• This section is for roleplays only.
    ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.

    Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.

Fantasy Blood & Ruin (A Dark Fantasy Roleplay)[IC]




Comet Blossoms - 'Coms, The Flower Girl.'

Comet1.jpg[

Comet and Friends by the Shop...


(Morning) Pondering at the Shop...

"Shadowy Archers in the belly of Bellus, Coal. And one of them does this lass recognize."

The girl stat on the stoop at the rear entrance, an elbow on a knee, a single hand neath her light brown chin to prop up her head. Her lone green eye stared at her black feathered friend as he worked on the sandwich pieces she fed him. But she really wasn't staring at him, rather she was staring through him back into those yellowed times when she herself had encountered archers. Those were those times that she cried oh so hard. She had survived such encounters whereas those closest to her were buried at sea. But no tears fell now for Comet was forsaken. She was not worthy. She was Vagrant now.

"And the recognized... Coal, never in a million years should this lass ever have suspected that the inn Cleaner Girl, an archer she would be."

Once more she tossed another morsel for Coal and once more she shook her head. The connection took a bit of time to formulate and connect in the denseness of her mind but it finally did hit her. Calli was a lass she knew in passing yes, however, Comet knew her as but merely a maintenance worker at one of the inns. The blonde completely brushed aside that Calli had hidden her true self; who was Comet to judge? It was the fact that Calli was an 'archer' was what shocked her. Perhaps she would not have fixated so much on it had she have been a 'hunter.' But Comet knew she was not a hunter. There was no way.

No hunter would shoot at a man in the city streets in broad daylight. Especially at a man that had the abilitiy to snatch arrows right out of the air, barehanded no less. Comet herself knew she was not the sharpest tool in the shed, but even she knew better than to involve herself in a fight between 2 such individuals. Both were most definitely more dangerous than she but--


"--these 3 wretches all be hiding hands bright red. Aye. Bad and rotten people they be, Coal. Bad, bad, bad."

Perhaps she should have found some semblance of peace once she saw the pair traipse off together, Coal had even circled round the pub that they entered, but no it did not. No, for it finally clicked in her mind; the cryptic warning from Auntie Shan to Comet as to why the lass should not view the excecution. Auntie Shan wanted to shield Comet from Comet's own memories. Both knees separated and she sat now, rather unladylike, resting both elbows on knees and both hands holding her head.

"'You shall think it will be the actions of others, child. But'..."

No matter how differently they dressed, no matter how differently they tried to talk, no matter how differently they acted to fit in, happy or not, Calli and Comet were playing the same game. They were both running from a past that never saw proper closure because the past does not lie. Auntie found out that Comet was actually a pirate. And now Comet found out that Calli was an archer. She had no actual proof, but she was certain that like she, Calli too was a killer.

"...'in the end it is you who will tell on you'."

Comet sat there motionless for several minutes trying to reconcile her mental gymnastics and breakthrough. The sound of a small metallic item falling at her feet stirred her. From high above, Coal cawed away bidding her farewell as he soared above her. She forced a smile, waved up high at him and thanked him for another one of his gifts. A button. A rather elegant thing in its simplicity and with quite the heft to it to. To Comet it looked like a less ornate button that would be worn by Naval Officers. After a minute of marvelling at it, she tucked it in her satchel and chuckled to herself. Another little bobble from her feathered friend to add to her collection. But the mirth was shortlived. It died the exact moment her fingertips brushed the cold steel of her massive knife.

Captain Rai'Shauni's voice roared in her head and bright red burned across her cheeks.
'By blood and ink are we linked! Like chains of the anchor we must never be broken! By Blood and Ink does your Captain bind ye! Break that bond dares she! Dares she for yer sorry hide to betray yer ship! Betray yer crew! Betray yer Captain--' Despite the knee-weakening shame, Comet scarmbled to her feet and willed herself back into the shop and slammed the back door shut, locking out the open air and the haunting voices of another lifetime.

Blonde hair draped across her face like a golden kraken as she pressed her back against the heavy door. She was breathing hard, shoulders rolling up and down fighting the good fight to stave off the tears.


"'I' am a loverly Bellus girl...! 'I' am a loverly Bellus girl...! 'I' am a loverly Bellus girl...!" both hands pulled strands of golden locks at her temples as she repeated her mantra in desperation. Comet would only cease, body still shivering, once the ghostly laughter of her captain faded and finally died.



(Dusk) Closing Shop...

