Artair Croft | Male | 28 Years Old | Water Kelpie

Even though Sariel didn't often share her personal insecurities with him Artair was fairly in-tune with his master's moods and emotions, quickly sensing her discomfort with the snake-woman. His head tilted slightly in her direction as if to question "are you alright?" without actually speaking the words. He knew unkind comments had been tossed her direction in the past, having witnessed some of it first hand and even if Akila hadn't said enough to cause any offense yet apparently her apprehensive gaze had been enough to set Sariel's temper aflame.

Lin uttered an odd greeting Artair assumed was in another language and it wasn't long before the kelpie's attention slipped back to Coalesce as their upcoming quest was revealed. Battling the undead? "What kind of undead?" He ended up inquiring. "In my experience, which is quite little to be fair, these sorts of creatures are never the same twice." This was of course often due to corpses being re-animated by dark magic. It all came down to the witch or warlock who created them.

Coalesce explained the situation a moment later and Artair's blue flecked amber eyes widened slightly in astonishment. This quest would be more dire than he expected. Human corpses had jumped to his mind at the mention of undead, not dragons. He was uncertain holding off on the quest was a good idea considering the circumstances, but exhaustion pulled at his limbs and he knew he would be no use to the company unrested. "At the least we should eat and get some sleep before setting out," he suggested. "Even if it's only for a few hours."

Lin Xun Yang - Male - 26 - Qilin

With their first mission being explained, Lin stood at full attention, posture straight and stiff, yet strangely fluid as well. He had an interesting way of looking untouchable and welcoming at the same time. The undead, He thought to himself, frowning a little. He himself hadn't had any encounters with such beings. It was rare to find them in his homeland; more often than not the creatures there were immortal rather than the walking dead. However, dragons were certainly a thing he had experience with. In fact, some of his blood was that of a dragon. An eastern one, yes, but a dragon no less. With that in mind, he didn't seem outwardly worried about this mission at all.

When the horse-man spoke, Lin tore his attention away from Coalesce to look at him, nodding in agreement. "Shi," he said, "It would be much easier and efficient facing an opponent on a good night's rest. Especially one so unknown as this." He spoke formally, though that was more so a result of the language barrier rather than his own choosing.

Artair Croft | Male | 28 Years Old | Water Kelpie

Artair noted Akila’s anxiety and he couldn’t say he blamed her. They had quite the quest ahead of them. "Well then, since we can agree a good rest is needed before we head out, shall we pick our rooms?" He asked everyone after an uneasy silence had begun to settle over the group. "We're lucky you know. Being the guild's first members, we get top pick of the best rooms," he added in a humorous tone before starting toward the hall Coalesce had mentioned the rooms were located in.

((This is a lame reply, but I wasn't really sure what to write. >_> Yay writer's block.))

Lin Xun Yang - Male - 26 - Qilin

As those around him began to disperse, off to find their selective rooms, Lin decided he might as well make his time useful and do the same. He gave a brief glance back at the few stragglers, namely the snake-woman and Coalesce, who he assumed couldn't actually fit down the tight hall that housed all of the rooms. Hopefully they would find comfort in the large space that they had all met in, for he was quite certain it was the only part of the castle that would actually be large enough to house them.

As he glided down the hall, he watched his new companions disappearing into rooms that they had apparently all chosen, not stopping until he found one at the very end of the hall, tucked a tad away from the others. Though he tended to be a relatively social being despite the language barrier he now had, he did enjoy his privacy.

The room was comfortable, though certainly a western-style. It would have to change, if they were going to be staying here awhile. He wanted some reminder of his homeland, for it being so far away he now doubted there would be much traveling back to it. At least not any time soon.

In a wave of murky green fog, his human form was soon replaced with that of the being for which he was known so well. His scales shimmered in what little light there was, a gentle glow at the tip of his horn and soon dispersing across the room, like a series of falling starts. With each part of the room they touched, it changed drastically.

The dim walls grew vibrant with ancient paintings and the rough strokes of calligraphy. The bed became more boxy in shape, the wood a reddish hue and twisting in various shapes and carvings. The floors were now covered in smooth stone, dark and reflecting all that went on above it like a pool of black water. Where candles were, there was now paper lanterns, coating the room in a gentle red light that comforted him more than anything else could.

It was only an illusion; he hadn't changed the entire room completely, and we're anything to happen to him it would certainly return back to its original shape. But despite knowing that, it felt like home. And he was grateful for it.

Artair Croft | Male | 28 Years Old | Water Kelpie

Artair kept his pace slow as he neared the tapering hallway, allowing Sariel to pass him before fully stepping inside the corridor. Blue flecked amber eyes remained on the back of her head as he followed silently through the torch lit passage. As Sariel searched for a room Artair wondered whether she would demand he remain with her or allow him his own quarters. He was uncertain which he preferred. Part of him would be relieved to have some personal space, but there was also a nagging feeling that he should be by the Daemonfey’s side at all times. It was an urging he had grown used to and no longer questioned. It only made his head hurt trying to figure out why he should he feel any sort of loyalty to a creature who technically held him captive.

Once Sariel finally came to a stop he moved to stand beside her, peering through the doorway into the rather dusty, but still well furnished room. “Not bad. I assume this is where you’ll be staying?” He inquired, his tone holding another, unasked question. ’Where do you want me to go?’

As she began to remove her cloak and weapons he took that as a sign he should probably at least keep himself busy until he had a definitive answer, daring not leave the room until she gave him the permission to do so. His gaze strayed to an old painting on the wall as she changed and he stepped closer to it, running a finger along the gritty frame and finding it had once been a brilliant golden color before being left to ruin. The painting itself pictured a young man with perhaps one of the most joyous expressions Artair had ever seen. He pondered briefly who the man might be and if he'd been important to this place once. For whatever reason it made the Kelpie feel a bit homesick.

His mind was quickly flooded with memories of a lake and the rolling green hills that had surrounded it. A soft sigh escaped him and he closed his eyes momentarily before the sound of a creaking bed signified Sariel was making herself comfortable. His body tensed slightly as he swiftly pushed the thoughts of home away. Lingering in the past wouldn't do him any good. He rarely let himself fall into such daydreams anymore and was uncertain what about this place was triggering his memory. It left him slightly discomforted and he was now beginning to regret suggesting a rest. The sooner they were out of the underground castle the better.

Artair Croft | Male | 28 Years Old | Water Kelpie

"I figured it just slipped your mind and you'd get to me eventually," he replied in a lighthearted tone, giving away not a single a hint of his inner struggle. His gaze remained on the painting a few minutes longer as he tried to make up his mind about what he wanted to do. It was slightly disconcerting Sariel was allowing him to choose. For once he felt he would have preferred a more direct order. If he left to find his own room she may grow suspicious of his eagerness to leave her side. If he stayed she might assume it was only so he could be closer to his bridle, speaking of which...he was rather reluctant to let it get too far from sight or sense. Even if she kept it hidden among her things he could always still feel it's presence just out of reach. "I'm too weary to care much about where I sleep," Artair finally answered, finally glancing back at her with a lazy grin. He stepped over to one of the beds on the opposite side of the room, tapping the frame with the tip of his boot. "This'll do for now." With that said he allowed himself to gracelessly collapse on top of it, dust rising up around him from the unused blanket and sheets. He took little notice, not even bothering to change at all other than idly kicking off his shoes.