[AW] gold dust woman [relic contest]

[Seraphina]

Patrols, she supposed, were as good an excuse as any to feel productive whilst continuing her search; valuable as getting her hooves on the relic would be for her country, she couldn’t help but feel that it was simply a distraction from her duties, pointless as they might be for the time being. It wasn’t as though she had any authority to question any stranger that might be wandering the Oasis for the time being, but, unsure of what else to do, she tried to keep an eye out for trouble nonetheless. She knew loyalty, but she didn’t understand ambition, motivation - she wasn’t entirely sure why she was doing any of this. Her hooves carried her along the rocky of the Oasis mechanically, odd eyes scanning the pristine blue surface for anything that might be of interest. For once, she didn’t feel like she was drowning in her own sweat while wandering Solterra, shaded comfortably by the ancient trees that leaned just above the water’s surface. Seraphina had always felt bizarre when she visited the Oasis – as much as she could feel anything, at least. There was something about the liveliness of the landscape, the way that it sprung so vibrant and clean in the midst of the desert, that should have felt revitalizing, but it made her feel exhausted. Maybe that was why she rarely visited it, unless in desperate need of food or water. She didn’t feel right when she wandered the beautiful shorelines or glanced at her distorted reflection in the miraculously blue lake.

As she approached the waterfall, cascading down the slick, brown rocks with a soft, slurred rumble, she caught sight of something glimmering in one of the shallow pools that had gathered in the slopes of the rocks. It was, unfortunately, at the top, so she supposed that she had some climbing to do. Seraphina was not unaccustomed to climbing dangerous slopes, but the slickness of the rocks that surrounded the waterfall made them especially precarious; she kept to the far sides of the cascade, clambering awkwardly up the uneven stairway of stones until she found herself standing by on top of the falls, albeit on the opposite side of the small stream that fed them from the gleaming pool. Squinting, she realized that whatever was glistening so bright and red in the sunlight was moving, twitching and twisting spastically.

She approached the water, keeping a careful eye on the slick ground beneath her hooves so that she didn’t find herself slipping; the water was shallow and slow enough for her to pass through it without getting caught up in the current, so she walked to the other side, brilliant turquoise water just brushing her stomach. Approaching the pool, she came to the unfortunate realization that she’d only caught a glimpse of one of the tiny, jewel-like lizards that frequented the Oasis, swimming quite pleasantly in the warm, shallow water. Seraphina didn’t feel disappointed, watching the delicate creature writhe, but she couldn’t help but feel that she was grasping at straws.

[Reichenbach]

R E I C H E N B A C H E R W I N R O M M E L " there's no way tonight as far as I know that heaven will take me so I'm staggering home " Solterra had to be his second favourite realm in all of Novus, the heat made his bones sing and his muscles coil with absolute delight. He embraced the warmth fully and joyfully, even going so far as to close his delicate eyelids to enjoy the burn of the fierce Solterra sunlight. The brush of his ebony lashes against the rough line of his cheekbone was a familiar sensation, the smooth flow of burning air within his lungs a treasured memory that traced his veins with fire even as his step was steady and swift.  The Oasis was a blurry shape in the distance, though Reich's keen eyes picked apart the terrain with distinct ease - he'd been born in a desert, he knew what awaited amongst rocks, sand and flame. He'd never really been one to listen to rumour, perhaps because he'd done his fair share of spreading them in his youth, but this amulet, or relic... an object of power that dangerous was worth looking for, if only to remove it from the wrong hands. He'd lay his life down before he saw it go to someone that might use it against the Night Court - against Novus.  He saw the Day Court Warrior as he approached, balancing delicately upon the slippery Oasis rocks. A broad grin slipped upon his velvet ebony lips. It was something that hooked the heart, that smile, so open and pleasant and simple that there was no way it couldn't be genuine. Hope hid there too, collected in the corners of his lips, dancing in the whirlpool of silver that was his eyes. Day Court members were known to be a little prickly - they had the right to be, when they fought so hard to maintain the strength and fierceness of their warriors. Reich didn't want to cause offence, being a warrior and a representative of the Night Court, so he approached slowly and with ease.  "Greetings", was his baritone welcome, the lilting music in his voice floating on the hot air as if it were sunning itself. The Oasis sparkled before him, azure and tauntingly beautiful in the sultry warmth. He glanced to it before returning his bright gaze back to the toned woman before him, coming to the conclusion that she must be a warrior, or at least training to be one. The lizard she was watching danced about on nimble legs and Reich grinned at it momentarily before returning his long-lashed gaze to his companion, "Searching for something?" @Seraphina

[Venari]

 



Five minutes after parting ways with Akhlys, Venari felt his skin crawl at the memories of his embarrassing moments. He knew as he walked alone that that encounter would be firmly pushed to the back of his mind or at least the start of it would be. Sighing, he allowed tension to release from his muscles and into the humid desert air. Venari looked like a sore thumb in this landscape and didn't enjoy it much either. Far too warm and barren for his liking, however the quest demanded that he visit all twenty locations in Novus and he intended to do as such. 

