Kotov Syndrome

[Everett]

Everett still carried out his slash as the bright light blinded him. He jumped back and quickly sheathed one of his swords. "A freaking orc mage?" He cursed out loud. " Who would of thought." There was a wild grin on the elf's face. "Oh well." He couldn't see through his left eye now, it would be rather bothersome but was use to it. The elf pushed aside the hair covering his right eye, to make sure it stayed back he flicked his neck upward removing all hair from his face. His right eye was gold, there was a single white scar that ran down the right side of his face. Top to bottom, skipping his eye. The elf claimed a number of reasons to why he kept the right side of his face completely covered by hair, the true reason he liked to keep to himself yet it was obvious to those who knew him well. He grinned; his right hand reaching for his short sword. Everett quickly jumped forward to resume his attacks. The elf kept a constant attack. He hoped to distract the mage by casting his spell. Everett also kept himself moving, he would jump or to the side after every couple of attacks. The elf was especially ready for him to attempt to blind him once again.

[Lynx]

After five minutes of flight over the forested mountains, Karsha had spotted her prey. A large roc, the infamous giant eagles, flew over the edge of the mountains. Increasing speed, Karsha roared out her intentions. The roc had turned, screeching in anger, and met her in battle. After an intense five minutes, the battle was over. The roc was more agile than the huge dragon, but her scales protected her from most attacks. With a giant scorching breath, Karsha knocked the eagle to the ground. There, with a final pounce and snap of her fearsome jaws, the neck of the bird was snapped. Hoisting the huge body in her two front paws, she took off. A gash on her cheek dripped burning crimson blood, spattering the rocks below. Landing next to the fire, she dropped her quarry, the huge wings laying open at nearly fifty feet long. Where on earth had those elves gone? Looking around, she glimpsed a blinding flash.

Stretching her neck easily above the treeline, she found the spot where it had come from. Stupid elves. She was beginning to think she should have just crushed them to a pulp with the rest. Folding in her wings, Karsha charged through the forest, leaving a path of destroyed trees and muddy mess behind her. With much cracking and snapping she emerged into the area. Orc, elf, elf. The white haired male was hopping about like a crazed rabbit. The orc was standing above Eavan, who was down on the ground. Rearing up her neck, which was thicker than all the trees surrounding them, to its full height of about thirty feet, she bellowed in the orc's face. Her teeth, almost as large as he was, glistened sharp and white not two feet from him. Her dark silver eyes snapped with steel, her breath hotter than a midsummer's day. If all this combined with her fearsomely gashed face, still dripping blood, wasn't scary enough, her roar would do it. Her voice held all the rage and ire that even the Void would tremble at. It was so loud that it would be enough to deafen anyone for an hour. That would teach the orc to trifle with the people she had almost killed.

[micaylah]

Eavan hit the ground as Glorbuk yelled to her. She rolled as she felt a shift in the air around her. What in the world. Everett. It had to be. He either though her to be in trouble or was just going after the Orc. Eavan, her face turned toward the two, heard the flint strike and new what happened next. What she couldn’t have know was that Karsha would intervene. She stood, listening for Glorbuk and the others. In her mind’s eye, she got a vague picture of the three. She felt the tremors against her skin as Karsha roared mightily and moved toward the center of the vibrations. ‘Must be how a bat feels.’ She thought to herself as she readied for the inevitable. She felt Glorbuk’s arm and positioned herself directly in front of the source of the vibrations. Eavan reached out blindly, one hand behind her on Glorbuk and one in front. She shivered slightly as she felt the sharp enamel on the large tooth beneath her hand. “He saved me.” She cried out louder than needed. “Everett? Karsha?” She moved her head slightly to the side to aid her hearing. “I was attacked. Gorluk has been following me for a long while. He is…uh…he looks after me.” Eavan held her eyes shut to concentrate on input from her other senses.

