Tales from Expedition Demeter: The Nomads

I

A young tablin girl sat with legs crossed in the arts district of Yithwitch . A quarter staff laid across her lap. She was silent with long white hair and two 8 point antlers growing from her head. Her elven face was covered with a wooden mask that gave her face the appearance of a regal stag and had decorative lines painted in black that traced the features of the stag. Her hazel eyes peered from behind the mask as she took in the stares from the people, who gazed in wonder at her exotic silk cloak that wrapped her body. The cloak was green with tribal symbols traced in yellow. Her companion spoke again hushing the murmurs of the peasantry. A full bred tablin, he looked like a wolf standing on two legs, with hands and feet instead of paws. His lupine face and fur were dyed displaying his tribal patterns and his clothing appeared packed as it contained his fur.

"Observe, good people, and be generous if you may, at this breathtaking display of martial talent turned to art." A whisper came from the crowed from a mercenary in full armor.

"I've seen her before. A beautiful display to be sure, but I can't see how it would work in combat." The man beside him chuckled and the girl spoke up, her voice muffled behind her mask adding a menacing tone for those who heard.

"A challenge then?" Her voice carried over the crowd and the man looked to see the girl staring at him with wild eyes. "I wont refuse it if your willing. I meant no offense.."

"None taken, your not the first nor the last to wonder."

The man stepped forward as the girl stood. She seemed to stretch each limb as she rose lazily. She planted one end of her staff to the ground and leaned on it casually.

"Do u have sparring gear?" The man asked. She gestured to her companion who retrieved a wooden sword from the nearby wagon. He handed it to the man and whispered.

"For your sake, don't go easy on her." The crowd began to stir as the two eyed one another. The man smiled.

"To yield?" He asked. She nodded in response still leaning against her staff swaying one inch to the side and back as if rocking herself to sleep. The man began to circle around her, holding the wooden sword in both hands with the tip aimed at the girl. She continued to sway, not even looking at him as he moved to her left side. The man was cautious, as anyone would be when fighting an unfamiliar opponent. He planned his move, weighed every risk and over the next few moments determined the risk was worth forcing her to make a move.

He lunged forward and swung the sword. The girl kicked the base of the staff as she leaned backward to doge the blade. The staff hit him on his chest, bouncing off the plate armor. She spun back performing a series of twists and turns as she swung the staff in wide arcs. She was too fast for him. She leaped forward and pushed the end of the staff into his hip. The sting sent a rush of adrenaline through him. He swung the sword and hit her on the arm. He could tell it hurt as she winced and darted backward while shifting her grip on the staff, allowing her other hand to hold the weight. He started to unstrap the armor to lighten his load. He couldn't win while weighed down so heavily. She saw this and nodded respectfully, patiently allowing him to remove it and toss the breastplate aside.

They went at each other again. The girl swung and missed. He took the opportunity to close the distance, bringing himself within 3 feet of her and grabbed the staff. He pulled it from her and felt a blow to his jaw as the girl flattened her hand and jabbed with her open palm. A series of blows came at him with alarming speed. He dodged a few, but those that landed forced him to retreat.

She retrieved her staff and swung again, but was unaware of a swing of the mans sword. The blow knocked the mask off, revealing the youthful face beneath.

The man almost yielded then, afraid of the insult he may have inflicted, but then noticed that beneath that mask she was smiling. She didn't pause, wildly flailing the staff about. He ducked and rolled to avoid some, parried and blocked others, but made little progress until another blow landed on his cheek. The man was knocked from his feet. The girl looked worried for a moment until she saw the man rise, a smile equally as wild as hers stretched across his face. She loosened up and leaned on her staff once more.

"Yield?" She asked through mild laughter and the man spoke in reply, "Not a chance."
They shared a genuine laugh before she spoke again, walking forward to shake his hand.

"I'm Verniece."

"Danton." he responded, shaking her hand.

II

"Odd way for lovers to meet." Shia mused, sipping the wine from her glass as she pondered what colors to use. An easel with a blank canvas always made her anxious.

"I'd say it turned out just fine." Danton said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Who won?" I asked, filling my bowl with the stew and walking to sit beside them by the fire. Shia was already at work, brushing the edges of the canvas and watching as it filled the white. I picked up my pen and parchment, waiting for their response.
they shared a look with one another before shaking their heads smiling back at me.

"A cliffhanger then? I'm sure ill have plenty of time to draw it out of you." I said, putting the pen down. Verniece spoke next.

"What all this about? First an interview with Kenna, now us?"

"Before we left Estoya, all anyone could talk about was the expedition. We sparked a hope i'd like to keep lit. People forget that underneath that banner are people just like them. Reminding them of it makes it easier to empathize...keeps us on their mind."

"Fair enough," Danton said, "I yielded first, one broken rib was enough."

"Sorry." she said, patting his leg. "He collapsed to the ground, yielded, and passed out. I treated his wounds and I guess the ugly grew on me." A burst of laughter erupted from the circle.
Shia was nearly done with her painting, putting the finishing details on the trees, which already began to come to life on the canvas.

"A personal question if I may?" I began and continued when they both nodded. "Were there any issues, you being with a tablin and you with a Human?"
I could tell the question made them uncomfortable. Their postures changed and their smiles faded slightly.

"We did at first." Verniece said.

"It didn't last long. Hardest part was working around the antlers. Even Shia seemed to have issues when we met."

"My issues are more about my culture," Shia spoke in a flat tone, but still in the same lethargic rhythm Lartasians are known for.

"Did we do something in Lartasia?" Verneice asked.

"They say the tablin first appeared in Lartasia. It makes sense, their masks are a sure sign of it, but that makes me uneasy. In my nation, the wearing of masks is a tradition of a soldier. Its harder to empathize when you cant see the face. If the first tablin migrated here from Lartasia bearing masks... they did so to wage war."

"A thousand years of persecution will do that." I said, jotting down her words. "I had never known that about your people."

"The mask was usually made of plaster. It is cheaper and easier given the amount of deaths." she replied nodding, "I personally prefer what the tablin have done with this tradition."'

It was quiet for a moment. I had finished my meal and I turned to see the last rays of light disappear of the horizon. Nadia would have wondered where I was by now. I debated leaving, but had a final question I desperately wanted to know.

"How did you two get involved with the expedition?" Danton shrugged and Verniece played with her mask, waiting for his response.

"I was a mercenary in a nation that hadn't seen war in years. My company had disbanded. When we met, I had no money. She took me on as a body guard, though she didn't really need one." he said smiling at her.

"When I first heard of Expedition Demeter, I was intrigued. Its rare for something to stir The Tablwood as much as that did. Everyone rushing to sign up, or begging for their loved ones to stay home. I longed for something new, and the potential reward it could bring." She spoke with haste, then stood up and grabbed Danton's hand.

"Its getting late, we should get to bed." she said.