Estylwen

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

Wrensthav saw the excitement in Polaris' eyes when they mentioned the open stage for performers. Despite her melodic speaking voice, her singing voice made the howling of cats and the squeaking of rusted hinges sound like a pleasant melody. The last time she sang the entire public house deserted for the evening, staff and owner included. This, however, did not curb her enjoyment one bit.

"Polaris, I know you want to go up there and sing, but I would like to keep Roselyn in business for the rest of our stay," Wrensthav warned. Her composure slumped a little., but quickly returned a moment later.

"Well, she said musicians and singers." Polaris grinned broadly.

"And?"

"How about pretty-elf sings and we accompany with music?"

"Who said I could sing?" Said a mildly cross Evelyn, ear twitching at the sound of 'pretty elf'. "I may or may not have a talent for it, but we're here on business. No singing, dancing or music-making."

Mattien, having slugged back several mugs of ale, spoke with a slurred speech. "Ah, that sounds like no fun at all there, Evelyn. Where I come from, where... it's — when! When it's happy hour, it's happy hour~"

He sluggishly got up from his seat, swaying on his feet before stumbling to the stage. He clambered on, waving at the audience with a silly grin on his face.

"Hi, everybody... Heh, I'd like to dedicate this one to the host for her excellent, uh, ale!" He said, before singing a song from his homeland about drinking, naked woman, and more ale. His voice wasn't bad, but the lyrics were atrocious.

Evelyn facepalmed. "Ugh, we have to stop him. He's too drunk." She gestured to Wrensthav and Polaris, and they walked up on stage together, tugging Mattien down.

"Shut up and sit here," Evelyn said, making him sit in the first row. Mattien pouted, but happily accepted ale from Roselyn and sipped at his seat quietly. The audience breathed a sigh of relief.

Evelyn, Polaris and Wrensthav found themselves on stage. She looked at him, pausing before subtly rolling her eyes. "Okay, one song. But I'm not to blame for whatever happens. They've likely never been exposed to Elvish before."

She took a stool and sat it in the middle of the stage, lowering her hood and giving her silver hair a ruffle. The audience was quiet, curious. Her eyes turned to Wrensthav, sparkling with anticipation.

After making sure Mattien was good and settled in the front row Wrensthav and Polaris joined Evelyn on the stage. It intrigued him as to why she hid her face from the world most of the time but he figured that something would eventually come about on their own.

He procured a long carved horn from the air. This was one of the two weapons that his Dietic alter ego would actually use and it had one of the most mystifying notes out of all the instruments he ever came across. "Summer Stormwind's Flute" was the name it was rarely recorded as. The only thing about the Venswrath persona that didn't have a negative connotation to it.

Polaris jumped on stage quite enthusiastically after going outside to build her instrument of choice. A ceramic xylophone floated on stage. she wrapped her hair into a high ponytail and stuck her second pair of felt hammers into it.

"Upbeat, or slow Miss Elf-lady?" Polaris replied checking to see if she tuned the ceramic bricks right.

"Slow. I want them to feel." Evelyn said, noting their two instruments. A flute and a xylophone would make a lovely harmony to aetheric elvish. "Let's see what happens here." She whispered, winking.

"Thank you for your patience. We will begin now." Evelyn gazed across the audience, smiling before taking a deep breath. Her eyes closed, and her ears tuned to the musicians beside her. The melody would shift in time with their notes.

She lifted her hands as if caressing the air. She sang, but it was in such a foreign dialect, her words sounded nonsensical. Sounds, however, fit perfectly together, and it seemed the language wrote the melody. As Evelyn sang in a silvery soprano, the air grew thick with raw magic. It permeated the air with static and sparkles.

Some members of the audience jaw dropped. Some could feel the story being woven. Evelyn sang exclusively with truth, and she spoke of love and heartache.

It began out as a solo, but Wrensthav and Polaris got a feel for the song, and they began to play. The three tunes mixed together with astounding perfection despite there being no sheet music.

That's when the magic in the air set alight. The whole hall glittered with tangible emotion and energy. The audience was held captive, all, including Mattien, sitting with smiles on their faces. The notes changed, and they burst into tears.

The initial melody and chords set by Evelyn, Wrensthav joined in. The flutes low and reverberating tones tuning even with the benches and chairs echoed and hummed with the song. Polaris joined in a measure behind Wrensthav. the two instrument players trading forth the melody and harmonies between each other. Sometimes harmonizing with each other or with Evelyn. the song ended with the two of them giving musical support the peak of Evelyn's story with Wrensthav cueing Polaris when to join in.

The whole inn and several people from around the building filled the seats and even stood to listen to the musical entertainment. When Evelyn finished the crowd was shoulder to shoulder clapping enthusiastically and calling for an encore. Evelyn merely replaced her hood onto her head and politely walked off stage. Wrensthav followed suit, vanishing the flute after his bow and leaving the stage. Polaris, however, went into the crowd and gathered a few surprised guests to start a new song.

"That was a heartbreaking song you sang there, Miss Evelyn," Wrensthav said after they found an empty seat as the crowd was slowly thinning as the performances went on.

"Did you happen to choose to sing that knowing that most of those here tonight wouldn't know the subject of the song?"

The interesting part of the Elvish language was that an individual could never lie while speaking it. The words wouldn't come. So Evelyn couldn't speak of a lover's love, but she wanted them to feel. And they felt. Though none of them truly understood the emotions filling their hearts. At least, that's what she assumed.

As she left the stage and found a seat near the back, she watched Mattien silently nursing his ale as the hall cleared out of extra people. He seemed bothered, but it was probably due to the song. She did evoke very powerful emotion, after all.

Wrensthav followed quietly after her, sitting by her. He stared casually as a different song began to play on stage, mentioning to Evelyn if she sang because no one would understand the lyrics.

Her eyes widened. "I did. I mean, I — what?" She pinched the bridge of her nose in a flustered manner, shaking her head.

