Of Monsters and Men

Callum took the drink. "Everyone has someone they want dead" he said quietly. No, he would not let this go. He was a stubborn jackass that didn't know how to admit he was wrong, like all males. That being said, he began chugging down the drink. Who knew, maybe if he had enough to drink he would actually be able to get drunk. Geez, that would be a first. He finished the drink stupidly fast, before slamming the glass down on the bar in front of him. "Got anything stronger?" he asked.


Yana looked up quietly, momentarily stopping her crocodile tears. She did her best to ensure her voice sounded shaky, as though she were deeply traumatised and could break up at any moment. "Y-your greatness? What are you talking about? Please just let me go...please.." she said, tears quietly flowing down her cheeks. She turned to look at all of the villagers. "Please don't believe her, you mustn't. She uses the body of a young girl to take people by surprise. It's how she...it's how she killed my family, burning them all to cinders before my very eyes and using the body of my sister" she pleaded.​

 

Veceslav Furst, Somewhere on the road to Novigrad

Silver sword in hand, the Crow stood ready as the Cockatrice dove towards him. He reacted fast andblasted the beast with Aard and sidestepped as it came crashing down. The creature became even more enraged because of it screeching in anger at the veteran witcher. It lunged forward, as the witcher spun to the side simultaneously slashing the beast with his blade, leaving a shallow cut in the beasts neck. It hit the witcher with his wings and while the witcher tried to dodge the attack, but failed it atleast wasn't as bad as it would have been with the monster's beak. He shifted his body and used the added force from the wings to roll backwards, sliding to a halt as the monster leaped at him. The witcher lunged forward aiming to roll underneath the beast's wings and pass unharmed. He knew he was acting way to defensive and ought to take the offensive lest he might get himself into trouble with a beast he had slain many times. The beast started to circle and the witcher followed suit, when he saw an opening he lunged forward performing quick attacks on the abomination, blood spilling from the wounds. He had to end it right now, it had already taken up too much time, precious time he needed to catch up to and hopefully stop his lost children, before it was too late. He thought of a way to end this all quickly and figured it out. At exactly the right time he stepped forward blasted the beast with Aard, moving it's dangerous beak and talons out of the way and grabbed his sword with both hands as he Struck down toward's it's neck, the blow connected leaving a deep cut in it's neck. It let out one final screech before it finally collapsed and died. Veceslav cleaned the blood of his sword and sheated it again, taking a knife to gather anything useful and quickly removed from the body and then proceeded to set it on fire with an Igni sign. The witcher quickly found his horse and made haste towards Novigrad

 

​

The magic that hummed off this man's skin was so intense Veera could practically taste it. She held up two fingers, hoping that Aaron would understand the signal to shh. They didn't need to start an argument with this mage; time was not on their side. While Aaron brought up good points, she was confident enough in herself that she figured they could escape the strange man, if not intact then at least with most of their limbs. And even if that didn't work, and the fight caused Veceslav to catch up to them, well he would be preoccupied with the mage, and still give them time to escape.

"Your offer doesn't sound appealing, but we don't have much choice." She decided, letting her hand rest on the silver blade at her back. "However, if this is a trap, or you're not being honest, we won't hesitate to cut you down." Men like this could smell fear, and she refused to show it. She hadn't been afraid in a long time, and she wouldn't let that streak be cut down by some random mage.

"Lead the way."

​

Teliana, instead of answering, sat down on the grass, spreading her skirts around her legs so they wouldn't get tangled if she had to move in a hurry. "Not all humans are selfish shits." she responded to his earlier statement first, letting her eyes drift across the sleeping form of the werewolf. In truth, she wasn't sure she could call herself human. She wasn't mortal, at least not in the sense they were. Fire was her friend, her lover, and her soulmate. No human could claim the same. She wouldn't age as they did, and was stronger then even the bravest soldier in the army. Yet, she still felt as they did, still mourned and loved and angered. Maybe that's why we're all so cynical. Her lip curled at the hidden joke. Maybe we don't even understand what we are. It would certainly make Yana's predicaments and tempers more sensible.

She wasn't so lost in her philosophical meanderings that she didn't remember to reply to the rest of Vyle's statement. "I'll stay out here. It's not his fault, he's this way. I take responsibility for my failed potion, and thus I will remain responsible for watching over him to make sure he hurts no others." Her stomach tightened as she recalled her brush with death, but she shook it off. She saw death every day, and it would come for her eventually. She only hoped she could greet it like a friend instead of struggling to stay out of its arms.