Loud and excited chatter spread like wildfire, the moment Mrs. Kolah (as the workers called Auntie Shan. Well, that or 'Yes, Ma'am') turned the wooden sign from OPEN to CLOSED. Such was the magic of closing time. All those employed were well trained and disciplined, polite yet stoic as Auntie would have them. But that magical moment that sign flipped, she turned a blind eye to the sudden change in exuberance in those upon her payroll.

A quartet of teens gathered and put their arms around each other. Enthusiastically included in the group hug was Comet. These 4 were former urchins that had befriended the sturdy blonde in her garden and turned out to be rather hardworking and respectful young folks. And so with some heavy persuasion-- more like prodding-- Comet had convinced Auntie to hire them on during busy season. The rest was history. Auntie herself had to admit that she had been wrong in painting all orphans and urchins with a blackened brush of disdain and mistrust.

The rest of the employees had gathered in their respective groupings by area of work: Weavers and Netting, Stock and Receivers, Carpenters, Tool setters, etc. There were a lot of hands that Auntie had to pay out but ever since she had taken Comet in under her wing, the bottom line no longer was of importance to her. Yes, she did take a masssive hit to income flow, including loss of half their business generation when her husband died (it broke her heart that she had to sell his vessel), but Comet showed and taught the middle-aged woman there was so much more worth in life than merely focussing upon than the riches she could attain. She was already wealthy enough but the one thing she had failed to see was that a huge nest egg was nothing if there was no egg to hatch to hand it all over to.

When Comet came into her life, she realized just how lonely she was and how she regretted her decision to not have children.

And so those that she had under wing at the shop became surrogate to her loss. And Comet by default became her ward too. Creator love her, was Auntie Shan ever thankful for the girl.

Part of the success of the fisherman and tackle shop was their customer service; Auntie Shan always made sure she had enough staff on hand to blow the competition out of the water when it came to making her customers feel more like guests than potential sources of coin stacks. That and the hauls this year was better than the last few years. For whatever reason fishstocks in the rivers and connected lakes had reached impressive numbers. Perhaps the prayers to the Creator encouraged them to paint a better picture for the good fishing people of Bellus. At least that is what Auntie believed.

But as religious as she was, Shantal was no fool. She had lived all her life in Bellus and she had lived through the years when the fishing industry was decimated. So she knew the fickleness of Fate and thusly she would enjoy vicariously , through her workers, a positive work environment that a woman of her status, wealth and prestige could never know.


"Settle down. Settle down now, everyone..." Auntie Shan slid past Mr. Dunlevy, her bulky and well built chaperone. A level gaze she laid upon her employees. She then tamped upon the floor the tip of her parasol several times to gain their attention.

"In light of all that has transpired today, despite the excitement for such a barbaric procession, I am so elated and enthused that all of you showed up and maintained your necessary air of professionalism. As you can see but the sheer amount of business that we encrued today was less than usual; it seems as if our regular customer based was 'distracted' and thus they strayed away from duty and did not need us. So it should be obvious to all that we took a hit on sales today so..."

The uncomfort of where this convo was leading was written across all the longtime employees of the shop. They had to swallow back their disdain when they lost wages due to loss of business even in the slightest. Some shifted with unease, others face palmed, few others scowled before balling their hands into fists. They watched as the silverheaded lady in the skyblue, frilly, ankle length dress waltzed over to the front counter. Shantal rested her hands down upon its worn wooden surface and held her blue eyed gaze levelly at all gathered.

"So I have decided to expand the business against better judgement. I have decided to fire our entire Netting and Carpentry division--" a chorus of audible groans , curses and the sound of worker gloves and rags being tossed upon the ground in anger and disgust echoed in the awkward pause.

Auntie held up her hands in protest,
"Please hear me out. I have decided to fire our entire Netting and Carpentry division... so as to rehire them for the next venture. And I bid them all a fair welcome aboard my reinstated fishing vessel...!"

Comet jumped not expecting the raucous cheers and her teen friends rushing her. She hadn't been following all of what Auntie was saying. The gist she caught was that her other work friends were being fired and somehow they were happy about that...? Auntie held a wide grin upon her face as she patted the shoulders of the grown men as they wept with joy; they had been loyal to her for 7 years since they lost their jobs as fishermen once her husband died. They never expected to be sailing again and doing what was written across their hearts once more. They grasped her hand and squeezed warmly, She squeezed back. Then to her ward Auntie Shan turned and spoke gently.

