Local dangers

Pacing Move [5] Advance a Plot

Detail Focus [9D] Unsavory (technical)

“You said…” Lavorra begins, not sure that she wants to know the answer to her question. “That they’re fussy, about Elves. What did you mean?”

Zeya blanches, looking uncomfortable for the first time. “They.” She begins, then takes a breath. She clasps her hands together, unclasps them, and tugs idly at her ravenette curls. “They’re keeping the women here as - well there’s no nice way to put it - breeding stock. The way I understand it - wish I didn’t - they use Human women to make tougher soldiers. Daemons grow weird. Magic. You know. Elves are different, they breed with them to make better mages. Told you I wished I didn’t get it. I’ve only see one other Elf - a Dark Elf, Sorceress I think - they were dragging her off somewhere into the Delwald.”

Lavorra’s heart sinks, she doesn’t need to ask for clarification. It’s Melira.

“Friend of yours?” Zeya asks, wincing as she reads Lavorra’s own expression perfectly. She reaches out and squeezes the other girl’s hand.

“Yeah. Best friend.” She gulps thickly. “What do… what do they use Tieflings for?”

“Oh they just fuck me.” Zeya announces, regaining her cheerful demeanour. She makes a show of a shrug. “I’m Hellspawn, they’re Daemons. They don’t like to mix. But the younger ones come by here every few days and, well, do as they please.”

Pacing Move [4] Advance a Threat

“I’ll find a way to stop them.” Lavorra promises solemnly, “we’ll leave first thing, together. Then we’ll figure out a way to end this.”

“Oh.” Zeya murmurs, leaning her head on Lavorra’s shoulder, taking care to angle her horns away. “You’re sweet. But, we’re stuck here, me and the villagers. There’s some kind of… curse, or spell, keeping us here.”

“Then we’ll break it.” Lavorra nods fiercely. “Do you know anything about it? What’s causing it?”

“You really mean that, don’t you?” Zeya looks up at Lavorra, her expression soft and trusting. Their faces hover close together, a strand of Lavorra’s scarlet hair nearly blending with Zeya’s ruby skin. “You can still leave, if you go soon. It seems to take time to hold us here. There’s something we could try, if you -“

She is cut off by a rumble of sound - harsh voices echo through the night, drawing closer.

“Oh fuck.” They murmur in unison.