​

Tessa brushed off Seth's offer of payment with a short wave. "Just don't cause any trouble." She started to say when Callum muttered something suspiciously sassy under his breath. As tempted as she was to take the contents of his mug and dump it over his head, he finished the drink surprisingly quick. Oh right...witchers. How could she forget, with those yellow eyes?

In response to Callum's question, she grabbed a bottle of whiskey and shoved it at him. "That's all I got. Drink it all and you pay for it all." In truth, she had been saving that bottle for a long time, special ordered by a customer who had never come back for it. She stared down at the counter she was scrubbing, wondering what happened to the man, when Bryce walked in the door. Uh oh.

​

Bryce sighed with relief at the sight of the small girl behind the bar, then narrowed his eyes as he took in both Seth and Callum being served. Well...that wasn't all that he had planned. "I would ask for an explanation, but I'm not sure I would like it." His voice was low, the tone a signal that he was angry. Tessa's shoulders hunched, and she started scrubbing the already clean surface as if her life depended on it.

Bryce walked up to the bar, his normally smiling face solemn. "What exactly is this rumor that I hear about you bargaining with a witcher," at this his gaze flicked to Callum before back to Tessa, "about leaving this city. With him?" It took all of his restraint not to yell. There were other customers in here, after all. Tessa bit her lip and slunk around him to the newcomer in the back, where she asked his order. Bryce stopped and rubbed the bridge of his nose, exasperated. She just doesn't think, she doesn't understand. How can I make her? And how could he, short of showing her the mutilated bodies of their brothers and sisters, the burned corpses in the town squares and the wanted posters on every corner? What was he supposed to do, short of locking her up?

​

Zack wandered around Oxenfurt, his head still aching slightly from the remnants of the hangover. Such a dumb idea. Why did I do that? He couldn't go back home, he knew that much. Even if the witcher let him go, there wasn't any guarantee that he didn't send cohorts back to the house to check for other dopplers. Zack felt a moment of guilt for the fellows he had left behind, but shook it off, increasing the headache. They were smart, and they stayed on guard. They would have a better chance of surviving if he didn't make contact.

So...what to do now?

 

Raymond Mercator, Bumblebee, Oxenfurt, Redania

The argument that had been going on only seemed to escalate. Someone else entered and by the looks of it it all took a turn for the worse. He merely observed the scene as he waited for the girl to come over and ask him what he wanted. She was hunched over a little and biting her lip and while he was far from an expert on expressions something just felt off about it all. When she asked him what he wanted to drink he asked for a Rivian Kriek, he tried to look her in the eyes. "Hey... uhm, is everything okay there? It seemed like a rather heated argument from where I was sitting." He asked the girl. He would probably get an annoyed 'Stay out of someone else's business' but he figured that while he was here he might as well make himself usefull, he'd keep an eye on it all and if things spiraled out of control he'd step in. He wouldn't be that bystander who'd just sit and watch.

 

​

Vyle was surprised that the woman wished to stay, but obliged nonetheless. Feeling slightly tired, he had been chasing that necromancer for a while only to run into a werewolf. He sat down beside Teliana "I suppose if we're going to be sitting here a while we're going to need some refreshments, do you have any tea in your house?"

​

When this new girl walked into the room Willow quickly adopted the persona of the frightened little girl, this girl talked way too much, Willow just imagined how satisfying it would be to chop that tongue out. But for now she just kept up the image "No thanks, I'm fine" she muttered "I'm just tired right now... actually" Willow was curious, what kind of orphanage was this? "Are all the people in this place just orphans from the street? What happens when they grow older?"

​

The kid seemed suspicious of Solomon's motives, and with good reason, but the witcher woman seemed to trust him enough, or else she was overconfident in her ability to kill him if she needed to. "Thank you for trusting me" he said cheerily "and the point isn't for it to be appealing, the point is for it to be hidden, no? This hideaway will certainly keep you safe from your acquaintance. Of course, we could go the roundabout way, but that would take an absolute age and I'm sure you wouldn't be able to bring your horses along those winding paths. So!" Solomon clapped his hands and a portal appeared "Viola! Ladies first!" He gestured to Veera "On second thoughts, I'll go first, to calm your suspicions, this is not a trap" With that Solomon hopped through and gestured for the witchers to follow. The portal lead to the location he had promised, an old abandoned inn.

