#xrysta

"Tonight started off wonderfully. Me and Xin were reminiscin' about Falcon corp days, so we went off to go visit the grounds. See what had happened. Guess who we saw, but fuckin' Xrysta. Shit, she was looking good too." For whatever reason, Sicarius spoke aloud as he wrote. "Managed to convince her to take a vacation from caretaking the grounds. I mean honestly, what did she owe Falcon corporation after all this time? Ria and Calli didn't stay with her. Apparently they wanted to settle and she didn't. Whatever, I guess-- we all got wild spirits we can't tame. She's got one."

He'd wet the quill with more ink, tapping the feather against his chin as he thought.

"She's a mother worried about her daughter, so she'd only come along if we went searching for Grayslynne first. We got aboard the Hyperion and set sail for the south pretty quickly. Dan managed to sneak aboard and they had a little reunion. It was pretty gay, but I've come to expect such from Danny. Love that guy." Sicarius' gaze shifted over to his booze cabinet.

"Xrysta and I drank absinthe while we waited for Xin to rally the crew and get us sailing towards the south. Drunken sailing was always a speciality of mine-- needless to say the crew guided the ship to the outskirts of the Swamp of Sorrows and we chatted for a bit... Chaysie showed up eventually and decided to help us look for Grays. We set off, and apparently women like swamps. I found it to be disgusting, there was a stench... Like dead bodies rotting and left in a moist, warm place to grow all sorts of wonderful things. They didn't mind it, but Xin and I did. Apparently that makes us pussies."

Sicarius took a moment, settling the quill down. He'd reach across his desk for a small ornate box, opening it and plucking a perfectly rolled chromatose cigarette. Planting it between his lips, he'd light it with a flick lighter and inhale deeply; eyes shutting as the smoke filled his lungs. After a moment, the smoke would billow out from his nostrils and his eyes opened slowly, picking up the quill and returning to writing with the cigarette between his lips.

"Xin and Chaysie went up ahead, leaving a slightly tipsy Xrysta and me. Probably not the best tactical move, but what was I gonna say? Not a thing. Eventually Xrysta and I got into the deadwind pass, and the negative... corruptive magic that surrounded that place was spine chilling. Absolutely dreadful. It was almost as if I could feel the dark magics seeping into every pore of my body. Somehow, Xrysta kept a sunny, cheery attitude. Even in such a dark place. Is she constantly high on some sort of uplifting drug? Perhaps I should have searched her bags when she came on board. Mind you, I do have morals and searching a womans bag is something I hold myself above doing. Chivalry may be dead, but even dead things have an effect on our actions."

Sicarius sighed, reaching for his cigarette and ashing it, head tilting to the right with lowered eyelids as he peered at his actions.

"We approached a human town. One I had never been to... Duskshire. There were guards everywhere, from Chaysie and Xin, I'm not sure. Naturally, I went ahead. I thwacked a guard over the head and dragged him across to a bush. Walking back to Xrysta, I whispered to her. 'Stick to the cliff and go around the house. QUICKLY.' She nodded and I went back out and signalled for her... What did she do? She torpedoed in with a burst of speed, alerting the rest of the guard. I told her to RUN and we sprinted for our lives into the hills... I swear to the Gods, I haven't run that way in a long time."

Rubbing at his eyes, a short yawn resounded.

"We scaled cliffs and jumped fences, running from delapidated field to treacherous cliff. Eventually we came upon Xin and Chaysie, standing upon a ridgeline overlooking an ogre mound. This was it, this is where Grayslynne was. We had no idea what was before us-- We thought she'd be inside, joking around and toying with ogres. I thought she was a trickster. Xin made some passive aggressive comment to me about holding my hand through the ordeal. So I took him up on it, for the entertainment of the ladies. I dared him, 'Okay, let's do it then.' and so he said alright. We unholstered our revolvers, checking the ammunition and then grasped eachother's hand. I said to the girls 'Why don't you two hold hands too?' Chaysie immediately denied it, but Xrysta said 'Sure thing.' And at that point, I was morally invigorated. Too bad she didn't hold up her end of the bargain, as I'm sure there was no Chaysie-Xrysta hand holding. Disappointment."

