[Nihilist]

Abusive behavior. It’s a man burning down his wife’s house and planning to stalk her. That’s, uh, pretty explicitly and exceptionally abusive.

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

In the shade of the massive black cloud of smoke, his pupils were big and dark, his cheeks aglow with an angry red. The midday sun was obscured as the smoke spread over the forest. He skulked in the open, settled upon a stone. His inferno burned nearby, though his own gaze burned into the rag in the dirt. A deep scowl settled on the fae’s face. In his right hand, he idly thumbed his little bag of black powder; a fourth of it had been used up, as told by the black scorched earth, trailing from beyond the house and into it.

The hut had gone up easily enough. Everything that could burn that she’d left behind, her oil, a few arm fulls of dead leaves, and his fire. Well, not everything… A small bundle of herbs – motherwort and raspberry leaves – had been spared. He needed some way to lure her back, after all.

He had told her he would be with her like the sun chased the moon. Did she think that was sweet nothings? He said nothing without purpose. He was fae, oath bound and word honoring. He would find her again, soon. But, for now… He lit the rag in the dirt on fire, standing. He glanced one last time at the burning hut before putting his bag upon him once more. If the forest burned down, that was none of his concern. The whole land could fall apart, or he might very well tear it apart to get to her.

“… Something with a strong nose… Or, wings.” He was already scheming for how to find her. She’d left before him, so now he was on the hunt. He stalked into the trees, smoke still spreading in the sky.

ooc: Charley granted permission to have Neoptolemus burn Rivian’s hut. This thread is open to one or two others, max. Please keep in mind that Neo is looking for someone to help him with his goals, so unless your character can do that or they start something with him for, uh… Starting a big ass fire, he’s probably going to ignore your character.

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || sacred ash sprite from tpc
closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

A flash of bright yellow and oranges danced inside of Ery eyes like water spiders on an unmoving pond. Fire. He was on his daily hunting paths when this had happened. But he didn’t know what this was, so just like any curious demonic animal he followed the smell of burning wood and clay. The smell wasn’t too great, but he was used to the smell of smoke. Ery’s eyes swished and swirled, looking for the culprit. Not that he would do anything to the culprit
The sun beat down on Ery’s back, that was was one thing he hated, was the sun’s whip. A fiery balze of pure hell itself. So, he jumped into a shadow of a large willow, not yet stricken by the fire. The willow had been here for many years and it had been seen by many creatures, it had the marks to prove it. Scratches of Bears, Sabre’s, Canines, and Hellions.
Ery jumped into the showdown of an oak and was met with a large object in front of in, and thanks to gravity, he was pushed backwards. With a half snarl, he jumped to his feet. His snarl ceased when his eyes adjusted to the shadows again. Ery  looked into the creature cloaked on black. The only thing Ery could see where the burning embers of the creatures eyes.
                                                                       “And whom may I ask are you.”

[Nihilist]

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

He had cast out the sun with the pitch black smoke of his hateful fire, and, in the darkness, with only the cruel flames he left behind and his own glowing cheeks, Neoptolemus probably did look as if his eyes were burning. And, when the wolf addressed him, he did not answer immediately answer. Though Neoptolemus looked human, he no more regarded himself as one than a wolf thought of themselves as a dog despite being one and the same. When he spoke, it was calm and collected.

"You may call me Ares." Neoptolemus into Ares - not too far a stretch, probably.

With that introduction out of the way, the fairy tilted his head, long bangs shifting as they framed his face. "And, you, little wolf? May I have your name, or perhaps whatever you'd like to be called?" Here, the man was offering a crumb of respect he did not usually yield to others - the option to remain nameless, for the true name to remain a sacred secret. He did not willing reveal his own and he would let the wolf remain that way as he wished. In the same sense of respect, he spoke once more: "You don't fear my fire. Why is that? Most wolves dislike manmade fire."

ooc: fixed some stuff!

