Darzoni/CampaignsReflectionsS5

Session 5 of Reflections.

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The City of the Steel Lotus, again. After a week of travel back. Yen Sahi has finally packed all his family's stuff and is about to head Upriver, and invites the Circle to accompany him.

Rynel gladly agrees to accompany him... Or will if the rest of the party does.

Staren continues pretending to be a bandit. SWhe'll reveal herself in due time.

Conveniently, he's headed the same direction as the Circle would be. The mountains are to the East.

Hulen also agrees. After all, it's polite.

Sarlk is going along with the rest of the party, his spear covered back into it's cloth, the huge weapon resting on his shoulders as he walks. This whole buisness of meeting anoter Solar that is the leader of a band of rogues, as well intentioned they are, is a bit...eeeh. But whaddya want...

...Ooooookay. Well, if it's going to be wandering along with the civvies, then wandering it is. Wolf shrugs to himself, idly toting his sheathed daiklave over his shoulders, and trots along to the side of the caravan, singing a sea-chanty under his breath as he walks along. He'd left directions with his crew to follow along at their own pace. After all, there's some small amount of supplies to gather up and a camp to break down...and no sense delaying too much.

Wolf's dreams have said much about this Jade-Upon-The-River. Glorious towers of white jade, a large temple looming over them all.

Hulen turns to Wolf. "So...you're one of us. Do you remember a place named Jade-Upon-The-River? You see, that's where we're headed. Home. If you're one of us, it's your home, too, after all. There were five."

Rynel nods slowly. "Its strange.. Dreams of a place that we hadn't been to, but then arriving there."

Sarlk just keep walking, mostly. His attention his set on the other exalted talking with each others, his gaze ahead, mostly pensive. Hid mind drift over that Fair Folk that guarded their Manse...not to mention the happenings of the last few days. Strange, strange...

Wolf eyes Hulen slightly. And then snorts, lazily patting the hilt of his klaive. "Whatever ye say. Frankly, I fail to see why it's a big deal. Some place I've never been, and it's not even on the ocean. Suppose we'll see it when we get tehre, then." And, lo, Wolf keeps walking.

Hulen says, "You'll see why, then. It's certainly better than a cave."

Yen laughs... "To the home of the Golden Lord, in the Highlands of An-Teng. There I hope to make many fine weapons for the nobility to spar against each other."

Hulen says, "And, of course, if you live there, we could certainly test your talents...I'm sure that we'll come into the possession of rare metals for you to work with at some point. And isn't that worth more than just making sparring toys for nobles?"

Rynel nods. "Well, I was going to suggest going to a small village called Jade-Upon-The-River. My companions and I reside there, and we could use your talents." He goes into detail with the surroundings, the people... Y'know, the good stuff. Wolf pauses, eyeing the man, and then shrugs lazily. "Asides. The nobs always screw off the honest artisan. Think about it. Why should they pay full price when they can just threaten to set your family on fire. I've seen it. Sad stuff. You'd be better off with us, yeah." And, his bit said, Wolf continues to pace down the road, resuming his humming.

Yen hmmms... and seems to consider it. "I will have to talk to my wife, as it is customary for the wife to make such decisions in An-Teng. But I will bring your excellent points up with my wife." He bows politely.

The big man Sarlk keep moving ahead, not paying too much heeds to the talks of artisana going on right now. No, his eyes are set on the dragon-blooded woman they...meet earlier. Something is uneasy...

And so the group arrives at Jade-Upon-The-River once more. Sahi's family has decided to stay, and has set about meeting and greeting their new neighbors and townsfolk and looking for a suitable place to build a house. It is now the month of Resplendant Air, and with it comes the rainy season in An-Teng, the Monsoon winds. Though the weather is milder here in Jade-Upon-The-River than most places, and Hulen can certainly tell anyone that it's because of the Solar Manse looming over the immediate region. There are traditional celebrations going on, prayers to the local gods to bring a good crop of rice this season.

Rynel smiles. "Good to be home." He takes a walk around town, and then goes to the Manse to explore his section of it more thoroughly.