 

​

Kruez had gone through the roman numerals 1-13 for a second time now and instead of repeating the numbers for a third time, he'd continued on past 13 and was now working his way upward and he continued to trace the numeral with his index finger. He'd past 20 and was now closing in on 30. Despite how dull and odd of a task this would appear to anyone who happened to look and see what he was doing, Kruez silently kept to himself as he did this.

Hearing Tatiana's cry in pain, the mage casually stopped tracing numerals in the air and tilted his head to the side to see what was wrong. Seeing the position that she was in, it must've been painful. Though there wasn't much that Kruez himself could do about it. The other two who were here on the other hand, they should know what to do. "Hey! In case you didn't notice, one of your guests is in pain here." Kruez called out to Derrick.

​

Zephyr had started to dry his hands as Terra put away the last dish. He gave her a quick nod at her suggestion to show him where he would be sleeping for his time here. Zephyr silently followed behind her as guided him. He took this as a chance to look around the orphanage to try and start recognizes where things where and such. "This'll be fine." He said, walking around the study. It wasn't exactly where he'd thought he'd be staying for the night, but he wasn't in a position to complain. Not that he had any to begin with. Zephyr sat down on the cot and shook his head and said "i'm good." As Terra walked out the door.

 

​

Veera was wary of portals, yes. She hadn't liked it when Evander had conjured one, and she didn't like it now. But she had to show confidence and calm, not just for herself but for Aaron. "Keep your wits about you." She murmured to the man, letting him know that she wasn't completely okay with this; she just didn't see any other choice. He hadn't known the Crow for as long as she had, and she was well aware what would happen once he caught them. It made her realize, she didn't have an end game. Just kill as many as she could get away with, and then.....then she would see. But for now, she stepped through the portal, the words to draw up Aard on her lips, her hand on her silver sword. Just in case.

The smell of must was the first thing to greet her, along with the sight of rot, running along the walls. I wonder how stable this really is. She thought to herself, waiting for Aaron to come through before stepping forward, her back covered as she faced the mage. "This is the place?"

​

Teliana couldn't help but show surprise at Vyle's odd request. "Tea. You're serious?" She didn't think vampires could drink anything other then the crimson liquid they needed to survive. But, she had to admit to herself, she was woefully ignorant of most monsters and their ways of life. Or their habits. "It's not my house, it's Zach's....I don't think he would mind if I went to go see. Tea?" She asked again, as if her ears had deceived her. It just seemed like such a strange request, she would have laughed had not the look on Vyle's face been dead serious.

​

Tessa blinked in surprise at the stranger's question, then managed a smile as she nodded. "It's fine. It's just my brother." She and Bryce had long ago agreed that if anyone asked, they were siblings. In a world where many children were orphaned and adopted by parents other then their biological ones, it wasn't so strange to see two siblings so different. "He has a temper, I'm sorry, I hope he isn't disturbing you. I'll be right back with your order." As she hurried away, clutching the circular board to her chest, she heard some of Seth's statement, and stopped.

A way out? She could scarcely believe it. But then she looked at Bryce's face. Oh god. She hurried up to him, gently kicking the side of his boot with the toe of her own. "Bryce, take it outside. I have customers." She hissed, not at all excited for the outburst that was coming. "Get. Out."
She turned away from him and went back to the bar, grabbing a shot glass and sliding it towards Callum with a muttered apology at forgetting it before. As she filled up the glass with Raymond's alcohol, she watched Bryce leave, her eyes lingering on Seth for a moment. Hopefully the walls would be thick enough to keep out the shouting. But if anyone could stand up to it, Seth would.

"Here you are." She set the glass down in front of Raymond with her usual smile. "Just yell for me if you need anything else. I'm Tessa. You can just put the coin on the table when you're done."

​

The gods had seen fit for him not to die of an apoplexy in that moment. They must have somehow ensured it, because Bryce could swear he could feel the veins popping out of his neck. He couldn't even find the right words to express the sentiment he felt towards the other doppler. Anger? Resentment? Unadulterated rage? The last one sounded promising, but before he could start on a tirade, he felt a light pressure on the side of his boot. Tess. "Take it outside." She whispered, her eyes full of anxiety and stress. You have no idea how much stress you are to me too. "Seth. Outside." He said through gritted teeth, turning on his heel. "Now." He strode out without looking for the other man to follow. Seth had better follow, or Tessa be damned he would drag her home and lock her up until she had some sense beaten into her.

Why did she not get it? Why did she have to keep trying to find ways to disobey him? If the world had been kinder to them, he would let her go, but he knew once she did, she would never come back. And he wouldn't be able to take the guilt and heartbreak that would come with her disappearance. She was like his little sister, and in reality they were the closest thing to family each other had left. So why did she want to leave?

