Fantasy Guilds of Fortune

[Sansa Stark]

Together, with companions, we choose our weapons and dive onto the battlefield.





Monsters stalk the wilds, from the mild and harmless- like the Aptonoth, a beast often hunted for the meat it provides the surrounding villages and towns- To the fierce deadly, like the winged wyvern Rathalos, death from the sky on wings of fire.





Hunters are those who stand between these creatures and the people who wish to live in peace. Hunters bring back food, medicine, and materials for their people to go about those daily lives. Hunters protect, Hunters guide, and Hunters kill.





Together, with all the tools and weapons at our disposal, we turn back these tides of monsters and dragons. Together, we bring peace to those around us.





Together we fight, for if we did not- who would?


--

​

• No godmodding
  
• Post regularly
  
• Have fun!
  

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari woke slowly, as she did every morning. She leisurely stretched, her smooth legs whispering like silk as they rubbed against each other, and then slumped back into her Goa feather mattress. Sun peeked through her drapes rather rudely, settling directly over her eyes in a near instantaneous blinding flash. One that simply refused to disappear. Amber eyes blearily opened, glaring half-heartedly at the drapes, angled just so to get the ideal amount of light where she liked to lie in the mornings. She hated herself sometimes- after all this was all in a vain attempt to make her more of a morning person.


All it was achieving was making her hate drapes. And sun.


With a sigh, Nari Dragged herself out of bed. Her hands left behind rather small indents as she crawled across the feathery expanse- wincing when the stem of a feather poked into her palm. Toes wiggled against the fuzzy throw rug tucked close to the side of her bed, grateful for the warmth it gave to the otherwise hard stone flooring. One last stretch- Fingertips brushing the low ceiling, loose sleep shirt riding up to expose a lean, muscled stomach- and her hands dropped back to her sides as she took her first steps into the new day.


Or old day, since it was definitely past noon. Nari had made a habit of never rushing anything if she didn’t have to.


Almond shaped eyes met hers in the mirror over the sink, amber quickly disappearing from view as she ducked to splash water over her face in the beginning of her morning ritual. When she peered back into the mirror, drops of crystalline water clung to her angled cheekbones and thin nose- curving around the plump pink of her lips. Nari sneered at herself experimentally, chuckling at the ridiculous expression before continuing her morning chores.


Hot bath, teeth brushed, breakfast- she would have to grab at the tavern. Hopefully whoever she was meeting for this job would be willing to stop for some food. A dark, Nargacuga hide helmet hid short strands of dark hair- stuck up at odd angles due to her lack of effort in drying. Similarly dark bracers, chest plate (Though she could hardly call the piece of armour a plate of armour) and Leggings covered her pale skinned form.


Last but not least, scale shard dual swords were tucked into the hanging sheath at her back. She stepped into the light, back straight and head held high to observe the small village of Yukumo. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight- villagers bustling, merchants trying to attract customers with promises of potions that could heal any illness, or fish that could increase longevity. It was her home- for as long as she could recall. Or at least as long as she cared to recall, after all some things are worth more remembering then others.


She set off at a light pace, swords thumping comfortably between her shoulder blades with every step. Her guild hall loomed over her in no time, the tall peak casting a shadow over her long before she reached its doors positioned as it was in front of the sun. Something Nari was thankful for- she wanted to stay out of the sun as much as possible. She debated for a moment returning to her house to retrieve her straw hat and cloak- but quickly vetoed the idea. She didn’t want to be late to this particular mission. After all, if she completed this job she would be eligible for a rank increase by the guild master.


Now all she had to do was find her future partner. Somewhere in the empty guildhall.


Why was it empty?

 

[Sansa Stark]

Clink!





Balthier applauded the merry laughter that followed as he kicked the empty flagon of ale from the low table, landing it directly against Valorion propaganda placed right beside the exit. The pirate held out his arms wide to absorb the praise, continuing his story with his thick Leyvetten accent, the kind women dreamed about when they were lonely in their beds.


"And then!" he shouted, crouching low to the set the mood before taking another long drink of rum. His audience had leaned in. "Then. I got up from the ground, blood drenching all of my clothes down to the soles of my shoes. I pulled out my sword, stabbed the beast straight through its heart and watched it fall off the cliff behind me!"


