Crossroads

[Rojo]

Four dirt paths cross here. A wooden sign pokes out at an angle out of the ground. It reads:
East- East Coast
North- North Coast
West- Syntha Valley
South- Gali Desert
Northeast- Black Forest
Northwest- The Pale Expanse
Southeast- Nothing
Southwest- Nothing

[Asila]

A figure dressed in flowing deep blue robes slowly approaches the crossroads and it's aging sign. The traveler's features are shadowed by the hood of the robe, but the tailored cut of the garment reveals a feminine outline. In truth, the robe fits more like a dress and is far more flattering than that of an ordinary priest. Of course, that would make perfect sense, since this priestess is hardly of the ordinary sort. She is on of the reclusive dark elf race and a follower of Tenr.

Celitala, standing now before the sign, gazes upon it with a thoughtful expression. Where should she go? She wonders, carefully considering her options. The Feverbloom plant was peculiar in that it could not always be found in the same region from a year to year basis, and since the previous collection site had proved barren this season, she and a handful of other followers had had to set forth in different directions in search of the plant's new location.

Yet, looking at her choices, she could not decide where to begin. She knew that the Gali desert was probably her worst choice, but everything else, even the unknown southerly directions, was plausible.

Then I must allow Tenr to guide me in my decision. Having faith that the gracious Night Father would show her the way, she grasps the beaded necklace that bears His symbol in her hand and closes her eyes, taking a few long moments to pray for guidance.

[Rojo]

A robe man waltzes through the huge field, taking no heed of the path. His walk is almost swaggering, as if he is completely relaxed, and a dark robe shadows his face. He looks up, seeing the woman up ahead, his stance not changing in the slightest.

As he draws nearer, he stops before the signpost, staring at it. Where to next? Where could he go that would most benefit him? He heard there was great money to be made in Assassination, but that was something for his cousin, not him. He was a Child of Death, not a Son of Night...

Genji looked at the ground, then up again, he peers around the signpost to the otherside to look at the other person, trying to look as casual as possible.

[Asila]

Celitala opens her eyes and is surprised to see another Dark Elf standing just on the other side of the sign. It was such an extraordinary coincidence that she felt sure it was Tenr who had sent this stranger to her. Perhaps he could lead her to the Feverbloom plant.

She releases Tenr's amulet and, lifting her head, she addresses him. "I hope you will forgive me for this blunt question, kind sir, but would you know where to find the Feverbloom plant? I fear that I am at a loss as to where I should begin searching." She sets her hopeful gaze on him as she waits for an answer. It is a long shot, for Tenr worked in mysterious ways and she doubted that he would provide her with such a straightforward answer, but it was worth a shot. They say the gods of any order would only help those who helped themselves, and her deity was no exception. If Tenr had sent her the answer, it was up to her find it.

[Rojo]

Genji looked suprised, as if he had only just noticed the woman was there. When she finished her question, comprehension dawned on his face. Obviously she was a follower of that religion which encouraged the taking of drugs.
"Oh, you mean the drug? Well, I think you can buy that stuff in Glin, but I suppose you'll be wanting fresh ones which aren't mushed up...oh, well, apparently, there's a group of Dark elves somewhere in the Black Forest trying to grow them..."
He still hadn't seen her face properly...

[Asila]

Celitala arched her eyebrow as the stranger grouped the Feverbloom plant with any other common drug. Her order considered the plant sacred and she felt vaguely rebuffed by his choice of word. However, she immediately realized that she was being uncharitable. He was not a priest and she could hardly expect him to talk like one.

As she studied him further beneath the shadows of her hood she noticed that there seemed to be no reproach in his expression. His way of speaking was simply a straightforward one and she could appreciate that. Besides, he had told her where to find Feverbloom, hadn't he? She dipped her head in acknowledgment of this favor.

"Then I will continue my journey in that direction." She said, glancing back at the sign and realizing she would have to take the Northern trail for lack of a Northeastern one. She was about to step in that direction when she noticed that the traveler seemed to be trying to catch a glimpse of her face beneath the hood. She shook her head at herself, smiling slightly at her lapse in etiquette. Not only had she allowed the hood to disguise her features while addressing this man, she had failed to introduce herself.

She decided that it would be polite to remedy the error. She lifted the hood from her head and smiled gently at her kinsman. "Forgive me my brashness. I didn't mean to be so forward. My name is Celitala and it is a pleasure to meet you." She continued to smile at him as she waited for him to follow her introduction with his own.

[Rojo]

((Yeah, the thing about the sign is it means your supposed to walk between the two paths in the cases of the Northeast, northwest etc.))

When the priest revealed her face, Genji hastily pushed away all thoughts of stabbing and unholy ressurection with thoughts of help and ideas. She was lucky she was one of his kin.
"Ah...Genji Sylvanis...pleased to...meet you..."
He paused a lot.
Genji also pulled back his own cowl, revealing his face in full. He looked down the road he had come. Then he scouted out with magic briefly to seek and carcasses of horses deep underground.