"Let's speak in private. Follow me." She said, carefully eyeing Wrensthav before stepping past him to walk up a staircase that led to doors upon doors. She opened her rented room and stepped in, greeted by orbs of magelight. They hovered in tiny containers in bookshelves and along the windowsill, lighting the small-sized room with a single bed and chair.

Evelyn sat on the bed, gesturing with a hand. A magelight fell into her grasp, which she fiddled with anxiously. "Can we keep this conversation between us, Wrensthav? I'm usually a very private person." She said, eyes down.

"I guess you know Elvish. Question is, how?" She looked up at him inquisitively. "It's a special language, full of old world magic. It was an unconscious part of me that yearned to sing of my late mother, and I obliged as I wanted to speak my truth. It was a very difficult part of my childhood, losing her the way I did. You never stop missing them. Never.

"I said earlier I didn't want to confuse work with personal matters. You're all here on a business venture with me, and that means there are certain barriers that have to remain to keep this professional. I'd rather keep my personal life out of this, but... Well." Evelyn trailed off.

"I mean, it was a beautiful mix of music. Did you see the looks on their faces? Beautiful... Your instrument has some magical properties, no?"

"The Summerwind's Flute is considered a treasure where I am from. and has had very few players." Wrensthav mused with his hair a bit before speaking again.

"As for how I know Elvish, I have a talent for picking up spoken languages. I do not know how to read Elvish, though." He spoke to her in the dialect that she sang in though a bit of his accent still permeated through.

"I do not like speaking in the true languages though it's better in most cases to use the lower languages. You can hide more without directly lying."

Evelyn nodded, absent-mindedly tugging at the magelight in her hands. His 'talent' was likely more of an Omni-linguistic ability; no one just 'picked up' Elvish. However, she couldn't be sure. "Wrensthav... you're not really from here, are you?" She said slowly.

Evelyn almost chuckled. "I'd almost like it if you spoke exclusive Elvish with me. I'd learn a hell of a lot more about you. Your accent is a little strong and your words are choppy, but you understand the gist of it."

Bouncing the magelight in the centre of her palm, Evelyn paused before tossing it in an arc to Wrensthav. It was her inquisitive side again — if he didn't know how to 'catch and hold' the magic, it would slip from his fingers onto the floor. It was no easy feat as it required a mental discipline and magic aptitude.

It was also to catch him off guard, subtly so. "You've been in this area before," Evelyn began, eyes glinting from within her hood. "There was a certain gift you asked for, something very prized. Why did you want it?"

Wrensthav caught the ball and tossed it around a bit while gathering his thoughts for a response.

"I travel often and act as a middle man for powerful characters. They usually need me as the last resort though and people have a tenancy to hold themselves up and get prickly when you try to take away their special trinkets."

He set the ball to float in the air and gathered three more to rotate around the first one lazily.

"I don't have any interest in them at all really unless I am tasked with keeping them on my person for an extended period of time. I gather items that are usually near a point of irreversible damage and get them to a proper craftsman who repairs them before that happens. Depending on what the item was and its recovery time I either return it or find an abandoned dungeon and...." he paused searching for a word the spheres of magelight almost dropping and colliding with each other. "Renovate the obstructions."

The several magelights rotating in the air demonstrated Wrensthav could hold his awareness on several things at once. The speed, magic-holding, trajectories, and his ability to still speak. It was quite amazing to count. Evelyn couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"So, let me see if I understand this." She said, "You have contracts to find and fix certain objects, and you hide them away? While I understand if you would want to keep it out of the wrong hands, wouldn't it be better to have it, whatever it is, above soil so the world can enjoy and learn from it?"

She chewed her lip, watching the slightly wobbling magelights. "I can see we have a philosophical difference there. But I will say, you have quite the... Hm, intriguing profession."

A loud crash sounded downstairs. Mattien's distinctive slurred voice rose up from the hall. Evelyn sighed, giving Wrensthav a shrug.

"Who knows what it is now. Could you check on that and bring Mattien to his room? I'm turning in for the night. We'll be up early tomorrow and on the road." said the Elf, moving the magelights from the centre of the room to their respective containers.

"And... good chat." She said, a look of intrigue still evident on her face. "Goodnight, Wrensthav."

_{Written in collaboration with @WrensthavAviovus}

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

Evelyn closed her eyes, not wishing to see the in-between of teleporting. It was the rush of wind and that slow, drawing-momentum drop that caused her eyes to flash open, and she beheld a land splayed out with tiny trees, glistening river, a town in the distance and a shroud of mist.

We're high up... Raced through Evelyn's mind. Really high. I have no magic for heights. No magic...

Her mind calculated, but adrenaline and panic began to set in despite her inner self trying to stay calm enough for a solution to hit her.

Nothing.

They were really starting to fall at this point. The wind whipped past them as she saw the team in her peripherals, all with anxious looks. Well, except for Mattien. His bewitchment still held.

So much for staying calculative. Adrenaline and panic set her heart racing. Her body took over and a shrill cry escaped her lips. She wouldn't survive this fall, not like this. Shit.

A hand wrapped around her waist and their momentum slowed as Wrensthav waved his other hand about. The wind rushed below them. The ground was coming in a bit quick; Evelyn stumbled as they landed.

She was breathless, silver hair rustled and pointed ears exposed. "...Wow... I didn't quite expect that." Her gaze focused on Wrensthav with narrowed eyes. "That was some quick thinking. I guess... I should thank you."

She walked to Mattien, touching him. He snapped to, shaking his head.

"What the, where's the river? What happened?" Mattien grunted.

"You don't remember? We walked for four hours to the other bridge. Polaris was kind enough to carry you when that blond head of yours caught too much sun." Evelyn said straight-faced, winking to Wrensthav and Polaris.

