Post by Michael on Oct 22, 2024 8:48:14 GMT
Upon a rocky verge over looking the great chasm the form of Sergeant Melissa Buttons stands smiling, their eyes closed to the view of the retreating figures, a damp, scorched and in one case half-starved adventuring party, making their way back across the grassy plains towards the slowing growing shape of Daring Heights upon the dawning horizon.
There is the creak and clink of immense leather metal braced boots as their owner, a hulking great figure nonchalantly swaggers their way up to stand beside and considerably above the diminutive form of the Sergeant, swinging a large metal studded bone club up onto their shoulder. “You’re letting’em get away?” He asks, his breath forming a cloud between his tusks in the suprisingly chilly morning air.
“Yes.” Responds the figure of Melissa, barely registering his approach, eyes closed, still smiling.“They slayed the Behir, there was no benefit more to keep them in there.”
The hulking figure gives a disappointed snort. “I can have Nix pick’em off before they get near town." He murmurs. “Lots of hungry beasties still bout’on their hunts, their remains wouldn’t be’round for long.” He grins.
“No, let them go,” Melissa said simply, “They’ve earned their freedom, unlike the others. They have this one this one them with too.” She indicates to herself with the merest gesture.
“Wat? She survived?” Inquired the hulk, their voice creaking with annoyance like the sound of their crimson leather fur-lined jacket as they move to try and to pick out the figure of the armoured halfing sergeant moving ahead in the growing golden light.
“Typical.” He spat. “In that case I guess I’ll just have to take me money and move on, got damn near lucky with that incident in town the other week!” he sneers, feeling the scar tissue tight from the electrical burns over one cheek, “I dare say that damn Watch will be crawling’bout for a fair while after. Armoured insects.” He adds, with a glance back towards the hunched oak tree behind them where a bound form now hangs secured by its clawed feet.
“Ah yes, you said where exploring new business ventures were you not?” Smiles Melissa, the golden sunlight now warming the halfing’s face as it lifts slowly further skyward.
“Yeah, had a nice ‘business-deal’ all being squared up with that Mace over in Port Ffirst too.” The hulk grunts in irritation. “Guess I’ll have to move’bout. Kundar perhaps, or Kul Goran.”
“Or maybe,” Smiles the halfing as her eyes opening to reflect deep cold blue sheen right to their cores.“I could assist there too.”
Parts of Melissa’s form start to steam and fracture with icy blue hue in the morning light.
Light which gleams off the frozen feathers of the unfortunate aarakocra scout of Sergeant Melissa Buttons’s squad that night. Officer Rufus who never made it to Fort Daring sound the alarm of the suspected Behir on the loose.
“Tell me, dear dealer,” Said the breaking form of Melissa, still smiling as her face fractured.
“What do you know of The Plain of Air?”