Tracking Gryphienne Down.

[*Spiegel1]

A certain Aasimar, Sondaal Ayakra, steps out of Muriel's Inn looking around the Bazaar as she shoulders her pack more firmly. With a turn of her heel she heads to the right and down the path past the beggar. Without even a glance towards the poor man, who asks her for some jink to get some food, she walks up to a Portal stepping through. The familiar scent of trees fills her nose, mercifully there's no pollen. She looks around the area trying to get her bearings in the Plane before asking a Petitioner wandering by where the nearest town is.

After a couple of repeated inquiries she finally gets the directions out of her before setting off in that direction. When she reaches the town she takes out a creased parchment looking it over before tapping one name and looking up at the sign above the entrance that denotes the name of the town. She looks around at the wandering people, some of the Guardinals, while muttering in Celestial. "Now I just need ta find him.". After asking one of the Avorals, which included a long lecture by the Guardinal and a mouthy comment by the cynical Aasimar, she finally gets a name and directions towards the person on the list

. She makes her way there stepping up to the door and knocking. As the door opens she looks down at the small man opening her mouth and asking a question. "I'm lookin' fer Gryphienne, do ya know where she is?" After a brief pause the short human looks behind Sondaal at the Guardinal figuratively boring holes in the back of her head by his stare alone. "Well by the look of that Guardinal I would say you do not belong here. What are your motives in looking for Gryphienne?" Sondaal looks behind herself at the Avoral. "Ya know, i've already gotten one lecture and thass enough hun." She says this with her usual sarcastic note in her voice causing him to increase his glare while she turns back to the human in front of her. "I made a mistake and let Gryph go from me life, i'm here ta correct that mistake."

The male in front of her nods before reaching for a piece of parchment and ink pot. "Head here and you'll find her, if she's not there she moved to a different city. I wish you luck in finding her." She takes the parchment looking it over. "Thank ya, I intend on finding her even if she aint in these places." She turns around once again folding a piece of parchment and stashing it away before pausing in front of the Avoral and giving him a sarcastic smile. "Ya dun need ta worry about anything hun, I aint here ta cause trouble, though I might cause a few bar fights along the way fer exercise."

[*Dedic8ed]

Cut to: the Tree-town of Grandfather Oak, Arvandor, Arborea

Soft leather mocassins stride upon path atop the broad branch, their tread quick and sure as they traverse the slight upwards curve trunkward. Past rope ladders slung from the sides, the only sign of the arboreal elves' dwellings spellshaped into the sides of the branches, she passes thick greenery from protruding lesser brances giving the trek a feeling more of walking through a tunnel than along one of the greatest trees in all existence; only the spotlit beams of light descending from above give proof to the noon sun shining upon the canopy far above. The walker's clothing is typical elven huntwear, tight leather breeches and a sleeveless buckskin tunic encasing a body that, even were its ears not round, is certainly not elven: a powerfully built form, clearly feminine yet obviously an experienced warrior, evinced both by the obvious muscle of bare bicep or bracer-clad forearm, or the heavy warhammer slung over the woman's back. Of course, the face give it all away, the proud features of celestial blood, jet-black epicanthic eyes set over sinuous platinum-hued dragon tattoos, surmounted by brows of bright silver that match her wild bead-braided hair. A fine sheen of sweat, evidence of recent exertions glistens on her golden skin, throwing off shining highlights as she passes through a beam.

Reaching a point where another large branch nearly crosses this one, powerful legs more used to carrying a suit of full plate bunch and launch her across ten feet of intervening space to land easily, before continuing her trunkward trek, a journey of but a few minutes taking her to pale green, silken tapestries marking the entrance to a chamber within the trunk itself, which she slips through without stopping; not very surprising, as a section of the sizable chamber within is festooned with knicknacks and trophies of her life: a small, finely carved wooden dragon; a necklace hanging in a position of prominence; several small stuffed dolls; quick sketches of a number of people; even an odd caricature portrait portraying a comical version of herself and another woman. On the other side of the room, two tall beings with elven features, one male, one female, lounge against one another on a settee, their pealy iris-less eyes focusing on her, and drawing the attention of the thick-maned and feline-featured guest who perches on the edge of an ottoman before them. The Leonal rises to its feet, its voice a deep growl. "This is her, then?" The two Ghaele both nod with wide smiles, the expressions betraying more than a little pride in the woman as the female speaks in a voice like falling water, "our Gryphienne, back from playing the games of devas in the meadows."

