crow? Your crow? He...followed you home here?" Her eyebrows climb up her forehead, and quietly but urgently, she says, "Has the Serenwilde had any effect on him?"

Eleniel blinks in surprise at you 's answer. Incredulous and not quite understanding the conversation her mouth hangs slightly open as she adopts a quizzical expression.

You have emoted: Tears well up in Breandryn's eyes again, as she slowly nods. She crosses her arms over her chest, as her shoulders slump. Quietly, she answers, "It is torturing him."

Eleniel curiously she ask while tilting her head slightly to the left and fiddling her fingers nervously "W.would he be able to s.stay in the valley n.near by? It is not Serenwilde b.but still close enough for the b.both of you to see ea..each other often."

That was not the answer Sylari was hoping for. Disappointment precedes empathy, and she murmurs, "Oh, Breandryn..." She lingers in silence like that for some time before, slowly, she pulls her hands behind her back, clutching her hands together there. With a glance at Eleniel, she hesitates, and then offers, "If...if that doesn't work, I know someone..." She swallows. "The person who sent the letter to me," she clarifies, as though that ought to help both Eleniel and you. "He...might know a way to help. I'd hoped you might speak with him anyway, Breandryn. Maybe." Her gaze lowers awkwardly to her feet, which rock her body weight back and forth.

You have emoted: Breandryn shakes her head. "It's not our forest," she explains. "It's that he's away from the one he belongs in." She lifts her hand, rubbing away some of her tears and lapses back into silence as the hand falls again. She stares down at her lap for a few moments, and then tries to speak. It takes her several tries, her mouth working silently as words fail her, before she finally manages to say, "No, I know how to help him."

After a pause, you say, "That is how I ended up bleeding all over you."

Sylari tenses slightly in her shoulders, but relaxes, her gaze still fixated upon the toes of her shoes as she listens intently to you and Eleniel.

Eleniel fiddling her fingers she curiously looks between you and Sylari. Her eyes soften as she gently puts a hand on your arm. Softly she asks you "Is there an.anything I can do t.to help you both?"

You have emoted: Breandryn seems reluctant to clarify further - her cheeks are flushed hot with shame as she continues to sniffle, trying to stem back her tears. Finally, she coughs, and explains, "Crows are part of Brother Crow. They need to be with him, but...I've ruined him, bonded to him." Her eyes close, and she mumbles, "...So he needs to die, and die, and die, until he's reborn."

You have emoted: Breandryn's tone grows flat and defeated. "And I have to do the killing."

Shaking her head, you say to Eleniel, "Not unless you know a way to change poor Irk into a raven."

Sylari's upswept ears droop as she listens, one heel clicking morosely against the other. "The bond...it cannot be transferred, I suppose," she says quietly, squeezing her own hands tighter together where they hide beneath her ivory cloak.

Eleniel shocked by this revelation her hand comes up to her mouth, her eyes water for a moment. " L..let me ask a f.few I k.know first." Hastily she adds "H.have you asked any others in s.Serenwilde yet?"

You have emoted: "One," Breandryn answers, voice quiet and forlorn. "Lady Maylea said that Glomdoring holds the answer. Once Crek told me how I was hurting Irk, Her words made sense - he needs to go home."

Eleniel her eyes drop sadly as she replies " H.how would that work? Do you n.need to go there?"

You have emoted: Breandryn shakes her head. "I just have to kill him," she says, tone pained. "Kill him until he dies a true death to be reborn. That is what the Blacktalon told me."

Sylari's brow furrows with sudden stubbornness. "Maybe that is true," she says slowly, lifting her teal eyes again. "But they use trickery and deception, don't they? The members of Glomdoring. Maybe the bond *could* be transferred. Maybe they just want to see you hurt."

You have emoted: Breandryn shifts her weight and sighs again. "Hot springs?" she asks again. "It's nearly time to go to Irk again. I want to rest and eat before...Before..." She trails off, words faltering.

Very quiet, as if afraid to hope, you say to Sylari, "Do you think?"

Eleniel eye water as she softly says "M.maybe we cold ask s.someone else? S.sylari will you ask y.your friend?"

Sylari nods her head firmly. "I think," she insists, "it's worth trying, at least. I..." At Eleniel's suggestion, her face scrunches into a brief wince. "He...maybe..." she says slowly. "But...but he...he will come here. He will." She bites lightly on her bottom lip. "Maybe he could provide us with a temporary solution. If...if transferring the bond *can* work."

You have emoted: Breandryn's lips tremble, a faint smile wavering there briefly. "Anything is better than doing this to him..." she softly mumbles - curiously, a flush, as if of shame, colors her cheeks as she says this.

Eleniel feeling encouraged she says "TH.there is an inn near the a.atherplex chamber. Not many g.go there. Maybe w..we could meet there?"

Eleniel fiddling her fingers she says " I cc.could show you the place. I d.do not know what it is called, but I k.know how to get there."

Sylari pushes her fingers through her hair, hesitating before she nods. "Yes. I will write him a letter shortly. He *can* be trusted, Breandryn. If...if this works, Irk will be treated very well."
Eleniel beckons you to her.

You have emoted: Breandryn glances up at both Sylari and Eleniel, her flush fading away as she shakes her head, astonished. "I never knew people could be so nice," she says, sniffling one last time to clear her sinuses.

You tell Glimmer of Moondust, Eleniel, "Ah, I know where it is."

Eleniel tells you, "Sh.should I still show Sylari?"

You tell Glimmer of Moondust, Eleniel, "Sure."

Frowning, you say, "Speaking of helping others, I'd better go assist with that domoth."

You have emoted: Breandryn bends at the waist in a respectful bow.

You say, "Thank you both, again."

Eleniel tells you, "B.be safe!"

(and then I went and died a bunch)