"...What?" Mattien squinted. "Polaris is too tiny to carry me. "

"It seems his vision has yet to fully return to him." Polaris held the back of her hand to Mattien's forehead. A concerned look was followed by her shaking her head, her shoulders up and her arms forming a 'w' shape. "Yep, he still has a bit of heat fever it seems. What do you think, Pretty-elf? Should I shoulder him till the town's gate when we can find a respectable apothecary?"

She loved seeing the various expressions of the strongman's face as her conversation continued.

"Either way, we are in dire need of supplies if our host is in the same category of healing practices as we are," Wrensthav interjected shuffling his load.

"A sleeping rag, lavender incense, and laughing phials are not cure-alls, Wrens."

"I always found that death was the final answer to all ailments. It's not my fault that people are opposed to that option."

"The entire point is to keep them alive."

"Bahh, minor complication."

Mattien grumbled, batting Polaris' hand away. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just a little..." His brows furrowed. "We've reached the next town?"

Evelyn nodded. As Wrenthav and Polaris spoke of supplies, she shouldered her travel bag. "Well, I'm not even going to as what a 'sleeping rag' is. I'm well-versed in the arts of arcane healing, but just one look at Mattien tells me he'll clear up real soon."

Mattien snorted, turning a bit to hide himself checking his forehead. His face betrayed confusion.

"... Shall we head to town, then?" Evelyn said eventually, blowing a gust of air through her lips. Flipping her hood up over her head, she Conjured a translucent walking stick and began the final trek of the day. Town was only ten minutes away.

And it was a fine town. Old and homey with homes and businesses made of wood and stone. By their time of arrival, it was nearing evening. The sun was setting, colouring the sky and underbelly of clouds. Lanterns were lit in buildings and along the heavy-trodden dirt streets.

Evelyn made way for an Inn, pushing aside a heavy door.

The Inn was a decent sized establishment boasting of a dozen small rooms and a long dining table big enough to seat about 20 people. There were a few patrons there; starting their evening meals. The majority of the staff bustling about with wooden dishes and mugs of ale, beer, and local wine. The hostess nodded to Evelyn as she entered and started walking their way. Her smile brightened when she heard the jangle that followed Wrensthav's every step.

"Is that the wandering armoury, Wrensthav I hear? Good evening, good evening, my you all smell of pine! Did he trick you all into believing he knew where he was going?"

She gasped excitedly as Polaris walked in behind Mattien. "Lady Polaris! I wouldn't have guessed that you were an acquaintance of the bumbling storm cloud."

Polaris returned the innkeeper hostess enthusiasm and gave her a quick embrace.

"Someone had to make sure we got here before the darkest hour, Roselyn. What is for supper tonight?"

"Fish stew, and sourdough rolls. So, party of four and how many rooms?"

"Wandering armoury, eh?" Evelyn said, giving Wrensthav a sideways look. "Seems it's a small world after all."

At the mention of stew Mattien's stomach growled audibly. He put a hand on his leather chest armour, looking around. "Uhm. I think my stomach would like fish stew." On cue, it gurgled again.

Evelyn cracked a smile, elbowing Polaris playfully. "Heh, must be all that sun Mattien got, right?"

At the mention of rooms, Evelyn stopped, taking in their group. Her brows furrowed a moment before she spoke. "Three rooms, I believe. That and the bill is on me, seeing as it's my expedition." She rolled her eyes, pulling out a small pouch.

Idly picking at a few coins, Evelyn lowered her voice a tone to the hostess. "So, I'm curious... How do you know Wrensthav?"

Polaris giggled a bit and led the men to the tables. The other staff greeted Polaris with great enthusiasm and were noticeably weary of Wrensthav more than Mattien. Roselyn sighed a bit at the cowish side her staff was still showing to Wrensthav.

"He visited our town a moon or so back and subjugated a band of highway bandits that have been raiding our eastern route for years. He said they attacked him and he dealt with them appropriately." She laughed audibly. "Apparently his idea of appropriate was breaking their gear and armour and marching all fifty them into the lords front yard. Nothing but a large stone-sheathed blade across his shoulders as he walked behind them and made them issue an apology as well as offer their services to compensate for the trouble they gave the people."

Roselyn gave a sympathetic glance towards the rest of Evelyn's party before continuing. "It seems like the bandit leader had a powerful item that helped him evade our searches for them. When the lord of our town asked for it in return Wrensthav said that it was the reason he was here to begin with, and that he would be taking it as his payment. Sadly it was an heirloom of the lord; he didn't take too kindly to that. So, with the townsfolk afraid of him and the inns pressured by the lord we were the only place that would let him in."

Evelyn listened quietly, picturing the story in her head. From what she imagined, Wrensthav was more of an enigma with a strong sense of justice. Very powerful persuasion tactics as well. Most bandits wouldn't have the capacity for such generosity. They must have been scared for their lives.

Her curiosity piqued at the heirloom. "Wrensthav took only a magical trinket? Nothing else, like gold or a title? I know he doesn't have that on him now. I wonder what he did with it..."

She gave Roselyn payment for the night, plus a few extra coins. "Keep this conversation between you and me, mm?"

The group sat together at a table close to the stage. Musicians played on their wood and string instruments, creating a peaceful ambience to the evening. Mattien eyed his meal, tossing aside the spoon. He picked up his bowl of fish stew and tipped it down his throat, downing the entire thing in 20 seconds.

"Another bowl, *burp*, please." He said, waving one of the staff over.

Evelyn wrinkled her nose at the Breton. "Were you never taught table manners?"

"What can I say, I'm hungry. I could eat at least two more of these." Mattien said casually, picking his teeth.

The elf made a noise of disgust, looking away from Mattien to inspect her own bowl. She meticulously began removing chunks of fish meat out of her stew, placing them in Mattien's empty bowl. When the staff member brought more fish stew, she asked if they had any salad in house. The answer was no.

Evelyn sipped her mug of ale, displeasure evident on her face.

As the musicians finished their last song and walked off the stage, Roselyn got onto the elevated platform. "I want to thank the travellers' band for their music this evening. We're going to give them a break and open the stage to the audience.