Gryph chuckles at that as she dips a towel in a basin of clear, cool water and begins to scrub at her face. "Lariele, I hope you haven't spend the entire morning gushing about me to your guest," accompanying that with a slight bow towards the leonine guardinal. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but if you keep this up, people are going to think I'm your daughter." A poke of her tongue at the pair, before she turns to regard the guest, who seems to be regarding her with interest.

"No, Gryph... this guest is here not for us, but for you. It seems he brings... news." The male Ghaele's voice is as different from his consort's as could be, crackling fire with a hint of constant amusement. "News you'd be wanting to hear, I'm thinking."

As her head tilts towards the Guardinal, the bass rumble sounds again. "Thank you, Galinn. I come to let you know that you're being... sought. A mortal woman, tough-looking gal. She seems to have some celestial blood but not more than a few drops, asking everybody she meets about you and her accent sounding like she comes from...."

The Celestial woman goes stock-still, and a wide grin appears on her lips before she interrupts the Leonal's speech. "Sigil. It's Sahn... she came...."

The Leonal's laugh is like an earthquake. "I guess you'll be wanting her to find you by that expression, lass. Very well... she's been wandering aimlessly for a while now, I'm sure she'll appreciate having someone give her actual correct directions." And with the sudden impulsiveness of a mortal cat, he strides from the room without another word, his silhouette outside flexing as he uses his innate polymorph ability to assume the form of a griffon and take to the skies.

Lariele raises an eyebrow and untangles herself from Galinn, her smile impish as she strides across the room, one hand reaching up to lightly cup Gryph's cheek, running the pad of her thumb over coppery lips. "Looks like we need to make ready for company, Silverhair... and knowing Tiabrechon's knack of locating people, we probably don't have long. I can't wait to meet the mortal you... what was the term you used? Oh yes... gush about."

[*Spiegel1]

Sondaal runs her hands through her long, pale-blonde hair in frustration. "Where in the rusting Hells is she? The bleeding berk gave me the laugh." She once again flops down on the grass next to the road looking up and down the path. "And not a bleeding Inn in sight. "I guess i'm going ta have ta rely on me rations . . . Whass left o' them anyway. but first a fire, need something ta keep meself somewhat warm during the night."

She gathers stones, wood and kindling before scraping a piece of flint against steel creating sparks. Soon enough a fire is blazing while she is sitting in the grass gnawing on jerky. She looks up as the beat of wings becomes noticable, her sharp eyes picking out the Guardinal soaring towards her. "Ah rust all . . . Am I gonna get another lecture? I aint even in a bar picking a fight this time." The Guardinal lands in front of her shifting back into his Celestial form. He looks down at the tough-looking woman with a penetrating glare. Sondaal looks up at him; her face set in an expression of stubborn pride. "What ya want hun? I aint doing anything wrong at the moment."

Tiabrechon finally opens his mouth. "I am here to bring you to Gryphienne, you have been following the wrong directions as you have hopefully found out by now." Sondaal looks up at the Leonal before nodding. "I wouldnt mind some help finding her, I could use a nice stiff drink though. Ya got anything on ya?" He shakes his head as a silent answer before reaching down a hand to help the Aasimar to her feet. Tiabrechon once again opens his mouth addressing her. "Put out the fire, we are heading straight to where Gryphienne is." Sondaal does so as the Leonal shifts into his Griffin form. He bends down on his knees indicating for her to climb aboard. After a powerful beat of his wings he soars off into the air with Sondaal on his back.

[*Dedic8ed]

A breeze blows through the small window spellcarved through the bark walls, cooling the sweat coating Grphienne's skin as she lays entwined with the two Ghaele, blankets long tossed aside in the now-forgotten heat of the evening. With a soft sigh, she slowly begins to disentangle herself from the smooth limbs of the resting eladrin, rising to find a cloak to wrap herself in before silently slipping from the room and out onto the wide branch walkway without.

Starlight leaves the world a dim, shadowy place, but she doesn't shift her sight into darkvision as she leans against the doorframe, her eyes seeking more for the light of travellers, for the ascending glow which will bring to her what she truly longs for.

Another quick breeze dances its way past, rustling foliage and blowing the edges of the cloak up to expose her long legs and forcing her to make adjustments. A few long minutes more of staring fruitlessly down into the deeper shadows below, and her voice is but a soft murmur as she asks her question to the night.

"Sondaal... what's taking you so long?"

