[Continues] Morcrux Campaign: Tale of Two Scales

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Karlya: "I'll try it my way then we'll see"

She pulls out two brownish roots with two branching legs, looks like a pair of ginger by the way they looked. She sets out a small clay bowl (mortar) and a clay handle object (pastel) then sets out a small vial of salt, one vial of white vinegar, and a pouch of wood ash straight from the source of a campfire.

Taking the Xander Roots and pulling them apart and turning them into little bite size bits, she puts them off to the side on top of the small bag she used to carry the ingredients. She takes the vinegar and smells it then mixes it with the wood ash until it was a slosh of grey fluid. Taking the Xander Root bits and placing them inside the mortar, taking the pastel into her hand, she kneads the root making a cracking sound like cutting open an apple and starts using the sides of the mortar to mash the pastel against the bits to make a pastel, letting the root juice leak out. She gets the consistency she needs then drops some salt into it to soak up the juices from the roots and she crushes the pastel up with the pastel and hearing the clay clash is oddly satisfying to listen to. Karlya grabs the grey fluid and pours it into the mortar and works the mixture up until the brown mixed with the grey to make a wet and sticky paste. Tapping the pastel on the rim to get everything off it, she sets it down.

"Hold his head open and open his mouth"
Jibril does so, Red-Eye resists as he gets handled and Jibril has to calmly btell him to relax and open. Breathing through his nose, he complies. Karlya puts the mix into his mouth. It's so bitter! Sour! Ugh it's so disgusting! He winces as he tries swallowing it then lolls his tongue out.

Jibril holds him in her lap as the two of them wait for anything to happen.

They wait.

And wait.

Waited some more.

Jibril checks, he's actually sleeping. Checking his nose to see if he's breathing. Yep, out cold! They breath a sigh of relief.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril thank you karlya i guess that's two thing's you help me in one day guess i should call you super mom karlya as she chuckled saying that. i guess that it shows on how much more i need to learn from you
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
"Don't thank me, yet" Karlya says, "He's in really bad shape. Transmogrification is deadly to sorcerers than it is for mages. Mages can use symbols and talismans to channel their magic. Sorcerers like him require constant attention, casting spells to burn away so much magic can wear you out. You stop, all that Mana eats away at you, widdling away at your body down to nothing. To last this long without resting shouldn't be possible, either he's found a way to cope with the stress and pain or he's really fucking lucky to be alive this long. Whatever case it is, better watch him. Make sure he sleeps long enough that his body can recover from this."

Karlya reaches around her neck to pull a necklace and undies the latch. It's an hourglass imbued with magic, that much is certain. She hands it to Jibril.

"Make sure he wears this" She says handing it to Jibril. "That should help him contain some of the magic inside him. I cast illusion magic and sleep well enough on my own to not worry about something like this for a while. He needs it more than I do"
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril take the hour glass necklace and put it on red-eye's neck making sure it fit's she then turn to karlya and ask her how long should i watch him and is there anything else i need to do for him like do i bring him some food and water
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
"That's a good start for when he wakes up" Karlya answers standing to her feet and brushing the dirt off her skirt and fishing the alchemy set up off the ground and handing it to Jibril. "I'd say watch over him until tomorrow morning or later tonight. It takes awhile for magic users like us to feel better. Not sure how he got this way in the first place, the fragile state of his bones seem like he's been on the edge of death for a while. Yet he's been kicking it for this long after we left. Usually hits you in your sleep or idling too long. Guess he must've dozed off back here and it started to settle. Poor man."

