"Each of you?" the monstrous creature roars, "Each of you!?!"

"What sort of wanton harlot do you take me for?  Each of you indeed!"

The blade points at Aaron, "I want a kiss from him.  The handsome one!  With the manly scars."

"Oh, manly scars is it?"  Luke gave Aaron a small shove forward.  "Off you go, paragon of masculinity.  Be enthusiastic."

Aaron snorted, running a hand back upon his head, half through his hair. He stifled a laugh, though, better to not offend. He strode forth then, upon the bridge, until he stopped before its erstwhile guard.

His blade slid out of its sheath easily, its edge sliding back and forth before his toes. He felt the urge to grin, but did not allow it, smiling gently at her instead, his eyes glittering.

"A troll? Far from it! I am ashamed to say, a kiss from you would spoil me. I rarely see such beauty as yourself in times like these, and to be treated with such an honor as a kiss, of all things..." he waved it off, shaking his head. "I fear, though I would try, I would ultimately disappoint you."

"Unless," he said, and the sword stopped beside his right foot. "It is a different kiss you mean?" He looked up at her from behind his dark locks, and now the predatory grin met her. "That too, I can provide, though I'd prefer the latter."

She has reach, height, certainly knowledge of my skill... and Cyan's darkest heart. I am at a disadvantage... but oh the thrill! Aaron felt the laughter building in him, but he saved it like a gift for later.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:23, Tue 29 Oct 2013.

"Oh, you have a smooth tongue in your head, smooth as polished steel.  I know I'm no beauty, not even the men of my own kind would say that."

She shakes her head slowly, and smiles that shark-tooth smile again as she slams the tip of the blade down into the bridge.  Then she drops to one knee, bringing her hideous, scarred face closer to Aaron's own level.  Her one eye fixes Aaron with its gaze.  And carefully, she removes her hand from the hilt of the weapon.  "A gesture of good faith."

"A kiss is all I want from you, pretty boy.  Nothing more, since we haven't even been introduced yet.  My name is Crethe, by the by."

Aaron too flipped his blade a bit away, Ilse spearing the ground a foot away from him where it stuck in the grass beside the road and stood. He placed his right hand upon his chest, the feral glitter in his eyes fading to a gentle warmth.

"True. I am Aaron, of... more places than I care to count." He stepped forwards once, reaching to place that same hand upon that brutally scarred face. He gently traced a line, weirdly familiar, down one scar. "You and I share more than scars, yet I find you well met, Crethe."

He was laughing inside. Aaron could feel it. This entire thing was mad, so mad... yet...

Aaron took another step, and now he was face to face with Crethe. Reaching that same hand up and around, he placed it upon the back of her head and, pulling her forwards, placed a gentle kiss upon her scarred forehead.

"No need to hold back on my account," Luke dryly noted.  "Give her something real.  Someone who has won as many fights as she has deserves that much."  She seemed a decent sort, this warrior-woman.  Not for him, mind; Luke held little care for those outside his own race, despite how certain stories might paint him, and he'd never had actual time or desire to seek out a companion.  The only one who had ever held his heart had been his father...who had carelessly tossed it aside.

That was his spin on the whole thing, in any case.

After a moment's thought, he turned away.  Privacy, of course.  As well, he found the whole thing rather poignant.  "I'm getting soft," he muttered, but knew it wasn't that.  Too much time had passed.  His war had been over for eons, the reasons for it left far behind, Outside, and all of his friends and siblings were ages gone.  Only he and his father remained, and Luke found that much of his bitterness and anger had gone to ashes.

Leave Aaron and Crethe, just for the moment.

Crethe laughs, "Is that the way men kiss where you you come from Aaron?  That's... disappointing.  Or do you just need to warm up a little first?  I promise not to bite your face off, if that's what you're worried about."

A grin then, which shows off her savage dentition to good effect.  "And I promise I'll still respect you afterward."

Her powerful hands rest on Aaron's shoulder blades, as she whispers, "Your friend isn't watching any more."

Aaron looked up at Crethe, not a hard thing considering their differences. He shrugged. "Where I come from, it's a bit more intense than that. Let's just say I was being polite," and now he grinned as well. His eyes met hers, feeling the simple, innate connection there that always preceded such things.

The next kiss was not as chaste as the prior, his right hand cupping one side of Crethe's face as he placed it upon her lips, staying for as long as she'd allow. It felt sadly familiar in an old way. When was the last time he'd kissed anyone, nevermind for anything so scarce as love? For all his power, he could not recall.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

Crethe releases Aaron and breaks the kiss, "That was... better.  And bravely done.  I thank you."  And then she topples slowly sideways, to lay twitching on the bridge, flecks of foam spraying from her lips as she grinds her teeth together.  The foam starts to turn red...

