Phoenix Fire is where he'd said he would be, quite an easy feat as that area included nearly half the park.
2009-11-21 16:53:03 Phoenix Fire rolls 8 to storytelling (10 Again) 3, 5, 9, 10, 6, 3, 8, 8, 6 = 4 successes
Wielding an imaginary sword Leo slashed low.
"Sword in hand he slashed and chopped and killed each snake that got close. Snake upon snake, upon snake died and the ground soaked in blood so poisonous the grass withered and died. And though the battle went well, the Prince knew that even a single bite of these vile and evil creatures would mean his painful and certain death."
"Suddenly, like they had all been of one mind, all the lesser snakes slithered away, retreating to their little holes. The Prince knew not what to think. Were the snakes afraid of him? Had he won?"
Leo bent over with a frustrated and questioning look on his face and asked his audience what would come next.
"NO! He hadn't won the fight! He had. Sealed. His. Doom!"
"For 'lo and behold! The Mother of all Snakes slowly crawled towards him, eyes gleaming with a terrible and cold malice!"
Arms raised, fingers bent like daggers, Leo was entertaining a minor crowd with a tale about a prince battling snakes.
"The Prince now found himself opposite a monster, a Queen Cobra the size of two hulking men. The Prince knew fear for even if he was to strike the monster first her blood would surely splatter and kill him. But what was he to do? Back down? FLEE? NO! He could not, for was he not the Prince? Did his people not count on him?"
"The Queen darted forward with the speed of lightning, her fangs intent on piercing skin and delivering a poison so deadly even the smell of it could kill a normal man where he stood. The Queen was so quick, in fact, that the Prince knew he could not block her attack. Knowing he was a dead man the brave Prince did what only he could. If he was to die, he would take the monstrous Queen with him!"
Leo imitated the cobra strike, the overhead sword attack and then grabbed for his heart and all but keeled over. Like he himself was mortally wounded he continued and the crowd actually leaned in to hear his words.
"The Queen lay dead at the Prince's feet, her blood eating through the grass and ground like acid. But this victory had come at quite a cost."
At that moment Phoenix Fire smells Shadow Tongue and their eyes meet. Phoenix Fire almost abandons the story but after a second long glance decides against it.
"In the Prince's hands, clutched to his chest, was the body of his savior, Tobias. Loyal Tobias, who had hurried to his master's side in the hour of his greatest need. Brave Tobias, who had thrown himself between the Prince and the Queen as they clashed. Dead Tobias, who had been bit by the Queen and almost immediately succumbed to her poison."
Leo looks like he could almost cry himself at the depiction of this painful scene.
For who had been as neglected as poor, dead Tobias?
"For years, the Prince had taken Tobias for granted -had refused him even the pleasure of a simple smile! But in the end it had not been the nobles and friends the Prince had treated well that had come to his aid, it had been the poor Tobias whom he had treated as poorly as the dirt he walked on. And so, as the Prince buried Tobias, he did so alone and -for the first time in his life- the Prince wept for this lost and unloved friend."
Leo took a bow and the crowd clapped, one or two actually moved to tears by his story. Phoenix Fire, however, hardly engaged in small talk and instead isolated himself. The crowd quickly got the message and provided enough of an opportunity for Andrew to approach for a private talk.
Leo still smelled faintly of disease but since last they met new, more prominent smells had accumulated; beer and blood, fur and fire, sweat and sex. Leo himself looked oddly refreshed and mixed a relaxed posture with alert eyes.
"Andrew, my man." Leo greets Andrew with heartfelt enthusiasm before adding, with more gravitas.
"Talk to me."