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

[JSPD2000]

Hainer Moradi | Central Marketplace​

The morning sun shone down upon the town of Bellus, with a blue sky, accompanied by only a few clouds. A gentle breeze was present in the air, alongside the subtle smell of food that filled the marketplace. Fresh bread, fruit, and the aroma of flowers were smells all too common on a typical day in the marketplace. Hainer would almost consider it the perfect spring day, if it weren't for the fact it was execution day. A large wooden stage sat in the centre of the marketplace - it's permanent home where people who were sentenced to death, would be publicly executed. Today's victim was the man known as Seth. Supposedly an informant for the rebellion of Grandora, Mayor Donol wasted no time in signing off his papers for his demise once he found out. Hainer on the other hand, although gave people the benefit of the doubt and disliked the rebellion as much as the next person, was not always 100% on board with the notion of immediate execution. However, he had a job to do, and an important one at that.

"Attention!" A voice shouted. Hainer immediately straightened out his posture, upon hearing the voice of a higher up Peace Keeper who walked past, ordering numerous guards to pay attention and get into a proper posture. Due to the execution, guards were positioned throughout the marketplace, awaiting for Seth to be brought in and executed. A crowd of townsfolk began to slowly gather in front of the stage, in anticipation of the event as well.

"Everyone, back! Make room for the mayor and the guilty!" A random guard suddenly shouted, using his sword to push people back to create space among the crowd for the party to pass through.

"Oh, it's time..." Hainer muttered to himself. Hainer stood into position, ushering and gesturing the crowd to move back from the stage to give some space for people passing through as well, and before much time had passed, the town square was filled with townsfolk. Sounds of chatter filled the air, anxiety and anticipation coursing through the crowd.

Mayor Donol, the mayor of Bellus could be seen walking through the crowd, heading towards the stage. He was accompanied by several guards, alongside a somewhat older man who was handcuffed, with short black hair, with specks of grey. Hainer recognized him as a man named Seth. He wasn't anything out of the ordinary from Hainer's interactions with him, being a simple labourer in the outfields. Hainer also noticed a man in a black outfit, carrying a blade that was often used for executions. The group made their way to the stage, as the guards dispersed evenly, leaving Seth in the centre, and the Mayor to the front. The execution was now underway.

"Townsfolk of Bellus!" The Mayor began, shouting. The crowd began to silence themselves, to hear what the Mayor had to say. "Standing before you, is a man who has betrayed us all. A traitor, and a conspirator against the country of Salos, and rebel against his majesty." The Mayor spoke, as the crowd began to murmur. "While we try to live our day-to-day lives, fearing an assault from the rebellion Grandora, this man has been working alongside them." The Mayor paused. The crowd continued to murmur amongst themselves. "He has been sending crucial information to Grandora, and as such, is sentenced to death." He turned to Seth. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, traitor?" Mayor Donol asked, pointing a finger angrily to Seth, who was not only cuffed, but held by the arm by a guard on stage.

"It's too late." Seth began. The crowd went silent once again, to hear the man. "It's too late, for you. Even if you kill me, I assure you, your fates are also sealed." Seth responded, speaking to the townsfolk that stood before him. The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves once more, unnerved about what Seth had just said. "Diaz is the true king of Salos, Gabriel will fall. Bellus will fall, and you will all bow to the capital city Grandora." Seth paused. "In the mountains beyond this town, it lurks, and it will eat you. It's going to eat you all, and - " Suddenly, Seth was grabbed, and thrown to the ground before he could finish his sentence, and the executioner swung his blade, ending Seth's life with a bloody fate. The crowd began to talk more frantically among each other.

"Eat us? What's going to eat us?" A voice said.

"Are we going to be attacked?" Another voice said. People began to slightly panic, wondering what to do.

"Everyone, silence!" The Mayor shouted. "I assure you, we have tackled this problem preemptively! More guards from the capital shall be arriving, and we are preparing in case of an attack. I assure you, we've stopped Seth's communications with Grandora before they have become a problem, however we are taking every measure to ensure we can withstand any attack!" The Mayor shouted, to ease the crowd.

"We should have cut his head before he had a chance to say anything." Hainer remarked to himself. "Now look at what he's done." Hainer thought to himself. Hainer approached the crowd, gesturing at them to disperse. "Okay everyone, the show is done. Get back to whatever it was you were doing." He said, attempting to settle the crowd down, as did other guards.

 

[Aura-Slash]

Calliope Arnault
Current interactions: None
Location: Central Marketplace

---

Among the crowd was one Calliope Arnault, a recent immigrant from a distant land.

She had come by fate alone and had not really planned where she wanted to be, so she found herself in the unfamiliar city of Bellus. She was getting used to the rather quaint and peaceful life that Bellus offered her, alongside the beautiful weather and the smell of fresh bread in the morning. Life felt slow - yet it was near perfect for the young woman. It was a perfect contrast from the quick life she had lived before, one of constant training and parental pressure. And, well, the unfortunate killings.

The young woman was a former assassin — one of the infamous Camonte family of assassins, known for their high success rates. According to her parents, she was trained and conditioned to become an assassin — it was her destiny, or at least according to her parents. Calliope, or rather, Isabel at the time, had mostly been cooperative with her training. Still, when it came time for her to become a proper assassin and start killing, she started to become insubordinate. She reluctantly killed nine targets, a regret that still constantly haunts her to this day. The guilt she felt led her to kill her parents and leave - withstanding quite a few scars in the process.

Now, she has immigrated to Bellus, changing her identity altogether. She has been doing her best to forget her life as an assassin and trying to live a normal life, but the past still haunts her.

Even after living in it for a few months, she was still very unfamiliar with the land and its people. She currently had a job in maintenance, and that's where most of her interactions with the locals happened. Other than that, she hadn't found herself a friend, mostly due to her rather cold and intimidating appearance, alongside the fact that she had only just immigrated. She heard various rumors about a civil war going on in the kingdom they were currently in, and from what she heard, it was far away from Bellus. That was a relief, as she didn't want to enter fighting.

The violence of the public execution didn't perturb her, as she had witnessed plenty of them. Heck, sometimes she witnessed a more 'dignified' version of those back at home. She wondered why the man was being executed as he came up, but the man's remarks about destroying Bellus pretty much rid all of her sympathies for the man.

She didn't really freak out, though. She had heard various times that Bellus was out of the range of fighting, and she immediately assumed the man was just mad in her final moments. She seemed annoyed by the crowd freaking out, which she saw no reason to.

"You all need to relax. The man's just mad," Calliope coldly told a few strangers who freaked out around her, seeming unamused by their freaking out. She decided not to leave the execution area yet, wondering how much of a stir the crowd was going to cause.

 

[AI10100]

H A R D I N , D A R R Y L
Interacting with: Goonfire
Location: Central Marketplace​

Accompanying Eurig around the kingdom for his auctions wasn't a new thing. He had done this multiple times over the years they had known each other; sometimes, he would part ways with Eurig after escorting him to a town, and other times he would continue working under him until Eurig decided to take a rest. This was one such "other times". Bellus was further down to the south which gave them a lot of leeway in terms of the rebellion brewing to the far north. Still, one couldn't be too careful regarding thieves and bandits who love preying on unaccompanied merchants.

They arrived in town not too long ago without encountering many complications. It had been a peaceful trip, one that Darryl was extremely thankful for. He preferred not to be involved in fighting even if he was a mercenary. Higher chances of getting paid when both you and your client reach the destination without trouble. When he wasn't out helping Eurig set up for the auction— which would be around two days later if he remembered correctly— he was out picking up other smaller, short-term jobs in Bellus. He liked the town. It was calm and peaceful most of the time as long as he didn't find himself in the worst part of the Willows district.

However, the calm and peaceful environment was broken when news of the execution spread.

The location of the town had lulled Darryl into a false sense of security regarding Grandora. It was too far, he reasoned to himself, the rebellion would be spread too thin. Yet, it appeared that someone acted as their informant within the town of Bellus and was set to be executed. It was curiosity that egged Darryl to attend the execution. It was not the first nor the last time he would ever see one, but he did want to get a feel of this supposed rebel. The haste of the arrest and execution left little room for a proper investigation and trial so he wanted to see for himself what kind of person Seth was.

So, he found himself alongside Eurig to watch it. He watched as the mayor alongside guards brought Seth over to the central stage where everyone could see them. Before they could cut off his head, however, Seth had the brilliant idea to spout a threat to the town, sending a wave of unease and distress amongst the people. The executioner had done the correct way to deal with it— which was to cut him and his head off before he could say anything more. Still, the word had already traveled and the mayor and the peacekeepers had to do their best to keep the folks calm.

