mystic 4

[17:15:18] Would Gavin's threats keep the Kaor away from Nostvale?

... Yes, probably. But not outside the praires!

After all, the Bygonegrove was a warzone, and the desert was still a bit too messy regarding human movement and bandits, leaving only the grasslands as a fitting place for it to rest.

And so, it laid in its common place: Around a large pond, the giant body of the snake rested, eyes half-closed in a rather idle moment of its day. Quite a sight on itself, truly, but there was something more...

A certain attraction would call forth the praires, seeking magi of any sort, inviting them to approach, as if there was something they could find on the spot, something rather... Important.

Of course, the calling faded the more one approached, and in the end, only a single magi, perhaps two at best, would have made it to the pond, able to see the creature resting by it.
(Xiahcoatl)
[17:15:18] Xiahcoatl: sec relogging)
[17:16:09] Xiahcoatl: my hotbar has returned)
[17:23:50] Quinn is adventuring!

As per Lyse's suggestions, she decides to stretch her legs... quite a bit. She moves cross the prarie with no real goal in particular - as long as she can see the walls of Nostvale on the horizon, Quinn is fine.

The sun is shining brightly down upon her exposed skin, and the cupric rash on her arms sears and burns as it comes in contact with the light. As a result, Quinn has her cloak pulled tightly around her body, although it's fairly warm outside.

She doesn't really know where she's going, but her feet are guided by an unspoken desire. Something is drawing her forward, some quiet voice beckoning her forth.

But when she sees the hulking mass in the distance, Quinn stops. The beast is not instantly recognizable as a yokai, but instead, some twisted depiction of a serpent, straying from Kraus' design. Her hand instinctively moves for her belt, where a dagger rests, but doing so exposes her wrist to the sun.

She grunts. The noise is quiet, but audible enough for the snake, if it cares to listen. Quinn is approaching slowly, but she doesn't know why. Everything in her right mind tells her to stay away, but her curiosity is so strong... she can't help but approach.

She stands before the beast, but she doesn't know why, or how, or what is wrong with her. She doesn't say a thing, she simply stands there with her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger and the burning light searing Dumuzid's touch upon her skin.
(Quinn)
[17:28:57] Upon approaching further, Quinn could perhaps recognize certain marks upon the snake'sscales, similar to those upon her flesh: The signs of the rust? Whatever this creature was, it seemed to, in the very least, not be sided with the Imperfect.

But there was little time for such things, as Quinn's grunt was indeed heard, causing the beast's eyes to slowly open, jaded hues staring at Quinn with a surprisingly calm demeanor, and with clear intelligence.

'Now, now...' A voice resounds within the woman's mind, powerful, yet smooth, not quite identificable with any gender, but at the same time, feeling eerily appealing.

'What is this one doing here?'

It stared directly at her, its maw closed and eyes half-squinting. Upon approaching a certain distance, too, Quinn would most likely feel an inhuman ammount of heat coming from the being, along a certainly occult presence, somewhat overwhelming for most, as well.

A yokai, perhaps?

'She followed the call? She is very, very far from home, after all~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[17:32:22] The creature did not open its mouth, but it spoke, and Quinn could feel it inside of her mind. Was it in her head, or was this some kind of magical ability? She gritted her teeth, trying her best to show no signs of weakness or emotion towards the beast.

But she was scared, and that enough was obvious. Anyone would be scared, staring across at such a monstrous thing. Quinn's grasp tightened on her dagger, but she knew that she wouldn't use it. She was frozen in fear.

"What are you?"

She managed a solid tone, but there was no fooling the serpent. She was scared shitless.
(Quinn)
[17:40:03] Quinn: http://i.imgur.com/j6BQDYj.png )
[17:40:03] Quinn: its so soothing)
[17:40:54] Xiahcoatl: omg)
[17:40:54] Xiahcoatl: thats a perfect
[17:40:54] Xiahcoatl: forum avatar)
[17:40:54] Xiahcoatl: or signature)
[17:43:28] 'That is not a polite way to approach someone's home, little one~.' Despite its appearance, and Quinn's fear, the beast seemed rather... Amused, its tone suggested that much, in the very least.

'Xiahcoatl is Xiahcoatl. Does it matter what race it belongs to?' Slowly, the beast incorporates upon its body, lifting its head to tower above Quinn for a few moments, before quickly moving it rather close, staring at her directly to the eyes.

