Tristan is taken aback by the answer. He sees himself in the boy before him, a child wandering aimlessly with noone to give him a moral code, no compass or direction in the ways of the world or in his own life.
giving a gentle smile, Tristan kneels down and firmly puts his hand on the boys shoulder.
"Would you like to travel with me? I may be a bit rowdy by night, but travelling companions in these dark days would be a smart choice wouldn't you agree?"

Between Hylon Forest and Fonhinqann
Main Highway
Five and a Quarter Hours before Twilight
So there they were; one circle returned to its start and another began. The boy, who gave himself the name of Qin, pretty much attached himself to Tristan, and so the duo (trio if you include the bunny hiding in Tristan's bag) wandered off.

"So... how did you get to be so good at punching and kicking dust bunnies?" Qin asks

"Through dedication to ones body and mind. I worked for years toning my fists to do what they do today, and just as much time went into the techniques I use. Dedicating one's whole life to this idea is what gives the results."

Between Hylon Forest and Fonhinqann
Main Highway
Five and a Quarter Hours before Twilight
Qin thinks about what Tristan said. It made sense, and even he could see that.

Suddenly, there is a bit of a whoosh sound as all the little dust bunnies that ran away suddenly return to run back to the Bunny House. They leap and bound through the grass, to the door of the house, and through the cat-flap. Then, as quickly as they all ran past, the relatively silent afternoon returns, and Qin just stares back at the house.

"Should we make a sign for the bunnies or something?" Qin suggests.

"If you're going to kill me anyway, why should I stop? That's what people like you tend to do to people like me who are in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Armand was still running, and truly he couldn’t help but wonder how the woman was so able to evade the two of them. He at least was protected from many things, mind control one of them, perhaps it was Deunan alone that she read, or perhaps still the green hued ‘woman’ was simply capabe of some extra sensory perception Armand couldn’t understand.

“I know what it’s like to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time;” he said still chasing after the woman. “But I give you my word all I seek is information, not violence, nor confrontation.”

Caduceus started up again. “At least you’re known for keeping your word, just about as well as your known to go gallivanting off on one fool’s errand after another in this forsaken world. You know, back when I was with…”

“Enough my friend, there is time for criticism and nostalgia later, for now, we need to calm down that woman’s nerve’s some, so she may see with reason and not blind terror.”

Armand calls to Deunan. “Stay your advance!” Deunan looked to Armand with a quirked brow.

“But she’s the only lead we’ve got!”

“It won’t do us a lick of good if we run her right off the cliff!”

“Bu- Fine, you better know what you’re doing though!”

As Deunan slowed her hasted movements, Armand advanced but at a less aggressive pace.

“Please, all I want to do is talk, perhaps I can even help in you troubles in some way, offer some sanctuary or solace from whatever plagues you.”

Outskirts of Hylon Forest
Unmapped Area
Six Hours before Twilight
The killoren Renshiir can be seen shaking her head frantically as she runs.

"If I don't say anything I'll die, if I say anything I'll die, this is a terrible terrible terrible terrible nightmare! Wake up! Wake up! I never wanted this!"

Not looking where she is going at this point, Renshiir runs head-on into the trunk of an elderly tree, and just about collapses.

Armand couldn't help but wince as Renshiir collided with the tree. He and Deunan quickly caught up with the falen woman, and kneeled over her while Deunan held her at sword length.

"Maybe now we can talk?" Armand said as he --along with his darkvision-- got a better look at the woman before him.

"If yo talk to me, maybe we can help you against those you've run afoul of. Now before you make this even more difficult on all of us, why not take a breather, calm down, and talk to us."

Outskirts of Hylon Forest
Unmapped Area
Six Hours before Twilight
Renshiir is breathing so fast she is nearly hyperventilating. Her eyes dart back and forth between Armand, Caduceus and Deunan. Well, specifically Deunan's blade.

Renshiir is dressed rather plainly, if you're looking at a higher-class person. Her vest is embroidered, dark green cotton, and her pant is a fairly well-set leather. Underneath her vest can be seen mithril links, a chain shirt from the looks of it. Her cloak is a dark green with a silvery lining, she wears supple, leather gloves and fairly well-made leather boots. On her head, over her long hair, she also wears a silvery circlet. At her side is a long, thin rapier.

Taking in deeper breaths, she seems to calm down, physically at any rate; her eyes still show hints of panic at the edges.

"Look," Renshiir says, "I can't say anything. Period. If I do, I die. Plain and simple. It's not that I don't want to; it's that I'd never even be able to finish the first word. You have to believe me."

Despite the woman's outrageous claim and shifty nature, it is quite clear that even as Deunan and Armand glimpse at her soul, she is telling the truth.

Armand had to stop and think about what the implications of Renshiir's words meant. "Don't speak, simply nod your head if I'm right. Have you been cursed? or enchanted? I may be able to free you from such things."

