#cyhpri

[saladwars-blog]

Cyhpri comes to visit her old stomping grounds..

Caledon was not the forest she thought she would return to, yet as she made her way past the sylvari encampment she found herself welcomed with a sort of nostalgia...among other things. She would not admit it but she was excited to see some of her old friends again. What more could she call them, really? She did not despise them like many of the Nightmare Court did with each other, but she certainly was not overly friendly or open with them, either. 

Cyhpri made her way through the dark swamp, taking note of how the trees and roots looked like faces and the swamp water was still murky like she remembered. It was if nothing had changed...until she saw a certain Knight of Ashes standing with her own. he had taken notice of her once she had made herself visible, pushing the tall swamp grass aside. “Baroness Cyhpri, I was wondering when you’d make it. Vyridnith here says you've come to visit your old roots...I’m almost flattered~” Manyeullan smirked, full of himself as ever as he tried his best to flirt with the dark green sylvari. He had no such luck as Vyridnith snickered behind her gloves. He gave her a nasty look as the Baroness moved past the two Knights and into the Arbor. She had no time for saplings at the moment--especially Many. 

The two had followed after her, the taller of the two watching her every move while the other carelessly followed after as she usually did. She took mental notes on how the Court of Twilight Arbor stared after Cyhpri and how they whispered and gripped their weapons. The Baroness took no notice as she held her head high. “Where is the Countess..?” She asked a guard. They saluted and tried to answer her before Manyeullan answered for them. “Gone.” “What do you mean ‘gone’?” Cyhpri asked in a harsh tone, turning towards him slightly. He was unaffected by her cold stare. “She’s off with Fyianna--I’m not her Knight. I don’t keep tabs on her.” He shrugged before she gave him a long sigh and rested her hand on her hip. “Then the Count. Where is he? I should like to visit him while I can..” The lanky sylvari gave Vyridnith a long glance before she too shrugged and crossed her arms in a flustered manner. “He’s been off to the Priory a lot as of recently. Who knows what for.” Cyhpri found herself feeling hollow now as the news soaked into her core. “When will they return, then? Why the Priory?” “How should I know?” “because you are here with them every day.” “I am, but I do not follow them around like some human child. If you really must know then ask your Knight of Locusts here. Isn't that what she’s for?” Cyhpri did not answer as she stared holes into the elementalist with no avail. Cheeky, useless piece of rotten cabbage. “Vyridnith,” She started, giving the dark plant a cold stare. “I’m on it, I’m on it...perhaps you should take this time to visit some of your favorite old spots--bring Many along~?” There as no answer for the dark necromancer before she walked off, leaving the two alone. “She’s got a good--” “She doesn't and you’d do well to hold your tongue before I tear it from your jaw you ungrateful fool.” 

[saladwars-blog]

Cyhpri ramble. I’m trying to feel out her character cause i really like her h a ha..

Brokenhope was home to many of the Courtiers. A faction that had branched off from Twilight Arbor by Faolain’s demands. Cyhpri had been there since the beginning. She was the first to set foot into the caves, to drive out the grubs, trolls, and other creatures that tried to inhabit it before she arrived. 

Now it was a dark, desolate home that she could be proud of. If she were generous she would have shared her pride with someone. Unfortunately, her Knight of Ashes had passed, no thanks to Manyeullan, and her Knight of Locusts, Vyridinith was far too interested in her own stories and tall tales to trust with what she had done here. What she had done for the Nightmare Court. 

Times like this often made her wish she was back in Twilight Arbor speaking with sylvari closer to her age. Sylvari who took their job as seriously as she did. Cyhpri would have to visit soon, she decided quietly, her hand resting on her hip. The Baroness often took patrols through the village. She knew the tunnels like no other and often brought along her hounds so they could have a proper walk. it was important for them to knwo the smells of their surrounds, know every last inch of these dark walls so they could track a dreamer before it escaped into daylight. It could not be called a pretty place, that was for sure. Still, Sparkfly Fen had enough flora for her to hide herself in and watch Tyria fight against Zhaitan’s army. Or even watch the Inquest dribbled on about nonsense. 

The very thought of going out into the sunlight beckoned her out of the caves now, her bow slung over her shoulder as she nestled herself into a patch of bushes surrounding a group of trees. Quietly, she pulled an arrow from her quiver, setting an arrow against her bow. She was ready for anything should she find it interesting enough. 

Cyhpri was known for her stubborn patience as she kneeled in the bushes. It felt like hours had passed and all that crossed her path were moas, frogs, and undead. Wile perhaps all interesting to some she found herself irritated. She shifted a moment before hearing the loud stomping and breaking of twigs nearby. Asura. 