[*Spiegel1]

Sondaal arrives at the edge of the great forest, the griffin soaring down and landing with a thump that rattles the Aasimar's teeth, she hops off of her carrier as he kneels down in an indication for her to slide off. She looks at the Griffin a second before looking at the forest while Tiabrechon shifts back. "Where am I headin' hun?" The Guardinal shakes his head experimentally before responding. "You are heading straight to the tree known as Grandfather Oak. Just ask the first Elf you come across and they'll lead you straight to him."

Sondaal nods before setting off into the forest a parting reply floating behind her. "Thank ya fer helpin' me, I bet yer glad ta be rid o' me so there aint any more trouble in Elysium." She follows the naturally grown path as she keeps a hand on her rapier, the weapon hidden among the folds of her dress. "Now ta find me an Elf."

Night falls once again as she looks around. "Not a bleedin' Elf in sight and i've been following this path fer two days at least. I swear i've heard rustling leaves though, too often fer it ta just be wildlife too." "I guess they'll show themselves sometime."

The Aasimar is bundled up in a blanket, her hand still resting on her rapier and her eyes closed, an Elf creeps up looking down at her before giving her a slight shake. Sondaal's eyes snap open instantly starting to glow as she watches the Elf. The Elf nods at the blonde haired Mortal. "Get up, i'm here to take you to Grandfather Oak, I have a quicker route." The Aasimar peers at him suspiciously before nodding. "I might very well be goin' in circles anyway, plus I get the feelin' evil aint exactly tolerated here. What's yer name hun?"


The Moon Elf smiles slightly. "I am Alu'riss, I am to be your guide to Him. Gather your things and we will go."

She arrives at the Oak tree craning her neck back as she stares at the tree. "Where is she?" Alu'riss points up the tree. "You will want to be heading there. I bet the one waiting for you will run out and greet you anyway." He gives Sondaal a warm smile. Sondaal stares at where his finger is pointing. "Thass a long way up, I bet i'm gonna have ta jump ta different limbs too arent I?" He nods at that. "Try not to fall, it won't be a pleasant landing." She snorts out a laugh. "Thanks fer the advice."

She reaches for the first ladder up setting out to climb up Grandfather Oak.

[*Dedic8ed]

The hand shaking her shoulder brought Gryphienne to, her eyes opening to slits and easing their way into the light of dawn. It took a few moments for her to come to herself; the feel of rough bark digging into her bare back reminding her of falling asleep watching down the well of branches, the cool morning wind sifting through openings in the cloak draped over her form a reminder that clothing might have been a better idea. Still, a weary smile crept over her face as she looked up to see Galinn looming above her, although her voice is groggy and half asleep as she speaks. "Wha' is it?"

The Gheale stretched out a hand, pointing to a distant branch several tiers below. "Nothing much, Silverhair. Although if I were you, I'd be thinking about putting some clothes on soon." As her gaze followed his finger, her eyes at first picked out nothing but greenery. But after a moment's concentration, sharp Aasimon senses noticed something reflecting the sunlight: a bobbing head of light blonde hair.

With a sound that could almost be considered a shriek, she bounded to her feet and practically dove back into the hollow chamber, the abandoned cloak fluttering to the feet of the softly chuckling Eladrin.

Only a minute's time later, the golden-skinned woman stood leaning over the weave of branches that served as a balustrade. Her face glowed from a hurried scrubbing, and droplets of water still fell from her damp braids and onto the shouders of the thin silk of her thigh-length silver tunic, rolling off of the fine weave and dripping down around her calf-high kidskin boots. Her voice called out to the now-familiar figure striding up a curving ramp of intertwined limbs only a single level below, her heart pounding in her chest and a grin on her face that seemed to stretch from one ear to the other, even as the two Gheale stepped to each side of her to place hands upon her shoulders, taking their own first look at the mortal they had heard so much of.

[*Spiegel1]

The mortal with said light blonde hair looks up as she hears a shriek, her sharp eyes picking out a fluttering cloak and nothing more, with a shrug she continues on her way; her eyes follow the trail before climbing up to the next layer. She turns her head as she hears her name being called by an oh so familiar voice. With a wave and a smile she reaches the balustrade in a minutes time.

She looks at the two Ghaele with a cynical smile before letting her eyes rest on Gryphienne. "Bleedin' Guardinal made me go through the whle damn forest, i'm here ta see ya as often as I can, I aint got anybody else i'd rather be with." She hops over the balustrade with a graceful jump before hugging the Aasimon. She then turns to look at the two Ghaele. "Nice ta meet ya two cutters, I hope Gryph didnt deafen ya with her shrieking."