#lartin

An arrow flies through the air, aimed at the centre of a target. It misses, hitting the board but off to it’s right. Raziel curses under his breath at his fourth arrow being off, he isn’t great with long range weaponry but he is never this bad. His time in recovery made him even worse with his archery than it did with a sword.

[Raziel] Come on, if you can’t hit a target properly with a normal arrow then the custom ones have no use…

He tries again, pulling an arrow from his quiver. He pulls, aims directly down lane and released his 5th arrow. Once again it hits the board, but this time veering off to the left. He growls and his grip on his new bow tightens.

[Raziel] *stares at the bow.* You will do as you are told or I swear to whatever deity is on this plane I will turn you into firewood!!

Lartin is sitting on a fence to the side, chuckling as he watches Raziel miss and get more frustrated with each shot.

[Lartin] Come on it’s not even moving, how can you be that bad?

[Raziel] *turns around at the sound of his unexpected guest.* Honestly I wish I knew! I wasn’t an expert marksman back home but I could at least hit a bullseye on a still target. I’ve seen goblins be better crack shots than me at this point…

He sighs, before turning back to his target board, pulling another arrow from his quiver.

[Lartin] *cups his hands round his mouth* Feet square, shoulders back, and don’t tense up, it’s shooting a bow, it’s not building an Accipiter. All else fails we move it closer and give you a different bow.

[Raziel] *attempts to adjust his posture at Lartins advice, his back straight but still looking a bit tight* Like this?

[Lartin] *hops off the fence and walks up to Raziel.* If I may? You’re still a little tense. *Mimicking the stance, his arms in line with his shoulders.* See, I’m in the stance but my shoulders haven’t hunched and tightened. Now once more and let us see.

[Raziel] Wow, I look that tense?... Alright one moment. *He takes a deep breath,shakes on the spot for a bit before attempting to imitate Lartin.* Any better?

Lartin smiles.

[Lartin] Much better, try now.

Raziel pulls back the bow, looking at the centre of the target. He releases the string, the arrow flying straight down the lane, finally hitting its target.

[Raziel] *His shoulders slump and he laughs.* Finally! I can hit a bullseye again! Wait… *He quickly pulls another arrow, draws and fires. Once again it hits the centre* Sorry… Had to double check. *He turns to Lartin.* Thanks for the advice.

[Lartin] No problem, so why use a bow? Guns are a bit easier to use and much more accurate.

[Raziel] *looks up for a moment, thinking.* ...Two reasons actually. First off, I feel like a  bow is more my style; more elegant. Guns feel so...uncivilised, to me at least... And my second reason. *He grins as he pulls out two arrows from his quiver, they look almost identical to the last few he’s fired but one major difference. The metal tips have been replaced with a red crystal, shaped into a pointed tip.* I can make these with my magic for anyone to use, care to have a try?

Lartin is slightly hesitant, grabbing a bow off the rack he approaches the line and takes an arrow, nocking it on the string he takes his stance and draws back.

[Lartin] So what does it do?

[Raziel] Nothing too fancy. *He points to the top emphasis the difference.* These are fire crystal tip arrows, harmless right now but with the right spell and upon hitting its target can make something go ‘boom’ or at the least go up in flames.

Lartin releases the string, the force whipping the arrow into the air and hits the target with a strong thud.

[Lartin] Looks like it didn’t…. *A sudden burst of fire explodes out from the arrow and covers the target.*

[Raziel] *cheers upon seeing the target go up in flames, laughing and clapping his hands* Success! Genuinely had myself worried for a moment that that wasn’t going to work.

[Lartin] Damn they pack a punch, what I'd have given for a clip of those back in the day.

[Raziel] Glad to hear you approve, I’m working on a variety of these for different situations…*He pauses for a moment* You mentioned about making some for a firearm? It’d take some work and research but I could look into making some for your piece?

