Who Knew Flowers Could Be So Troublesome?

A roleplay transcript by Tyrasius and Etain:

Etain Moonflower closed the door behind her and called upon the blue-green mists of the Moonflower to cloak her as she made her way up and out of the Hollow. The shroud dropped as soon as she stepped foot outside and onto the nearby bridge. She quickly made her way across it.

Tyrasius remained at his post just outside the Hollow while Etain slept, his eyes peering out around the area. He was just in the midst of a large yawn when he noticed a figure crossing the bridge on the other side of the Hollow. He started making his way through to cut some time, thinking that the figure was the Queen when one of the Nymph's blocked his path, saying something about weapons in the Hollow. He grabbed his sword out and just tossed it to the ground, the blade sinking into the soft soil and he continued on through, a little ways behind the Queen.

Her skirts swished as she found her way to the base of the steps. The nymph entered the pavilion, her footsteps taking her quickly to the other side of it. She nodded toward a couple sitting on the bench, but they paid her no mind. Most people who were out this time of night seemed to be preoccupied with what they were doing.

Tyrasius did not wait for his sword to be returned to him when he came out on the other side of the hollow, afraid he would lose sight of the Queen. He frowned and continued forward, but he did not call out to her, instead he simply followed. Trailing from a distance to see what that damned woman was up too.

Etain Moonflower kept her head down as she walked past the topiaries and quickly took to the stairs and crossed the next bridge, then rounded the corner. She continued on, taking a steep set of city stairs that lead her to the upper walkways, finally making her way down to the mystic market where she passed through it, weaving in and out of the shoppers there. Rounding the corner, she found herself at the Undercity doors she had passed through the night before. She waited for the guard to open them for her.

Tyrasius watched as the Nymph Queen had made her way through the market and then eventually found her way to the door leading down into the Undercity. His eyes narrowed and he waited till she disappeared inside before trailing her. The guard noted Tyrasius' approach and was already opening the doors for him, giving a little nod to the Half-Giant who in turn nodded back but his attention was ever forward, not wanting to lose sight of Etain.

She certainly seemed like she knew her way around the Undercity as she entered through the aquaduct, walked down the long hallways, and pulled the next set of iron doors open that would lead her to the little row boat. Etain Moonflower tossed the man a gold coin and gave him her hand so he could help her into the boat as he did the night before. Once seated, she took in a shaky breath. She was nervous and hoped she would have the same luck getting the guards at the black market gates to allow her passage as her sister had done.

Tyrasius continued to trail the Nymph, hiding behind pillars as he watched, noting her ability to move around in the place so easily. He wasnt quite sure what she was up too, but he was interested to find out… as well as keep to task. When the boat left with the Nymph in its cargo he would wait for it to return and he would toss the man a coin of his own for transport. The man reluctantly gave Tyr a ride, more out of obligation than anything. He was a Guardian… but he was also known to the Undercity, and there were many who disliked him for a great many reasons here.

Etain Moonflower closed her eyes, willing her heart to calm. Soon it would be the moment of truth. Would they remember her from the night before and allow her through, or would they attempt to turn her away again? She knew all they were probably after was extra coin to pad their pockets, but this whole encounter was new to Etain. Once the old man docked them, she took his offered hand and she stepped upon the first stair leading her up to the gate. She held her head high as she climbed them, her gaze moving from one of the drow guards to the other. She waited a beat to see what they would do, and the drow to her left recognized the nymph from the night before and lifted the portcullis for her to enter.

Tyrasius instructed the boat driver to slow down when they neared the other side of the flooded cavern, he watched and saw the Nymph head through the gates after a moments hesitation and then he instructed him to continue on. Once he was off the boat he quickly made his way up the steps to find the gate not opening. He glanced at the drow on his left with narrowed eyes. "Open the gate." he demanded and the drow tilted her head.

"Guardians in the Undercity, Tyrasius? You know that does business no good 'ere.
Why dont you turn around. Come back the way you came.”