Karlya seems genuinely sad to see Red-Eye like this, even going so far as to give him a personal charm of hers to channel his magic. Seems a bit much for an acquaintance who she just met, or maybe Karlya has a very big heart wrapped in iron to care for someone so troubled. Or maybe it's something else entirely ... who knows.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril all stay up late and watch him if there's anything wrong that's about to happen i'll try to find you or i'll carry him with me to find you and once again thank you karlya if there's anything you need for me don't hesitate to ask if it's something i can do i'll do it
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
"Just keep an eye on him, love, he'll be right as rain. Hopefully." Karlya says walking away, Jibril looks down to Red-Eye and then back to Karlya. She stood there a moment on the edge of the wagon looking over her shoulder to them. But she wasn't looking at Jibril but Randy before catching on Jibril's gaze and she jumps and makes herself scarce.

Definitely something there.

Jibril sits in the back of the wagon and tries to make herself comfortable with Red-Eye resting in her lap. Hours pass and parts of his limps start going limp and correcting themselves with unsettling cracks and bone shifting. The bulging of skin shifting is unsightly but slowly, Red-Eye is getting better looking when he's laying flat on his back and head resting soundly on Jibril's chest and between her legs as she dozes off against the pile of burlap sacks.
 
Last edited:

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril try to stay awake to watch over red-eye's once she start to dose of she'll try to pinch herself awake knowing she has a responsibility to watch him and she can't fail
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Jibril pinches herself and moves slightly in place. She stretches her arms given that she had been sitting there all afternoon and most of the evening that the sun had set a few hours ago. When she yawns, she adjusted the mandibles of her jaw then slowly inhales air through her breathing tube beneath her forked tongue. Eyes are getting heavy.

Red starts to move as he rolls on his side with his back cracking and neck moves slightly better than before. She looks down as he inhales deeply and his eye flip open. Groggily, he groans feeling sore.

"Death, get it over with already" he groans.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril you should go back to sleep your sill not one hundred percent fine yet once it's morning i'll wake you up so just relax and go dream of some song music that you'll play on your mandala or something
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
"Mmm" Red-Eye moans, he adjusted his eyesight and realized where he is. He looks up to see Jibril's face. He looks down and sees her tail coiling around their legs. He blinks oddly then goes wide-eyed as he picks up Jibril's words. "Uhhh"

"How ... long have we been like this?" He asked, timidly.
"Several hours" she answered, putting a hand on his head. "Sleep"

He lays his head back down between her bust and he lays his hand on her side. He stares off, zoning out.

"Wish you didn't see me like that" Red-Eye stated, embarrassed. "Feel like shit, can hardly move anymore."
"Going to be okay" Jibril replied stroking his blond hair. "Had a rough few days"
"I deserve much worse" Red-Eye stated.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril just be glad that me and karlya cared enough about you that we got worried she also tell him that it was karlya who help made something for his condition and the necklace was her's that she gave for you to barrow it will help with your magic so once your all feeling better make sure to say thank you to karlya alright
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Red-Eye looks down to see the small hourglass necklace dangling around his neck. He picks it up and looks at the small amount of sand inside. He lets go then lays there. "I will. Just not use to people ... you know ... caring."

Red-Eye chuckled: "You were so bad singing"
He stopped then waited a moment to follow it up with: "Thank you, for saving me, again. And cheering me up ... I'm just gonna shut the fuck up"

He closed his eyes and drifts back to sleep. What's going through Jibril's mind?
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril didn't know his condition was this bad is it like this for all mage's hope karlya doesn't suffer like this but also once it's morning i should check up on kor'dar and ask him to take my shift on guarding the caravan but right after breakfast ugh i wonder what the'll serve hope it would be good maybe if karlya won't mind if i could have the kids it with us
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Jibril falls asleep, she did want to retire early to get an early morning. As she and Red sleep together, maybe not how he imagined it, but he sleeps soundly to her slow heartbeat in his head. Jibril throws up her arm and cradles her head into the sacks and gets situated better.

Morning rolls around and the shifts of the guards change.

Jibril awakens to her big spooning Red-Eye with her arms wrapped around him like she would with Kak'lin and him just resting between her legs like a living body pillow. She pulls away from him when birds started chirping, signalling that it was time for her to get up. Red-Eye is still asleep, Jibril climbs to her feet and quietly gets her affects together and leaves the alchemy stuff with Red to add to her things back in his magical manor.