Up ahead of him Venari spotted a much needed water source. The canyon he had previously visited had drained him, making him feel tired and thirsty. While basic needs, they needed to be met all the same. However, upon a closer look, the stag noticed two equines frequenting the higher points of the oasis. He assumed both were relic hunting due to the precarious positions however he could be wrong. He had been wrong before. The stag carried on his walk, now neglecting to look at the other souls occupying the same location. He did not feel like making friends this time; he wanted to be alone. 

Venari hated himself for seeking isolation instead of socialisation. He felt abnormal, unwanted and useless for how he felt. Yet he felt it all the same and Ven always tried to keep true to emotions. Should he ever deny them, he was more prone to a breakdown and he certainly didn't want that. Sighing, Ven walked on past the others. He might be polite should they talk to him first but otherwise he would aim to wander other parts of this land before searching the oasis for himself.


*


TAGGED: @Seraphina & @Reichenbach & Open
NOTES: Hope you don't mind me jumping in o3o 
TIMELINE: Eighth relic location, third day

[Seraphina]

She was pulled from her reflections by the sound of hooves against stone. Seraphina’s gaze was drawn up to meet the source at precisely the same time he offered his greetings, odd eyes darting the length of his frame. The stallion reminded her of an oak tree – his frame was muscular and powerful, and, though she wouldn’t call him bulky, his was most definitely an intimidating figure. His coat was a canvas of earthen tones, a mesh of damp soil and clay, shades of red and brown like canyon walls at night or polished wooden walls; a hint of white occupied his forehead and limbs, and his eyes were like molten quicksilver. Wild coils of inky black formed his mane and tail, gleaming like silk in the bright sunlight. He offered her a brilliant smile that struck her as genuine, though she knew better than to trust first impressions; it was only when he asked her a question, amused gaze lingering momentarily on the lizard, that she realized that his voice sounded quite like music or poetry, lilting and expressive like a storyteller. The look that she greeted him with was not openly suspicious, though there was no hint of blind trust in her steely features either.

She remained cold and impassive as the grave even as she spoke, silky tones methodical and mechanical, “Good day, stranger. I imagine that you have heard of the relic of Tempus? I have been searching for it, though I have had little luck so far.” She paused for a moment, taking in his scent in hopes of pinpointing his affiliation – it was muddled with incense and herbs that she couldn’t quite place, though she thought that she caught a whiff of Denocte. “What brings you to Solterra, stranger? I don’t believe I recognize you, but forgive me if you are one of our own.” He was likely a warrior, unless he simply enjoyed squandering his own genetics, and Seraphina generally made it her business to know the Day Court’s warriors.

It was only the darkest of movements from the very corner of her eye that drew Seraphina’s attention from her present quarry; her gaze flitted down to the Oasis, coming to an abrupt halt on a familiar black-and-teal, antlered figure. “You again.” Her voice rang out dryly, odd eyes skirting his frame. He didn’t seem to be causing any trouble, so her tone was absent of any accusation. If anything, it seemed like an observation, same as calling the sky blue or the grass green - Seraphina knew that she didn't have the authority to stop him unless he caused trouble, nor did she have any interest in doing so.

@Reichenbach @Venari - I don't know how this thread is going to go; I'm making the assumption that Seraphina will see Venari at some point, but I'll edit this post if the need arises.

[Reichenbach]

