The Dead Horse Tavern

In the mountain country of Estana there is a desert where life once bloomed. Now there are only strange dead trees, frozen by some spell, and the ruins of a long dead civilization. Legend says the people of this place were great in magic and descended from gods. What is known is that one day around two centries ago from their center square of their capital city came a flash of light and all life was destroyed or disappeared entirely. The buildings were left in tatters and not a single body remained, except what appeared to be a large and strange horse at the epicenter of the disaster.

For many years the barren place was left alone, despite rumors of treasure and ancient knowledge stored in mountain caves by this ancient people. Still, progress and expansion leaves no place untouched and soon towns formed in the desolate place. The center desert, a perfect circle, still allows no life to grow as if the soil itself is ruined but no harm seems to come to the town even if their are rumors of strange lights and sounds from the mountains above.

A year ago a curious mage could not resist the rumors so built a tavern and inn in the center of this circle. It would make enough business, being the only safe place to stay for miles and the townspeople distrustful of strangers. In honor of the horse and history he gave it this name and welcomes all! He requests only that the inn be left reasonably undamaged and that his study not be entered as he prefers to work on the mystery uninterrupted. Any questions or needs are to be left to his daughter who can always be found wandering the Inn as she essentially runs it for him.

He and his daughter Lalita, who often goes by Lia, bid you welcome.

To Join Simply PM Me The Following Then Post!
No need to ask permission or wait for response!

If have a picture

A picture and full name for your character as well as their role in the inn (guest, maid, etc. The main bartender is a npc to make things easier on people checking in when I'm offline but you can be a bartender that works a different shift if you like)

Or if you don’t have a picture

Eye Description/Color:
Hair Description/Color: (color, style, etc)
Skin tone/Color:
Height:
Build:
Scars/ Tattoos/Piercings:
Natural Skin Markings or Birthmarks:
Inhuman Features:
Clothing Style:
*Feel free to delete any not necessary/relevant

NOTE: The Bartender is a NPC and will check you in. Just check yourself in via controlling the Bartender if you can't find Lia!

Note 2: This is a medieval rp so nothing but steam punk tech please, thank you

Those Staying at the Inn

With Picture

~Staria’s Characters~
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Lalita "Lia" Tien
Part Time Innkeeper, All Time Exployer(so don't expect to find her behind a desk!

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*note That is her underwear plus her boots and gloves, normally she wears fantasy style armor that changes with her mask or a simple purple and black leather looking outfit with her mask hanging from her belt. Her eyes are also silver (hard to tell iknow)
Gisa Kriemhild
Guest and Occasionally Lia's Bodyguard when she gets into trouble!

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Vilya 'V' Morgul
Guest

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~Kry’s Characters~
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*note: He now tends to dress more normally and has white hair with violet, gold flecked eyes (difficult to see in the picture)
Naerlodir Achasthui
Guest and Gisa's Companion

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~xLillianxRosex’s Characters~
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*note: She is 5'3 and her eyes are suppose to be a dark blue green. She also has elf ears hidden by her hair.
Lillian Rose
Guest

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~Drakina’s Characters~
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Human Form

*note: She has a small button of a horn on her forehead.
Wolf Form

Nenet
Guest and Maid

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~PapillonCameo’s Characters~
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*Her eyes are flecked with gold and she is five five. She also wears a leather belt. She keeps her dagger there beside various pouches containing herbs, all upon the same leather belt
Sophronia
Guest and Arkerril's traveling companion

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Without Picture

~PapillonCameo’s Characters~
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Name:Arkerril
Eye Description/Color: Golden eyes with a black pupil
Hair Description/Color: Shoulder length snow white hair with jagged bangs falling into his face and brushing over his eyes.
Skin tone/Color: Arkerril has onyx black skin.
Height: 5'11
Build: Lean and muscular
Scars/ Tattoos/Piercings: Grey scars along his arms and shoulders, and white tattoos upon his torso and arms, as well as calves.
Inhuman Features: Pointed ears
Clothing Style: Tight leather pants, deerskin or something of the like, with leather boots, loose long sleeved tunic that falls to mid thigh, held by a belt upon which hangs a scabbard, and a small pouch. All of this is in shades of grey and black.

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And We're Open!

Lalita "Lia" Tien

Lia for once was actually where she was suppose to be, in a manner of speaking, not that you would know it. She was in the front room where the check in desk was... but laying on the couch with her nose buried in a book. She played absently with the chain around her neck, a rather pretty necklace her strange new bodyguard gisa had given her.