"We love karaoke at Stone Hedge Inn, so for the next hour, if you come play or sing, you'll receive a whole pitcher of ale for free!"

_{Written in collaboration with @WrensthavAviovus}

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Wrensthav asked Polaris after Evelyn straightened her clothes out.

"That was more enjoyable than I was expecting," Polaris replied cheerfully. "She shan't be slowing us down at all; that is for certain. But are we leaving right now, right now?"

"Seems so, I take it you didn't bring your sack of clothes with you then?" Wrensthav replied in kind. Polaris grumbled a bit before mumbling the inorganic summon that wrens used in his fight earlier to retrieve her change of clothes.

"All done and ready to go," Polaris replied after slinging the strap around her shoulder.

Mattien snorted. "Forget your other dress, shorty?" He eyed Polaris.

Evelyn gave him a look. Taking a deep breath, she looked down the mountain path. It circled the rock a while before levelling out. It was down there the road split four ways.

Her eyes passed over each of them one more time. She wondered if there was anything left to do, anything she missed... I managed to find the strangest band of warriors, to be sure. She thought. Her eyes hovered over Wrensthav the longest. Her magic still couldn`t read him. Polaris felt strange too. Two strange elements, a normal Breton with a magical artefact, and an elf.

It was hard not to laugh at the absurdity.

"May we be blessed in our travels. Let's go." She said, leaving the shrine.

They travelled for a solid few hours, coming across nothing much of note down the dirt path. Trees, blue sky and large plains of rolling grass. It wasn't until they came across a river that they were forced to stop. The river was lengthy, deep and wide across. Rapids left the surface white and frothing. All that remained to get across was a broken, fractured wood bridge. Entire pieces were missing, making the bridge useless.

Polaris noticed that Wrensthav was doing his best no to seem nervous the closer they came to the river. Sadly for his nerves, it was a fast moving river of massive girth. The damaged bridge didn't look promising either with its gaping holes that looked as if someone or something tore them out.

"Evelyn," Wrensthav said, trying to keep his voice steady as he eyed the current prospects. "Is there a way for us to ford this river at a more calm area? or are there any other structures that would allow us to pass in a relatively dry manner?"

"Wrensthav can't swim." Polaris said quite bluntly. "and has a fear of being in small vessels on bodies of wa-- ow!" Wrensthav flicked the jewel on Polaris' swords crossguard.

"What? It's true." Polaris said rubbing her shoulder.

"Ahem." Wrensthav re-settled the collection of blades on his back with a shrug. "Again are there other options to cross nearby?"

"Hm," Evelyn betrayed no emotion except for her lips being slightly pursed. "I wasn't counting on the river's bridge to be... torn away."

She turned to the group. "I'd suggest we swim across, but Wrensthav..." Evelyn played grey eyes over him before gazing across the river.

She raised a sparkling hand, lights glinting in her palm. The magic shot off in a couple direction. Evelyn paused before speaking. "It would be an extra four hours of walking, but there is another bridge down the way. I'd rather not set us back, so unless there are any other ideas?"

Mattien tossed his blonde hair back, ho-humming. "It looks like there are parts of the bridge still intact. If we had some solid material we could plank our way across. But we risk toppling the whole structure with our weight. And who knows what's in the water."

"Aren't you forgetting something, my dear Wrens?" Polaris asked. Her arms were crossed and an annoyed pout was currently occupying her face.

"You know she is longsighted. Short jumps are almost suicidal." Wrensthav replied back.

"Well with the both of us I think we can grant our party a reasonable amount of safety if things go south." Polaris retorted back getting fed up with Wrensthav's arguments.

"Fine! We'll use Silvi." Wrensthav mumbled a bit while digging through the inner pocket of his cloak. A minute passed and a silver disc with a mother-of-pearl finish attached to a chain was in his grasp. A slight glow emanated from the item before the surface swirled about and a melodic voice permeated the air.

"Good morrow Evelyn party, Multi organic transportation service requested. Please choose your approximate destination from the areas provided. Be advised, all spacial jumps have up to a mile radius of error."

"Whoa, whoa-- hang on a second." Mattien pushed his way to the centre of the group, leering at the device in Wrensthav's hand. "What did I hear about 'suicidal'? Just hold on--"

Evelyn blinked, eyes distant. Her thoughts hung onto the fact that Silvi somehow knew her name. Would Wrensthav notice if she scryed it with magic? Well, probably, but would he care? As a mage, magical items were not a thing to pass up documenting and studying...

Mattien was still talking. "--And I've never seen anything like it before, and I for one, don't trust black magic whatever-it-is. There's no way you're convincing me to trust that... that thing with my life," He tossed his hair with a 'humph'.

"I'd rather swim." He said.

Evelyn scryed the item called Silvi. Its innards were dimensionally voluminous compared to its outside appearance. Having plunged in, Evelyn felt a little lost. It was a totally alien artifact, but she could detect a few thing. It shaped space from within, moving it in a way that massive distances (she couldn't see the end of its reach) were somehow nullified, essentially making it a teleporting thing.

Evelyn snapped back, having lost the scry. "..." She felt a little woozy. All that space. "What was that?"

"Evelyn?" Mattien said, moving to support her. He followed her stare to Silvi. "What... What did you do to her?"

Polaris knew that look. She saw it often when appraisers took a glimpse into Wrensthav's more potent items such as Silvi and the Cloak of Nemarsis. it would often fry machines and bewilder magical scryers.

"She looked into something that she could not comprehend," Polaris answered.

"I would strongly advise against any further attempts to look into my inner workings. This universe is large and I hold a record of several others." Silvi added.

"Well, it looks like our only other choice is to head straight into bandits. Mattien may take the lead." Wrensthav said putting the disc back into the confines of his cloak. "Evelyn, would you need some assistance for a while?"