R E I C H E N B A C H E R W I N R O M M E L " there's no way tonight as far as I know that heaven will take me so I'm staggering home " Her voice was something familiar - cool and methodical, scholarly but sharp. It immediately reminded him of Ayesha, a Night Court woman he had seen for some time in his teen years, she had been obsessed with knowledge and cared little for social standing - perhaps partly why he had been so smitten with her in the first place. This woman was different though, stronger. Where Ayesha had cared little for social standing, she also had had no experience in the world, curled up in her books and her mind, more than happy to spend her days just the two of them curled up by one of Reich's fires. This woman... she had an edge, a keenness to her multi-coloured eyes that the Denocte girl had lacked. It kindled his interest, even more so when she spoke with a careful kindness. A lazy smile slipped across the black velvet of his lips as he answered; "Indeed I have - It seems the population of Novus have left their warm beds and are scouring the earth for it" grinning, Reich judged the distance from the rocks to the water with evident interest, "Including myself" he added as an afterthought.  "I came with the excuse of searching for the Relic, but mostly I just enjoy Solterra's heat - Denocte doesn't have anything like it." He paused, looking toward the horizon for a moment as a familiar figure slowly pressed toward the Oasis. "I'm Reichenbach - warrior of The Night Court." He watched Venari draw closer, silver eyes slipping over the teal stallion's slim frame in pleasant familiarity. They'd met only once, but Reich was a man of warmth and joviality, so despite his delight with his current company he called Venari over. "Ven! You've travelled quickly. You two have met?" Though he'd only now met the cool, collected Day Court lady, Reich felt disgruntled that the delicately featured stallion had a past with her that he did not. Looking between the two, Venari still a ways off and the storm-skinned Day Court woman beside him, Reich raised his brows and glanced pointedly at his closest companion in jovial question - "Perhaps you could introduce us?" @Seraphina @Venari <3 Yay these guys are all so cute together!! haha

[Venari]

 



His desire for isolation had been dismantled. As he was passing through, one of the equines not only spotted him but recognised him also. While he was grateful for making friends, he wanted to help himself today to forget the bad experiences just prior to now. Yet it wasn't to be. Venari shook out his body in the heat of the desert, attempting to dislodge the bad emotions. It didn't really work, but he would convince himself otherwise for the sake of his mind. 

As he looked over with curious iced eyes (a perfect contrast to the current landscape) he realised it was Seraphina upon the higher point of the Oasis. At her side was another familiar face; Reichenbach. He had not yet said anything, however, and still seemed more interested in the mare. He could understand that; she was a striking doe. Seraphina acknowledged him with two simple words; though perhaps a little blunt, she held no malice or sarcasm in her vocals which allowed him to feel a little more comfortable. He smiled, hoping she would spot the gesture from the distance and turned to his left to make his way to them both. 

Venari was about to push forwards into a trot as Reichenbach also spoke out to him from the oasis. His words to him were much more comfortable than the mare's had been and Ven felt even more at ease through the encounter. The dark brown stag was treating him like a friend by now, his calm and chirpy demeanour feeling almost infectious. By now he felt less afraid of his own mistakes and more willing to socialise; they both appeared friendly and willing to talk to him, and so he made his way up to the oasis in a careful, steady trot. 

A handful of minutes later and he was walking up to where they both stood with a genuine smile splashed across his velveteen lips. He dipped his head to them both out of respect, careful not to accidentally stab them with his antlers. He allowed his eyes to focus on Seraphina first so as to greet her once more. "It's a pleasure to meet you once again," he spoke with calm and thoughtful words. Blue eyes settled upon her grullo striped body, admiring her somewhat but not registering a full interest. He was too busy searching for relics to flirt or to even think about that; plus he was still torn up about Ariadne to the extent of being scared to try something new with someone else. Why bother if it was more than likely to bring about the same situation? 

He turned his head to look at Reichenbach now, remembering his words from before. He responded now with a light chuckle and a genuine glimmer in his eyes. "I travel fast when I put my mind to it," he laughed a little in his words, thinking back to how this whole quest had started. It was quite amazing to think about how much of Novus he had already seen. "And indeed we have; we met yesterday under quite... interesting pretences." His mind flicked back to the cave at Veneror Peak and how he had startled the two mares. He had soon amended his actions, however, so he would like to think he was forgive for his actions. "It would be my pleasure. Reichenbach, this is Seraphina, a day court warrior," he smiled as he turned to Seraphina. "And Seraphina, this is Reichenbach, a night court warrior," Venari glanced at them both for a few seconds, hoping he had made some long-lasting friends in them. 

"As for me? Well it appears I'm the odd one out as a dusk court caretaker; I'll be mindful of your combined strength," his words were light as he joked about the ranks and how they were both warriors of their realm. He would have to be cautious of those facts for the future should the court relations become stressed. However for now he was fine and both appeared to be very good company. 


*


TAGGED: @Seraphina & @Reichenbach & Open
NOTES: I hope this is okay; if anything needs amending let me know and I've gone on the basis that they both know his name and he knows theirs due to previous meetings. Also, this is hella adorable and I love it <33
TIMELINE: Eighth relic location, third day

[Seraphina]

She watched the stranger with an even, if somewhat curious, caution, though the gentle lilt of his voice wanted desperately to put her at ease; she supposed that she had always held a certain - buried - admiration for those that could speak freely, unrestrained by what was meant to be proper and right and fortified. When she spoke, for her drawling Solterran accent, Seraphina knew that she conveyed nothing but dry logic, and she felt more than a prick of envy in the face of such openness. However, it was an exploitable weakness, and she knew better than to allow fleeting interests – the desire to know others at all, to understand, to empathize, to be understood – to interfere with her duties. So long as she completed them she was right, and there was nothing more fulfilling than being right.

