Fantasy Fading Flame (In Character)

[Kabboom]

Jericho

As the elf spoke and Jewl leapt from his arms, Jericho responded to Maria, after the initial shock from suddenly receiving her lecture on Elf deception. "Rest assured, Maria, that I have no misconceptions or illusions about the Elves. I had to deal with them too, remember. I got this.” He then turns to the girl, clears his throat, and replies to her. “It’s dark. Maybe you should stay with us. Traveling in the Darkwoods at night is very foolish. We have proper food and shelter, and I guarantee the men won't do any harm.”

As Maria shook her head in disbelief, and the guardsmen just stared at him like he just signed their death warrant, Audaton was confident in his decision. Sure, it may not be the best decision, given the circumstances, seeing as she was still an elf that shot a few arrows into the group. But the Guardian had ways to know if someone was harboring ill intent or up to some trickery or not. Clarity is a very versatile tool, and if one were born with such an ability, it wouldn't be too hard to notice that whenever someone is planning something or masquerading, a sudden breeze of calmness and inner peace is always sure to evoke a bewildered reaction from them, revealing their intents. It didn't always work, but it had worked enough for him to entrust his life in its ability to do so.

And besides, if the Elf really did try something, then they'd just kill her. But that's an 'if' for now. And judging by her friendly demeanor as soon as she put two and two together and figured out we weren't something that can be hunted, along with her oddly friendly dwarf dragon, Jericho would hate for that scenario to happen. Safeguarding her from the more... prejudiced Guardsmen within the group is not that hard as well; just let her hang around with the rock elemental and the Elfling, Leafa. If a hyperactive Elven child can be protected from these hardy 1st Legion infantrymen, then there's no reason to worry about a grown Elf that can be reasoned with.

Stretching his hands and arms obviously so that the Elf wouldn't mistake it for him reaching for a weapon, Audaton was growing tired, with a rather big headache amassing, waiting to strike him as soon as he drops the Clarity field. He doesn't mind it too much, though. He'd lived with it his whole life, and there were plenty of herbal solutions. If he deactivates it soon, then it'll all be good-

"Jericho, we have...another stray. And... It appears that woulds make two strays in one night. Brilliant... Don't push yourself too far, Audaton. I'm sure your ability has its limits. It would be a shame if you died from an aneurysm." Glancing back at the Nephilim standing tall, requiring him to crane his neck upwards, along with the shorter (but still taller than Jericho) raggedy man with a fancy sword in his scabbard, all the Guardian could do was stare for a while. Reaching his hand over to Erik without looking, he ordered him to do something.

"Erik, go grab me a bottle of something to drink. Something heavy." Nodding without delay and heading off, the blond guardsman went back to the camp in search of booze. The two remaining guardsmen, the young Kwelek and old Umak, simply stared at each other, before shaking their heads and standing firm near Jericho, perhaps in some psychological trick to make him seem more authoritative, or something of the sort. "No worries, Angel, I have lived with it my whole life. I can take this. Now who's this guy?" Audaton spoke with a tired voice. This night was definitely not turning out well.
U UnbelievableCow RubyZoo QizPizza Trappy

​

Clanus

"Pleasur' ta meetcha, Spessartite." he simply nodded at the woman-rock, taking pride in his name choice for a quickly-domesticated rodent.

As the cover went up, Clanus drew his sword and assumed the standard scoutsman combat stance: slightly crouched with weapon ready, and other hand shielding his vital organs, or something more vital. In this case, he immediately shifted close to Leafa, his free left hand reaching over her like a guard rail, making sure that she doesn't run off or anything, and also in the worst case scenario that someone loosed an arrow, he would at least try to block it with his arm. Pain included and all, but one temporarily armless scoutsman was a lot better than a dead Elfling. Especially one that didn't try to run away from him and his cadre of Guardsmen.

"Hol' on, lemme check," he responded to the inquisitive elemental. Slightly peeking out of cover, he saw that most of the guardsmen were now peeking their heads up in curiosity. This either meant that the infantrymen were more inexperienced than he'd took them for, or the situation has taken a turn for the weird. Trying to get some information, he hollered at the nearest one, a musketeer sitting in his hole. "Ey! What the fuck is goin' on?!"

Turning, the guardsman soon replied. "Some Elf bitch started lobbing arrows, but she stopped and came out! We ain't got the order to fire, I dunno why! It's some weird shit, I tell ya', weird shit!"

Hearing the conversation, a passing rider and a friend of Clanus, Ulric, chimed in as his Wolfhorse absent-mindedly walked back to its tent. "Also, there's some scrawny ass beggar who showed up to our 7 o'clock, Guardians and the big-wigs are takin' care of him! Not hostile, but doesn't seem too friendly either. Fuckin' night..."

Processing this information, he turned to Spessartite. "...Well, ya heard 'em."

-robert- Sybil

​

Terra

She had been... mostly occupied for the night. Terra's initial mad dash at the thieves and bandits did well to separate her from most of the fighting, and it didn't help that in the chase, she had the misfortune to pull a water crystal, which did nothing except leak water onto her clothes, and the ground. The two bandits having gotten away, she returned just in time to see the Serpent already slain, and the wounded needing care.

Having since acted as a water station with her crystal being used to refill the men's canteens and wash off other disgusting stuff like wounds, ashes and dirt, Terra had a very bad night. The shining knight Pryonn, damn him, showed up and courted her too, making her blushes spiral out of control, although she'd like to think she hid it well. His arrival helped a bit with her mood, despite her... demeanor towards him.

Now, just staring at Pryonn from afar, within the solid cover she was in from that pesky Elf that was lobbing shots a second ago, she saw him running into the cave. The absolute idiot. Was he looking for trouble on purpose? Dropping the water crystal immediately and preparing to run after him, she paused for a second to check herself. Her clothes being wet and hung out to dry, she was stuck without her overcoat, and she wouldn't want anyone, much less Pryonn, see her like this. But nonetheless, she ran after him. "Where the hell do you think you're going?!" She yelled after him.

Unwavering Knight

 

[QizPizza]

Audun the Fallen

Location: The Dark Forest
Status: Tired/In Disbelief
Disposition: Slightly Good
Interacting With: U UnbelievableCow Kabboom
Mentioned:

"Erik, go grab me a bottle of something to drink. Something heavy. No worries, Angel, I have lived with it my whole life. I can take this. Now who's this guy?"

"Get me something too!" Audun shouted as the soldier named Erik went back into the heart of the camp. Today was a long day, and if Audun were to have any hope of a peaceful night's rest, then he would have to get drunk. That, and of course to deal with the headache that is this group's constantly changing roster. Audun sighed as he began to explain Desmond. He felt retarded having to explain this man's situation. "This man is Desmond, and he is here because...he wants to fight Darkborne. Some sort of personal vendetta or something. You can help me count. How many strays have we picked up since we started this mission?"

Shaking his head disapprovingly, he addressed Desmond. Hopefully, this time, he would actually answer his question instead of dodging it. "Would care to tell us how you got here without getting killed?"

 

[UnbelievableCow]

Desmond nodded to Audun’s command and took up step behind him. He kept quiet as they walked, as there wasn’t much to say and he was in thought. As they moved through the camp, he took a guess that this camp held somewhere between 50-75 troops. Desmond remembered a few details about the military from when his father, and seeing the size he assumed it was a Group supplemented with guardians. ~An angel, and that mage seemed strong... if the darkborne threat was large a rank and more guardians would be needed... something small, soldiers are here as a caravan for supplies. Something vital.~ Desmond found it hard to keep an idle mind, and sat there speculating what was out here. Before he even realized Desmond was being addressed. He missed the first few words, but snapped to attention immediately.

“The man with the halberd is Jericho, the leader of this group. The woman beside him is Maria. I'm sure you've heard of her if you've spent anytime in a major city. We're going to talk to them about your...situation." It had been some time since Desmond had been to a city, and even then he did not keep track of names well. He watched as Jericho and Audun talked. At the mention of the second ‘stray’ Desmond thought his timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The focus had been split between the two, and there is always comfort in knowing someone else is in the same boat as you.

Finally Audun turned back to Desmond, asking once again how he made it out here. “Well we aren’t to far out from Frontierville, and I believe the eyes of the forest were on you.” After saying that he concluded that his answer wasn’t enough. He merely stated something without answering Audun, so he continued. “Your guard was the first thing I came in contact with out here... I’m also confident in my ability to flee, so I wasn’t to worried about running into less welcoming arms.” He tacked on that second part Incase the question of, why he was traveling alone, popped up again.

