Vin's eyes lock onto that of Neferox as whatever is passing between them seems to continue, even as he distractedly speaks with Sam.
"That's good, soon be sorted", he mumbles. Followed by, "Oh, it was just about a memory I saw when I was dea....last with Morris. He couldn't help with that though".
Gewyn watches the silent exchange between Vin and Nef with curiosity, but moves to sit across from Xazgan. He switches his attention over to observe her,trying to figure out how to crack this nut a get a little conversation out of her (Insight 26)
Muir who had his eyes closed for a moment, peeps one opened and smiles at Gewyn sensing his intentions. "Ahh this is relaxing, cozy even. Probably not the same as your realm hmm Xazgan? Fire and brimstone, moody demon dogs, Roxs'hian the Nefarious....If I recall correctly, you are here for your own protection?"
Xazgan shifts, but does not lift her head from the sofa booth as she growls into the cushion "what the **** do you know about Roxs'hian the nefarious, she disappeared a millennia ago, traitorous *****... And I'm not here for my own protection! I'd kill you all right now with ease if this grandpa **** would just take this damned mask off!"
Gewyn swills what's left of his drink around in the glass. "Interesting. And what's next for the mighty Xazgan? Once that mask is off and we are all dead, are you headed back home? Or do you have another destination in mind? Go on a vacation, take in the sights?"
"I have a job to do and despite what grandpa ass over there says, I'm damned good at it. Guarding the gate out of hell. Stopping demons from running rampant over the realms..." She sits up and tries to stare down Gewyn, her yellow eyes angrily peering at him through the mask.
As she sits back in a huff, Morris pipes up. "I never said you were bad at your job, the gates of hell have been closed the same as the other portals, for quite some time. They remain so even today if my information is correct" from the rafters Ratosk squeaks a few words of confirmation before Morris continues, "see... Any way, track record in tact, the fact still remains you were killed in the line of duty, and until those gates open once more you need to get your strength back."
"If I may I have a few questions....First for Morris....The portals back home have opened as far as we are all aware. Lights were shining in the sky various colors all over the realm....Here, I have a map of roughly where I think these lights came from. One of them could be the realm of fire no?"
Turns his attention to the moody demon "Ah a gatekeeper! Where I come from my group was tasked with keeping the gates but it seems they were....I do have a question about Roxs'hian the nefarious or should I say traitorous! What she did was preposterous don't you agree?"
Morris takes a look at the map and scratches his chin, "ah... uhhhhh... hmm... well I'm not well versed in geography or cartography really, I have no need of it, the memories of the dead are drawn to me not me to them... Ratosk might be the better one to ask, he is the realm walker."
Xazgan scoffs, and then her posture betrays how livid she is even thinking about it, she tells through gritted teeth "preposterous!? No there are much stronger words for what she did, she doomed us all. There were prophecies and rules, I mean the ******* queen of hell should have known what the consequences of breaking the rules are, but then noooo, off she goes having relations with a ******* angel. It's her fault that the realms closed, her fault that the lords turned against her in their frustration and it's her fault I got killed!" In her energised state she begins growing, the black cloak becoming tighter against her red skin and then a gem upon the mask grows and she shudders in pain, shrinking again to her usual size before anything bad could happen, "Gah shit! You little fuuuuugh" her eyes dart to Morris who gives a 'it wasn't my fault' shrug
"I can see this is a betrayal deeply felt," Gewyn says to Xazgan, "And a job you take much pride in. We, for our part, are doing what we can to return things across the realms to how they ought to be, so I imagine before we are through, our work will see you returned to your post. How does that sound?"
"I'm already dead," Sam calls over as they talk about Xazgan killing them all, then he just goes back to brooding and drinking and tries to ignore the rest of their conversation. Random demons in dimensional pockets make his brain hurt on several levels...
"Tell the squirrel I'll give him a nut if he can help Muir with his map," Sam says to Morris when he begs off personally helping Muir with it. "A Golden Acorn..."