  "So there I was. Holding Xin's hand as if we were Flaxin and Aodan out on a stroll. All of a sudden, Xin took off down the hill. I had to keep my feet from giving out on me as I took unprepared steps down the slope. Rocks were flying everywhere... They created a shit ton of noise... But I suppose that was the purpose. Xin was the first to fire, a shot resounding through the mound and alerting the rest of the ogres. His bullet penetrated inbetween a dual-headed ogre's neck... Guess he took out the spine, as the ogre fell flat on the first shot. I heard Chaysie behind, she was doing something with her daggers. I saw Xrysta out of the corner of my eye, sliding down with her staff for balance. She lipped into the ogre mound, as we intended. The entire time, I was flailing down the rock-face like an idiot. I had intended to be the one leading, but -no.- Xin of course, had to go first. Eventually I found my balance, my focus... And I fired off two rounds towards the next ogre magi casting upon us. They just happened to hit the ogre's heads, creating somewhat of a bloody... gorey mess. When did Xin and I ever do things any differently? I yelled at Xinthalore, he knows I'm not one for going super fast when I don't have to. I like to shoot, take my time... Make it epic. Regardless, I was in the zone. Not even the soft voices of Xrysta and Chaysie awoke Xin and I in our perfect moment. We were harmonized, baptized in battle-- and all that we focused on was protecting ourselves and the girls from looming ogres."

"The fresh smell of sulfur from the gunpowder... The loud cracks as if the Titans themselves were throwing lighting around us... It was glorious. I was avoiding fireballs and thrown stones left and right... Dancing. My ear twitched and I saw something out of the corner of my eye. A giant ogre behind us, preparing to cleave us apart. Running infront of Xin, I grasped him into an embrace and brought my pistol up underneath his armpit, quickly firing six shots into the ogres chest. He was dead, but there was now a twelve foot high body about to crash on us. We had to run."

He'd reach now for a bottle, pouring himself a shot of whiskey and downing it quickly. He was about to shout when he realised the time, and who he had on board. Sighing, he'd dismiss his lack of food and go back to writing.

"We sprinted towards the mouth of the cavern. Inside... Apparently the girls had found Grayslynne. There was an arcane barrier, holding within it a very damaged girl. Xrysta used her... 'chi' or whatever to penetrate the wall. As she got through the barrier, a clearer image of Grayslynne was revealed. She was boun in chains and wires. Whatever the ogres had intended for her, I am ever thankful we saved her from it. Twisted demonic summonings are what flood my thoughts... I digress. Xrysta held her daughter in her hands, getting Chaysie to help her down. I saw none of this, but the scene may have brought a tear to my eye. Perhaps. Xinthalore threw a gravity well down infront of the cavern, keeping the ogre's out for a short amount of time. The dumb beasts would throw themselves at the wall, flinging back but diminishing the energy contained in the well. When we eventually skidded to a halt from sprinting, I broke hand contact with Xin. There was sweat beading down my face and it was driving me insane. Xrysta and Chaysie hopped down from the arcane cage Grayslynne was kept in, coming towards the mouth of the cave quickly. We discussed the situation briefly before deciding we needed to get Grays back to the ship, stat. Xin of course took lead again, stepping out in front. I didn't care-- he needed the glory for his ego."

Sicarius smirked devilishly, pouring himself another shot and drinking it.

"I was the bait for the next situation, and I didn't mind. My thoughts had changed, from happy, exciting times to a more serious time. There was sorrow, and it's all I could think about. I felt Xrysta's pain and I wanted nothing more than to get that young girl to a place where she could be healed. I remember touring around Silvermoon with Lilly, showing the city to a young Grayslynne."

"Xin took the generator and held it in his hand, using it to push back the ogre's far enough for us to sprint for the hills. Xrysta had Grays on her back, Chaysie but a foot behind her, ready to protect the two from anything. As the shield died, Xin yelled at me to go-- and I sprung into action. I ran as though my sister was screaming for help, just as she did forever ago in our childhood. There was an ogre in my path... and the most clear memory I have of that night was the satisfaction of this kill. I leaped with all my might, kicking the ogre in the chest, firing my pistols down into his neck. He toppled backwards and I kept my balance on his body as he fell, the stupid brute making a loud noise as his dead back hit the ground. Xrysta and Chaysie sprinted ahead, and were off. I turned, waiting for Xinthalore who was along not shortly after."

Inhaling deeply, Sicarius wrote one more sentence.

"And then we went home, but that wasn't the end of the night. You will see the rest tomorrow, my dear journal."