Fantasy [Closed] A nation in havoc

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan huffed with annoyance. "Most of my brothers were constantly fighting for my Father's favor, and those that weren't got picked on anyway. My sisters were better, all younger than me I and I managed to get on their good side as they grew. I'm not to worried about my brothers, since they would climb over each other's corpses without a thought. But my sisters... innocent beings born to man that would probably sell them if anyone were buying." Dan's face was cold once again. "Sorry. I doubt you wanted a sob story. I should go." Dan's head collapsed into his hands as he sighed. Rhaine

 

[Duke of Doge]

(Yeah, forgot to add this in the post, but the bath area is in a seperate room connected to the main one, where it gets seperated into two baths with a wall between for privacy. It was such a minor thing, I forgot to add it)

 

[Rhaine]

((You're good Duke of Doge ))

Fresh and new, hair already drying due to its length, Ru came to rest on her knees at Dan's side by the stagnant pool of drinking water. She listened, eyes trained on his face as he spoke. Ru watched as the now familiar coldness took hold of his features. It tugged at something in her chest. At his last words she shook her head with feeling. "No, don't, I-". She had reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder without thought, but she pulled it back now, eyes falling to her lap. A flash of nervousness found her in the wake of the gesture, and how fervently she had spoken. She fought the light flush in her face, willing it to disappear. "I really don't mind. I enjoy the company." It was a quiet, sincere response, almost careful in nature.

She looked up from her lap, fingers running loosely through her hair, something of a nervous habit. "Your father...Your father does not seem like a nice man." It was an understatement, considering the trecherous account Dan had allowed her. Her voice had its subconscious, airy quality once more. "If you don't mind me saying so." She added quickly.

TheCountryWarrior

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan had started to get up, but Ru almost held him down and she nervously tan her ran her fingers through her hair. Dan's cold face immediately fell away to surprise as he stared at her. She wants your company! That's new. The surprise still on his face Dan sat back down, and gave an awkward smile at her words. "I uh, thank you. I enjoy the company of people who... are nice..." Dan's smile grew to more of a grimace as she mentioned his father. "Hah! I don't mind in the slightest. I quite agree, actually." Dan sighed. "He was one of the main reasons I left. Let's stop talking about me. I'm boring, and my story is depressing. How bout you? I wouldn't mind having the live commentary of a master healer's no doubt much more interesting tale. Are you from Fenwood? And do they have any strange beasts their?" Dan was smiling know as he looked at her, always eager for some new tidbit of knowledge. Rhaine

 

[Rhaine]

Ru thought she detected a small compliment, though it was buried as he continued on. A somewhat satisfied expression found her as she realized he did mean to stay, and she shifted where she sat, settling in against the stone.

She gave a shake of her head, a smile full of disbelief moving over her mouth when he referred to himself as 'boring.' She gave a small huff at his words, though her expression showed that she was pleased. "I would hardly call my tale interesting." Giving a small nod, glowing faintly under the weight of his smile. It felt earned, and she didn't take it for granted. "I am from Fenwood, yes. Beasts? Let me think...". Her green eyes cast up to the stone ceiling as she thought, her smile growing briefly when a memory answered her call. "There are griffins." Her gaze returned to him, and her voice took on a hush, as if she were sharing information only meant for him. "And giant trolls. Trolls live in caverns like this, in the hills, or in the trees. Though...." She paused, the flush in her cheeks taking on a more prominent shade. "I have never seen a troll. I doubt any in Fenwood ever have. They're stories - stories of giant trolls stealing away little elf children that stay out in the woods too late." She gave a small laugh. "Probably only meant to scare children into staying out of trouble."

Her eyes took on a lightness, and her voice lowered further. "I am trusting you with Fenwood's greatest secrets. I hope you appreciate the gravity of the situation." Her words achieved a humorous sheen, playfulness tucked into each word - secured by a slight grin. It surprised her. She wasn't used to such conversation, especially concerning her own experience, her home. It felt good to laugh, to feel joy, considering the horror that went on just above them.

