Damsels in Distress

[Hikami]

㊋ 10th of Frost, Year 120 ㊋
Company: Finn, Merchant's Daughters | Thoughts: Keep them safe| Mood: Determined

---

㊋ With some distance between them and the shambles, Hyo decided he could cut loose a bit, giving into his warrior lust. Twirling his spear, the aetheric aura wafting off the weapon, he charged into the coming horde of shamblers. He was determined to clear out as many as he could while the other ran. As he flew toward the horde, he coaxed the earth beneath them to uproot and crash into the beasts with enough force to crush bone.

To any who could see, it was a beautiful dance of steel and earth, the sounds of mutated flesh searing, monsters being crushed under the weight of boulders, and the gleeful cheer of Hyo as he cleaved through them all. Amidst his frenzy, he didn't notice the ones that came from a ledge above him, as they pounced onto him, clawing away at his clothing.

By the time he could fight them off, his pants were torn off, and with aid of the wind, he forced the rest of them off with a swirling torrent of air. "Didnt feel like fighting in my underwear but it seems i have no choice now." he hissed, tearing off his shirt and wrapping it around his waist like a makeshift loincloth.

It was then he heard Finn yell to regroup, and seeing more shamblers coming he decided to call upon the fire on his spear. Stabbing the tip of his spear into the ground, he coaxed the flames with his aether to form a wall of flames, taking steps backward as he spread the fire around to ensure it would hold off the horde for a bit.

With a smile he turned and caught up with the others, flying as fast as his wings could take him. once they were in view he descended, landing next to Finn. "Come, we can't let the girls get ahead of us now can we?" he said jokingly. Catching up to the merchant's daughters, Hyo was met with the scream of one as the other seemed to be fending off something.

He hadn't seen this type of creature before. It seemed like a hound of some kind, though this one seemed otherworldly, flames of a nauseating green color coming off its body, black spikes protruding through its flesh like bone. It had the girls cornered, and the entrance was just up ahead.

It seemed his job as defender wasnt done just yet. "I'll draw its attention, you take them and keep running. I'll be behind you soon enough." he instructed, patting Finn on the butt as a means of getting him moving. With that, he lunged forward, catching the air current as he soared toward the beast in question as it too lunged at the daughters.

Its maw caught the shaft of Hyo's spear, biting on it and clawing at him, as he went upwards and away from the others. ㊋

---

"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Finn]

Hyoga was all over the place and not for the first time Finn felt a little extraneous. Hyoga got them there as fast as the wind, then fought the creatures off while Finn tried to shepherd the women to safety, but now they had gotten ahead of him and Hyoga was rushing to catch up to them. Finn was just, apparently, the worst adventurer ever. He distracted himself from this by watching how Hyoga's buttocks seemed to dance as he ran ahead. Not only could he fly, but he could run fast. Well, at least the running was hypnotic.

"Wait, weren't you wearing pants?" he called ahead as he tried to keep up.

And then they encountered a demon dog. He gritted his teeth and held his sword at the ready, prepared to go in on it. Once again, Hyoga was going to be the hero, though. Finn couldn't really argue. The way the man danced with his spear and flung magic around, he would only be in the way. He nodded and began to sing again, the song of courage and determination. They were going to get through this. He found he wasn't even scared anymore and wasn't sure if it was the song or Hyoga's presence. He was so capable, so agile despite being underground. It was a marvel.

Once Hyoga was engaged with the demon dog, he yelled, "C'mon!" to the women. "We aren't far now!"

He didn't actually know how far it was as he had flown in, but he needed them to keep moving and they were surely closer now than they had been. Finn sheathed his sword, thinking it would be safer and faster to run without a naked blade in his hand. Anyway, he wasn't their protector today; he was just their guide.

[Hikami]

㊋ 10th of Frost, Year 120 ㊋
Company: Finn, Merchant's Daughters | Thoughts: Keep them safe| Mood: Determined

---

㊋ Despite the headway they had made, it seemed to Hyo the Warrens were rather unforgiving to those who wandered in without paying the toll of blood. It was as if they had finally jumped from the fire only to land into the volcano itself this time. Looking he could see that the girls and Finn were still moving toward the exit.

From the height he was at, he could easily see the exit, the light of the entrance the figures of sky guards at the mouth of it, at least that's what he hoped. But for now, his focus had to be killing this otherworldly beast and rejoin the others. Once he was high enough he turned towards the ground and divebombed in its direction.

Timing it right I put his strength into his spear as she swung it at the ground as he pulled back up with his wings, flinging the beast into the earth, a bone-shattering crack resonating throughout the area as the beast's neck twisted on impact. Landing next to its twitching body, he proceeded to stab the torso a couple of times, ensuring the creature was dead, watching the green flames become extinguished.

Grabbing it by its dislodged neck he took the shirt tied around his waist and used it to fashion a sling of sorts to hold the beast in place, taking flight to join the others. Meeting them at the entrance he landed a few feet from Finn, a bright smile on his face, as he looked back to ensure nothing else was following them. There they were greeted by the merchant and a skyguard.

Hyo watched as the family was united once again, the merchant thanking both Hyo and Finn profusely, placing a small stone in both of their hands. It was payment for a job more than well done. Both of the daughters also came to thank Hyo and Finn, the more delicate one placing a kiss on Finn's cheek while the warrior minded one kissed Hyo. Waving as they walked off Hyo looked to Finn, a big smile on his face as he set the dead creature he had killed aside.

