Post by Celina Zabinski on Sept 7, 2022 19:45:32 GMT
Co-Written with the amazing Gaz
Early evening at Appley Ever After. The late summer sunset is gently disappearing over the rooftops of Port Ffirst. The streets are calming down after a day of trading, a moment of quiet before the town's more nocturnal residents emerge to begin their work in Port Ffirst's real economy.
The front door to the apple shop opens slowly. A tall, graceful figure enters wearing an elegant but functional tunic and boots. Her fair green skin seems dark in the orange glow from the sunset. Her silver hair falls across one side of her face, partially concealing an eye patch that bears the Orcish rune 'Home'. It is the symbol of the Orc goddess Luthic.
The figure takes in the scene and walks slowly to the counter.
Celina is sitting behind the counter at the front of her shop with her feet up on the desk. She is lost in her own world when she hears the door open. She quickly moves her feet to the floor, faces toward the entrance and stands up.
Celina puts on a big smile and as this person comes through the door, she does her usual well-rehearsed speech “Welcome to Appley Ever After. My name is Celina. What type of apples are you looking for today?”
The figure turns for a moment, revealing dark green feathered wings tucked tightly behind her back, and Celina recognises a member of the Wings of Luthic. The Orcs who ran interference while Celina's group infiltrated Gadenthor on that fateful night. She smiles with no warmth and speaks with a tone that slides between emotionless cold and theatrical overexpression, betraying a sense of her own smug superiority.
"Celina Zabinski. One of the most gifted warriors in the dawnlands. We never spoke on the night of the attack."
She picks up an apple from a crate, inspects it for a moment, then replaces it.
"My name is Ellever, Luthic's Talon. I've come to give you something."
Celina looks at this person and quickly tries to work out what they intend. Are they here to harm her? Or give her something good? She can’t tell. After a few moments of observing, she gets the sense that there’s nothing obviously alarming. She slightly relaxes.
Celina smiles widely “You give me compliments and offer me a gift. I am intrigued.”. Celina cautiously looks over without giving anything away in her face “So… what do you have to give me?”
"You're connected to the Red House. I don't know them, and they've mostly left the Wings alone. That's fine by us. But your... associates have been asking around. Say you're looking for a Dragon."
"If that's true, I have to admire your courage. And I haven't brought a gift. Not at all. I've come to give you a choice."
Celina stares over to Ellever “Wings? The Red House…? Hmmm… I mean I go there for drinks occasionally… Do you mean in that sense? Not sure you heard but the bartender is gone now. They’re dead. So looks like I won’t be back there for a while…”, Celina sighs while attempting to play down her association with the Red House. Hoping this person might believe her lies.
She quickly moves on “But maybe it was true I was asking about a dragon while I was there visiting…. You know I have one too many and blab. Anyway, do you happen to know where I might find one? And… what do you mean by… choice?”. She looks over curiously again.
Ellever is buying Celina's deception. She hesitates.
"I see. Perhaps I was mistaken. The rumour I heard didn't sound like a subject to raise in a crowded bar. I had thought you more... focused. No matter."
"I overheard someone talking at the Gilded Mirror. They were asking if anyone knew about a Dragon with a maimed left claw. The Wings fought a dragon like that once. In fact, you could say we made a dragon like that."
"But if you're not interested, I understand. I'll take a Granny Smith for the road and be on my way..."
Ellever watches Celina for a moment.
The minute Celina hears the mention of a dragon with a maimed claw, her eyes go wide. “Wait… wait wait wait. No need to be so hasty”. Celina quickly gets up and sprints over to block the door with her body, so she can’t leave. Celina stands with an awkward stance at the door.
She glances at Ellever trying to act casual “What… what do you happen to know… about this dragon with the maimed claw? Maybe I am very interested in what you have to say”.
A confused expression touches Ellever's face for a moment, then it returns to the self-confident mask she has worn since she walked in. Perhaps Celina isn't connected with the Red House, but it appears she is interested in the Dragon.