As they reach the Manse, Hulen motions for Rynel and the others to wait.
"There's something we need to plan."
Hulen says, "You see, Damon said that the Freehold was probably sapping the energies of the town, causing its decline. Also, the Contagion /can't/ have helped any. Now, as you know, the Essence flows here in the Manse are syphoned by her Freehold. It has grown powerful as the Manse has grown weak. We must change the flow there, but without decimating her Freehold...I believe she needs it to exist here for any length. Now, I have a basic idea of /how/ to rebuild this Manse...it will take effort, and also money. You see, I plan to use demons. But we must remain inconspicuous, because we're not nearly powerful enough to deal with many Dynasts...even with Damon helping. So...we need to plan a way to get me the materials to summon demons, and to rebuild this Manse's power...but in a way that won't attract too much notice."

'Home', for Sarlk, is not this place. Or at least, not yet. The warrior keep truging around with the others in the country. HIs mind is partly listening to the big speech Hulen is giving, just nodding now and then again.

Rynel frowns. "Hmm. Summoning demons without people noticing? Sounds contradictory."

Tsubasa (AKA Whisper) motions for Hulen to lean close to him so he may say something. Hulen says, "No...demon summoning is commonplace among savants who have large projects. Also, it can be done subtly, although most demons are indeed inhuman in appearance..." Hulen does so.

Wolf pauses as Hulen begins to chatter about this and that, leaning against a tree. The klaive is stuck in the ground, a finger tapping on the well-used pommel as he cocks his head at the other Solar. After a moment, there's a slight grin to the pirate's face as he speaks up. "Have ya considered financing bandits to prey on some of the less likable locals? Failing that, there's always treasure-hunting. One good find, and then parcel it out. Failing that, suppose we could see if any o' the local kingdoms are offering rewards. After all, the Dynasts don't have as much power as they used to have." The Wolf pauses, then grins slightly. "That, or some stranger will just come waltzing up and finance everything for us with no strings attached." The Zenith is snickering at that. Shows how likely he considers the last.

Tsubasa says to Hulen in his barely audible voice: (There is a Demon Cult nearby as... I would be cautious in summoning demons for the interference of the cultists.)

Hulen looks at Tsubasa.
"You make a very good point...we will have to deal with them before any demons are summoned in quantity."

Rynel frowns again. "My resources are not going to be very reliable anymore with my Manse occupied by my family."

"...Demons will bring more trouble than they are worth." Sarlk pessmisiticaly says.

Rabi-ohki is hiding in a Bush of Concealment +3!

Tsubasa says "... ! ..." he goes over to a bush and PEERS at the cabbit and smiles.

Rabi-ohki stays VERY STILL.

Tsubasa attempts to scoop up the cabbit and show it to the other people here.

Rabi-ohki attempts to NOT be scooped up.

Needless to say, Sarlk stops at that, as someobody notices something that nobody else has been noticing. The Warrior /stops/ dead at the sight of the 'cabbit', blinking once, twice at the mute guy trying to pick up the little critter.
"...What the crap?"

Staren starts running now.

Rynel walks over. "What have we here?"

Hulen looks at it.
"Interesting...what is it?"

Wolf turns, glancing at the critter and at Sarlk, and then calmly steps up next to the warrior. "Well, there's a simple solution I've discovered over the years for situations like this." And, with that, Wolf pulls a small flask from a fold in his clothing, uncorking it and taking a heavy swig, then offering the bottle.
"Works like a charm."

Rynel shrugs. "Dunno. Appetizer?"

Rabi-ohki struggles! It'll only bite if you hurt it or threaten to, though.

Rynel says, "Maybe Damon knows what it is. Doesn't look natural."

Tsubasa holds it carefully and shows it to the group, as if to say... 'I found this..."

Staren also dons the resplendant destiny of The Sorcerer as she runs towards them.

Hulen says, "It looks like some sort of test subject...although I don't know much about species-creation magic other than to say that I don't think anyone around here can do that. It's...probably not possible."

Sarlk stares at the bottle for a good moment, blinking a couple of times. The Warrior take the bottle and similarly take an long swing out of it, winces a bit then hand the bottle back. "Yeah, dat work."

Sasaki thinks it's cute! She pets the cabbit.

And that's quite enough for Hulen to decide it's not dinner.
"We're not going to eat it. It's...interesting."

Rabi-ohki calms down a little and presses into Sasaki's hand.