"You did good out there Finn. I should bring you along on my jobs more often." he admitted with a hearty laugh, pulling Finn in close by the shoulder. "How about it, you still up for that drink I owe you? I'm eager to hear this tune you got for me." ㊋

---

"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Finn]

Time seemed funny down in the Warrens, or perhaps it was just the thrill in the blood that came with danger, electrifying the body and altering the way a mind experienced the passage of time. He didn't really know, but it all seemed to end in the blink of an eye. They ran past the Skyguard and he bent over, elbows on his knees, to catch his breath. The women were kind with their kisses, and their father overjoyed and relieved. Smiling, Finn palmed the stone and put it in his pocket. He wasn't sure what he ought to do with it, really. He could sell it and have more money set aside for rent, or perhaps Lyra would have some idea.

He smiled, too, for Hyoga, who seemed rather collegial while mostly naked.

"If you wanted to show me your body, you didn't have to drag me down to the Warrens to lose your clothes."

Somewhere between flirtatious and bashful, he scratched the back of his head and laughed a little.

"Sure, I could have a drink. Do you, ah, need to stop and get new clothes? I know you bird boys don't mind the cold but do you really want to support all the children that would come of you walking down the street like this, women getting pregnant just by looking...?" He laughed again. "But really, I don't think you needed me. You're a one-man army and you're mobile... I couldn't watch because I was running, but from what I saw, it was like you were dancing. Amazing."

He scratched his head and laughed once more. Getting the sense that for all his size, Hyoga was a bit younger than him, he felt a bit odd, like he was gushing.

"Maybe someday I'll be able to swing my sword half as well as that."

[Hikami]

㊋ 10th of Frost, Year 120 ㊋
Company: Finn, Merchant's Daughters | Thoughts: Keep them safe| Mood: Determined

---

㊋ This Finn fellow seemed to be quite the flirt, mentioning how Hyo was throwing peeks of his body at the man. It made the warrior chuckle, if not blush at the thought. He'd seen Finn during the wraith encounters with the dead his first time within the Warrens which took bravery for those participating to do. Finn was already on his radar, so some harmless flirting wouldn't bother the Kathar any.

Looking to the man as he mentioned he'd love a drink Hyo became elated with excitement. "Amazing, we should get going before all the good booze are taken." he said, taking Finn by the hand and leading him towards one of the taverns. When Finn mentioned if Hyo wanted to go and change clothes the Kathar laughed some more, flashing a charming smile at the man.

"And deprive the people of Kalzasi of witnessing the masterpiece of man that's me, I think not. Besides if anyone asks I'll simply explain I just slew this unknown beast and we both saved two beautiful damsels in distress from the Warrens and are in need of a victory drink. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to give us a drink or two on the house." he explained, heading towards the Caberet he had heard so much about from others.

When Finn mentioned not being good with his sword, and wanting to be able to wield it like Hyo wielded his spear the warrior laughed and patted Finn on the shoulder. "You name the place and time and I'll gladly spar with you, I am a Reaver after all, and fighting is in my blood, I'm sure I can whip you into combat shape in no time." he said, still pulling Finn along as he made his way to the Caberet. ㊋

---

"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Finn]

Finn laughed as Hyoga pulled him along, as if he could stop the giant of a bird man from dragging him along if he so chose. It had been heartening to be on his side; Finn had culled a Song of Valor to share with the women they had gone down into the depths to liberate. It would be truly terrifying to be on the opposite side of a fight or an argument with him. Kalzasi was lucky he seemed a friendly, good-natured sort. The minstrel could only imagine where the line was between hero and villain, and hoped no Avialae crossed it — especially if he himself was around and vulnerable.

"Somehow I know that your prowess at cups will far exceed mine as well," he said, thinking it must take a lot of spirits to lay the winged giant low. "I suppose I'll have to break and tell the story of Hyoga the Damsel Deliverer while you drink and... pose."

As he hurried to keep up with the taller man's long strides, he added earnestly, "I wouldn't want to put you out, but I would definitely take you up on the offer to spar. I won't prove any sort of challenge and I'll likely end up bruised and bloodied, but I would like to get better and I know it takes work and time and effort and bruises and blood, so... Let me know when you get bored. I have a room at the Crown and Lion in the Low-City if you ever need to get a message to me. I play in the taproom a fair amount, as well. The ale is decent if you ever want to come and listen."

And then he saw where Hyoga was hustling him and brightened.

"Oh, I've played the Velvet Cabaret a few times when they were short a musician. They will definitely serve you whether you're dressed or not." He laughed again. "Maybe even better if you aren't dressed."

[Mirage]

Hyoga

Lores
Elementalism: Throwing boulders at demons
Elementalism: Asking the wind to help lift you off the ground
Elementalism: Earthen Wall
Flight: Flying with a passenger
Flight: Divebombing
Bodybuilding: Carrying another person on your back
Polearms{Spear}: Keeping enemies back with your spear
Polearms{Spear}: Deflecting beast attacks with the shaft of your spear

Loot: +1 Aqualyth Shard
Injuries: Assign these as you feel necessary

Points 8, can be used for Elementalism

Finn

Lores
Blades: Warding Feints
Blades: Threatening Guards
Mesmer: Listening for Particular Melodies
Mesmer: Song of Valor
Mesmer: Translating Emotion From One to Another
Mesmer: Sustaining Song
Mount: Riding Avialae Bareback
Mount: Holding On for Dear Life

Loot: +1 Aetherite Shard
Injuries: Assign these as you feel necessary

Points 8, can be used for Mesmer