QizPizza Kabboom

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Pryonn & Kaatl

"Ooh!" emitted the knight as he stopped in his tracks upon hearing the melodious and angered voice of his Lady. Swerving around, causing Kaatl once again to have to hold on for dear life and mightily flap her wings for stability, the knight's visored helm set itself upon the onstorming Terra "My Damsel-Heart! 'Where am I going?' Of course!" Giving a chortle the knight made a grand gesture, dramatically pointing his banner-lance towards the looming cave-entrance "I am invoking any proper knights privilege! To charge heedlessly into parts unknown! To proclaim his Lady's name and broaden her renown!"

Hefting his banner over his free shoulder, he raised his free hand towards Terra in offering, as if inviting her to dance "Won't you join us in our venture? If we find another-" the knight interrupted himself, having been too self-absorbed to note his Lady's predicament, the wetness of her garb till now "My Lady!" he uttered, fright ringing in his voice "You must be cold! Any breeze might make you shiver! This will not stand!" Thrusting his banner into the forest-ground, the knight hastily set to work on unclasping the mantle hanging from his back. Taking but a moment's notice, he quickly produced the cape and began to cover Terra in the deep blue cloth of his order.

Kabboom

 

[Sybil]

Spessartite Phos​

The elemental huffed, patting the small elf she covered as the wall of dirt and rock rescinded into the earth upon hearing the mysterious sniper had come out of hiding. Their very rock 'skin' seemed to be a bit agitated, their arms and shoulders seeming to has almost hair sized protrusions os small spikes. This was likely just due to anger that she refused to let spill out on anyone around her, and now her body was showing it off discretely.

"What in 'ell's name is goin on 'ere!" The rock was flabbergasted in all honesty. Two intruders? In the middle of this forest? If anything spelled trap it was this, but she had a child with her, so what could she do?.... except... "Clanus... watch the lil one..."

Without another word, the mineral maiden would walk off, guided by sounds of arguing and general directions to find the group of two men prominent men, now only reduced to one as she witnessed Jericho walk off, now only leaving a guardian she was not familair with and a handful of guards nearby. None of this mattered, seeing as the living statue was about to go off and relieve the pressure building inside her body.

"EY! BIMBO! YOU TRYIN' TO STAR' SHIT BY SHOOTIN' AT A CAMP? THE FACT YOU'S STANDIN THERE ALL FINE IS SHOWIN ME YOU ARE PRETTY FUCKIN THICK IN THE 'EAD!" It seems the accidental arrows Skyler shot earlier that landed near Leafa was a fire starter, the heavy footsteps of the elemental only as intimidating as their clenched fists. Pardon her language and accent.

Spoiler: Interactions

Kabboom Midrick RubyZoo -robert-

 

[Trappy]

Hearthfall Season - Nightfall
Maria
The Wagons, Darkwoods​

• Reality Sequence
• Interacted / Mentioned

• 
  
  "Rest assured, Maria, that I have no misconceptions or illusions about the Elves. I had to deal with them too, remember. I got this.”
  Her warning was disregarded by Audaton, as the man turned to the elven intruder with an invitation to share the night will the company. Despite some initial objection due to the commander's lack of caution in making these moves, Maria thought it was best that she was to say nothing else. After all, she was supposed to follow and assist her commander in his decisions, not questioning, contradicting or warning him at every corner. The commander must've had proper reasons to trust this elf, even after it fired arrows at the encampment, or so she'd like to believe, not that it should matters. Besides, anything she had to say would likely worsen the tension anyway. Most of the guardsmen, like Maria herself, seemed surprised by Audaton's sudden show of hospitality for an intruder, worse, a wild elf. However, thankfully, they stood their ground and none did anything reckless. Perhaps they shared her feelings about the situation - Maria thought. Like her, they will follow Audaton, but if the intruder is foolish enough to try anything . . .
  
  Having made up her mind, placing her trust in Jericho and hoping for best, the guardian stepped back just behind the commander, quietly observing how the incident would unfold. The situation with the elf was seemingly put under control, when the Seraph, Audun, brought with him another stranger before Maria and her commander. The guardian sighed, "Tonight has certainly been something . . . " Suddenly, a loud outburst from behind startled the guardian. As Maria turned around, the source of the source of the noisy gibberish was revealed to be the elemental in the company, who seemed to be quite angry with one of the intruders. She probably stated it in the outburst, but the accent was just a tad heavy for the young Regalian's ears.
  
  Leaving the new stranger for Audaton to deal with, Maria retreated to the back. She approached the elemental.
  "Hello there! You seem angry with our guest over there, for reasons I can not yet deduce. So how about we calm down and talk about it? I'm sure there is a resolve without loud noises and violence." The guardian said with sincere and cordiality, attempting to simmer down the creature's anger. If one can even call it a creature, a structure seems more appropriate. "We really don't want an unnecessary incident."
  
  
• 
  Interacted: Sybil
  Mentioned: Kabboom QizPizza U UnbelievableCow RubyZoo
  

 

[-robert-]

Leafa

Arrows rained on the camp, protected by Phos and Clanus, the young elf made it out without a scratch. Pip took shelter inside her quiver, and Ko lowered it's wings. After the arrows stopped, Rock Lady left to talk with the intruder, leaving Leafa with Clanus. Priorities first, after checking on her animal companions, and letting Pip out of the quiver, the young elf gathered some arrows scattered on the ground, making sure that she wouldn't run out in the future. She then turned to Clanus.

"So. Clanus. I don't like it, I'm calling you Clanny from now on, okay? Oh, and I have a question, what's an "elf bitch"? Is it an insult? Sorry, but I never heard someone say that before. At least mommy and daddy never said that!"

Leafa did notice, some of the members of the army did look at her differently than others, whenever they looked at her their faces would show anger, rage, disgust. She never really understood why, back in her village everyone was friendly, why wasn't it the same here? Was it because she was an elf? What was the problem with that? Hopefully, Clanus would answer her questions.

"Clanny... do people hate elves? Please tell me the truth..."

Kabboom Sybil

 

[Sybil]

Spessartite Phos​

The elemental heard the familiar voice, knowing it from the attack on the town the band of guardians had all met in. Their tone was not unfamiliar as well, a tone the voice seemed to always have on the woman's tongue. She turned, not surprised to find the voice belonging to one of the leader's of her own camp, but the name escaped her. Mary? Martha? Marget? Margot? No that was the mage! Regardless of her confusion on her name, Phos knew this woman was making a too calm of a reaction to what the rock girl perceived as clear aggression.

"What? Don' need it?! This person done shot arrows into camp! 'Bout 'it a 'andful of us, and I don' know 'bout you but when ya shoot arrows at a camp you either a bandit or a fool!" While she spoke all riled up, her rock exterior seemed to shake in many small fragments, almost like an animal shaking in anger.

Trappy RubyZoo

 

[Midrick]

Pat shook his head when he heard Maria and the elemental expressing their anger at the elf, they had no reason to hate them, they hadn't had everything taken from them, ripped away and slaughtered like a baby from a mother. His internal cynicism was eating him alive. He at least had a reason, but he knew it wasn't an excuse for what he had done, probably keep doing. Not to level exclusively. Men in the company had started calling him Mortarion, child of death. He was being eaten alive by the pessimism inside, if he wanted to have a half decent night there were one of two options, start drinking, which would lead to a splitting headache and hangover the next the morning. Or seek out another tortured soul, so they could be alone together. After shooting a glance at Maria he walked over to where The paladin, Audun was his name if Pat remembered correctly. He couldn't find the man, no Angle, or whatever the hell he was. Then he sighted his 'wife'. Pat used the word liberally, probably some concubine, one of the more respectful terms for a woman like her. He still hazily remembered it was her who pinned him, and almost no one who was human could out muscle or out finese him in combat. He looked down at the helmet clipped to his belt. The movable faceplate of the helm staring back at him. The mutiple holes in the plate staring back at him like a thousand eyes judging him. He stopped by the medical tent again, deciding he was done for the night he put on normal clothes and decided to speak with Auduns 'wife'.