(She still admired (or, more privately, liked, or envied, or both) his voice and the unworried, genuine pleasantness of his smile.)

He confirmed what she had already suspected; what but the relic would bring a stranger to the Day Court in the absence of a sovereign? His next words did contradict her logic, as he admitted that he appreciated the warmth of Solterra, something that she did understand. “I’ll admit that I find the heat exhausting, until I spend some time away...though I think that I miss the view far more than the weather,” She admitted, offering a small dip of her head. In the depths of the Mors, quiet and empty as she imagined the darkest reaches of the ocean, she could stare out for miles at nothing but empty sky. There was a familiarity to that loneliness and calm, and she found that she took it for granted when she left. He proceeded to introduce himself – Reichenbach.

Warrior of Denocte, The Night Court.

She’d thought that she’d placed a bit of the accent.

A flicker of instinctive distrust twitched in her throat for a fraction of a second. When she was young, Seraphina recalled skirmishes between Day and Night; she had been far too young and green to fight herself, but Viceroy was of high rank, and she was his protégé and constant companion. The horrors of war, like all horrors, had never been hidden from her – somehow the wild-eyed survivors, burnt and mauled beyond recognition, haunted her far less than the burials. There were always more graves to dig, all unmarked and scattered across foreign soil. She’d tried to find flowers for them, desperate to atone for something she could not put into words, and she was nearly captured three times while hunting for blooms in the muddled turf. Seraphina was younger, then. Sentiment had felt valuable enough to pursue.

Relations had been far more diplomatic, if icy, in more recent years. She was about to offer her own introduction when Reichenbach called out to Venari – apparently the two were acquainted, and considering how many times she’d run into the same individuals while on her own search, she wasn’t surprised. Reichenbach asked Venari to introduce her, so, in the interest of politeness, she remained silent as she black-and-teal stallion approached, dipping his antlered skull and offering a polite greeting to her, first. “The same, Venari,” She responded in kind, though her tone and expression remained perfectly cool and composed. “Interesting pretenses indeed – I’m simply glad that you were not what I was anticipating. I’ll admit, I am…unaccustomed to combat in enclosed spaces.”

Venari introduced her first, and she offered a quick dip of her head in kind, listening patiently as he reintroduced Reichenbach. Once he seemed to be finished, she offered a soft, “A pleasure to meet you, Reichenbach.” Venari continued, reintroducing himself as a caretaker. At his remark, she offered a rather pointed glance at his antlers. “I wouldn’t count yourself out of the running so quickly, unless those are just for show.”

@Reichenbach @Venari - blatant abuse of italics. they are cute together! <3

[Reichenbach]

R E I C H E N B A C H E R W I N R O M M E L " there's no way tonight as far as I know that heaven will take me so I'm staggering home " Venari's approach was somewhat reluctant, wary even. He could recall that same intense anxiousness from their first meeting in the forest and felt a pang of sympathy for the teal stallion, understanding hesitating within his silver eyes for but a moment.  "Interesting pretences..."  Reich repeated with raised brows, the music in his voice low and amused as he glanced between Venari and the yet unnamed woman. He paused as Ven proceeded to introduce her -  "Seraphina.." He tasted the name in his mouth, sweeping a tongue over honey, sand and sweat. Both warriors - one of Day and one of Night. The thought hooked a wry smile in the corners of his black lips, how ironic. Still, Denocte and Solterra had had civil relations lately - perhaps the lack of Sovereign had something to do with it, but Reichenbach suspected both sides had tired of warring with their sister Court.  His name on her lips had his eyes shifting to the soft skin there, then moving to her multihued eyes curiously. Had she been born in the Day Court? It seemed so, judging by how easily she took the heat and how comfortable she seemed around the Oasis. What story lingered behind the cool, curt, well roundedness of her? Looking back to Venari, Reich nodded his agreement; "One of our fiercest warriors has similar horns... and she's positively terrifying in battle" He grinned at the memory, sliding his silver gaze to Seraphina as he imagined her in a similar role. She would be an agile, swift fighter - Day Court warriors were always well trained and had excellent stamina... information he tucked away with a slight smile. Stamina indeed. @Seraphina I wasn't sure where to go with this because Venari is no longer on the site -- did you want to say they go their own ways and then I can throw up a thread for them after the Sovereigns are announced?