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

The creature looked over him.
“You may call me Ares.” The creature said
He nodded his head in respect. From the look of this creature, the last thing he would want to do is upset this thing.
Ery quietly repeated the creature’s name. “Ares.”
He looked back at the creature, his eyes strong and unmoving. Show no emotion, he learned this the hard way. Friends and foe’s can use your emotions against you, so it’s best if you stay quite.
"And, you, little wolf? May I have your name, or perhaps whatever you'd like to be called?" Ares asked.
His name. He hated his name, not because it was confusing to say. But because there was a meaning behind it, and he has yet to live up the name.
“ My name? Heh-my name is Erysichthon. It’s a mouthful, I know. But your welcome to call me Ery.”
Seemed stupid, telling a stranger his nickname was dangerous. But eh. Didn’t matter. He “laughs at the face of danger” ha ha ha.
"You don't fear my fire. Why is that? Most wolves dislike manmade fire." Ares spoke with such strength in his voice, with such significance.
Ery blinked as he chuckled to himself.
“. I do not fear fire, for I have fire burning through my veins and ripping at my chest. I am not like most wolves, and never will be. I have accepted this, and I never wish to change.”

[Nihilist]

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

Was that the wolf’s real name? It seemed odd to add a nickname if it were not. Was the creature too trusting – or, possibly, did he not consider ‘Ares’ a danger? Regardless, the horned fairy understood the name as it was said. Earth tearer. New war of the mining fae meets an earth tearer wolf. The night was not yet upon them, but Neoptolemus felt a shadow of the pale, swollen moon’s approval upon him in the darkness of his smoke, a sign produced by the appearance of this wolf.

“It is not difficult to say at all,” ‘Ares’ assured. “But, if you wish to be called Ery, so be it.” Neoptolemus began to walk. Though he appreciated his own handiwork, it wouldn’t do to get choked out when the ashes began to settle. He gestured for the wolf to walk with him while the two of them talked. “You have a fire…? A passion, then.”

There was a brief lull. Erysicthon felt himself different from other wolves, did he? That was fine by Neoptolemus. He regarded Ery for a moment before sharing a morsel of his own ambitions.

“I can appreciate that. I’m currently trying to fulfill an oath.” He looked down, a meaningful glance cast Erysicthon’s way. “I could use allies, and helping someone like me would be decidedly unlike other wolves.” Especially since his bride’s wolf companion hadn’t exactly been best buddies with the fairy.

ooc: --

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || sacred ash sprite from tpc
closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

It is not difficult to say at all,” ‘Ares’ assured. “But, if you wish to be called Ery, so be it.”
He nodded and smiles slightly.
“Thank you, Ares”
The creature began to walk, and Ery walked with him. His paws gently kissed the earth as he moved, and his eyes fixed on the human creature beside him.
“You have a fire…? A passion, then.” The human asked.
“A passion? I guess you could call it that. But-well... Ya a passion.” He couldn’t hide the trembled stutter in his voice. The unsteady edge that clung to it, like ice on a tree branch.
“I can appreciate that, I’m currently trying to fulfill an oath.” Ares glanced downward at him, Ery looked back. “I could use allies, and helping someone like me would be decidedly unlike other wolves.”
This was unusual, a human creature wanted help in a demonic wolf like him. Seemed odd,but in all honesty Ery was getting bored of terrorizing pups and snapping at elders. Yibio the raven had no good hunting spots in the last week, so he was stuck in the same place. But the first sentence Ares had said caught his attention. An oath? What kind of oath? Well he might fight out later, asking questions now would be suspicious.
“Allies huh? Allies for what, I might ask. It’s not my place at all to ask, but curiosity is at my throat.”
He flashed a toothy smile, his thick long fangs shone bright in the oaks shadow.

[Nihilist]

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

He had the wolf’s attention. Neoptolemus’s walk soon took them away from the direct burning of what was once Rivian’s hut. The smoke cloud above thinned and Neoptolemus soon began to cling to the sparse shade of winter trees. He would soon need to take shelter until nightfall. Curse the sun; his bride no doubt left during the day, knowing it would slow him down in pursuing her.

The fairy-man finally answered the wolf’s latest question. “No, no, I am seeking an alliance – and, you would freely enter it. You do me no rudeness by asking.” Hm… That thick grove of evergreens in the distance might make a good place to settle for the day. Neoptolemus corrected their walk towards it. “As you’re probably very aware, humans are only so good at tracking. And, it isn’t even my specialty.”

Neoptolemus was good at many things – mining, forging, ‘alchemy’ (read: pyrotechnics), and being a crafty bastard with words. Tracking was not his specialty, not by a long shot. He only even got by on hunting because he generally went after other predators, things that would approach a solo man with the mistaken notion that he would be easy prey. Neoptolemus was a trickster, not a tracker, was the point.