[Asila]

((Ah, I thought that maybe I'd have to have Celitala walk along the northern path until she ran into one that branched off to the Northeast. *shrugs* Whatever works... ))

Her smile gained warmth and sincerity as she listened to him speak, having now assumed that he was soft-spoken or perhaps even shy. She breathed a sigh of relief when he removed the cowl that had shadowed his features and she was able to meet his pale gaze. The hardest part about leaving the temple was being seperated from the familiar features of her people and she thanked Tenr for sending Genji to her now.

She frowned slightly, perplexed, when he glanced back down the road he must have taken to get here. "What is it?" She asked, about to follow up with 'Are you being followed?' When her skin prickled in response to the brush of his magic. Her open gaze became guarded.

"What are you doing?" She asked cautiously. She didn't want to jump to conclusions, but she had enough good sense to know that if a stranger suddenly summoned magic she had best be on her guard. She wrapped her hand around Tenr's amulet, her hand glowing faintly with her own magic as she waited for him to respond.

[Rojo]

"Oh, um, my horse," he invented, not wishing to give away his dark secret "he's an undead horse...I, uh, saved him from a necromancer, and I have to summon him..."

Luckily, there was a dead horse, down there under the soil. Genji thrust his hand out, green light swarming to it and twisting and moving with the pulse of Magic. Slowly, a quadrepedial creature that might have once been a horse rose from the ground in an eruption of stone and soil. But now it was mass of rotting, decayed flesh. There were holes where maggots had taken bites out of the poor creature, and part of its face had rotted away, and most of its hindlegs were bone. Genji could see clearly every bone on the creature, and he grinned sheepishly at Celitala.

"I'm a very caring and emotional person. I try to help those who have not the means to help themselves..."
He patted the undead horse on the head; it didn't react in any way.

[Asila]

Celitala arced pure white eyebrows as she watched what Genji had just told her was a horse rise from the earth. It didn't much resemble a horse anymore, more a walking carcass than anything, and she stared at the thing doubtfully. "Isn't he a bit too...decayed to ride?" It didn't bother her that Genji seemed to have just used some necromancy of his own to summon the poor creature. The god of death and the god of night were said to be allied, after all. ((That's a guess and I have no idea if it's a correct one))

However, she remembered Genji's claim of being a 'very caring and emotional person' and almost immediately regretted her words. "Oh, I'm sorry!" She apologized, feeling contrite. "I hope I haven't offended you..." She trailed off, shaking her head and telling herself that since she had lived in the temple for so long and generally spoke so little, she was hardly fit to enter into society.

[Rojo]

Genji started. then began playing role.
"Oh, well, yes, I and, er..." he tried to think of a great Dark Elvish name "Jim is a very special horse, and has certain needs, but I think he has a great spirit."

[Asila]

(( The fearsome Jim... ;D ))

Celitala gazed at the horse, incredulous. He certainly didn't look spirited, but she knew how people could get with a cherished mount and chose not to comment.

"He is certainly a...striking creature," She said instead, smiling in spite of herself. She no longer worried about offending Genji. He seemed far too amiable to take such jests badly.

She tore her gaze from the undead steed and looked back toward Genji. "Where are you heading?" She asked, even though she knew the answer was bound to be a destination that would require them to part ways. It was too bad, really. She was beginning to think her strange kinsman rather charming.

((Hmm, we may as well continue with short posts for a change of pace. It's easier to hold a conversation that way. ))

[Rojo]

Genji faultered. No matter how dark, evil and powerful he was, he could never talk to girls. Helpless Sod.
"Erm, well, no where in particular...me, and, er, Jim are, um, travellers, seeking the sights of the world..."
In fact, he had been planning on seeing one of the great Dark Elvish cities, built under the great mountains, but he had no real need to be there...Besides, there was money to be made off these Feverbloom plants...maybe he would tag along.

[Asila]

Celitala, having absolutely no idea that Genji was dark and evil, only continued to smile when she heard his response. He seemed so unsure of himself that she almost couldn't believe she had felt threatened by him at first, even if her doubt had only lasted a moment.

"Is that so?" She hesitates before speaking the next line, wondering whether or not she should. While she was forward when it came to seeking answers she was a bit more doubtful when it came to dealing with people. But she decided almost immediately that she may as well invite him along. After all, Tenr himself had sent him to her with news of the Feverbloom plant. Who was to say that he hadn't been meant to join her all along?

"In that case, I would appreciate the company, though I can only take advantage of your kindness if you are sure it would be of no inconvenience to you."

[Rojo]

Genji seemed startled almost geniunley by the fact someone actually wanted him to accompany them, he was so used to stalking...

"Erm, yes, well...Jim and I would be happy of your company..."
The Necromancer looked to his 'Stallion,' for some reason, he kind of liked the horse...