Fantasy Adventures On and Off the Road

[Nicholas de Levive]

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The Gael Caravan had finally arrived in the capital of Leinster, Leingard. The caravan was attacked by bandits and time and time again the caravan guards Aghared, Lyff, Borhog, Quasa and Mohr had fended them off. The bandits wore rusty armor, patchwork clothing and had blunted swords, daggers and axes for weapons. They were quite the poor lot, probably only trying to find food. If only they had asked instead of attacking then Mykal would have happily given them food and shelter just like he did for the rest of the caravan. He saved Aghared and his friends Lyff and Borhog when they were dying on the side of the road surrounded by highwaymen. He took in little Celia at the request of her dying parents. His sister, gods bless her soul, bought and freed a young slave from the Occitain Empire called Marcus and raised him as she would her own son. And the Zen elf, Ylra, tagged along last month when they visited Valoron to sell their wares. There were many others whom Gael had saved. The former guardsman Mohr Jenti. The monk Molder. His brother Carver Gael. The aspiring alchemist Gunther Loras. The Moart family among many others.


The city of Leingard was a wonder of human and dwarven engineering. It resided on top of the largest of the Winter Peaks mountains, deep within the island. It had a staircase design that was very beautiful to look at and at the very bottom of the staircase was where the commonfolk lived. It was a maze of small wooden houses and large stone barracks'. The second and third steps are where the lesser nobles and the merchants lived. It is a flat disc with stone supports underneath and lots of fine white marble villas on the top with plenty of trees and grassy knolls. The fourth step was where the greater nobles and the royal family live. It is arranged so that it has levels indicating importance, with the king at the top in his Whitestone Palace.


The ascent was made easier with use of large portals that connected parts of the city. The feeling of passing through the portals was like small electrical charges racing all across your skin. This happened another three times until Mykal reached the palace. Apparently the king had summoned the old general to his throne room for a reason he did not know.


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Sitting on top of his throne with a solemn expression was the King of Lein, Eóhearn Stoneheart. He had aged a lot since the last time Mykal had seen him and yet he was still the bear of a man that the caravan master had remembered him to be. He beckoned Mykal forward. And when he was close enough he suddenly got up and hugged him with a wide smile on his face.


"Mykal! You old fool! Why did you not come to see me on the Feast of Sol?" he studied his old friend's face closely and then continued "I thought i had sent a formal invitation? Did it not reach you?"


"Forgive me, Eóhearn. I was on the other side of the Greater Hearth at the city of Mennar when your invitation reached me. Not only that, it arrived on the eve of the Feast." the old general apologized. The two large men exchanged the usual greetings and small talk before he asked "Anyway, why did you call me this time, Eóhearn. I don't think it's about the Feast, now is it? It's still only the 5th of Geen." he regarded his kingly friend with a inquisitive look.


"Straight to business is it. I am asking for a favor. My youngest daughter, Alkyra has gone missing. She was on trip to meet her fiancèè at Castle Scherer. She was last seen with a man with a checkerboard cloak at Old Alfric. And that is all the information i have managed to find these past two months." concern was clear on his face. It was an expression he had seen only a few times before. "Please, Mykal. I beg of you, please find my daughter." he begged, almost kneeling on the ground.


"Of course, old friend. Now, rise! Before your subjects see you! And you can rest easy, for i, Mykal Gael, the Winter General and the Old Wolf, swear to find your daughter." he finished with a hand on his heart. "Now, i must go and inform the rest of my caravan. They have the right to know just what kind of quest we are setting out on" the master said before left the palace and descended to where his caravan was. They were staying at the Old Wolf's personal villa on the third step. After they had dinner in the Great Hall, he announced that he was going to on a quest find the king's daughter. Many curious looks were passed between the members of the caravan.


"Now, i hope yer not plannin' on leavin' me behind, brother." Carver said. "Of course not! You're expertise in sorcery is invaluable to me. We'll need you if we're ever going have the slightest hope of finding little Alkyra." Mykal replied with a shake of his head.


"How about the rest of you? Will you follow me to Old Alfric? Or will you stay in Leingard?" he asked as he surveyed the room. Mohr, Quasa and Gunther all accepted. However, the Moarts had decline because they were expecting another baby and the rest were still undecided.

 

[Rook]

Marcus looked away from the servant he'd been seducing, knowing not to ignore the caravan leader. A quest? Them? Were they really up to saving a life, rather than enriching their own? He couldn't really disagree with the idea, since the woman who bought him did the same thing. But even so, was it in their best interest to go on a rescue mission? Mykal said nothing of a reward, but they were saving royalty- there was sure to be some sort of compensation.


