Not-So-Fabulous

[Phillis Von Christ]

Phillis thought it over a minute. " It sounds like a good deal to me.. but I can't be too sure. How do I know you're not just trying to fool us?"

[Steele]

"Aye now yer talkin' sense." Steele said smiling.
"Aye why waste time foolin you lads if I could have picked ye off right from that tree. Heads a rollin' right into the waters." He said jokingly.

"And if it's a name you want." He said extending his arm to Phillis.
"The names Steele. Steele ya know? Canniest Steele on Moss an' moor.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"Urm.. yes.. a pleasure." Phillis hesitantly shook his hand. " I'm Phillis. This is Dante." He said, pointing to the boy beside him.

[Steele]

"Aye where'd you get that crack on the arm bonny lad?" He said interested in Dante's arm.

[Dante Ahti]

"I was attacked in the forest not long ago." Dante said, his smile forced. "In my personal opinion, we can get through the marsh perfectly fine on our own thank you." He said, looking at Phillis.

[Steele]

"Perfectly fine? Hinny have ye got no brains in yer head? If ye couldn't escape the homeland unscathed how're ye ever going to escape here? Do you know what the dragons goin ta think when he finds you?" He says stepping back.

"Excuse me nature? There seems ti be a mistake on me diet, I ordered brave unsuspectin' warriors with extra guts 'nd glory on the side. THIS HERE is two talking nits who wouldn't be fit as toothpicks."
Folding his arms he looks back at Dante.

"Ye get the picture yet? If ye think ye can leg it all the way there yer dead wrong. Quite literally lad." He says now only looking at Dante.

[Dante Ahti]

"First off, I was only harmed beause I was protecting someone who was with me." Dante frowned, growing frustrated. "Secondly, I have lived in Avaleur all my life. I know my way around these parts."

[Phillis Von Christ]

"I trust Dante." Phillis said, smiling. " So, I'll just go with what he says...but uhm, thanks for the offer."

[Steele]

"Aye harmed protecting someone?" He says laughing.
"Hinny if ye got hurt protectin' someone how're ye going to defend the Dappa over here?" He says looking at Phillis.
"Surely ye can't trust this lot with yer life ifin he can't even defend himself? Why look at him." He says pointing to Dante.
"Cracked arm and mud stained coat, why he's a sorry lout that's for sure." He says brashfully going after Dante after seeing his frustration.
"But you Dappa, you're different. Not from around here I can tell. What ye need is protection, one who knows his way around and can also take care of himself." He says looking at Dante again.

[Phillis Von Christ]

Phillis was speechless for a moment. Everything Steele said was harsh but very accurate.
" He's a strong kid." Phillis said. " and we'll be fine protecting ourselves. I mean, we've made it this far."

[Steele]

"Strong kid?" He says looking Dante over.
"Why he wouldn't be fit for a talking fishbone. Just look at those scrawny arms." He says laughing.
"Hinny you were in the heart of the Marsh causing a radge and hollerin' aboot. Making it here is cake compared ti what is coming now."
"Hire me and I can see to it that yer back in yer hyem eating yer scran and tobying around toon before the night tis over." He says in a heavy Geordie accent.
"Why I bet ye couldn't even tell what time of day it twas in here."

[Phillis Von Christ]

Phillis narrowed his eyes. " I think we're done talking." He said, as he walked past Steele, taking Dante along with him.

[Steele]

Steele frowned and vertically lept up to the tree branch he landed from.
"If it's yer hinny's feelings yer worried aboot it's gonna get ye both killed. Ye can know yer way around but yer not prepaired for what's comin'! Whe're yer weapons hinny? Surely ye both didn't come here as unarmed louts? Ye might as well have covered yerself in Bar B and ran through a pack of hungry buzzards! I'm tellin ye Dappa, without me yer death ell be sooner than you know!"
He says sharply looking in one direction for a few seconds before looking back at Phillis with a Hurry up look.
"Make yer decision hinny am I protecting ye er not?" He says starting to brandish his sword.

[Dante Ahti]

Dante turned around quickly. "Fine! If not just to shut your mouth, then we want your protection, alright?!" he snapped, clenching his free hand in a fist. "And for your information, I have a dagger and I am a fairly powerful sorcerer."

[Steele]

"I'm going to ignore that hinny and I hope yer magic is better then ye mouth cause we have action!" He says with an excited smile fully brandishing his sword as fog begins to surround them and a giant creatures hissing draws near.

"Aye that's no light dragon but the next thing." He says looking around as the hissing seems to circle them. "Can't see a bloody thing in this fog!" He exclaims for a moment before turning to Dante and Phillis.

"So tell me Dappas have ye ever heard of a Serpent Siren before or do I have to fill you louts in?"

[Phillis Von Christ]

"Urm..what?" Phillis asked, having no clue what Steele was talking about.

[Steele]

"Aye for the love of..." He says shaking his head.
"Yer in the Marsh which is probably the most dangerous place ye can be right now and not just because of the well feared abominations hinny." Steele begins to back up slowly to Dante and Phillis.

"This place has a way of affecting ye mind. No sunlight or moonshine, just fog, mud, and water. This beautiful devil always hides in the fog, always making it's victims break down in thee head, and soon after..thee body."
He gives a smile.
"Ah nothing to fear lads, just find it before it finds ye and we'll all be chaps back in the toon."

[Phillis Von Christ]

"Ugh." Phillis said, as he squeezed Dantes hand. "This is giving me chills."

He looked around the marsh. Steele was right. It was a place to be afraid of.
A place where Phillis didn't belong at all and a place he'd never visit again.

"Let's get going then. The sooner we're out of here, the better!"

[Dante Ahti]

"Something tells me we wont be getting out of here without seeing a creature, Phillis." Dante chuckled. "Do you think it'd be alright if I kept a flame in my hand, Steele?" he asked, looking around the marsh. "Or would it draw too much attention to us?"

[Steele]

"Attention? Hinny ye already have the entire Marshe's attention." He laughed.
"Go ahead I'd rather see what we're fighting." He said getting in a stance to charge.