But something felt wrong. Much like the others, Darryl was confused on what exactly was Seth referring to. Could just be a group of Grandorans lying in wait in the mountains to attack, or it could be a different thing entirely. The unknown made it dangerous. "Well, it looks like it won't be an uneventful time here in Bellus." He said with a shake of his head. "You good, Eurig? Want to think of some contingency plans if that Seth guy was telling the truth?" Seth could have been lying for all he knew, but it was always best to be prepared. Even if the mayor had done his very best to hopefully mitigate the damage of whatever was coming to them— if it was coming to them— Darryl knew that it was in his personal best interest to have some plans lined up just in case theirs didn't work.

 

[BuggaBoo]

---

Comet Blossoms - 'Coms, The Flower Girl.'

Leaving the house and headed to the shop...

"Comet! Comet! Coms, dearie, come to me, child!"

Auntie's voice echoed throughout the household and Comet came bounding into the kitchen on cue. The blonde had her hair tied down neatly with a dark kechief. Her burgundy dress was neat, clean and without unsightly creases, frills upon hems and wrists ivory and flowing. White stockings were held up properly in garters neath her skirt, taut and wrinkle free. Black shoes were shined up and clean. And the girl held tight her weaved satchel with her work apron and gear inside.

"Aye, Auntie. What is it that'd ya needs of this here lass?" Comet smiled sweetly, affection twinkling from her lone green eye.

"Dearie you forgot your lunch. Here..." Shantal handed over a neat bundle of food and fruit, "is... is everything alright? You never forget your lunch..."

"Not a single thing wrong, Auntie. This here lass is spry and ready for the day. Just a small miff, it is, Auntie. Bein in a huff n' rush is she, 'tis all."

Shantal pressed her lips together and forced a smile. Oh, she knew exactly what was on her ward's mind. It was upon all townsfolks minds afterall. A glance she spared out the window and wrung her pale hands together as she spied the bell. As soon as it tolled another stake would be struck through the hearts of all her people in town; executions were a bloody reminder that no one was safe from the war.

"Auntie... pardons beckoned, but what thought stirs in ya mind just now...?"

"Ahem. Oh child but did you change your knickers today? Can't have you serving customer with dirty undergarments now..." Shantal expertly lightened the situation between as she tapped Comets nose teasing the blonde.

A sweet chuffing laugh spouted out from Comet's lips and she smiled, creasing the small tattoos on her cheeks. The girl's hair swished as away as she shook her head emphatically like a toddler claiming innocence, "Ohhhhhh but of course fresh and clean white are they! Not a dirty girl is your Comet, Auntie! Hahahahahah!"

"Good. Good. What a very good girl you are! Now then. Will you recite the proper speak of a proper Bellus lady for me then? Go on, dearie. Recite for us, please?"

A confident grin and nod she returned to her silvery locked caregiver, "Ahem. I am girl so smart. I am a girl so loverly. I am a girl so cur.. curay..." a look of deep concern flooded her tan face, worry consuming her green eye whole. She fought her mind to find the word and failed. Comet began to play nervously at her eyepatch.

"A girl soooo... what did Auntie say when you fended off those strays...?"

"Courageous!! Aye, that be the very word that the lass seeks! Nyarr and again nyarr Auntie--"

"You are such a good girl, Comet. Yet remember. A proper Bellus lady refers to their ladiness as; "I" Now say your last sentence again using "I" please, dearie."

"Aye... that be what... nay. Aye, be that... again nay. Oh! Oh! Oh! 'Aye that is what "I" seek...?'"

"Bravo, child! Bravo!" Shantal clapped her hands and hugged the solid body of her blonde ward.

"Yayyyyy! Very well then. Continuing to recite, we shall, no? Ahem. 'I am a girl so smart. I am a girl so loverly. I am a girl soooo... courageous. I am a Bellus girl and I love... I love... nay,shedoesnot--" a look of sorrow and despair befell her face. She couldn't finish the recitation. She just couldn't. And Shantal Kolah knew exactly why.

"'--I am a Bellus girl and I love me.' Oh but do I love you, Coms." She reached out and hugged and held the blonde foundling, comforting her with all her might.

"And loves you in the fullest does this lass, Auntie Shan. 'I love you too.' With all her heart she will."

Auntie Shan knew Comet had problems referring to herself first person. She also knew that this lass was but a child in a just turned 20-year old's body. And she knew Comet was damaged. Badly. The poor thing was not ready nor willing to say that she was worthy of self-love for whatever reasons. Yet.

"Straight to the shop you will go child, yes? No dilly-dally. No checking the garden. No visitation with flowers. None of that. And do not stray from your path. Head straight to the shop, dearie." The older woman had released the girl, smoothed out her night gown and gazed into that lone good green eye with all seriousness; she did not want Comet to see the execution, "I mean it. Comet, do not stray. Please."

A smile and nod. "Nyarr and again nyarr. This lass will not stray and straight to work shall she proceed, Auntie. Bound are such words to truth, they are. Ahem. 'I love you, Auntie Shan!"

"Love you too child. Be safe. I will check in at noon. Mind Mr. Hallsey. Let that man know that his interactions are to be strictly with me only, please. Be firm, Comet."

"Aye, Auntie...! Good day to ya!" weathered and tattooed light brown hands reached out and fondly squeezed pale and wrinkled pale ones. The pair kissed each others cheeks and Comet bounded out the door.

Shantal shook her head and let out a scoffing laugh. The girl most likely would do a visit to her friend, Layna because technically her friend's shop was along the path to their fisherman and tackle shop. Where was the harm in that now? The older woman gently reached for her tea and coddled its warmth as through the window she watched Comet skip down the cobblestone path and into the cold world beyond.

---

 

[Wyll]

Anwyll Dagir
Interactions: None
Mentions: None​

---

Anwyll typically kept to The Outfields. IT was quieter there; more peacful. He could enjoy a bespeckled night sky with naught but the cool breeze to keep him company and he liked it that way. The city itself was...disagreeable to him; there was too much there, too many things that tempted him to lose his temper. And he didn't like the side of himself that came out when his temper was no longer under control.

...all that to say that Anwyll is currently in the city.

Despite his distaste for it, a certain name had reached his ears even in The Outfields; Seth. Anwyll knew the name from his time in the rebellion. The old man had been kind to Anwyll and so there was a spot in his heart that lit up with warmth at the mention of his name. However, Seth was also the one that had given Diaz information about the little village that Anwyll was sent to on the fateful day that he betrayed the rebellion. So, on one hand, Seth had been kind to him. On the other, Seth was responsible for all the lives Anwyll couldn't save that day...as well as the lives in all the villages Seth had put on the rebellion's hit list.

It was these two perspectives that Anwyll considered as he watched Seth from the back end of an arrow. Anwyll climbed up to the roof of a small shop and had tucked himself in the shadows of another building in such a way that those acquainted with the ways of death should be familiar with. He had a clear line of sight to everything that was happening while himself being hidden. He lay flat on his stomach, his breath held and his body still enough that a bird had seen fit to use it as a perch. He had the arrow knocked, drawn, and aimed at the cuffs that held Seth. He knew that breaking the cuffs would create enough panic to turn attention away from Seth and toward him...hopefully long enough for Seth to escape. However, freeing Seth would mean letting him supply information to the rebellion and that was the only thing stopping Anwyll from firing the arrow.

Anwyll contemplated the narrative where Seth would be in Anwyll's debt due to saving his life and Anwyll could use Seth as an informant and turn the tides on the rebellion. However, Seth began speaking and Anwyll realized something very quickly; Seth was too far gone. There was no redeeming this man. Anwyll released the tension on the bow, quietly putting the arrow back in this quiver; the bird flying away at the movement. A sigh escaped Anwyll's lips as he slid off the roof and landed in an alley, pulling his hood up and trying to walk away from the scene.

This was why he stuck to The Oufields.

 

[PowerElite]

Layna Hurst
Interactions: None
Location: Central Marketplace​

---

It was an average day for Layna. She woke up bright and early to take care of some household chores then opened up the shop. However its seen better days. Being a weapons and equipment store, its inventory was dwindling. She didn't have smithing skills to make her own goods and there were no one willing to do business with her. So it wasn't looking good, a few more months of this and there wouldn't be a business anymore...

She let out a sigh as she sat in her empty store's front desk, head resting on her hand as she stared off in thought. She still god a few customers daily... Some would buy various metal works or some nick-nack she had laying around. There were barely any weapons left in stock and the ones left aren't very impressive. She at least kept the place clean, in fact there wasn't much to do around the store except continuously dust the floors and shelves. There was probably something better to do with her time, but manning the store was important and she didn't have the coin to hire anyone.

