Layla Rashmi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 54
Physical Description: An attractive woman, apparently in her middle thirties, with deep midnight blue eyes and thick, black hair that falls past her hips in a silken curtain. Almost reaching five feet tall, she has a strong, muscular frame and generous curves obvious even strapped down beneath plate armor. Her skin is smooth and pale like a porcelain doll, though she pinkens in the sun and freckles in the summer.
Her voice is a smoky contralto, calling to mind whispers in the night in its pitch and timbre regardless of the volume. She speaks with a rough accent, strongly implying a lowborn lineage and street education. The glint of razors strapped to her boots reinforces the image, despite her pleasant smile.
Braided into her hair so that it hangs below and just behind her left ear, and held in place with a column of deep blue beads, is a long feather, coal black on the back and banded black-and-white on the underside.
She walks with a choreographed grace, as though every step were a dance to music only she can hear, the jingling and clanking of her armor, spurs, and/or jewelry often playing audible percussion accompaniment.
Up close, one might notice the scent of the deep forest on her: leaves, rain, good soil, and wild roses. Beneath and behind, though not quite concealed by it, is the lingering smell of sweat, smoke, and blood.
Clothes and Equipment:
When out and about, Layla is most often seen in plate armor with a long, white, high-collared coat over it. Slung low on her left hip is a pair of massive hand-and-a-half swords, clearly a matching set, one with a guard and pommel in steel grey, the other trimmed in gold. On her right hip hangs a heavy steel warhammer.
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 19:59:46 GMT -8
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Post by Layla Rashmi on Sept 7, 2017 8:24:04 GMT -8
“Sun an’ moon. Light an’ dark.” Layla mused to herself, lowering her shield slightly as she followed -Deleted- up to the dais. She would have walked in front, but trying to push the issue now might lead to an argument, and Circe was in full armor herself, so it’s not like it was incredibly foolish for her to take the lead. She glanced behind them towards the open doors, then peered into the darkness ahead. Elves could see in the dark like a cat, it was said, and Layla knew that it was more or less true. But there was more to Layla than just her human blood. Over the years, she had learned to deal with bright sunlight when she must, even if it was never comfortable, and sometimes outright painful. At heart, though, she was still a creature of darkness.
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-Deleted-
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 23:19:14 GMT -8
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Post by -Deleted- on Sept 7, 2017 9:35:48 GMT -8
Whatever impression she gave off, Circe wasn't always all there in the head. This wasn't to say she was stupid, no, she might very well have been more clever than the typical person, even if she lacked the education and information to actually make use of it. Rather, she wasn't entirely sane. Her pragmatism meant that she'd gladly let someone better equipped take the lead, yet with things like traps, something that couldn't simply be killed or defeated, she had almost a need to investigate them herself, to spring whatever was there before someone else did the same. In her own mind, it was better that it happen to her than someone else.
Even so, she was still thankful the dais wasn't trapped. Her vision scanned along the table and she stared down at the tea service. It was true that Circe could see in the dark better than most, but only just slightly. A lifetime of disinterest in her own traits had caused her eyesight and hearing to stagnate and go untrained. "I'm not sure we could figure much out just from a few symbols, though. They keep showing up, but they don't actually mean anything without knowing what their faith really was."
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Lhesa
Established
Roleplay posts: 34
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 12:11:51 GMT -8
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Post by Lhesa on Sept 7, 2017 11:04:06 GMT -8
The wind rustled in the rafters again again as they spoke, and their voices echoed slightly in the massive room, but otherwise the temple was quiet as a tomb.
The darkened side was almost a mirror image of the brightly lit one, except for the reversal of light to dark. The tired floor swept down and away, with another pair of double doors set in the far end. The walls and pillars carried the same suns and moons as the rest of the chapel where they weren’t covered by the heavy, black curtains that had somehow survived the centuries mostly intact.
On the table, Circe would the set, like so much else, in eerily good condition. The centuries-old ceramic was whole and intact, with a light layer of dust dulling the finish. The pot and cups were blue, made in such a way that the side towards the light reflected back a pale, friendly summer-sky, but the shadowed side was a rich and dark midnight hue. There was no container for sugar or cream or anything of that nature, nor any place where it might have been but was now missing. Otherwise, it was in excellent condition, and it was even possible that the set could still be used with only a light rinsing to clear the dust.