“It would be best to have something that could fly as well as track scents, but, well...” Neoptolemus thought of the nose Ery had above his toothy smile. “If you would let me borrow your nose for this task, I might be willing to grant you a boon upon its completion.”

ooc: he’s basically just asking if ery will be his metaphorical bloodhound lol
i’ll message you soon bc neo’s actually involved in a larger plot haha

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || sacred ash sprite from tpc
closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

(Ooc: sorry to cut this short, I had a flight to catch.)
He had heard a enough. A large crooked smile ripped open on his face.
“I see…”
Erysicthon was convinced. Now, time fore confusing him he is not. That’s how it worked, tell them your not in. But in reality you are.This was it, finally someone as hellish as him.
“Well then… let’s say I’m in, what in it for me? Other than being your helper per say, I don’t see any reward in this. Unless you can convince me, I’m not really sure.”
Dumb ass, that line was the best he had yet. That was totally perfect, such a pro. He snarled to himself and soon began tearing each brain cell apart in an idiotic attempt to kill himself. It didn’t much matter to him. He would die when the time came. And when he goes, the world won’t be much different.

[Nihilist]

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

What was in it for him?

What was in it for him?!

As they entered the thicket of evergreen trees and stubborn saplings, Neoptolemus’s cheeks began to glow in the shade. The hellhuman grinned, pale purple-blue eyes glimmering with a certain mischief only a fairy could get up to.

“Oh, certainly. No one worth their salt should ever work for free.” ‘Ares’ ran his finger over the trees. Still a little wet from the morning dew. Good, they wouldn’t catch fire. Sticking a finger into his bag, and then a smaller bag-within-the-bag, he produced a fine brown powder. Truth be told, it was just fallen leaves, ground down into said powder. But, it worked perfectly for what Neoptolemus needed – a fire display.

“Well, it really depends on what your heart desires.” The fairy tossed some of the powder into the air. Then, quickly striking his flint and steel, it caught – it burnt quickly, too fast to do much more than perhaps singe the tip of anyone’s fur or hair in the explosive display. ‘Ares’ continued to grin, gesturing for Ery to sit. “If it’s gold, that’s easy enough – given a cave or a vein, I can summon it up. I could make your name live on far beyond you… But, given that you didn’t fear my fire, I do have to wonder...”

He put away everything he’d brought out, squatting until he was eye level with Erys. “Were you hoping for destruction? Because that’s a rare request--”

“--But, perfectly fine as a boon, if you’d like.” The fae often promised live or riches, property for a family and the safety of their land. They were capable of horrors, though. The things Neoptolemus did as a matter of business to get the stomach juices he needed to refine certain stone-powders into something suitable for his ‘alchemy’; the little ways he’d helped remind those under his home clans’ watch that they owed the fairies in the mountain tribute…

No. Neoptolemus had never regarded violence towards the other as something abhorrent. It was simply how things were. There were fairies and allies – and, then, there were things to be eaten and things to take tribute from.

ooc: it’s just neo offering all kinds of fancy things + a lil explosion. I figured if ground flour/pepper/coffee burns well AND decomposing leaves do, ground up dead leaves would, as well.

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || sacred ash sprite from tpc
closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

“Oh, certainly. No one worth their salt should ever work for free...Well, it really depends on what your heart desires.”
“That’s a truth if I had ever heard one. Whatever my heart desires? Huh, cheesy...” He said with a small laugh.

“If it’s gold, that’s easy enough – given a cave or a vein, I can summon it up. I could make your name live on far beyond you… But, given that you didn’t fear my fire, I do have to wonder...”
“ Gold mi- wait. Why are you wondering?”

He wasn’t afraid of fire, was it weird? Was it creepy? Was it surprising? He didn’t know, Ery sat down near the creature and looked at him, his eyes wide. What could a creature like Ares want with a demonic piece of crap like himself.
The creature leaned down until he could look Ery straight in the eyes.

“Were you hoping for destruction? Because that’s a rare request--”
“Destruction would be a great reward, but I bring destruction on my own...” he said with a quick twitch of the ear.

He’s eyes swished to the side and up as Yibio cawed in a small pine above him. His black feathered glistened as the setting sun begin to crack its whip one last time.
Darkness will set upon them. Ery felt more comfortable in the night anyway, so it didn’t bother him.

“Actually, there’s small gems called Labradorite. If it’s not any trouble, I suppose that would be what my heart desires.” He said with a smirk.