Reading had it's difficulties, sitting still and all, but this one had a new legend she hadn't found! So she lay on the couch, sprawled out on her belly with the book in her hands and a blanket covering most of her. She was always cold though she wasn't really sure why. She didn't think about the fact it obscured her view, but that was Lia's nature really. She didn't always think things through the best.

Gisa Kriemhild

Gisa was in a nearby library doing a little learning of her own, or trying to anyway. She hadn't really come here to guard the teenager or her old man, no she had her own reasons. Still, the opportunity to get paid while doing what she wished had presented itself so Gisa had gladly taken it. She was looking for someone and the trail had gone cold here. It was just too hard to pick up the shadow figure whose face she still hadn't seen among all the magic residue here, so instead she looked for why he had come here.

To that end she was currently looking at one of the many relics the old man upstairs, who she had only seen when he had hired her, had gathered from the ruins. There was script even older then the masterful demon herself imprinted along them. Yes, she was sure the ancient people here had to be why the enchanter had come and perhaps learning what he had learned would tell her where he had gone next. Even if she hadn't the foggiest notion about the people or their script, causing her to sigh in annoyance.

Naer didn't like this place. Things didn't grow here, it was a sad place and it was not quite the kind of place he wanted to be while still wallowing in his own sadness. Naer wanted to look out the window and see forests, not this desolate seeming place. It was unlike any place he had ever seen or been to before and it made him feel a bit cold inside. He shook his head slightly, staring down at the book in his hands. He turned it this way and that, upside down, right side up. He couldn't make heads or tails of the script.

The oddly colored sun elf nearly pouted, but he continued to try and look through the book. There were also pictures, drawn amateurishly but still very well done, most were odd symbols. Perhaps magic or alchemy symbols, Naer wasn't sure. He put the book down as he glanced at Gisa, he was quiet though. He was almost always quiet, and slowly he reached for another book to thumb through it. He opened the book near the middle and blinked. Violet eyes with gold specks in them just staring at the book.

The script was elven, Naer plopped down on his rear right there on the floor and closed the book, only to open it to the first page. Mostly the book seemed to hold knowledge he already knew, it was a history book and the royal library in his home had been full of those as well as various other books. Still, Naer let himself get lost in the words.

Gisa Kriemhild

The script seemed almost to have angelic, elven, and demonic influences making it seem so strange yet so familiar to the half demon. This only served to frustrate her more though she kept her face that calm beautiful mask as always. She might feel like tearing out her hair at the feeling she was missing something but she would show known of it. Even her song weaver spells seemed to fail on the objects, as if the life and memories within even them was dead. Still, even as she pondered this she heard her companion drop down. She had taken him as a 'pet' and formed a contract with him but she was still uncertain about the idea.

She had been treating him coldly since they left the three leaf inn on finding a clue for the one they sought, an accident having caused him to see far to much of her. She was uncomfortable with the invasion of her mask the contract between the two had formed and not really sure how to handle it. She had become very set in her ways and he kept trying to get close anyway, at least then. Lately he had allowed her to push him away when she had said nothing to accept his offer of friendship or refuse it, though she wondered how long he would.... None of that concerned her, however, half as much as the idea he finally had found something!

"Something Interesting there my pet?" she asked in her usual teasing tones, walking to his side to lean back against the book case and peer down at the book. She crossed her arms, seeing it was only that it was elven. He staunchly held onto being an outcast but he could never quite separate himself from who he was could he? She half smiled to herself, wondering if that was a good thing or a bad thing inwardly.

It took him a few seconds to realize she had come closer to him and even spoken. Naer blinked a few times and brought his eyes up to Gisa's, then he shrugged. "No." He closed the book and tapped the cover lightly. "I already know these things, it's just basic history." Though he did think it a little odd that a history book about his home forest would be here among these other books of impossible to read script. Naer almost frowned, instead he set the book aside and reached for something else.

There was a light crackle sound and Naer pulled his hand back quickly with a soft yelp, mostly of surprise, as his fingers barely brushed against the spine of the book he had reached for. The thing had shocked him! His fingers were immediately brought to his mouth and though it had surprised him more than it had hurt, he sucked on them lightly anyway. Eyeing the book rather suspiciously. Since when did books bite people? Naer glanced at Gisa, then at the book, those fingers leaving his mouth as he reached for the book again, to see if it would shock him again.

Gisa Kriemhild

"Remember, I'm the only one with right to hurt you so you must be careful." She reminded him darkly as she reached forward to grab his hand and stop him. She shook her head at him and touched the chain around her wrist so it would form a thin silver coating over her arm and hand. She reached forward to pick up the book carefully, watching the shocks be absorbed by the strange 'glove' she had created rather passively. She put the book down on a desk and began to flip through it.