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Layla Rashmi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 54
Physical Description: An attractive woman, apparently in her middle thirties, with deep midnight blue eyes and thick, black hair that falls past her hips in a silken curtain. Almost reaching five feet tall, she has a strong, muscular frame and generous curves obvious even strapped down beneath plate armor. Her skin is smooth and pale like a porcelain doll, though she pinkens in the sun and freckles in the summer.
Her voice is a smoky contralto, calling to mind whispers in the night in its pitch and timbre regardless of the volume. She speaks with a rough accent, strongly implying a lowborn lineage and street education. The glint of razors strapped to her boots reinforces the image, despite her pleasant smile.
Braided into her hair so that it hangs below and just behind her left ear, and held in place with a column of deep blue beads, is a long feather, coal black on the back and banded black-and-white on the underside.
She walks with a choreographed grace, as though every step were a dance to music only she can hear, the jingling and clanking of her armor, spurs, and/or jewelry often playing audible percussion accompaniment.
Up close, one might notice the scent of the deep forest on her: leaves, rain, good soil, and wild roses. Beneath and behind, though not quite concealed by it, is the lingering smell of sweat, smoke, and blood.
Clothes and Equipment:
When out and about, Layla is most often seen in plate armor with a long, white, high-collared coat over it. Slung low on her left hip is a pair of massive hand-and-a-half swords, clearly a matching set, one with a guard and pommel in steel grey, the other trimmed in gold. On her right hip hangs a heavy steel warhammer.
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 19:59:46 GMT -8
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Post by Layla Rashmi on Sept 7, 2017 18:30:38 GMT -8
“It is a good thing they left their holy book here, then, ain’t it?” *Layla chuckled and cast another gaze out into the darkened half of the chapel before turning back to the dais and, more specifically, the book. Of course, it was possible that it wasn’t a holy book at all, but considering where they found it and the matching marks, it seemed a safe assumption.
Unless… “Well, assumin’ it is a holy book in a temple. An’ not, I don’t know… a fuckin’... textbook in the world’s strangest university or somesuch nonsense.” She laughed again, flashing another unseen wink in Circe’s direction. Obviously, she didn’t think it was particularly likely. But she was still Layla, and there was no turning it off.
“You think we should take them cups back with us, too, or just the book?” Without waiting for an answer, she gently, and with more care than she usually showed anything, lifted the book. Layla understood that old things sometimes barely held together and that disturbing them sometimes caused them to crumble. But given the state of everything else in the place, she decided it was safe enough to handle, provided she was gentle with it.
Assuming it didn’t come apart or spring to life or explode or anything like that, she carefully tucked it away inside her coat.
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-Deleted-
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 23:19:14 GMT -8
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Post by -Deleted- on Sept 7, 2017 20:32:44 GMT -8
"..I'm not sure if that's a good idea-" Of course, before she could say not to, Layla would have already lifted the book. Circe let out a low sigh as she watched. "..I wouldn't take more than needed. Just in case it all crumbles away, or it's, like, cursed or something.." She continued to peer down at the cups, shaking her head slightly, but still opting to not touch the cups.
She turned to face Layla more directly for a moment before stepping away, taking another look around the room. "So do we look through that, or keep poking around in here?"
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Lhesa
Established
Roleplay posts: 34
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 12:11:51 GMT -8
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Post by Lhesa on Sept 8, 2017 9:52:18 GMT -8
The book did not fall apart when being handled, nor did it seem to be trapped or anything of that nature. Moving it did stir up rather more of the dust that had accumulated in the temple, but seemed to have little immediate effect otherwise.
The soft rustling in the rafters of the darkened half of the chapel rose and fell again, followed by a less soft, sudden sneeze from above.
If they look up in response, the two would see several pairs of eyes blinking down at them with yellow, reflected light. Among, and mostly hidden by, the dark curtains and drapes, scores, perhaps hundreds, of large, batlike creatures hung from the ceiling.