He walked around the camp, talking to some of the guardsman, ate, and drank some of their alcohol. It was good, but it wouldn't give him a buzz. Whiskey, and lots of it were what it took for him to forget what he was and what he did. He pushed his reflections out of his mind he sat around the fire with some of the guards man telling stories of old lovers and teenage heartbreaks. After out drinking most of the guardsman close to his age he decided to finally seek out where, he was forgetting names, maybe they're ale was stronger than he thought. He finally approached the tent situated at the edge of the camp, a rather odd position for somewhere for someone to sleep, as it was one of the most unsafe places of the camp. Being the paragon of chivalry that he was, a term that brought a laugh out of him, he aked "Hey, anyone alive in there?" He was looking for Audunl someone who might understand what Pat was going through. Although he didn't know him well, Pat knew the haunted looks and appearances that made themselves apparent in the subtlest of ways, mainly because he himself had first hand expierence of those looks and feelings. So he waited for a reply of Taryn, that was her name, to point him in the right direction of the messiah.
Interacted: QizPizza
Mentioned: Trappy Sybil

 

[RubyZoo]

"Ok but Jewl isn't happy without her mid-day meal. You guys might need help in these woods anyways. I know it better than you" she sayed with a small smile on her face. She was about to walk past when another man came up to talk to Jericho. As she waited for the man to finish talking, she squatted down to Jewl and told her to go back to their house and grab more arrows. She stood up and watched Jewl head off, seeing no one else saw her leave. When the man left, she walked inside the camp, her bow around her chest with the pack of arrows, now almost empty, on her back.

Jewl: She nodded to Skyler and silently slipped away, heading to their house. She pushed through some bushes, heading father away from the camp where Skyler was. Soon, she came to a small, almost unnoticeable, hole, and she squeezed in, heading into a giant space that was her and Skyler's house. She saw Skyler's stack of extra arrows and grabbed them in her mouth ready to leave

Kabboom

 

[QizPizza]

Taryn the Exile

Location: The Dark Forest
Status: Frustrated
Disposition: Slightly Evil
Interacting With: Midrick
Mentioned:

"Hey, anyone alive in there?"

Taryn was roused from her sleep by an vaguely familiar voice. She hesitated to pull the blanket off without confirming the person's identity. She was still in her demonic form and she had the same irrational fear that she had earlier; when Audun hit her. The fear of being discovered. The Succubus let the light around her bend, such that she and her appearance were invisible to the naked eye. If this was just some guardsman, she would wave him away, but she still had to check who this is. Invisibility costed far less energy than recreating the illusion her armor provided.

Being invisible to the eye, Taryn poked her head out from Audun's beast skin cloak she used as a blanket. It was a rather large human man. Still shorter than her, but definitely bulkier and more muscular. The man may not have been in his armor, but the helmet hanging on his belt allowed the Succubus to recognize him as Pat. This was the man she was pinning down not even an hour ago. Taryn decided to entertain this man with a few words face-to-face. It would certainly do well to pass the time for her. Unlike Audun, alcohol did not bring any relief to her, only a headache if she drank too much.

Shifting the blanket back over her invisible head, Taryn dropped the invisibility spell and began to recreate the appearance she had used for the entirety of the trip. White hair turned back to black, claws and horns shrank until they were unnoticeable, eyes reverted to a red hue, and skin painted over with a healthy tanned complexion. it was only then that she was comfortable pulling the blanket away from her face. "Yes, I believe I am alive. Do you need anything...Pat, was it? I bet you're looking for Audun. To be honest, I do not know where he is. You could try to look for him yourself—you know how easy it is to spot him. If you came here other purposes, I'm afraid I'm not that kind of woman. I wouldn't dare cheat on Audun."

 

[Pilgrim59]

Sashi

Hearthfall Season - Night
Sashi
Wagons, Darkwood​

• Reality Sequence
• Interacted/Mentioned

• 
  
  The druid and her tall companion began their earnest work under the moonlight. Sashi lent her tools to which the giant would utilize to accomplish his goals. A few sounds of hammer and nails hitting the sides of the battered carpentry requisitioned the echoes of the sleepy woods. Only a few words would be exchanged between the two, as Sashi tied her long hair to its side, forming a side-tail that fell and parted from her ears. She could sense the uneasiness of the giant seeing her hair and apparel slanted in different direction. As the two settled down for a break from their hard work, repairing the wagons with what they could, Sashi unveiled a potato from her satchel and offered it to the giant, along with a canteen of water. She looked away briefly, with her fingers fiddling her side-tied lock of hair as she spoke.
  
  "Sir Gaheris... if I may... What made you decide to be a Guardian? Out of my curiosities and intrigue of your skills, I still find you a mysterious, yet dedicated member of the cause."
  
  Looking up at the shiny armored knight that towered above herself, the druid's curiosity ensnared her movements, as she briefly reflected upon her words with her legs springing free back and forth in anticipation of the man's answers.
  
  
  Translation notes:
  N/A
  
• 
  Interacted: CrowOuttaHell
  
  Mentioned: N/A
  
  
  

 

[Kabboom]

Jericho

Sighing lightly at the half-hearted answer from the traveler, and the slight jab from the Elf girl as she walked openly into their ranks, Jericho took increasingly impatient glances in the general direction of Erik. His drink almost nowhere to be found, the disappointed Guardian only knew to look back at the two strays. As the small dwarf dragon thing ran off for more arrows fetched from a hole in the ground somewhere, Audaton winced as he pushed Clarity one last time to encompass both Skyler and Desmond, along with any guardsmen they would encounter on their way in. This way, he could also probe the latter newcomer for any ill intent. The last thing a criminal would expect is calmness, at the critical moment of the hunt. He has been wrong before, though. Waving a hand at Desmond to follow, the only worry now is passing through the actual base and finding a place for them to stay.

Leaving Maria to the unenviable task of calming down a rock elemental, the trio entered the main group. Walking through the encampments, the guardsmen shot all sorts of dirty looks at the group, mostly at the Elf girl with eyes of hatred, and anger. Murmurs could be heard from the faraway groups, mostly spewing slurs and curses under their breaths. The guardsmen closer to Skyler however, relaxed their faces and their grips upon their swords, as Clarity did its work. Jericho's steps begun to waver and wobble because of it though, but he thought he played it off well.

Eyeing a vacant tent in the cavalrymen's quarters, Jericho thought it was worth a try, although the actual riders would take some time convincing to let an Elf and a stranger to stay so close to them, not to mention their precious horses. Clearing his throat, he voiced the question, as the guardsmen Umak and Kwelek broke off back to their hole, or to find booze of their own. "Now don't start any trouble here, and there won't be any trouble for you. Your dwarf dragon, uh... Jewl, will have something to eat, I assure you that. And would you two mind if you shared a tent for the night?"

Trappy U UnbelievableCow RubyZoo

​

Clanus

Listening to Spessartite as she stormed off in search of the culprits, the guardsman was now left with Leafa. In his list of things that don't go well, being left on babysitting duty for an Elfling while a rock elemental angrily stomped off into the distance, in the middle of the Darkwoods, at night, would be at the near top of the list, standing right below taking on an 88th Legion Marauder in a fist fight, or trying to Nouvo-kiss* a Darkwolf. Leafa, having stocked up on the arrows that found themselves embedded in the dirt, spoke. "So. Clanus. I don't like it, I'm calling you Clanny from now on, okay? Oh, and I have a question, what's an "elf bitch"? Is it an insult? Sorry, but I never heard someone say that before. At least mommy and daddy never said that!"

Stammering in order to find an answer, words flew from the scoutsman's mouth haphazardly. "Oh, sure, call me Clanny. And er... o', uh, you got good parents! They ain' good words, uh... "elf bitch", tha's an insult, but don' think of it too badly, ah, we- I don' think of ye as that, noooooo, noo, no no, yer' good to me, so I'm good to ya, uh-"

His tirade of awkward explanations was interrupted by yet another question from the Elfling. And this one made him gulp, because the answer is a bit grisly. "Clanny... do people hate elves? Please tell me the truth..."

Inhaling sharply, he gave her a truthful answer. "Yes, Leafa. People do. But I don't. So trust me, aye?"

-robert-

​

Terra

A rush of red flushed to her face as the damned idiot, Pryonn, quickly wrapped his blueish cape around her, almost comfortably keeping her warm, if it weren't for the slight coolness of the fabric, having also been exposed to the air for as long as she could remember. The blue color piqued her interest, but there were more pressing matters at hand. Namely, why they were in a dark cave. Alone, no less...

The thought only intensified her blushes, and she hurriedly covered her face in vain with the cloth. Seeking to change the subject quickly, she blurted out words of annoyance. "Y-you dummy! I-I only ran after you because it was dangerous to go alone, d-don't get the wrong idea now!" Some part of her told her to yell out for everyone else, let them know the two were in here, but another part of her stopped the catgirl from doing so. What part though, she wouldn't willingly divulge to anyone.