Normally the day would go and pass without incident, however she saw groups of people gathering outside. Followed by guards calling for everyone's attention, she stood up and went out to look with a bit more enthusiasm than she would like to admit. Whatever it was, it would probably be more interesting than sitting indoors doing nothing...

When she stepped out of her store and walked around a corner, she saw the gathered crowed was larger than she originally thought. Even the Mayor himself was front and center. Then she saw why, it was an execution. Layna tensed and gripped her left fist with her right hand. She didn't enjoy these sorts of things and was about to turn and leave until she heard what they were guilty of.

News of the war rarely reached this far. So regardless of her feelings over this, she knew it was important to stay and listen. When the guilty man spoke of something strange in the mountains, such as a beast of sorts which would eat them, the panic in the crowed grew. Layna felt a bit unnerved as well and looked on with a nervous expression. If the war reached all the way to Bellus... What would happen? What's more, there was a beast in the mountains now which would eat them?

Suddenly, the guilty man was grabbed and executed in quick succession. It made Layna gasp and bring a hand to her mouth as she looked away. She truly didn't enjoy sights like this... Though everything gave her something to think about. The Mayor's words attempting to calm everyone down didn't seem to do much. Layna barely heard them amongst her own thoughts and everyone else speaking around her anyway.

"What would Father do in this situation?" She wondered to herself. Normally thinking of her Father made her sad, but at times like these she looked to his wisdom despite his absence. He wasn't some lazy salesman who sat behind a desk all day, he was a man of action among all else. She took a deep breath and pushed the execution behind her to think about this more logically. If the war really is getting closer, demand for equipment will go up. But she doesn't even have anymore weapons and equipment to sell anymore... Still, it was something.

She let out a sigh. What to do... For now information was more important. Should she close down the shop and mingle in town for the next few days? She hummed to herself while looking at the crowd.

 

[Aura-Slash]

Calliope Arnault
Current interactions: Anwyll ( Wyll )
Location: Central Marketplace

---

Calliope was rather annoyed by how the crowd was reacting. To her, certainly, this man was bluffing! She had been assured time and time again by many locals that fighting wasn't even close to Bellus. And even though there was indeed an informant, Bellus was way too far away from the fighting to be conquered—or, at least, that's what she thought. She was still quite unfamiliar with the geography of the Kingdom of Salos.

As much as her curiosity wanted her to stay to see if either the Peace Keepers or the crowd would do something, she decided it was best to leave. She exited the execution area, still hearing the various cries of panic of the city folk.

However, as she exited the building, she saw a man who had just put down his bow. She saw the man put his hood up and attempt to flee the scene, and that seemed completely suspicious.

Calliope immediately wondered if this man was from the rebellion. With her instinct encouraging her, she decided to chase after the man, following him into the alley but hiding behind a wall nearby the alley. She loaded her bow and steadily trained her aim on the hooded man. She didn't want to kill him right then and there - she wanted to avoid killing anyone. Heck, maybe this was somewhat of a misunderstanding. But if this man were in the rebellion that supposedly threatened Bellus's peace, she would have to deal with him now.

"You have ten seconds to explain what the hell you were about to do," Calliope said in a threatening, cold tone, her bow pretty much ready to shoot the man. Her voice sounded very reminiscent of her old days as an assassin.

 

[. D O V E]

In a quaint town like Bellus, words possessed a remarkable velocity of its own. Whispers danced through the cobblestone streets like wildfire through dry bush, ignited in one corner before engulfing the entire plane within seconds. Sadly an all too familiar phenomena for the town physician Dr. Remona Ashencrest; although one would rather erupt into flames than utter that name outloud in fear of becoming next week's hot issue.

Thus, when whispers of an impending execution seeped through Remona's weathered door, a premonition of dread threatened to consume her, tempting her to make a hasty retreat to the far side of the country where she could start anew. After all, who could say if the Peacekeepers has finally caught scent of her in Bellus, or worse, if her dear family has finally tracked their prodigal daughter.

A frown of disdain etched itself on her countenance as she tugged on the hood of her robe, desperately hoping that neither a guard nor a bystander would notice her resemblance to a wanted poster of a missing convict. Now, one might ask what the doctor was doing in the marketplace, watching a live execution of a fellow felon, if the stakes of her discovery were too high? The answer was simple: knowledge.

For over a year, Remona had lived in unwanted ignorance; the town's seclusion shielding her from the whispers of the capital and the shadowy tendrils of her past. Oftentimes, she would find herself pondering what became of the grandeur city beyond the rolling hills and verdant forests? What became of the team who once looked at her with nothing but awe and respect, only to be replaced by fear and disdain once the woven truth came out? At the thought, she tightly closed her eyes and berated herself. What purpose did all these questions served? Regardless of the answers, she could no longer return to her former life. The sooner she accepted her new dreary fate, the better.

The doctor's attention was soon captured by the mayor's cry, announcing the treachery of the man who would soon face their creator but not without a last show of indomitable spirit. Seth, as she soon learned his name, spat a warning at the townsfolk. Something was coming to eat them.

Much like everybody's response, Remona stood in confusion and racked her brain for any guess of what it could possibly be. While the man could simply be spouting nonsense, she knew best that the rebels of Grandora were capable of unimaginable damage. "Just what in the world did those damn rebels get their hands on this time?" She quietly whispered to herself as the crowd stirred in panic, followed by a sharper curse when she heard that guards would soon be swamping Bellus.

It looked like her time in Bellus was nearing its end. It'd be in her best interest to start packing as soon as she get home and catch a carriage to a farther city.

Location:
Marketplace

Interaction:
Free

Art credits:
Character
Background

 

[BuggaBoo]

---

Comet Blossoms - 'Coms, The Flower Girl.'

Arriving at the Fisherman/Tackle Shop...

(Earlier) Feather and Arrow on the Rooftop...

The turmoil roiling and boiling amongst the townspeople was set at a fever pitch. Oh but what a wonderful day!

Dark eyes watched from his vantage point. Alone as always. And not by choice. He watched as the lead male roared out in his strange language, forming a congregation of his people-flock. With palplable tension and seeming awe they stared as the proceedings before them.

There was an error in his flock. It was wrangled and brought before the congregation. The poor male was an error, a mistake-in-the-flock, and it was going to be executed. Oh he knew that's exactly what was going on down there; he had feasted at executions before.

Dark eyes watched greedily at the scrumptious serving all tied up as it knelt down. But his awareness was sharp and he noted something more important in the opposite direction. The 'Gifter' girl had arrived. His full attention immediately turned to her as she strut down the strangely shaped stones that lined her path. One time he called out to her. Twice. But no, she did not notice him. He watched as she knelt down and patted the head of a four-legged noisy mouth. Of course a pang of jealousy hit his heart and so he needed to find a place to recompose himself and perch for now. There was not a chance he would glide down to meet her with that slobbering thing so close by.

Upon a strange branch he perched. It was smooth, curved and upright... and strangely growing out a rooftop that overlooked the execution...? Regardless, the top of the branch was just right for his feet to land upon. There was a string that was pulled taut, attached to the branch and so he decided to take it. Perhaps it could be a gift for his 'Gifter' girl. The string of course did not budge, yet it made a loverly twanging sound and so he pulled it again. Then his feathers ruffled as soon as he noticed that shining shard of metal within his wingspan.

Down below and in the distance, the people-flock were in a uproar as the poor mistake-in-the-flock male called out furiously at its former flock. But that's not what he focused on right now. That loverly, loverly shiny shard attached to a long stick would be sooooo nice to pluck and claim for his own. But he knew exactly what that shard was meant to do. It was death. It was the reason he himself became an error, a mistake and kicked out of his flock. His murder had turned on him and chased him till he ended up here in this town.

Suddenly movement beneath him. The loverly, loverly sharp death shard moved. Several plaintiff cries he gave and and leapt up, taking wing into the sky. Several more cries he let out to warn his 'Gifter' girl. He realized now in horror that he had been perched on a shard shooter's weapon the whole time. Dark eyes glanced quickly at the male that held the weapon. A glint shone as he marked the shard shooter. Several loud caws he let out as he hurriedly descended to warn his blonde girl in the burgundy dress.

---

Comet skipped along, nodding and waving to those that recognized her. They called her things like 'Garden Bunny' all the way to the other extreme as 'One- Eyed Git'. But most referred to her as 'The Flower Girl.' And in such a season, she should be skipping along with an armload of flowers. But since she did not bear her namesake, all that called her Flower Girl had questioned why she did not hand out flowers today. She had missed the undertone of their comments and questions; there were a lot of people that needed her smile and well-meaning flowers right now. But little did she know she had been shielded by Auntie Shan against the trauma of witnessing an execution.