[Lartin] I haven't used a gun for an actual purpose in awhile, other than hunting. But I can always make the casings for it and I just need the crystals to use as tips. Only issue would be the airspeed of the bullet, I'd need to test if it would set off the magic midflight.

[Raziel] Should be easy enough to do… Well then! Lets try and make some, you know, for scientific reasons of course!

[Lartin] Hopefully no one minds bullets that explode on contact.

[Raziel] As long as they’re not on the receiving end, I shouldn’t see why they’d mind

Lartin smirks, looking at the arrows.

[Lartin] In that case I’ll start on making the casings and you can supply the crystals.

* Cyborg is wandering the passages of the castle, her things filling her bag and her pockets as she rushes around, searching.

[Cyborg] Now, where is he…? He can’t have left, unless someone sent him off somewhere that I didn’t hear of… he should be around somewhere.

*Lartin is sitting in a side room flicking through some magic book that was left lying around, hearing the noises from outside he pops his head out seeing Cy rushing round*

[Lartin] Lost something?

* Cyborg comes to a halt and turns round to see him, she quickly walks over.

[Cyborg] We need to speak. It’s time.

[Lartin] Time for what?

[Cyborg] You promised me, back when everyone was sick… after the crisis was over you’d take me… back. Back to the research outpost…

* Cyborg tightens her grip on her sword’s hilt, taking comfort from its presence.

[Cyborg] Lartin, you know I don’t remember all from before. And there’s been dreams that just keep coming. It’s got something to do with that place and maybe seeing it again will… stop them.

*Lartin looks confused, but as Cy continues to explain he realises what Cy was talking about*

[Lartin] Right, I did promise, what do we need to pack before we go?

* Cyborg shrugs.

[Cyborg] I don’t know how far away it is, what we might cross on the way. It’s why I’m asking you to lead me back there. Food and weapons might be a good idea. I suppose we should also let Nights or someone else know that we’re going before we leave.

[Lartin] We should be fine, I’ll leave a note, we shouldn’t be waiting round seeing as this is important to you, what have you already packed? I’ll need to grab a few things.

* Cyborg pats her sword and then her bag.

[Cyborg] Got the sword, a pack of water and jerky, a blanket and my glider of course. That’s about it. What else?

[Lartin] Medical supplies, probably something more filling than jerky and I’ll need to pack a weapon or two just in case, I’ve got most of that in my room. Meet you downstairs in a minute and we can go?

[Cyborg] I’ll be just outside the front gate. Hopefully this won’t be a massive mistake, the last time I returned to a place that I’d been before, I got overwhelmed by the memories. Not a great idea because someone else happened to be there at the same time… then somehow I ended up at the old Castle location.

*Lartin nods solemnly at Cy’s words*

[Lartin] Don’t worry I’ll be there the whole time you’re there, if something goes wrong or you get too overwhelmed I’ll be there to look after you and try and help piece things together from what I saw. I’ll just grab my things and be with you in a minute.

*Lartin turns to leave*

* She watches him go and sighs.

[Cyborg] … Maybe I’ll at last get to the bottom of what it was. Something happened there… I hope the answer’s still around…

* She stands there for a few seconds, lost in thought as the vague memories of the dreams and the encounter at the Crater surface and receded again in her mind. She shakes them off and turns to head to the gate.

[Cyborg] Hope this isn’t a big mistake…

*Lartin sprints into his room grabbing a bag from under his bed, ripping it open he quickly checks the contents inside*

[Lartin] Meds, rations, knife, ammo, spare clothes, pistol, and yup they’re there right

*Closing it up he slings it over one shoulder and runs down the stairs skipping each other step has he does, approaching the gate he slows down stopping at Cy*

[Lartin] Ready?

[Cyborg] Let’s go. I don’t know how far it is, but the sooner we leave the sooner we’ll arrive. Hope you can keep up.

* Cyborg leaps into the air and unfolds her glider, sailing forward through the sky; she gives a quick look back to see how he’s reacted to this.