"I may consider that advice," Evelyn said to Silvi, standing upright and brushing Mattien's hand off. "Thank you, Mattien. I'm fine."

Mattien shrugged. After Wrensthav mentioned bandits he raised an eyebrow. "Bandits? This is a safe area. Bandits wouldn't think to lurk around here."

At Wrensthav's offer Evelyn narrowed grey eyes. "I'm fine." Her knees felt weak, but she wasn't about to admit that.

"I wasn't looking for people down at the other bridge. Did you sense bandits?" Evelyn said. Her thin brows furrowed as she weighed her options.

"No. I don't want to risk it." The elf said, touching Mattien with two fingers. His eyes glazed over and he went slack-jaw. Evelyn waved a hand in front of his face with no respond from the colossal Breton.

"Let's use your disk, Wrensthav. Quick, while this oaf is still bewitched."

"All Parties please touch my perimeter for teleportation sequencing!"

Wrens held onto the chain as Evelyn touched the disc. Polaris held up Mattien's hand to the item while touching it with the pommel of the sword.

"All parties accounted for? Teleportation initiating. Have a nice flight!"

In a flash of brilliant blue, the group vanished from the riverside and appeared ten minutes walk from the town but also a hundred feet above the tree line. Wrensthav quickly grabbed ahold of Evelyn's waist with his left hand whilst letting a torrent of wind flow from his other hand helping to slow the fall. The trees below them parted and swayed from the force of the breeze.

Polaris had mattien slumped over her shoulder and her sword was drawn and pointed towards the ground as well. she made a flurry of sweeping motions pulling the iron out of the ground and created a spiralling slide to help ease her descent with mattien in tow.

When they landed, Polaris let go of her grip on her partner and glared at Wrensthav and Evelyn as they touched down a couple seconds after with a clatter.

"At least she gives us a bit of a hint these days as to how far in the air we are. You can let go of the elf-lady now Wrens."

_{Written in collaboration with @WrensthavAviovus}

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

---

Polar - Spring

---

"Dance?" Evelyn turned her head slightly, hand resting on her undrawn sword as she stepped onto the circular stone slab. "For that we need music, don't we?"

She waved her fingers dramatically, creating sparks in the air. "Music, maestro!"

Ghostly violins and cellos Conjured out of thin air, setting their bows against the string. The air crackled with tension. They appraised each other, Evelyn staring with blank, focused eyes. The moment held for an eternity. Then, Evelyn released her blade with a click.

With the first clash, the music began. It sang in time with the strike of steel, complimenting furious swords with staccato notes. Evelyn drew back, coating her ornate weapon in fractal ice. Spinning 360 degrees, she swung at the ground, creating a wave of frost to spike the stone. Her aim was to trap Polaris' feet in ice just a moment.

Now! Evelyn bared her teeth, moving with as quick of momentum as she could as she leapt up for an aerial strike directly over Polaris's head.

Polaris was glad that the pretty elf-lady was playing along. The frost attack did surprise her, but it would just make her particular fighting style. What got her really smiling was how her opponent chose to land her first melee range attack.

Polaris jumped from the ice to grab the backside of the elf's sword as it came down. she pulled herself up along the length of the blade to bring herself close to the shocked face of her opponent. Her other arm lightly grasped the elf's shoulder. By the time they both landed on the now icy ground and twisted her hips to fling the elf using the area of the blade she was still grasping as the pivot point to slide across the ice.

"You need something a tiny bit more clever to really bring me out," Polaris said returning to her beginning pose.

Evelyn twisted through the air, landing gracefully on all fours and immediately launching herself back at Polaris as she quipped about clever-ness. A burst of flame erupted from her elvish sword, melting away the ice and breathing a ring of fire around the two. This limited the available space considerably.

With a glowing hot blade, Evelyn struck Polaris so hard the swords created a shockwave before reeling from each other. A quick twist and spin -- Evelyn struck cross-wise with a ferocity. She continued combining her moves in faster and faster chains, trying to push Polaris in a corner if she could just pin her down...

Polaris neared the flame's edge. Finally. Evelyn hooked her opponent's ankle with a well-placed leg and yanked, aiming to lurch Polaris off-balance backwards toward the flame wall. She also swung out with hot steel, diagonally swiping.

Seeing herself put in this much of a bind made her wonder why the elf didn't fight this fierce with the men. Maybe the two losses left the elf with something more to prove against the only other female of the group. But that was all the more reason the Polaris was enjoying this exchange of blows. Sadly with her opponents blades on fire, she was unable to grapple an arm between the onslaught of swings that caused her to bring out her own weapon.

She finally saw her chance when she felt her leg get hooked from behind. it was very rare for her to fight an opponent who would also use their legs as a set up for an attack. But for her, this was a welcoming opportunity.

Polaris twisted along with the low swipe. she used the momentum of her fall to hit the back of the elf's striking knee. A pillar of iron rose from the ground so she could use her free hand to push off of so as not to land into the flaming ring. The end result was Polaris landing on her side and rolled enough to have her opponents shin and thigh hinged shut. Her legs locked on a face-down Evelyn and her breathing heavy.

"That's one way. To sweep each other. Off our feet. I do compliment you. On keeping up with me."

"I told you you should have worn a different dress!" Wrensthav shouted from the sidelines.

The wind whistled through her silver hair, blowing off her hood as Polaris launched them over the flame wall. I'm stuck. She grimaced, eyeing the joint where she was hooked.

They landed with a thud, fire dispersing to wisps behind them. Evelyn landed rather abruptly on her nose, which she rubbed tenderly while propped on elbows. Polaris sat atop her, probably feeling a little smug.

She coughed, signalling Polaris to get off. Rolling to her feet, her sword was sheathed rather quick. "Well, that was dashing. You managed to get me covered in dust." Despite herself, she had to smirk. Again, defeated. But that meant everyone here was skilled enough.

Brushing dust out of her hair and off her shoulders, Evelyn shook out her mage hood and placed it atop her head. There, that felt normal.

