Adventures in Swords and Sorcery

[Thomas_III]

“So, this map of yours... It leads to a temple of who?”


Ilena Whitethorn runs a hand through the strands of her ponytail, trying to get some straw out of her raven black hair. She didn't care too much for being here in Bellefonte City, at least not in the guild district. It was much too far from Procampur and her family home. A part of her wonders why she ever left what she knew so well to follow her big brother across the continent. Still, she cares a great deal for him, and couldn't stand the thought of staying at home while he runs off to get away from their father. After brushing some dust out of her tailored outfit, she tries to glance over her brother's shoulder to see what the map shows, only to have her face pushed away.


“Don't be so nosy. It's an old temple of Shalarra, the Sensualist. It's rumored to have been used until about three centuries ago when it was supposedly cursed by Taelial when his advances were spurned by the lust goddess. Should be some good salvage. There's been lots of stories about monsters inhabiting it. Could be fun.”


This is Justamir's idea of fun, anyway. He left his family years ago for this, giving up his claim to the family title that Ilena is now heir to. He doesn't care much for nobility, though. His real trust goes to the heavy armor that he now wears, and the large blade that he carries across his back. The brown-haired young man grins as the two of them walk towards the gate to the port district, preferring to go the long way through the city than to take the shortcut through the Barrens. He normally wouldn't mind the extra danger of going through the city's slums, but he tends to be extra protective when his little sister is around, even if her magic makes her a formidable opponent for most foes.


“Fun for you, maybe. Why can't we ever go someplace that isn't moldy and dusty?”


The young wizardess reaches into a pouch on her belt, slipping out a small piece of candy that she's been saving for several days. Ilena prefers the finer things in life, in stark contrast to the rough lifestyle that her brother likes to live. Her clothes are the finest silks and satins, hugging her body tightly while still covering everything in a manner that would be very modest.

[Passionate Shadow]

Mean while a youthful little dragon kin was currently stalking out some new prey he could take advantage of so to speak. He eyed over the many strangers that passed. He pulled his hooded cloak upwards concealing his brightly colored hair. There was no way to really make a good escape if you couldn't blend in to the crowed. Goliath and Zenth were waiting for him not too far from the entrance of the Guild district's entrance. Tempo paused spotting the youthful young lass and stooped beside a large barrel peering over it carefully watching her interact with the much stronger looking partner. She looked well off enough with such robes. He pulled out a small dirk from his boot as he got ready to make his move. that little pouch she had was his target. And with a quick glance around them the small creature darted forth at a break neck speed. He darted right up to her and with almost perfect precision he nicked off the back with a quick slice from the tinny blade. He seemed to trip after barely running in to her but he did a quick roll popping up on to his feet and he continued off without looking back as he high tailed it right out of that area turning at the first treat to keep going. The little runt was fast and little did he know his snatched stash wasn't a bag of coin.

[Thomas_III]

“Ow!”


Ilena blinks in surprise as the smaller person runs into her, about to offer to help the boy to his feet as he scurries up on his own and then darts off. She finds it strange that he didn't even stop to apologize for running into her like that, but it's not the first time that someone's been rude in this town. Shaking her head softly, she reaches to her belt to pull out another piece of candy, only to find a handful of air in its place.


“Hey! That kid stole my candy pouch!”


The young mage's lip starts to protrude in a pathetic pout, disappointed at the loss of her sweets. She turns to her big brother with her huge eyes set to their most pathetic to try to coax her sibling to be her knight in shining armor.


“Justamir, please go get it back for me....”


The armored warrior looks back down to his sister with a 'yeah, right' expression on his features, either knowing that the boy is too far for him to catch up with, or not feeling that his sister's candy stash was worth the chase. Either way, he's not going to work up a sweat running through the district's maze of streets.


“If it's so damned important to you, why don't you just use your magic to divine its location and then just go there? It's a personal item, and don't you have an easier time with locating things that are important to you? That's how you supposedly tracked me down, after all, and I was hundreds of miles away from you when I ran away from home years ago.”


Ilena was about to turn on full pout mode, when Justamir's suggestion actually started to make sense to her.