A rumble can be heard over by the fire, starting quite quietly but building in volume until all can hear it for what it is. A very canine growl. Looking across, Neferox's head is up and her narrowed eyes are looking at Muir. Her teeth are bared and her muscles are tensed as if ready to leap up and pounce at the Loxodon.
Vin notices what is happening, "Xazgan is not the only one who is passionate about this subject", he says urgently as he moves to block Neferox's line of sight and path to Muir.
"I don't know who this Roxs'hian is, but if you mention them again I am not sure there will be anything I can do or say that will stop Neferox from having your throat, Muir", he warns.
Muir shrugs "It won't be the first time the demon has attacked me for simply doing what is right. Perhaps you don't remember but the demon attacked me once before for talking about she whose name shall not be mentioned, and the fire realm. Instead of sharing and filling in the details, the demon decided to attack me....Your dog, I am sure remembers because instead of getting me, they left a nasty scar on you....Tut Tut....Always ready to attack when things do not go their way, but you see if Nef was honest and open as I have been perhaps Xazgan would not have to answer my questions about the fire realm and the fallen leader whose name I will not mention. You see Vin if you would like to know about this particular demon and what Xazgan means by their story, you could ask Nef there to tell you. I of course can tell you as I have pieced it all together." Muir opens his hands out in front of him in a you have choices in front of you manner.
Neferox now standing staring daggers between both xazgan and Muir begins to flame at the mouth and oddly sparks form at her feet too.
Morris sees the situation escalating and goes to stand between where nef is standing and where Muir is seated. "Now this seems to be a sensitive subject... There'll be no fighting in here, let me make that point clear first of all so put that out of your mind right now Neferox. Secondly, offering such ultimatums such choices to young Vincent is a highly manipulative strategy Muir, sometimes your thirst for knowledge should come secondary to your friends sensitivities or privacy hmmm?
Lastly Xazgan, you have other things you could be doing."
Neferox barks something out, apparently not listening to Morris.
Vin turns to Muir, and cocks his head to the side and narrows his own eyes.
"Do you think I do not realise that there are things that Neferox knows that she hasn't told me? Do you think me still the naive child she rescued so long ago?", he asks Muir, quite a bite to his words. "She", he says pointing back at Neferox, "Has looked out for me all these years. And if there are things she hasn't told me, then she has her reasons".
"I know you brought me back when I died, Muir. I appreciate what you did, and she won't ever admit it but Neferox does too, because she cares for me more than she despises you. But back off!".
Muir tsks "Such anger and hostility." Muir looks at the demon he is sitting next to, the Nef, and then Vin, possibly coming to anothe realization. "I will say no more on the matter since you have asked me to Vincent. However, I will continue to look into the realms and their histories to see who and which we can rely on for help, as we will need it." He then looks at Morris "It is easy for you when you have your tree and siblings collecting the dead when here us 5 deal with the very real incursions, opened portals, sinking city, leaders who hide their true colors, 1/2 truths, the whims of Gods, and on and on....So if I am asking about the fire realm and those that inhabit it there is a good reason to do so. I appreciate your help and allowing us some rest but casting judgement on my reasoning is off putting. I will ask no more questions of your friend here who you are holding here. I will sit here quietly and say no more."
Neferox looks to vin, her face softening as vin Has her corner.
"death is off putting?" Morris scoffs, slightly amused but mostly relieved that he won't have to actively stop a fight "...of course we are, do you think people want to die? I've experienced lifetimes of cruelty, war, and torture through the countless memories I collect, but also true compassion, sacrifice, and redemption. You think me judgemental? Im just observing the signs and you Muir are hungry, hungrier than most for knowledge, which brings me nicely to the help I offered, you can be next keeper if the woods, come.." and Morris gestures to a door on the opposite side if the bar that Elthana went through asking Muir to join him as both vin and Elthana already had.
Vin's eyes lock onto that of Neferox as whatever is passing between them seems to continue, even as he distractedly speaks with Sam.
