Kolkai Terriha

Kolkai snoozes quietly in the rafters during the daylight hours, unguarded, unprotected. The frosty vampire is cast in shadows, but her purse accidentally slips a few coins onto the floor far below. She continues sleeping without notice.

Busted... even with all the precautions he took, masking enough of his mana to pass off as average was too great a risk. This was the most that he could hide without hindering himself, and now that it was revealed to everyone in the room... a spotlight now hovered above. To deny assisting her could end up in quite a troubling predicament, and considering his story, there was no reason for him to sit back. Undead were no problem to him, though why a band was headed here was beyond his understanding. The warrior was protecting the woods where his mistress was... so unless she wished to engage in combat with this place, there was no reason for her to do such. Not to mention... it did not look like she would wish for such. Soi that means... this should be the work of another... but who? Looking at the drow while folding his arms in front of him. "...I will fight with you, on three conditions. One, I am allowed to inform my mistress of what I am to do. Two, she is protect, but her room left undisturbed. I have plenty of traps and my magic can easily protect her, I just wish for her to go unbothered. Even a small bit of kindness could cause her condition to worsen and I cannot take that risk. And the third condition, if my mistress calls for me, I am allowed to abandon the battlefield and return later. If all this is agreed to, I will help with preparations and combat, but ONLY if this is agreed upon. Considering you just ousted me when I wished to remain undetected, I think this is a fair compromise." Playing hard was the only way Kolkai and him could remain hidden. If he was found out, such was not much of an issue. At worst, he is feared, at best, respected. If Kolkai is discovered... that's a mob and possibly worse for her.

The Drow appraised him as he made his demands. She was vexing in her expressions, simultaneously understanding and unreadable. It could easily have been mistaken for a mask, but in all likelihood it was the indifference of centuries. “You vest much loyalty in this mistress of yours…” she said quietly. “It’s quite unusual to see someone so powerful so subjugated to a code of honor. What is she to you? If i might ask?”

Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance as Kolkai lay awake in the bedding. Something was off… very off. She couldn’t rightfully interpret what was so clearly playing in her senses because it was all still new to her. The aura, the smell of it, wasn’t something that was dangerous in and of itself, but it was something she perceived as dangerous. She clung to the door, peering through the crack, recognizing the dim interior beyond as she tried to see who Rainald was talking to.

“I shall agree to your terms… you’re welcome to put up whatever defenses you think are necessary. I believe I shall need to speak with the mercenary band… if they have not already abandoned their posts here. They are likely to be-“

She paused when her deep, dark eyes noticed the cracked door upstairs, now opened wide enough to permit someone to pass through it, though there was no one there.

"Her family is the reason I still draw breath, the failure to save any of her family will haunt me till the end of my days... I have to be her knight, I have to make sure she is safe and well taken care of. She is my mistress, my only guiding light... I have made a vow to her, and I shall honor that promise till my dying days." That should be enough to ensure that no further questions would be asked in regards to Kolkai. Was it cheesy? Very likely. Was it believable? Hopefully... But all that matters was that no further questions should be asked in regards to 'his mistress'.

Hearing her agree was a cause for relief as the knight started on mental planning for how best to protect this place. Focus is going to be on ensuring the area with the Inn had numerous traps, but, namely, his idea was to form earthen walls all around the town and line them with spikes as well to ensure any riders would be dealt with. Designing the walls to be accessible to the mercenaries that can cast magic or use ranged weaponry would also be useful. Though the idea that they might have abandoned their posts was upsetting but... why did she suddenly stop?

Eyes drifted over to where the drow was staring and he could feel his throat dry up. The door was ajar? Why? Did Kolkai do that or did someone try to go into the room while he wasn't looking? Should he make a big deal about this or just try and play it off casually? Considering that nothing was said... maybe he should act like he did not notice her noticing the room? In an effort to try and redirect her attention, his throat was cleared before continuing. "What is your plan after seeing who would be willing to fight? Will you be within my defenses or will you be fighting against the threats?"

The drow didn’t answer him. She stared in some manner of disbelief, over Rainalds shoulder.

Kolkai was practically perching on the mage, leaning far forward. She had thrown her cloak on as a precaution, but could peer quite clearly from beneath the hood. The drow warrior was entirely mesmerized, but Kolkai was extremely serious.