'Or actually... Does she really want to know?' A gutural, calm chuckle is given, and its head pulls back.

'She has no need to worry, though. Xiahcoatl doesn't want to harm her~.' Another chuckle. Creepy!

'What is her name? Xiahcoatl gave its own, after all~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[17:46:52] Quinn tries her best to maintain her composure. She stands up straight, although she's not very tall, looking up at Xiahcoatl with a firm stare. Her hands are shaking, but she quietly hopes that the thing can't notice...

"My name is Quinn."

That's all she offers to the beast. There is no formality, there are no manners - Quinn can only muster the bare basics right now. She swallows, hard.
(Quinn)
[17:53:42] 'Quinn~.' The name is repeated, savored... The snake's eyes locked upon the female as she speaks and shakes, its countenance showing nothing but satisfaction.

'Quinn came because she wants something, did she not?'

Straight to the point, she had arrived to Xiahcoatl following the idea of indulgence, after all, and it was clear that the Kaor was aware of that.

'A goal... A desire. Is she aware of what she wants, though?'

The head of the beast tilts slightly towards one side, and a small smirk comes upon its maw: Exposing several rows of sharp fangs, and the ocassional drop of what seemed to be liquid fire.

'Or is she lost?'
(Xiahcoatl)
[17:57:07] There was plenty that Quinn wanted, and Xiahcoatl knew it. She was wary, but she was also stupid - she had followed the call of the serpent, listened to its whispers and its beckons as she went through the plains. It was hard for Quinn to control her impulses and desires, and how to differentiate between the two. She had always been bad at that.

Perhaps that is why this meeting would turn out as such... but things weren't going downhill just yet.

"I don't trust you, snake. Why would I tell you anything?"
(Quinn)
[18:00:32] 'Xiahcoatl is interested, yes. It likes mortals, finds them... Amusing~.' Could the words of such a being be trusted? Somewhere in Quinn's gut, she could most likely feel the mix of poison and honey behind every word it spoke.

'It can help her achieve whatever she wants, as long as she is interesting enough about it. It has done so with many, many others, after all~.'

A brief silence is taken as the head of the beast slowly approaches Quinn again, its voice lowering in tone, even telepathically, as it spoke again.

'And why not? Isn't Quinn curious? Xiahcoatl is very curious, at least~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[18:05:39] Quinn sits down. Standing between her and Xiahcoatl is a tiny body of water, small enough to walk across but large enough for Quinn to submerge her hands in. The motion is one of blatant disrespect - or at least an attempt to give Xiahcoatl the feeling that Quinn is not scared of it.

"Help me with my magic, then... Xiahcoatl."

Pure, raw energy dribbles from her fingertips, swirling inside the tiny stream. Wisps and ribbons of mana begin to circle themselves in the water, and after a moment, they raise up into the air.

The pure manifestation of Quinn's soul is floating between them. Small droplets of water float up with it, as if she were using her energy as a catalyst to control it.

"Are you capable of that?"

She looks back up at the snake, her stare steady and level-headed. It was almost a challenge.
(Quinn)
[18:08:12] 'That is not enough, no, no...' The Kaor slowly shook its head, lowering it to stare at Quinn directly, yet not approaching this time around.

'She wants to learn magic, as most. But why?'

A mere wish like that was not enough, it was nowhere enough! There was nothing interesting to be found upon it, at least as it was. But that could be fixed.

'Did someone wrong Quinn, and she wants to take revenge? Or maybe she wishes to rise above her kin? What makes her want to learn magic, asking even someone like Xiahcoatl for help?'

The head of the kaor tilts towards the other side, squinting a bit more in her direction.

'Or does she want to be just another person? A boring, brief life?'
(Xiahcoatl)
[18:12:28] Quinn looks back down at the water. She's now idly playing with it, her fingers raising to will the liquid to curl around her hand as if it were a snake, slithering up her arm...

She supposes that no matter what she tells this thing, the outcome will be the same. Just as the centipede yokai she had met weeks before in Cinderfall, this one does not seem intent on consuming human flesh.

If anything, this was a chance to learn more about the species that she abhorred so much...

"It's in my blood. I have to take care of the gift that my family has given me, because no other ones are left to nurture it. Your kind devoured my family, and I need to make it in my power that that never happens again."

She tilts her head up again, letting the water slither back to the stream.