“Hey, you're right.”


Smiling, she takes out a smaller pouch that she keeps hidden under her silks, reaching in to pull out a small glass shard. Holding it between her fingers, she stares into the prismatic effect that the sunlight has through the facets, whispering a low incantation under her breath, hoping that the resulting spell would lead her to where her candy sack went off to.

[Passionate Shadow]

Tempo skidded to a halt next to two horses. One was black with silver mane and soft dappled markings. The other was pretty golden color with soft platinum blond mane. The panting creature pulled back his hood and housed his small frame on to the black and silver horse named Zenth. Even for Clydesdales these horses were big. Monstrous even. He paused setting there now mounted panting heavily. His willowy shoulders heaving with such hard breaths of air. He was taking a moment to calm himself and get his breathing under control. He looked around the seemingly empty location where most of the resident houses were. Near a vine cover well he sighed heavily after only a few short minutes allowing his nerves to settled he moved his now shaky hands up wards to look over the small pouch. He tossed it up and caught it. A smirk spread its way on to those plush strawberry pink lips. The boy certainly did look feminine with such a supple figure and delicate facial features. "Finally. . ." he breathed thinking he was able to pilfer something form someone without their noticing. He shakily opened the pouch and peered in side. Immediately his elongated ear fell, the smile ran away from his face, and he was disheartened by what he found. "That's it...?" He asked himself aloud in a discredilous voice. "I did that for nothing!" He huffed to himself and closed the bag before falling forward and crossing his arms on the horn of the saddle laying his head to res and shaking it gently. Tempo was rather disappointed and a bit irked by this unfortunate capture.

[Thomas_III]

As Ilena stares into the crystal shard, images start to appear to her, showing her the location of her precious candy supply. After a few moments for the visions to come into focus, she can see the image of the candy thief on one of a pair of large horses that shouldn't be difficult to spot in a city like this.


“Ha! Got you!”


Justamir leans against a wall off to the side, merely watching as his sister performs the mumbo-jumbo that she's so skilled at. He doesn't even try to pretend to understand the arcane talents that his sister displays so openly.


“So, you've got the guy, now? You going to go get your stuff back?”


Ilena looks unsure of herself as the visions play in her mind.


“Well, I can't really tell if it's a guy or girl from here. Very pretty and flowing lilac hair, though, regardless. I wish my hair could look like that. I guess that I should go and apprehend the thief. You going to stay here, or show up on foot?”


As Ilena starts to move her hands to begin a teleportation spell. Justamir merely shakes his head in reply to her question.


“I'm sure that I'll find you quickly enough. It's not like the city is so big that we can't locate each other. Besides, we still have a room as the guild inn, so just meet me back there if I don't find you and your thief before then.”

[Passionate Shadow]

After several long moments of mentally cursing himself Tempo slowly sat up in his saddle and sighed placing the small pouch in to one of his saddle bags. The little rush of adrenaline he had was starting to wear down and he was beginning to feel a bit ill. It wasn't often he needn't lead his pursuer on a wild goose chase so he still had a lot of unspent energy.

Contemplating his next cores of action Tempo easily picked up Zenth's reigns and started to gently pull him to the right. With a faint clicking sound the large animal started to walk. The bigger Golden horse seemed to follow on instinct. The two draft horses seemed pretty calm when they steppe don to a slightly busier street. What a common thief could be doing with horses fit for a knight might was certainly odd. One thing was for sure Tempo wanted some coin and he needed a quick and easy way to get some. His last few attempts at stealing some seemed to have all failed equally. He started toward the town square. perhaps by offering some street side entertainment he might be able to 'earn' some coin he though.

He knew Goliath needed a new shoe; that alone was preventing him from simply moving on out of this town. And with hooves that large it would take a bit more coin to please the black smith. Tempo made his way near a large fountain and set down a small case and opened it. He stood up on Zenth's saddle as he got ready to 'perform'.

[Thomas_III]

“Alright, but don't blame me if you miss out on the fun. He might secretly be an arch-lich who is going to use my candy in a grand scheme to raise an army of darkness to take over the Empire. I could be in for the fight of my life!”