Maybe it was in his own best interest to go. along the way, he was sure to be able to sell at least some of his goods. And they're were sure to be plenty of beautiful women along the way. How could he deny such a possibility? There was always the chance that along the way, they could get robbed, but thats what the guards were for, right? Well, he wasn't necessarily against the idea of rescuing a woman in need, engaged or not, and he really did enjoy seeing new places.


"I shall join you, Mykal," Marcus said, standing. If his caravan was going on a quest, he would join them. "Hopefully, i may be of some use to you on this venture of yours." He made sure to add flourish to his words, since the servant was still standing behind him. If he'd learned anything about women, it was that they preferred an intelligent man to a brute.


@Nicholas de Levive

 

[SleepiestBear7]

Aghared stood up tall, well, as tall as a dwarf can be, put a hand over his heart and accepted the offer of the caravan leader. "Of course i will come with you, Mykal. I have sworn to follow you since the day you saved my life."


With that he sat down, thinking of all the adventures he had lived with the caravan leader. His life certainly improved since the day he had met him. He remembered that day very well...


He, with two of his friends, Lyff and Borhog were walking down a road surrounded by trees. Suddently, a very big group of highwaymen appeared out of nowhere and ambushed them. They fought with courage and determination, killed many of them, but there even more bandits than what they tought there were, it was like a small army and it was equipped well, with armors made of leather and steel, sturdy bows and sharpened swords.


After a long fight, his friends were on the ground, wounded and Aghared was, in the end, overwhelmed.


Just a group of bandits was left surrounding them, because the others told them to loot everything they had.


Just as he tought he was going to die, Aghared saw some men come where they were. At first he tought that they were other bandits, but upon looking better at them he realized that they didn't look like any of the thiefs. The men slaughtered the group of highwaymen and saved his life and that of his friends. The men were part of a caravan led by Mykal Gael. From that day he sworn to follow and protect Mykal to repay his debt.

 

[Karcen]

For one who fancied herself a bard a palace was a dull place if you were not here to perform, though it seemed that there was something to interest her, a Quest. While Ylria did not think of herself as some kind of adventurer she did know where a story was and this was a story worth being told. She hoped there would be dragons and an evil villain keeping this princess in a tall tower. Well she would if it wasn't for how silly that sounded making it closer to a kids story over a good song to tell. those always required some kind of twist. Regardless this was a situation that she would at least like to follow the mission to save the princess even if she didn't fully plan on actively participating as her place was to write the story no make it.


" I will join as well to make sure the story told is accurate." she said with a very over dramatic bow, as she was ever theatrical in her movements used to using them to help a story be told or a song sung.

 

[Lumina]

The small girl watched as the older people talked about saving the princess. Her mom told lots of fairy tails about how lovely the royal family was, so she believed the king's tale. It seemed like everyone else in the caravan wanted to go as well.


She stuck close to Marcus, as she always did. she admired him quite a bit, and didn't even mind his scarred face. Maybe it was because he reminded her of her father? Or maybe it was because she had always wanted an older brother figure and was projecting that desire onto Marcus. Whatever the reason, her hand had a grip of the bottom hem of the back of his shirt.


"Me! Me! I wanna go!" Celia piped up, peeking out from behind the womanizer. she figured nobody had really seen her yet. Shed be going anyways of course, but she wanted to feel like she was a part of the conversation as well.

 

[Lady Luna Ravenswood]

Up in the rafters like a statue was a female elf. She had no reason to be up there other than she was used to hiding an eavesdropping on conversations. She was listening in on a large groups conversation.


Missing princess? hmmmmm, this may be worth my time....the king might pay for the return of his daughter....


That was a sure fire way to get her involved, offer her money. It got her in trouble before though, it was her love of money that got her banished.


Maybe I can buy my way back into the favor of people....


She waited though, she wanted to size up every member before revealing that she was there. She watched as members of the group piped up to say they were going. She made mental notes of each one, what they were, and how they presented themselves.


Well, they don't seem like too much of a threat.....although the other elf...


She could tell that the other elf was from the other tribe. The two elf tribes rarely got along. The Bushi were all war all the time and the Zen were all peace and love.


I might not get along with her


She stood up on the beam, deciding to join in on this conversation, since they seemed like an interesting group. She jumped off the beam, landing with a solid thud on the table. She was okay, having landed on the table gracefully. She stood up, revealing that she was elf, mainly by her tall slender frame. She had a very fitted tank top style shirt on and a very flowy skirt. Her bow and arrows were strapped to her back. She pointed at the man the others that the others had addressed as Mykal.


"You, Mykal. I wish to join you on this....search for the daughter of the king."