Staren starts calling out, "Rabi-ohki, Rabi-ohki! Where are you?" when she gets close.

Wolf mmmmhmms, and then calmly chugs the rest of the flask in a single go, sighing happily as he tucks it away. "Ahhhhhh...that's the stuff. Nothing like a bit of distilled kelp to cure what ails ya, eh?"

Rynel looks over at Wolf. "...'Distilled kelp?'" Tsubasa looks at Staren and Sasaki asks... "Is this your pet?"

Staren ohs, "You found it! Thank you so much!" Rabi-ohki tries to hop out of Tsubasa's hands over to Star.

Tsubasa does not attempt to stop the cabbit thing.

Rynel looks over at Staren, and asks rather bluntly, "What is it?"

Staren ums, "I don't actually know. It was eating my garden one day and I thought it looked cute so I tamed it."
Staren picks it up and it hops to sit on her shoulder.

Sarlk watchs this happening, all this fretting over some lady's pet. He shakes his head slowly. Man, yeah, he's going to need more of that thing someday.

Rynel says, "Ah. Alright..."

Hulen nods.
"It's a very.../different/ sort of creature."

Staren says, "It's kinda like a bunny."

"It is creature of the Wyld." Damon intones, having just.. sort of came out of nowhere.

Rynel turns to Damon, startled. "Er, hello Damon. Don't do that, please."

"Oh, really?"
Hulen isn't /too/ surprised by Damon. Just enough to be on edge.
"That makes sense."

Staren says, "Really?"

Wolf smirks in Rynel's direction. "Of course it's distilled kelp. What, you think they have space to grow hops out in the West. It's pretty damn good when you get used to it." And, as for the pirate, he's about to stroll off and find somewhere to nap...and then Damon shows up. The pirate pauses, eyeing Damon, the hackles on the back of his neck standing up a bit as he backs off warily. He's still relaxing. He just isn't taking a wary eye off of Damon.

Staren says, "Who are you?"

Tsubasa gives Staren an accusing glare, as if to ask the same question.

Rynel turns to Staren. "I was about to ask you the same question, actually."

Hulen says, "They have a point."

Sarlk stop and turn around to face the elf in super heavy armor. Man, /that/ way annoying. People sneaking around wearing an armor that's probably heavier than themselves. Damn creatures coming from damn places made of damn insanity.

Sasaki bows and introduces herself, from habit more than anything. "I am Ragara Sasaki, Aspected of Air, of House Ragara of the Scarlet Dynasty. Pleased to meet you."

Staren says, "I am Star... I have received visions of five so-called 'Anathema' and of this place... so I came here, to meet you. As... I am like you." She makes her caste mark glow.

Rynel nudges Sasaki. "You don't need to be so formal."

Rynel bows, as well, though. "I am Rynel."

Hulen bows.
"Hulen zan-Gon, scholar."
And then he stares at the Caste mark. Like none he's seen or heard of.
"...forgive my asking, but what /are/ you? You're certainly no Dynast, nor one of us."
Why bother hiding it, especially here?

Sasaki eh hehs and blushes... "It's habit, big brother."

Rynel nods and grins. "Don't I know it. I was chased for years because I kept introducing myself like that."

Damon eyes the newcomer warily, getting her daiklave ready in case of trouble. Oaths are hard for her to break after this many years.

Staren says, "I'm just an astrologer... but one day I got this, and I knew it was like the mark of the anathema... but I recieved a vision that I would find others here. The visions showed you accomplishing great deeds... you're not evil like they say at all."

Rynel rolls his eyes. "Yeah, sure we are. We eat babies, still-beating hearts, and puppies. Of COURSE we're not evil."

Staren says, "The visions didn't show that... are you joking?"

Rynel sighs. "Yes. Yes I am."

The Zenith takes a glance at the odd caste mark. And then eyes the fact that Hulen doesn't know what it is. Wolf's reaction is simple, instantaneous, and the result of years of experience. Simply put, he whips his daiklave from it's sheathe, twirling the stylized blade one handed as he slips a step to the side of the newcomer. Not angling to attack...buuuuuut, obviously ready to attack if need be. Or run and let any death hit the others. Tis hard to say!

Tsubasa facepalms and shakes his head when Star seemed to believe Rynel's sarcasm.