As she continues to stare into the crystal shard, Ilena follows the boy's movement through the city, trying to recognize some of the local landmarks so she has an idea of where she's trying to go. She smiles when he leads his horses to a fountain in one of the large central courtyards. She knows exactly where that is, so a teleportation spell should take her right there without any chance of error. It would be a much safer trip than trying to teleport blindly to some random alley.


“Sinome a' eller!”


As Ilena's form vanishes in a sparkling vortex of arcane energies, Justamir simply watches in silence. Only when she completely disappears does he start to continue walking, figuring that he could follow the explosions if she does get into any kind of fight. He adjusts the heavy weapon across his back, evening out the distribution of weight on his shoulders.


“Or, more likely, it's just some kid with a sweet tooth. Sheesh, she's so dramatic.”


At the fountain, Ilena appears behind the two humongous horses. She slips the shard back into the hidden pouch under her waistband, and then stands there with her arms folded over her chest as she observes the young thief's action.

[Pirate's Plunder]

The lad had plucked out a wooden flute and gently began to blow heated air through the narrow passageways. He fingered the wooden shaft creating harmonic notes allowing them to drift in to the morning air and meld with the sound around them. A cheerful little ditty with a sense of excitement and full of energy Tempo hopped down from the horse's back and on to the small stone wall of the fount and began to walk around it careful not to fall him as he made his way up on to one narrower ledges of the little wall.

He moved in tune with the chirping notes allowing his posture to take up a very energetic and happy appearance. It was as if a satyr hopped up and began to play intoxicating music to allure unsuspecting fey folk in. He pranced about on the structure making his work seem almost effortlessly. For the moment the boy didn't seem to take notice of the lady whom he had just stolen from- this was mainly because he hadn't turned to where she would be in his visual range.

The little show of his went on as he started to slowly attract attention form curious by standers and citizens. They seemed nearly enchanted by such lively play bringing forth an almost infections emotion of good feeling through out all those that stopped to gaze at the unusual site.

[Thomas_III]

Ilena watches and listens as the boy starts to perform for the crowd, admiring the lovely tune that comes from the instrument at his lips. She chooses not to interrupt his song, allowing the show to continue unhindered as he attracts the attention of passersby. She can't understand why such an entertainer would stoop to mere thievery, especially something as worthless as candy. That's the only reason that she hasn't tried to apprehend him, yet, since it was only candy that he took. Still, stealing is wrong, and she intends to give the boy a good talking to about his behavior when the song is complete, as well as getting her pouch of candy back. For now, though, she stands out of the way next to the horses, softly stroking the haunches of the golden one.


“Your master appears to be quite talented. It would be nice if he used his talents for performance, rather than trickery.”

[Pirate's Plunder]

Goliath didn't seem to mind the gentle touch. Little by little a small handful of people decided it would be okay to offer their loose pocket change to the 'performer'. Once the little show was put to an end Tempo took a small courteous bow as a few people applauded and he took a seat perched top that small wall and panted softly. His ears twitched ringing at being so close t such a 'loud' instrument. The boy breathing heavily as he slicked one hand through those silky soft lavender tresses pushing those bangs back from his face. He shifted slightly as he started to look towards the two horses once again and his eyes widened a bit suddenly and he moved to hop on to his feet seeing Ilena standing not too far away. Unfortunately for his quick movements on such a narrow spot he feel a little too far off balance to recover and came down with a small little crash in to the fountain. After the resounding splash that echoed his fall he stood up in the water now nearly soaked from head to toe. He just about stumbled back up to his feet looking to her once he had recovered from his startled reaction. His long ears then flicked all about like little radars as his next reaction was to look about in slight worry as he fret over the idea and possibility of guards. and yet... he saw none-Just her. ". . . " he stepped forward and hopped on to the shortest thickest ledge of the fountain wall- the area people could sit at. He was a bit hesitant in hi approach but he took a seat and removed his shoes dumping the water from the boot. "H-How did you...?" he trailed shaking of much to the affect of a wet dog as he looked up to her with a discredilous look.