Unwavering Knight

​

*Nouvo-kiss: Derived from Nouvocellian-kissing, Nouvocelli being a major region in Regalia. Basically the French-kissing of the FF universe.

 

[RubyZoo]

As Skyler walked into the camp, she saw a lot of the men's faces turn toward her. Seeing snarls and menace in some of the gleams, she tried acting like she didn't notice, She puffed out her chest and held her head high, trying to cover up the fact that she new they had a reason to hate her race. Walking by a young elven girl, she gave a small smile to her, seeing what she has to go through every day. When some of the guardsmen around her loosened their grip, she felt pride swell inside her, thinking that putting on a brave face worked. Nearing a tent, she listened to the man speak. "Sure, I don't care about sharing a tent but as long as Jewl is fed, no trouble will involve her" she replied. She walked into a tent and saw a persons belongings were here. She didn't know if it was the right tent so she just poked her head out with a questioning look on her face.

Jewl: Heading out of the tunnel, she ran back the direction she came and soon came to the camp. Walking in slowly,she saw some of the folks looking at her with confusion. She heard someone call someone else over and when that man came over, he started yelling orders at people, then turned back to her. She tried to curl up into a small ball, wanting to disappear and not knowing what to do. Soon, one man cam over with a net and quickly threw it on top of her. She dropped the arrows and started struggling to get out of the net. Getting picked up, she was dumped into a brown bag, that seemed big to her, and was soon in darkness, not knowing what just happened.

Kabboom -robert- and who ever wants to be involved with the capture of Jewl

 

[QizPizza]

Audun the Fallen

Location: The Dark Forest
Status: Tired/Conflicted
Disposition: Slightly Good
Interacting With: Kabboom
Mentioned: RubyZoo U UnbelievableCow

Audun walked with Desmond, Skylar and Jericho through the camp. He could feel Jericho's Clarity working overtime as they passed the soldiers. This man was really going to kill himself. The Nephilim was concerned about how far the man might push himself, especially with Audun's unique state of mind. As much as Jericho's Clarity helped, the paladin still adverted his eyes from Skylar. His desires were flooding his mind and in all honesty, he was debate whether or not he should give in. The idea of instant gratification was so incredibly tempting, but damage to his reputation and soul would be immense. Raping an elvish girl in the middle of camp was an assured way to get killed, denounced, and shamed.

The Nephilim shook his head and turned his attention back to Desmond. This man was reeking of suspicion. He had never once answered any of his questions directly and kept on trying to divert the subject. Taryn did it better than Desmond. At the very least, she distracted men enough for them to not even notice that the conversation had shifted. Damn...his mind wandered down that alley once again.

"Now don't start any trouble here, and there won't be any trouble for you. Your dwarf dragon, uh... Jewl, will have something to eat, I assure you that. And would you two mind if you shared a tent for the night?"

Jericho's proposal brought Audun back into focus. Audun knelt down so that he was at Jericho's ear level and whispered, "I don't trust those two sharing a tent. Desmond does not sit well with me. There might be the potential that the two are working together. We should separate them and keep watch on them individually." Audun paused for a moment as he continued. He thought about who he should watch. Watching Desmond would be the ideal choice, but Skylar would...offer something more for him. He shook off the idea for his own sake. "I'll watch Desmond and you can find someone to watch the girl."

 

[UnbelievableCow]

Desmond was already relaxed knowing he was much safer in the guardian camp than out in the forest, so when the calmness washed over him his demeanor didn’t change much. Seeing Jericho signal them, Desmond took up behind him remaining quiet as they strolled through the camp. He noticed the Angel has accompanied them, but didn’t think much of it.

A few moments later they reached a tent, and Jericho spoke to the two. He had asked if it was ok to share a tent, and the elf didn’t seem to mind. Normally this would be a problem, but it was a guardian camp what could go wrong. “Sure.” He said blankly going into the tent after the elf. Desmond found a clear spot and laid down, it was time for his famous 1 hour nap.

The elf had poked her head outside the tent for some strange reason. Desmond decided it was best to ignore the elf’s behavior otherwise he’d be up all night trying to figure her out.

RubyZoo QizPizza Kabboom

 

[Midrick]

"Calm down, I'm not trying to get in your pants, but thanks for giving some directions at least." He turned to leave, his ribs aching, looks like a lot of alcohol or pain killers would be required to this night. he walked back to center of the camp finally, he saw Jericho, his steps were wobbly, and one point he even staggered. Pushing himself to far would do probably lead to worse, fainting, nosebleeds and the like, although he was doing a good job of concealing it. After an internal debate he decided to get armored up, again. This time he grabbed a bottle Moro's whiskey*. He walked over to the center keeping the bottle concealed. He finally spotted the two discussing something, probably the new arrivals. He stretched out his arms above his head. He felt a slight pop along his side, pain exploding for a second, but relief followed it, cartlige slipping back into place most likely. He now found only a little bit of stiffness when he turned.

He walked over, geared up, and finally pulled out the bottle. He heard the last snippet of their conversation. "I'll watch Desmond and you can find someone to watch the girl." So they were concerned about those two. Granted Pat would be too, some elf trying to snipe you and a random guy finding your camp in a forrest infested with horrific monstrosities. He pulled the cork of the bottle out with his teeth, and then spat it out to the side of him. He sat down next to Jericho. After taking a swig of the whiskey, the burning sensation filling his mouth and throat, he offered it to Jericho adding "You look like you could use some of this, you too Audun. Be careful though, this shits stronger than a giant creotin*."

*Moro's whiskey: extremely strong whiskey, almost poisonous due to high alcohol content
*Creotin: Steroid and stimulant used by mercenary forces and armies, grossly increases strength, agility, and endurance, but usually causes a frenzy.

Kabboom QizPizza

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Pryonn & Kaatl

"Of course, milady!" The knight called out, as if just suddenly realising something "I only just became aware: We are Lady and Knight, woman and man apart from the inquisitive gazes of any third parties that might seek to investigate!" At this Kaatl raised a questioning eyebrow, but let the knight proceed as he might. Tapping a finger on his armored chin in emphatic thought, the knight proceeded with his musings as he looked down at Terra "Clearly, it is providence that we engage in the most natural act that could possibly be conceived in such a situation. An extremely outrageous measure defying menial morals and proprietary precedents!"

"Come, my Lady! To walk into the dark, where challenge looms!" He said with celebratory finality, hand formerly mock-stroking his chin now stretching out, palm opened with invitation towards Terra "Let us engage in the intensely radical and embarassing venture known as 'hand-holding'!"

Kaatl shrank back, almost falling off Pryonn's shoulder as she emitted a gasp of mock-shock, just barely managing to contain a laugh.

Kabboom

 

[Kabboom]

Jericho

Pondering upon Audun's words of advice, which were admittedly hard to ignore, seeing as the paladin was kneeling down and whispering right into his ear, Jericho stood still for a while, a feat easier said than done while Clarity was still on. The two haven't done anything suspicious so far, aside from Desmond's sudden appearance and reason for being here. Personally, Audaton was more worried about the Elf, both because of the guardsmen's hatred, and her tribe potentially lurking, waiting to slit everyone's throats under the cover of night, like they have done many times before. The angel made some sense. Not perfect sense, but some.

"Wait, Skyler. Come out." he ordered the Elven archer peeking her head out of the tent in confusion. As the girl collected what little belongings she had with her, Audaton turned to the angel kneeling beside him. "Good thinking, and very nice of you to offer your service, Audun, but that won't be necessary. You can go get some rest, or carry on with... whatever you were doing."

As if on cue, the blond guardsman, Erik, showed up with a bottle of rum in hand. The man had apparently traded one of his rations for it, and the bottle itself smells odd, but Jericho was never one to complain. "Good job, Erik, but now I got another thing to ask of you." Gesturing to the fully revealed elf archer with bottle in hand, Audaton explained the situation for the confused guardsman. "I need you to keep watch over her for the night. Make sure she doesn't get up to anything, no tricks pulled, no weapons drawn. If she tries any of that, or anything else that you think might be some shit that can fuck us, you kill her. Alright?" All Erik could do was awkwardly nod. "Splendid. I know this is a lot to ask of you, but I trust you won't just kill her right away, like most of the men around here. Evacuate a hole near the cave entrance, make sure she stays there."