Hulen nods.
"Of course we're not. That's just...propaganda. I could go into it, but most people get bored by the history."
He stares at the caste mark for a moment.
"I've never even heard of such a mark before...obviously my studies haven't been enough. Too bad most of those books were burnt..."

Staren ohs. "I was hoping you would be able to tell me what I am..."

Hulen thinks for a moment, and then...whoa, massive memory flood.
"...Sidereal. Chosen of the Maidens."
He stares for a moment again.
"Chosen of...Secrets. You serve the Maidens. Specifically Jupiter, Maiden of Secrets. You are a direct servant of Fate..."
He grins. "And I'm sure you're here for more than that, because of that. The servants of Fate do not idly pursue dreams."

DUM DUM DUM!

Staren .oO( They know about us? $^&! ) "...I... work for fate? What does that mean?"

Sarlk has just been standing there, arms leaned on his spear over his shoulders, blinking stupidly now and then.

Hulen sighs.
"Don't play stupid with me. I'm sure that the Maidens don't choose fools. It would be counterproductive. You're here, I assume, to make sure we don't do anything /wrong/."

Tsubasa wanders over to Wolf and indicates he would like some of that booze.

Wolf pauses, lowering his daiklave for a second as he glances at Hulen.
"A Sidreal? Really?"
Blade snaps back up. Hey, like hell Wolf knows what a Sidereal is. He sure as hell isn't going to trust one, even if it does have a bunnymutant. I mean, if it was a normal bunny....But no, no, it's a Wyld Bunnymutant. Untrustworthy, therefore! Ah well. Least the Daiklave is light to the hand.

As for Tsubasa, the pirate cheerfully tosses over a flask.
A very light flask.
A very empty flask.
Poor Tsubasa! No booze!

Rynel looks at Hulen, and then at Staren, and then back at Hulen, and THEN back at Staren. "I'm inclined to agree with our resident sage on this one. He knows what hes talking about. What are you really doing here?"
Rynel glances up thoughtfully. "Well, usually..."

Staren is trying to decide -- keep bluffing, or admit it?

Sasaki marches up to Starn, and slaps her. "Now! Are you here to spy on my big brother and his friends or are you truly here to find the truth!"

Watching over the throwing of the empty flask, the Dawn Caste solar let out a grunt. Awe man, no more sanity keeper! He shakes his head slowly, his glance going over the Zenith Pirate. "So. Just /how much/ of that thing you got, anyway?"

Rynel winces. "Ouch. I know how -that- feels..." He's gotten on her bad side before. Its relatively unavoidable at certain times.

...There's a pause as Wolf watches the slap. The pirate quickly sheathes his daiklave, and then pulls a cloth bag of jerked meat out of a belt pouch, whistling cheerfully and murmuring under his breath in his native dialect.
"<Woohoo! Catfight! Catfight! Bring on the shirt tearing!>"
There's a pause as he glances up at Sarlk, his eyes blinking. "Hmmm? Oh. The Kelp Beer? Eh. My crew should have a couple of barrels. It's pretty easy to get."

SLAP! Staren looks stunned for a couple of seconds, raising a hand to feel her cheek. ". . .I am not here to spy on your big brother and his friends. I am here to help them."

Sasaki narrows her eyes at Staren... "You're lying."

Hulen says, "You know, in the circumstances..." He motions towards Sasaki. "I'm inclined to believe her."

The pirate resumes cheering in his native tongue.
"<Go for the shirt, Weird Little Foreign Girl! Go for the Shirt!>"

"Oooh. Sweet." Sarlk states.
Then pose, peering at whatever Wolf is saying. "...Yeah! Whatever he saide!"

Staren says, "I wish no harm to your brother and his friends."

Hulen says, "Harm is one thing...but hindering our goals when they don't match up with what your superiors want is another."

Damon pulls out her Daiklave and puts herself between the Solars and Star, ready for trouble. Rynel looks at Staren, quite serious. "Out with it. Tell us why you're really here, and don't do that beating around the bush crap."

The cheering pirate doesn't give up.
"<Oh, come on! At least rip her pants or her shirt a /little/. Or maybe a bit of hair pulling. I swear, haven't any of these women been to a tavern? At least there the ladies put on a good show when fighting!>"

Staren says, "As you say, my superiors are the maidens themselves. And they say you are destined for great things, that's why I'm here."

