First meeting with Gwen and Orion
As day turns to night, a woman walks the streets of the Upper Sacks. At first look she appears human, but upon closer scrutiny you will notice that she has the green skin of an orc. Her face is covered in ritualistic warpaint. Her clothes are well worn from travel, yet clearly taken care of. As she walks along the streets you can hear a soft chime as the bells she wears at her waist move with her. The quarterstaff in her hand doubles as her walking stick.
Mahra Flamewalker has spent the day traveling and had only entered the city of Odanbyr just before dusk via the south-east gate. New to the city, she quickly got lost wandering the streets of the Upper stacks, the endless piles of rubble and broken buildings quickly looking the same to her. As she continued her search, looking for an inn to stay the night, something tugs at her senses. Somewhere nearby is an undead. Surprised at finding an undead within the city itself, she searches the area.
Turning down assorted streets of abandoned buildings, the orc comes to a halt as she enters a new neighborhood.
Placed directly in the road is a sign. The sign reads ‘Be Warned, Undead of Gwenevere and Orion Argyos patrol the following street. They are nonlethal to those that dont take hostile action. Hostile actions taken against the undead will be returned in kind.’
True to the words of the sign, the Orc witnesses several skeletal dogs that seem to patrol up and down the street. Most of their routes centering around the singular put together home in the area. A single story cottage with an enormous hedge seeming to contain a sheltered garden in the backyard. Being the only home with lights on, it also seems to have a high concentration of undead presence emanating from within.
As various skeletal wolves move through an around the street, the orc watches a strange sight as those that get within a short distance of the home seem to vanish from her sight. Only smallest puffs of dirt that they kick up suggest that the beasts are likely still there, just sheltered by some magical barrier.
As Mahra sees the sign in middle of the road, some of her fears are assuaged. She was worried about undead being in the city. While she knows that sometimes the undead can be used to noble or useful purposes, they usually tend to be a problem for those around them. Still, she has never seen someone use them as guard dogs. As she sees them disappear near the house, her curiosity is even more piqued. She could still feel the undead from the building.
While followers of Mahja like her rarely use the undead, she accepts the idea that they aren't inherently evil, simply being a tool to be used. Also, there was something to this house before her. She could feel the spirits around her urging her on, some force drawing her in. Before she knew it, she stood in front of the door of the house, light spilling from the windows, but somehow still obstructing her from seeing inside.
Hesitantly, she knocks on the door in front of her.
Something shines in the eyes of the silver wolf’s head knocker on the front door.
Before the knock, Orion gets a ping in his head- front door, orc woman approach!- and he looks up from his cup of coffee to Gwen, sitting across from him. Someone’s here, he relays. He cocks his head, waiting for her response.
Gwen's nostrils flare under her own cup of coffee. Keeping her eyes from rolling back she lets out a soft sigh as she stands. "If the гยкשคՇ is here to have me sign some new ridiculous form, I'm going to have the dogs dig holes around her yard..."
Grumbling all the way to the door, Gwen wastes no time in pulling it open.
Before Mahra stands the foreboding presence of a pale female orc. Her thick white hair braided in a singular long cord that travels down her back while she wears a black dress with grey wolf lining along the shoulders. Her eyes a strange bright pink and her face locked in a look of utter scorn. Mahra notes the odd posture of the woman as she stands over 7ft tall due to an abnormally straightened back. The door open, Mahra's sense for undead doubles from the woman's presence. Though her body is clearly living, death clings to her form and soul. Black wisps of smoke occasionally seeping out from the corners of her lips.
Gwen's look of disgust briefly twists to one of confusion at seeing another female orc. Her eyebrow twitches and her feet shuffle lightly. Her eyes quickly flicker to street, as if waiting to see if some trap is about to be sprung. Seeming content with her surroundings she finally speaks after several seconds of silence. "Can I... help you?" The words a bit foreign to her, but the sentiment at least seems to be true.
Orion follows her with light steps, peeking out from her shadow with curious eyes. Though dwarfed by his wife, he has his own presence about him, dressed in all black with sparkling constellations dotting what’s visible of his skin. He’s quick to take in the new orcish woman with a small smile, but his amusement lacks context. Sharp eyes would note he seems to be holding his tongue as he remains a step behind Gwen.
Let me know if you need me to step in…
Mahra stares at the Orc in front of her. When she had entered the city, she had asked about any other orcs in the city but the guard on duty mentioned they were rare in Onadbyr so she is surprised to see one. That being said, neither her height nor demeanor intimidated her as she was long used to it. Especially since, due to her human blood, she has spent her entire life being towered over by the other orcs around her.
