Penny

The Blackwood

Kyiriniae'aea relaxed ever so slightly as it became obvious that her deception had been an effective one. These creatures might be repellent but they were obviously familiar with the Blackwood which meant she could make use of them. She might not have chosen Gundarogs as allies, but they certainly had their uses... provided of course they were properly subservient.

"Yes, we shall begin with these towers," she agreed magnanimously. That sounded like just the kind of shelter she would need if she didn't want to risk having her throat cut everytime she needed to take a nap.

"We shall leave as soon as you have eaten," she told her new minions.

"I shall keep the human whelp for my own supper but...." she trailed off and then made a snapping gesture with her hand. A bolt of magical energy snapped from her finger and struck the Gundarog who had been slowest to accept her assumed authority square in the chest, dropping him to the ground with a sizzling pop.

"I see no reason you should make the journey on an empty stomach..."

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Emmaline considered the problem as she settled into Amal's lap. Her natural instinct was to flee, the young wizard was a firm believer that most problems were soluble if one simple ran far enough and fast enough. Beyond that, something about the interaction with Vandershute was setting off alarm bells. That the sheriff was working some angle was obvious, but Emmaline couldn't guess at what it might be. Perhaps the would be noble had some political project that depended on him keeping the city safe from beastmen. She didn't doubt that she and Amal could slip out of the city, but this was their first night in anything close to civilization since they had left the pirate port in Lustria and she didn't want to rush out into the night. The issue was decided when a distinctive knock sounded at the door.

"Herr Baba?" Greta's voice came through the door, somewhat nervously. Emmaline stood and crossed to the door, opening the latch to reveal the girl carrying what looked to be a stone crock of whiskey. The guards outside glared at her as she proffered it to Emmaline who took the crock and pressed a coin into the girls palm, probably more than the whiskey was worth, but having to walk the gauntlet of guards was worth a little extra. Emmaline closed the door and threw the latch before returning via the side table and picking up a pair of mugs meant for serving ale. She poured a goodly measure into each and passed one to Amal.

"Well, I'd rather not run out into the Drakwald into the middle of the night," she admitted. Assurances of the lack of beastmen not withstanding, every citizen of the Empire knew that to travel the forest roads at night was to court worse than death.

"We are trying to go westward anyway, so I don't see that passing up a night in a bed is really worth an irritating escort."

Men vs. Women Race to 1000: Version 2.0

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The Blackwood

Kyiriniae'aea crouched down beside the child and wove her fingers beguiling before its eyes, stilling its cries as she wove a magical somnolence to quiet the baby. She had no particularly maternal instincts but if it started caterwauling at the right time it might disrupt her plan. With silence assured, she stood up and straightened her dress, preparing herself for the next step. There was some danger involved but she wasn't going to establish herself in this forest by timidity. She closed her eyes and wove a second spell.

*Blink*

The tall elf appeared in the flames as the Gundarogs chanted. Stepping quickly from the fire before it could catch. None the less a few of the fibres and the tips of her hair smoked and sizzled though she kept any cry from her lips so as not to spoil the illusion. The the Gundarogs it appeared as though she had been birthed from the flames in response to their chanting. Moving far enough from the fire to be safe she spread her arms akimbo to appear as impressive as she could.

"Why have you ventured out under the accursed sun?" she demanded in tone of oratorical command. The back-lighting from the fire made her appear shadowed and featureless.

"Why have you left the tunnels and forsaken the search for my brethren?" she demanded.

Penny's Pencils

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The Blackwood

I will return and I will be millions!

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