There is a scream, and she arches her back, bending backwards so far that it seems her spine must snap.  Then her legs start kicking against the boards.  Hard.  Wood cracks under the impact.  Her good eye is rolled far back in her head.  Clenched fists are hammering on the wood, blood oozing out from where her nail dig into the palms of her scaled hands.

And then oily black smoke starts to pour from beneath the scales which cover her body...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:46, Sun 17 Nov 2013.

Crethe slid away from his right hand, in slow motion. His eyes followed her, comprehending what he had expected - a trap, for certain, but not in the way he had assumed. This was far worse, and it filled Aaron with wrath.

He stepped backwards away from the smoke flowing out from Crethe, his left hand darting out, Ilsefranvir flying into his grip like a serpent. His eyes stayed locked into her, but he still sensed his comrade nearby. "Luke!"

The scaled hide splits, and yellow blood flows out to stain the wood of the bridge.  Beneath the scales, the flesh burns with a bluish fire.  Crethe stops thrashing about and, eyes still tightly closed, she screams.

And then there is a flare of light, and her whole body is engulfed in blue flame, and there is a wave of heat intense enough to drive Aaron back and sear the wooden bridge.

And then the flame is gone, leaving only oily black smoke, which disperses to reveal a human woman laying, naked and unmoving, upon the planks in the middle of the charred silhouette of a much larger form...

Aaron released the breath he'd been holding. The smoke disappeared, Aaron's eyes narrowing at what he beheld. He tamped down the wariness he had felt earlier, spinning Ilsefravir around and into its sheath.

He strode forwards as he took off his long coat, crouching down beside Crethe and throwing his jacket across her form. Aaron carefully reached beneath her, lifting her up in his arms. He turned and carried her back the way he had come.

Once he'd reached the other end of the bridge, he set Crethe into the grass before him, waiting.

He thought of many things. Of princesses and frogs; of molting caterpillars; of how illness has a habit of changing, growing into something worse. He wondered which of these things Crethe was like, and he wondered if he'd have to kill her at some point, a thought that caused him no small amount of discomfort.

"Well, that was cute.  You paid at the troll bridge," Luke waspishly noted, staring down at the transformed woman.  "Wonder who this actually is?  And why someone ensorcelled her?"

He grimaced at his companion.  "Sorry I didn't come running, but I figured it was an enchantment rather than attack.  Nice job breaking it.  Guess she picked the right person - you must be a prince, right?"

Squatting down, he studied the naked woman without a hint of embarassment...or lewdness.  Casual interest, nothing more.  "I was a prince, once," Luke mused before his voice sharpened.  "Did you catch the colour of that flame?  Might be nothing...might be something, though, something important.  I could provide her with clothing if you want."  He rocked forward onto his toes, like a bird on a perch. "Let's see if there's any power about you," the dark man murmured, reaching out a hand.

OOC - Will check Crethe for any signs of Patter, Logrus, Sorcery, Trump, etc, etc.

Aaron nodded at Luke's analysis. "Yes, please add some clothes to her. I'm fairly certain she'd appreciate it." Not that she's tough to look at, by any means... still... Unlike Luke, Aaron's interest was a bit more than casual, but he didn't know this woman from Eve, so he wasn't about to make any assumptions regarding Crethe's disposition.

He shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "I'm no prince. I'm just a man." Aaron looked about the area, his smile disappearing into a frown as he finally started taking in everything that had just happened.

"Yes, I noticed that flame. Though I didn't recognize it personally, I won't discount anything, after what I just witnessed." Aaron chewed on his thoughts while Luke set to work. "It feels like someone's manipulating me. I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress."

Groaning, Crethe (if that is her real name) reaches up with one hand to touch her wounded face and the scarred mess that used to be an eye.  Her other eye opens, and she holds her hand out, turning it to examine it carefully, before touching her face again.  "Thank you, Aaron."  Her voice is still recognisable as that of the monstrous creature that had stood on the bridge, but gentler.

"I think I have my own face again.  At least it feels like my face.  Suppose it was too much to hope that my eye would grow back."

With a little effort, she sits up, "I'm sorry for tricking you.  The magic could only be broken if a man kissed me without knowing what would happen when he did."

She twists a lock of blonde hair in front of her eye and studies it carefully.  "I think I'm me again.  My voice sounds like me too."