It would be clear why it was enchanted as it was though it made her rather cringe at what she thought was bad taste. It was a book about the inner workings of thunder, basic electricity, static, and theories pertaining to how they could be used in the steam punk technology of the day. She shook her head and sighed, only to look up sharply as she heard a voice from the door. It seemed someone had sensed the magic.

Lalita 'lia' Tien

"How did that get in here... It should be in my study" The small woman said with a rather pouting expression before she bounced over to the book. She waved a hand over it and spoke in a tongue that sounded strangely fae'ish. She picked up the book and held it to her chest before looking at both of the two as if debating if one of them was at fault. Whether she would cry or yell should she determine that was unclear. Perhaps for this reason the half demon interrupted her.

Gisa Kriemhild

"Why the hell, my dear lady, would you keep something like that lying around if you can undo the enchantment so easily?" Gisa asked in a strange, sickly sweet voice. Of course Naer, and anyone who knew the demon well enough, would know that meant her feelings were currently anything but respectful or sweet. She had already began to think the girl was an air head after being here only the two days they had been but now she was starting to think she wasn't flighty... just out right crazy.

Lalita 'Lia' tien

"I think it's cute. And I didn't undo it... I just told it I was it's friend and would most appreciate not being shocked" She said simply, giving the two an almost angelic smile. She spoke with the utmost seriousness, as if the hand gesture and words hadn't been a spell but that she'd genuinely just asked the book to play nice. Then again, considering how she looked at magic all spells were a lot like that. It was just will, faith, and a little work just as it took to make a friendship work in hard or complex times. With that little insight, however, she would turn and bounce right out of the room to put the book in its proper place before she returned to her place on the couch. 'Dad' must have misplaced it....

Gisa Kriemhild

" I think she has been breathing the fumes of her own alchemy too long....." Gisa muttered to herself, clearly annoyed. She shook her head and undid her glove before turning back to Naer. She took his hand and began to study his fingers. There appeared no real harm done that she could see..... though she couldn't help but wonder how many times he would have touched the book if she hadn't been there. She hadn't punished him in a few days but she figured the creepy atmosphere, well creepy for a forest elf like him anyway, would keep those thoughts at bay for him.

Naer hadn't forgotten, and honestly he was just curious if the book would shock him a second time, but he had only shrugged when she grabbed his hand to stop him from touching the book. He very nearly pouted. The first interesting thing he'd found in this creepy, non forest having place, and Gisa wouldn't let him play with it, all because it was a little shocking. Silently he watched her remove the book, and slowly he stood, picking up that elven history book as he went.

He was watching Gisa carefully and his elven hearing hadn't picked up on the approach of Lia, when she spoke he looked towards her with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He watched Lia with interest as she retrieved the book, a hint of amusement danced in his eyes as the girl explained how she was able to get the book without being shocked and then leave the room. The amusement was still in those eyes when he turned to Gisa at her comment of Lia breathing too many alchemical fumes. "I think she's funny."

Still, she seemed to make a good point, at least to him. Though the idea that a book was sentient enough to know who was a friend and who wasn't did seem rather unusual, maybe a little far fetched. The amusement drained out of his eyes and he hugged that history book to his chest. He hadn't yet made it verbally clear to Gisa that he didn't like this place, but he was sure she already knew that. Still, he deserved to be in a place like this. Far from forests. It was a fitting exile really for one such as him. Naer shivered lightly and moved to put the history book back on the shelf.

Gisa Kriemhild

"Then your as much of a fool as she is..... Still, we're going to have to deal with people like her and places like this alot to find who you seek. You can turn back you know." She said quietly, those strange pale silver eyes raising to his as he shivered. Yes, she knew how uncomfortable this place made him but the hunt for truth and justice against people like this mage they sought would not come easily. There would be darkness and once she got her hands on the mind controlling cretin there would be blood and plenty of it.

She was not sure he really understood what he was in for... He didn't even seem to realize that there was something ...off about that girl. He was too trusting, to gentle. He didn't belong on a journey like this and there would be some things that she could not shield him from. Sure, here they could go up in the mountains outside the circle and go take a forest walk if they were willing to spend a half hour there and a half hour walk back but that would not always be the case. Men like this mage they sought, they walked through the places of the dead and the unnatural. They lived in the places that fae were slaughtered or corrupted and laughed at the plight of them.

For her it was easy, she had spent much of her child hood in hell... literally. For this noble elven prince, she doubted it could be so easy. Still, she showed none of this pity on her face. Her features were a blank mask, no emotion, no warmth, nothing. It was his choice to make, she could not make it for him. Well, technically she could as he had made nothing in the contract but she would not force him off this path if this was what he wanted. Who knew... maybe it would bring him the healing and closure he so needed.