And so she just smiled and answered politely with the truth; "Auntie told me to go straight to the Shop. No dilly-dallying." As always she curtsied for them before parting because she was a proper Bellus girl.

Strolling along, she had not noticed that most of the stores along her path were empty and even signs on closed doors stating that the proprietors would return soon. It was not until the stray dogs did not greet her that the blonde suspected something was off. And when she went to greet Layna at her weapon shop only to find her friend absent, Comet finally realized just how empty this part of the market was. And then she heard the uproar just around the corner.

Just around the corner...

But Auntie told her that she should not stray from her path to work. Light brown eyebrows slanted away with concern over a worried green eye and patch. Gloved hands played anxiously at the ivory frills of her hem. Auntie said to go straight to the Shop. No dilly-dallying. But it was just around the corner... A few steps she took towards that corner, hands still wringing those ivory frills.

"I" am a loverly Bellus girl...!" she stated firmly. And not in her own accent but in Auntie's. A solid nod she gave and ragged relief sighed from her mouth; her willpower came through just in the nick of time. Comet huffed then turned about face, strong legs scurrying off to the fisherman and tackle shop. Meanwhile behind her the sound of a man yelling wildly decreased in volume as she distanced herself from the central market.

As she neared the front door of her shop she squealed in delight as she saw Limpy, the old lame hound skulk out to greet her. Of course she ran to give the ol' gal some pets. A heartbeat later, Seth was executed.

---

A wide grin shone across her tan face the moment she heard the squawks and caws from above. She stood upright as Limpy hobbled away, half a sandwich in her mouth. Comet then stood absolutely still, offering her shoulder to Coal, the crow. But concern overtook her face and that grin faltered as the black bird did not perch upon her shoulder. Instead he flew right into her face, fluttering and crying out loudly. Reflexively she pulled away and shielded her face, "Broken headed bird, ya be...! Why do your doings to this lass...?!"

She couldn't help but swat her hands and Coal retreated upward landing upon the overhang of her shops roof, cawing at her loudly.

"Why so noisy are ya nows, Coal? Knows that this lass always has a snack to offer ya, no...?" hands on hips, she watched as Coal took wing and landed at the apex of the roof and hopped up and down. He continued to bounce as he made a repeated clicking in his throat and looked off into the distance.

A stirring in her belly and a warmth rushed her body. A sensation she had not felt in over a year. He was acting in a way she somehow understood at an instinctive level. The blonde hadn't felt such a thing since--

Instantly Comet took action. The girl hunkered down and slipped in between the buildings. Losing sight of Coal, it was but merely a few heartbeats later and she was on the roof pulling herself up with ease. A nod she tossed the crow, a look in that green eye that no one in town ever saw before; she was in protect the ship, now! mode. She skulked her way towards Coal so as to take over lookout at this vantage point. Dark wings fluttered as he launched skyward. High above in the distance, the crow cawed loudly as he circled around and around just above a shop several buildings away. Flat upon her belly she lay upon the roof and honed in her vision towards where Coal 'pointed.'

It took a moment but her eye focused and there she saw him. An archer. A woman nearby called out to him. She could not see her, but from Comet's vantage, she did see the arrowhead poking out, aimed at the archer in the alleyways. Comet knew that she was outclassed. She had no weapons to combat what they held. Even if she did, she was not trained to use them properly. But she was trained to use something else.

With liquid ease, she slid off the roof and landed expertly onto the ground below. She no longer looked like the pristine loverly thing that left the house anymore. Her adorable attire looked just as she had done; climbing dirty rooftops and writhing around on them. But she didn't care right now. No, comet was trained to protect the ship, now!! And as far as she was concerned right now, the shop was Auntie's ship. The tattooed girl unlocked the main door then hustled into the shop and slid upon her knees to a stop near the special spot she had hollowed out. Both gloves came off as she pried the false floorboard open.

Only with bare inked up hands did the former pirate know how to wield such a thing. Admirarion glinted from her green eye as stashed her giant hunting knife into her satchel and hurried over to the knife cabinet. Swiftly unlocking it, she collected several sheathed knives. Comet had been eyeing these non-sellers for a while now. With expert dexterity, the girl slid 2 pairs into her each of stocking garters neath the ivory frills of her dress.

The final one she unsheathed and felt it's heft in her hand. It was double edged and too ornate and expensive to be used as a fillet knife. So it was more of a collector's item. But for a girl like her...

The blade flashed from her hand as it flew across the room and stuck fast into the wall. Satisfied with its effectiveness, Comet yanked it out of the wall and locked the front door.

Out the back she went and tread softly to continue to monitor the archers. A solid nod she gave as Coal landed on her shoulder.

---

 

[Wyll]

Anwyll Dagir
Interactions: Calliope Arnault ( Aura-Slash )
Mentions: Comet Blossoms ( BuggaBoo )​

---

As he walked, Anwyll sensed that something wasn't right. The hair behind his neck stood up and his heart rate picked up as if he were running despite the slow pace of his walk. It was a sensation he'd become very familiar with over the years, one where his senses - perhaps a sixth sense - was aware of an imperceivable danger. He was being watched and, worse, followed. Before he could begin trying to lose his tail, he heard the woman's voice call out to him. He huffed and put his hands on his hips. "This is what you get for hesitating, Anwyll; good job," he muttered to himself as he stopped in his tracks.

Before her voice, he'd also heard the recognizable strain of a bow string. Another archer, eh? There was something in her voice. A...confidence that told him that this wasn't her first rodeo. In fact, her voice reminded him of how he sounded whenever he was on a mission. This woman was like him; he'd have to proceed carefully. He knew there was an arrow trained on him She was also likely skilled enough to fire multiple shots in quick succession. However, he felt confident that he could either dodge or tank the first few shots while he closed the gap for a close quarter fight. His blood got hot at the thought, an indication that there was still a part of him tat longed for the thrill of a fight and, in this moment, that part of him was particularly hard to repress. However, he'd at least give civility a try.

His hood covered enough of his face that he felt confident to turn around, knowing that the shadow cast on his face by the hood would prevent her from getting a good look at him and all she'd be able to make out would be striking green eyes peering at her. As he turned, he began sizing her up, taking in her posture, her stance, even the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Everything pointed to the fact that he had to be careful around her; a fight should be a last result. Plus, his skin was still crawling, meaning someone else was watching. He couldn't tell where they were or when they'd make themselves known, so he had to end this as soon as possible.

"Thirty seconds," he stated confidently, his words laced with a lull-like accent. He looked around to confirm and, satisfied with his estimation, he repeated himself. "Thirty seconds. That's how long it will take all the guards from the square to get here when I shout for help. In that time, I'll reach for this 'ere bow, you'd likely shoot me, then I'd throw my bow and quiver on the roof over yonder..." he nodded with his head toward the lowest roof surrounding them, "...and all they'll see is a female assailant pulping a wee lad from The Outfields. Now love, something tells me you'd like to avoid that, and I'd like to avoid getting shot." His eyes scanned the surrounding areas once more, trying to see if he could spot the other person who had eyes on him. Or people? There were too many uncertainties; he didn't like this.

"So. Why don't you put the bow down and we avoid all that unpleasantness, yeah?." He grabbed his bow to let her know he wasn't just bluffing earlier. "You can go back the way you came and I can go about my business. And nobody else needs to wonder why two people are walking around armed during an execution."

 

[Aura-Slash]

Calliope Arnault
Current interaction(s): Anwyll ( Wyll )
Mention(s): Comet ( BuggaBoo )
Location: Central Marketplace

---

This was definitely not Calliope's first rodeo. However, it was certainly her first 'rodeo' in a long time and her first 'rodeo' in Bellus. Oh yeah, and also her first 'rodeo' with a bow. She was a bit, how should we put this...? Rusty.

Calliope was only somewhat experienced with the bow. She hadn't even been in a bow fight yet and had really only used the bow for more recreational activities, like casually shooting at a target or two in the morning. She had not even desired to draw her weapon against someone ever again, but seeing the man in front of her, whom she assumed was a rebel, made her instincts chase him.

That said, Calliope began to think. Was this, perhaps, a misunderstanding?

No, it couldn't be. This man was trying to shoot the executioner, wasn't he?

She distanced herself from those thoughts. No, to her, this man was likely a rebel. She watched as the man stared at her, and she was getting ready to shoot, though she seemed a bit apprehensive and hesitant. She listened to the man speak, and while he didn't explain what he was doing, what he said was right. Additionally, one could sense that her confident persona was slightly fading.