 

​

Bryce sucked in air to his lungs, to start yelling of course, and then stopped. "Why wouldn't you go back to Sanctuary?" He asked, momentarily derailed. "You have a place to sleep there. And even if you didn't want it you could stay with me and Tessa, we have an extra room. So why risk your life out here?"

He sighed and discarded the thought of banging his head against the wall. This was Seth. "Look, you can't just offer to take Tessa. She'll think you're serious, and it'll hurt her when you're not. And on top of that, she can't leave Sanctuary. I can barely let her come here. She can't handle the world, Seth. She doesn't know what it's like out there for people like us. She's friendly to a freaking witcher, and you think it's okay to just let her out into the open? It doesn't matter how capable we are, she's going to get hurt, and it's going to be bad. She won't be able to handle it, okay? So don't give her false hope."

Bryce waved his hand, suddenly exhausted. "You're free to go. I've got better things to do then yell at you, or her. Just please stay with her until she closes up, and make sure she gets home, okay? As a personal favor. She'll make sure you have a bed and a roof."

Before he left, he gently patted Seth on the shoulder. It seemed like the gesture would say what he didn't know how to; that he understood Seth was lonely. He just couldn't let the other doppler take away the one person that was keeping him from feeling that way too.

 

Raymond Mercator, Bumblebee, Oxenfurt, Redania, Northern Kingdoms

The girl turned out to be a lot more reasonable than anticipated and he wasn't to be yelled at tonight. "Alright then, if you say so." Raymond replied, family... He had none left or atleast not that he knew he supposed one of his brothers could still live somewhere but that was far away. "No, no, not at all, it's fine, really." He said when she asked if they were disturbing him. He had been far enough removed from it to not let it bother him. He just stared blankly ahead while Tessa was preparing his drink. As she put it down on the table he snapped out of it. She introduced herself as Tessa and said that if he needed anything he should only ask. "I'm Raymond, pleased to make your acquaintance." He said returning the smile, he thought for a moment considering asking if she by any chance knew something to bring in some coin for the winter, he didn't know anyone around here and he figured that it wouldn't hurt. "Uhm... Tessa, I do need something, you see I'm not really from around here, only arrived her recently. I am however getting a bit low on cash. I just wanted to ask if you know where I could find some work to see me through the winter or just direct me to someone who knows, it'd be greatly appreciated." He knew he could do a lot of things, not all of them the way a true craftsman could, but he could still work. There was of course the issue with his leg that was limiting him a bit, but even if it meant sweeping the streets themselves or cleaing out the sewers, he didn't care an aweful lot he needed some work, otherwise he just might have run back to his home town to get killed by the Nilfgaardians, it would be a lot less painful than starving to death. He then realised he hadn't touched his drink yet and took a sip from the sweet, cherry flavoured beer. It was even better than he remembered it being and a small smile appeared on his face.

 

After consuming at a ravenous pace the warm and hearty meal that had been provided to her, Ellyn finally leaned back contentedly cradling a mug of ale. A small smile glowed made her face glow as she took in the sounds and smells around her; the small strands of woody smoke that escaped the chimney place creeping among the rafters above accented the crackling of the actual fire, the smell mingling with that of the food cooking in the kitchen. The low murmur of each individual table was calm and friendly, occasionally interrupted with a short bark of laughter or the scraping of a chair on the floor as a semi-drunk farmer went to order more drinks for himself and his comrades. It was a peaceful, homely place, and Ellyn relished the atmosphere of the tavern. It was so different from what she was used to.
The muddy slosh of a horses hooves along a sodden path, crashing trees in the middle of a stormy night, the smell of oozing green wounds, the ringing of steel in the scabbard and of swords on shields, the battle-cry of charging enemies, streams of blood winding among cobblestones, comrades cries of death strangled short, the stench of dragon's-breath –
Ellyn.
With a jerk Ellyn snapped out of her reverie, and slammed her mug down onto the table. Staying very still for a few moments to make sure she had composed herself, she got suddenly got up and approached Delaine, smiling somewhat stiffly.
“Well, that was a wonderful meal you provided,” Ellyn complimented her, “but I am... quite tired from my recent travels. Perhaps you could show me where my bed is?” On cue, a massive yawn threatened to break out, which she only partially managed to stifle. “Pardon me, perhaps exhausted is the more correct term,” she smiled apologetically.

Working on an Evander post, will post it later when I can finish it...

