2023.12.11 A Deer Excursion

A Deer Excursion
Eil grabs Zeller for a small adventure, showing him that there's something worth staying and fighting for
IC Date	2023.12.11
IC Time	Noon
Players	Eirlys, Zeller
Location	County of Lion's Reach - Great Eastern Woods
Spheres	Changeling

<Phone> (Text to Zeller) Don't take this the wrong way, but you alright?

<Phone> (Text from Zeller) lol, that's kind of a loaded question. But yeah. I think so. It's just weird you know. <Phone> (Text from Zeller) You're from around here, yeah?

<Phone> (Text to Zeller) Well at least I'm loaded in SOME way. I've been here for 3 years, came from northern Cali originally. Why?

<Phone> (Text from Zeller) I've basically been on the road for like. damn. the past 3 years. Before that I had spent a year and a half in hospitals and rehab. And I just wanted to get the fuck away. <Phone> (Text from Zeller) I guess a part of me has been kinda scared to slow down. And now... I dunno.

<Phone> (Text to Zeller) I wanted to get the fuck away too. That's why I'm here. I get being scared, hell, I'm -still- scared a lot. But eventually, you gotta stand your ground... fight for yourself, y'know?

<Phone> (Text from Zeller) I guess in a way I thought I was. Like fighting for my freedom, but like. <Phone> (Text from Zeller) Maybe there's a balance.

<Phone> (Text to Zeller) Mmm... tell you what, theres a music store downtown, Detonation Blvd. You wanna meet me there? I'll show you something better than worrying about this.

<Phone> (Text from Zeller) Sounds cool.

A certain purple-eyed someone is currently loitering in front of the music shop, wearing the same outfit as last night for anyone who -happens- to have seen her before. She's not on her phone this time, merely with her hands in her pockets staring over the streets.

Zeller is arriving on foot, apparently he's been walking around the city this morning people watching and getting a better sense of downtown's layout. He slips his phone inside the pocket of a military style jacket as he rounds the corner and looks up to see Eirlys. "I made it." he says with an easy smile. "How are you?"

`That you did.` Eil mutters quietly, looking over Zeller's shoulder and at the others walking down the street. Then, without another word, she wraps an arm around his back to act like they're real close before leading him into the alleyway right there beside the store.

"Wha..?" Zeller manages as he is pulled into alleyway. As his eyes take in the scene, a slow smile plays back across his face. "Cool...." he mutters.

Eil gives him a wink. `Yeah. You'll see why, we just gotta slip in this door here, down the hall and... voila~` she mutters, opening the side door and gesturing him in.

"Whoa... I didn't know about this one..." Zeller quips with wonder in his voice. "I've been going through that club everytime..." He takes a minute to fully take in his sureoundings and snickers at the 'NO MOUNTS' sign. Pointing at it, he asks, "That's why you brought me here, huh?"

Eil lets out a loooong breath once they finally get in, no longer seeming so paranoid. She follows Zeller's finger with a curious gaze, looking at the sign before letting out a laugh. `Hah! No, this is just a real nice place if you want some food, drink, and good music... goes right into the heart of the market. Not the one I use the most, but it's good to know where they are... explored much around here yet?

"I've ridden pretty far in here but I only know of two ways, now, in or out." Zeller admits somewhat sheepishly. "I have an arrangement with Tordwil and the Ebon Watchtower so V can stay at the stables there." He explains, "and I've ridden to through the forest and mountains into the desert in the east."

Eil taps her chin, thinking. `Have you gone -deep- into the forest? Orrrr... gone -up- the mountains? There's some so very secluded spots... and some breathtaking views, if you're not scared of the dark or the cold, that is~`

"Not particularly so." Zeller shrugs, "I mostly stayed on the paths so I could maintain as much speed as possible." He quirks an eyebrow, "I would love to see every corner of it though. Dark and cold ones too."

Eil's grin grows wide... wicked, even. There's a glint in those dark eyes of hers that excites as much as it spooks. `Good... gooood. Now, I hope you don't mind using your own hooves for a bit, hm? Unless you know some kind of magic trick~`

"My hooves are perfectly capable." Zeller grins back the dark glint in her eyes definitely kindling an excitement within him. "I do need to learn more magicks though."

`Atta boy... now let's get out of the crowd, shall we? The market has many -great- things, but we can enjoy those in due time~` Quickly, Eil slips out the front of the inn and onto the streets.

Zeller continues chasing after his fellow satyr, the sights and sounds of the plaza filling his eyes and ears. He makes a mental note to visit the blacksmith's shop later and continues doggedly at the hooves of the other.

Eil seems very happy to be leading Zeller on, stopping ocassionally to give him a grin before slipping through another street here and street there, it gradually thining out to the rolling hills and dirt roads of the countryside.

"This is more familiar..." Zeller says slowing a bit as he approaches the path. "This will take almost all the way from the watchtower to the desert." He gestures from wast to west.

