Aja got her usual early morning start, before the sun even came up. She made her rounds at the yards, then headed into RhyDin City. A quick swing past the Red Dragon Inn to see if Gem had left any messages about the Jaffa. Aja was surprised to see Gem there and with Sita.
The Dakini was questioning Gem on some information she had been given by Icer and the others, ?Is it true that friend Renne has been taken by the desecrators of the Naga lord?s form??
The seeming woman was perturbed for two reasons, first, someone she counted a friend had been stolen, secondly, the kidnappers had been mimicking the form of the Demi gods she served with in the temple of the goddess.
?Yes, sadly, it is true. He and many others have now been taken.? The thief paused to take a long drink from the coffee she had just poured for herself. ?It?s getting worse and worse.
?Sita would help you search for him, if she is permitted to??
?Of course, Sita. All are welcome in this. It is not just certain friends that are being taken, but all people of RhyDin. Elves, humans, all races. This can?t just be a ?friends? thing, you know? ?. The elf smiled at Sita and then looked up as Aja came in.
Aja smiled as she adjusted the pack and approached the ladies.
?Mornin, Pretties. What?s got the two of ya up with the chickens??
?Sita wishes to help rescue friend Renne, and the others who have been taken!?
More help to find the taken, was always a good thing. The women consulted the map, deciding the last location that Gem had been at, was the most promising lead.
Gem tossed her altered map on the bar top and tapped with a slim finger at a few select points.
?I think I found something interesting here, ladies. Garbage. See the little marks I made? You know an army can move, and they can move fast, they can move quietly. But usually, they leave something behind. Sometimes it isn?t buried right or isn?t properly disposed of. I think they are being sloppy with the garbage. I have found a trail of fresh stuff.
Aja checked over the map, nodding to what Gem said, she?d found similar mistakes on the Western trail. Where they had apparently been in a big hurry to get a move on and things were not hidden well enough.
?So, start there and see what it gets us?? Aja asked of the two women.
She nodded her agreement, saying little else since she was new at this.
?Yes, Aja. But we need to go carefully. If we do inch up on them, we want to be sure we are inching, and not galloping, if you know what I mean. Also, are you and Sita able to defend yourselves against anything we may run into out there, or even perhaps the Jaffa? ? A rather worried look at the other two.
Aja was listening to Gem, she didn?t know about Sita, but grinned at the question of being able to defend herself. She pulled one of her plasma pistols from the holster with a grin, showing it off to Gem.
?This little baby is my buddy.? she chuckled. ?I got two, case Sita needs one.? Aja looked then at the Dakini not recalling ever seeing the woman carrying any weapons at all.
?Oh, hey...nice. ?. Gem grinned at Aja and then looked at Sita, unwilling to take the woman out into harm?s way if she was not going to be able to help defend herself. Too much risk.
The Dakini sighed and murmured, ?Sita is supposed to preserve life, not take it, but since these creatures are......are like unto demons, perhaps she will be permitted to.....to use her true nature against them, yes??
Aja listened to Sita wondering if the tiny pacifist would be alright if it came to a fight. She nodded a little and gave a serious look to Sita.
?It wouldn?t be murder if you were defending your life, Sita. It?s self defense.?
?Sita does not have a life to defend, she is not mortal.....she is other.?
Stepping back from the women she shifted into her stone statue form and materialized two large kris, one in each hand, the oriental swords curving at a dangerous angle. ?This is how Sita is when she defends the temple from demons.?
Aja nodded with a grin. She understood those swords loud and clear.
?Alright then. I think we?re good.?
?Sita can do other things as well, she can transform into her ethereal form.... like a spirit of mist....and her tears can heal mortal?s wounds, but she cannot give life where the soul has fled.?
?Ain?t gotta worry about me dyin on ya, Sita.? Aja grinned a little, glancing around the empty tavern just out of habit. ?Not exactly mortal here.? she winked and re-holstered the plasma pistol and moved to go behind the bar, grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler.
The details of defense settled, they checked the supplies, getting whatever they needed from the bar, and Gem took a long, restorative and supportive last drink of her coffee. Once set, the trio of ladies headed out.
The sun was barely peeking up over the bushes by the time they got a move on. In the calm quiet of the morning, it was hard to imagine RhyDin City being anything less than idyllic. A perfect little hamlet. But the trio knew all too well that it was just an illusion.
They moved silently, idle chatter not needed now. They knew what they had to do and each woman was focused on that task.
Once in the thickest of the trees, where Gem had made several notations on her version of the newest map, she pointed out some of what she had noticed. Bits of junk, some freshly buried bits of discarded foods that had been not completely buried, or so poorly buried as to allow the animals of the forest to easily bring it to the surface. It all headed north by northeast.
Aja took the silent cues from Gem, knowing that even if they appeared not to be here, they couldn?t be sure they didn?t add some sort of surveillance device to detect anyone following.