She was never one for subtle entrances when she was not trying to kill someone. And her tone was rather forceful, but that was how the Bushi elves were. They fighters, and they didn't have time for formalities. She quickly thought of reason, besides money, for her to be accepted on this quest.


"I think my skills will be of help to you."


She stood in a very confident way, giving off an air of 'I know what I'm doing'. She didn't even explain where she came from and how she knew what they were doing. She assumed they could put two and two together, that she was spying on them and that she came from the celling.


"If you do not want me I will follow you, daughters of kings don't disappear into safe areas. Or with safe people causing them to go missing."

 

[Nicholas de Levive]

He was astonished. Out of the thirty or so caravaners only the Moarts, the juggler brothers Kyle and Dyke refused to go. Not that he minded of course, the more the merrier. But what amazed him most was that the womanizing Marcus and Celia wanted to go as well. "Well now, this is a pleasant surprise isn't it brother?" Carver said. "Aye, it is." Mykal said with a big grin on his face. He trusted his caravan to join him but not to this extent. "Alright, we'll leave in a fortnight so relax and enjoy Leingard to it's fulle-" he barely finished when an elf woman dropped down from above. She landed with all the grace of a cat. When she got up to her full height she pointed at the caravan master and said "You, Mykal. I wish to join you on this....search for the daughter of the king." she said rather forcefully. The way she said it was reminiscent of the Bushi elves. "I think my skills will be of help to you. If you do not want me I will follow you, daughters of kings don't disappear into safe areas. Or with safe people causing them to go missing." she continued. Well, what she did have a point. She seemed to have a bow and a quiver on her and at this point, it would be to our advantage that we had an archer. He looked around at his other companions. The dwarves seemed to be shocked but they didn't seem as if they perturbed by it. Little Celia, however, was frightened by the sudden appearance of the elf and she hid behind Marcus. Meanwhile Marcus looked smitten with the beautiful elf. Tough luck, as Bushi elves normally never marry outside their own race. Ylra, on the other hand, was displeased that a Bushi elf had come out of nowhere and that was only one reason. The civil war about five generations ago completely split the elven world in half.


The Zen elves only won thanks to the intervention of the Albans who helped the in exchange for gold and silver.


"Well, i have no reason to refuse such an offer. But," he took a small pause " why would you extend such an offer to me?" he asked in an incredulous tone. He was very curious as to not only what a Bushi elf was doing in Leinster but also why she was interested in finding the princess. In the end he put up a hand before she could reply and said "Well, that can wait for the morrow. We're all very tired and there a few young ones here so we might as well go to bed early. You can answer later if you wish," he said as he got up from his large oaken chair "goodnight everyone. May you all have a good night's rest. You might as well explore and wander around this city tommorow, since we won't be leaving for a fortnight." he finished with a smile.


The morning was crispy and cold, for there was rain during the night. Mykal woke up covered in a cold sweat. He had a nightmare about his past, more specifically the siege of Castle Chourlande, infamously known as the Fortress of God.


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In his dream, he was standing in front of many people in blue robes were firing lightning bolts and fireballs into the castle towers. The towers brilliantly went up in flames while a storm of steel tipped arrows fired from the castle walls killed many of the men in robes. This exchange quickly turned in favor of the men in robes focused their powers into the walls and breached them at the price of their lives. Behind him a river of men charged into the castle, sweeping him along as well. Inside was like a scene of hell. The people inside were burning alive as the river of men became grey colored demons with horns who slaughtered the burning people. There, at the forefront was the largest demon of them all towering over all of the others, with a familiar beard and red overcoat soaked in the blood of hundreds of innocent people. As he turned around he had holes for eyes and inside those holes were the faces of people, people he didn't know when or where he killed. The monster roared as like a lion and charged at Mykal. That was when he woke up. It was a terrible dream, and he knew that the monster was him.


He tried to forget the nightmare while eating breakfast with everyone. It was a large feast, plenty of mutton, pork, onions and garlic, large legs of cows roaster on a fire and beer and mead for the adult while the young ones drank milk and water. Mykal and Carver were going to the Leinster bank to withdraw gold and silver for the upcoming journey and to buy some weapons and armor for themselves since their old ones were rusted and broken. He asked the others what they were planning to do.


Ok guys, second post up! Also, thanks for replying i actually thought this Rp was dead before it even started. And also, there are plenty of NPCs you can add AKA the other caravaners so feel free to add people in. Oh and if you were wondering the Moart family has eight people in it, the ninth on the way.