She quietly climbs down from the wagon and sees the patrols yawning as they climb into the wagon and the day shift guards rotate them out relieving them of their duties.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril went to get breakfast hoping there isn't to long of a line plus it has been a day since i seen kak'lin and sim'one sigh hope they still miss me well being sad about it won't fill my stomach let's just hope i get to see them again for now i'll go eat
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Thankfully, it's very early in the morning and Jibril is very well rested. Maybe too well since she's got limbs that are still asleep on her. Taking the odd shamble and fighting the funniness of her bones like taking an arrow to her legs. She can't help but giggle at how funny her hobbling looks as she holds the side of the wagon to support her weight.

Jibril stands long enough to wake up her limbs and shuffles going towards the food serving area. Marcon doesn't seem to be serving today, someone else is as a short line forms up with hungry bellies needing filling. Jibril grabs a plate and waits in line behind a few refugees and several armed solders from Juggernaut taking a day shift routine. Jibril reaches the end of the line to find Karlya and Karin serving food today with Karin stirring up the beans and porridge while Karlya makes sure everyone gets equal portions of food for breakfast.

"Mornin' lass" Karlya greeted, handing her her plate, Jibril watches Karlya serve scrambled eggs and porridge. " How did our uh ... friend sleep?"
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril he slept like a baby so you don't have to worry so i'll be having some scramble egg's with some of that porridge also when do you want to have your necklace back
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Karlya seems to either be blushing or she's really tired herself. But she shakes her head with a faint smile: "He can keep it"

Handing Jibril her plate of food, Karlya calls forward the next person, Jibril moves off to the side of her and eats while standing. The two watched the line getting longer and longer as more people wake up and getting ready to start their chores and finishing up yesterday's work.

Karlya spoke to Jibril about what her plans are for today.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril to tell you the truth i wanted to see kak'lin and sim'one since i haven't seen them till two day's ago if your free you can come i could learn some mother stuff along the way if you want to join i could always use the company
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
"'fraid not, love. The big bosses got me working the food carts today, Karin can keep you company. She needs to be around others besides her ma all the time, it'd be good for her to make amends with the boys after what happened." Karlya answered, she wipes her hands on her apron and calls her daughter over.

"Mind going with Jibril and the boys for the day?" Karlya asked, "After you clean up, you can come back and finish cleaning the pots."
"Sure thing" Karin answered, dropping her wooden spoon and taking off her apron.

Karin walks with Jibril and the two head off to find Shimbala so Jibril can get an idea what her shifts going to be like for today.

Jibril and Karin find Shimbala talking to Kalisa who just came off her shift and she's debriefing Kalisa on the happenings when the two came over to her. Shimbala turns, tired with bags under her eyes.

"Morning" Shimbala yawns, "Hope you're rested. Find Randy yet?"
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril yea had to help him fall asleep and thank's to karlya for giving him something he'll start to feel better.so do i have anything to do or do i have free time if i have free time i would like to spend it with my kids
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Shimbala looked at Jibril with her eyes narrowing, scrutinizing her: "Great, looks like we're stuck with him. Again.Yeah, I do need you today - need you and Tar'lak to hunt for food around here, checking our traps and bringing whatever you two find. He can show you around the route but stay clear of our flag posts unless you wanna get shot."
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril got it she looked at karin and tell her to go back to her mother since i wont be able to watch you for today she the left to find tar'lak and help him to find food
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
"Hey, I can come help too you know" Karin protested. "Fine, whatever, just do the job. I don't care who does it so long as it gets done. Going to sleep" Shimbala replied, shuffling along with her rifle slung over her shoulder and collapses on both knees and starts crawling into her small pitched tent and laying there on her bedroll. Karin looks back to Jibril: "I hate cleaning, rather be checking the traps than doing the stupid dishes"
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril alright but make sure to stick close to me and tar'lak if you cuase any trouble i'll be telling your mother alright so let's go
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Karin nods to Jibril. Jibril reaches to her short sword and hands it to Karin for protection and gets out her scimitar. Handing the sheath to Karin, she glazed her eyes over it, almost mesmerized by a real steel sword. She memorised every detail of the blade from the nicks, chips and grooves that lay in it. She ties it to her side with the sheath's lacing and follows closely behind Jibril as they go in search of Tar'lak.