"Oh...Hello, mistress. I sensed the undead here and thought to investigate. I've seen too many towns destroyed by them the last few years."
At that, she turns her gaze downward. In doing so she spots Orion from behind her. Seeing Orion, Mahra blushes slightly, clearing noticing that the two were spending some quality time together before her interruption.
"Apologies. I seem to have interrupted you. But, at least I know that I have nothing to worry from the undead around here." she says, looking directly at Gwen while giving her a big smile. She then gives Gwen a small bow. "My name is Mahra, and I am new to the city. I am glad to have already met another Orc here. I will leave for now, but if you ever have need of me, do not hesitate to ask. Us orcs must stay together right?" She finishes with a small salute, an orc tradition to show respect to another orc before turning to leave, her fears entirely assuaged by seeing that the necromancer ordering these undead is a fellow orc.
Gwen’s face twists and turns through a litany of emotions as she takes in the half-orcs words. Confusion, a flash of annoyance, a brief moment of pride, then something akin to a bittersweet gaze as she watches the orc turn.
Gwen finally comes to full sense as she calls, “W-wait. Ah… You are…” Her tripped words produce more black smoke as it pours from her lips with a steady flow. Seeing all the smoke pool in front of her, Gwen clicks her tongue and reaches into pocket to affix what Mahra recognizes as an Orc Warmask. Its intricate design reflecting a skeletal mouth as it clasps over her mouth and seals all the smoke inside.
Trying once more, “You are Orc? Have you come with your tribe?” Her tone significantly softened as she looks down to Mahra inquisitively.
Mahra looks at the smoke that pours from Gwen's mouth with interest. Mahra also shows interest in Gwen's Warmask. Her own clan's Warmask is made with paints and dyes instead of physical materials as is evident by looking at the paints covering the upper part of Mahra's face. As she hears her question though, her face turns somber.
"No. My tribe is gone. The collapse took them. It's...just me now." After a moment of silence she perks up though "But, I'm gonna start a new one! That's why I came to Odanbyr actually. They even have salmon here. The last time I ate salmon was before the Collapse." she says with an enthusiasm that only youth can muster
At Mahra's embarassment, Orion winks, careful to remain out of Gwen's periphery. He leans against the door frame as the two converse, eyes lazily drifting between them. It's clear that he's a bit groggy. Occasionally, the dying light catches his eyes and turns them to reflective silver disks, like a cat hunting at dusk. His ears flick this way and that, seemingly unburdened by the numerous silver earrings adorning them.
As the conversation continues, his smile grows with what one would assume to be pride, especially when his eyes are on Gwen.
At Mahra's last words, sympathy flickers across his face. He looks up at Gwen. Invite her inside, he urges.
He looks over his shoulder, back into the house, and calls out in Necril, "[Tidy.]" Then he resettles against the door frame, as though nothing had happened.
Mahra's initial response triggers an inadvertent grin on Gwen's face, her words spilling without a thought, "Goo-"
Thankfully said emotions dissolve immediately as Mahra's tone shifts. The tension in Gwen's face slipping as her eyes resist softening. Her eyes flicker down to Orion as his words ring in her mind. Looking back up to the orc again, new conflicting emotions fight their way through her mind.
Beneath the mask, Gwen's teeth sink and roll across her lips as she fights to put her best thoughts to words. Finally, she stumbles out, "Y-you sh-"
But not before she cuts herself off and starts again. Switching to a language that rolls through her throat like rusted metal, Orcish.
"Join in our blades and bellies." [An 'old fashioned' Orcish invitation to join another's hearth for a quick meal or momentary safety. ]
Automatically, Mahra responds in Orcish with the ceremonial response, "May we break bread and salt, not bones and tusks."
before switching back to common on the off chance that Orion doesn't speak Orcish, "Are you sure? I'm not interrupting?" she asks as she looks from Gwen to Orion.
Despite her words, she is clearly eager to accept the invitation. Her clothes are still coated in dust from the road and while her eyes and demeanor are bright, she still has signs of exhaustion from a long day of travel.
Orion's eyes widen a bit when Gwen speaks in Orcish. He listens intently to their words, but it seems more as though he's studying the phonemes rather than actually understanding them.
