Favors Traded

[Daisy]

(Should this thread be moved to the "Beyond Wistvale" section, or stay here? Most of it is going to be outside Wistvale proper, on the other hand it is going to start and end within Wistvale. What to do?)

Daisy slowed her pace a bit to fall back with the others as they were clearing the town gates. It would be some time until they were away from the influence of Wistvale and the patrols of the Sentinels. So, before they were in territory open to banditry she wanted to know what her associates were capable of in a fight.

Her voice was casual, matter-of-fact, and although she was to some extent trying to make conversation, it came across as cold. "So, before we're set upon by bandits who think it's a brilliant idea to try and steal our horses and gear, and to take us prisoner for sale in the slave markets; I'd like to know what the two of you can do in a fight. That we may better disabuse them of those ideas.

You may have gathered I have a penchant for violence. You would not be wrong. I'm very good at killing. It's what I do. Usually by crushing something's skull. I want to know now if either of you have a problem with taking a mans life."

[Dani]

She did her best to hide her misgivings about Daisy behind a pleasant smile. She struck her as being very matter-of-fact, which in some cases could be good, but when that casual attitude was turned towards killing, it could go to many bad places.

"I am trained in bow and sword and have taken lives, but only when needed. I have some skill in medicine. Enough to keep people from bleeding out if it comes to that. Aside from that my skills lie mostly with living with the land about me. Something that should come in handy on our journey."

She turned then to Ely, knowing some of the skills the cathian had, but still curious as to what she would say. For while she had a passing knowledge of first aid, Ely was what she considered a Master of the art of healing. And it eased many concerns of hers that she had decided to join them on their task.

[Ely]

Ely's vivid green eyes, which always seemed to possess an inner flame, were snuffed by Daisy's questions. The Cathian had a buoyant behavior more often than not. She had never been one to dig underneath where rotten, immorality lurked. Like many of her fun-loving kindred she floated along the surface of the world.

Once.

Before Wistvale's House of Galena was attacked by an assassin.

Before trying to turn the man she loved into a human torch.

Before armed thugs were given her description and orders to bring her back by any means necessary.

Before a small tavern, in the town they were headed directly toward mind you, was nothing but charred timbers and bits of ash.

Ely looked Daisy straight in the eye. Her face which had been flushed from her adamant stance with Iona was now dead white. Her words were clipped, precise, and for Ely; a girl full of fire, extremely cold.

"No, I do not have a problem with taking a man's life. As for what I can do in a fight, Daisy, you do not want to know."

Ely nudged her horse past the other women without looking back.

[Daisy]

Daisy was, to be blunt, a rather insensitive sort. And on just about any day, with just about anyone, she would have replied with enough sarcasm to gag a vulture. But this was not any day, and Ely was not just anyone. She was a fire mage that had already demonstrated considerable ability and had just shown an abrupt swing in mood. Besides they would be traveling together for some time to come. It wouldn't do anyone any good to be adversarial. Best to let sleeping dogs lie.

She instead turned to Dani, her tone not having changed. "It comes down to a fight we do our best to keep the opposition off of her." There was a small pause while she gave the elf an appraising look. "You look like you sleep with that bow. I'm betting that means you're better with one than me. So; if it's alone or unintelligent we tag team it in melee. But if it's a group or they're smart, I want you to hang back. Anybody with half a brain or brigands with any experience will try to take down the mage first. Your job is to make sure they don't do that. Pick off whoever is trying to take out Ely, or lacking that pick off their mage if they have one. Meanwhile, I'll wade into them hip deep and introduce them to scything blunt force trauma.

Of course, running is an option if we're badly outclassed. But, and I don't know how much experience you have with brigands, even if it's two or three on one; most of them can be reasoned with if you convince them you're more trouble than you're worth. Though that often requires maiming somebody.

Sound like a plan?"

[Ely]

(No. It started in Wistvale. I'm not going to worry about moving it now, Daisy. Apologies for not stating this in my last post.)

Ely was doing her best to shake off the mood Daisy's questions had created. Nevertheless, her thoughts remained tied to the mess of memories. She never noticed when her horse passed the gate to town.

Iona, meanwhile, had left the stable yard for the comfort of her small study. She knew about the tavern fire in Brindisi. Iona had healed Kiga; Ely's lover, after the Cathian had blasted him with a fireball. She also suspected that the reason Ely spent so much time at the House, was because she doubted her ability to control any fire magic. If so, Iona might have just sent all three to their death. She had to hope that was not the case.

Daisy and Dani were still within the town's environs. And before Dani could agree or reply to Daisy's statements a Sentinel broke off from a group of three other men. The silver and purple cloak of his office caught a small breeze and swung wide to reveal a huge two handed claymore buckled on his back.

"Miss!"

He raised his voice to catch their attention.

[Dani]

She was puzzled by Ely's response. She had never seen this harder side of her while at the House and wondered as to what could have happened to cause it. Whatever it was, she hoped it would not cause an issue while on the trip. The trolls would be bad enough to deal with on their own.

She nodded in agreement to Daisy's plan of action and was about to give her own input on the matter when she heard the Sentinel call out. She reined in her mount to wait for the guard to approach, not knowing if he meant to flag down Daisy or herself.

"Yes, sir?"