Thirty yards away from Lake Mare, Tar'lak sits in wait with his bow, scoping out his prey: a large antler buck licking a tuft of grass just uphill a ways from a bushy area where he sat. Bow is drawn sideways, laying prone on the ground, Tar'lak waited for the wind to die down. Eyes lined up as the buck draws closer unaware of it's proximity to Tar'lak. Faint breaths, slow heart rate, not sudden movements except the long draw of his bow and the fingers holding it steady. *Thump* ... *Thunk* ...

The buck goes down. Tar'lak comes out of the bushes and crawling on his hands and feet until reaching the deer he just slain. The buck was shot in the brain, instant kill. It twitched but those were muscles firing off fading signals to the brain. Tar'lak trusses the deer up and heaves it over his shoulders with his bow sling across his back and walking towards camp when Jibril and Karin arrived.

"Whoa, that's huge!" Karin says in awe of Tar'lak's kill.
 

Grimoire

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2018
964
157
32
Florida
www.patreon.com
Tar'lak: "Okay, let me drop this off with Saul back at camp. There's a lot of ground to cover. Shimbala tell you about the flag posts?"
Jibril: "Mentioned it in passing"
Tar'lak: "We're marking areas beyond our patrols routes considered safe. Anyone coming through or going around the flags are to be shot on sight. There's ten of them marking the perimeter around camp, luckily we're staying inside the zone and now venturing further out. But that means we're not getting any leeway if we get lost. Fair warning, last night the outlaws from Last Breath gathered outside the barrier and ended up getting killed by someone or something. Draco and Shimbala are increasing patrols to clear out the perimeter using the flag posts. Watch yourselves."
Jibril: "Where do we start?"
Tar'lak: "Just follow the dirt path along the lake and circle around the forest through a path we cut through this morning for the patrols. I'll catch up"
Jibril: "Got it"

Jibril takes Karin away from the hunting grounds and followed Tar'lak back the way they came until they stopped at a crossroad to which he points to the footpath leading from the Silk Road and veering off towards the edge of camp and brushing up a lining of trees overshadowing a fence. This is path to the villages of Dradini and Dradinae and it was clear to Karin and Jibril what flags they were talking about: large 9 feet tall poles with bright yellow tassels blowing in the wind there's two on either side marking them as a checkpoint.

Jibril: "Keep your hand on the sword and make sure to watch where you step. There's going to be traps along our path. Deadfalls, snares, spike pits, spring traps, you name it we most likely have it. Be very careful"
Karin: "Okay, and if we get separated we go back to camp before noon."
Jibril: "Agreed, and if one of doesn't come back we search for the other. Let's go"

They follow the dirt path Tar'lak set them on, obviously barren of traps considering how open the road is between here and the villages to the East. It's when the two turn onto the left side of the road at the cleaved pathway where branches and vines lay that things get a bit thick and hindering. The pair keep close, Jibril sees a spring trap on the path with a small string held together on two rocks stacked leading up to a rope holding up a large tree trunk. Karin sees how big this one was and Jibril guides Karin over it and avoiding the snare trap they nearly set off in the process that could yank them up by the leg and drop the counter weight which would be the tree trunk.
 

sora21345

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2019
754
19
30
Florida
"Jibril carefully look's around for any trap that caught prey once she finish checking all the traps she take karin with her to look for prey while staying near the flagpole area once she see a prey she will stealthily move and quickly aim at it's weak point using her sword