As the two walked off, Jericho almost didn't notice the big-ass warrior, Pat, sitting down alongside him. Come to think of it, Jericho didn't even notice he sat down too. The prolonged strain of Clarity must be really getting to him. Although, he figured, that could stop now. Tonight was going to be one hell of a nightmare festival, but the drinks might help. After all, one must be vaguely conscious to dream, and one must be dreaming to have nightmares; you either forget your nightmares, or they get lost in so much alcohol poisoning that they feel more like super weird dreams. A win-win situation for him, and judging by the nasty whisky Pat had brought as a 'gift', he might not even have the nightmares at all.

Grabbing the bottle as soon as he finished opening his own from Erik, Jericho jokingly snapped at the man. "Oh shut up, I take creotins for breakfast." his lips immediately contacted with the glassy rim, and a burning warmth enveloped his mouth and neck straight afterwards. The taste was harsh on his tongue and throat, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. Putting down the whiskey, he resumed with small but frequent gulps from the normal rum, as Jericho slowly stood upright. "Alright gentlemen... it's time for me to get going." with a small farewell, the Guardian marched off, albeit with a slightly hiccuped gait. A simple nod and gesturing to the cavalrymen, and they understand that they'll be the ones to watch Desmond tonight. Grudgingly dragging himself to the front of the tent, a Wolfhorse rider puts down his rickety chair and keeps watch.

QizPizza Midrick RubyZoo U UnbelievableCow

​

Terra

As the knight spoke, a shade of crimson red begun enveloping her cheeks as her hands unknowingly gripped tightly onto the fabric of the blue cape. "I only just became aware: We are Lady and Knight, woman and man apart from the inquisitive gazes of any third parties that might seek to investigate! Clearly, it is providence that we engage in the most natural act that could possibly be conceived in such a situation. An extremely outrageous measure defying menial morals and proprietary precedents!" The words resonated within her mind, making her legs shiver ever so slightly. What perverted thoughts could this knight have.... They were still on a mission, and without a doubt, someone might even see them, why would Pryonn bring this up so... uncharacteristically abruptly and gleefully?

Her worries, along with her slightly burgeoning hopes, were extinguished when Pryonn revealed his true intention: some hand-holding. The little fairy accompanying him, Kaatl, wasn't helping Terra containing her disappointment with the fake gasp."F-Fine, but only if you wanted to..." she mumbled under her breath as her hand buried itself into Pryonn's armored grasp, the cold of the steel sinking into her delicate fingers. This only made her twitch and grasp his hand tighter.

Unwavering Knight

​

Ulric

Leisurely walking his dear Wolfhorse back to the camps, Ulric stumbled upon a group of guardsmen converging in one spot. They seemed to be investigating something. Against his better judgment, the cavalryman came too, leaving his steed standing where it stopped. As he walked closer, he started to catch a glimpse or two of the object of interest, apparently a small white thing struggling to get out of a brown burlap sack. "Oi, what's goin' on?" he asked, as any guardsman would do when seeing a bunch of comrades gathering around a moving burlap sack.

The men turned to him, and Ulric had just now realized he had made a mistake. These were the new replacements from 6th Company. A big hunky spearman, Ilagua, was poking the bag with the pointy end. A lanky axe-and-shield footman was busy sharpening his weapon, most likely for butchering whatever was inside the bag. Leading the group was a small, bald guardsman with a flail, Avignon. "Fuck off, ya rider twat, this lil' shite's ours," yelled the man. Ulric looked again at the bag, and now a face has burrowed its way out of the sack's opening, revealing itself to be a petite dwarf dragon. "Oi, that's the new elf girl's dragon!"

"So what? The stupid thing was just running around camp, we figured the skin might sell well when we head back to Frontierville, and fuck that elf bitch, too! Matter of fact, maybe we will fuck that bitch for real. No one would give a shit about what happens in her quarters tonight..." Avignon continued in an irritating, arrogant tone, with the latter part of his sentence more directed towards his posse. Like apes, they all nod, with whistles and howls of agreement.

"Goddammit, Avi, don't fuck with the Guardians' plan, follow fuckin' orders! Let that thing go!" Ulric yelled back, and almost in unison, everyone drew their weapons. The Wolfhorse neighed in the distance, and begun snarling at the men. "Or what, 'Ric? The fuck you gon' do?" Ilagua taunted him, spear now facing front. Ulric slowly drew his Corlate, with his hand on the hilt of his sword. If he was gonna go down, then at least he had to get Avignon. None of the men liked this new asshole, and some would probably even pay well if Avi's head was planted on a stake.

"He won't do anything. I will." An old voice spoke up, accompanied by metallic footsteps. Everyone loosened their grips for a second, and Avignon nearly dropped his flail when he looked.

​

Kwelek & Umak

Kwelek had assumed his usual position, the usual position for any guardsman, really: sitting on his ass, weapon loosely in hand, waiting for something to happen. The night was almost through for him, and all that was left is to take off the heavy plates and shit, and go to sleep. A light gust of wind blew through the encampment, and everyone was appreciating the coolness. All except for Umak, it seemed. Grey beard slightly rustling in the breeze, the old man had seemingly latched on to something with his ears, and was perking his head up above the hole, facing left.

"What's botherin' ya, old timer? Go get some rest or something." Kwelek said, dropping his leg plate on the ground in front of him. He was met with a shush, though.

"Shh, shh. Ya hear that? Chatter, 9 o'clock, 30, 40 paces beyond." Umak whispered. Crawling over, then propping himself up, Kwelek pressed his ears to the wind, and surely enough, he did pick up some chatter. Didn't raise any alarms in his head, though.

"So what? Prob' just some newbies having a smoke. Get some rest." Kwelek dismissed it, though. He knew that it was suspicious, but he had enough shit for one day.

"I'm going." Umak said, grabbing his sword and then stepping right out of the hole. "Wait, 'Mak! Fuck!" Kwelek cursed, also propping himself up and heading after the old man. The two walked over to find Ulric stuck in the fine mess. From what the newly arrived duo could see, Avignon, nicknamed Dick by most of the veterans and replacements in Umak's own Company, had trapped a wee dragonling along with some of his pals. Ulric, the good cavalry lad, was against this, and weapons have already been drawn. 'Time for an intervention,' Umak must've thought.

"The fuck you gon' do?" Dick spoke, with a flick of the chin directed at Ulric. "He won't do anything. I will." Umak stepped in, walking sternly up to Ulric's side. The atmosphere right now had changed, as Dick and his friends seem to have met their match. Everyone's hearts trying to beat their way out of their own chests, every guardsman involved enters fight-or-flight mode. "Let the thing go, Dick, and I won't have to cut yours off." Umak gestured at Avignon's privates with his sword hilt, unsheathing it in the process. The terribly brief yet harsh sound of the blade's edge clashing against the scabbard as it was drawn rattled everyone to the bone, and the chain on Dick's flail shook around, creating an awful lot of noise.

"Hey, c'mon, man, let's get the fuck outta here," whispered Ilagua. "Yeah, that's the fuckin' Old Dog in 2nd Company!" added another voice further back. Shaking them off, Avignon tried to speak again. "Come and get me, old timer. You don't scare me. I can take you down, and I can take your gay spear boyfriend over there too, come at me-"

"Well in that case, let's go right now." Umak interrupted, flipping his sword upright and enters a fighting stance. The sly grin on Avignon's face had all but disappeared, making way for a slightly agape mouth. Avignon stared at the man for a good long while, gauging his chances of survival, even with his friends taken into account. They had all heard of Umak's stories, passed down by the veterans in their own unit. The Old Dog, as he was called, had survived almost everything the world had thrown at him, from Cerebrates in close combat, to swarms of Spikethrashers catching him in open ground. Somehow he kept pulling through, and everytime some young-blood tries to pick a fight with him, they've all found themselves losing a hand or a leg at best. At worst, the poor sods get a post-mortem toast from their comrades at the grave.

After what felt like a tense eternity, Avignon caved in. "Fine. You can have your stupid shite. C'mon lads, let's find some whiskey." He said, kicking the brown sack towards Ulric and Umak, and his group moved away. Jewl yelped from the kick, and promptly bit itself free, sprinting towards Kwelek. "By the fuckin' Lord of Light, Umak, you need to stop doing that shit." He sighed, slightly pushing away an eager Jewl with the bottom end of his spear. "Oh shut it, you lived, didn't you?" Umak cracked a smile, with a hearty chuckle to accompany it. "You doin' good there, rider?" he continued, gesturing at Ulric.