Tyrasius breathed deeply and approached the drow with a heavy step, who in turn stepped back and aimed her spear. It wasn't necessarily aimed at him, but in the half-giant's general direction, and pointed to the ground. Tyrasius halted his advance. "Open it, before I see just how much pressure it takes to squeeze you through those narrow bars.”

The drow narrowed her eyes in response then nodded at the other who opened the gate. "We're just looking out for your safety, Guardian Dog.”

Tyrasius paid her no mind, and once the gate was high enough for him to pass under he would quickly catch up with the Nymph.

She went from stall to stall clearly in search of something. The dark-clad nymph would converse with a few of the merchants, and some would point her in a direction that kept bringing her closer to the West end of the black market. At one of the very last stalls, she stopped to talk with a gray-bearded dwarf. They both nodded and she lifted her skirt, withdrawing a heavy coin pouch that was attached to the garter at her thigh. Dropping her skirt, Etain Moonflower retrieved several gold coins and passed them along to the merchant who, in turn, handed her a dark pink rose in a little wooden pot.

Tyrasius came up on the Nymph who seemed to be doing some sort of business with the merchants. He sighed and just opted to wait nearby. When the Nymph's skirt was raised he tilted his head back, watching her long slender legs as they were revealed. Off to the side of her he noted a couple thuggish looking characters who seemed to have also taken note of the Nymph and headed in her direction.

"Now. There's a rare beauty we dont see often down in these parts.” One of the two men said at the Nymph as he rounded her right side. "You looking to sign up at the slave auctions there, girl?” the other spoke who was moving to the opposite side of the Nymph.

A small smile flitted over her lips as she turned with the flower in hand. Etain Moonflower had not heard the men approach. "What," she said, caught off guard by the thugs standing a little too closely. She took a step back, her back now flat against the tent pole behind her. She turned her head, looking to the dwarf for aid but he gave none. "If I were a slave I wouldn't be wandering free shopping now would I," she said, lifting her chin high, but her lips trembled slightly.

The one man smiled at her, a few missing teeth from what was already a fairly rotten mouth. "That be where the problem is, darling. Think you should come with us, and we will fix that up quick, yeah?” He reached into his robe and produced a small knife that had a curve to its blade and looked extremely sharp. The other man behind Etain would then attempt to grab hold of her for the other.

Tyrasius was already approaching quickly by this point, and when he arrived he reached for his sword which he then remembered was left behind at the Hollow, taken by the Nymphs. He did not hesitate, however, and instead he grabbed the man with the knife from behind by his fat head, squeezing it tightly in his grip with both hands, clutching him like a vice. "Mihman!” the Half-Giant roared out as he had. For a moment the man attempted to look to the side and he began to scream out in pain when his head was being crushed, eyes rolling into the back of his skull. He attempted to stab Tyrasius who caught it with his heavy armor, though he did manage to find a spot between the metal plates that stabbed into the soft, underside of his arm.

Tyrasius continued to squeeze the man's head, his friend taking hold of Etain to put her between him and the Guardian for some sort of protection. The first man's arms suddenly fell limp at the side of his body, and Tyr slammed his head into the side of the cave wall three times before it crushed beneath his strength. Blood splattered to the ground. He growled like some sort of animal and looked up at the other man who immediately released Etain and ran in the opposite direction.

Everything happened in a blur. Etain bit her lip to keep from screaming and closed her eyes, turning her head away. She held the flower pot tight to her stomach and felt the man's hands on her arms, pulling her back toward him. She feared he was trying to take her away and she called out for Tyrasius, but she saw the other thug's blood splatter the rocks at his feet, and her head began to swim. She nearly lost her balance, and the man who had held her in front of him as a barrier released her and ran away. White-faced, she glanced about the area searching for help, or perhaps a place to hide away, but all eyes were on Tyrasius and the man slumped at the Guardian's boots.