She couldn't attack him, or she'd be arrested. Judging by the fact that the man hadn't attempted to run off and his confident expression, Calliope knew this man would prove a challenge, especially since she wasn't particularly experienced with the bow. If she still had her longsword, she could probably have a good chance of killing him. But she refused to admit it. The longsword, her assassin family's choice of weapons, was something she vowed never to touch again. Ever. Again.

Calliope also felt someone was watching her. She didn't want that person to report anything, as they would likely misunderstand the situation. So, she decided to back down—at least for now.

"That scheming bastard..." Calliope muttered under her breath.

"Fine, you win, you damn rebel," she admitted. Calliope, however, kept her bow aimed at the man. In fact, she shot it, aiming right near the man. However, she intentionally missed her shot but made sure it was close enough to potentially invoke a reaction. She attempted to seem a little more intimidating.

"Now leave and go back to those damned Outfields you say you live. Or better yet, maybe you should turn yourself in. Or, even better, I'll find you, and I'll k-k-k-k-kil-" The last part of this was a bluff, as she didn't actually want to find and kill him. However, noticeably, she stuttered on the word 'kill.' Her heart pounded fast as she said this, and her eyes widened. She had various thoughts rush to her head, and the conviction in her voice dropped entirely as she said the last part of the sentence. Her eyes widened as she backed away slowly, putting her bow down, with a sudden fear grasping her.

The word kill seemed to invoke certain... memories.

 

[JSPD2000]

Hainer Moradi
Location: Bellus Marketplace
Mentions: . D O V E
Interactions: PowerElite

---

As the execution ended, people continued to stand around and murmur amongst themselves in regards to what Seth had said. “But sir, what’re the mayor and peacekeepers going to do about what Seth said?” A citizen remarked to Hainer, in concern.

“Like I said, the show’s over. We will handle it, so continue on.” Hainer responded with firmness in his voice, gesturing to townsfolk to clear the marketplace. Hainer eyed the crowd as they slowly but surely began to disperse, to ensure everything was going smoothly. Among the groups of people, he noticed a peculiar but oddly familiar woman. A fair-skinned woman with shorter blonde hair, Hainer stared at the woman with curiosity. He couldn’t pin it, but he felt like he recognized her from somewhere. Whether it was for a good or bad reason, he did not know. “You…” He muttered under his breath, as he began to approach the woman. However, as soon as he took a few steps, he was interrupted with a hand on his shoulder.

“Hainer!” A voice shouted. Hainer immediately took his focus off the woman, and turned to his side, only to find his fellow coworker, Jules. A man in his mid 30s, distinguishable by his long blonde hair which was tied into a pony tail.

“What? What do you want?” Hainer said, slightly annoyed.

“Hey, relax. Just wanted to let you know we’re going to have a last minute briefing before we go home tonight. Commander’s orders.” Jules responded. Hainer simply looked at Jules, pondering on what the briefing could possibly be about. “Oh, and you might want to fix your cape.” He said, pointing near Hainer’s neck.

“Huh?” Hainer remarked, looking at his cape, noticing it was missing a button where it clipped near his neck, causing it become lopsided. “Damn it, Commander is going to have my head as well.” Hainer muttered somewhat quietly, referencing his supervisor’s disdain for guards who wear their uniform sloppily. “I’ll just take it off for the meeting.” Hainer responded.

“Yeah? If it was anyone else running the briefing, it would be fine. You know how he is.” Jules shrugged. Hainer simply let out a sigh, as he turned around to find the blonde-haired woman in the crowd, but sadly Jules had taken his attention away from the woman, unable to locate her. He let out one more sigh, glancing around the marketplace. His eyes scanned the area, until he found what he was looking for. It was a quaint little weapons shop, however Hainer knew they also sold various equipment and knick-knacks as well for cheap.

“Okay, I’ll see you later then.” Hainer said to Jules, gesturing him goodbye as he focused towards going the shop. As he approached, he opened the door and took a glance around. It was…emptier than he thought. For a weapons shop, there wasn’t much of a selection. If anything, it was more of a wares store in Hainer’s eyes. He looked around, to find a young woman who he presumed to be the owner of the shop.

“Good day.” Hainer said respectfully to the woman. He glanced around at the shelve and walls, before picking something up from a shelf. “Business must be good, I’m assuming?” Hainer half-heartedly said referencing the lack of supply, as he inspected the item, before putting it back down. “Anyways, I’ll keep it quick, miss. I’m wondering if you have a button, similar to this one.” Hainer said, pointing to the one button that clipped his cape to his clothing, hoping the woman had another one similar to it.

 

[PowerElite]

Layna Hurst
Interactions: JSPD2000
Location: Marketplace (Hurst Weapons & Equipment)​

---

There was suddenly a lot to do, at least in comparison to how things usually are for her. Perhaps she was overthinking, but with the recent execution and news, she felt inclined to go out into town for the rest of the day and speak to others about the incident. While she wasn't fond of gossip, it was hard to argue that it had its place, especially in the merchant scene. Being 'in the know' was important.

Due to that line of thinking, she decided to close the shop for the day and began to put some wares away as well as lock up a few cabinets. There wasn't much after all. Just as she was in the middle of the process, the door opened and the bell hanging just above it rang indicating such. Layna closed the cabinet she was going through and glanced at her customer.

It was a guard which surprised her. They usually get their equipment from more official channels than a dying shop such as hers, though business was business. She approached him as he gave a quick glance around her shop and felt her stomach drop a bit as she could see how unimpressed he was. Though his eyes finally came to her as she got near.

"Yes! It's... Going great." She lied and felt a bit awkward doing so. "Anyhow, welcome to Hurst Weapons and Equipment." She greeted and had one hand folded over the other in front of her waist. Mannerisms were important after all so she felt the need to try and be at her best when meeting customers. Especially when one was a guard. Normally a person might be intimidated, perhaps thinking they did something wrong. Though Layna has always stayed within the law and it's not too odd for a guard to enter a weapons shop, when her father was around they came by every now and again as well. But that was a different time... Hopefully the current shop won't disappoint.

When the man held up the button she felt both relief and disappointment. The former because it was an order she could actually assist with, the latter because the biggest order she's received all week is a button. She tried not to let any of this show on her face, but there was a odd pause before she answered. "Oh, of course. Let me see..." She said, catching herself from her thoughts and leaned forward a bit to get a better look at the button.

"One moment." With that she turned to walk around the front table and pulled open one of the drawers. She went through it for a bit, glancing at the items inside. Some of which were buttons while there was other knick-knacks inside. She glanced over at the guard again for just a second and it dawned on her that this might be a good chance to gain more than just business. Her father always made casual conversation with customers after all, so why shouldn't she?

"So... What did you think of all that out there a few minutes ago? You believe that man's words about some beast in the mountains has any truth to it?" She asked while holding up a hand full of buttons, shuffling through them to look for a match. She wasn't particularly scared of what the man spoke of as much as she was curious about what the guard thought. His words on the matter felt as though they might weigh more than some random man or woman out and about in town.

 

[JSPD2000]

Hainer Moradi
Location: Bellus Marketplace - Hurst Weapons & Equipment
Interactions: PowerElite

---

"Yes! It's... Going great." The merchant woman responded to Hainer. "Anyhow, welcome to Hurst Weapons and Equipment." She said, in a welcoming voice.

Hurst… Hainer thought to himself as he smiled at the woman. The name rung a bell, however, he did not recognize the girl working. Then again, this was also his first time in this particular shop.

"Oh, of course. Let me see..." The woman responded to Hainer’s request of needing a button. Hainer watched as she leaned closer to him to take a look at his button, before responding again. "One moment." She said, turning around to open some drawers and rummaged through them, attempting to find what Hainer was looking for. Hainer’s eyes wandered around the store, checking out the wares as the merchant did her thing.

"So... What did you think of all that out there a few minutes ago? You believe that man's words about some beast in the mountains has any truth to it?" She suddenly asked, as she searched through several buttons held in her hand.

Hainer turned his eyes to the woman, taking a pause before answering. He was a cautious man, and thus, was being cautious with his words. There were indeed rumours of rebellion-talk throughout the town, and specifically some knowledge only the guards knew of. However, Hainer himself specifically did not know what Seth was talking about either in regards to a beast in the mountains.

“I…” he began, but slowly took another pause to think, before continuing his answer. “I do not know.” He simply said, speaking somewhat formally to the merchant woman. “I wish I had more answers for you ma’am. But, if you are asking if I personally believe he has any merit, well…” Hainer thought his next words carefully. “Seth was on death’s doorstep. A man with a blade to his throat will sometimes say anything to get out the situation.” Hainer responded, sort of inadvertently avoiding answering the woman’s question directly. Hainer himself wasn’t sure what to think of Seth’s remarks, however even though he personally dismissed them, professionally-speaking he had to take a benefit of doubt from the situation. He quickly glanced around and then at the front of the entrance windows to see if anyone would be trailing into the store, before slowly walking up to the counter where the woman stood. He looked at her, leaning in slightly.