"Y-Yes, sir. I owe you one." He nodded, sliding his weapons back into their original positions. Umak simply nodded, as the rider whistled his Wolfhorse over, and got on it. "If you need any help, I'm your guy." The eager cavalryman said, as he galloped back to his tent. With a sigh, Old Dog picked up the dwarf dragon, making sure he doesn't get stuck with drool, and made his way back to camp.

RubyZoo

 

[CrowOuttaHell]

Gaheris Agramar

The work was-- well, nothing special. This was the kind of menial task someone had tried to assign to him before the giant Serpent decided to ruin the night. Still, he wasn't completely against it- work had at least brought his vigor back, which was a significantly better feeling than the overwhelming curtain of sleep that had almost overtaken him back at that Serpent. For a moment, he wondered how that Serpent tasted. Looking back to the campsite briefly, he noticed Karl and Lyle still trying their best to bite through.

Maybe roasting it for that long was a bad idea.

As the two stopped working briefly, Gaheris quickly found his eyes wandering to his no doubt smaller companion. He hadn't noticed it before due to the wagon- how annoying it was, for wood to just naturally be asymmetrical; granted, his life would not have been any better if everything was symmetrical, but it irked him nevertheless- but...her clothes and hair, again, were in different directions. However, her words from that time at Frontierville returned, and he relaxed...as well as he could without falling asleep, at least.

Her voice and the sudden offering of food snapped him out of his trance. He gave a short nod as he accepted the vegetable being offered to him. Scarcely had he already taken a bite when he heard her speak up.

"Sir Gaheris... if I may..."

He quickly looked over, not noticing that he had instinctively chewing faster to answer whatever question she had for him.

"What made you decide to be a Guardian? Out of my curiosities and intrigue of your skills, I still find you a mysterious, yet dedicated member of the cause."

He stopped to consider the question for a moment- you wouldn't normally ask a giant, much less a slave one, questions like this. Nobody cared about what brutes thought- if they could even think at all, for that matter- and technically, he wasn't supposed to have an opinion. He wracked his brain for answers- limited as they were, no doubt thanks to his speech impediment.

What did he become this for?

Who did he become this fighter for?

He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking back to the manor.

"...Mar...guerite's...last wish," He spoke slowly. "Old...master's...daughter. Wanted...me, to be...free?" The last word hung as a question on his lips. Did Marguerite truly want him to be free? After all, she wanted to send him to the palace, where giants still weren't...that honored.

But Marguerite had been nothing but kind to him. Still, using the term "free" still wasn't accurate.

"Wanted me...to serve. To fight. To protect," He paused again, throat aching. "Must...serve. Can't...be useless."

Pilgrim59

 

[Trappy]

Hearthfall Season - Nightfall
Maria
The Wagons, Darkwoods​

• Reality Sequence
• Interacted / Mentioned

• 
  It was becoming clear that her effort in trying to calm down the elemental had little effects. The creature still appeared to be fuming, and fired back at Maria while the rock fragments that seemingly make up the structure of its body suddenly vibrated violently, almost resembling an animal, shaking up in anger: "What? Don' need it?! This person done shot arrows into camp! 'Bout 'it a 'andful of us, and I don' know 'bout you but when ya shoot arrows at a camp you either a bandit or a fool!"
  
  The guardian stared off into the distance, letting out a soft sigh. Incident after incident kept popping up tonight, and as much as she would like to dismiss the elemental's complaints and push the creature back in line with military discipline, it had a point, the very point she brought up with commander Audaton. But if the commander deemed it appropriate to trust this elf for some reason, then so be it for her. Besides, there were no casualties, so this whole ordeal didn't need to go big. Meanwhile, Maria herself could use some rest, having never truly recovered from the dizziness and slight fatigue after the quick aerial maneuvers between the serpent and the giant in her company. She wasn't really exhausted, it was just a general feeling of boredom mixed up with sleepiness. The wind was blowing ever-so-calmly on the small opening of the woods, radiated by the moon and at that moment, Maria only wanted to sneak out to a quiet corner near the camp, but away from the crowd and the big faces, with a sheepskin blanket and a bottle of something to send her off to the dreams. The night was many things, but it was certainly longer than it should be. So, with that in mind and keeping her composure, the guardian delivered her reply.
  "Yes. Don' need it. I understand your frustration, but the commander seems to have the situation under control at the moment, so the last thing I'd like to see is you come over there compromising whatever deals he made with the elf." After a brief pause, she continued. "Anyway, it would be a fool, I think. It's a pointy, so that's a given."
  
  
• 
  Interacted: Sybil
  Mentioned: RubyZoo Kabboom
  

 

[Pilgrim59]

Sashi

Hearthfall Season - Night
Sashi
Willow Tree, Darkwood​

• Reality Sequence
• Interacted/Mentioned

• 
  
  "Free huh... " Sashi remarked, followed by a brief silence.
  
  The druid grabbed the rest of their tool and brush off the dirt on her hands. Their work was done, and there was little to speak of the wagons. Lifting her voice, Sashi gently tapped Gaheris's arm-guard.
  
  "That was rather enlightening, Sir Gaheris. From my stand, I believe you have accomplished much for our company of heroes. Freedom is of the heart, Sir Gaheris, I'm sure you will come find it one day. For me, I have yet to find my freedom... Perhaps one of these days, I will be gone. Dreams are hollow with idle hands and hearts, after all."
  
  The druid said with a stern face, before smiling at the man.
  
  "I thank you for your efforts, and your open heart. I must bid you farewell for now, as to resolve my thoughts in the woods."
  
  Sashi waved the man goodbye, as she took off to the far side of the woods, drowning in her sentiments under the moonlight. Even now, she feels the stinging bite in her heart. Her recent dreams were not so pleasant in its course. With every waking hours, she could only pray to Femosis for guidance. She laid beneath the willow tree and let out a long sigh.
  
  "Freedom... Hanzel... Your freedom from this cruel world have only made me eluded mine. Or perhaps it was never meant for me to attain mine?"
  
  The druid gazed upon the stars, taking in sights of its emptiness, voided of life and words. A tranquil sensation crept up on her, yet it was not enough to push her away from her troubled mind. Expanding her gloved hand, she caught a spider within her grasp, as it laid between her fingers, spinning webs to accommodate its dwelling beside the druid. For a time, it had kept the druid company until she faded to the realm of dreams.
  
  
  
  Translation notes:
  N/A
  
• 
  Interacted: CrowOuttaHell
  
  Mentioned: N/A
  
  
  

 

[QizPizza]

Audun the Fallen

Location: The Dark Forest
Status: Tired/Conflicted
Disposition: Slightly Good
Interacting With: Kabboom
Mentioned:

"Good thinking, and very nice of you to offer your service, Audun, but that won't be necessary. You can go get some rest, or carry on with... whatever you were doing."

"Have a good night sir," Audun walked away from the others and began to wander the camp once again. Nephilim wasn't going to sleep anytime soon, and he wasn't going to take off his helmet to drink. He could sit around the fire and []i]share his tales[/i], but he might wander into uncomfortable territory, or worse, expose things about himself that he did not want others knowing. The paladin decided that the best course of action would simply to stay awake through the night in meditation. Or rather...just in random thought.

 

[Sybil]

Spessartite Phos
​

Despite the nice night, it wouldn't dissuade the elemental's anger at the situation, though the night may not calm them more due to their lack of feeling on their 'skin' to temperature changes and most all sensations. A loss of all nerve endings in a body can be a blessing in battle, but the tradeoff is a bit disheartening in reality. Phos does not even remember what a breeze feels like anymore after almost seventy years like this. Regardless of the sullen thoughts, their anger persisted. Maria's explanation of the deal was vague at best, but what definitely didn't help was the elf slur. At first, Phos was confused and raised an 'eyebrow', but it didn't take but a second before she realized her intent. Racism? Check. A clear foolish danger to people? Check. Lack of any and all punishment? Seems to be in her eyes. Her 'eyes' seemed to glare if one could discern when gemstones could show emotions.

"Ain' right, this whole thin'.... n' Keep that fuckin' word to ya self an away from the kid." She would emphasize her point by pointing at Maria's face before walking away, done with the whole ordeal and now just wanting to be around Leafa. In a similar yet different sort of way, she was as done with the conversation as Maria had wanted to be. Spessartite would wander back to Leafa and Clanus, offering them a smile contrasting the irritation they felt. All the way back, however, she would be thinking to herself, trying to piece something together.

Forest makin them worse, god damn idiots...... that racist one... am I smellin' her rotten stench?.... Who the hell smells like a rat...