"About a year ago, the Wings were working for a warlord named Kray, up in the Sunset Spines. He was trying to shore up his power in the Spines and needed allies. He sent us to negotiate with a dragon that roosted nearby. Talovarax the Craven. "
"Talovarax wasn't interested in diplomacy. She waited until our backs were turned and attacked us with her dragonfire. But we were ready with the right protections. "
"We fought Talovarax in the air, neither us nor her getting the advantage. Then she swiped my sister Cotoren out of the sky, seizing her in her huge claw. The others distracted the lizard while I dived through the clouds and sliced her fingers off to free Cotoren. "
"With both sides injured, we retreated and she did too. A few days later we returned for a rematch but she was gone, like the coward she is."
Celina listens carefully as Ellever explains everything. Talovarax the Craven, Talovarax… yes, I have the freakin’ dragons name now. She starts to get angry in her head. Celina drifts off thinking of the things she’ll do for a brief moment. Then she shakes the thought out of her head. She decides she’ll think about it later.
“Interesting… So wait, did you manage to talk to this dragon? How many of you fought this dragon at the time? How was your sister after? Sounds like you might be angry at this dragon“.
Celina pauses to think for a few minutes “Also all that happened a year ago. Why didn’t you follow up again? And… do you happen to know where Talovarax is… now?”. Celina looks over curiously.
Ellever smiles. "The Wings are professionals. We don't have the luxury of feelings when it comes to the work. If we went on an off-book dragon hunt, word would get around that we can be exploited. We can't have that. It's strictly business with us."
"But I want Talovarax dead. And apparently she's on your bad side, too. After our fight, Talovarax moved from the Spines to a volcanic island a few hours flight from here in Port Ffirst. On the way to Kul Joran. Barda recognised her when she flew there just before the war."
"So here's the choice I came to give you. I don't know why you want this particular dragon. But if you're serious about getting payback for whatever she did, I'll help. Get some people together. Get a plan together. The Wings will take you to the island and air drop you. Kill Talovarax. And keep it quiet that the we were involved."
Ellever looks out of the window at the fading sun. Without looking back, she smiles cruelly.
"But revenge isn't for everyone, Celina. So if you're not interested, no hard feelings."
Celina thinks for a few moments. She has the dragon's name, the location, and she can’t get the image of Sammy dying out of her head. It goes over and over in her head. Images of what he would have looked like near the end, him and Cluq. Defenceless and helpless. She feels fuelled by rage.
“That dragon, Talovarax, killed the only person I cared about. I want that dragon to pay…”. Celina starts to sound angry “I want my… revenge”.
Celina thinks briefly but it is an easy decision for her to come to an agreement.
“I accept”. Then she pauses and adds “But what’s in it exactly for you?”
Ellever's eyes take on a thousand-yard stare for a moment as she keeps her gaze fixed out of the window, and then she turns back to Celina.
"We didn't speak at Gadenthor, but I know what you did. And from one warrior to another, that means something. Plus, like I said: revenge isn't something that the Wings can take on. It's too messy for us. But if that's what you want, I'll help you get it. Just don't let this get back to me or my sisters."
Ellever takes an apple and drops a bright silver piece onto the shop counter. She turns just as she is about to walk out of the door.
"Sounds like we have a deal. How about you put the word out for some adventurers who aren't afraid of fire? Send for me when you're ready and I'll arrange transport. Good luck, Celina."
Celina smiles “I’m good at being discreet”. Then she nods “I’ll find a team of people for this and be in touch”.
Celina steps away from the door she was blocking and let’s Ellever pass. As Ellever leaves the shop, Celina grins and waves goodbye “It was a pleasure doing business. See you again soon”.
As the door shuts, Celina immediately switches the sign to ‘Closed’ and goes to her back room. She wants to plan out who she would ask to join her to slay a dragon. This was going to take some thinking. She happily spends the rest of her evening planning things and thinking of many ways she is going to kill the freakin maimed clawed Dragon called Talovarax...