“Let me ask you something.” He said, putting an arm on the table, staring at the merchant woman. “For a ‘weapons and equipment’ store, you’re rather bare bones. Last time I checked, we didn’t make any large purchases from here. Surely someone must be buying your wares in large supply?” He said questioning the woman, insinuating the woman’s store was affiliated with something or someone nefarious, such as rebel activity. However, under that cold stare, was a guise. Hainer was of course joking around with the woman.

“I am kidding.” Hainer broke character somewhat chuckling to himself, at the expense of the shop keeper.

 

[Wyll]

Anwyll Dagir
Interactions: Calliope ( Aura-Slash )
Mentions: None​

---

Throughout the interaction, Anwyll kept both his eyes and ears peeled, trying to see if he could identify where the other set of eyes was coming from, that way he would know to flee in the opposite direction. He wanted to smile when she admitted that he had her beat but her calling him a rebel pricked him in a particularly unpleasant way. Partly because she was wrong - he'd walked away from that life, whatever he did now, he did for the good of those around him and very seldom ever got thanks for it. But it also irked him in part because she was right - as far as anybody last heard of Anwyll Dagir, he was a rebel and, given that he disappeared after his fallout with the other rebels, there is nobody that knows he's been fighting the good fight lately.

He bit his lip, annoyed that he couldn't call her out on it. And, as if to add insult to injury, she actually shot at him. In that moment, Anwyll realized something - surely, more certainly, this woman was looking for trouble. And he would be more than happy to provide it. As soon as he noticed the arrow missed, he turned and snatched it out the air - the speed of the arrow and friction from the rough wood burning his gloves slightly.

When he turned back to look at her, she was speaking again, telling him to leave. Leave? Leave?! Just who did this woman think she was? He moved as if he was going to start walking towards her but then his brows furrowed and his lips contorted into a confused frown as she started...choking? He watched through narrowed eyes as a look he was all too familiar with painted itself to her face - that was the look of horror. His first instinct was that there was something behind him that she'd seen that terrified her so he jumped forward, toward her, and spun, holding the arrow he caught over his head, ready to throw it like a spear at whatever or whoever was standing there.

To his surprise, there was naught there but a lone, sleeping cat. He looked back at her over his shoulder and raised a brow. Suddenly the girl no longer seemed as threatening as she once did. In fact, part of him worried for her. But he was also aware this could all be an act. He slowly walked toward her and, at a moderate distance away, reached out with the arrow and bumped her on the top of her head. It wouldn't be enough to draw blood or even hurt, but just enough to grab her attention. "Keep ye wits about you, lass. It's rude to wander when you're threatening someone."

Even as he talked, his muscles stayed tense, ready to jump back and create space in case she suddenly snapped at him. However, part of him couldn't help but be genuinely concerned for her. The look on her face reminded him of the look on his as he beheld his fallen ex-comrades on that fateful day. Perhaps she was reliving a similar moment ad the two of them were actually not all that different from each other.

 

[Aura-Slash]

Calliope Arnault
Current interaction(s): Anwyll ( Wyll )
Mention(s): None for now
Location: Central Marketplace

Warning: Contains brief mentions of past trauma

---

The word 'kill' was a trigger to the young woman. Every time she heard that word, reminders of the victims she had to kill flickered over and over again, with the pleas and cries of some of them echoing through her mind. Every time she heard that word, a million regrets befell her. Her body subconsciously slowly backed away further from the scene, not necessarily in response to the supposed rebel's movements but more because she seemed frightened.

Calliope seemed to have lost herself in those memories, and while she didn't necessarily cry, these memories certainly haunted her greatly. She kept trying to shake her head, trying to forget what happened, but image after image continued to appear in her mind. It took a while, but she slowly started to come back to her senses. It seemed like she had lost the confidence she had earlier, and she didn't even bother to speak.

She sensed an arrow being shot at her, but her incredibly delayed instincts couldn't move away from it in time. She felt the force of the arrow and a bit of friction on her hair, but it seemed the arrow had intentionally been aimed above her head just to wake her up. Luckily, it didn't seem like it actually hit or harmed her. However, the arrow seemed to have woken her up as the memories started to fade away, at least for now, and she seemed to be awake fully.

Calliope would normally fight back, but she seemed to have lost her will to do so effectively. She couldn't. Even if this man was attempting to attack her, she seemed to be out of her normal state of mind to fight back. There was additionally a part of her mind that thought this whole situation was somehow a misunderstanding and that they shouldn't really be fighting right now, but that part of her mind was small.

All she decided to do was run. She ran away, but within just a few feet of her escape attempt, she found herself tripping on a medium-sized branch on the ground near the alley. She fell on the ground, not necessarily getting too hurt but still seeming to withstand a bit of pain.

"Agh...!" She grunted and managed to get back up, albeit slowly. Calliope seemed worried that the man was about to attack her and finish her off, and she felt incredibly powerless. If her "attacker" wanted, this would be a prime opportunity for him to strike. She was incredibly vulnerable - and if he wanted to, he could certainly do something without any immediate repercussions.

 

[PowerElite]

Layna Hurst
Interactions: JSPD2000
Location: Marketplace (Hurst Weapons & Equipment)​

---

Layna continued to shuffle through the drawer as the guard spoke about the earlier events during the execution. It's true that those who are desperate will do anything for survival, especially if they're on death's door. She experienced similar instances when she was caring for her late father. But there was something odd about this Seth person as he wasn't trying to survive, he seemed to accept his death and instead tried to strike fear in the hearts of the townsfolk. Could it have just been an attempt to 'get back' at his executioners however little?

Layna hummed in thought, staring into the drawer while holding a suitable button for her customer. It was only when the guard made his own joking attempt to scare her a little when she flinched out of it. Her gaze snapped up towards him, eyes wide, professional expression and attitude gone. She's never heard such a rediculous accusation in all her life! Her mind started to think of anything to say and counter such talk but she was caught off guard and instead stuttered a little. She wasn't very experienced in stuff like this.

"H- huh? Wait, I-"

However before she could really say anything the guard began chuckling a little and only said it was a joke. Layna relaxed a bit and released a breath while feeling a tad embarrassed and even annoyed. She closed the drawer with a snap, unable to hold it all in and walked around the counter, lifting the button she had up to the other he pointed to earlier. It was identical to the ones on his clothing already, seems to be from a guard uniform like his own. She wasn't surprised, her father did work with guard equipment on occasion.

"I'll have you know that I work hard for the business I get." She said in retort to his joke, sounding a tad irritated going by her voice. She wasn't lying either, but there also wasn't much business to 'get'. "So I'd appreciate it if you didn't say such things, I've got enough to deal with as is. Least I need is a bad rumor." With that being said she turned to walk over to the opposite end of the counter and opened up a box where there was some sewing equipment. She took out a needle and appropriate colored thread. She was no seamstress, but she could easily sew a button on or patch some clothing.

"Now, this should only take a moment so if you'll show me where the button goes..." She requested, turning back towards the guard. Her expression and tone of voice seemed back to her usual now that she's collected herself.

 

[Wyll]

Anwyll Dagir
Interactions: Calliope ( Aura-Slash )
Mentions: Coal ( BuggaBoo )​

---

Bumping her on the head seemed to do the trick, yet she still had that terrified look on her face and Anwyll figured he could guess what was going through her mind right now. As she tried to run and tripped, Anwyll put this hands on his thighs and sighed, shaking his head. He began questioning himself - what had he sensed from this person earlier that made him so certain that she was a threat? Right now she seems like a victim more than anything else.

Because he recognised the look on her face as one he had on his face not too long ago, he did feel empathy for her. "Oi. On your feet now. ((Said as in "come on, now" - more encouraging and less commanding)) Whatever it is you're scared of isn't here right now. It's just you and me lass, and I won't hurt you." He took the arrow and, as a show of good faith, put it in his quiver. He could have given it back to her but, for starters, he felt as though extending any weapons to her right now wouldn't be well received. But secondly, and more importantly, she had shot at him and he was petty.

He walked towards her and extended his arm for her to hold on to so he could help her get up, also looking round to make sure nobody was giving any funny looks and starring daggers at anybody who looked their way too long. That was enough to get them to look away and scurry off, but he knew they had to get out of here quickly. Somebody had probably reported to the Peace Keepers by now that there were suspicious-looking people walking around with bows.