 

Derrick gave her a cheeky wink with a grin to match.
"You'll kill me, eh? You're welcome to try." But we both know you're not going to do that Olivia. He was slightly amused by the fact that she was at a loss for words. Honestly, it seemed like there was something that she had wanted to say but couldn't find it in herself to say. He was perhaps, morbidly curious as to what that was exactly. "I'll drop by soon. Wait for me, but don't make yourself hard to find." She walked out to the stables, and that was that. It seemed that nobody was going to be staying in the Kaer. He was going to be leaving, even The Crow had left now. He just had to deal with the people that were still here. It was good timing for Olivia, because the strange mage Kreuz had called. Derrick walked briskly over to the bent over, crying Tatiana and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Tatiana, hush. It's fine. There's nothing here to hurt you, you're recovering from your wounds. There's nothing there." He stroked the back of her head, trying to reassure her whilst he thought of something he could do. The best that he could think of was a painkiller. It would either remove the pain, or act as a decent enough placebo. Both were fine by him.




"Thanks m'lady." Corwyn said with a slight bow. Delaine sighed and rolled her eyes. He never changed. He did like to show off.
"By all means, if you'll follow me miss Ellyn then I'll happily lead you to your room." The tavern keeper led her armoured client through a door on the other side of the room. It led into a large, dimly lit rectangular room, with ten simple beds spaced evenly apart across the length of the room. At the other end, there was a door leading to a room. Delaine brought Ellyn to it, then unlocked the door and allowed her in. Inside, the room was reasonably sized with a cupboard, a chest of drawers, an actual chest and a few shelves. There were some flowers on a bedside table and the door came with a lock on the inside. It was well lit by a simple lantern that hung from the ceiling on a new metal chain. "If there's anything that I can get for you, let me know. Feel free to store anything and everything that you need in here." ​

 

​

Tessa hesitated by Raymond's table, hands tapping her serving board as she considered his predicament. "Um...I guess you could always check the hiring boards in the square. There's usually some odd job or other that needs doing, and if you do a good enough job, then word of mouth can get you others." She had asked Bryce before about helping humans, and gotten a strict no. Word of mouth, passing along rumors, pointing in the right direction, fine. But there was no hiring, or physical aid of any sort. As if he thought she would accidentally reveal what she was while shaking someone's hand.

"If you don't find any luck there, you could always come back. Once in a while people pass through here looking for hard workers down on their luck. Maybe you'll find something more suitable." She smiled, glancing up when Seth re-entered. Bryce hadn't killed him, and judging by the lack of blood, Bryce wasn't dead. Well, that was something. Her smile became just a little more genuine.

 

​

Vyle rolled his eyes and smiled ever so slightly "Let me guess, you thought we all just drink blood? While it is true that we need that to survive, I have always enjoyed the taste of tea" Vyle's face suddenly turned serious "Coffee, however, is truly repulsive. If he doesn't have any tea that's fine, I can go without" Vyle stopped talking and let Teliana go to the house

"This is indeed the place!" Solomon exclaimed, looking at the dilapidated inn. Unbeknownst to the witchers this place was also an entry point to Sanctuary, the home of the Dopplers. Oh what a wonderful surprise it would be for them to find a witcher in their midst! And what an ever greater surprise it would be for Veera! And Solomon would just be so happy to facilitate this surprise, he chuckled gleefully "Hmm? Oh I was just remembering something funny, nevermind, come along then" If Solomon was correct, and he assumed he was, after all, Solomon was the most trustworthy person Solomon knew... where was he going with this? Ah yes, if he was correct then there would be some doppler guards just inside the building...

 

Raymond Mercator

He listened attentively as Tessa explained how things worked regarding work, of course Bar tenders didn't hire directly he knew that. "Thank you, I'll make sure to check it out tomorrow..." He said, he looked up when the door opened again and one of the blokes from earlier walked in. He saw something change in the smile of the girl. Oh what the hell had he been thinking, wait what had he been thinking? He had gotten himself confused for a moment, he stopped watching them and turned his eyes down, praying to whatever gods were out there that they didn't notice. He took a sip from his drink. Maybe it was better he never returned here. They'd never miss him anyways, probably forgotten about him in under a week with all customers coming in. He'd just be another face in the crowd, nothing special. He had seen other taverns in town, he could always go and drink there. He quickly finished his drink, walked over to the bar, put down 10 crowns, which he knew was too much for the drink and walked out the fact he broke his leg noticable in his gait. He walked out the door in such a hurry he caught his foot on the threshold and fell out of the establishment onto the streets...