Tyrasius was like a beast at the moment. Blood soaked his metal gauntlets and he stood over the man who he named 'Mihman' before crushing his head like a watermelon. He swallowed and looked for the other thug who was long gone and, as Etain had observed, much of the Undercity folk had their eyes on him. Some whispered, others kept their distance, and some even looked to want to have a go at the Guardian but, for one reason or another, did not. Tyrasius reached for Etain's hand and took it, pulling her towards the exit. "We go. Now," he called out in a simpleton way, his eyes darted around at anyone who may look to even have a small inkling to stop the two, and they would immediately turn to move away. "Why did you come here," he growled at the Nymph.

"Yes, yes, of course," she murmured and would not meet the eyes of those who openly stared at them. Etain Moonflower moved with him as he pulled her along, the flower gripped protectively in her other hand. "Oh, Tyrasius. Oh, what have I done?" She sighed shakily, and looked up the full length of him. He was incredibly tall. She hadn't truly noticed just how large he was before that moment. "I'm sorry. Let's get you to the Hollow, and I will take care of your wounds." She took another shaky breath, "I came here for this flower," she meekly said, wondering if the explaination would make any sense to someone who wasn't a flower nymph like she. Etain knew this lovely little rose could carry within it a sweet Nymph spirit, but only time would tell. She was in shock still. "How much pain are you in?"

Tyrasius continued to frown deeply as they made their way back to the upper city. Luckily, without any other incidents, though Tyrasius kept watching behind them as they moved, as though he expected to get stabbed in the back at any moment. He held onto the Nymph tightly, not to hurt her, but afraid to lose her. "You did nothing. That man brought it upon himself," he added and glanced back at the flower she was holding when she addressed it as her goal here. "That's stupid." he replied plainly, unaware of the Nymph's love for such plants, and at the moment, he did not care. "I should survive," he replied to her, but it was obvious the arm was not moving, and blood was beginning to coat the inside of his armor, dripping out where his fingers dangled at his side.

Once they were back outside he pushed her through the gate and turned one final time to look out into the dark caverns, staring into what would be just a dark cave to most. But the way he looked into the darkness would hint that he knew there was more then just a cave. He shut the gate and turned back to her. "Go" he commanded her, pointing with his good hand to lead the way to the Hollow.

Etain Moonflower pursed her lips, but she did not argue. He was hurt and she was caught disobeying Malekith, and a man had been killed. She could have been kidnapped or worse - the beloved flower in her hand could have perished. She took a deep breath and looked to his hand, seeing the blood dripping down his fingers. "I…" she was at a loss for words but went ahead, leading the way.

Once at the Hollow, the large man removed his glove, blood trickled heavily onto the ground. He pulled off his shoulder pad and removed his upper chainmail to reveal the small stab would that was under his arm, just below the armpit. It looked to have caught a vein and was bleeding pretty badly. "Can you do something?" he began to apply pressure to it, slowing the bleeding.

"Yes, yes, of course," she said, handing the camellia to one of the nymphs who greeted them and was eyeing the lovely, red flower. "Is this," Rosa started to question incredulously, and Etain nodded her head. "Yes, Middlemist Red." Put her in a safe place, and I will tend to her later. Tyrasius, come with me," she said and took him down to the waters, calling out to Marigold. "Bring me some blooms, please, and cotton bolls too," she ordered over her shoulder. "Sit here," she instructed Tyrasius. "How were you able to follow me," she queried, but it sounded more like scolding than anything else. She was merely passing the time and averting his attention from his wound.

Tyrasius had followed her down into the water, the top half of his armor scattered around the ground as he had just tossed them aside as it was removed from his body. The Nymphs would collect it for him. Once in the water he would do as she instructed, settling down into the rejuvenating pool so his wound was fully covered, but he kept his arm clamped onto it. "Luck. I guess," he replied. It looked like the half-giant man was starting to feel the effects of the wound then, perhaps with the adrenaline gone from his body. "I saw you leaving, and followed behind. You're not supposed to go into the Undercity, Queen Etain Moonflower. The King had forbidden it."

