Creil's travels

[Creil Bevier]

The sky was gloomy and overcast, and the wind whipped at the tall grasses on the plains, scattering them like water, as they ripled and swayed likea green tide.
A solitary, mounted figure was travelling along the dirt road, in the direction of the city Rhyfaugh. both the horse and the rider were massive. The horse was clearly bred for war - his sleek grey coat shone proudly in the gloom of the morning, and his muscles knotted powerfully with each step he took. He was covered with plate mail, and across his back sat his rider - a massive man in his own right.
The rider wore full armour, and his visor was raised, showing shoulder length blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes. His friendly features however, did not diminish his immensity. He was built like a boulder, and his arms and legs were as thick as tree trunks.
In one hand he carried a raised lance, the but was set in his stirrup, and the bright blue pennon, bearing a coat of arms, snapped proudly in the wind.
Across his back a great broadsword was strapped. It was massive, longer than a man's arm, and at his waist a double bladed battleaxe was strapped, not far from it, a morning star was belted securely to the saddle upon which he sat.
THe man clearly meant buisness, and looked as if he could more than handle himself. His big grey travelled at a proud trot, his steel shod hooves kicking up dirt as the paladin continued in the direction of Rhyfaugh.

[Ramona]

Coming out of the city was another rider, her horse was not so impressive, but a light riding horse, black in color except for its mane, which was near perfectly white, save for a few strands, showing form time to time of the same black as its gleaming coat. The ride was slight in size, female definitely and though her hood was raised over her head, the brilliance of her emerald eyes shown through that hood like two emerald shining I the sunlight. Stands of her raven black hair could be seen whipping and dancing on the outside of her hood, their long strands extended down the woman’s waist to play with the mane of her steed. One would not determine her origins with her hood raised, as she was so different from any Drow known to human kind, with her emerald eyes and raven hair, she could easily be pinned as a human, so long as her hood remained up and over her ears.

Ramona watched the approaching Knight, her mind turning for a bit before coming to he conclusion that this truly must be a paladin, though she had never actually seen one in person, she had heard stories and the descriptions made fit this man to a t.

As the man came close enough, she inclined her head in greeting to the mighty human.

“Impressive.” She thought to herself, her quiver of arrows jingling happily at her back as her own horse trotted along, the Katana at her side laying covered up by her massive cloak. Of course, impressive looks would not say a thing as to the warriors ability to fight, she was not about to find out. Open combat with a large human such as this one, she’d leave to her more practiced warriors, as for Ramona, she wasn’t looking for trouble just now, she was simply playing her usual escape her personal guards again game.

[Creil Bevier]

As she drew level with him, Creil reined in his big grey war horse. Politely, he inclined his head to the traveller in a gesture of greeting. He lifted his armoured arm to raise his visor, showing his long blond hair and brilliant blue eyes, "Hail friend," He said in a pleasant tone, "I seek the city Rhyfaugh. Is mine course true? Or have i strayed into the wilderness once more." He laughed to himself.
"Ah, i have forgotten my manners, i do fear me. Prithee forgive me dear maiden. Mine name is Creil Bevier. Knight of the holy order. And whom doth i have the pleasure to greet this fine day?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

[Ramona]

Ramona pulled her horse to a stop along side that of the paladin. She had to look up to speak to him, as his mount stood perhaps at the very least a good 18hands, where hers was only 15 at the most.

“No, you travel in the precise direction you desire sir Knight, and I am known only as Ramona.” She replied then, her emerald gaze meeting his fully, a polite smile written on her fair features, her tone as quiet and soft as it always was, her manner that of a common maiden, using none of the regal tone in her voice she had been raised to speak.

“Would you mind me asking sir, have you been summoned to the castle of his Majesty Rit Megliaf?” she inquired in all innocence.

[Creil Bevier]

Creil returned her smile, his pearly white teeth almost glowing, "Nay gently maiden, i cannot confess to such - I seek out the city on the orders of the master of my chapter." He sighed, "Though it has been a long time on the road since i left. I am weary, and seek a good meal, and a good bed."
He blinked, as if remembering something, "Tell me, my lady. Who is this 'Rit Megliaf?'" He asked, his tone sincere.

[Ramona]

Ramona averted her eyes for a moment at his smile, like any good and innocent maiden should, before returning her gaze to his once more to answer his question.

“Sir Knight, he would be the current ruler of the fair city you intend to lay thou weary body, surely you must know of him.” She replied, sounding quite alarmed indeed, though actually, she found it quite amusing that a Paladin being sent to the human city would not be trained as to whom he would answer to whilst there.

“It would seem sir Knight, that perhaps you would be in need of some introductions, might I be so bold as to suggest you seek him out after you have rste4d.” She said then, her innocent persona continuing , her smile just as sweet as sugar.

She had a feeling that this paladin may not get along with Rit all too well, like water and vinegar they seemed to be matched.

[Creil Bevier]

Creil laughed, "Then I shall be sure not to mention unto him, the fact that i had not heard of him before now." He smiled, "I wouldst not wish to bruise his ego."
Creil looked Ramona up and down, then, as if deciding on something he had been pondering for a while, his face showed an expression of concentration. He made a few small and unobtrusive gestures with his hand whilst he was speaking, slowly an expression of irritation crept upon his features "Now, no need for more subterfuge, dear lady. Who art thou truly? I have had my suspicions, and holy majic doth not lie. Thou art not human, and no simple maiden, though i canst not tell the truth of thy identity - that is hidden from me. Thou must in truth not fear me, i bear thee no ill will, and thou canst relinquish thine identity in the knowledge that it will not do thee harm, nor, shouldst thou wish it, pass from my lips."