"I re-purchased Darnello's old boat, dear. We are no longer just a shop near the docks. We will be fishing again! I hope my late husbands best friend, Patrice takes my offer as captain. But other than that, its all set to go, dear."

It took a second longer for her to process but when she finally got it, she whooped loudly, broke away from her friends and rushed into Auntie. The girl wrapped her arms around the woman nearly squeezing the life outta her, "Oh but Auntie! So happy is this lass for ya! Nyarr and again nyarr! Exciting and grand new, tis, Auntie Shan! Oh but how this lass would love to sail but once upon such a vessel!"

"But of course. All of us here at the shop will take the maiden voyage, Comet. Such a grand time is meant for a loverly Bellus girl proper."

Comet smiled softly and lowered her caramel chin. She then grasped both Auntie's hands in hers and curtsied. The frills upon her dress hem and sleeves ruffled as if blessed by the whispers of a cool salty seabreeze.

Coal had landed upon the roof and dropped the note upon her head. The others were too distracted saying their final goodbyes for the night to notice the midnight hued bird. Some had gathered round to walk back towards the middle of the Hive whilst others gathered to hop on the sides of the carriage until they got to their northern stops in town. The quartet however saw Comet scrawl hastily upon the parchement before hastily rolling it up and passing back to Coal.

"What did she say, Blossoms?" asked Marleyna, the eldest of the quartet, "shall we meet up?"

"Wandering the town is Layna," Comet slung an arm around the lone male of their group, "sounds lonely, eh, Haddie? Perhaps needed is a strong young gent for her to loop arm around, no?"

The girls laughed as Hadley blushed and pulled away, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Not a single idea--"

"Of course not a single idea does this lad have--" said Sapphire.

"For airhead answers could only be provided by airheads. Nyarr and again nyarr." finished Sunset.

It was truly annoying at first but soon enough they all accepted the twin girls penchant for copying Comet's strange way of phrasing things. They even went so far sometimes as to refer to themselves in third person as Comet always did to herself. The problem was that the younger orphans and urchins caught on to this and began to speak like Comet too.


"Be nice, you two. See how nicely you get treated then once you yourselves fall in love--"

"I'm not in love!"

"Verrrrrry well. Says you are not then not you are. Here shall ya waits? Auntie's permission must this lass beckon."

"Ughs. But sadly not partaking are these twins, Ms. Blossoms. Found some nightwork they did--"

"What kind of 'nightwork'?!" Marleyna puffed up and balled her fists. It was written across her face as to what kind of work she assumed the twins were insinuating, "Well?Tell me true or have me n' Haddie beat it outta yer hides!"

"Marleyna! Think not so unkindly of us, big sister--"

"Night work that these twins will do 'tis at an inn. Washing dishes will we do, big sis!"

"Ayyyyyye then. But should this lass find out that the twins have been on knees or backs earning coin--"

"Marley... big sis, now you're talking like Comet too." Haddie couldn't help but laugh as he patted Marley on the shoulder.

"Ugghh!! See what you do to me?!"

The quartet laughed as Comet slunk on over to Auntie Shan.






"Auntie Shan... Something presses upon this lass' mind. And so--"

"Yes. Oh, do not look so surprised dearie, I said; 'yes.'"

"But... but--"

"Why? Well did you stray from your path today like I asked you not to do?"

"Stray? Nay and again nay. Your Comet be eye impaired not ear impaired."

Auntie smiled. Perhaps she should refrain from using such sayings to scold her ward from now on. But that was besides the point. "And I believe you. And I have faith that you are safe. Especially with Ms. Marleyna in your midst. For such a youth, she has a grand head upon those shoulders. Go on then. Have fun dear, and stay out of trouble."

Comet nodded graciously. Both kissed each others cheeks and Comet turned to walk back to her friends.

"Know truly that we will discuss the state of your 'loverly garb' once you arrive, Comet. Truly know that..."

The blonde did not turn around; she did not want to expose to Auntie the bright pink shame rushing across her tattooed cheeks. Instead she merely nodded and meekly replied; "Aye Auntie Shan. Knows it truly does this lass."

Upon return, the quartet cheered altogther despite Haddie having been persuaed by the twins to join them. The inn was looking for extra help tonight and could use a barback. Executions always seemed to bring out the coins from folks purses. It was so nice to discuss the bloody, head-lopping happenings of the day over food and drink afterall. The decided groups bid each other a noisy yet fond farewell as usual. Soon enough Coal had returned and dropped another msg for them.