Interacts: Trappy
Mentions: Kabboom -robert-

 

[Pilgrim59]

Sashi

Hearthfall Season - Midnight
Sashi
???, Darkwood​

• Dream Sequence
• Reality Sequence
• Notes
• Interacted/Mentioned

• 
  
  "You never thought I'd find you here... little s-i-s-t-e-r?" A devilish grin carved across Serafina's face, as she reached out for Sashina.
  
  "Serafina... It can't be!" Sashi muttered under her breath
  
  "Tickle tickle tickle!" Serafina exclaimed, as her fingers ran across Sashi's sides.
  
  The two laughed, with Sashi being taken hostage of her own laughter. Silence took the white hall in an abrupt end of the mischievous voices of the two young souls. Leaning her head on Serafina's shoulders. In their summer dresses, the sisters blend themselves against the tall pillar of the Winter Palace, like two dolls resting within a doll house.
  
  "I'll slip you a little secret for today, alright little Sashi?" Serafina whispered softly with a playful tone.
  
  "Tell me! Tell me! What is it, big sister?" the younger Sashi inquired her elder sister in excitement.
  
  "Your little foreign bodyguard, Hanzel. I like him. His silence and formality towards me is troubling, but I do love his way with short sentences. Don't you?"
  
  "I... suppose."
  
  "It is shame, little sister that... You... killed him."
  
  "Big... sister...?" Sashi muttered as a brief silence followed the darkness that encroached the pristine white hall.
  
  "You wretched little thing... you condemned him to his death. If it wasn't for you, he would be with me! Why... Sashina?!!? WHY DID YOU TAKE HIM FROM ME?!!" Serafina unsteady persona could only be matched by the fires in her eyes - torn of jealousy and hatred.
  
  Sashi fell no tears, gripping her chest tightly, as she had found her own guilt in Hanzel's passing. Perhaps Serafina was right, and if Sashi had not taken Hanzel in, things would have been different. The two sister parted ways, each holding her broken heart and a divided realm. Sashi turned back, but only at the sight of her sister fading away into the flames, where Hanzel stood beside her.
  
  In her anguish and mourning, the druid found herself in the frozen wasteland of Simeria. The placid snowing grounds unearthed before her, while devoid of life and sound. A zephyr passed her by, as she stumbled upon countless of bodies, just beyond the plain. Voices echoed in her head, yearning for escape, as she screamed in pain.
  
  "You killed him... you killed him... you killed him."
  
  "In this life... or the next... In this life or the next... In this life or the next."
  
  Serafina's voice amplified within her head, alongside Hanzel's last words. The druid fell to her knees in the snow, and weeped. Her heart felt like its about to break, as she looked on at the sight of a lifeless knight. The freedom that she had achieved in her travel with the company thus far was all but her own denials. Sashi knew this, as she had ran away from home, forsaking her people and Hanzel. A Tsarina unworthy of her claims, and a tyrant of whom had spilled the blood of many Sarmanians. There was no running from it now, the dreams, the nightmares, and the past have caught up to her. Sashi dwelled upon the consequences of which she had casted aside for so long. It was time for her to shed tears, after many years spent tucking it away within the depths of the Elbe Forest.
  
  "It hurts... Hanzel... I need you... Hanzel... please... what am I meant to do?! I tried to move on... but I can't. Please... don't leave me... please...." she let out a scream, before all had turned black.
  
  
• 
  
  A meddling group of pesky fireflies dispelled the shadows of the clouded moon. Sashi found herself awakened from her slumber, but powerless physically. Friction had restricted her movements, and she knew she had been tied up against a tree. The druid could not recognize the place, as she had awakened differently from her original spot of rest. Adjacent to her view was a stream, where she gradually regain her full consciousness. The blurry visions had faded and a shadowy figure emerged from the stream.
  
  "So... you're finally awake... I suppose you have many questions, Druid. Would you, the common hostage that usually spouts words, care to begin?"
  
  "I would, but I don't suppose its just a coincidence to just randomly pick out a Guardian like this. Especially when you address me as 'Druid'."
  
  "Calm and collected, as expected of you. If I may, perhaps... Tsarina would befit you better, wouldn't you say?"
  
  Sashi's face turned grim at the mention of her title. Femosis had been warning her with recent dreams and now, it was time for her past to catch up. The man in the shadows stood forward
  smiling as he had grasped her interests with his words. His identity's only plagued the druid with questions.
  
  "Please... do enlighten me, good Reverend. To what extend must you pursue my capture?"
  
  "Did you know, O' Tsarina Sashina, your Highness, that Sarmanian White Guards' cloaks are made from a very special fabric that is commonly be distinctive to the nose once dyed? Of course, all cloaks, such as yours are common, but the magical property of the Sommerfeld textiles? It never fades, no matter how long you kept it in the woods."
  
  "You're... a Sarmanian." Sashi hid her eyes beneath her bangs in disbelief.
  
  In her carelessness, she had found herself in captivity of her own brethren. There was little else she could make of his origins, but his distinctive tone and acts thus far only furthered her understanding of his support for her sister, of whom had wanted Sashi's death five years ago.
  
  "Ding ding! You are correct, your highness. Born and raised in Aerilia, served in the White Army for a couple of years before I was discharged. Well, I say discharged, but that's just officially on record. I must daresay I am quite perceptive among my peers, long story short, the White Guard chose me."
  
  "And now you're here as a spy?"
  
  Reverend cracked up a smile at the simple-minded Druid, shallow in her knowledge of the man's purpose. Reverend was less keen on words, as his shadows stood differently from his previous self. The man's history was carved into his eyes, grey and devoid of clear purpose. Sashi felt this when she first met him as a simple man of a simple origin. But like all friendly facades of the world, the laughter of the living dead were all but a pretense to conceal the scars of their pasts.
  
  "I'd like to think of myself as one, but sadly no, your highness. Do you know what happens when a paranoid individual finally obtained their goals? They become more paranoid. Humans, our creeds and our greeds, my Tsarina. Even after your supposed death, as they coined it, the Tsarina was sleepless. She decided to send her white doves throughout the lands, making sure you were officially gone. An errand's fool, most of them said, but I have to say, my patience have rewarded me."
  
  "So now, with me in your grasp, you will further my sister's goal, despite knowing her paranoia? It is never enough, Reverend."
  
  "You speak truth, your highness. But it was you who left us! Thousands died within minutes! My wife earned hers at the sharp end's of a Loyalist sword! All in your name, o' illustrious Tsarina Sashina."
  
  "You have my sympathy, Reverend, but I can't go back. There are many things here of which I mu-..."
  
  "To hell with your sympathy, Sashina! You threw away the lives of your own people and you dare to provide me your sympathy! No... I've seen what Tsarina Serafina can do, and I will redeem myself to bring my wife back."
  
  Sashi could sense his anger, much to her guilty conscience. Despite this, the druid was even more disturbed by his mentions of necromancy. Her fingernails rubbed against the ropes that bound her to the tree, slowly etching her way out, while she convened with Reverend, in order to buy her some time.
  
  "Your wife? No... Reverend, its not true! Your ears be watered by my sister's vague promises. It is not my time, Reverend. I cannot go back."
  
  "Very well. You leave me no choice, Druid. Samo Aterno." Reverend drew his sword and darted at Sashi, moments away from killing her with pinpoint accuracy, as she slid to her side and threw herself into the ground with a helping hand.
  
  A huge thud came from behind, as Sashi took a dive from the ropes, of which was cut by a friendly hand, whose pair of axes met that of Reverend's sword, sliding him back at the man's entrance.
  
  "Boar..." Sashi exclaimed at the sight of the pathfinder wielding his twin axes before her.
  
  "I'd never expect a Sami within our ranks. How long did we served together, Rev? All that down the drain for some broad in the middle of frozen nowhere? Come now. Be reasonable, Rev. Druid, double back to the others, I'll handle this."
  
  "Your hubris knows no bound, Boar. This is a Sarmanian affair. I suggest you turn your back before this gets less cordial... friend."
  
  Boar hurled himself at Reverend, and the two exchanged metals. The clashes of their arms of war streaked in the night like flickering fireflies. As they danced upon the kicked-up soil and grass, Sashi recovered from her fall and made way into the forest before turning heel at the sight of the two's ensuing fight. Sashi knew there was no way to dissuade Reverend from his course, as his eyes and hands were gripped with convictions. With the two exchanging blows, Boar's swifter movements caught the sword-mage off-guard with his flanking speed and fell the man with a few cuts through his thighs. Reverend groaned in pain, as he held onto his ground.
  