He pushes off of the door frame. "Come on in, you look like you could use some coffee." He smiles kindly at Mahra, the tips of prominent canines peeking out. Even with his confident demeanor, he still glances up at Gwen before he commits to stepping to the side and allowing Mahra through.
In response, Mahra bows to them before following Orion and Gwen into their home. "Thank you. I have been on the road all day and was looking for an inn when I got distracted..." she trails off looking at the undead presences around her. Refocusing on the conversation she continues smiling at the pair, "Though I am glad that I met you both though. It almost feels like there was some sort of intervention that led me here."
Mahra’s orcish reply seems to evoke a nervous shiver as her brow furrows. Giving a nod of awkward acceptance, Gwen moves to the side to allow Mahra inside.
In that same motion, Gwen slides through the doorway with a short, “One moment.”
Closing the door behind her, Gwen gives a short message to Orion, ‘setting a watch’. Through their connection, Orion feels the pool of Gwen’s anxiety lingering under the surface. Wasting no time, she pulls the mask down as she exhales an enormous cloud of black smoke. The smoke twists and turns unnervingly as flecks of green glow within. The soft beating of a heart travels up and out of Gwen’s chest and into the manifestation of undeath in front of her. A black winged undead hooded figure stands in front of her, Seraphiel the eidolon.
From the roof floatation down a blue ghostly wolf just as another decrepit zombie wolf the size of a horse hops the garden wall to join in front of the house. Looking over her undead companions she gives a short terse nod, “Patrol the grounds.” Without another word, the three undead figures quickly disperse as two take to the air as the enormous zombie wolf follows behind.
Orion shoots a grin over his shoulder. "Indeed, the stars must have aligned," he says in a way that isn't quite serious, but still holds some truth (to him, at least). He eyes Gwen as she sets her watch, but keeps his words and thoughts to himself as he leads Mahra inside.
Once inside, Mahra is met with a dimly lit home featuring narrow hallways, wooden floorboards, and stone walls. The entryway opens into the nexus of the home, their kitchen, where a pot of coffee sits cooling on the stove, and two abandoned mugs are set on a small table with two chairs. To the right of the entryway is a small parlor which clearly does not see much use (nor company). On the left wall of the kitchen is the door to the basement, and at the back, two hallways lead further into the home. On the right wall is a large window over the table looking out into the garden, and a door leading outside.
Orion clears away one of the mugs and pulls out the chair where it was placed. "Please, have a seat. Gwen will be back in a minute." He gestures to the seat and gives Mahra an encouraging smile. "How do you like your coffee?"
Mahra, not deterred by the gloom enters the home. She gladly accepts the offered chair and settles into it. "I've never had coffee before so however you would recommend is fine." She says while taking in the sparse room around her. "I'm sorry, I have forgotten my manners and haven't even asked your names yet." she says a bit chagrined.
Orion laughs. "You probably don't want it my way, but here." Orion says a brief incantation over the coffee pot, and it begins steaming again. He grabs a clean mug from a shelf and fills it a third of the way with coffee. "Try it black, and we can see how much milk and sugar you need." He sets the mug down in front of Mahra and extends a hand. "Orion Argyros. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." His hands are not quite as delicate as those of an academic, but they're certainly not of a fighter or laborer either. His fingers are adorned with at least a dozen rings, almost all pure silver- with the exception of one that features a large purple gemstone- and they end in short but thick black claws. His handshake, if accepted, follows Mahra's lead in firmness and duration.
Mahra returns the handshake and since orcs generally show their respect through strength, puts as much strength as she can into it. "Once again, I am Mahra Flamewalker, formerly of the Firebrand tribe. It's nice to meet you Orion." Afterwards, she takes a sip of the coffee. She has no strong reaction to it, simply thinking about the taste. "It's not as bitter as I expected it to be, and the smell is nice." She relaxes back into the chair, both hands wrapped around the mug, sipping it slowly as she waits for Gwen to rejoin them. The coffee also doesn't seem to have any noticeable impact on her weariness, at least not right away it seems
Orion takes the handshake without grimacing, returning its firmness.
His smile widens as she takes no issue with the taste of the coffee. Satisfied, he steps back, but instead of taking the place opposite her, he leans against the counter behind him.
he front door opens once more as Gwen steps inside, her hands fixing the mask back in place. The moment away seems to have helped the woman recollect herself as she holds a now steady gaze over the room.