[Everett]

Everett was surprised to see his large reptile like acquaintance. He stopped his attacks and backed away from the Orc giving the dragon a bit of room to do as she wanted. She appeared angry again and the elf remembered what it had been like the last time she was angry. He dropped his swords to quickly cover his ears. In satisfaction of guessing right he grinned, That would of hurt... A lot. Everett quickly picked up his weapons, he would thank the large beast latter after he was through with the orc. The elf was about to commence his attacks when Eavan stood up. He gritted his teeth holding back his attack for the moment. "Ahhhh so he's basically your baby sitter?" The elf wanted to get at the orc, his left eye was still throbbing in pain. " Yet that brings up a number of questions. Why would you need a guardian first of all? You for the most part can take care of yourself...." He said, it was mostly a compliment. "Second of all why would your guardian be an orc? Thirdly how is it that I was not aware of him following you. Surly enough I would of noticed, if not the dragon would of."

[sumdood]

Glorbuk brought his hands out, using his innate magic to create a shield to block the Elf's attacks.
"Keep trying," Glorbuk said, "You can't win."
He was about to strike the flint and steel again when an enormous dragon burst through the trees, mouth open wide and roaring.
Glorbuk stood stock-still, staring at the dragon. He stayed in place, not moving. He merely stared at the dragon, fighting back panic.
Then, he saw Eavan rising up and moving in between him and the dragon. He couldn't completely make out what she said, but....it sounded like she was trying to explain to the dragon and the Elf what was happening there.
Did that mean she was traveling with them?

[micaylah]

Eavan moved a hand over Karsha’s smooth tooth then withdrew her hand quickly as she realized what it was she was feeling. Her ears were now as useless as her eyes. She gripped Gorluk as she moved sideways away from the feel of Karsha’s hot breath on her. She reached out feeling with her hand, relying on Glorbuk to make sure she didn’t run into anything. She stopped again, mostly in exasperation. “Everett I know you have questions. I cannot hear you though.” She turned her head back to where she thought Karsha stood glaring slightly. “Glorbuk has been trailing me. He’s to help me on an assignment of the utmost importance. I just happened upon you. It was the men chasing you that I was after. They have something I need to retrieve.” She hated this feeling of dependence on others but knew she would not be able to hide her blindness with her hearing now impaired. “I have a bit of a predicament. I cannot see. If I could then perhaps I could have prepared myself in time before Karsha’s mighty battle roar took my hearing.” She let a sigh escape her as she raised a hand to her ears, plugging them as she worked her jaw trying to pop them and restore her hearing.

[Lynx]

Karsha narrowed her eyes as the elf wandered about as if she were blind. Was that the bright light? Considering that both elves seemed to be affected, she figured it was the orc that had done it. Odd....an orc mage? They were all talking, but they didn't seem to hear each other. They should regain hearing soon enough. Well, enough to hear shouting and such. The ringing would last for a while. A rumbling laugh from Karsha shook the ground. "An orc? Elven folk do not get along with orcs!" she proclaimed. This Eavan was a very odd one. Very odd indeed. Karsha considered flipping Eavan into her gaping maw just to spite the ugly one, but decided against it. Instead she put her giant paw, taller than the orc, out in front of the elf. With a narrow, cunning glance at the orc, she wondered what he would do if she captured his little ward. That would be amusing. But no. He didn't love her enough to have Karsha rip her away from him. Snapping her giant mouth, she reared up. Circling, her tail whipping over their heads, she headed back to her avian meal. Let the blind lead the blind.

[Everett]

(I'm just kinda curious is it safe to assume that his shield can be kept up for a short extended period of time?)

Everett gritted his teeth as he held back his attack. He believed he would of bested the orc in combat despite his shield. Karsha was correct most elves did not get along with orcs, he for one was one of those elves who disliked the brutes. The elf began to grin. So there was a deaf orc and a blind and deaf half elf. "Well then, good luck or your mission then. I see you have all the help you need from the brute." He spoke knowing they could not hear him. The elf grinned at the thoughts of what they would possibly need from the rebel bandits. With his weapons still drawn he quickly turned around to walk away. He turned to look over his shoulder. "If you need anything you know where you can find me. I do not wish to intrude on your mission of uttermost importance." He said, maybe by chance she could miraculously hear him.