He still felt the eyes on him, and now he felt as though there was someone he needed to help, so it was even more important that the get out of here. He looked around once more and spotted a crow flying overhead. He recognised it as the crow that had perched on him earlier. Something in him didn't sit right. Yes, crows hung around busy areas and areas of death...but typically not on their own. That crow was now suspicious and perhaps why he'd been feeling so uncomfortable.

"Come on, up now. There are unfriendly eyes around. Come get yourself something from the tavern." She'd piqued his interest. He wanted to know what life she'd lived that had caused her to be so averse to killing. Perhaps she was a victim of a culling? That would leave someone in a pretty bad state. Whatever it was, he couldn't now just leave her here - she'd be slim pickings for any misdeeders around. In his eyes, she was like one of those in The Outfields that he protected.

 

[JSPD2000]

Hainer Moradi
Location: Bellus Marketplace - Hurst Weapons & Equipment
Interactions: PowerElite

---

The shop keeper was seemingly taken aback by Hainer’s ‘joke’, almost panicked. However, upon realizing that he was indeed no serious, the woman seemed relieved, however somewhat annoyed. She closed the drawer in an agitated manner, holding the button she found for Hainer. "I'll have you know that I work hard for the business I get." She responded to Hainer, standing her ground and unimpressed with that he had said. "So I'd appreciate it if you didn't say such things, I've got enough to deal with as is. Least I need is a bad rumor." She said, turning around to get her sewing materials, and walking up to Hainer afterwards. "Now, this should only take a moment so if you'll show me where the button goes..." She asked Hainer, ready to put his button on with her sewing equipment. Her voice had settled down a bit at this point, and Hainer could tell he irked her. He didnt respond much in the way of apologizing, instead continuing his business for being the store. However, something about what the woman said triggered a far distant memory Hainer had locked away in his head. A memory relating to his father.

“It goes right here.” He said, pointing to his left clavicle, where the button should have been attached to his clothing, to match the right side. He relaxed his shoulders and arms to allow the merchant to put on the button. “I know you’re a hard worker. Your parents…” Hainer began, suddenly hesitating before speaking again. “At least, I assume they were your parents. They built this shop with their blood, sweat and tears.” He paused briefly. “I couldn’t pinpoint it right away, but I remember coming this shop a few times, a long time ago with my father. I mean, obviously it looked different back then, and I was a kid. But the name Hurst rings a bell.” He said, looking at the woman. Hainer wasn’t sure of the woman’s age, however, he did not remember seeing a girl ever in the store. “Anyways, I am just saying, I know you’re a hard worker. Your work ethic runs in your family, I’m sure.” He said, smiling gently.

 

[Aura-Slash]

Calliope Arnault
Current interaction(s): Anwyll ( Wyll Wyll )
Mention(s): None for now
Location: Central Marketplace

---

This was the most vulnerable Calliope had ever felt. She clearly seemed to be out of her normal state of mind, so her instincts and thoughts seemed to be out of their normal state. In a normal situation, Calliope would have easily gotten up. In fact, it was likely she would have noticed that the branch was there in the first place. Actually, scratch that. She probably would have had a good chance to reach the upper hand in a fight.

Yet, instead of going in for the kill when she was most vulnerable, the man offered her his hand. She felt extremely confused. Her eyes widened in shock as he reassured her, saying, "Whatever you were scared of isn't here..."

She reluctantly decided to get up, taking his hand as she got up from the ground. She continued to look confused, but something about the man comforted her, at least a bit. Her fear reduced a bit, but it was evident that it was still present. Alongside the slightly descending fear was a growing feeling of guilt.

This guilt developed from Calliope's remembrance of her victim's final moments. She remembered some begging for their lives, begging for mercy. Yet, instead of offering a hand, she finished them off. Every time she did that, she was reluctant.

And yet, instead of being finished off, this man offered his hand to her. She continued to wonder why she deserved this, as she continued to think that she didn't!

Calliope went silent, with various emotions and thoughts rushing through her head. She looked down on the ground, and she was trying to hold back tears. However, she managed a decent poker face, and she gave the hooded man a nod of gratitude. She also nodded when the man requested they go to the tavern.

Calliope went to the tavern because she owed the man—not necessarily because she wanted to. She was also very reluctant to talk to the man, fearing she'd reveal secrets that she didn't want to share at the moment, and also the chance that someone would overhear them as well.

 

[Wyll]

Anwyll Dagir
Interactions
Mentions

---

Anwyll noticed her look of surprise and understood where it came from. After all, mere moments ago, she had a bow pointed at him and he was telling her all about how he was going to frame her and escape. That's not exactly someone you expect to help you up when you're down and even offer you a drink. However, all that was when he saw her as an assailant he had to best. Right now, she was more like a defenseless lady and it wouldn't feel right to leave her like that. Such behaviour would be too similar to how he acted as a rebel for him to be comfortable with.

However, there also weren't very many taverns around that he felt comfortable enough to visit, for fear that he would be recognised. However, there was this one tavern: The Camel's Hump. The owner was a friend of Anwyll's from The Outfields. In fact, it was the husband of the wife and daughter he'd chosen to spare the day he went against the rebels. Turns out that when you go against a tyrannical organisation to protect a man's family, the man feels indebted to you for life. Who knew.

As they strolled into the tavern, Anwyll walked right to the spot that Vaham, the tavern keep, had for him. However, there was only one seat available since Anwyll didn't usually bring guests. He gestured for the girl to take the seat, causing Vahan to give Anwyll a knowing look...a look which Anwyll very quickly killed with one dry roll of his eyes. "Honey mead, sweet rolls and today's roast, friend. Keep the imaginations to yourself."

Vahan chuckled as he nodded, quickly fixing a pint of honey mead for Anwyll. "Food will be out in a quick jiffy, lad. Just you wait." Then Vahan's gazed turned, looking to the lady. "And for the lass?" he asked, watching her with kind eyes while Anwyll quietly drank his mead from a corner, eyes slowly moving from one person in the tavern to the other.

 

[Aura-Slash]

Calliope Arnault
Current interaction(s): Anwyll ( Wyll )
Mention(s): None for now
Location: Central Marketplace

---

Calliope was relatively silent while she and Anwyll had walked her to the tavern. She didn't really want to actually go to the tavern, fearing that she'd have to disclose information she wasn't ready to share yet. Even though this man seemed trustworthy, she had only known him for about a few minutes, and she still very much was confused as to why the man was on a rooftop and looking like he'd intervene. She had to assume the best, as the man had chosen to spare her, but she still feared that she was somehow dining with a rebel, and she didn't want to go into hiding again if authorities had figured that out. As she sat down, she seemed a bit nervous, still hoping the whole situation was a misunderstanding.

"I-I'll just take a water, thank you," Calliope said, her voice seeming certainly a lot less cold and confident than before. She was actually a bit hungry, but her appetite was certainly off at the moment, and she didn't want to eat anything.

"S-so.... if I m-may ask.... w-why were you on that rooftop with that bow during the execution?" Calliope finally asked, wanting to hear the man's explanation.

 

[PowerElite]

Layna Hurst
Interactions: JSPD2000
Location: Marketplace (Hurst Weapons & Equipment)​

---

Layna positioned the button beside the guard's collar and began to stitch it on. She was fairly skilled all things considered and seemed to have done this before. As she did so, she heard what he was saying and glance up at him for a moment, then back to her work. She meant what she said but didn't expect him to take it seriously. "Yes well..." She spoke before letting out a light sigh. His words made her reminisce a bit and she continued to sew on autopilot for a couple moments. "I appreciate the words. This shop was my father's pride." She ended up saying and lowered one hand to pick up a pair of scissors to snip the thread. She then smoothed out the cloth on his shoulder and took a step back to examine it better.

"That should do." She said with a slight smile then put away the needle, thread and scissors back into their box. "Let's see... A button and a little thread..." She mumbled to herself for a moment, thinking about what she should charge for such a small service. "That will be a couple pennies." She decided. "Oh, and on your way out would you mind turning the open sign on the door to closed?" Normally she doesn't close this early, but she was too interested in what people are saying after the earlier execution. Regardless of if she believes whatever rumors were going around, it was important to at least know them.

 

[JSPD2000]

Hainer Moradi
Location: Bellus Marketplace - Hurst Weapons & Equipment
Interactions: PowerElite

---

The woman began to stitch Hainer’s button on for him as she reminisced about her father, thanking Hainer for his kind words. Hainer wasn’t sure what to make of her response exactly, but he sort of pieced together that possibly her father was no longer around. Hainer watched the woman at work, finishing up the little touches on his button, before seemingly satisfied with how it looked. Hainer smiled as he looked down at it - flawless, and perfect to him. The woman had asked for a few copper pieces in exchange for the button, but Hainer reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gold piece and putting in onto the counter. “A little extra. You did this last minute, and you saved me.” He said, laughing slightly referring to his higher up possibly getting angry at him for potentially showing up off-uniform. The woman then requested Hainer changed the sign on her door to ‘closed’. Hainer simply nodded, obliging the request as he headed out the door. It was certainly odd closing so early, however he figured the perks of having your business was that you could theoretically make your own hours. He took another look at his button, before waltzing his way towards the Peace Keeper building in the heart of the city.