"Now then... Are we ready to begin?" She looked up at the sun right above their heads. "We want to start travelling east. It will be dark by the time we reach the next town."

"East?" Mattien said.

"Yes. The Rubylust is in uncharted ruins lying far in the east. I did mention on that poster somewhere this was going to be an epic journey. People don't throw around the word 'epic' for no reason." Evelyn said smoothly, tapping the hilt of her sword.

_{Written in collaboration with @WrensthavAviovus}

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

Mattien glanced up from his tea. "I figured this was a good way to make money. Plus, I needed a real adventure. This... thing we're looking for, it sounds like a true Prize. The kind of Prize hidden behind a thousand traps and devilish magic. Just what I enjoy. A reason to fight."

Evelyn chimed in. "Not just traps and magic, I'm hoping an army of the dead resides with the stone. There are ways of directing that kind of power to your desires. But!" She paused a moment. "Don't let that scare you. I wanted the best of the best for a reason."

Polaris suddenly appeared between Evelyn and Wrensthav, her brilliant blue eyes beaming with excitement towards the elf. "Really! Guardians of dead hoarding an object must mean we are really dealing with a serious dungeon architect! Oh, I hope we don't have to travel too long on safe roads before we get to our destination!"

Wrensthav pushed his overly eager companion aside. "I was under the impression that you were more interested in your duel with Evelyn than our quest."

"Well, that was until she mentioned an army of animated corpses, Wrens. Animated! Corpses!"

Polaris could hardly contain herself, several small pillars of jumbled pieces of iron sand from the dirt around them started to form around her into a compass rose formation. The last time Wrensthav had seen her this excited was when he came back to retrieve her after being gone for several centuries. Except she raised an entirely new world wonder from that burst of emotion and power.

Evelyn blinked, a slight smile playing at her lips. Polaris was something she didn't quite understand. Maybe she'd ask Wrensthav later. "Now, now. It's merely a rumour. To see it ourselves might be an entirely differently picture. But whatever it is, it's going to be otherworldly, I promise you."

Having finished with tea, Evelyn disbanded the magic within the cups and had it blink out of existence. Her silver eyes appraised Polaris.

"I wonder if you're as enthusiastic with your actions. Ready to face me?"

Mattien ruefully grinned, fidgeting with an edge of his mace. "This should be good."

Polaris gleefully hopped up to the open area bouncing on the balls of her feet while holding her still sheathed sword behind her back. Like Wrensthav the environment seemed very attuned to her but this time it was the ground instead of the air. A strange pressure ebbed and flowed from her through the ground. Making the ground feel as if it had its own faint heartbeat. She waited until Evelyn got situated.

"I hope to not disappoint you, but I fight in a very different manner than the men or you do. So Pretty-Elf Lady, shall we have this dance?"

_{Written in collaboration with @WrensthavAviovus}

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

Wrensthav Aviovus

Name: Wrensthav Aviovus
Age: 30,000 years (appears to be late 20's)
Race: Dietic Avatar (Handicapped god)
Gender: Usually male

Weapons:
-Dragonbane(Bergecrest)
*Special Ability: Contact with blade Diffuses magic.
-Grapple and Chain(Gilchen)
*Special Ability: grapple tip and chain phase through solid objects.
-Poisoned Gauntlet(Skorklism)
*Special Ability: Made of poisonous base metals such as mercury.
-Rapier (Rapli)
*Special Ability: Corrosion inducing strikes.
-Combination Axe(Shaftly)
*Special Ability: Can shape sift into any axe or halberd.
-Mages Swordbreaker (Vivil)
*Special Ability: Absorbs and releases one spell up to high advanced rank.
-Marble Katana(Moonbeam)
*Special Ability: Absorbs and fires condensed shadow up to 30 feet away. Does not affect those who cast no shadow.
-Great Katana (Featherblade)
*Special Ability: Near zero air resistance and light as a feather to the wielder.
-Kuriki(Bomde`)
*Special ability: Warps user to thrown area.
-Shuriken Sword(Shuriki)
*Special Ability: Down strikes release stars. Up strikes collect them. Side strikes work as normal blade.
-Lock-picks knife(Pickling)
*Special Ability: Blade molds itself to locks key.
-Sheathed Sword of Chaos (Abur)
*Special Ability(Sheath): Purity stone sheath dispels mid level curses.
*Passive Ability(Sword): Amplifies Discord amongst those in close proximity when not under cloak.

Equipment:
-Cloak of Nemarsis: Water-proof and fire resistant trench-coat with hood. Can change to various shades of browns and grays. cannot be cut by anything less than a legendary weapon. Greatly decreases area of effect of Abur. Hides appearance of weapons held on back.

Multi-use Silver Disc (Silvi): Compass, cloak, map and long distance teleportation device. Creates a block of ice around the hand of an unregistered user. Teleportation ability may be off target up to a mile.

Leather gloves: Black gloves, nothing special.
Hiking boots: Heavy boots good for most terrains. Toe of boots worn to a shine.

Appearance:
Wrensthav looks very much like high elf. Standing at six feet and seven inches tall, he easily towers over most civilized races. Long spiked black hair with a curiously styled bang that arches behind his back, is his most prominent feature. His skin tone changes due to the pigment of the soil around him but he generally has a light complexion. Wrensthav's left side of his face bares a scar from above the brow down to mid-cheek and sharply turns toward his left ear. His eyes are a light shade of gray and are often said to be piercing.

History:
Wrensthav is one of the four guardians of a lost empire that has fallen beneath the waves and almost completely out of history and lore. He has fought in the many wars and smaller skirmishes across history, usually as a side mission of returning items of power back to old or new resting places. He has been called the "Millennial Warrior" by some historians who believe that he is just a title that many heroes have taken over the years due to the weight behind it, but seemingly disappeared for a century or two. He does hold other titles across the world normally as an eccentric traveling swordsman of high skill. These days he travels to different world with the task of restoring items of influence and power to new resting places. He has a bad reputation with many peoples since they see him as a character out to steal away their miracle item.