Of course he was a fool. He already knew that, and there were many reasons he could list off as to why he thought himself a fool. Naer shrugged. "There is no turning back. I must do this." He spoke the words quietly, but fiercely. For him there was no turning back, he had no where to turn to, and this was something that needed to be done. It was not for himself, it was for those he had harmed while enchanted by the mage. Naer's soul would never feel clean, and his father would never welcome him back, but this was something he felt he had to do.

Slowly he put that history book back on the shelf and reached for a different book. He moved cautiously now though, as if expecting this book to bite the way that other one had. He wasn't expecting it to, but now he knew that such a thing could happen, he approached the books more cautiously. There was no telling what kind of magic might flow through them, he lifted a book from the shelf and opened it. Somewhere near the middle. Naer blinked and turned to Gisa, holding the book open before her. Some of the pages seemed to have been torn out.

The elf didn't know if it was important or not, if maybe the mage had stopped by here and taken some pages. He couldn't read the words on the pages that were still in the book but maybe Gisa could. The script seemed to flow almost as elegantly as elven writing, but the characters were far from elven. Knowing his luck, it was probably just a book on interior decorating or something else as equally lame. "Can you read this?"

Gisa Kriemhild

"Well then I guess your lucky that things like this, I was born to do my pet." She said simply, teasingly stroking a finger over his jaw. She smiled at him and almost seemed about to tease him but then she simply stepped past him. Since the inn she had not touched him or teased him much, even the soothing stroking of his hair she had refrained from. To some it would seem she was punishing him, in fact it was more uncertainty. She doubted that he trusted her anymore and so she just did what was easier, she kept her distance except where her contract was concerned and sharing a room.

She had started her own search once more when she heard him speak. She glanced towards the book and plucked it from his fingers gently and turned to lean her back against the book shelves. She counted the tattered indicates of pages remaining and figured out that all but the first page of one chapter was missing. The book was written in demonic it seemed. It was your basic list of lore and legend about various objects of power that may or may not have ever existed. This particular chapter seemed mainly focused about necromancy related items.

"It would seem that he's looking for ways to bring somebody back from the dead...... why bother if all we've seen so far is enchanting and killing and things? Has he decided his particular brand of magic wasn't dark enough, he has to bring people back from the dead. Well as much as necromancy can anyway.... I wouldn't call being a mindless zombie 'alive'....." She muttered thoughtfully. There was few things magic could not do, but short of deity interference or some primordial being that was already against the laws of nature, death was pretty much death. Sure you could do some semblance of it, but there was always a flaw. The mind would not be the same or the body would disintegrate over time or similar thing. To bring back a person as a true human with a full functioning body, an intact soul, an intact mind, as well as all the memories and magic or abilities intact was impossible for any mortal as far as everyone knew. So far, except for a few instances of some deity interfering there had not been a single successful resurrection of that nature... and even then you usually had to serve the deity or some sort of price... Accordingly to the demon necromancy was a rather worthless art. If you could not bring back those you loved and instead just do the equals of a simple summoning just involving corpses what was the point?

Naer hadn't visibly reacted to her running her finger over his jaw, but inwardly he had somewhat missed that physical contact. Especially the stroking of his hair, he shoved those thoughts away and when she finally took the book from him. Her words as she looked through the book made him shiver and raise his arms as if to hug himself. Necromancy. It was such a cold, dead magic. It was very nearly the opposite of everything his people held sacred. Naer was frowning, his brow creasing slightly. "Necromancy is a taboo thing for my people." He spoke the words quietly. That was all he contributed to her verbal thoughts. Naer did not like the thought of someone bringing someone else back to life as a zombie, it seemed a very horrible thing to him. He lowered his arms and turned away from Gisa to distract himself with looking through some other books. There was distance between them, but Naer had not done much to close that distance so far.

Gisa

"i imagine so are demon contracts or any sort of dealings with me" She responded in an amused tone, glancing at him with a slight smirk. She had said once that she was a hateful creature and she loved it. It was true really, half demon, half witch she was hardly a favorite on the earthly plane among even humans let alone the high and mighty pure hearted fay. Still, as she looked up she noticed his shiver and she sighed. He really didn't know what he was in for in this search did he? Or the evils she had done herself, how she had sung her former demon masters into pieces without a second thought. How killing was easy for her.... if she felt it was deserved.