Hulen says, "Really...I rather doubt we'll get a straighter answer from a Sidereal. From what I remember, they were.../good/ at concealing their true motives."

Sasaki backs down then. Damon sheathes her massive sword.

Whisper walks over and offers a handshake to Staren?

Staren shakes hands!

Poor Sarlk. He's just standing there, watching this insanity unfold for now, simply shaking his head. Siderals, Solars...what/ever/.
Plus, he's getting hungry, here.

Rynel sighs, a bit relieved. "Well, at least you're on our side. Sort of."

Staren is the most incompetant sidereal in Creation.

Wolf fingersnaps as the handshake is given. "<Darn. Ah well. There's always next time.>" Munching on the jerky, the pirate lazily flumps onto his back without warning, just staring up at the clouds, whistling to himself lazily.

Hulen says, "You'll forgive me for being suspicious, but...well, if you're going to be staying here, I'd appreciate it if you had a room close to Damon's. Caution, and all that."

Damon nods... "As you wish. I will take her to my Freehold then."

Rynel nods. "Good idea. If you'll excuse me..." He heads in towards his section of the Manse. He hasn't had a chance to check everything out.

Staren says, "Freehold?"

Damon rolls her eyes at having to explain it yet again. "It is as a Manse is to you for me."

Staren probably knows that. She's just surprised there's one here.

Hulen thinks for a moment, and then shrugs.
"Well, if she doesn't go insane tonight or run off tomorrow morning, I suppose she's at least mildly trustworthy."

Staren hmphs.

Wolf props himself up on his elbows, glancing at Hulen, then at Damon. "...What if they eat her?" The pirate pauses, then lazily drops back down. "Ah well. Least it's a problem solved either way."

Staren says, "I will _not_ be eaten,."

Hulen says, "That wasn't what I was worrying about."
Hulen says, "You'll understand when you see the place."

Damon ohs... "You visited my Freehold?" She seems a little disturbed.

Hulen says, "For a moment. Nothing more. Was that a problem?"

Sarlk slowly nods. "YEah, we saw you goin' in it, so..."

"It is just not a very wise idea to visit without me to act as a guide." She states.

Hulen says, "Ah. Then it's good we left immediately."

"...Also." Sarlk says, tilting his head. "What thoses people were doing in there?"

Staren says, "And you want me to sleep in a freehold."

Hulen says, "...Sarlk? There's some things I don't think we need to ask."
Hulen says, "Damon will be there. It should be...relatively safe."

Sarlk peers over Hulen, shurging. "Hey, it was the reason why we went in that damn place made out of insanity." He states, peering back over at the fair folk lady.

Hulen says, "Yes. And do you truly want to know the answer, after that?"

"Good point."

The couple was in the village earlier today, by the way.

Rynel explores!

Hulen studies. And studies.
Hulen studies a book on Demonology.

It looks like the Manse has been cleaned up a bit since they were last here.

Hulen also takes time out, somewhere in the future, to practice a bit of making stuff and actually being assertive.

Staren tags along if allowed.

Rynel doesn't have any objection. He examines the statues, too.

Hulen also somehow fits attuning Wolf to the Manse into this schedule.

A couple of weeks have passed by. It's been raining off and on during that time, flooding the rice paddies. Children have been born, a few people got married. Houses have been repaired, the Sahi have finished their own house.
And a group of men in dark brown robes have come into town and are occupying rooms at the hostel.

Ah, time flies when you're having fun. And it has been fun for the Wolf of the West, along with his crew. The whole lot of them have occupied a portion of the Manse (With Wolf snitching the best quarters in 'his' section, mind you. Rank hat it's privleges) and been settling in, getting to know the town, and the like. As for Wolf, well, when he hasn't been carousing down at the local tavern, or trying to get some of the hardy Western Kelp to start growing in a pond for kelp beer, he's been practicing with his tongue and his daiklave. Usually while spouting off taunts at Sarlk during his normal weapons practice. Sure, he's got a hunch on the likely outcome.
...Guess how much he cares.
C'mon. Guess.

Damon bring Sarlk and Wolf down to her Freehold... simply because she can use shaping combat to make them -not- dead should an accident occur.