Eyeing the steaming pot on the stove, Gwen moves past the two to fix herself another cup. As she does, Mahra picks up a strange emptiness from Gwen since coming back inside, no longer does she seem to pulsate with the same undead energy. Her back to the girl, Gwen grabs a mug before filling 1/5th of it with coffee before inundating it with milk and a healthy scoop of sugar.
With a now fixed drink, Gwen turns and sits in the remaining chair. Placing the mug on the table, her fingers lightly trace the lip as she thinks for the moment. Sighing heavily through the mask she gives a somber nod, “I am Gwenevere Argyros, I have… severed myself of any tribe. My husband Orion and I control these streets with our pack.”
Mahra looks at the older women with a somber smile. "I see, it must have been hard. To leave your tribe. Mine...." she trails off as she is pulled into a memory for a moment, looking down into the mug in front of her "Mine no longer exists." Mahra's gaze refocuses on Gwen "Though I doubt you've severed ties with all tribes. You seem to have found quite an interesting new tribe here." As she finishes, she tilts her head towards Orion "You have even claimed and defend your tribe's territory."
Mahra’s words of kindness unfortunately only seem to trigger a fire in Gwen’s eyes. Her face contorting into something resembling a sneer through the mask. “This is not my tribe, it is my family. Make the mistake again and I’ll…” With each word, her grip fastens on her mug, till she takes a moment to breathe.
Even through the mask, Mahra sees the faintest bits of smoke escape as Gwen’s anger tempers. Closing her eyes briefly she starts again, “My anger is not with you. You simply don’t know better.” Opening her eyes again, Gwen’s gaze drifts down to black coffee in Mahra’s hands. Losing her focus in the swirling coffee, Gwen’s tone shifts to a hollow breeze.
“I did not leave my tribe little one, I desecrated their corpses, defiled their history and scorched their fields. I would see all Orc tribe culture follow the same path before I ever call myself a tribesman again.” Her words leaving little to the imagination even as she speaks with the same tone one uses when reading a boring tome. Merely stating fact.
Orion grimaces briefly, contorting the scars around his mouth, before his expression returns to placidity. He pushes himself off the counter and steps close to Gwen, offering her his hand.
"I'm sure you know," he interjects, facing Mahra, "that not all tribes have the same values. Some deal only in brutality and violence."
Mahra does not react to Gwen's outburst of anger, letting wash over her like she has done many times before. Orcs have a tendency to have anger issues and Mahra has long since learned to deal with such outbursts. As Gwen mentions destroying her clan though, Mahra's gaze shifts. The joy and excitement that has been evident throughout is gone as her eyes grow dark and flinty. As Gwen finishes and Orion trys to smooth things over, Mahra's stare never leaves Gwen's face. She utters a single word, cold and merciless, backed by a cold rage. "Why?"
Resting back in her chair, Gwen watches the young orc’s light of joy be snuffed out with a strange twisted sense of delight. The naive innocence brought down the Gwen’s own tormented understanding.
In a slow determined motion, Gwen rises from her chair. With her right foot, she pushes a leg of the table to clear the space between the two orcs. Meanwhile, the front door opens as Sera pushes her way inside as black rolling smoke coats the floors. Seraphiel stands with her wings scrapping the ceiling in a towering over the room, with a black mask covering the undead’s face, as the only other detail to catch one’s eye is a green mote of light within her chest which gives a rhythmic beating.
As Gwen starts, she tugs roughly at the dress to pull down and expose a portion of her upper chest. The pale flesh is covered in scars, torn and ripped by hundreds of sharp teeth that each left their mark of pain.
Behind Mahra, Seraphiel mimics the same motion as Gwen, ripping away her blackened ethereal flesh to expose a perverse beating heart. Half the heart seems to be deformed in appearing to be a shrunken version of the other. The other half however, is held together by hundreds of stitches, amassing pieces of flesh the size of fingers, its existence an affront to life. All held within the form of what Mahra recognizes to be an Eidolon.
“I was returning the favor.” Gwen finishes her words with the same calm and empty tone, never breaking her fixed gaze on Mahra. The orc stands silent as she waits to see the girl’s response.