Early evening at Appley Ever After. The late summer sunset is gently disappearing over the rooftops of Port Ffirst. The streets are calming down after a day of trading, a moment of quiet before the town's more nocturnal residents emerge to begin their work in Port Ffirst's real economy.
The front door to the apple shop opens slowly. A tall, graceful figure enters wearing an elegant but functional tunic and boots. Her fair green skin seems dark in the orange glow from the sunset. Her silver hair falls across one side of her face, partially concealing an eye patch that bears the Orcish rune 'Home'. It is the symbol of the Orc goddess Luthic.
The figure takes in the scene and walks slowly to the counter.
Celina is sitting behind the counter at the front of her shop with her feet up on the desk. She is lost in her own world when she hears the door open. She quickly moves her feet to the floor, faces toward the entrance and stands up.
Celina puts on a big smile and as this person comes through the door, she does her usual well-rehearsed speech “Welcome to Appley Ever After. My name is Celina. What type of apples are you looking for today?”
The figure turns for a moment, revealing dark green feathered wings tucked tightly behind her back, and Celina recognises a member of the Wings of Luthic. The Orcs who ran interference while Celina's group infiltrated Gadenthor on that fateful night. She smiles with no warmth and speaks with a tone that slides between emotionless cold and theatrical overexpression, betraying a sense of her own smug superiority.
"Celina Zabinski. One of the most gifted warriors in the dawnlands. We never spoke on the night of the attack."
She picks up an apple from a crate, inspects it for a moment, then replaces it.
"My name is Ellever, Luthic's Talon. I've come to give you something."
Celina looks at this person and quickly tries to work out what they intend. Are they here to harm her? Or give her something good? She can’t tell. After a few moments of observing, she gets the sense that there’s nothing obviously alarming. She slightly relaxes.
Celina smiles widely “You give me compliments and offer me a gift. I am intrigued.”. Celina cautiously looks over without giving anything away in her face “So… what do you have to give me?”
"You're connected to the Red House. I don't know them, and they've mostly left the Wings alone. That's fine by us. But your... associates have been asking around. Say you're looking for a Dragon."
"If that's true, I have to admire your courage. And I haven't brought a gift. Not at all. I've come to give you a choice."
Celina stares over to Ellever “Wings? The Red House…? Hmmm… I mean I go there for drinks occasionally… Do you mean in that sense? Not sure you heard but the bartender is gone now. They’re dead. So looks like I won’t be back there for a while…”, Celina sighs while attempting to play down her association with the Red House. Hoping this person might believe her lies.
She quickly moves on “But maybe it was true I was asking about a dragon while I was there visiting…. You know I have one too many and blab. Anyway, do you happen to know where I might find one? And… what do you mean by… choice?”. She looks over curiously again.
Ellever is buying Celina's deception. She hesitates.
"I see. Perhaps I was mistaken. The rumour I heard didn't sound like a subject to raise in a crowded bar. I had thought you more... focused. No matter."
"I overheard someone talking at the Gilded Mirror. They were asking if anyone knew about a Dragon with a maimed left claw. The Wings fought a dragon like that once. In fact, you could say we made a dragon like that."
"But if you're not interested, I understand. I'll take a Granny Smith for the road and be on my way..."
Ellever watches Celina for a moment.
The minute Celina hears the mention of a dragon with a maimed claw, her eyes go wide. “Wait… wait wait wait. No need to be so hasty”. Celina quickly gets up and sprints over to block the door with her body, so she can’t leave. Celina stands with an awkward stance at the door.
She glances at Ellever trying to act casual “What… what do you happen to know… about this dragon with the maimed claw? Maybe I am very interested in what you have to say”.
A confused expression touches Ellever's face for a moment, then it returns to the self-confident mask she has worn since she walked in. Perhaps Celina isn't connected with the Red House, but it appears she is interested in the Dragon.