"That's good, soon be sorted", he mumbles. Followed by, "Oh, it was just about a memory I saw when I was dea....last with Morris. He couldn't help with that though".
Gewyn watches the silent exchange between Vin and Nef with curiosity, but moves to sit across from Xazgan. He switches his attention over to observe her,trying to figure out how to crack this nut a get a little conversation out of her (Insight 26)
Muir who had his eyes closed for a moment, peeps one opened and smiles at Gewyn sensing his intentions. "Ahh this is relaxing, cozy even. Probably not the same as your realm hmm Xazgan? Fire and brimstone, moody demon dogs, Roxs'hian the Nefarious....If I recall correctly, you are here for your own protection?"
Xazgan shifts, but does not lift her head from the sofa booth as she growls into the cushion "what the **** do you know about Roxs'hian the nefarious, she disappeared a millennia ago, traitorous *****... And I'm not here for my own protection! I'd kill you all right now with ease if this grandpa **** would just take this damned mask off!"
Gewyn swills what's left of his drink around in the glass. "Interesting. And what's next for the mighty Xazgan? Once that mask is off and we are all dead, are you headed back home? Or do you have another destination in mind? Go on a vacation, take in the sights?"
"I have a job to do and despite what grandpa ass over there says, I'm damned good at it. Guarding the gate out of hell. Stopping demons from running rampant over the realms..." She sits up and tries to stare down Gewyn, her yellow eyes angrily peering at him through the mask.
As she sits back in a huff, Morris pipes up. "I never said you were bad at your job, the gates of hell have been closed the same as the other portals, for quite some time. They remain so even today if my information is correct" from the rafters Ratosk squeaks a few words of confirmation before Morris continues, "see... Any way, track record in tact, the fact still remains you were killed in the line of duty, and until those gates open once more you need to get your strength back."
Muir's interest has peaked even more
"If I may I have a few questions....First for Morris....The portals back home have opened as far as we are all aware. Lights were shining in the sky various colors all over the realm....Here, I have a map of roughly where I think these lights came from. One of them could be the realm of fire no?"
Turns his attention to the moody demon "Ah a gatekeeper! Where I come from my group was tasked with keeping the gates but it seems they were....I do have a question about Roxs'hian the nefarious or should I say traitorous! What she did was preposterous don't you agree?"
Morris takes a look at the map and scratches his chin, "ah... uhhhhh... hmm... well I'm not well versed in geography or cartography really, I have no need of it, the memories of the dead are drawn to me not me to them... Ratosk might be the better one to ask, he is the realm walker."
Xazgan scoffs, and then her posture betrays how livid she is even thinking about it, she tells through gritted teeth "preposterous!? No there are much stronger words for what she did, she doomed us all. There were prophecies and rules, I mean the ******* queen of hell should have known what the consequences of breaking the rules are, but then noooo, off she goes having relations with a ******* angel. It's her fault that the realms closed, her fault that the lords turned against her in their frustration and it's her fault I got killed!" In her energised state she begins growing, the black cloak becoming tighter against her red skin and then a gem upon the mask grows and she shudders in pain, shrinking again to her usual size before anything bad could happen, "Gah shit! You little fuuuuugh" her eyes dart to Morris who gives a 'it wasn't my fault' shrug
"I can see this is a betrayal deeply felt," Gewyn says to Xazgan, "And a job you take much pride in. We, for our part, are doing what we can to return things across the realms to how they ought to be, so I imagine before we are through, our work will see you returned to your post. How does that sound?"
"why would you help me?" Xazgan glowers
"I'm already dead," Sam calls over as they talk about Xazgan killing them all, then he just goes back to brooding and drinking and tries to ignore the rest of their conversation. Random demons in dimensional pockets make his brain hurt on several levels...
"Tell the squirrel I'll give him a nut if he can help Muir with his map," Sam says to Morris when he begs off personally helping Muir with it. "A Golden Acorn..."