He waved a hand. "You're welcome, I guess, considering what you went through to get back into this state, I don't know if you should be thanking me."

Aaron shifted to another leg to keep the other from falling asleep, reminding himself that Crethe's blade was on the other side of the bridge, well away from them.

Aaron cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing surreptitiously. "And who are you, exactly?"

"Scion of Amber," Luke noted quietly as he waved his hand in a vague gesture.  "Lord of Auld Theriel and San Anyn.  I'd say you more than qualify for the 'prince' label."  Shadows coallesce about Crethe, forming forest green clothing to cover her; it almost looks like military fatigues, complete with comfortable boots.  Luke grinned, his teeth very, very sharp.  "There.  At some point in the future she'll take those off, so I snagged them from then.  Maybe it'll be five minutes from now.  Maybe it'll be in three days.  Either way, they won't vanish until she removes them, so if it's just for a bath make sure there are extras handy."

"I'd have done her up in brilliant whites," he continued, "but under the circumstances...no.  Just don't expect me to whip up a mirror."  He shot Aaron a sharp look.  "The flame?  Aren't most manifestations of your Great Pattern that shade?"

He took a pace back when Crethe fully woke, giving the pair a bit of privacy.

"I am Crethe.  Or, more formally, Cretheddene av Fialla av Bronyn av... av... no, that's gone.  Too long ago.  I am, or was, a princess of Cadiniagart.  But that was years ago.  I don't know how many, but it's a lot."

Crethe examines the clothing provided by Luke, plucking at her sleeve and rubbing the fabric between thumb and forefinger.

"I awoke one day to the screaming of servants, on a bed soaked with blood.  I couldn't remember who I was, or how I got there, but when the guards arrived they said I was a monster who had killed their ruler, their princess.  When I tried to speak, my voice came out only as animal sounds.  I was shackled to a wall and tortured - a punishment for devouring the princess they said."

"Then their new ruler arrived to see me, and the real torture began.  He told me that he was my cousin, and that he now ruled in my stead, having used magic to turn me into a monster that none would recognise as their beloved princess.  Nasty little man.  I never liked him - as a child he took far too much pleasure in pulling the wings of insects."

She tilts her head back, continuing to speak as she looks at the sky, "When they eventually grew tired of hurting me, they decided a public execution was the only way to deal with a monster.  They took me from my cell to be hanged, but I took the chance to escape.  I fled the city and hid in the wilderness, wandering where I would.  Eventually I taught myself to speak again, but saw no point in going home as the famous monster who had eaten their princess.  I knew how to end the curse, my cousin had gloated about that, but it was hard finding a man who would kiss me in that shape."

Aaron listened to Crethe's explanation, his eyes downcast as he considered her past and her situation. His jaw set as she went into detail as to her treatment, treatment by former friends, allies, family. He tried to not let it get to him, but he felt for her just the same.

"How did you end up in Amber, and how long have you been here?" He held out a hand to her, placing his fingers by her jaw and turning her face just-so, to get a better look at her left eye. "I have friends who may be able to do something about that," he said.

He lowered his hand, glancing up at Luke. "We also shouldn't stay here too long, despite my wanting to know more of your story." Not to mention her intentions. He also wanted to take Luke aside and discuss more of what he'd sensed so far.

Despite Crethe's arrival, Aaron still remembered what he'd seen in the forest prior, as well as Luke's encounter with the gestalt. Crethe showing up when she did, and with such a convincing story, struck him as a bit convenient.

"How I came to Amber is simple enough.  I am...  or I was a monster.  I came here to fight.  The King Random hired mercenaries from surrounding lands to defend the city and the forest.  I have not been here long." Crethe explains, "I signed up when the invaders started encroaching on Arden.  There was nothing for me at home, but I was always loyal to Amber when I ruled in Cadiniagart, so it seemed a good idea to come here and help defend it."

"Then too there is the matter of time.  I was a monster for so long that I learned to fight expertly with that blade." a gesture towards the discarded sword, longer than she is now.

"By coming here I hoped to find an end to the curse, or to my life."

"I won't say that we were planning on coming this way," he said, remembering the Unicorn. "But perhaps we arrived here for just that reason." He shook his head. "I cannot say. Probabilities are soft things and easily manipulated. I am glad, though, that I could be your alternative to a brutal end."

Aaron nodded, his apprehensions mostly settled for the moment. Though he had much to consider and think upon, he knew it wouldn't do them any good to delay any longer. He rose, extending a hand to help Crethe up.

"Well, taking all of that into account, what would you like to do now?"