With a sigh she walked over to him and for a moment her pity overtook her, along with the worry he could not really take this travel. He was a pure heart and a soul of nature who would be dragged half way through hell and back just to find this man. Then he would watch as she sung the man apart, or ripped him to pieces with her blades, or burned him to cinders with her power over fire. He would watch as she did so with no expression or even a slight smirk if the battle was particularly difficult and satisfying. He would see he transform into the demon, the darkest part of herself, to do what had to be done so other's hands could stay clean....How long after that would he hate her she wondered. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and came up behind him, the usual possessive hug that in it's show of ownership tried to hide any kindness.

"This path.... It does not bring back those who are dead. It is either the path of revenge or putting down a dangerous soul like a dog. Like he is nothing and never lived. It may stop future killing but watching him die, the life draining from his eyes will give you nothing... and me only the satisfaction any demon would get. We will deal with people to whom necromancy is just another fun magic, another parlor trick. People your father would not think worthy of spitting on, and most of the time just might be right.....You will have to get use to this my pet, learn to hide that pure dear heart of yours, or it will consume you." She said quietly, just holding him a moment. She frowned at the air in thought, saying nothing more as the silence stretched between them. She had given him purpose but had she really given him any healing? Or would he just fall into the mires like her, learn to switch out the heart that the human in her admired and the demon in her wished to consume utterly. Still, she remembered his fury as he had pushed her away and decided to pull away. She bit his ear gently and pulled away.

"Just like I almost did, but not half as fun" She taunted to cover her moment of concern and caring. He didn't need her as someone who would assure him. Once she killed the mage and he had closure, if he survived it someone else would take that job of teaching him to live. All she was there to do was to keep his hands clean and save him from that darkness. She moved away to the book shelf, pushing away her feelings behind her mask once more. He needed a mistress to punish him until he was ready to stop punishing himself and a killer to destroy the mage..... so that is what she would be.

"Maybe." Demons and demon contracts probably were taboo to his people, but really, what did such a thing matter to him? He was an exile, he could co do all kinds of taboo things. He would get no pleasure out of that kind of thing though, and he still held to his people's teachings, more or less.

Her possessive hug surprised him, but he found comfort in it and he leaned against her slightly, raising a hand to touch one of her arms gently. As she spoke, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "I want a bow." He had told her once, that he would never wield a weapon again but he seemed to suddenly realize how foolish that was. They were doing something dangerous, it was stupid to not have a weapon. Naer was stupid and foolish, he already knew that about himself though.

She spoke of hiding his pure heart, but Naer didn't know how to do such a thing, that sort of thing was probably impossible for him to do. When she bit his ear gently his body tensed ever so slightly and he lowered his hand from her arm, and pulled away slightly as she released him. "I need some water."

Still Naer knew that Gisa was right, he would get no satisfaction from watching the mage die or from killing him himself, and Naer wasn't even sure he could do that. He had killed before true, but only under a spell. The elf shook his head and moved to leave the room.

Gisa

Gisa had expected him to pull away, expected that his trust had been gone. His pulling away and looking for a reason to flee the room confirmed it to her was all. She suppressed her sigh and pushed away the softness of her all to human heart fairly easily. It was better he hate her, it was better he think her just like those she destroyed. If he did it wouldn't hurt him when he watched her kill or surprise him when she was able to hurt people for information. No, he could see her as a demon now, and surely that had to be best. So she focused on the bow, not the feeling of how he had leaned into the hug as if he missed her friendly touches and how confusing it could be.

"I can make a bow for you that can transform from a piece of jewelry to the weapon... It should be useful. I'll do that while you go get your water" She said simply as she moved to a chair and side table. She didn't look at him, her voice light and cheerful with her usual amused gleam in her eye.... but there was a defeated look just behind the gleam. She hadn't expected it would be so easy when he had spoken of friendship afterwords. Still, it was a thought born of pity and had died with that pity she was sure. Oh well, it was better that way or so she kept telling herself.

So instead she focused on her metal work, it would require loosing a few links of her chain but she could grab any old metal somewhere and make it again. She could enchant the bow with flame or some other thing if he asked, as long as he didn't ask for water. Water or ice was always tricky for her..... but fire, light and so on she could do even if the light would nto be truly 'pure' as she herself was not.

When Gisa spoke, Naer stopped and turned to look at her. She would, could and would make him a bow? He had expected to carve it himself, but then, that was stupid. There were no trees around here, and certainly none that were good for bow making. He seemed to hesitate. His father's bow, the bow that had been his before his exile had been an excellent piece of elven craftsmanship and was old. Very old, very sturdy and extremely reliable. "A good craftsman always puts a piece of themselves into their work." He spoke the words softly. "I cannot trust a weapon that has nothing of it's maker in it." His lips twitched, Naer had very nearly smiled at Gisa, then he turned and fled from the room as politely as possible before she could respond to his words. She probably thought he was saying something stupid, or foolish. Maybe it was stupid. Naer shook his head as he headed to the main part of the tavern to find the main bartender person. Once there he would sit down at the bar and order a glass of water.