TheCountryWarrior

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan smiled as Ru talked on about her homeland. Dan replied with his own secretive voice and grin. "I shall take your homeland's secrets to the grave and beyond." He laughed, fully appreciating some humor for the first time in a long while. "I suppose the stories only vary slightly between cultures then. Where I come from, the stories tell of a Wielder of dark magic that would steal the souls of children if they stayed out too late. Suffice to say: it works for a good bit of everyone's childhood." Dan finished with a laugh. His eyes lit up as a thought pierced the jumble in his brain. "Have you ever seen magic?" Rhaine

 

[Caffeine Freak]

[The torture has at last ceased! For now, at least]

Samuel followed Nia and the young prince, who he immediately recognised, through the seemingly endless tethers of tunnels. "You- uh, you guys sure we can get back to the hub from here?" He kept his voice low, swearing he could hear faint hissing sounds resonating from deeper within the cave system. The idea of something else being down here with them didn't sit well with Sam. He immediately scrounged for a topic to scrape his mind off it. "How long have these tunnels been here?" He asked, eying the cobwebs overhead.

Rhaine Duke of Doge

 

[Rhaine]

Ru gave a soft laugh in agreement, gathering the fabric of her skirt in her hands. She faintly ran her fingers over the smooth texture, though it now carried several tears. She was encouraged when his tone matched her own, when he flashed a grin. She briefly imagined him as a child, hearing such stories. She wanted to laugh. It was odd to picture Dan as a child, considering his usually fierce disposition. However, with his features smoothed out pleasantly, she found that it wasn't as hard to picture as she might have thought. At his question, her eyes widened slightly, a bit of thrill grasping at her mind. She hesitated, dropping her gaze.

Ru briefly hid her face behind her hands, a little embarrassed about what she was going to share. "I'm sure you'll either think me mad or ignorant or simply a liar - I'm not sure which would be worse - but ... yes." She almost whispered the last word, afraid to meet his gaze. "I have seen it myself. More than once." She didn't speak further, as she didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of him. Though it was a favorite topic of hers, it was an odd topic for most. She had learned this from personal experience. There was a bit of trust in the confession.

"Have... have you?" The question was tentative.

TheCountryWarrior

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan couldn't stop grinning like a fool. This Elf had about her, behind the nervousness, a grace and elegance, and Dan couldn't tell if that was his imagination or not. And she had seen magic! "Oh I believe you! I've long believed magic was real. I've never seen it myself, but the stories had to come from somewhere! How did you witness it? What was it like?" Dan was like a child, sitting there and waiting for the next part of a story. Rhaine

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia thought for a moment "The Royal vault that hold my family's personal weapons has been here for... I'd say two or three hundred years. About as old as Dalania. The rest has been added on in varying incriminants over the years." Nia stopped at a door on her right, opening it to reveal a generous stock of non-perishable foods, salted or died meats, crackers, wrapped cheese and various other things, including a few spices, even a small bag of coffee. As well as glasses, plates, silverwear, etc.

Nia walked towards the back. "Here we go!" She said as if a great burden had been lifted.

She found the alcohol.

From basic beer found at taverns, to flavored mead, and expensive wine. There was a bit of everything. She lifted a bottle of red wine. "I don't know about you..." she said analyzing the label "But I need this." She grabbed a wine glass off the shelf, popping the cork and pouring herself a glass. Nia briefly laughed to herself "this bottle is like over a hundred years old, and IIIIII am going to use it to drown my sorrows like some kind of lowlife peasant." Nia raised the glass in a sort of half toast. "My, how the mighty have fallen!" She said with a hysterical laugh to follow.
Rhaine Caffeine Freak

 

[Rhaine]

Dan's words rendered Ru speechless for a beat. He accepted her confession as truth without a second thought. More than that, he encouraged her to go on. She was delighted to find that he possessed such an open-minded nature, though she should have expected it with foresight. He was an engineer, a creative, in truth.