*The sky outside the castle walls slowly goes from a bright blue to a pale purple as the sun begins to set. After doing Nights recommended exercises Raziel now sits on his hospital ward bed, his satchel and Tome in his hands. His eyes slowly following the paragraphs of text as he rummages through his satchel to see what survived his crash-landing into the nearby lake.*

*Lartin nudges the door open with his shoulder, his hands holding a tray full of soup and bread, he wanders over to Raziel’s bed and places the tray on the table.*

[Lartin] Evening, I don’t think we’ve met yet, I’m Lartin.

*Raziel quickly looks up at his new guest, quickly closing his Tome and satchel, placing them to the side of the bed.*

[Raziel] A pleasure to meet you Lartin, I’m Raziel. *He bows briefly before gesturing towards the tray Lartin brought in.* I’m guessing that's for me?

[Lartin] Yup, heard there was a new guy in the hospital so I thought I’d bring some food and introduce myself, so what brings you here?

*Lartin pulls up a seat and settles down next to the bed.*

[Raziel] Honestly? This was a complete accident... I was meant to be heading for my home country's capital with a message for the emperor. But the portal that was supposed to send me there, kind of… *Gestures to himself and the room.* Yeah…

*Raziel reaches over to the tray of food and starts eating a piece of bread.*

[Raziel] Even then if it wasn’t for Blue I probably wouldn’t have survived my first day here. *He chuckles.*

[Lartin] Why am I not surprised she’s the one to find you, she always finds the new people. What did she do?

[Raziel] So I’ve heard from Nights. She saw me fall out of the portal into that nearby lake, jumped straight in and pulled me out. Then proceeded to drag me to the front of the castle where Nights assisted me inside.

*Lartin looks a little surprised.*

[Lartin] Wow, that’s a bit of a tale, so are you looking to stay or leave once you get better? I’m curious if during meals I need to make more or…

[Raziel] *takes a sip of his soup.* I’ve had a small word with Nights and I would like to stay. For the most part returning home seems unlikely to impossible for now. That and I do have a debt to repay to the people who saved my life, of course. *Takes another sip of soup.* By the way, great job with the soup!

[Lartin] Thanks, I haven’t had long to actually cook real food in a long time, and after all the chaos that’s happened here it’s nice to be able to just relax and spend the day cooking or training. If there’s anything in particular you’d like I’m willing to take a crack at making it.

[Raziel] Hmmm… good question… Know how to make a curry? It’s one of the few things I know how to make so I can teach you if you wish?

*Lartin rubs his neck thinking.*

[Lartin] I haven’t tried in years and I don’t think I’ll be able to remember how, if you write it down I could try and see how it turns out?

[Raziel] Sure thing, I’ll write it down for you later. Once I’m more up and running I’d be happy to help you cook also. Always wanted to learn how to make more food.

[Lartin] Sure, I haven’t taught anyone in a while so it might be fun *Smiling, Lartin stretches his arms up.*  

*Raziel smiles and nods in agreement, taking another chunk out of his bread.*

[Raziel] That sounds like a plan!

[Lartin]  Who knows I might be able to teach you a few things. *Yawning Lartin stands.* I’m a tad tired but I’ll come visit later to see how you’re doing, or if you feel better you could always visit me in the kitchen?

[Raziel] As much as I enjoy people visiting me in this room, I’d rather come see you in the kitchen. It's more roomy and no doubt I’m going to need to learn my way around this new place

[Lartin]  Sounds good. Well you’ll know where to find me, and if you struggle to find the kitchen just follow your nose, if you smell cookies then you’re going the right way. *Lartin gets up and gets ready to leave the room.*

[Raziel] Cooking and baking, you truly are a talented man. *He chuckles.* Very well Lartin, it’s been a pleasure. I’ll see you soon! *He waves at Lartin at he heads through the door.*