"It's my purpose."
(Quinn)
[18:17:36] 'Xiahcoatl's kind? Comparing Xiahcoatl to other yokai is a foolish move, Quinn.' The Kaor's tone sounded somewhat offended, how could anyone compare it to a mere brute!? Outrageous.

But still, it listens to her explanation, and upon the last words of it, it smirks again.

'So she has a grudge against yokai.' It seemed to have understood that, in the very least.

'Why, Xiahcoatl dislikes them too. Noisy brutes that make Xiahcoatl's work so much harder~.' Maybe this specific yokai was a bit of a diva, judging by how it spoke...

'Her purpose is to protect, is it not? But for that she needs power...'

A chuckle is given, and the next words that Xiahcoatl speaks sound very satisfied...

'So what Quinn desires is power~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[18:20:09] "If you want to put it that way, sure."

Quinn is speaking like a teenager to a parent, trying desperately hard to make a conversation with their teenager. Now, she doesn't even look at the snake, instead choosing to fiddle with her minimal magical abilities in the pond.

Her finger skirts the surface, and a small trail of ripples follows. Mana flows from her touch, dyeing the water a deep blue.

"To do almost anything it feels as if you need power."
(Quinn)
[18:25:16] While Quinn seemed to be rather unwilling to pay attention to the Kaor, the beast had different plans, or so it seemed...

Quickly, the water the female was playing with would begin to heat up, fueled by a magical power a tad above what a human could expect to achieve without decades of experience, and soon enough, it started to evaporate, causing steam to fly all around!

'Xiahcoatl does not like being disregarded, Quinn~.'

Amidst the steam, vision would be clouded, but the pair of jade eyes would seem to glimmer amidst it all... And only a few feet away from the woman.

'Xiahcoatl has power to give, easily. It can make Quinn stand above her peers, and make her more than able to bring down any yokai foolish enough to try to attack her~.'

It keeps trying to convince her, though...

'As it is though, Xiahcoatl does not really care for her. She does not seem interesting, no fun at all...' Heat is exhuded as the Kaor breathes heavily, dissipating the steam around them.

'And boring humans are the worst~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[18:27:50] Quinn stopped. Slowly, laboriously, she tilts her head up to glare at Xiahcoatl. Her brows furrow and her cheeks puff with annoyance. She was practicing the power that Xiahcoatl is so ~generously~ offering her.

"I can be interesting if I feel like it, Xiahcoatl. Can I call you Xiah? It's a lot easier on the tongue."

She plants her hands in the grass she sits on, palms firmly down like trunks to a tree.

"So, before I reveal my interesting side to you, Xiah, you need to tell me - how do you plan on giving this power?"
(Quinn)
[18:50:52] 'Xiah works, sure. It is how many called this one before~.' Such small details did not matter, especially considering the question that came afterwards.

'How Xiahcoatl gives power is very simple, too, little Quinn~.' The name was somewhat affectionate, or would have been, were it not for the being that spoke it.

The end of the Kaor's tail slowly sways from side to side, perhaps a bit enticingly to the eyes.

'It simple imbues it into Quinn, of course. No lies, no schemes... Only the ammount of mana Quinn will need to hold the boon, that will return to her when it expires~.'

Truly? No secrets? No evilness behind?

'Two years of power~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[18:53:26] Quinn's eyes are drawn to Xiahcoatl's tail. She watches it, squinting. She always holds an air of scrutiny, and she's strong of willed. For now, Quinn is able to draw her stare away from the tail and hold her ground.

"I want details, Xiah, you know what I mean."

She looks back up at the Kaor, meeting it's sharp stare, if she can.

"What do I have to do? How will this 'power' manifest?"
(Quinn)
[18:59:24] 'Haah. Quinn is careful, a rare thing among the ones that come to this one.' Risky people were more fun, but it could always appreciate the ocassional careful one, even if they were not as entertaining...

'It is like what mortals do with potions. A rune on something for her to ingest, and the magic spreads on her body and mana~.'

A yokai that could write runes... Huh. It did not even have hands to do so!

'It will manifest as sheer potency, a burst of power for her to use...'

A chuckle is given, and the being stares forth at Quinn, staring right back at her with interest anew.

'All she has to do, is follow her desire. If Xiahcoatl finds out that she has been working for her own indulgence, no matter what, it will be very pleased, and eager to help more~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
Gained 8 Roleplay Points
Your combat experience has grown! (2 BL Gained)
[19:03:40] Quinn falls silent for a moment. It's very clear that she is thinking, and that she is actually considering it. Was she about to make a pact with the devil?