She began to think over her response. It was fascinating to discuss, but elusive to describe. "Where I lived before... many of the healers I learned from used magic in their work." Her voice was tinged with hushed delight. She took another moment to think. Her hair was almost completely dry now and it curled at the ends. She brushed a strand behind her ear. "It's like... light, but not - it's hard to explain. Like energy? Or a flame." She pressed her hands against her ruddied cheeks. "Before... I thought your firearm might be magic - enchanted at least. I thought you yourself might be magic." She raised a slightly playful brow. "I'm still not entirely convinced that I was wrong."

TheCountryWarrior

((Cassander's post is almost done Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak ))

 

[Rhaine]

Cassander watched the dark haired man at his side with a bit of amusement. He shook his head, giving what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I wouldn't worry. Nia knows where she's going and where she's been." He listened as Nia answered the man's question. He vaguely wondered how Nia had become acquainted with so many new people in such a short time. Cassander was unfamiliar with this man just the same as the one he had introduced himself to earlier.

A smile broke out over his face, wide and expansive, when Nia discovered the food storage. Relief washed over him. He had a deep feeling that his suspicion about their time in the caverns would ring true, and with the discovery of a generous amount of food, their problems seemed ever so slightly lighter. He almost spoke, wanting to share his joy with the other two, but Nia spoke before he could manage it. He watched her as she lifted a bottle of red wine in her grasp, pouring herself a glass.

Cassander wasn't about to discourage her from her plan. She could very well make her own decisions, and, if he was honest, a glass of wine did sound appealing given their predicament. However, her dark-tempered laugh frightened him, as well as the edge to her tone. His brow bent slightly. "Nia, I don't think the concept of drowning one's sorrows in liquor is exclusive to 'low life peasants'. I'm fairly certain 'the mighty' partake in it just the same."

He knew she wasn't in a healthy state of mind - at all, but he didn't want to worsen it. He resolved to simply keep an eye on her, make sure she didn't end up hurting herself.

Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan chuckled sadly as he looked wistfully at the ceiling, and lightened at the chance to talk of his project. "Oh that I wish it were so! However I'm quite proud of my weapon nonetheless. It uses a combination of natural materials and Man made materials, and I realize you didn't ask for a full history of it and I'm going to stop myself from going on a tangent." With a nervous laugh he recalled the last time he was comfortable enough to talk of himself.

They were your first kill.

Dan shook his head, as if knocking away memories and turned to look directly at Ru. "So... why did you come to Dalania?" Rhaine

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia deadpanned in Cassander's direction drinking a sip from her glass with a refreshing 'ahh' to follow. She licked her lips and blinked twice. "Hey Cass, guess how many fucks I give? None." She said as she then started to walk out of the room before turning back to them. "The world is on fire, and everything is poof." She emphasised with a snap. "Gone. In fact, I'm eighty percent sure that all the lowlife peasants are going to be flash heated, and turned into ash statues along with the entire city!" She downed the entire glass in her hand. "Actually! Fuck it" she walked back to the alcohol selection and grabbed a bottle of mead. "My father always limited the alcohol to wine. Because the other stuff isnt "noble" so I'm going to drink this, do some stupid shit, pass out, and try to forget today happened. And yooouuuuu can't stop me" Nia said as she left the room.

All of this extreme behavior, and she wasn't even drunk yet. Which, knowing this energetic and compulsive red haired girl, wouldn't take long.
Rhaine Caffeine Freak

 

[Rhaine]

Ru shook her head with a small smile, a focus in her eyes that showed she was listening closely. "I wouldn't mind. I think it's very interesting, and I would love to understand how it worked. I've never seen anything like it." Her gaze fell from his and she shifted slightly. "It is ...frightening, but I find that, at least for me, what scares me is usually what I find most fascinating." Her eyes met his again and she gave a sheepish smile, fiddling with her pinky ring. She knew it probably wasn't her best quality, and she wasn't sure why she shared it with him - why she was sharing any of this with him so easily. She simply found herself speaking without much reserve, and there was a comfortable bend to her shoulders.