 

[Lumina]

Celia was not yet awake the next morning. Bedhead curled her autumn-orange hair in trusses around her round face. She yawned, rubbing her eyes, the irises the color of the freshly dug dirt of the fields. She sat at the table for breakfast, sleep still heavily present in her features. She looked around for juice or milk or something of the like to drink. It's not like she could have adult drinks like everyone else. A soft, tiny higher pitched yawn escaped her mouth, and she tried to keep her eyes open at the table.

 

[Rook]

Marcus woke up, yawning as he slowly pulled himself up. He sighed, looking around him- most of last night was a blur. He was flirting with the servant, and then Mykal had asked them to go on the journey. After that... what happened? The merchant felt the bed beneath him shift, and something move to his right. "Oh..." His flirting with the servant girl was more successful than he had thought. With a groan, Marcus stood, and searched in vain for his shirt. After a minute of searching, he grabbed a clean shirt from his trunk, slipping the soft fabric onto his bare skin. Before he left the room, he shook the servant, waking her up. She blushed profusely and quickly leaving the room to get to her duties. He laughed to himself, checking his appearance in the mirror before slipping on his shoes and heading out the door and heading straight to the rest of the caravan. Marcus began to eat and drink his fill, shedding the look of exhaustion that he usually acquired after a...long night.

 

[SleepiestBear7]

Aghared woke up early in the morning from his meditation. He got up, feeling well rested and relaxed and saw Lyff and Borhog still sleeping soundly on their beds. He didn't want to wake them, it was still too early, so he silently walked to the door and made his way outside.


Most of the others were still asleep, so the dwarf decided to wander through the city until everyone was ready. He walked for an hour, while chatting with some townsfolk and buying some food for himself.


When he retuned everyone was awake and they all started eating. He sat down next to Marcus, a merchant and a womanizer. Not a noble man to his eyes. Aghared could clearly see that he was tired, but that didn't surprise him, remembering the noises that were coming from his room last night.

 

[Karcen]

Ylria woke up as she always did though at least she would not have to worry about packing things up or getting on the move early as was often the case in a caravan , it was nice to sleep in after all. Her people might call that desire and imperfection and demand penitence but really what was the point in saying what was or wasn't pure. Ylria honestly hadn't thought about her people in what felt like years, even in her home country she was a strange, she only though of them now because of the other elf, the bushi elf was now going to join them. Really Ylria actually did wish her people would have been a bit more willing to fight like the Bushi elves they no doubt had stories of battles and glory while hers had tales of being one with nature, not exactly the most thrilling of tales. Still she got up and started some morning stretches which was closer to gymnastics featuring some flips and cartwheels, not exactly the most conventional warm ups for their of the things she was but they were useful.

 

[Lady Luna Ravenswood]

Hespera slept in the small camp she had made in a ally. She had only a small amount of money to her name, they only gave her a tent when they banished her. Over time through trades and sales of apothecary goods she was able to accumulate 2 horses and some money.


I wonder if that man is providing food for his group....


She wondered that since, she seemed to only have a handful of wild berries and a little bit of bread in her pack.


I should check........can always just steal it if need be...


While she usually hides her pointed ears today they were on display. her dreaded hair was pulled back and she managed to wear less of a shirt then she was wearing the night before. Today it was what looked like a crop top with the fabric of the tank top hitting just above her belly button. She was still wearing the same skirt as before with her bow and quiver on her back. She reached the hall, not making the entrance she did before, but she did make herself known. Mainly by snatching food and shoving it her bag as she found an open spot at the table. She shoved some bread in her mouth as she looked at the leader Mykal.


"I owe you an answer."


Her words were mumbled by the fact that her mouth was full bread. She had to think of more excuses like before.


"As to why I would want to help you, well its because I'm bored."


She looked at the others at the table.


"Quite a group you have here, hmmm, yes....."


She grabbed some more food, stashing some more in her pack an eating the rest.


"you have too much meat out, more nuts and berries would even it out. Not only do bushi pride themselves on their battle skills we also have the best diet for fighting and energy."


She picked at some meat, eating only till she was full.


"Where do you plan to look for the princess? "


She was curious as to what lands she was going to be seeing on this journey.

 

[Rook]

"Aghared," Marcus greeted, taking a bite from his bread. The two didn't always agree, thanks to Marcus's apparent lack of honor, but there was no reason they couldn't be civil, was there? It was Marcus's job to be friendly, after all. Being a merchant had more perks than simply paying quite a bit. "Good to see you. Sleep well?" He was genuinely trying to hold the conversation, but Marcus could tell his attempts were failing. "After the feast last night, I didn't see you."