Gisa Kriemhild

"Why......" She started to ask him why he'd want a peice of her in anything but that twitch of a smile stopped her. For a moment confusion broke through that mask of hers and she let him go without another word. Foolish, Sentimental, she muttered to herself but glanced at the bow. With her power over metal no one could beat the speed, accuracy and sheer power of the weapons she made, even this strange silver bow that would hold the flexibility of wood when the string was pulled and yet would be as unyielding as a sword when not while able to hide as a simple bracelet when he said whatever word she choose. She frowned at the work she'd already done, feeling a conflicted moment.

Finally she reached up with an almost shaky hand to tug one long blue strand of hair from her own head. She muttered foolish and sentimental once more as she looked at it, but this time it was directed at herself. To give a piece of herself, any piece literally or figuratively was to give a weapon power over her.... It was a thing no demon would do, most demons would not even give their true name for this reason. She was not held to many rules of the demon and could give her name freely but to give a piece of her self or her hair or any such thing she would be held to. Even for a witch one's hair held a certain amount of sacredness and a certain amount of power. Still... with a simple songweaver's spell the blue strand would become the glowing blue string of the bow after her claws carved the metal expertly.

She sang the song softly, almost timidly but the power of it was assured and soon the strand of hair was thick, glowing, and held the proper amount of stretch for any bow. In it's bracelet form the hair would become a sapphire to crown the piece with a soul of dark and light twisted together. She would work longer then she meant, carving the metal here and there with her claws as for the first time in a long time, gisa gave into that sentimental heart of hers. The same part of her that made her keep her mother's poetry book for hundreds of years...and re read the same poems over and over.

She carved it with thoughts of him and mind, what looked like blue gem studded flowers and vines in gold soon covering the silver bow. It would be both ornate and magical, unbreakable but supple. It would be the kind of creation that most elves would think only they could make, and hold a songweavers ancient magic as well as her spirits flame to enchant each arrow with. It had been some time since she worked so hard on anything and it was likely hours had passed when normally she could summon any simple weapon in seconds. Then again this was not just a weapon, this was a permanent song woven into metal....centuries of a heart denied solidified. It was not made just by gisa, but by Sapphira, the little girl nicknamed such by her mother for her unnatural hair. The other villiagers had called it a curse, gisa's mother had called it gisa's crowning glory and like liquid sapphires. That was her mothers way..... to make everything beautiful. When finished Gisa just stared at the weapon in her lap, tempted to break it to pieces. It was not the simple, functional piece, she should have made. It was her heart in metal and song, the part of her heart that had loved a forest once and ran with the animals of it and laughed so easily as one can when they have not been brought to hell yet. It held even the piece of her that she thought hell had tainted and destroyed long ago, as well as the demonic part that made animals run from the smell of brimstone only they seemed to smell.

She reached out and touched it but in the end simply whispered softly to it 'you will answer to the name Sapphira...' as it's final enchantment. With that she stood and summoned some simple silver arrows before she headed to the bar with her mask in place. She would simply place it in front of him along with the arrows, her voice quiet and restrained when she finally did speak. She said only one thing before she turned to head to the room, he would need a quiver...

"It will transform between bracelet and weapon by the name Sapphira....I'm....going to go make a quiver...I have a bit of leather left"

Naerlodir wasn't sure how long he sat there at the bar, but he'd had six glasses of water and was slowly drinking from a seventh when Gisa came in and laid the items before him. Naer dropped his glass and reached out for the bow with the hand that had previously been holding a glass of water. He brushed his fingertips against the weapon, tracing the detail of the carvings and then lightly running his finger up the string. His fingers hesitated for a moment as they ran up and down the string, then he picked the weapon up.

Despite it's heavy look it was as light as any bow he had ever held before, if not lighter. Naer turned it over in his hands several times, slowly, and then he pressed it to his chest, holding it against his heart and closed his eyes. As if to attune himself to the weapon, he could feel Gisa, in the weapon. She had poured herself completely into the work, well far more so than he had thought she would. Those eyes opened.

"Every great weapon has a name." The bow of his family had a name, as had the twin swords that would also have been his if not for this exile, but that wasn't important. He had this bow now, and..Naer blinked..looking at the silver arrows curiously. Quietly, almost reverently he whispered. "Sapphira." And watched as the bow changed easily into a bracelet, it was beautiful, and it fit his wrist perfectly.

Naer snatched up the arrows, tucked them into his belt and turned to follow Gisa. Running after her swiftly, when he got to her, he threw his arms around her from behind. It was a far grander weapon than he deserved and he was eager to shoot it, to test it. He was certain it would work beautifully. "I've never seen a finer weapon. Thank you, Gisa."