Even looking directly at then, it was easy to lose them among the curtained rafters when they closed their eyes. Several slowly stretched out dark wings, then wrapped them back around themselves, producing the soft rustling sound among the curtains again.
They moved slowly, with a groggy and bleary-eyed sort of mien, but gradually, the glowing yellow eyes began to fix on Layla and Circe. It was impossible to know how many were up there, or whether it was their quiet conversation or moving the book that had disturbed them. But one thing was immediately and inescapably clear:
The bat-creatures were waking up
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-Deleted-
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 23:19:14 GMT -8
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Post by -Deleted- on Sept 8, 2017 10:48:38 GMT -8
Circe's eyes widened behind her helm and she grew perceptibly more tense, the change noticeable even with the armor she wore. She crouched slightly, taking a wider, more stable stance as she slowly, quietly shifted closer toward Layla. As quiet as she could manage in field plate, which, to her credit, was much more quiet than someone in plate armor ought to be. Even so, the quiet would likely do her little good, with the countless eyes already trained on them. Her grip on the blade strapped to her hip tightened as she quietly spoke to the woman beside her.
"..What now? Do we run?"
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Layla Rashmi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 54
Physical Description: An attractive woman, apparently in her middle thirties, with deep midnight blue eyes and thick, black hair that falls past her hips in a silken curtain. Almost reaching five feet tall, she has a strong, muscular frame and generous curves obvious even strapped down beneath plate armor. Her skin is smooth and pale like a porcelain doll, though she pinkens in the sun and freckles in the summer.
Her voice is a smoky contralto, calling to mind whispers in the night in its pitch and timbre regardless of the volume. She speaks with a rough accent, strongly implying a lowborn lineage and street education. The glint of razors strapped to her boots reinforces the image, despite her pleasant smile.
Braided into her hair so that it hangs below and just behind her left ear, and held in place with a column of deep blue beads, is a long feather, coal black on the back and banded black-and-white on the underside.
She walks with a choreographed grace, as though every step were a dance to music only she can hear, the jingling and clanking of her armor, spurs, and/or jewelry often playing audible percussion accompaniment.
Up close, one might notice the scent of the deep forest on her: leaves, rain, good soil, and wild roses. Beneath and behind, though not quite concealed by it, is the lingering smell of sweat, smoke, and blood.
Clothes and Equipment:
When out and about, Layla is most often seen in plate armor with a long, white, high-collared coat over it. Slung low on her left hip is a pair of massive hand-and-a-half swords, clearly a matching set, one with a guard and pommel in steel grey, the other trimmed in gold. On her right hip hangs a heavy steel warhammer.
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 19:59:46 GMT -8
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Post by Layla Rashmi on Sept 8, 2017 11:15:03 GMT -8
Layla looked up into the rafters, dark eyes widening as she saw the creatures stir. Her hand went to the steel grey hilt of her sword, gripping it, but not drawing it yet. She raised her shield, trying to place it and herself between the creatures and Circe as well as she could, considering how easily they could be surrounded in the open space.
“Right… bat demons. I think it is time we left. Quiet, like.” She slowly backed in the direction they had come from, mumbling softly as if trying not to further disturb them with the sound of her voice. Demons or no, there were a lot of them up there, and she wasn’t planning to try to fight off a hoard of flying creatures if she didn’t have to.
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-Deleted-
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Registered: Jul 18, 2017 23:19:14 GMT -8
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Post by -Deleted- on Sept 8, 2017 11:35:32 GMT -8
Circe nodded, backing up with Layla. She kept her gaze firm on the rafters, tense and coiled and low like a spring or snake as she watched the creatures stir above them. If they did descend, she might very well respond violently, her hand twitching as it held her own sword, ready to draw it as quickly as needed. Or at least, she hoped she'd be quick enough to act in time.
For now, though, she kept herself quiet, her sword still in its scabbard. Even if she thought the both of them had some advantage, she still wouldn't enjoy the thought of fighting something she hadn't encountered before in a place she wasn't familiar with.
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