Staren watches the combat.

Hulen watches, too, because...well. It's learning.

The outcome is quite unpredictable. Sarlk is a civilized gentleman! He can control his emotion, and is certainly not the kind of warrior to fall short to insults and try to rip the head off anybody that tries to mock his style or something simila--
The Spearman suddenly stop in his training, snap around at the Zenith cast member and /SNAP/ his pratice spear on his knees, pointing a finger at the pirate. "THAT'S IT, YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOUR GOING DOWN!"
His hand goes over his Orichalchum Dire Spear, Aurora Arc, near the pratice grounds, calling it over to his hand. He gives the oversized weapon and few spins and impressive arcs, then /SLAM/ it at the ground near Wolf, taunting the pirate!

Damon simply watches.

Hulen watches, too, because...well. It's learning. Mostly learning what /not/ to say around Sarlk.

Rynel watches, too. He wants to see what this Wolf can do.

Staren watches three.

A simple serving lady stops sweeping and watches as well, eyes sparkling quietly like starlight.

The pirate laughs at the enraged spearman, dancing backwards as he sweeps his reaper daiklave through an impressive series of arcs, a grin on his face as Sarlk slams the spear down near him. Eyeing him, the Zenith smirks, cricking his neck, and then leans back, yawning, a sheen of light glinting off of the light as Wolf holds it behind his head, one hand on the hilt, the other on the tip of the blade, his eyes watching Sarlk in amusement. "Awwwwww, did I say something you dislike, Kelper? Or are you just trying to overcompensate again, neh? Or is it more of frustration over your lack of talent, looks, and women?" Mid taunt, the pirate swaps dialects, snickering the entire time. "<Or is it because you're desperate enough to hook up with a siren, just because then SOMEONE would look at your foul face?>" Hey, some taunts just don't translate.
Swaggering backwards, Wolf simply turns to the side, grinning at Sarlk and holding up three fingers, pressed together, to the spearman.
"Read between the lines, you land-walking, Fish-Fondling, Dirt-Grubbing Son of an Octopus and a Manatee!"

Sarlk, what does he do against all that assault of insultes? Even that string he just /cant seem/ to understand, yet know that it WAS anoter jab at his integrity?
He grit his teeths, growls menacingly and goes right out for the charge, spourting out along the way: "Yeah? AND YOU KNOW WHAT, you little rotten, salted son of a whore?"
Aurora Arc is slamed on the ground, pointy end diving deep into the ground as the Solar goes for an impressive flying kick at the pirate.
"/YOUR MOM/."

Annnnnd, the kick is up! It's going...Going...It's GOOOOOOD!
The wolf gets clipped in the head, skidding backwards a bit on his back, a maniacal grin on his face as he flips backwards onto his feet. A few small sparks of white light play around his head as he sprints forwards, then dances around Sarlk, taunting him with a simple feint here and there.
"Thou were born under the sign of a crow, thou art ugly. Thy mother had to tie a steak around thy neck to get the dog to play with you, and even then it preferred to lick your face, thinking it your arse. Thou are smelly, and the stench you leave in your wake makes small children cry and flowers wilt. In the end, you are a waste of thine mother's efforts in the backroom of a teahouse."
Smirking infuriatingly, ignoring the slight stinging from the kick to his head, Wolf continues to dance around Sarlk, smirking, just waiting for the inevitable spear thrust...at which point, Wolf hops onto the spear, balancing on it calmly.
With a final smirk, he sprints down it's length, attempting to plant a booted foot into Sarlk's face and then vault backwards. Regardless, he'll be backflipping off the spear at some point, daiklave glinting.

Oh come on, it's going to take more than a stupid boot to the face to even /phase/ the Dawn Caste solar. The hit is still there, thought, and it's juuuuust enough to make him a little more annoyed. The insultes does not help his case either.
Sarlk, as you guys probably noticed, is not terrible with come backs in taunts. ...Vocal comebacks, that is. Backflipping from his beloved Aurora Arc is something that he does /not/ accepts! He spins the golden weapon on his side a moment, gathering Essence into the magnificent weapon. Almost dancing, the Spear man hops on his feets as he approach the pirate, attempting to play with the Zenith's own game in feinting!
But it dosent really work that well, even if Sarlk is being a bastard as he grab his spear and swing it mightily at the Solar'S legs in an mighty swoop.

