[color=skyblue][h1]ALATOR[/h1][/color][hr]The trek to the middle of nowhere was, to be honest, rather dull. Nothing but the landscape and the ramblings of a half-mad warlock to occupy her attentions. Alator's tongue flickered at the air, coming back to clean her lip of a small dashing of kicked up sand. She blinked twice, once with her eyelids and again with her nictating membrane, as she looked on at the man leading her on this fool's journey. Were it not for the promise of knowledge supposedly forbidden and lost to the unknown, she would have snubbed the fool as soon as he had brushed her arm, but the lure of the unknown was too great. Too much for her not to investigate. Something was definitely amiss, however. It irked her, in the way that he looked back at her as he babbled under his breath. Crazed eyes like that of a frightened animal. She would have her information, or she would leave. She planted her staff on the ground with a loud thump, and spoke in a flat tone.

[color=skyblue]"We're far from the inquisitive ears of the public. If you've truly something for me to know, tell me now."[/color]

She garnered no reply, the man simply stopped in his tracks and gibbered to himself. Like a hyena in the heat. His pacing back and forth through the sand was beginning to eat at her patience. Some warlock he was, a name that held power in the occult circles, held by a man that barely qualified as upright and walking. He laughed to himself, drawing her ire slightly. Was he mocking her? She could feel her frill beginning to rise beneath her hood, moonlight shining off her slick skin. The man wheeled around and spoke, frantically and aggressively.

[b]"I've no knowledge for you, and for that, I apologise... heheheha!"[/b]

Alator huffed for a moment, her time had been wasted once more. She would have been mad, had the warlock not turned so suddenly.

[b]"But what I do have... is a KNIFE!"[/b]

The silver of the blade shone in the moonlight as he charged with it. The gall. The sheer audacity. It brought her blood to a boil. Her tail twitched slightly as she brought her other hand up to her quarterstaff and in a swift motion, brought it across his face. Where Alator was not strong, her staff was, and when it hit, it hit hard. He tumbled and scrambled, dropping his dagger to leap at her. The conflict stopped in an instant as she pushed her staff into the man's stomach. Hold Person. Efficient. Simple. As the man stood still, like a living statue, Alator waltzed over to him and sighed.

[color=skyblue]"Why must you common brigands lie and deceive those that are clearly above you on the chain of power?"[/color]

Her tail was tracing shapes in the sand, as she deliberated on just what to do with him. An idea struck her, but her face showed nothing but cold bemusement. She took the tome at her waist, undoing the leather strap that secured it to her belt, and flipped through its pages for a moment. A silent moment under the light of the moon, between the lizard and the living statue. Their shadows were dark on the dunes as she looked back up, clapping her book shut.

[color=skyblue]"Now. I'm not going to harm you, even though your trickery has angered me. But what I will do, is give you a gift. The greatest gift. The gift of a lesson. Of knowledge. And experience."[/color]

With a prod of her finger on his forehead, the spell set to work on his body. He shrunk, with a series of sickening cracks and snaps as his bones magically reshaped. Baleful Polymorph. A spell with a wide range of uses. For now, she was content with using it as a teaching implement. As the transformation ceased, the discarded robes of the man who assaulted her shifted to reveal a small bluebird. A pretty thing that she spoke to in a coo as it alighted upon her finger with an angry tweet.

She laughed softly. [color=skyblue]"Now, you will learn. You will learn not to cross me again, and you will learn the extent of your willpower. Wonderful, is it not?"[/color] She said, laughing once more. [color=skyblue]"Take flight and head,"[/color] She pointed out toward the horizon with her staff, [color=skyblue]"That way. Seek out one near as gifted as I, as you can. I am sure they will be able to turn you back. If not, then I will do it myself. The only problem is..."[/color] The yawning void of the land stretched out before them, and she smiled her fanged grin. [color=skyblue]"I will be following. And if you fall, or if you falter?"[/color]

She leaned in, giggling as she spoke candidly to the small bluebird.

[color=skyblue]"I will vaporise you. Now fly, and get used to those wings quickly now~."[/color]

She allowed herself another sensible chuckle as the bird took wing clumsily, rolling and tumbling in the breeze before straightening out. It flew shakily, but it flew in the direction she pointed, as she followed along on foot. Straight toward a certain group of mismatched adventurers, having just been left by a most peculiar Goblin.