Gisa Kriemhild

"It was a name my mother liked.... she was sentimental like you so i thought you might like it." Gisa responded teasingly and shrugged. She had started to continue to walk away when she felt him approach and turned her head slightly to look at him only to be hugged so tightly from behind it startled her. She had deliberately not looked at his reaction to the weapon, inwardly sure he would sense the demon in it and abhor it like any good elf. It was not like her, to be so uncertain, but it was the only time she had allowed herself to form a contract before either. It tied her down and suited her little.

It had been quite a while since he hugged her she thought absently, her eyes on the ground. Those pale silver eyes widened slightly at his thoughts but she said nothing as she stared at the floor a moment longer. She felt her hair more keenly between them then she normally would, inwardly suppressing a curse. She could change how her hair reacted and look when she affixed it to the bow but it would always feel like her silky blue hair no matter what was done to it... despite now being strong as if it was metal itself. She said nothing for a moment and when she did she simply teased him as she always did though she did not yet pull away.

"It seems fancy and silly and sentimental, I thought it would suit you..... but I am a weapon smith, it is my gift so it should shoot well too....." She said in that teasing voice of hers though it was softer somehow if only for a moment. She bit her lip, one hand playing with the mask that sat there at her waist as she thought a moment. She knew it would be wiser to pull away but she stayed quiet for a moment and just set there. Finally she spoke but still she did not move, glad for some reason she could not name that he wasn't pulling away in fear from her.

"You know..... I don't think I can reach the leather in our room from here and every bow needs a quiver..."

Naer buried his face against Gisa's hair, absently thinking of how the bow string had felt very oddly similar if not the same. No elf had ever made a weapon so beautiful, of course Naer couldn't be sure of the weapon's true beauty until he fired it for the first time. Of course he was certain the weapon would perform beautifully, especially in his skilled hands. Naer was skilled, but he had never been in actual combat before, he had hunted deer with his kin, but other than just training he had never truly fought.

The elf hesitated before he let Gisa go. He was eager, he wanted to run outside and test the bow immediately, but he didn't like this place. The land, everything around them made him feel cold. Inside it was easy to ignore those feelings, he barely even glanced out the windows when he did pass them. This truly was not the kind of place an elf would willingly come to. Well perhaps some other race of elves, but not Naer or his people. For half a moment Naer frowned, but it was gone so quickly. "I would like to test the bow." He said the words hesitantly, but he knew he could not avoid their surroundings forever.

Still, influenced by such a place, he wasn't sure how well he could perform. That would need to be something he worked on as well. He doubted they would always come to places that was very suitable for an elf, and so he should learn to deal with it as best he could. "I need to go outside." There were many things he needed to learn, it would be best if he tried. He hadn't craved any sort of physical pain since coming to this place, but he had still remained as depressed as he could get. This place though, it was oppressive to Naerlodir, and it did ease his need to be punished. This place was a punishment in and of itself.

Naer did not think Gisa would understand that, but perhaps she would. She was very smart, smarter than him, and kind. In her own way she was always kind to him. The bow, beautiful and intricate was another kindness. Though he was not sure if she could understand or realize how much such a weapon already meant to him. A simple weapon, with nothing of it's creator in it would not have been a weapon he could trust, and though he had not fired the bow yet, he already felt connected to it and felt he could truly trust the weapon.

Gisa Kriemhild

She simply closed her eyes a moment as he buried his face in her hair, thinking absently how intimate such a gesture was but that he would deny it. He still did not yet understand the difference between intimacy and sex, or the rainbow of meaning any gesture could mean. Still, she was not the one to teach him this, she like this place was a thing that did not belong. An unnatural, half dead thing like any demon, and someday he would realize that. Someday he would not hesitate to let her go, and he would find the type of fae woman...or man... fit to show him that. So she said nothing except to the next bit of information.

"Outside the blast center these mountains are actually filled with forest. The horses we used before are still in the stables, they should be able to make the journey easily. Though of course we'll have to take the girl but I doubt she'll mind. Do you want a quiver first or should we just leave now my pet?" She said teasingly and turned to perch on the stair railing. She smirked a moment and tilted her head to the side, appearing perfectly eager for the journey and saying nothing of his renewed contact with her. It was after all just gratitude she imagined and would pass quickly to the same uncertain fear that had likely sent him to fetch water.