Muir tries really hard to contain himself
A rumble can be heard over by the fire, starting quite quietly but building in volume until all can hear it for what it is. A very canine growl. Looking across, Neferox's head is up and her narrowed eyes are looking at Muir. Her teeth are bared and her muscles are tensed as if ready to leap up and pounce at the Loxodon.
Vin notices what is happening, "Xazgan is not the only one who is passionate about this subject", he says urgently as he moves to block Neferox's line of sight and path to Muir.
"I don't know who this Roxs'hian is, but if you mention them again I am not sure there will be anything I can do or say that will stop Neferox from having your throat, Muir", he warns.
Muir shrugs "It won't be the first time the demon has attacked me for simply doing what is right. Perhaps you don't remember but the demon attacked me once before for talking about she whose name shall not be mentioned, and the fire realm. Instead of sharing and filling in the details, the demon decided to attack me....Your dog, I am sure remembers because instead of getting me, they left a nasty scar on you....Tut Tut....Always ready to attack when things do not go their way, but you see if Nef was honest and open as I have been perhaps Xazgan would not have to answer my questions about the fire realm and the fallen leader whose name I will not mention. You see Vin if you would like to know about this particular demon and what Xazgan means by their story, you could ask Nef there to tell you. I of course can tell you as I have pieced it all together." Muir opens his hands out in front of him in a you have choices in front of you manner.
Neferox now standing staring daggers between both xazgan and Muir begins to flame at the mouth and oddly sparks form at her feet too.
Morris sees the situation escalating and goes to stand between where nef is standing and where Muir is seated. "Now this seems to be a sensitive subject... There'll be no fighting in here, let me make that point clear first of all so put that out of your mind right now Neferox. Secondly, offering such ultimatums such choices to young Vincent is a highly manipulative strategy Muir, sometimes your thirst for knowledge should come secondary to your friends sensitivities or privacy hmmm?
Lastly Xazgan, you have other things you could be doing."
Neferox barks something out, apparently not listening to Morris.
Vin turns to Muir, and cocks his head to the side and narrows his own eyes.
"Do you think I do not realise that there are things that Neferox knows that she hasn't told me? Do you think me still the naive child she rescued so long ago?", he asks Muir, quite a bite to his words. "She", he says pointing back at Neferox, "Has looked out for me all these years. And if there are things she hasn't told me, then she has her reasons".
"I know you brought me back when I died, Muir. I appreciate what you did, and she won't ever admit it but Neferox does too, because she cares for me more than she despises you. But back off!".
Muir tsks "Such anger and hostility." Muir looks at the demon he is sitting next to, the Nef, and then Vin, possibly coming to anothe realization. "I will say no more on the matter since you have asked me to Vincent. However, I will continue to look into the realms and their histories to see who and which we can rely on for help, as we will need it." He then looks at Morris "It is easy for you when you have your tree and siblings collecting the dead when here us 5 deal with the very real incursions, opened portals, sinking city, leaders who hide their true colors, 1/2 truths, the whims of Gods, and on and on....So if I am asking about the fire realm and those that inhabit it there is a good reason to do so. I appreciate your help and allowing us some rest but casting judgement on my reasoning is off putting. I will ask no more questions of your friend here who you are holding here. I will sit here quietly and say no more."
Neferox looks to vin, her face softening as vin Has her corner.
"death is off putting?" Morris scoffs, slightly amused but mostly relieved that he won't have to actively stop a fight "...of course we are, do you think people want to die? I've experienced lifetimes of cruelty, war, and torture through the countless memories I collect, but also true compassion, sacrifice, and redemption. You think me judgemental? Im just observing the signs and you Muir are hungry, hungrier than most for knowledge, which brings me nicely to the help I offered, you can be next keeper if the woods, come.." and Morris gestures to a door on the opposite side if the bar that Elthana went through asking Muir to join him as both vin and Elthana already had.
Muir looks at everyone else and walks to the door “No, death is not off putting. It’s a part of the natural order of nature”
He enters and they don’t hear him continuing his little rant
Once again Morris splits in two and one returns to the bar as the other escorts Muir to the other room.