The pirate grins as he watches the legsweep come in. There's a pause, and then, with a grin and a loud "KIYAH!", the Zenith's Daiklave spins down, catching the tip of the large spear and smacking it upwards, guiding and driving the weapon to his own liking until he smashes Sarlk's spear up and away, leaving the swordsman wide open as the Wolf dives forwards, the daiklave glinting a little bit...and then glimmering as a spark of white lunges down it's blade. There's a feral grin on Wolf's face as he calls out during the flowing sweep. "Now, I'll show you why they call me the Wolf of the West!" And, with that, he blurs forwards, doing his best to put a nice long knick somewhere down Sarlk's face. No damage, in a way. Like his other attack, it's simply the pirate showing off and putting on a show. And enjoying the hell out of himself.
Hit, miss, or parry, the waverover fully intends to dive to the side, snapping his blade up in a position designed to harass Sarlk with it's easy grip.

Staren looks over at the starry-eyed servant, trying to determine how she feels about the behavior of her masters.

Damon puts a hand on Star's shoulder. "Do not worry much. They will get over it in time and take their place as Leaders of Man."

And what does Sarlk has to say to the Wolf of the West?
He raise his forarm up, essence quickly gathering right in front of it, quickly forming an massive golden protection to the Solar.
"Oh yeah? And now yer gonna know /WHY/ I'm maybe the only gods-damned man in this world to not have an overcompensating Self-assigned title or extravagant name!"
What the little diddly solar do? He bring his spear up again, spinning it in the air, behind himself, infront of himself.
Basicaly, an very impressive display...and what he does with it?
He pokes the man. I don't mean like he usualy do. He just...mockingly poke.

Staren sighs.

Damon hmmms... "So what did you think of my home, Star?"

There's a blink. A very large blink. And Wolf looks down as he's poked. He pauses, leaning back on his Daiklave, scratching his chin thoughtfully, afore he starts laughing out loud at the spearman.
"Yeah, yeah, but you have to take what you can get! I mean, it's business, for my part. You just can't be a successful corsair in the West without a nice, imposing name. I mean, NO ONE would fear the Dreaded Seareaver Bob. It just doesn't work. If you're going to do ANYTHING worth inspiring a reputation, you just have to be willing to put up with the names. And it's also good for morale. A crew just doesn't feel particualrly bloodthirsty if they don't have an imposing name leading them. Anyways, that was good fun. We'll have to do it again, neh?"
Still laughing, the pirate turns, sheathing the daiklave across his back, striding down towards the nearest source of BOOZEAHOL.
"...You coming, man? My quartermaster said the latest batch of kelp beer is ready for testing."

Staren looks at Damon. "How can you live with creation's champions?"

Damon looks at Staren. "I lived during the First Age, young one. I know the highest peaks they can reach, and the deepest depths they can sink to."

Sarlk snerks at the replies, himself turning into an all out laugh similarly. Aurora Arc is thrown on his back, nodding. "Yeah, damn right t'would be a pretty lousy thing to have. I guess I ain't just that kind of man, y'know?" He states.
At the mention of booze, the spearman's expression widens. "Aweright!" And he thrug behind! BOOOOOOZE!

Staren says, "...So whose dreams do you steal, here?"

Damon chuckles... "Nobody's. I rest in the Freehold to escape the weight Creation puts upon me rather than ravage the townsfolk."

Staren asks, "...You can be content with that?" Of course, she doesn't completely believe her.

Damon nods. "I have dreams of my own to be content with." she remarks cryptically.

Staren says, "...You're a strange one, for a raksha."

Staren says, "What do other raksha think of you?"

Damon nods... "I am... insane to them. Yet I am not like the Mountain Folk either. They call me Sun-Touched."

Staren half-smirks. "An insane raksha, huh? So why are you this way?"
Staren says, "or are you just insane?"

Damon says, quite simply and without much effort. "I took an oath."

Staren blinks. "An oath?"

Damon nods. "To a very dear friend."

Staren says, "...Want to share what it was, and to whom?"

"No."

Staren nods. "Well, I of all people know that everyone has their secrets."