Skills:
--Magic: Wind Manipulation (Expert), Inorganic Summoning(Expert, Void magic dependent)
--Experience: several thousand battle participant
--Offensive Swordplay

Traits:
--Tall
--Keen hearing
--High magical reserves
--Low physical damage threshold
--Very light for size
--Weak to cold weather and perspiration

Magic:

Destruction:
--Billion Blades Summon(2nd School Master): 7 tiered summoning sequence from 9, 12, 50, 100, 1000, 1.000.000, to 1.000.000.000. ritual takes anywhere from 5 seconds to 5 minutes respectively. Requires use of hands and void magic for time and space storage of summoned weapons.
--Wind Manipulation: able to fully manipulate air space 15 feet around him with ease. Larger feats take more time magical reserve and focus.

Restoration:
--Air Purification: can heal and cure most airborne sickness.

Mysticism:
--Master of Tongues: Able to fluently speak any spoken language.

---

Polaris

Name: Polaris
Age: 30,000 (appears in mid-20's)
Gender: Female
Race: Divine Sentient Item (Appears as dark Elf)
Weapon: Black Magnetic Sword of the same name.
Equipment: White formal gown. Black patterned gown.

Appearance:
Polaris stands at six feet. She has a toned body with curves in all the right places. Her hair has a black and silver tones and are styled to look like long curved blades. Some of the strands reach her lower back. Her dark skin tone and striking blue eyes are very hypnotic complemented with a song like talking voice. Unfortuantely her singing makes the yowling of dueling toms seem like pleasant chords. She is very well aware of her seductive appearance and motions often further accenting her allure with bright vibrant dresses. She is always seen barefoot and within fifteen feet of her sword.

Personality:
Polaris is very jealous of Wrensthav's time and attention. She will often times be seen flirting with him when they are not on a mission and constantly complains about being apart from him when they are on seprate missions. Polaris has a vast arsenal of scenarios to use to get infromation out of people of interest. From the cold unreachable beauty, to the lost innocent foriegner. Repulsion and attraction are her weapons that she has finely honed. She is weary of most people since if they posses her sword anchor they can control her to a degree. Enslavement is one of the things she fears the most having had some poor masters while she was testing her personification powers.

Background:
Polaris was the personal sword of Wrensthav for many centuries, given to him by the goddess overseeing creation. Mainly known as the "Screeching Black Sword" Due to her ability of ringing out a harsh tone when drawn in a magically dense area. She was Wrensthav's Primary weapon in his adventures. Several Centuries back she was intrusted to a family known for keeping precious items under lock and key. Several decades passed when she found that she could create a tangible body that could carry herself out from her confinement and escaped from the collectors stronghold. She recently reunited with Wrensthav and joins him on his tasks to restore items like herself to their proper resting places.

Skills:
--Magic (long and mid distance projectiles via magnetism)
--Direction(Always aware of magnetic north)
--Swordplay(offensive and defensively proficient)
--Grappling(Pulls and Throws)
--Persona (Can create and dissolve her humanoid self)

Magic:
Creative:
--Magnetism: Can create structures out of Ferris metals and rocks and polarize them for structural integrity
Persona: Can create an maintain her humanoid appearance as long as she has the magical reserves to do so. Persona cannot maintain form outside the fifteen foot radius from sword or when heavily damaged.
Destructive:
Magnetism: Can pull iron and nickel from ground to create shields or fire them as balled missiles. May polarize iron and nickel alloy weapons on touch to attract or repel them from her person.

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

Evelyn Keove

Name: Evelyn Keove 

Age: 26 (Appears barely 20.) 

Gender: Female

Race: Wood Elf

Weapons:
-- An elvish sword at the side of her hip, an ornate conduit of magic, the blade is able to adapt and take on characteristics of any type of destructive magic the wielder so chooses.  

Equipment:
-- Black and red Mage robes fitted to compliment the body, the edges of the hood and sleeves are embroidered in golden arcane symbols. Observing at the embroidery invokes a strange sense of magic lust. 
-- Leather belt with pouches.
-- Black slippers. 

Appearance: 
Evelyn didn't take on any characteristics of her human mother. She looks elf, through and through. Her hair is a feathery silver, parted at the side. She layers it short, ends barely meeting her collar bone. Grey eyes, pointed ears, smooth and pale skin. Her smile can light up a room. Elves don't need a lot of muscle to be powerful, such a Evelyn's case. She's slender, maybe a bit short for an elf. There are old scars on her wrists, reminding her of times she drowned in her sadness. 

Personality: 
Evelyn has an insatiable curiosity and a great love for uncovering secrets. Any kind of secret, be it gossip, royal scandal, or ancient teachings hidden deep within a cave. She is well-educated, and personally prefers speaking of secrets and ideas as opposed to other menial people. She is interested in power, not weakness. Being a great lover of beauty and magic, Evelyn loves finding enchanted jewels most. 

Evelyn has a natural knack for going with the flow of conversation, she can be very charming. But that sweet side of hers can quickly reverse to her no-shit attitude, and in that way she can be very condescending since its usually stupidity that turns her bi-polar. Her apathy can be very strong occasionally. She never intentionally makes friends, but if someone is in her company long enough she finds they grow a unique bond. 

Background:
Born to an elven father and human mother, Evelyn started life in strange circumstances. Magic had brought her parents together, and they abandoned their old lives in the name of love. Marriage between races wasn't common at all, and the townsfolk loved to talk. Their family didn't venture out much until Evelyn's mother passed away from sickness. To lighten the grieving heart of his daughter, Ilrune showed her his old books of lost treasures deep underground, of legendary creatures across the sea, and the history of Ravenfell. He gave his private collection of spell books, teaching her how to read it once, and remember it forever in a Mind Palace. After a taste of knowledge, Evelyn knew she couldn't stop there.