~

Hainer stood in line, posture straight as he looked forward with an emotionless face. Rows of other guardsmen were also positioned similar to Hainer, situated in a large hall. Red curtains lined the side of the wall, with the daylight filling the large space with the morning glow. Empty knight armour decorated the hall as well, alongside symbols of lions to represent the country.

“Attention!” A voice boomed. Hainer immediately snapped out of thought focused and staring straight ahead at the other rows of guards in front of him. Footsteps could be heard echoing through the hall. Hainer turned his eyes to his side, only to see an older man walking calmly, yet urgently past all the guards making his way to the front. His hair was grey and short, and his uniform was more ornate than the other guards’, decorated with several medals and a darker cape. It was none other than Commander Veade - a stickler for the rules, the man had been a peacekeeper for the longest time, climbing the ranks. He faced the guards standing at the front, staring at the troops seemingly inspecting them for a few seconds before his voice boomed once again. “I thank you all for coming to parade on such short notice.” He began. “I will keep this short, but still informational. Seth caused quite the disturbance earlier, and the townsfolk are talking.” He paused. “However, we are looking into the matter, immediately. We have sent a group of peacekeepers to scout the surrounding mountains, to see if what Seth said has any merit.” He paused again giving himself a breather. Hainer was indeed impressed they were tackling this issue right away, and he was hoping they would come back with a negative search, indicating that Seth was lying. However, he also knew he had to be on guard at any moment as well. “Meanwhile, I want all of you to crack down on rebel activity, as soon as you get a whiff. The Mayor has allowed us to initiate a curfew, and you can use as much force as necessary.” He said. The crowd full of guards was quiet, letting what the Commander had said, sink in a bit. As much force as necessary? Hainer was a lawful man, and if that’s what it took to weed people out, then so be it. “Sleuth around, ask questions. Find the rat among the people, and do your duties. That is all, Dismissed.” The Commander ended suddenly, and began walking back the same way he came from, ending parade. The guards dispersed once the commander was out of sight, mingling with each other. Hainer would tell some of them were amped up get back to work, especially with the curfew taking place and the extra use of force they were authorized to do.

~

The sun began to set, as the sky dimmed. The last steaks of warm orange from the sun shined behind the mountains, with the town being drowned in a pleasant glow. Hainer sat on a chair and table by himself, in front of a storefront. It had been a relatively quieter day due to the earlier events, which wasn’t a bad thing. Curfew was about to approach, and some citizens hadn’t gotten the memo, which meant Hainer would most likely spend the last bit of his shift reminding them to get home soon.

“Sir! Sir!” A voice shouted to Hainer. Hainer turned his head to the side, to find an elderly man approaching him.

“Go home, old man. There’s a curfew.” Hainer remarked trying to shrug the old man off.

“Oh I know of the curfew, I am wanting to know if you found anything in the mountains yet.” The old man asked. “It’s getting dark soon, surely the other guards should be making their way back by now?” He said.

“I doubt it. The mountains are farther away than you think. They will most likely be back tomorrow evening.” Hainer said, continuing to to urge the man to go away. “Now go away, and make your way home.” He demanded.

“I understand, but I have some suggestions on how - ” The man began speaking again, prompting Hainer to stand up. He gave the old man a slight shove, before gripping his sword.

“Hey! What did I just say? I don’t need your suggestions.” Hainer shouted at the man in frustration, as the elder began to cower slightly, tripping over his feet and falling onto the ground on his behind. People nearby stared, in anticipation that Hainer was going to strike and hurt the man.

“W-Wait, don’t hurt me!” He pleaded, holding his arms up to defend his face as if he were anticipating a hit. Hainer stared down at the man for a few seconds, and then sighed. He was frustrated and tired with the day, and took it out on the man. He was no rebel, there was no need to be so forceful with him. Hainer let out another sigh, before extending his arm to help the old man up. The man lowered his arms and looked at Hainer. However, his eyes were filled with…horror? The man’s face looked that of fear, as he pointed past Hainer’s head, towards the sky.

“Huh?” Hainer remarked in confusion. He turned his head and looked up at the sky to see what the old man was pointing at. High in the sky, were two shadows flying in circles. Hainer couldn’t make out right away what they were, but upon closer inspection they looked like to birds. Their silhouettes were massive, however - far larger than any bird Hainer ever saw. Suddenly, the birds began to fly down, with one descending onto a different part of town, while the other came straight into the market square, where Hainer stood. “Everyone, get away, now!” Hainer shouted, taking out his sword. The shadow beam larger and larger until it finally landed with a loud thud onto the city ground.

“M-Monster! Monster!” The old man shouted as he tried to get up, but fell back down due to fear.

“Monsters?! This close to the city?” Hainer remarked, staring at the beast. It towered at around 15 feet tall, and looked identical to a crow. However, it’s beak was much longer and sharper and its round, dark eyes were soulless. Hainer had read about monsters that inhabit the world before, but this was the first time he had actually seen one. Townsfolk began to scream and run away, however, the monster wasted no time skewering a nearby woman with its beak, spraying blood onto the ground as it searched for another prey.

 

[Wyll]

Anwyll Dagir
Interactions: Calliope ( Aura-Slash )
Mentions: Calliope ( Aura-Slash )​

---

"Why were you on the rooftop during the execution?" There was the question, the one question he'd hoped that they'd be able to skate around, only for it to come back as the very first question she asked. He sighed, considering his options. He could tell her the truth, explain his relationship with Seth and his history as a rebel. Or he could say some form of half-truth, of which there were many. He could also just flat out lie, claim to be a secret member of the guards that was there to make sue everything went smoothly.

He downed the rest of his mead, setting the pint down and looking up to the ceiling. "I...I was there to call out to my past, hoping it would call back." He smirked, a light chuckle escaping as he looked at her. "The only thing that called, though, was you." He'd gone with telling a half-truth. He was, indeed hoping that the Seth he knew from his past was still in there, but one look and it was clear that the Seth he knew was gone. Long gone.

He was tempted to ask her about her past and whatever episode she had that had caused her to freak out the way she did. However, he knew that asking that would be a window to her asking about his past and that wasn't a window that he was looking to open anytime soon. As a result, he kept the conversation pretty basic: asking simple questions; skating around any questions she asked that would go too deep into his past; avoiding anything that would dig too deep into his past.

All things considered, Anwyll didn't exactly mind her company, so he kept up conversation with her. When his food came, a smile lit his face as he was genuinely hungry, having not eaten anything that day. Once done, he'd moved to a large chair by the fireplace, finally seating and resting his legs. He leaned his head back and let his eyes close naturally, drawn into sleep by the warmth of the fire, knowing how difficult it is for him to sleep at night.


Post-Time Skip
He is snatched from peaceful slumber when the world around him suddenly shakes. He flips over the chair, has his bow drawn and an arrow nocked and aimed at the door before his eyes were even fully open - a result of always having to be ready in case of an attack. He didn't need to know or see what had happened outside, his gut told him already - "That scaffy Seth was telling the truth," he muttered, the significance of that statement weighing heavy.

He wasn't nervous or panicked, there were too many lives at stake to entertain such luxuries. He saw some people, in panic, trying to leave the tavern and he fired an arrow at the door, stopping everyone in their tracks. "Nobody leaves this tavern but me! Stay in here, close the doors and windows, stay hidden." His eyes snapped to the tavern keep. "Vahan, pour ale all around the door. If anything comes through that door, if it is nae human, burn it!"

"But I'll lose my tavern!" Vahan protested.

"Aye, and save your drunken hide as well as the hide of everyone else in here." Anwyll walked up to him, shoved a bottle of ale into his chest and spoke sternly. "Burn it." Vahan hesitated but nodded in understanding. Then Anwyll looked around for the girl he had come in with. Spotting her, he considered asking her to fight with him, but then reconsidered. He doubted that she was in the right mental space for a fight right now. With that, he sighed and ran out the doors, retrieving the arrow he had shot earlier. As soon as he was out the door, he spotted a large bird looking for prey. Damn, why did it have to be so close? He'd have to lure it away. He fired two arrows at the beasts head, meant to get its attention and hopefully get it coming after Anwyll. With that, he began running out of the city, hoping to make it to the forest, where he'd have the advantage and the others in the city would be safe.