  "Imperial Article of War, Section Nine, on accord of treasonous or espionage acts, the individual in question may state his stance before sentenced to an official hearing by the Imperial Court. What say you, Reverend? Please tell me this isn't true."
  
  "I'm afraid I must decline your generosity to hold me in custody, Boar. It was a good run while it lasted. For what its worth, I'd die for you brother, but not now, and not here. Sashina must die, for the sake of Sarmania. Should others find her, it'll only be a matter of time before a war erupts in her name. Thousands will die, Boar."
  
  "You fool. Why not just turn her over to the higher-ups? They'll sort it out, I'm sure."
  
  "Heh, I don't... expect you to understand, Boar. I suppose we were not meant to be brothers in this life, forgive me." Reverend said as he injects himself with a crimson-red serum that quickly subdued the man himself, slowly turning him into a grotesque form of which caught Sashi by surprise in the distance.
  
  "Saint March, what have you..."
  
  Boar took evasion when Reverend launched himself at Boar in his new form. Boar's limited strength could only parry a few strikes before being taken down by Reverend. Falling on one knee, Boar lifted his axe for a swing, but to no avail. A few cuts made its way past him with great speed, before the pathfinder succumbed to his wounds and fell back against a tree, where the branch had pierced through his chest, barely missing his lungs and hanging him upon its trunk like a bloody mural on display. Sashi sprinted towards Boar with haste, refusing to withdraw and leave Boar behind against an enhanced Reverend. Before she could tend to the man pinned on the tree, she quickly stepped to her side, dodging Reverend's strike, of which had blown off a tree's branch via his sheer momentum. Thoughts quickly ran through the druid's mind, as she followed up her movement with great haste. It was beyond her to make up for the fallout of her fate, and all the lady in white could do was to subdue Reverend. She threw her punches, casting after-shadows in her quick movements, but Reverend was far from negligent of her attacks. A few streaks of green and orange tracers flashed in the night, as the two decked it out in the silence of the night. With many of her sword's slashes, she could only nullify the Reverend's movements briefly, before casting her own defensive spells against her opponent.
  
  The fight between the two sword-mage was a colorful one, where streaks of blood magic had kept the druid on the defensive. Sashi refused to give in to the urge of unleashing her magical might in the form of crimson red. Relying on her martial prowess, the druid put up a long skirmish before receding her strengths and taking several hits from Reverend. It was more than she could bear, as his regenerative abilities and unrelenting offenses had kept her moving more than she could counter-attack. Before long, Sashi found herself staggered by Reverend's runes and his crimson dart magic - a foreign sight to see, but a familiar one for the exiled princess. She immediately recognized his form and was conflicted in her sentiments of its power - something she had hid beneath herself for a long time. Taking a few steps back, the Druid made way for a sprint, bolting at the monstrous sword-mage in red with her sword, before he snapped it out of her hands, crushing her rune sword in halves, before sending her all bruised up against a mound.
  
  "Damn it ... Druid... you... could have... ran..."
  
  "My path... is before me... I have given up the lives of my people once... I will not do it again here...
  
  The druid contemplated the use of her lineage's power, but fears had gripped her heart with a stinging bite. She had sworn an oath to never unleash it in the World of Light ever again. As she turned to the bleeding Boar, the druid saw a dying Hanzel, and voices echoed her head. There was no other choice, she thought. An evil for the death of an evil. As Reverend paced himself towards Sashi, the druid tore off her sleeve and took a deep breath. She pondered a split-second, and kept an image of many other Guardians within her head, before taking a deep bite on her arm. As the scarlet velvet rolled from her pale white skin, the druid dragged herself towards Boar.
  
  "I'm sorry, Boar... Please... forgive me of my coming sins."
  
  "So... the tales of... Sarmanovs... being kindreds... are true. Ah hell, no time to lose... druid. Feast, and promise me... that you will ... bring back Reverend." Boar remarked with a smile, as he looked down at his open-chest wound.
  
  "I promise, good Boar. By the book." Sashi drained her bloody face with her tears, as she nodded.
  
  "Heh... By... the... book..." Boar exhaled his last breath, as he hung from the tree lifelessly.
  
  Sashi sobbed softly under her staggered breath, before taking lifting her hands to siphon the blood that flowed from Boar's body. Her eyes widened like a pair of red rubies, where an amber crystal slit in between her irises, like a setting sun that has found itself captured in the enticing eyes of a white lady. Sashi stood up, empowered by the recent activation of her abilities, as her skin are covered by an exoskeleton-armor of segmented woods. This was her ultimate form, tucked away for years for its allure of tremendous powers - for a price. The Crimson Oak, as it was called, formed a shell of wood throughout her body, and conceived several floating wooden projectiles that accompanied her, all at the expense of the user's blood. Sashi turned, blasting her way through, showering Reverend with her Red Pine abilities, before throwing a few punches with her gloves.
  
  The fight continued for several minutes with Sashi's wooden armor gradually dismantled with every exchange of blows, while Reverend's form took heavy damage. The two met in the air, receiving and unleashing strikes among the canopies of the forest, before settling the score in an all out launch on the ground. Sashi gave her best, straining her fatigued muscles and abrasions for the last attack. The two blood-magic users collide, causing a small, but flashy emission of colorful sparks in their swift movements and form. Naked to the normal eyes, their ending form was quickly shadowed by after-images of several hundred strikes that neutralized the two. Sashi fell to her knees, bleeding all over, and coughing up blood. Despite this, the druid refused to give in to the embrace of the ground, and turned around at Reverend, whose form had returned to his previous self, with several contusions and abrasions on his body. She approached the dying man, whose blood flowed across the green grass, as the moon unfurled itself from the blankets of the clouds.
  
  "Hell of a fight, huh.... Druid? I am sorry... but perhaps, with this... you could see that Sarmania needs you." the man coughed up more blood, as he looked at the druid with a pair of saddened, yet penitent eyes.
  
  "There is little I could do, Reverend. Like you said, I have done nothing, and for that I am ashamed."
  
  "Atone for your pasts with your actions, Tsarina. I realized now, that I was but a fool. Magic doesn't bring back the dead... at least not the same one that we used to cherish in the past. Death is inevitable, Tsarina. I've done my part, and now... its your turn on the stage What will you do, Tsarina... Sashina... Sarmanov?" Reverend replied, snapping a fairy within his pocket to deliver his message with Sashi's well-being. The worn-out druid could do naught, but watched as the fleeting fairy faded into the distant starry skies.
  
  Within days or weeks, the message will surely found its audience in Sarmania. With Reverend's death, Sashi's fears have been set into motions. When her well-being is known, she will either spend a lifetime running away or come to terms with an inevitable Civil War in her name. Drowning her thoughts, the weathered Sashi buried the two in solemn silence, as her glowing eyes began to revert to its former glories of amber-like solid. As fleeting as their meet may have been, the druid held strong sentiments that were hard to wash away, like the blood that she had spilled upon her white robes. A thought sprung to Sashi's mind - the Scarlet Grimoire. It had all came back to her now, her sister's sudden change over the years, and her intemperate personalities having spent so much time within the libraries. Sashi shook her head in disbelief. If what Reverend mentioned was true, then her sister was no longer the one she knew, but was crying out for help this whole time. Tears flowed from her eyes, as she broke down before the marked graves of Reverend and Boar. With a pool of blood on the parched soil by her side, the druid took her time to write a note with her delicate index fingers, of which have yet to recover from the adrenaline that had built up. Using her magic and some make-shift logs, the druid burnt the bodies to ashes, while sprinkling some onto the third grave - no traces of the affairs that happened here. As she stood up on a limb, the druid pinned the letter to the tree that towered above the three graves. Sashi took a step back and saluted with all her strength.
  
  "Thank you for your services, Boar, Reverend."
  
  The bloodied druid dragged her wounded self as far away as she could, heading north and homebound after five long years of staying under the radar. She felt it in her marrows and heart to set her sister free from the ancient evil of the Scarlet Grimoire. Muttering under her breath, she cleared up her tears and was determined to return home to Sarmania.
  
  "Have I played my part well? Then applaud as I take my leave." Sashi turned back towards the Guardian's camp one last time and smiled, as she paced herself further away - fading into the foliage of the woods.
  
  
  Translation notes:
  N/A
  
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  Here lies Sashi, Sergeant Boar and Corporal Reverend.
  Fifty-Ninth Pathfinder Legion, Ninth Group, Detachment Edela.
  Killed in Action against Darkborne forces.
  
  ​
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  Interacted: N/A
  
  Mentioned: N/A