"About a year ago, the Wings were working for a warlord named Kray, up in the Sunset Spines. He was trying to shore up his power in the Spines and needed allies. He sent us to negotiate with a dragon that roosted nearby. Talovarax the Craven. "
"Talovarax wasn't interested in diplomacy. She waited until our backs were turned and attacked us with her dragonfire. But we were ready with the right protections. "
"We fought Talovarax in the air, neither us nor her getting the advantage. Then she swiped my sister Cotoren out of the sky, seizing her in her huge claw. The others distracted the lizard while I dived through the clouds and sliced her fingers off to free Cotoren. "
"With both sides injured, we retreated and she did too. A few days later we returned for a rematch but she was gone, like the coward she is."
Celina listens carefully as Ellever explains everything. Talovarax the Craven, Talovarax… yes, I have the freakin’ dragons name now. She starts to get angry in her head. Celina drifts off thinking of the things she’ll do for a brief moment. Then she shakes the thought out of her head. She decides she’ll think about it later.
“Interesting… So wait, did you manage to talk to this dragon? How many of you fought this dragon at the time? How was your sister after? Sounds like you might be angry at this dragon“.
Celina pauses to think for a few minutes “Also all that happened a year ago. Why didn’t you follow up again? And… do you happen to know where Talovarax is… now?”. Celina looks over curiously.
Ellever smiles. "The Wings are professionals. We don't have the luxury of feelings when it comes to the work. If we went on an off-book dragon hunt, word would get around that we can be exploited. We can't have that. It's strictly business with us."
"But I want Talovarax dead. And apparently she's on your bad side, too. After our fight, Talovarax moved from the Spines to a volcanic island a few hours flight from here in Port Ffirst. On the way to Kul Joran. Barda recognised her when she flew there just before the war."
"So here's the choice I came to give you. I don't know why you want this particular dragon. But if you're serious about getting payback for whatever she did, I'll help. Get some people together. Get a plan together. The Wings will take you to the island and air drop you. Kill Talovarax. And keep it quiet that the we were involved."
Ellever looks out of the window at the fading sun. Without looking back, she smiles cruelly.
"But revenge isn't for everyone, Celina. So if you're not interested, no hard feelings."
Celina thinks for a few moments. She has the dragon's name, the location, and she can’t get the image of Sammy dying out of her head. It goes over and over in her head. Images of what he would have looked like near the end, him and Cluq. Defenceless and helpless. She feels fuelled by rage.
“That dragon, Talovarax, killed the only person I cared about. I want that dragon to pay…”. Celina starts to sound angry “I want my… revenge”.
Celina thinks briefly but it is an easy decision for her to come to an agreement.
“I accept”. Then she pauses and adds “But what’s in it exactly for you?”
Ellever's eyes take on a thousand-yard stare for a moment as she keeps her gaze fixed out of the window, and then she turns back to Celina.
"We didn't speak at Gadenthor, but I know what you did. And from one warrior to another, that means something. Plus, like I said: revenge isn't something that the Wings can take on. It's too messy for us. But if that's what you want, I'll help you get it. Just don't let this get back to me or my sisters."
Ellever takes an apple and drops a bright silver piece onto the shop counter. She turns just as she is about to walk out of the door.
"Sounds like we have a deal. How about you put the word out for some adventurers who aren't afraid of fire? Send for me when you're ready and I'll arrange transport. Good luck, Celina."
Celina smiles “I’m good at being discreet”. Then she nods “I’ll find a team of people for this and be in touch”.
Celina steps away from the door she was blocking and let’s Ellever pass. As Ellever leaves the shop, Celina grins and waves goodbye “It was a pleasure doing business. See you again soon”.
As the door shuts, Celina immediately switches the sign to ‘Closed’ and goes to her back room. She wants to plan out who she would ask to join her to slay a dragon. This was going to take some thinking. She happily spends the rest of her evening planning things and thinking of many ways she is going to kill the freakin maimed clawed Dragon called Talovarax...