Once finally broken free from the market, the dark-furred Satyr finally stops, staring out over the hells and road that ventures into the thick forest, mountains, desert beyond... all stretching out in different directions on the painted landscape. She stays silent for a minute, but then turns back to give Zeller a wide glance. `Say... how would you like to ride me?`

Zeller looks quizically at the woman, but "I mean..." He tilts his head. "I guess I'm not quite sure what you mean. I'll ride just about anything though." If she's playing coy, he can too, but both statements couldi be taken at face value.

You lose one Glamour <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Eirlys rolls Fae(5) + Metamorphosis(4) (9 dice) vs 4 for 6 successes. 1 2 +5 +5 +8 +8 +9 +10 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Eil walks around staring at the ground for a bit, seemingly aimlessly, until she finds some... twigs? Getting two of the gnarled things, she walks back up to Zeller, gives him a wink, then proceeds to pull off her snowy voile and throw it onto him! Now left naked besides the belts covered in strangely silent bells on her limbs, she proceeds to hold those twisted twigs up to her horns, making them almost look like antlers... And, before they know it, those bells begin to -jingle- as crackling glamour flows around the Satyr, whipping up from her hooves as it soon sparkles and winds around her entirety. Her already bushy fur starts to grow over the rest of her as the magic licks at her flesh, twigs binding to her horns as her arms come to hang down. But, then, they quickly cease to be arms at all as she doubles over onto all fours, growing in weight several times as she grows into a mighty deer with magnificently spiky antlers! The bells on the belts still persistent on the Eil-deer chime some more as they adjust their hooves, large eyes staring around before turning to stare at Zeller. `HAHAHAHAH! HELL YEAH! Oh, that felt -good-... now my little Satyr, get on!`

"Alright... alright." Zeller grins. "I'm impressed. Not that you had to work THAT hard." He crouches down broefly and then springs up on his strong goat legs before alighting gently on the Eil-deer's back. "I bet you do this for everrone..." He places his hands gently on either side of the Wil-deer's neck.

The Eil-deer lets out a large snort, shaking their magnificent rack as they watch Zeller climb up. `...this is actually the first time I've EVER turned into a goddamn full ANIMAL!` They shimmy and shifty wildly under Zeller, clearly showing extreme excitement at just feeling everything. `Man, your poor horse! They have to go through this?! I need to take you running more! And don't drop my voile or I will make you a christmas ornament....` Oh yeah, being a deer hasn't cut her wit at all.

"I think I should keep it." Zeller answers back, "You look better like this anyway. Why change back?" he wraps Eirlys' voile around his neck like a scarf, and mutters "Viridian never complains..." Then he clucks his tongue and teases, "Go on now, git."

Eil tilts her head up and back, bringing her antlers dangerously close to stabbing into Zeller's front. `Whaddya mean?! I look better like a giant majestic black furred deer of questionable species and sex?!` She huffs, bringing her head back down and trotting along, slowly, to get used to doing it and having her on him. She shakes her tail a bit, stalling, thinking. `Alright, we're going to find a lake, I wanna see if you're -right!-` And, like that, she's off! Oh yeah, this is gonna be a rough ride for Zeller's poor ass with how she's bucking him up and down with every long stride.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Zeller rolls Dexterity + Ride vs 5 for 3 successes. 2 2 3 4 +5 +7 +8 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Zeller manages to keep his seat and hang on adequately, dare I say even admirably. "Ok, so maybe sexy satyr is better." He says leaning forward close to her ear and into the wind. "A lake, huh?"

Eventually, the two leave the exposed plains and pass into the forest beyond. Here where the crossroads come to pass, where the paths diverge onto so many different places to adventure. The ride becomes more bearable, thanks to Zeller's scrounged skill and Eil seeming to settle down into a more graceful stride as they come into the woods proper. Her ears flick as her large eyes stare over everything. `It's... my ears are so sensitive... amazing...` she mumbles. `Familiar, yet... so new.`

Running a hand down the length of the Eil-deer's neck to stroke her fur as he would of he were riding V, he mutters, "I can't even imagine. I've seen others do things like this, but not on this level. At least not that I remember..." He blinks curiously, not that it's seen. "Do you have a teacher for this magic?"

Pushing off the beaten path, Eil brings the duo over the hills and through the woods to... a lake! The water shimmers under the scattered rays as they leisurely approach, Eil's stride slowly even more as she begins to get the PETS! `Hufff... oh, hm? Magic? Welllllll... none. I'm what you might call a magic prodigy, it's part of my weirdness the nobles are still trying to figure out. Now that I can do -this-, that means... I've already about mastered two arts, along with my other talents. This isn't my best one, though....`

"Really?" Zeller asks, sliding down and walking alongside Eirlys, now thatbthey have seemingly reached their destination. He continues to idly pat the big animal that she's become almost out of habit. "I mean.... this is seriously impressive. I should spend more time working on my arts I suppose."