The thought didn't really occur to her. Power was power, and if a yokai had stripped her of that with the rust, then perhaps a yokai could help her with it as well.

Maybe, with Xiahcoatl's help, Quinn could realize what potential Dumuzid was taking away from her. She looks up at the serpent, meeting her stare with eyes just as sharp.

Quinn falls upon a moral struggle - is this right? Is this safe? But something is drawing her forward, something is pulling her towards the beast just as it drew her to its lair.

Finally, she speaks.

"Let's do it."
(Quinn)
[19:05:23] Xiahcoatl: ok sorry)
[19:05:23] Xiahcoatl: was getting dinner)
[19:07:56] Quinn: its ok)
[19:14:46] 'Perfect~.' That was the one word the Kaor could reply with as Quinn finally accepted the deal.

Its tail submerges inside the pond for a few moments, soon coming out gently wrapped around what seemed to be an apple. And for a fruit that had been underwater, especially considering how Xiahcoatl had boiled it up previously, it looked very fresh, and very appealing!

Upon it, there was a single rune carved, glowing with an intense crimson light. It is offered to Quinn.

'Take it, then. Two years, all yours. Hopefully, Xiahcoatl will hear about Quinn soon enough~.'

It sounded very... Pleased.

And upon biting the apple, she would instantly feel the effects! A surge of power all across her body, strengthening her body and her mana, while draining a bit of her magical strength. Objectively, a worthwhile trade, it seemed...

'Enjoy, little Quinn~.'
(Xiahcoatl)
[19:14:46] Xiahcoatl: you get)
[19:14:46] Xiahcoatl: a little black heart)
[19:14:46] {Item} You picked up Xiahcoatl's Blessing Of Power.Dropped by Xiahcoatl.
[19:15:37] Xiahcoatl: it lasts until next sunday)
[19:15:37] Xiahcoatl: the stats arent that GREAT)
[19:15:37] Xiahcoatl: since chance butchered my app back when i did it)
[19:15:37] Xiahcoatl: but you get neat fluff)
[19:19:53] Quinn takes the apple from the snake's grasp. She stares at it for a moment, and she can see her own reflection atop the carved fruit's flesh. Suddenly, she was reminded of how hungry she was.

And she bit into it, directly into the carved rune.

Adrenaline surges through Quinn. Her cheeks flush a deep red, not because she is shameful of what she has just committed to, but because the rush of endorphins through her body lifts her high. A relieved breath falls from her lips, as if she has been craving the feeling -

and the apple gave her just what she wanted. She continues to eat it in silence, even after the rune has been consumed. She doesn't seem to care where the fruit has come from, but the pit in her stomach demands.

And finally, when all is remaining is the core of the apple, she sets it in front of her and moves to stand up, looking directly at the serpent.

"Thank you, Xiahcoatl."
(Quinn)
[19:20:44] Quinn: yeah its good dev)
[19:20:44] Quinn: im planning on going for mystic, which is sort of focused on impulses and raw power, so its fitting)
[19:20:44] Xiahcoatl: mhmm)
[19:20:44] Xiahcoatl: im a dev machine)
[19:20:44] Xiahcoatl: for others)
[19:20:44] Xiahcoatl: to compensate my lack of like)
[19:20:44] Xiahcoatl: violent antagonism)
[19:23:18] 'Haah~.'

The feeling across Quinn's body was inherently occultist, but the rune seemed to be made masterfully, controlling the corruption that such a deal could bring, at least for the most part.

'Keep this meeting secret, too~.' A request is made, as the Kaor incorporates upon its long body, staring at Quinn with a smirk upon its maw.

'There are some that are very unpleased with Xiahcoatl's presence. It would be a shame if something bad happened, wouldn't it?'

Oh, how satisfied the yokai sounded...
(Xiahcoatl)
[19:26:43] "Yes, it would be."

Quinn's tone with the kaor is still not friendly, but she seems to be honest when she nods her head in agreement to it's request. She moves to dust the dirt and grass from her cloak, and then she dips her head in a farewell.

"Is there anything else, Xiah? Or am I free to go on my way?"

Whether or not the serpent said yes, Quinn would begin to walk away. She knew that if Xiahcoatl wanted her to stay, it would make sure she did.
(Quinn)