The returned to the camp fire, he would apparently spend time with a dragon who apparently hated many things. He returned to his two dead rabbits and the fire alongside the river. He would get to work quickly, before they would begin to smell. The elf pulled out a skinning knife and frowned. Everett never liked the site of a dead animal, but those thoughts of disgust always left when he began to eat. He began the process of skin removing.

[micaylah]

Eavan sat down on the cool grass no longer feeling the others about. Karsha, she had guessed by the strong burst of wind that met her, had flown off. Everett, she had no idea but expected that he too had left. She felt Glorbuk still close as she sat. Her ears were finally beginning to clear and she could faintly make out the sounds of the raging river behind her though it sounded further away than she knew it really was. She smiled softly as she felt her power within her again. Rising, she called the water to her outstretched hand. A slim thread, growing in proportions to take the form of a staff appeared in her hand as she made it solid. She tapped it on the ground, feeling the droplets of the fluid path splash up against her skin. Her smile widened. She could follow the watery path back to the river, hopefully avoiding obstacles. The water would flow around solid objects, not through them so feeling safe in her assumption, she grasped ahold of Glorbuk. “Let’s go back to the others.” She told him as she began to move along guided by the watery path. She felt the terrain beneath her feet beginning to change from the smooth grass to more rock strewn and knew she had reached the riverbank. She called out to Everett wondering if the elf would answer her or watch her fumble her way through. Either way, she would not let her fear show. Inside she was very worried about the sudden turn of events. Glorbuk directed her to an open area close by and she allowed him to guide her down. She sat quietly wondering exactly what to say.

[Everett]

There now lied a pile of fur bunched together aside of the now sitting elf. The rabbits were now burning in the fire. He used a long thin stick to push and turn the meat within the flames. Everett liked to believe that any sort of cooked meat tasted at least some what good. He had yet and hoped that he would never have to test that theory with the flesh of a humanoid. That was simply barbaric, something an orc or goblin would do. He thought to himself. His left eye was still temporarily blind. It felt some what awkward to the elf to not have his hair covering the scarred side of his face. He ran a thumb over the scar and winced lightly at the thought of the pain he had received from it. For a mere second he allowed his hand to rest there, his right eye had always been gold. It was a rarity, none of his known family members shared the same trait.

It was almost mid-afternoon when Everett heard Eavan's shouting. He stood up on both feet and looked across the river, apparently she was still blind from her own ailments. "Eavan!" He shouted giving her guidance. Everett clenched his fist at the site of the dragon still accompanying her. It was not the orc's fault Everett disliked him, the elf's hatred for the orc race ran deep through his family line. Their dislike was more so than most elves. The elf folded his arms as he watched to see how Eavan would cross the river, at the moment she apparently had water guiding her. He would have to question her on what he assumed were elemental powers.

[sumdood]

Glorubk turned, now hearing the Elf shouting to Eavan. He shook his head. That Elf was.....ignorant. He spoke about orcs as if they were cannibalistic, monstrous beasts. It was completely untrue, of course.
And sure, he knew Elves had a general dislike for orcs, but they could usually tolerate them, at the very least. This Elf, however, didn't even seem to be able to tolerate an orc at all, even if it meant turning away help.
He moved forward, taking hold of Eavan's arm, helping guide her, and said quietly,"How did you end up with such a hostile group?"

[micaylah]

Eavan turned her head, tilting it slightly at the sound of Everett’s voice. She followed Glorbuk’s lead as he guided her up and with water staff in hand, began to cross the raging river. The current was fast and strong despite the shallower depth that Glorbuk was leading her through. “They’re not so bad.” She told the Orc as she hardened the water beneath her feet creating a bridge of clear calm above the rush of water underneath. She used the staff to feel the edge as she moved along slowly. Her sense of hearing was becoming more acute despite the insult suffered from Karsha’s roar. The water made a different sound as it passed beneath the clear bridge. She let the staff in her hand guide her along the bridge’s edge.

