Rachna continued past the river for a ways, but the scenery wasn't getting any brighter. On the contrary, what was a pleasant grassy field with babbling brooks was slowly turning into a dense, black forest of gnarled, ominous looking trees. It also looked like there had been a fire here recently, accompanied by some sort of several stories tall bulldozing monster, but it was impossible to trace what. Regardless, whatever it was, it had left.
A murmuring voice came from nearby; as Rachna listened, she realized that the voice was spitting and impatient. It was also definitely a man's. "Blazing barrows! What is my sister thinking, consorting with a no-good do-gooder like that knight?! I asked for vengeance and received only further harm! Now my beloved sister's heart is taken by another," the voice complained.
"Do not let it bother you, Troll. She knows not what she speaks, sometimes. She is still your sister, but you... Your way is indeed right, Master. The way of evil lights our path. But she must address it herself,"[font=perpetua][/font] a strange female voice responded, sounding oddly like a person speaking over bubbling water.
"Fie and folderol, Octopressure! You do not know my sister as I do! The kinship has gone from her eyes. She sees me as a nuisance now, " he sighed. It was beginning to seem like it might be best to just avoid eavesdropping and move on... but apparently Rachna wouldn't get a chance. "Wait, is that... Oh my! What dark and villainous beauty has wandered into our forest!"
"So quick off the rebound, Master. Are you going to go say hi? It's not a bad idea, you know. Meeting new people is healthy,"[font=perpetua][/font] the bubbling voice spoke again.
A troll-like figure suddenly emerged from where he'd been stalking, appearing from the trees in a hunched, villainous form. The green-skinned man, garbed in a black robe, showed his sharp teeth in a nervous grin and wrung his hands together. "It is no coincidence that you have come here, Sorceress!" he greeted her, immediately assuming that his new acquaintance was a magic user by the look of her wardrobe. "I have been searching for one such as you. A dark mistress to devote my evil endeavors to!"
"Still yourself, beloved master,"[font=perpetua][/font] a second figure spoke, emerging from the darkness. The figure was a tall woman in silver armor, shining as if wet with moisture. Four large tentacles dragged behind her, connected to her armor. Her head was masked with a tremendous helmet, bulbous in the back like an octopus' head and containing two horizontally slitted, gaping yellow eyes. Hopefully they were just helmet adornments. "You should not devote yourself yet. Let us see her magic first, yes? That way, we can make a judgment."[font=perpetua][/font]
"A wise suggestion! Sorceress, would you do me the great honor of facing Octopressure in combat? I wish to see the might of your magic! I promise, I can make it worth your while! Besides my hand in servitude, I can provide you the rich reward of dark power, a chip that will most certainly benefit us in proper, evil-doing hands!" the creature begged, still holding his hands together desperately. On one hand, he'd sort of come out of nowhere and threatened her, but at least he was being unnecessarily flattering for some reason.