Mahra stands slowly "I see." she says as she approaches the taller woman. She moves right in front of her until she is standing face to face before giving her a predatory grin. But, not one of a predator who is looking to hunt, but that has just finished one. She begins speaking again, but this time there is an ethereal echo to it, as if the sound is coming from Mahra, but with a second deeper voice layered over top. "Then you did not kill our kind. You rid the world of monsters that needed cleansing." After a moment of holding Gwen's gaze, Mahra then proceeds to take a step back and give Gwen a kneeling salute, head bowed. (an orc tradition that shows one has lost, admit defeat, or admit wrongdoing as it presents themselves defenseless to the other party.) "I apologize for judging you. I see now that I was wrong." This time it is back to her original voice. Mahra continues kneeling, waiting for Gwen to respond.
wen’s brow twitches as she watches the young girl salute in front of her. A practice that she never received before even at her ‘highest’ station. And now a practical child was doing so without even threat of her life.
She should be moved to tears. She should revel in this moment. Any yet… it all felt so hollow now.
Instead, Gwen releases her grasp as she steps back from the salute to hide her look of disgust. Sera similarly floats back away from the two as the heart conceals itself once more. Holding herself in the corner while empty eyes watch on.
A heavy sigh and a wave of her hand as she steps away, “Forget your apologies, it’s not worth it.” Gesturing to the side door that leads to the garden, “There is a gazebo in the garden, you may rest in there.”
Mahra continues to kneel on the ground. "Then I thank you for your hospitality." While she wants to interact more with Gwen, she is good enough at noticing people's tells that she knows now is not the time. She plans to live here long term and will have many more chance to speak to Gwen in the future. She stands and gives both Gwen and Orion another bow before proceeding to towards the indicated door.
Orion stands frozen, holding his breath, as the two women stand against each other. When Mahra kneels, he audibly releases the breath.
Before Mahra can leave, Orion steps forward and holds out his hand.
“Wait, are you hungry? Do you need anything for warmth, or the bugs?” he asks, trying to extend their hospitality to make up for the brief awkwardness.
Mahra looks from Orion over to Gwen and back before responding, "Do not worry about me, I will be fine." She gives him a smile before giving him a subtle indicator with her eyes by flicking them at Gwen (trying to convey that he should focus on Gwen since it seems to Mahra that she might need his support more) "I have spent many nights camping on the road, just having a roof over me will be enough. Thank you for the coffee." Mahra then proceeds to the garden, leaving the other two alone in the house.
Gwen makes no further effort to stop Mahra from leaving to the garden, watching the young woman from the corner of her eye. Turning fully once the door has closed she gives a nod to Sera, "Bring her a few of the extra pelts in the closet. Warn her of the plants she should avoid." Sera wastes no time in following the instructions while Gwen returns her softened gaze to Orion.
She says nothing, but her eyes communicate a feeling of exhaustion as she sighs. Eventually she removes the mask to take a few sips of her now cooled coffee. "Sorry." Her tone short and words brief as she breaks her gaze again to stare forlorn at the wall.
Mahra steps through the backdoor to enter into a plant paradise as she finds herself surrounded by dozens of different flora, the grounds themselves brimming with plants of a uniquely gothic flair. Dark reds and purples mixed within sharpened thorns flood the grounds, with only small flattened stones acting as safe platforms to navigate the space. The stepping stones seem to curve through the sizeable walled garden before leading up to a small stone gazebo.
Mahra carefully navigates her way through the garden to make her way to the gazebo, making sure not to damage any of the plants around while taking note of the different variety. After she reaches the Gazebo, she pulls a small, well worn sleeping roll out and begins to set it up. As sera approaches with a few pelts in hand, she accepts them. "Thank you. Do you have a name as well?" She asks of the undead spirit in front of her.
Mahra hears a voice that echoes out from the undead eidolon, whispered on the winds as it sends a chill when hearing her speak. The words are immediately recognized as Necril, the language of the dead, "I am Seraphiel, heart of Gwenevere. Rest well young one. In this garden death watches over all."
"Thank you for the pelts. I apologize that I cannot speak Necril so do not understand you." She waits to see if the eidolon responds to her.
Sera says nothing else, but gives a reassuring nod of sorts before turning to leave. Mahra watches as one of the many skeletal wolves takes up a watch a short distance away. The wolf sits ready to aide, but also never moving its gaze from Mahra's position.
Mahra sets up her bedroll, grabs the pelts and using them as padding beds down for the night. She is both hopeful and conflicted with her initial meeting with Gwen and Orion. She hopes she has not caused problems for the woman, but thinks that overall things went well. Most Orcs she has met recently have been hostile or closed off much like Gwen. Mahra is hopeful that in the future she will be able to get closer to Gwen, even if it takes time to do so. She falls asleep as she thinks of ways to get closer to Gwen as well as a way to apologize for disturbing her at her home.