“Fate,” she responded to the orc simply. “I was following the bandits and managed to work my way ahead of them in the last town. Hidden in the canopy of the trees I waited. The plan was to pluck my target from the group but then Everett had come before them. I changed plans slightly to allow for his arrival but then we were attacked and Karsha was awakened. Things have just gone downhill from there. In an attempt to help, I alienated a potential ally and now…here we stand.”

Eavan let out a slow breath as she felt rock again beneath her feet. She could smell meat roasting over a fire close by and followed the scent. The heat became stronger the closer she got to the fire and once she felt it strong enough to warm her skin, she stopped. She tapped the ground around her softly and finding it clear, sat down facing the fire.

“Thank you Everett.” She told him calmly as she waited for him to speak. She knew he was close and knew Glorbuk was near as well. “Karsha is not back yet?” she couldn’t hear the breath of the large dragon but she could smell Everett despite the smell of the cooking meat. She smiled softly as she took in the scent. Despite their fall into the river, the elf smelled of the forest itself. She found it comforting to be back in his company. Eavan laid the staff beside her on the ground keeping it within easy reach should a need arise for it. She wished that she could see it. The water always made such beautiful shapes when hardened, like fine crystal. Its clarity allowed it to take on the colors of whatever it lay upon or before. She turned her attention back to the fire holding her hands before it as she warmed herself. It was getting a little cooler. Whether due to the lateness of the day or the close proximity of the river, she couldn’t tell. “What time is it?” she asked trying to get a sense of time. If she was in an open plain she would be able to tell somewhat from the feel of the sun on her face. Here however, the surrounding forest would make that nearly impossible.

[Lynx]

After taking to the air, Karsha cruised around for a bit. She had left the eagle a ways away and didn't feel like dragging it back to sit with two elves and an orc. Landing next to the bird, which was about two thirds her size, she summoned up a huge scorching breath. Burning the feathers off was much faster than plucking them. The smell was rather unpleasant, but Karsha didn't pay it much mind. In about two minutes, the feathers were all singed off and the meat was slightly cooked. As a dragon, she didn't mind raw meat. Ripping off one of the giant wings, she crunched noisily through it. Rocs were tasty treats and very filling; she wouldn't need to eat for a couple days. Leisurely, not rushed to join the three, she ate her eagle. Finally all that was left were the two legs, larger than the orc even, and a beak. Those weren't exactly edible, so she left them. Sighing, she ruffled her wings, refolding them, and stalked back into camp. "It is the afternoon," Karsha rumbled in response to Kia's question. Curling her massive bulk around all three of them, she placed her head between the elf and the forest. Her stomach bulging with her giant meal, Karsha blinked her dark silver eyes sleepily. The happiest dragon was a full one.

[Everett]

Everett watched as the two conversed, she had solidified the water. That was at the least very interesting and very useful. He shook his head twice before turning back around to sit on the ground. He sniffed the air taking in the smell of the roasted rabbit. It appeared to be ready. "It was the least I could do." He used the wooden stick to poke at the cooked meat. " No she is not. I would of sworn she would be here before me but-" The dragon interrupted him in mid sentence with her appearance. "Talking of the devil." Everett looked up at the dragon and grinned. "Before I forget.... Thank you very much for this fire."

Sighing the elf stood up on both feet and turned to face the half elf and orc. The elf turned his head to look and glare at Glorbuk. He would admit his dislike for orcs, but technically he could at least some what tolerate them. Hell he was tolerating Glorbuk at the moment. "Watch yourself here I do not want any trouble." Everett said pulling out a sword from its sheath. The elf quickly turned around and stabbed one of the roasting rabbits in the flame. While turning around the elf used his right fight to push the rabbit off his blade. "Care for some food." The elf gestured to the cooked rabbit now lying on the floor.