They could not be categorized as Inquest, that was for sure. The taller of the two looked behind him and sighed loudly, his claws on his hips. “Sippsi, we do not have all day--I Have plant structures to investigate. There will be plenty of sylvari there for you at the camp. We’ve not much longer before we’re there but you insist on dragging your feet!” He crossed his arms as the smaller of the two finally came into Cyhpri’s view. A female by the looks of it--but the baroness could not tell for sure with they way they held themselves. “I can’t help it..! I heard the Nightmare Court were around here...and I mean, maybe i could talk to them..? They’ve got structures too, you know, Kykks?” The taller asura sighed again, letting his claw pinch the bridge of his little nose. “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my time with the Inquest, Sippsi, it’s that you do not talk to the Nightmare Court. They will cage you up and probably treat you like one of their leaf hounds or whatever you go on about.” “...Sylvan hounds...?” “yes. Those.” Without another word Kykks started off again, only this time pulling Sippsi along with him. 

The sylvari sat in the bushes, watching them leave as she quietly gave Kykks’ claim a thought. Asura could be very vicious when provoked. Perhaps she would look into the idea one day. Sighing herself she went to stand, deeming her venture a complete failure as she made her way back to the caves. Caledon was more promising to find dreamers, for sure. 

She would have to return. 

[saladwars-blog]

Even for a stubborn young sapling he broke easily. Phiniadel had been too late to save Manyeullan as he stared at her from behind the sylvari who had broke him. His stare was hollow as he regarded the tall, sandy colored guardian, watching her yell and provoke his captor. His captor did not stand as tall as he, but she held her head high, proud to be where she was. With the heir she kept she was older--much older than him and was not about to squabble over the sapling behind her. He now belonged to her and this Guardian Dreamer would not be getting him back.

He was pulled from his cage in the early morning, having been huddling with a small group of Dreamers, the thief, Argylwood, included. The one who had brought him to the alcove only days prior. The elder sylvari tried to fight to keep Manyeullan close but had lost his strength from the wounds he had endured to his face. Quietly, they stood him in front of a wall, tying him with vines so he could not run. Had he tried to figure out his surroundings he would have noticed the arrows sticking out of the wall, having lodged themselves into the vines and cracks in the rocks. 

The sylvari stepped in front of him, one hand wrapped tightly around a small bow. It must have been a short-bow--one Argyl would carry. He had seen one similar in size before. Her stare was harsh--as if he was prey and she was the predator. He was unaware of how correct he was at the time. “He’s tall..” She began, her amber eyes taking in Manyeullan’s lanky form before sighing in a bit of aggravation. “But weak. He will not last a week here in Brokenhope.” She decided, looking to the two courtiers standing by. They bowed their heads as one went to speak, her petals like small misty colored roses. “Then perhaps he would be better suited to be...an elementalist? We lack them here. We could use a healer or two...” The dark sylvari looked up from her bowed head, letting green eyes meet amber for a long silent moment. Manyeullan nodded, speaking up for a small moment before he was hit across the face. “Do not speak, sapling. You hold no power here.” She had not looked away from the other courtier as she spoke. “Vyridnith, since you are so fond of this beanpole you will see to it that he is trained properly or I will have the hounds trained early.” “I understand, Baron Cyhpri.” She calmly replied before finally lifting her head. Cyhpri had finally let her gaze rest on Manyeullan once more, taking his chin in her hand to stare once more into his eyes. “The Knight of Ashes broght you here--he said you’d be promising and easy to break. Let us see how true to his word he was..” 

Manyeullan watched quietly, his fear numbing his senses as she stepped away from him. it must have been ten paces--maybe more--before she stopped and drew an arrow from the holster on her hip. “You will tell me your name, sapling.” She calmly demanded. When he did not answer her right away, his fear making him sputter, she let loose her arrow. It dug firmly into his shoulder as he forced out his name, trying his best not to yell out in pain. “Manyeullan! The Pale Tree named me Manyeullan..!” “A name fit for a courtier, I’d imagine.” Cyhpri simply replied before she let another arrow burrow into his arm. 

Her questions continued and before long the tall sylvari could recite the Retinue to her. He could tell her why the Dream was false and why the Nightmare was superior and true. He would answer her in a split second and he would stare at her through the pain as she let an arrow plant itself into his bark. It had been only three days. He had snapped on the first, to be fair, but Cyhpri was not known for her gentle touch. At least, not by many. She was harsh and unforgiving and trained her courtiers like she trained her beasts. They were loyal and strong. They endured pain, wounds, poisons. Manyeullan would survive through the elements, this she could finally see. He was too afraid to die, but too stubborn to run. He had stopped his pleadings with her after her fourth shot. He was perhaps by far her easiest Dreamer yet. Still, his resolve now impressed her, though she did not show it.

Lowering her bow she gestured for the courtiers to free him and remove the arrows lodged into is shoulders. “See to it that his sap is cleaned up. You may leave him with me.” She curtly said before the two sylvari started to clean up after Manyeullan’s mess. “Come, sapling. You’ve the world to explore.”