"What's it say then, Blossy?"

A wide grin spread across her light brown face. A lone green eye glinted as they stared into dark ones gazing back at her expectantly, "Nearby is Ms. Layna. Togetrher shall we meet!"

"And together shall we pipe!! Hahahahah!" Marley held up her happy smoking device in triumph.

"Shhhhh...! Still in earshot is Auntie Shan, Marley...!"

"Oi, should the old lady wish to join in on the sky high merriments then, aye, puff-pull, all the-- mrpph mrppmph--"

Comet shoved a gloved hand over Marley's mouth and half dragged her friend out in to the street away from the shop. Coal cawwed away as he took wing and followed.




 
Layna Hurst
Interactions: BuggaBoo BuggaBoo
Location: The Hive District(?)​

Lady Sword Portrait.pngIt was passed mid-day and Layna has been walking around town, seeing the state its in. She could tell that there's plenty of gossip occurring about the execution from earlier. She wasn't too interested in partaking in said gossip, however it wasn't difficult to hear what others are speaking about just from taking a walk around. For the most part it was simple spread of information, with a few exaggerations here and there. Mostly about the 'beast' in the mountains.

While she wandered the district, her eyes caught sight of Coal. She instantly recognized the bird as it was the only one of its kind she's seen. "Hm... I wonder how Comet's doing after all this." She pondered and waved up at the parrot. He seemed to notice her as he swooped down and perched itself on a nearby barrel. "Well hello there little guy." She smiled a bit and rubbed under his chin. She's never met a bird more trained than him and she doubt she ever will.

She opened up her satchel and pulled out a parchment and a charcoal pen. She teared the parchment to make it smaller and wrote a short message to meet up around the Marketplace before rolling it up to hand it to Coal. "Go back to Comet for me." She said and the bird flew back up in the sky. She watched it for a few moments before turning to head around a few blocks towards where she wrote down to meet. It was starting to get a bit late, but she figured there was time to meet with a friend for a while.
 



Comet and Marley

Comet1.jpg[
Redhead.jpg

Meeting with Layna in the Market Area...


Of course tonight the streets would still be littered with folks still on their sugar-high of the morning's head-lopping event. There seemed to be an almost air of celebration especially amongst those that were definitely on Team-Kill-All-Rebels.

Marley led the pair through the streets and into the mess of humanity near the front entrances of local pubs and eateries as the riff raff had come out to play too. Both girls clutched their satchels close to their tummies as they pressed on past the beggars, early drunks, pervs and pickpockets and cutpurses alike. Comet just tensed up her muscles and yanked violently away from any that wanted to hit her up. Marley spat piss and vinegar at all that came within a foot of her; she was well versed in dealing with such folk. Some had chastized Marley for turning her back on the lowly and downtrodden but she was having none of that. A quick middle finger and the equivalent of 'Do Better!' was her retort. Minus all the expletives, of course.

Once past that part of town, both girls checked their belongings. A sigh. Eye contact. Smiles and giggles. All was intact yet again, praise Creator's Mercy.

Continuing on, both females finally spotted Coal circling above in the distance; Layna was just around the corner.




Comet held a gloved hand up high, a bright grin upon her light brown face. Green eye sparkled in the lamp light once Layna spotted the pair of youthful females. Comet's burgundy dress was covered in streaks of darkened grime. The marks ran all the way from her collar to just below her knees where her dress ended. The ivory frills had seen more ivory days too. Her white stockings were also marred but her black shoes with white ribbons remained shined as always. At least her blonde hair was tidy and pulled back with the dark kerchief. "Layna! Atta' girlie!! Yar, does this lass' heart soar so high to sees you, dear!"

Marley bounced up and down and waved up high too. An equally bright smile breached her pale and freckled face. In her hand she held up her pipe; a sign that 'great heights' the trio would reach was imminent! Playfully she curtsied in her brown workers dress, dark stockings rolled down to her ankes just above her black shoes as was the style of the teens in town. The sleeves of her dark blouse had been rolled up to match the trend. And as provocative as it was, a few buttons had been undone revealing the flesh beneath her throat; much to the dismay of the proper Bellus ladies. But that was the style nowadays. The twin ponytails trend she did not abide by for she hated the look about her; she felt like she had two wild bushes flailing from either side of her head. "And a fine night to you, Ms. Layna! How fares the fair lady, I must ask!"