[sumdood]

Glorbuk glared up at the Elf.
"I don't know what your problem is, you high and mighty Elf, but I''m not here to cause trouble."
He turned and looked down at the rabbit he had just thrown onto the ground in front of him.
"And I'm not going to eat that. It's been ont he ground. You've wasted good food. Why don't you think and get past your ignorant discrimination before doing something just to spite me?"
Glorbuk then stretched his arms out in front of hiim and laid back, crossing his legs and folding his hands behind his head.

[micaylah]

Eavan turned her face toward the sudden gust of wind that meant the return of Karsha. Her suspicions confirmed as Karsha told her it was afternoon. She felt the air shift around them as Karsha curled around the trio. She could smell the dragon’s dinner as her breathing settled into a slow, gentle rhythm.

She turned as she heard Everett rise. At the sound of an unsheathing sword and a sudden noise on the ground, she grabbed the staff in a fluid movement its end sharpening to a fine point and stabbed at the sound. She felt it penetrate something small and thick and then heard Glorbuk’s words to Everett. She pulled the staff back to her, taking the rabbit from the end and tore it open. She pulled meat from the inside but didn’t really care if it had debris from the ground on it.

“Will you please give it a rest?” She immediately began to eat the meat within her hands. It had been a long while since she had anything in her stomach and she was famished. “What of the bandits?” she asked, covering her mouth as she continued to chew. “I don’t think they would be stupid enough to attack with our beautiful friend here so closely.”

[Everett]

"I do not think I am better than your kind." That was only half a lie. " But I would be the first to admit I am not the most fond of Orcs. Can I be blamed for the fact that my family has a history of not getting along with orcs." The elf said, he did not care if the orc would accept his explanation or not. He was about to turn around when the orc refused his food. "Really?" The elf was slightly surprised. It was an act of kindness. Everett looked down to the floor and began to chuckle. He covered his face with his hand. " That was by no means an insult." The elf turned around and stabbed the other rabbit with is sword. " I thought I was suppose to be the high and mighty one. Just because food is dirty does not mean it is wasted food." He pulled the rabbit off his hand with his sword. Everett then sheathed his sword and moved his hand by his belt to grab a cutting knife. " You'll learn all food out here is dirty." The elf sat done to eat, he cut off a piece of meat and began to eat it. It was somewhat tough, chewy and not too much taste but at the end it wasn't bad. " And I thought I was the high and mighty one." The elf turned his head to look up at Mica. " I do not think they are so foolish. Besides the majority of them are up there. We do not have to worry." He gestured in the direction of the cliff.

[sumdood]

Glorbuk noted a small glimmer in the Elf's eye that gave him the impression the elf wasn't telling the truth.
"Your whole family never got along with orcs, huh?" Glorubk said, cocking an eyebrow at the Elf,"And are you your entire family? Change has to start somewhere, Elf, if it's ever going to take place."
"You don't see me trying to start a fight, do you? You're the one who's being blatantly disrespectful. I'm trying to be civil here and you're trying to make fun of me.
"In my opinion, that's very immature. Especially for an Elf."

[micaylah]

Eavan put the rabbit in her lap and without a word, took the staff within her hand and poked it in the direction of Glorbuk’s voice striking him in the side of the head. “Let it go.” She told him as she returned to finishing her meal. She shook her head in acknowledgment of Everett’s comments about the bandits then, her meal done called water to her hands to rinse them clean and sent the droplets back within the river.

[Lynx]

Listening to the conversation with one half of her brain, Karsha dozed with the other. The eagle was heavy in her stomach, and like most animals she got sleepy after a large meal. The orc and the male elf did not get along at all. It amused the purple dragon to hear them squabble. Petty humans. She considered just slamming a paw down on each of them. It would be the work of a second and then they would stop their arguing. Tapping the tip of her tail against the ground, she closed her eyes fully. No, the blind girl would give her a hard time. But wait...a third claw, the one not even a yard from where she sat....that would silence her. With a rumbling sigh, she decided it was too much work. Already she had killed today - the blood was still in her scales. The blind elf, Eavan, was trying to get on her good side with compliments. She would find out eventually that Karsha had no good side: only a bad side and a sleeping side. Right now she was sleeping.