She thought over his question, how exactly she wished to respond. She had never spoken her reasons aloud. "I came to Delania...well - I suppose because I wasn't interested in being who I was supposed to be at home." She paused, and it was apparent her mind was working vividly. "I was looking for something more. I'm not sure exactly what more is. Freedom? Substance? Attachment?" She shook her head with a bashful touch to her features. "I supposed that Delania was as good a place to look as any other. Though... I ended up in the same position I was trained to be in. An instructor to a noble." She gave a movement that might have been a faint shrug. "None of that matters now." She sent a glance up to the ceiling, referring to the desolation.

She had said more than she meant to, more than she felt she probably should have, but she met his gaze anyway. "What about you, Mr. Carbonaro? Did you come to Delania in search of something other than a workshop?"

TheCountryWarrior

(Cassander in a sec)

 

[Rhaine]

Cassander's dark brow perked up at her use of expletives and the outrageous nature to her speech. He gave a small huff, but otherwise didn't react. Everyone coped with tragedy differently, and knowing her, her behavior didn't shock him much. He didn't speak. He knew any advising words would fall on deaf ears. There was a casual air to his limbs, and his dark eyes stayed trained on the shorter girl, as if he were keeping tabs on her every move. Her plan didn't reassure him much. He wasn't sure what exactly 'do some stupid shit' would entail, but he didn't like the sound of it. Normally, Cassander was the bright life of celebration, encouraging of rash and possibly questionable behavior. However, Nia's was completely born of grief. It was dark and mournful, and he didn't know how to respond to it.

He followed her out of the room all the same, maintaining a watchful gaze. "Wouldn't dream of it." His words were really only a slightly ironic sentiment. He meant to intervene if she tried something that would hurt her. Though his expression and body language was casual, his shoulders remained tense, as if he were readying himself for something.

Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan continued to smile at her as she confessed a quite understandable quality. After all, knowledge of what scares you can give you understanding. He understood when she talked of looking for something more. He had one objection though. "I think it matters quite a bit. If ones heart is not in their work, then they'll never work to their fullest. As for me?" Dan kept looking at her (you just can't keep your eyes off her) but his gaze grew more sad as the confessed something he never expected to. "Same as so many others I imagine. Running from painful memories. And sightseeing. But mosty painful memories." Dan's lame attempt at humor causing him to give a rueful chuckle. Rhaine

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia returned to the main room with Ru and Dan "I found alcohol" she said in a bored tone, before sitting down on a rock and drinking the bottle she had in hand.

She didn't care. That much was clear right now.

After her first swig, she had her eyes wide as she spoke. "This is some good shit" she took another swig of the stuff. "Normally. I wouldn't even touch alcohol. But today. Im making a major exception!"
TheCountryWarrior Rhaine Caffeine Freak SirGrey

 

[Rhaine]

Ru's gaze turned empathetic as he spoke, her brow bending in the wake of his admittance. She couldn't imagine something so painful one felt they had to run so far from it. Still, it made sense. He struck her as someone who's past weighed heavy on his shoulders. She wasn't sure how she knew - it was something like intuition. Something in her hurt for him. Everyone had their own demons chasing them, close on their heels.

"I'm sorry - ...Wh-" She stopped speaking as the Princess entered, followed closely by a tall, scarlet clad boy she knew to be Prince Cassander without a doubt. Her posture instantly shifted, her shoulders holding tension, her head bowing slightly, her limbs coming close to her body. She watched as the Princess took a swig from a long bottle she carried in her hand. Ru's face wore confusion at first, before this descended into concern. At the Princess' use of an expletive, Ru's face flushed, her gaze falling to her lap. It wasn't that she hadn't heard worse - it was just coming from the Princess that it surprised her to the point of alarm.