“I do not know what you are-“ Kolkai said in a hushed tone so that the villagers might not hear as they hurried around the entryway and the tavern space beyond the door. “You smell of death… a familiar kind. I think I should be worried, but I would not abandon mister Rainald to your hunger.”

The woman stared back. For a moment she said nothing, then she sat up slightly, looking between the two of them. “I believe… I understand now” she said calmly and quietly. “You smell your own kind, night creature. I wear it like a mask.” She adjusted the straps on her boots, tightening them. “…like a hunter masks his own scent and entices prey. But… I’d have never would have imagined… it would bring a vampire right out of hiding”

In an instant her hand was on her blade, but she did not unsheath it. Her posture suggested it could be free in a blink. Still, her expression was unreadable. “I’ve been on a weak trail for months… I came here on pretenses of the undead, I didn’t expect to resume the hunt so suddenly.”

The standoff was clear. In a tavern full of people, this could get dangerous. The drow woman clearly expected Kolkai to become violent… but she didn’t. The snowy vampire was frozen, slightly behind Rainald.

WELP

Rain was doing the most to keep the expression that was being worn one of a stern and kind protector... Eyes closed, a forced smile, but also a slight twitch to the right eye. "I would greatly appreciate that you do not let such information you now have slip loose." Hushed tones while the direction his words were thrown was towards the drow woman. "Also... before anything foolish happens... I am no thrall, I am not turned, but I will honor my vow to her. You are now apart of our secret, so, welcome to the fold, ma'am."

That might have come off... aggressive. Attention now turning to Kolkai. "Kolkai. Please return to the room before one of the villagers, or Skies Forbid, one of the mercenaries notice. Or at the very least fane being sickly. I promise I will return to you and inform you of the happenings once all the talks are done. That said." Turning back to the drow.

"There will be no hunts, there will be no violence. I would love to test which is faster, your reactions, or my magic... but I think you and I both know that I am hiding quite a bit... Keep the peace. She means no harm." A hand was reaching back, more to shield the vampire than trying to draw some unseen weapon or plan a trick. "My demands still stand and you have already agreed to them. If you are a mercenary like the rest, then you know the problems that could arise if rumors spread about how you did not honor a deal, yes? You clear know I can be quite the... tale-spinner, it should not be all that difficult to warn others..."

Rain was certainly pushing boundaries and likely patience. This Inn was already hosting quite the number of people, and more would surely come in. Kolkai is likely to flee, but if forced to fight... well things could end up badly, and the two of them would surely be swarmed as well. Innocents getting harmed, and those so kindly as well... that needs to be avoided. He would continue to lay on the pressure and bluff with threats that CAN be backed up... but ones he would not WANT to back up. What rotten luck to have a hunter like this drow come to the same location the two of them choose to spend the briefest amount of time in.

The drow stared them down. “I agree… this is a most inopportune time.” Her voice was low, hushed and deliberate. Strangely, it was not cold or threatening. She still had that elvish nature that made it seem that she was perpetually at ease. Still, her hand was near the blade.

“If you are no thrall then I do not understand your motive, magi. This woman is a hunter of men. She has no place in nature. The curse is an anomaly that exists outside of what should be. I do not truly think-“

“You are mean and you have not known me” Kolkai said suddenly, ignoring Rains order. The drow was again taken aback. “And you do not know him” Kolkai continued. “He is a good man and an honorable person and he has protected me and saved me from doing bad things.” She was glaring at the hunter.

“In that case, he cannot protect you. You leave me no choice but to do you the service of ending the curse. If you wait, you will only know pain. There is no honorable end to this… you will kill him before the end, if you end does not meet you sooner.”

Kolkai made a small hiss, but backed away, behind Rainald.

“I have a pressing matter. I will defend this town… I will let you leave only this once. Know that if I survive this night, I will resume my hunt.” She made eye contact with Rain but took her hand off the blade. She turned to the innfolk and walked away.

#vampy kolkai

@runningskaven Tweak walks! Shuddering steps, she is very unsure about this.

Kolkai’s hands appeared! She’s here to assist… but only just enough. Tweak must learn.

“What a good job!” She praised. “So good at walking!”