As soon as she could, Evelyn traveled abroad, searching for the secrets of the land. She did contracts for the Elven leaders around the kingdom, uncovering secrets deep in tombs and abandoned structures hidden in their forests. When war struck the Elven coastline, Evelyn was conscripted as a Battle Mage. The battle that made her skills more known was on the Reliene Coast, where she brought a dragon to intimidate the Orcs and put them down for good. After that fight, the Orcs didn't bother them anymore. 

Money ran thin, so she turned to the Thieves Guilds hidden among the sewers of Ravenfell's great kingdoms. They taught her how to blend in, how to wield blades, how to speak. In return, she completed the jobs they offered. 

The first time she killed someone, it was simply a case of 'wrong place, wrong time'. A vat of mead needed to be poisoned before the town officials arrived. The plan was to put the meadery out of business so another company could gain profit from the monopoly. Evelyn had successfully snuck in, poisoned the tank, and was about to leave when the owner himself came down the steps. Before he could call the guards, she incinerated him on the spot. It was the first time she ever set fire to a living being with magic. The rush was intoxicating, but seeing the charred remains of his body made her vomit. 

She continued her adventures across the land, fancying herself an explorer, a collector, and a big-time money-maker when Kings found interest in old swords linked to their lineage. This went on for many years. (This is the time where our story takes place, Wrens.)

Seeking a better life and a more permanent home, Evelyn ventured to Arthroyeaux. The Court Mage had recently passed away, and she leapt at the opportunity. She requested an audience, and was soon before the King and his court. Evelyn claimed she was a noble who had traveled great lengths to serve His Majesty, and she told him of her heroic tales in magic, war, legends and ancient relics. 

Ten years after the passing of the Queen, King Vertreaux made Evelyn his new Court Mage, and she served happily until he too, passed away. Somehow, along the way, another one of the nobles of the court found out Evelyn's true past. They blackmailed her  into working strings of the crime empire in Arthroyeaux, and she was right back in her old life of deceit and underground power-struggles. She didn't loathe this turn of events -- she missed it. The thrill of inspiring fear in those who would cut into the kingdom's profit  was something she loved terribly. Destroying the lives of strangers, however, sank heavy in her mind. She rationalized that her actions helped His Majesty. Of course, if he ever knew her treachery she'd be hanged. 

At the change of Kings, Evelyn had her hand in who was chosen next, bribing individuals of the court for their cooperation. When the former King wrote his will, she advised on DuRant, saying he'd lead the people right. Her true reasons she kept to herself. It had taken her a while to unravel this secret -- the noble who blackmailed her wanted DuRant in by any means. He was close associates with someone, and it was they who found the information of her past. She had yet to identify the true mastermind, but it would only be a matter of time. 

When the court was reformed, Evelyn was one of the few who stayed, not just by coincidence. 

Skills:
-- Magic (Destruction and Restoration she's an expert, knows a few spells of the other classes.) 
-- Knowledge (Has a Mind Palace, a visual database of information in her head.) 
-- Swordplay 

Traits:
-- Keen senses.
-- Elven stamina. 
-- Curiosity 

Magic:

Destruction:
-- Firebolt
-- Flames 
-- Chain Lightning 
-- Sparks (Can induce temporary paralysis.)
-- Ice Spikes
-- Frost

Restoration:
-- Healing Hands
-- Lesser Ward

Mysticism:
-- Clairvoyance (Can find anyone.)

Alteration:
-- Candlelight

[Plus other menial spells.]

---

Mattien Arior

Name: Mattien Arior

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Appearance: Mattien is a huge, colossal Breton standing at 6'3 with a warrior's build and thick muscles. His pale skin is marred by small scars he's gotten from his past contracts. His long, luscious blond hair ends at his shoulders and is something he's very proud of, he always keeps it as maintained as he can. He wears a steel armor chest plate, but keeps his arms bare. Steel protects his legs too. On his back he carries a huge, black mace that's covered in sharp spikes at the tip. 

Personality: Matt lives for the moment, he enjoys the subtle changes around him and has an affinity to nature. Enjoying the way of the Wandering Mercenary, Matt puts his entire being into anything he does, be it protecting his charge, walking for days across the land, or getting hammered at the taverns. He has a great love of gold, so as long as the money flows he's a happy camper. He has a good set of values, doesn't take others bullshit, and prefers action just as much as thought. Maybe even more. However, in conversation he can be very blunt, very honest. He doesn't like beating around the bush. Death does not phase him. 

Background: Being the son of a poor farmer, Matt grew up always looking beyond their fence, always wanting more than to just toil in the fields. He wanted to explore, he wanted real money, and he wanted chicks to recognize him as something great. So, at a young age he left home and traveled abroad.

He was using a simple iron sword before stumbling upon a cave. In the deep recesses of this cave, past the monsters and night walkers that infested it, Matt found an altar. Upon the alter was a black mace made of jagged yet elegant design. When he touched it the god of that mace awoke, and demanded his servitude in exchange for using the mace. He called himself Ra-shin, a god of power and fear. When Matt agreed, the god also gave him an understanding of magic.

Instantly more powerful with these new gifts, Matt continued his journey, doing little things for his god here and there (like killing unbelievers and those who would desecrate Ra-shin's altar.) Eventually he went back to his home town, Bastille. He was taking a short break from the road when he saw Evelyn's poster.

Rubylust [Estylwen x Wrensthav]

Rubylust Characters

---

Read, and weep at their magnificence.

Estylwen

Evelyn Keove
Mattien Arior

Wrensthav

Wrensthav Aviovus
Polaris

Baybridge™: Era of the Old/New Gods™ [COMPLETED]

So, we never did delve into that one submitted plot, with the meta killer prowling the streets and whatnot. D:

Baybridge™: Era of the Old/New Gods™ [COMPLETED]

@Nosuchthing and I are more than halfway done our collab — something to look forward too~