[Ramona]

Ramona mentally kicked herself for her letting her own guard down in the game she played with this holy warrior, she knew better, and now, her fun would end, though he was a Paladin, and as such, she knew him to be a man of his word and thus, would be held to it, when she did indeed reveal her true self unto him.

Ramona let the reigns of her mount fall to his neck and reached up, pulling the hood from her head. Her eyes turned up to look at him again, a slight smile, darkened now by her true nature, met his gaze.

“I am Ramona, also known as the Spider Queen of the Drow.” She greeted him with all the regality coming back to her voice as she spoke. “I must apologize for my deception, though you must know the reason behind it. Not many would take my presence as a pleasant thing, up here in what would be known as, your part of the world.” She introduced. All the while her emerald gaze remained steady, though the innocent shine of moments ago, replaced with a friendly, though dark persona.

[Creil Bevier]

Creil smiled and laughed, "I have little opportunity to consort with the Drow - the service of god doth demand much of my time, and sadly i must confess that i know little of thyself, or thy people and am ignorant of thy customs." He dismounted from his proud grey war hose, and knelt on the ground, facing Ramona, his head down.
"I mean no offense, your highness, rather, i am often befuddled by the presence of royalty, and genuflecting seems to please them the world over." He said, smiling to himself.
Creil was clearly not the sort of man to be easily 'befuddled', often he was responsible for the befuddling of others, but he did kneel out of respect, as he did not know how to act around a drow queen.

[Ramona]

This was too much, a human, bowing before her, the Queen of the Drow, instead of offering to take her head back to his lord for praise or the like, it was almost too much.

Ramona looked down at him now from her horse’s back and smiled, this a genuine action, though it held back the laugh she wanted to let out as to the irony of the current situation. What she had expected and what had transpired in the last few moments, had been total opposites.

“I thank you for your show of respect sir knight, now please, do rise.” She told him, knowing he would not until he was asked to. He may not have known much about the Drow, but she knew a great many things about the humans who continually tried to destroy her Kingdome and herself. It would have been very disastrous, had she not.

Ramona then slid off her horse and stood before him, her emerald eyes undeceiving what to do next, truly, she had indeed been thrown off by his actions. “And it would please me sir knight, if you did not call me Highness, out here in the open.” She said. “For, obvious reasons that may befall harm unto myself, or another, should I get lucky.” She finished, her tone quite still, her voice as soft as it would be if speaking to one of her own kind.

[Creil Bevier]

Creil rose, looking slightly flustered, "Ah yes, prithee, forgive me your h. . . My lady." He said, correcting himself quickly. He smiled and laughed, feeling quite foolish. The form of address and the actions had been instinctive to him after so long, and it was difficult to shake them.
"Surely thou must be curious as to my manner?" He asked, "Mine brothers doth believe i spend too much time in mine armour, and it doth soften my brains." He said jokingly and laughed, "Though i believe that no matter thy race or kinship, all are equal before the one true god, even shouldst they worship a false idom." He said, winking at her.
"I am a rarity, or so some say, amongst the paladin order. I am not obsessed with the convertion of heathens, rather i care for the faithfull." He pasued, "Perhaps i should have been a monk, though i doubt i would have been suited to the task, though i am ashamed to admit it, slaying the enemies of my god is a relaxing pastime." He laughed.
Truly, Creil was a rare man among his order, and one could not tell wether he was joking, or serious, though in this instant, he had felt that a little self-mockery couldn't go astray.

[Ramona]

Ramona grinned. “It is of no moment sir knight, please, do not think another moment on it.” She responded to his apology. “I seek only a rest from the tedious duties of mine own crown, from time to time, and if I should find it more to my pleasure to be rid of my guard, it is only because to truly experience the world beyond my own realm, I can not have others seeking to either protect, or impede my way.” She continued, her voice still just as soft as ever, her eyes showing a thoughtful deepness in them.

“As for you, you seem perfectly pleasant enough.” She stated giving him a wink of her own. “And I do not think, that a monk would fit you at all.” She added, as almost an after thought. “I would offer to walk you back to the gates, if you wish for the company.” She aid then, truly wanting his company, suddenly and for no real good reason.

[Creil Bevier]

Creil smiled, "I would be honoured, dear lady." He said, his voice awash with sincerity. Slowly, and with the loud clincking of metal, he mounted his big grey war horse. He turned in his saddle to face her, and wait for her to mount, and turn her horse about.

[Ramona]

With a quick flip of her cloak and an even faster hop into the air, she was upon her horse and had him turned in the blink of an eyes and she turned to smile at the paladin.

“Well then, lets be off.” She said I a light tone, not at all what any would think of the Drow Queen. But then again, she wasn’t just any Drow. And if she was right, this man would definitely not like the ruler of the Human territory, and thus, might one day, prove to be a good ally to her, should she keep their meeting polite and friendly.

“I hear that the fair city has gone into disrepair as of late, the gates beginning to rust on their hinges and the like, perhaps you might be able to run that by his majesty.” She commented.

[Creil Bevier]

"Perhaps" Creil said speculatively, he clicked his tongue and shook the reins of his horse, who moved off at a stately trot. He turned to look at the Drow Queen, "What manner of a man is this 'Rit Megliaf'?" He asked, curiously.