At the quiet and darker side between buildings the trio should gather away from prying eyes. The scent of their naughty endeavours would be a dead giveaway but by the time any noticed, they would be able to flee from any that wished to make an issue of their piping time together.

Marley placed the heated orange tip of wood into her pipe and tried desperately to stoke the flame to ignite the herbage within.
"But of course! Of all bloody times now the bloody fire dies," she spoke out the corner of her mouth. Then after spouting a few sharp obscenities; "Oh... Oh!! Really do think I can get this bitch lit, ladies. Hope still lives!"

"Does it the best, does my Ms. Marley!" Comet clapped her hands before turning to Layna, "And so pretty Miss Layna? Did such a fine lass partake in some fine business today? Oh but not a good day was business for the Fisherman's shop.

"But avast! Such great news was cast from Auntie Shan upon the workers' ears! A wonderful fishing vessel was purchased by she! And invited are all the workers for the maiden voyage! Perchance and perhaps aboard the deck shall pretty Ms. Layna join us? Adore ya does Auntie, and permission be but a whisper away from Comet to her Auntie's ears, nyarr and again nyarr. So. Says what to such an offer does my pretty Ms. Layna?"


"Got it!" plumes of smoke rushed madly from Marley's pipe bowl as she took 2 big puffs and pulls. "Ahhhhhh aye then ladies... who's next!"

An ungodly screech practically shattered eardrums. The sound was like nothing they ever heard before.

A heartbeat later a woman screamed and screamed until others in the market area joined in. 2 towns people rushed past Comet, yelling wildly, eyes bulging wide. Comet reached out and pulled the arm of 1 of the 2 girls and yanked, attemting to pull them in the opposite direction of the panicked people.


"Needs to sees it! Needs to know does Comet! Just what in all hells could make such a horrific sound!"

Comet turned the corner and found out.

The woman that had initiated the chorus of screams screamed no more. How could she? No one could ever utter a sound again without a head.




 
Hainer Moradi
Location:
Bellus Marketplace
Mentions: Wyll Wyll


Hainer eyed the black beast that stood before him. What was originally a routine evening, had turned into a blood bath, as the monster continued to skewer innocent bystanders. “All of you, get away!” Hainer shouted at people who stood idly in fear, attempting to salvage whatever could have been salvaged. Numerous guards also began to approach, archers also at the ready to assault the beast. Within seconds, several arrows were launched towards the monster, some missing, whilst one or two managed to pelt the beast. It let out a shriek from the steel arrows, until Hainer noticed another couple of arrows fly past the beast, averting its attention to another man. Hainer couldn’t recognize him, but he began to run away as if he were luring the beast away from the current busy marketplace. This was a town, not a battlegrounds, which meant away from here would have been better, regardless.

“That idiot! It’s going to follow him!” A guard nearby shouted.

“No, I think…I think that’s a better option. We can take it away from the town!” Hainer responded, watching as the crow began to walk hastily towards his aggressor, before attempting to take flight.

The guardsman began to run towards the direction of the monster, some even mounted on their horses, trailing behind it. From the marketplace, it wasn’t far off to reach the outskirts of the town. “Damn…there’s still the other one!” Hainer muttered under his breath, as looked to the skies and around the town. He didn’t see where the other beast had landed, however, he had faith that one would be dealt with. For now, he had to focus on the one they were chasing. He gripped his sword as he bolted towards the where the beast was flying. It was definitely fast, and the night of the sky was fast approaching, making it difficult to see the flying demon.

However, before long, the sounds of arrows whizzing by filled the air, several impaling the beast as it let out a shriek of pain. Hainer saw the beast from afar, crashing down to the town below once again - this time, landing close to the edge of town. Hainer hastened up his jog through the streets, veering around barrels and crates littered around the alleyways, until he finally came to an opened space with wooden arches - one of the entrances to the town. The beast was surrounded, its wing visibly injured, and bleeding alongside its abdomen. However, it quickly lunged at a guard nearby, closing its beak on his arm. The guard shouted in pain pleading for help, before it effortlessly ripped his arm off, leaving the guardsman on the ground writhing about in pain and a pool of blood surrounding him.

“Don’t let up!” A guard shouted, signalling the archers to let loose another barrage of arrows. Hainer watched as the crow was pelted once again with several arrows, piercing its body. The beast was tough and resilient - the sheer muscle mass was visible as it moved, even when arrows embedded themselves in its body. It’s method of flight was handicapped, however, it’s ability to lunge and walk remained at large.
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top