The Princess' behavior seemed so separate from everything she knew of her, everything she had come to expect - it unnerved her. Ru knew the girl had lost everything all too recently, and she didn't judge her harshly for her conduct now. Still, worry curled in her chest. She looked to Dan at her side before her eyes fell to the stone floor once more.

TheCountryWarrior Duke of Doge

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan was about to insist that all was okay now and other lies to spare her from feeling anything on his behalf, when the princess stumbled in and took a long swig from a bottle of what Dan knew was alcohol. He had witnessed this scene with many different faces. He exchanged a worried glance with Ru. Dan knew that boy that walked in behind her was the best chance she had of pulling her out of despair. Ru, of course, had a good chance as well. Dan couldn't think of anything better to do than sit there with Songbird. So Dan waited.
Rhaine Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak SirGrey

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia looked over at everyone "what?!" She said gesturing to herself before taking another swig "let me just. Do this. Okay?"
Rhaine TheCountryWarrior SirGrey

 

[Rhaine]

Ru stayed silent. It wasn't for her to tell the Princess what and what not to do - especially not now. Ru could hardly say she knew what it was to endure such loss, though she could appreciate its depth. She gave a small nod in response to the red-haired girl, though she didn't speak. It was a complete turn around from Ru's demeanor of just a few moments ago.

Cassander's eyes briefly left Nia's relaxed form. He looked to the two a few feet away - Abbondanzio and the Elven girl he had noticed earlier. He gave a brief smile. "We found food, thankfully. There's enough to go around." His voice was pleasant, while attaining a polite sensibility. He came forward a few steps, bending down to offer his hand to the Elven girl. "I figure we should all be at least acquainted, given we're here indefinitely. Cassander, and you are, Miss?" The girl's eyes didn't meet his, though she took his hand. There was a shy nature to her bearing. "Ru, your Grace." He gave a smile and a nod, letting her small-boned hand fall from his grasp.

"Good to meet you." "And you as well."

Cassander returned to Nia's side, sitting close by. "Nia... how did you all become acquainted?" He wanted to make conversation, fill the silence.

Duke of Doge TheCountryWarrior

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia blinked "They just showed up in my.... garden" she said looking off into distance. She started to cry again. "My mom planted it... and now." She held her face in her hands. She set the alcohol down and slid to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest. "I just. Dont know if I can go on"
Rhaine TheCountryWarrior

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan hadn't dealt with this much emotion in a long time. In the past five minutes he had been the happiest he had been in a while, and massively depressed. And now for some reason he was angry at this random prince for being all... princy. What the hell is wrong with me?! Dan shook his head, stood up and walked in a circle, stretching his legs. Being cooped up in a cave was terrible for ones joints, and ones sanity. Dan turned back to the princess. "Your majesty, drowning your sorrows in alcohol will only make your problems seem worse."
Duke of Doge Rhaine Caffeine Freak SirGrey

 

[Rhaine]

Ru's expression fell as she watched the Princess break down. To say it was a distressing sight would have been an understatement. Her eyes were full of feeling for her, and they turned to Dan as he stood, watching as he briefly paced. She agreed wholeheartedly with his words, and she gave a nod. "With all due respect, my Lady, Dan is right." The alcohol already seemed to have taken a turn on her. The world was confusing enough without it being blurred by drink. The helpless words of the red-haired girl echoed in her mind. "You may be uncertain of yourself, but I'm not. You're strong, your Grace. You can overcome anything." She was a sentimental being at heart. In the short time she had known her, the Princess had proved herself to possess more strength than Ru had seen in herself. To see the girl crumble was a blow.


Cassander rested a hand on Nia's shoulder. He didn't know what he could do or what he could say to stay her tears. He agreed with the others. He just hoped Nia wasn't too far gone to hear. "You're not alone, Nia. You don't have to face anything by yourself." His words came out soft, almost a murmur. The cavern felt more expansive than it ever had before. The empty space threatened to swallow him whole.

Duke of Doge TheCountryWarrior