#elemental kolkai

Late at night, the tiny fairy crawled out of Noelle’s hood. It took a lot of effort with her broken wing, but she managed to climb up onto the bed and settle in on Noelle’s chest. She made flurries in her sleep. (@thecrystalchoreographer)

Noelle, for her part, didn't stir, despite the chill. Normally troubled by nightmares, the frost seemed to help soothe and keep her more soundly asleep.

A spot on the bed was saved for the fairy, though. A bit of extra space on a pillow.

It was a perfectly fine spot on the pillow, wonderful in every way. Some fairies would simply die for that kind of luxury.

Kolkai stretched out and remained on Kolkai’s chest.

The night would pass swiftly, and while the dawn would break, it would take Noelle longer to stir from her hibernation. Still, eventually she would to open her eyes and yawning.

It would take her a moment to collect herself, but she would smile softly when she saw the fairy. "Good morning, little one. Are you hungry?"

Kolkai twinkled sleepily. She leaned forward and stretched three of her iridescent wings. The broken one only moved a little.

Kolkai’s nutrition requirements weren’t entirely obvious, not even to her. She was ready to eat at almost any moment… but she almost exclusively at sweet things. Maybe a cracker or a fruit from time to time, but she would literally stop everything for a cookie.

She chimed in affirmation as she sat up on her haunches and made a show of looking dazzling in the sunlight.

Noelle sits up and smiles at the little fairy, glimmering in the sunlight.

"Well, don't you look pretty in the morning sun?" She comments with a smile as she rummages in her bags for some food. She had some meats, but given how excited the fairy seemed for sweets, it seemed unlikely she'd want that. Noelle set about cooking her own meal.

As she did so, she took a knife and began to carve a piece of fruit into bits, placing several next to the fairy, as she occasionally tends to the cooking.

Kolkai beamed pleasantly at the admiration. It really was what got her up in the mornings. Praise worked well on little fairies.

She sat patiently, waiting for treats. When a piece of fruit arrived, she did not delay. She gobbled it, taking bites that were probably too big, but enjoying it. Being quite small, she was satisfied after just two pieces, and merely sucked on the third.

This human wasn’t bad. A fine specimen really. Kolkai watched her cook, fascinated.

#snow fairy kolkai

Kolkai snoozes quietly in the rafters during the daylight hours, unguarded, unprotected. The frosty vampire is cast in shadows, but her purse accidentally slips a few coins onto the floor far below. She continues sleeping without notice.

Busted... even with all the precautions he took, masking enough of his mana to pass off as average was too great a risk. This was the most that he could hide without hindering himself, and now that it was revealed to everyone in the room... a spotlight now hovered above. To deny assisting her could end up in quite a troubling predicament, and considering his story, there was no reason for him to sit back. Undead were no problem to him, though why a band was headed here was beyond his understanding. The warrior was protecting the woods where his mistress was... so unless she wished to engage in combat with this place, there was no reason for her to do such. Not to mention... it did not look like she would wish for such. Soi that means... this should be the work of another... but who? Looking at the drow while folding his arms in front of him. "...I will fight with you, on three conditions. One, I am allowed to inform my mistress of what I am to do. Two, she is protect, but her room left undisturbed. I have plenty of traps and my magic can easily protect her, I just wish for her to go unbothered. Even a small bit of kindness could cause her condition to worsen and I cannot take that risk. And the third condition, if my mistress calls for me, I am allowed to abandon the battlefield and return later. If all this is agreed to, I will help with preparations and combat, but ONLY if this is agreed upon. Considering you just ousted me when I wished to remain undetected, I think this is a fair compromise." Playing hard was the only way Kolkai and him could remain hidden. If he was found out, such was not much of an issue. At worst, he is feared, at best, respected. If Kolkai is discovered... that's a mob and possibly worse for her.

The Drow appraised him as he made his demands. She was vexing in her expressions, simultaneously understanding and unreadable. It could easily have been mistaken for a mask, but in all likelihood it was the indifference of centuries. “You vest much loyalty in this mistress of yours…” she said quietly. “It’s quite unusual to see someone so powerful so subjugated to a code of honor. What is she to you? If i might ask?”

Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance as Kolkai lay awake in the bedding. Something was off… very off. She couldn’t rightfully interpret what was so clearly playing in her senses because it was all still new to her. The aura, the smell of it, wasn’t something that was dangerous in and of itself, but it was something she perceived as dangerous. She clung to the door, peering through the crack, recognizing the dim interior beyond as she tried to see who Rainald was talking to.

“I shall agree to your terms… you’re welcome to put up whatever defenses you think are necessary. I believe I shall need to speak with the mercenary band… if they have not already abandoned their posts here. They are likely to be-“

She paused when her deep, dark eyes noticed the cracked door upstairs, now opened wide enough to permit someone to pass through it, though there was no one there.

"Her family is the reason I still draw breath, the failure to save any of her family will haunt me till the end of my days... I have to be her knight, I have to make sure she is safe and well taken care of. She is my mistress, my only guiding light... I have made a vow to her, and I shall honor that promise till my dying days." That should be enough to ensure that no further questions would be asked in regards to Kolkai. Was it cheesy? Very likely. Was it believable? Hopefully... But all that matters was that no further questions should be asked in regards to 'his mistress'.

Hearing her agree was a cause for relief as the knight started on mental planning for how best to protect this place. Focus is going to be on ensuring the area with the Inn had numerous traps, but, namely, his idea was to form earthen walls all around the town and line them with spikes as well to ensure any riders would be dealt with. Designing the walls to be accessible to the mercenaries that can cast magic or use ranged weaponry would also be useful. Though the idea that they might have abandoned their posts was upsetting but... why did she suddenly stop?

Eyes drifted over to where the drow was staring and he could feel his throat dry up. The door was ajar? Why? Did Kolkai do that or did someone try to go into the room while he wasn't looking? Should he make a big deal about this or just try and play it off casually? Considering that nothing was said... maybe he should act like he did not notice her noticing the room? In an effort to try and redirect her attention, his throat was cleared before continuing. "What is your plan after seeing who would be willing to fight? Will you be within my defenses or will you be fighting against the threats?"

The drow didn’t answer him. She stared in some manner of disbelief, over Rainalds shoulder.

Kolkai was practically perching on the mage, leaning far forward. She had thrown her cloak on as a precaution, but could peer quite clearly from beneath the hood. The drow warrior was entirely mesmerized, but Kolkai was extremely serious.

“I do not know what you are-“ Kolkai said in a hushed tone so that the villagers might not hear as they hurried around the entryway and the tavern space beyond the door. “You smell of death… a familiar kind. I think I should be worried, but I would not abandon mister Rainald to your hunger.”

The woman stared back. For a moment she said nothing, then she sat up slightly, looking between the two of them. “I believe… I understand now” she said calmly and quietly. “You smell your own kind, night creature. I wear it like a mask.” She adjusted the straps on her boots, tightening them. “…like a hunter masks his own scent and entices prey. But… I’d have never would have imagined… it would bring a vampire right out of hiding”

In an instant her hand was on her blade, but she did not unsheath it. Her posture suggested it could be free in a blink. Still, her expression was unreadable. “I’ve been on a weak trail for months… I came here on pretenses of the undead, I didn’t expect to resume the hunt so suddenly.”

The standoff was clear. In a tavern full of people, this could get dangerous. The drow woman clearly expected Kolkai to become violent… but she didn’t. The snowy vampire was frozen, slightly behind Rainald.

#vampy kolkai

Late at night, the tiny fairy crawled out of Noelle’s hood. It took a lot of effort with her broken wing, but she managed to climb up onto the bed and settle in on Noelle’s chest. She made flurries in her sleep. (@thecrystalchoreographer)

Noelle, for her part, didn't stir, despite the chill. Normally troubled by nightmares, the frost seemed to help soothe and keep her more soundly asleep.

A spot on the bed was saved for the fairy, though. A bit of extra space on a pillow.

It was a perfectly fine spot on the pillow, wonderful in every way. Some fairies would simply die for that kind of luxury.

Kolkai stretched out and remained on Kolkai’s chest.

The night would pass swiftly, and while the dawn would break, it would take Noelle longer to stir from her hibernation. Still, eventually she would to open her eyes and yawning.

It would take her a moment to collect herself, but she would smile softly when she saw the fairy. "Good morning, little one. Are you hungry?"