[Nihilist]

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

Neoptolemus looked up at the crow. Was that with Erys? Oh, this got better and better. This was perfect for tracking! In fact, as darkness settled and Neoptolemus’s fiery cheeks continued to glow, he realized that things could not get more perfect. He’d have to offer tribute to the moon tonight.

“Labradorite?” ‘Ares’ echoed. Labradorite was found near volcanoes. And, he had been to a volcano during his last year of travels – in fact, he’d been near one where a woman who perhaps had family was Muiri, the one who knew the ways of the fae. She was people. She likely had a…!

A tribe...

In his head, Neoptolemus could once again hear Rivian’s words when he’d reunited with her this morning. “I'm leaving today. We're going to search for people. We're going to make a tribe.” This was too perfect. Wasn’t it? It had to be fate. Muiri was other people, one of the very few people he’d seen in his travels, and she was near a volcano with deep caves. Muiri was seemingly uneasy around wolves, and now he had one as an ally. He could take Rivian back into the caves, get the labradorite for Erys, and scare off Muiri from interfering. The issue still remained to be solved for how to handle the giant, bear-like man, but with so much coming into place…

All he really needed to do was get back his monk’s spade. And, then, maybe, he’d be ready to take on this big stranger.

Certain of what would happen now, Ares nodded. “I’ll get you more labradorite than you know what to do with. I know exactly where to find it. Now, if you and your feathery friend would do me a favor and see if you could track my bride for me… I think might end up where I can find that, and, if not, once I have her back, I’ll get it for you, all the same.”

ooc: labradorite is an igneous rock so this is just PERFECT. If there’s nothing else you wanna do this thread, I think we can end it for now and discuss what to do next lol

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || sacred ash sprite from tpc
closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

“Labradorite?” Ares echoed.
“Yes, thats correct.” Ery stated. “But you never answered my question, why are you wondering why I’m not afraid of you fire?

Ery got very annoyed when people didn’t answer his questions, but he never showed it. Once in a great while a dark flash might erupt in his eyes, and unfortunately for Ery, this was one of those times. He noticed Ares cheeks began to glow, was this a sign of annoyance? Joy? He didn’t know that either.
Yibio fluttered down near Ery, and sqwaked loudly as the creature before Ery and Yibio both, loomed over them. One of the bird’s black feathers dropped, and just like the rest of them, Ery picked it up and stuffed it into his tail fur. It hung there, and it only moved when a slight wind blew, the smell of smoke was still heavy in the air.

“I’ll get you more labradorite than you know what to do with. I know exactly where to find it. Now, if you and your feathery friend would do me a favor and see if you could track my bride for me… I think might end up where I can find that, and, if not, once I have her back, I’ll get it for you, all the same.” Ares said.
“Well then we have our selves a deal.” He said as he stood up, a thick toothed smile ripped at Ery’s face. His eyes flashed with mischief, and his tail swished.

Finally... Someone who had almost the same goals ambitions as him...

[Nihilist]

precious and pure dream cast off
you’ve seen what’s beneath
NOW FAIL ME
forget closure.      
forget closure!      

Neoptolemus

“My apologies. I wondered because some of your kind are.” There was also the fact that Ares's fires were not 'normal' fires; some, oiled based, would hiss and spread when splashed with water; others, powered by powder, could climb and spread in ways decidedly unlike your average wood fires. He could cause them to change colors by adding certain objects, as well. He was truly an 'alchemist' if there was one.

With their deal struck, Ares now had two oaths to complete. A true home with others and children for Rivian and labradorite for Erys.

“Night has fallen. Let us try tracking.”

ooc: end, I guess? Unless there’s something else you wanna address. i’ll pm you soon

CREDITS
background pattern by patterncooler || sacred ash sprite from tpc
closure by chevelle || dante and virgil in hell by william-adolphe bouguereau

[Erysichthon]

(Ooc: sorry to cut this short, didn’t exactly have anything left to say lol.)

“My apologies. I wondered because some of your kind are.” He said.
“Yes, their all cowards.” He snarled, his teeth shone.

As Ery shook out his fur, Yibio screeched and flew off onto the pine tree. Ery’s eyes followed the bird.

“Night has fallen. Let us try tracking.”
“Yes, Where was the last place she was? And I need something of hers so I know what her scent is. After that I’ll send Yibio to search the perimeter, any fires or tracks he might find will be useful. We don’t find anything after a while, how about a little luring. Start a smoke signal, I could go. I could say your hurt, that’s when you get you “mouse”.” He laughed, his eyes flashed bright red and blue.