@SleepiestBear7

 

[Lumina]

In her half asleep state Celia snuggled up against Marcus's arm, a half eaten apple in her other hand, she yawned again, closing her eyes. It was way too early for her to be up... while did the adults always have to be up so early? Her curls fell across the edge of the table, swaying slightly.

 

[SleepiestBear7]

Aghared wasn't expecting someone to start talking with him, especially Marcus. They weren't exactly the best of friends, but there was no reason to not have a small talk. He took his time to swallow the bread that he was eating and turned to Marcus. "You didn't see me last night becuase after the feast i went outside, to get some air and talk to my friends, Lyff and Borhog" He pointed at the two other dwarves sitting to his other side. "Everyone was talking about the elf girl who jumped out of nowhere last night and there was just too much noise, so i went outside." Aghared scratched his beard and noticed that Celia was hugging Marcus's arm while trying to keep awake. "And yes, i have slept well. I can't say the same thing for you, or for little Celia. I could help you sleep better, of you wish. Of course, my help won't work if you keep having a different woman in your bed each night." Aghared followed that with a little laugh. There was no reason for not helping the man. Maybe they could become better friends, one day.

 

[Rook]

Marcus looked down at Cecelia, allowing himself to loose the arrogant facade for a moment and patted her head, ruffling her hair a bit. "I can't help it, Aghared..." Marcus said, with a lighthearted sarcasm infused with his words. "Im simply too charming for my own good." He tried to make sure that the guard could tell he was joking, but he wasn't the best at subtle tone changes. "But things will change, now that we're on the road. Less cities to stop in, more pressing matters than... socializing." Marcus finished the last piece of food on his plate and leaned back in his chair, expelling the fleeting feelings of sleep and exhaustion.


@SleepiestBear7

 

[Lumina]

Marcus's movement rustled Celia from her sleep. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, her feet dangling off the end of the chair. She glanced at Marcus.


"Oh..I'm sorry..." sleepiness laced her words as she yawned, grabbing the nearest piece of bread, and began tearing bits off to make herself child-sized pieces. She didn't want to choke after all.

 

[SleepiestBear7]

"Heh, i have noticed that, Marcus. You tend to be a bit too charming with every female you happen to meet. And you are right, now that we have to find the princess we won't have time for pointless things." Aghared replied, just as he took a sip from his jug of mead. He looked at the merchant and his eyes landed on his scar. That was something he never got the chance to ask him about. Aghared remembered that Marcus was once a slave, that was another thing to ask him about. The dwarf figured that this could be a good time to ask questions, just after they've finished eating. He genuinely wanted to know more about the human. "Now tell me, my friend, how was life as a slave? It must have been horrible not having any freedom."

 

[Rook]

"Ah..." Marcus managed. "Pray that your children never become one. For adults, it mostly consists of labor and hard work. But for children... lets just say that men in power can acquire disgusting habits. I was sold for a low price thanks to my skin being marred by a misplaced strike. To answer your question, life without freedom is not life at all." He slowly sat back up, his eyes transfixed on the table before him. Marcus quickly banished the memories of his past from his mind, choosing to focus on the tasks at hand.

 

[SleepiestBear7]

"Hm... I can imagine... Or maybe i cannot... Sorry for bringing up this argument." Aghared said while getting up himself. He truly was sorry for making an inopportune question. He mentally scolded himself and noted that from now on he should think more before speaking.

 

[Karcen]

Ylria finished her stretches and found that she couldn't see the other elf, though she did not look that hard to find her. There was however a group of several of the others including the caravan's youngest member, someone that she could always try out new stories on as kids and drunk adults had about the same level of intelligence. The mood of the others did seem a bit gloomy they would of course need cheering up something a bard was great for, and she could also use some advice.


" Good morning all " she said as she walked into the group " So what are we talking about today perhaps a plan for our quest, or something else fun " she asked her voice full of cheer.

 

[Rook]

"Its fine, Aghared. I get asked a lot, and it has made me rather numb to the subject," Marcus dismissed. He looked down at Celia, once again amazed that she had chosen to sit by him, the man known for his bad habits, rather than someone else. People baffled him constantly, but still... Marcus looked up at the bard, forcing a smile. "Good morning, lass. If you consider slavery fun, then you would be right. But its due time we change the subject. "

 

[Lumina]

Celia had found a mug and was drinking out of it, a servant gurl having filled it up with milk for her. The cup was almost as big as her head as she raised it to her lips. Taking a break and setting the cup down a milk mustache rested on her mouth. She looked around for some kind of fruit, she always needed to have fruit with a meal. It was one of the few things she remembered her parents telling her.


Eat fruits and veggies at every meal and you'll grow up big and strong!





With the sleepiness gone from her eyes she looked around at the table, feeling small and big at the same time.