In between looking at the traces of broken branches, disturbed dirt and leaves the Jaffa troop left behind, Aja would occasionally watch Sita while she sensed the magical residue left behind. She found it fascinating to see the Dakini outside of the Inn. A new side to the seemingly innocent being.
Her eyes occasionally shifted to their aetherial silvery bluish tone as she looked for traces of magic, her nostrils flaring when it was so strong she could ?smell? it. ?Much energy of magick making has been discharged here, and not by the Jaffa, Sita thinks.?
?Hmm. Would they have others doing magic? ? Confused elf, there. She thought the ones that could do magic were put in special cages to keep them from doing such things. ?Interesting!?
Gem was in an element she was very familiar with, that being the forest. She moved with that grace and stealth that only Elves can achieve, making it look like a dance.
Aja listened to the conversation, magic wasn?t something she messed with a lot, so therefore wasn?t a lot of help in that department. Wasn?t that she couldn?t, she?d just preferred not to. But for beings that were magic resistant, she found it odd the Jaffa would use it themselves.
?Ya think it?s possible someone in RhyDin brought this guys here?? it was ridiculous, but stranger things had happened in their multi-faceted city.
?I don?t know. It could have been any number of things, including sheer bad luck for us. You know how the Nexus does things.? The thief offered that out there.
?There is anger under the magick, as if the magick was compelled by force, much as a bear dances to amuse when it has been chained and beaten.?
Aja nodded to Gem then her eyes locked on Sita, images flashed of what exactly that meant. She shook the images from her head. Now was not the time to worry about what condition their friends would be in when they found them. They had to do the finding first, then they?d worry about the psychological ramifications.
The thief frowned at what Sita said. That..meant bad things, most likely. The thought of their friends or anyone, really, having to perform by force was...not appealing, to say the least. ?Right. Let?s get to the finding so we can then get to the saving.? She gave a grim smile as she set off on the trail, easing along so that she didn?t run up the arse of the quarry.
?Finding. Right.? and she was on the move again with Gem. Again, the silent move through the forest, following the trail left behind by what Aja could only assume were wagons.
The Dakini smelled the magic again strongly, or at least she thought it was magic, but it could have been the remains of a smoky fire pit that was poorly closed up. ?Do both of you smell that??
Aja paused to sniff at the air and nodded a little.
?Fire is needed for warmth and to make food, yes? If it can still be smelled, must not the warmth and food be....recent??
?Then we?re finally catchin up ta the bastards.? Aja almost grinned, but quashed it down to take the moment to dig around in her pack. She came up with the box holding the trackers. ?Maybe today, this little baby will be able ta be put ta good use.? It was a glimmer of hope, but she?d take it.
The Dakini was questioning Gem on some information she had been given by Icer and the others, ?Is it true that friend Renne has been taken by the desecrators of the Naga lord?s form??
The seeming woman was perturbed for two reasons, first, someone she counted a friend had been stolen, secondly, the kidnappers had been mimicking the form of the Demi gods she served with in the temple of the goddess.
?Yes, sadly, it is true. He and many others have now been taken.? The thief paused to take a long drink from the coffee she had just poured for herself. ?It?s getting worse and worse.
?Sita would help you search for him, if she is permitted to??
?Of course, Sita. All are welcome in this. It is not just certain friends that are being taken, but all people of RhyDin. Elves, humans, all races. This can?t just be a ?friends? thing, you know? ?. The elf smiled at Sita and then looked up as Aja came in.
Aja smiled as she adjusted the pack and approached the ladies.
?Mornin, Pretties. What?s got the two of ya up with the chickens??
?Sita wishes to help rescue friend Renne, and the others who have been taken!?
More help to find the taken, was always a good thing. The women consulted the map, deciding the last location that Gem had been at, was the most promising lead.
Gem tossed her altered map on the bar top and tapped with a slim finger at a few select points.
?I think I found something interesting here, ladies. Garbage. See the little marks I made? You know an army can move, and they can move fast, they can move quietly. But usually, they leave something behind. Sometimes it isn?t buried right or isn?t properly disposed of. I think they are being sloppy with the garbage. I have found a trail of fresh stuff.
Aja checked over the map, nodding to what Gem said, she?d found similar mistakes on the Western trail. Where they had apparently been in a big hurry to get a move on and things were not hidden well enough.
?So, start there and see what it gets us?? Aja asked of the two women.
She nodded her agreement, saying little else since she was new at this.
?Yes, Aja. But we need to go carefully. If we do inch up on them, we want to be sure we are inching, and not galloping, if you know what I mean. Also, are you and Sita able to defend yourselves against anything we may run into out there, or even perhaps the Jaffa? ? A rather worried look at the other two.
Aja was listening to Gem, she didn?t know about Sita, but grinned at the question of being able to defend herself. She pulled one of her plasma pistols from the holster with a grin, showing it off to Gem.
?This little baby is my buddy.? she chuckled. ?I got two, case Sita needs one.? Aja looked then at the Dakini not recalling ever seeing the woman carrying any weapons at all.