"An ugly story," Luke muttered, "one played out a million times upon a million worlds.  The words might change, but the themes remain the same.  It beggers the mind that people invent sources of evil when the seeds lie so often within their own hearts.  Looking for excuses, I suppose."

He snorted. "Fortunately, Aaron happened along.  I'm not sure it would have done any good for me to kiss you, after all, but he's certainly a man, with all that entails.  Including the ridiculousness at times."  He motions.  "Which encompasses fixing eyes.  Whatever he offers, don't take him up on it."

"OUTSIDE of that, though, right now he's making perfect sense.  It's good to free someone from shackles of any kind, including sorcery.  And he did a fine job of that." Luke nodded.  "Definitely sorcery, Aaron.  I can...'taste' it on her, the old bastard would say." He cocked an eyebrow.  "Cadiniagart, eh?  Your cousin's probably dead.  Assassinated at the start of this whole mess.  Pity.  I would have enjoyed paying him a visit.  Afterward." He squinted at the trail 'ahead'. "You wouldn't happen to know what was past your troll bridge, would you?"

"More forest that way, and a trail leading deeper into it." Crethe confirms, a little redundantly, before adding, "If you follow the trail, there is a river, and a fortress.  Never been into it, only seen it over the water, but it's old, and looks fit to crumble at any moment, like its only held together by ivy and cobwebs."

A smile appears fleetingly on her lips, "Can't say that I'd be sorry to confirm that he's been killed.  If somebody ended his life, then they saved me a job and, at the same time, he probably stopped them ending mine.  If I ever see his grave I should leave some flowers and a letter of thanks."

"As for what I'll do now... I owe you Aaron.  You took a risk and helped me, even without knowing why.  I owe you.  I'd like to tag along with you, help with whatever you're doing."

She moves across and works her blade out of woodwork of the bridge, hefting it two-handed.  "I can still use this, I think.  I used to swing it one-handed, of course, but I believe I can still take a life with it.  Or, if you'd rather, I've learned to hunt, and to find herbs, and to cook."

Aaron followed Crethe to the other side of the bridge, giving the blade she hefted an experienced look, taking it and its wielder into account as a whole. The blade was almost as long as she was. He crossed his arms over his chest and considered the proposition.

"I won't speak for the rest of my friends. We can always use more help from experienced warriors..." He trailed off. A small smile appeared and he shook his head.

"As for myself, I'd appreciate the company. Walk the worlds with me, and you'll find no shortage of reasons for living, that's for certain." he waved absently at Luke. "Despite what he says, I really do mean to do something about that eye of yours." Aaron grinned at her. "Though the scars themselves aren't unappealing. They sharpen your femininity."

Pleasant words, for certain, but the things he wasn't saying were more important. Months alone in Arden, with only the soldiers for company, and even then not always, had reminded him of his own... eccentricities in his personality. Aaron had started changing when Arianne asked to be free, and now with that months or even years past depending on where you were standing... being alone with yourself could be a crushing thing.

This time in Arden had caused Aaron to come closer and closer to the old ways of his kin on Ald Thiriel. Rabid, unthinking, conscious only of the action and not the reasons behind them. A learned thing amongst Ygg's dense wood and grand, wild beasts: The lone wolf, despite its strengths, always died alone. He was not willing to live that kind of empty, selfish life. Not any more.

He looked to Luke, then. "What say you, old grump? We're heading to yon fortress." He was just as curious to see what was ahead as anyone else, not to mention taking the time to know his new companion.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Sun 01 Dec 2013.

"Someone killed Cadiniagart's ruler 'recently'," Luke confirmed. "The way time works, I couldn't say if it were your cousin." He shrugged.  "Either way, your cousin is certainly dead, barring time having gone in a different direction and your own issues having come to pass afterward." The dark man frowned.  "I'd have to check.  I might live in it, but time is not exactly transparent to me."

He remained quiet as Crethe spoke with Aaron and vice versa, choosing instead to eye the trail.  When Aaron finally bespoke him, Luke grunted sourly. "You're describing the old bastard, not me.  I don't feel my age.  Yet.  But curious, yes. I'd like to see this fortress.  Do a delving, peer through the hours and days in the past and future around it.  Might tell us something."  He studied Crethe as she moved the sword about. "Looks like I made the right choice for your clothing.  If you need armor, we might be able to snag some of that as well.  Since it's more generic, I'll avoid paradoxes and just pick it up from somewhere."

With all the recent battles, it shouldn't be hard to find a suit that its owner no longer needed.