Etain Moonflower's eyes darted over his bare chest as she waited for Marigold to return with the flowers and fruit she requested. "Raise your arm for me so I can inspect the wound," she said and leaned in to have a closer look. She nodded, "feeling queasy?" Marigold returned with several stems of calendula flowers and cotton bolls. "Pull the bolls apart and place them on his wound for now," she said quietly as she pulled apart the lively yellow and gold petals, and cradled them in her open palm. Etain whispered into the Hollow, and the detached petals began to rise and swirl, hovering above her hand. She stood there like that for a minute or two, the flowers whirling around as if suspended in time. Etain's chanting finally ceased, and the calendula petals formed a small ball of orange light. The nymph leaned in to place at his wound. "You can leave us now, Marigold," she said and looked to Tyrasius as the other nymph moved to take her leave. "Well, we won't tell him now will we," she mused to the half-giant.

Tyrasius raised his arm up for Etain to inspect. He shook his head when asked the question. "No, just light headed." He looked around as the Nymphs worked with their natural medicines, and possibly magics, that he was unable to see. When things began to rise and swirl above her hand his eyes widened some and he knew it was magic.

When she mentioned not telling the King, or what he assumed was such, Tyrasius looked her in the eyes. "You ask me to lie to my King? You must be more insane than I thought. You really think I would have risked my life to save you from some stupid decision, out of the goodness of my heart? I took an order, and this was part of it."

Marigold had taken the blood soaked cotton with her, and Tyrasius would feel a light tingling sensation as the magick crept its way into his body and moved through the area of his wound. "How does it feel," Etain had asked and stepped close, moving slowy as she was still fully clothed in her leather garb, and it became heavy on her small frame from soaking up the waters.

She reached out to brush the hair from his forehead, something she longed to do once he sat down into the water. "Not to lie, no. Just refrain from mentioning the events of the last hour." She stood so close that he could smell the rose and lilac rise from her bared skin. "Please," she said, "for me."

Tyrasius clenched his jaw tightly when she touched the wound but the stinging pain subsided, or he was able to mentally block it out. The tingling took hold and he breathed deeply. "Like its my birthday." he replied back and he looked to her as she approached, noting the clothes, soaked and tight against her curvy body. The smell of the flowers on her were like a hypnotic aroma. He breathed deep of it and then turned his head away. "I cannot do that. I have my duty." He paused. "For you? Was this not enough?" he lifted his other hand to gesture at the wound he recieved while protecting her from the thugs. "I have done enough for you. I have no reason to do more," he almost growled at the Nymph, in a rather foul mood, and for obvious reason.

"I understand," she said and smiled thinly. "Relax, please. No need to anger yourself." Etain dipped her hands into the water and stood pressed against his arm. "I appreciate all you have done for me. I know it was wrong of me to go in there to save that flower," she said as a means to distract him, and leaned down, her breast pressing tight to his bare arm as she worked her hands at the tight muscles in his shoulders. She said nothing more as she moved her deft fingers over any tightness she found in him.

Tyrasius took a deep breath. "I am… not angry. And it may not have been wrong, but stupid to do so alone. The Undercity is dangerous, and many people go missing in that place. Especially beautiful women." He felt her breast press against him and he swallowed again, eyes moving to the side to catch a glimpse of of it under the revealing top she wore. The wet fabric clung to her tight body. As she worked his muscle, he started to breath more and relaxed himself in her care.

Etain Moonflower was looking off into the distance as she continued to work over his arms, her fingers drifting downward as they explored his chest. "You are an incredibly handsome man, Tyrasius," she said, her voice silken. "I hope you know that. And I hope you do believe I truly regret the terrible thing I said earlier." She breathed in deeply, and her chest rose and fell. The scent of moonflower joined the ever-present wild lilac and rose. "Can I get you out of this armor?" She ran her hands up his neck, massaging his scalp with strong fingers. I am going to heal you so thoroughly you won't even recall you were stabbed just an hour ago. How does that sound?"