Outskirts of Hylon Forest
Unmapped Area
Six Hours before Twilight
As soon as Armand's question is asked, somehow his Detect Evil vision bypasses something that was blocking it before, and an immense aura of red infests itself within his vision. It is hard to look at, and Armand's body actually freezes with the chills of the aura. As far as Armand can tell, the aura seemed to erupt from somewhere on Renshiir's back (but not from Renshiir herself).

Armand has to shake off the chills that run down his back as he detects an evil presence affixed to Renshiir beyond which he had exerienced in some time, if ever. He knows Deunan too can sens something terrible. Turning to Deunan he mouth's the words of a 'True Strike' Spell, letting it fall upon the paladin. Who looked on in anticipation.

Turning Renshiir over, despite her protests, he forcibly removes whatever is obstructing his view of whatever struck him as profoundly evil.

Outskirts of Hylon Forest
Unmapped Area
Six Hours before Twilight
Slipping the cloak over her head and pushing her chain shirt and vest up to reveal her back, Armand and Deunan are shown a hideous image. Imprinted into Renshiir's skin itself is a large tattoo, if the word can be used to describe something this large. A wavy, golden border stained with blotches of red ink to show blood marks the edges of this artwork. In the center of the black void, descending on a strand of silken thread, is depected a terrible and other-worldly spider, its carapiece's joints all sharp and angular, and it looks as though it is made out of crystal diamonds, rubies and other gemstones. It too is blotched with ink blood. In the clutches of its eight legs is a perfect sphere, a crystal orb that almost seems to shine with power in the image. It is an incredibly life-like image, a horrid tattoo, and Deunan recoils from it at its appearance.

Armand shuddered inside at the sight of the crytalline spider, but outwards he was a stalwart vision. "Be calm, I'll see if I can ease your pain". With that he cast Remove Curse upon the woman.

Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Armand raises his hands and weaves them through the air while formulating the spell orally. The spell forms a circular rune array of light in the air, which twirls around until it lies flat, its center pointing directly at the Mark. From the center of the array, a beam of purifying light fires down at the Mark.

Something is wrong. The magic strains, causing a large gale to form as something fights against the flow of magic. Renshiir screams as the world suddenly fades. Armand and Deunan's vision returns, and they are standing on a flat, empty space. Against the 'floor' of the space, the sound of nails on chalkboard resonates through the area as the apparition of the crystalline spider stalks towards them. Clearly, it did not like the cleansing attempt, and now the Guardian of the Mark is going to take any means possible to cancel Armand's spell, namely by killing Armand.

"Back down." The spider hisses, its voice threatening, and cold, like the crystal the spider is made out of. Its voice seems almost like an imitation of Renshiir's, but is far more malevolent than the killoren.

The spider suddenly jerks forward, clearing the space between it and Armand and Deunan. Swiftly, it brings forth a crystaline leg and soundly pierces Deunan's armour at the shoulder. The pain is intense, and as the spider withdraws its leg tip, blood spatters from its tip as droplets into the empty space. (-18 hp for Deunan)

A gentle breeze washed over the sea of light brown and green grasses that filled the flatlands of Tiancann. A raptor circled overhead, its eyes searching the ground for the scurry of rodents that would signal its next chance at a meal. The waves in the grass did not make the hunter’s job any easier. Nor did the island, the animal laying the grass that did not belong there, neither being predator nor prey indigenous to this land. The raptor knew this creature was not going to bother aiding in his search for a meal and so glided onwards, flapping a few times to catch a warm air updraft and soaring off into the west.

Dusk was settled, even though it was not yet sundown. The grass was cool and inviting and no one but the occasional field mouse or grasshopper intruded on his small corner of the vast plains.

The road was not that far away. Occasionally his ears would hear many sounds in the grass, even the clatter of a wagon wheel and the clomp of horses’ hooves. Some traveling group had passed this day while he lay there. A group was not uncommon in these times. A lone man, however, was quite unusual.

Then again, a lone man is only unusual if someone notices him. And Dusk was not keen on being noticed. Not unless he wanted to be.

But even here, in the serene prairies, something still felt off. He had been traveling for a long time now, and the days and weeks were beginning to blend with the months. One of the things that wasn’t blending was his talent for knowing when he was being watched by more than hawks.

Or perhaps just hawks of a different species, he thought. Slender black gloves drew the hood of his grey cowl over his point ears and short cropped blonde hair. He sat up quickly in the tall grass, glancing around to see if whoever, or whatever, was seeking him was stupid or confident enough to show themselves before he hopped to his feet and began making his way parallel to the road, continuing in his previous direction of travel.

((6 pages already? I'm impressed. Most games I play in don't reach that for some time. But I like to take my time in things. Sometimes.

Arynül will move even if he spots anyone or anything.))