?Oh, hey...nice. ?. Gem grinned at Aja and then looked at Sita, unwilling to take the woman out into harm?s way if she was not going to be able to help defend herself. Too much risk.
The Dakini sighed and murmured, ?Sita is supposed to preserve life, not take it, but since these creatures are......are like unto demons, perhaps she will be permitted to.....to use her true nature against them, yes??
Aja listened to Sita wondering if the tiny pacifist would be alright if it came to a fight. She nodded a little and gave a serious look to Sita.
?It wouldn?t be murder if you were defending your life, Sita. It?s self defense.?
?Sita does not have a life to defend, she is not mortal.....she is other.?
Stepping back from the women she shifted into her stone statue form and materialized two large kris, one in each hand, the oriental swords curving at a dangerous angle. ?This is how Sita is when she defends the temple from demons.?
Aja nodded with a grin. She understood those swords loud and clear.
?Alright then. I think we?re good.?
?Sita can do other things as well, she can transform into her ethereal form.... like a spirit of mist....and her tears can heal mortal?s wounds, but she cannot give life where the soul has fled.?
?Ain?t gotta worry about me dyin on ya, Sita.? Aja grinned a little, glancing around the empty tavern just out of habit. ?Not exactly mortal here.? she winked and re-holstered the plasma pistol and moved to go behind the bar, grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler.
The details of defense settled, they checked the supplies, getting whatever they needed from the bar, and Gem took a long, restorative and supportive last drink of her coffee. Once set, the trio of ladies headed out.
The sun was barely peeking up over the bushes by the time they got a move on. In the calm quiet of the morning, it was hard to imagine RhyDin City being anything less than idyllic. A perfect little hamlet. But the trio knew all too well that it was just an illusion.
They moved silently, idle chatter not needed now. They knew what they had to do and each woman was focused on that task.
Once in the thickest of the trees, where Gem had made several notations on her version of the newest map, she pointed out some of what she had noticed. Bits of junk, some freshly buried bits of discarded foods that had been not completely buried, or so poorly buried as to allow the animals of the forest to easily bring it to the surface. It all headed north by northeast.
Aja took the silent cues from Gem, knowing that even if they appeared not to be here, they couldn?t be sure they didn?t add some sort of surveillance device to detect anyone following.
In between looking at the traces of broken branches, disturbed dirt and leaves the Jaffa troop left behind, Aja would occasionally watch Sita while she sensed the magical residue left behind. She found it fascinating to see the Dakini outside of the Inn. A new side to the seemingly innocent being.
Her eyes occasionally shifted to their aetherial silvery bluish tone as she looked for traces of magic, her nostrils flaring when it was so strong she could ?smell? it. ?Much energy of magick making has been discharged here, and not by the Jaffa, Sita thinks.?
?Hmm. Would they have others doing magic? ? Confused elf, there. She thought the ones that could do magic were put in special cages to keep them from doing such things. ?Interesting!?
Gem was in an element she was very familiar with, that being the forest. She moved with that grace and stealth that only Elves can achieve, making it look like a dance.
Aja listened to the conversation, magic wasn?t something she messed with a lot, so therefore wasn?t a lot of help in that department. Wasn?t that she couldn?t, she?d just preferred not to. But for beings that were magic resistant, she found it odd the Jaffa would use it themselves.
?Ya think it?s possible someone in RhyDin brought this guys here?? it was ridiculous, but stranger things had happened in their multi-faceted city.
?I don?t know. It could have been any number of things, including sheer bad luck for us. You know how the Nexus does things.? The thief offered that out there.
?There is anger under the magick, as if the magick was compelled by force, much as a bear dances to amuse when it has been chained and beaten.?
Aja nodded to Gem then her eyes locked on Sita, images flashed of what exactly that meant. She shook the images from her head. Now was not the time to worry about what condition their friends would be in when they found them. They had to do the finding first, then they?d worry about the psychological ramifications.
The thief frowned at what Sita said. That..meant bad things, most likely. The thought of their friends or anyone, really, having to perform by force was...not appealing, to say the least. ?Right. Let?s get to the finding so we can then get to the saving.? She gave a grim smile as she set off on the trail, easing along so that she didn?t run up the arse of the quarry.
?Finding. Right.? and she was on the move again with Gem. Again, the silent move through the forest, following the trail left behind by what Aja could only assume were wagons.
The Dakini smelled the magic again strongly, or at least she thought it was magic, but it could have been the remains of a smoky fire pit that was poorly closed up. ?Do both of you smell that??
Aja paused to sniff at the air and nodded a little.
?Fire is needed for warmth and to make food, yes? If it can still be smelled, must not the warmth and food be....recent??
?Then we?re finally catchin up ta the bastards.? Aja almost grinned, but quashed it down to take the moment to dig around in her pack. She came up with the box holding the trackers. ?Maybe today, this little baby will be able ta be put ta good use.? It was a glimmer of hope, but she?d take it.