`Yeah... been Chrysalis'd for like... 4 months? Already a full fledged sorceress. Winter is my biggest specialty, but now that I can do -this-... oh yeah, I just gotta pick the right animal and I can train up on Snowfang as long as I like~` She says, Eil's big body pushing towards the direction of the pets as she walks, at least until she stops before the water. Cranning her head down, her animal eyes go wide... and stare... and stare... and stare. Silence. `Ooohh... this is... me? Hahah... man, and I thought it was weird being half fuzzy! Maybe... maybe I should go even -bigger- next time. A -proper- cryptid, proper monster! Heheheheheheh... I can already picture it....`

Zeller laughs imagining an Eil-squatch. "What's Snowfang?" he asks, repositioning the voile around his neck and joining the deer-woman beside the lake.

Eil drags a hoof through the dirt, sniffing at the air, before tilting her head up to look through the tree canopy. `Well... you can't see it from here, but those mountains? The highest of them is Snowfang Peak... and there's a freehold there in a big old fortress. It's like, the coolest thing I've ever seen... literally and figuratively! They have a big library full of books on everything, a place to practice magic, a rookery for giant eagles, hell, even a delightful hotspring. I definitely got some looks when I tried it out~`

"Who holds Snowfang?" Zeller turns his inquisitive golden eyes towards Eirlys. "It sounds like a great place, strategically and with its appointments." His eyes drift towards the mountains.

Eil shakes her head. `Not sure... been trying to find out, but no luck in getting an audience with anyone yet. Would be a nice place to get... well, a place. At least for me.` The deer takes a step forwards, pushing their broad head up against Zeller's face as if to demand more pets. `I know not everyone is a weirdo like me~`

Zeller grins, and strokes the long face gently. "I bet they wish they were." He says softly. "You take Snowfang, I'll take the Watchtower. And everyone will want to be like us." He jokes, or is he? If he's gonna stick around and have something to fight for... He touches his forehead to to the deer's. "Gotta dream right?"

The deer shakes a bit before letting a big puff of hot air into Zeller's face. A laugh, maybe? `Oh, that is quite the dream... I fear it's going to be a long time before I'm trusted even to leave protected lands on my own, let alone protect a Freehold myself. But we got a while ahead of us, don't we?`

"Indeed." Zeller nods his forehead still against hers. "Still. Baron Yzos does have a nice ring to it..." he sighs. "Meh, I dunno. Kinda pompous." He continues his nuzzle not moving his head away, this is how he talks to V afterall. "So why do you say you can't be trusted to leave protected lands? I could head off anywhere right now..."

`Something... we don't know quite what... is after me. It tried to get me right when I had my Chrysalis, but the Kithain here happened to be in the right place at the right time and saved me from its grasp. Some kinda big monster that hurt just to look at...` She says, shaking her head and stepping away from the water. `From what I understand, I did something fucked up in a previous incarnation and it's coming back to bite me. Has to do with my abnormal expression of magic n stuff... I'm not sure how to feel about it, but they're working hard to take care of it, so... hard to complain.`

Zeller stays hoof deep in the water as Eirlys pulls away his golden eyes staying fixed upon her. "Well..." he gestures emphatically. "Tell them I want to help... and tell them... to put together a security detail and let's go somewhere." he continues to gesture almost aggressively, as though the affront to Eirlys's freedom is almost personal. "What do they know anyway, maybe whatever it is.... is here... and if you took a trip or had an adventure, it would get confused and leave... or... or... try to follow and get lost?!"

Eil stays silent for a bit, eventually crouching down and feeling out how to lay down in this form, hooves tucked under her. `No... not only does my gut tell me that's a bad idea, just think about it. It went after me when I was going about the Autumn outside of the sight of the other Fae here, and since I've been staying either here... or housing with them guarding me while in the Autumn... it hasn't attacked again. It's patient. If I -ran-, then I would never be able to stop running.` She can't smile in this form, but those shimmering eyes do convey some kind of innocent confusion. `But really... you barely even know me and you're already wanting to run off defending me? It could be something real, real horrible....`

"If it is horrible, then it needs to be dealt with. And you..." Zeller huffs. "You challenge the way I think. In a good way... I think. And I haven't had anyone actually do that for me or to me in a long time. And I think that's more than worth defending. You deserve to live without fear." He starts to calm himself and steps out of the water. "If I can help, I will."

`Hahah... I dunno if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I ain't the most trusworthy being, now am I?` Eil mumbles, resting her head down along the ground. `Fear... such a strange thing. I specialize in the magic inflicting it and controlling it, but I don't get it at all. It's... eh, whatever. I need to take my own advice. I think I'm gonna take a nap like this, it's quite comfortable... would you like to join me?`

"You don't even know what you've already done for me." Zeller shrugs, stepping softly towards Eil. "I couldn't turn my back on that now." He moves to lay down next to the deer but produces a sword from somewhere amongst the leathers and furs of his voile before he does so and keeps it in his hand as he readies himself to sleep.