Still she would show none of this, no heart, no attachment.... even if a piece of her was now eternally attached to his wrist. She would joke, she would tease, and at the end of his journey he would let her go. He would no longer need punishment even in places other then this, when he found out the truth. When he knew what the enchanter had done all this for, answers would be his healing. Even if he could not return to his people, nature would wrap it's love around him for no matter what the 'trial' had decided, this man was as pure as they came.

The young woman heeled her dun mare forward, almost ignoring the onyx skinned man at her heels. He was rather inconsequential to her, or would have been if not for the ticklish feeling his presence made within her mind. They were bound as surely as any two beings could be through and accident of circumstances. It had been the only way to survive their ordeal through those far away canyons together, and now that decision would stick with them.

Sophronia had simply accepted it as a matter of course, but she knew quite well how Arkerril railed against it. The dark haired woman could understand why, since his whole existence now revolved around her, but there was nothing she could do to try and ease his feelings. The stubborn man simply wouldn't listen, no matter how she tried to help or find a way to break their bond without resorting to extremes.

"There it is," said Arkerril as he heeled his grey gelding forth angrily. His cloak flew behind him as he raced through the barren lands towards the Inn they had journeyed so far to find. Hopefully there lay an answer to their problem inside. He'd never wanted to be bound again, and now he was forced to guard the witchling and even obey her annoying orders. She had the power to over rule any of his thoughts, and that more then anything else made the man feel helpless.

The witch sighed to herself as she followed her companion at a more sedate pace. Soon they were both placing their equine friends into the stables, while noting curiously that other animals were already within the building. Neither one of them had been expecting to find other guests.

The surprise and shock slamming through Arkerril as they stepped within the building made Sophronia wince. The white haired man was already marching forward angrily, as usual, leaving the witch behind to watch him in exasperation. He stopped before the woman and the elf, hands clenched and with his hair sitting uncomfortably over his eyes. "I shouldn't be surprised that you're both here, but I find that I am. What are you thinking, bringing him to such a place?"

Moving forward, Sophronia tugged at his arm harshly. "Arkerril, enough! I don't know what kind of past you have with them, and I don't really care, as long as it does nothing to impede the real reason why we came here. Remember what your duty is." To protect her was his task, and until the bonds were cut it would remain that way. She nodded to the other two with a polite expression. "I apologize for both our outbursts. Would you mind pointing me towards someone who could assign us a room?" She wanted to begin their questioning of everyone there, but that would have to wait until they were settled. Sophronia rather liked comfort, even when the situation didn't necessarily make it recommendable.

Arkerril wrenched his arm from her hand and moved to sit upon a chair in the same room as the book reading girl. He glared at her for a while then turned his attention once more to Gisa and Naer, mostly his eyes remained upon the sun elf.

Gisa Kriemhild

"Maybe I just thought this place was pretty," was Gisa's smirking reply to the dark elf as she hid her confusion behind her usual amused mask. She was uncertain how much she could trust the dark elf, when he clearly was not the one in power now. The witch in her could see such a boundary as clear as if it was a piece of thread laying on the floor between the woman and the man. He had desired the sun elf and judging by the way he gazed at him he still did, so it was clearly not love that had bound the two. So what had? Without knowing the answer she could not be too truthful with the dark elf and she hoped her touch of Naer's hand, a subtle brush as she rose it to run toss her own hair casually would be enough to let him know to keep quiet for now as well.

As to getting a room, that would be best taken up with the girl reading the book. She runs this place..." Gisa said politely as she turned to the other woman. She did not elaborate further, as that was all that had been asked of her. She saw no reason to say too much yet. No she would watch and she would wait, and she would figure out what was going on in time. Rushing things tended to make them worse, not better... a lesson it would seem Arkerril had yet to learn.

Lalita 'Lia' Tien

Lia yawned as the two entered and simply raised those brilliant green tinted blue eyes to gaze at them. She was a little annoyed her book was interrupted but them being guests seemed likely. She closed the book and marked it's place before she slid it into her jacket pocket and stood. She stretched much like a cat would and listened to the two groups idly. The dark elf's loathing of the demonic woman was clear but hardly a surprise. With an elf for a 'pet' she had a feeling most hated the woman on sight, even if Lia had yet to see the woman act like a true demonic master. It would have peaked her curiosity but she was involved in an experiment already! Oh yes, but business first.

"All the shared rooms like the dining hall are downstairs, rooms are second floor and up. The west tower is my father's room and I wouldn't go there. He can be grumpy. Still any preferences to your room such as color scheme or the like? When I'm bored sometimes I decorate." She said absently, still appearing rather bored with the whole thing. The inn provided good money or she wouldn't have bothered. She did manage a smile but it was rather distant as she gazed at the two and held her hands over the guest book as she reached the desk. Most rooms were free, treasure hunting season was still a month or two away.