The ex-pirate soaked up the cheers of his crowd and made a toast to them, drinking deep from his mug and slamming it on the table when he had finished. Such sounds of laughter and boisterous men and women echoed out onto the dirt roads of Yukumo, a small village not used to the likes of such a Leyvettenite. It brought him joy to see such bland people so cheery, and as he hopped off the wooden table they lined up to clap him on the back and beg for another preposterous tale.


"Again, Balthier!" a woman asked with pouty frown, slipping her arm around his. "Please?"


"Aw. How can I deny a pretty little face like that?" The Guildman chuckled and wrapped an arm around her, thinking of another story to tell, or fabricating one in his head that would create a similar response.

 

[kitsunemage]

It wasn't difficult to find out where everyone in the guild hall had disappeared. She could even hear the raucous laughter from far reaches of the tall peaked building. A sound she followed until she reached the entrance to the tavern. Well, if everyone was here.... Then at least she would have time for a decent meal before setting out on her mission. Her fingers tapped against the pouch hidden under the leg sheath of her armour, withdrawing two silver zenny coins.


She drew next to no attention as she walked through the doors, a few of the older guilds men waving to her from the edges of the tavern- lifting tankards of ale along with faint calls of her nickname 'black wing'! She gave them a lazy grin, lifting one hand and dropping it in reply. Most of the attention, as she could see, was on the centre of the room. On what exactly she couldn't tell- the throng of people around the table crowded out any sight of the point of interest. A person, as far as she could tell- probably male by the swooning of the females clustered in the centre of the mess.


She wasn't interested. What did interest her was the moist roast rotating slowly behind the bar counter. It took her much too long to attract the attention of the barkeep- who was craning on his tip-toes in an attempt to hear whatever was causing the laughter at the table behind her. A sharp rap of her knuckles on the bar solved that issue- helped along of course with a rather pointed scowl. Her stomach was starting to growl uncomfortably.


Now all she had to do was tune out the rather obnoxious sounds behind her.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Never was the tavern in such ruckus. Behind the counter, a group of people rose into another sea of laughter that was infectious, causing grins and chuckles all throughout the room. Though most would consider such noise to be annoying or inappropriate, it was refreshing for the small town. Balthier told another story about vicious beasts and captured princess, dramatically waving his hands in all directions for an added element to his tale. Applause rang out once more as he finished. The pirate gave a low bow, drinking a but more rum before noticing a woman opposite the counter from him that looked strangely familiar.


"Aye!" he shouted, hopping over the table and sitting beside the armored woman. "You're Wing Black, right? Black Wing? Same difference."

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari Lifted one brow at the stranger, amber eyes darting around and taking in the the sudden shift of interest from the centre of the tavern to here. On her and this man in front of her to be specific. She leaned back, eyeing the man up and down. Sandy fair hair, dark blue eyes, he even smiled charmingly. She felt near instant distaste- especially when she saw the way the woman who had been hanging off his arm only moments before glared at her petulantly. She also happened to be the one who gave the guild missions. Not somebody she wanted on her side.


"Black wing." Her voice was clipped, brows lowered in mild confusion- an expression that quickly disappeared when the bar keep dropped a plate of roast slathered in the taverns gravy. She lifted her helmet off of her head, running her fingers through the revealed short, dark, choppy hair. Hair that was currently stuck up in strange spikes from drying inside her helmet.

 

[Sansa Stark]

He gave a small chuckle at the sight of her hair. "Bad day?" he questioned, gesturing to the small, damp spikes. "No matter. When we kill that beautiful beastie and you get your new rank, it'll all be better for you I'm sure."





Balthier took a long drink of rum, his final drink, for he knew that his new partner wouldn't be impressed if he was drunk on the job. "Name's Balthier, if you care to know it. Though I suppose you would since you're trusting me with your life, once we get on the field."

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari peered at him from the corner of her eye, digging into her roast and veggies. It was good as always. Would have been better if she could have enjoyed it in peace. Without a glare driving into the back of her head. She could still feel the eyes of the abandoned guild attendee, it was making the hair on the back of her neck prickle uncomfortably.


"And If I don't care?" She paused to take a long drink from her own tankard. Apple cider, fresh not fermented. She didn't like the tingly feelings alcohol gave her. She was also a surprisingly light weight drinker. The wooden tankard clunked against the counter top, cider sloshing against the side with the sharp movement.


"Besides- that's rather cocky of you. Assuming I need you to cheer up my day. My day was perfectly cheerful before you sat down."

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Don't care?" he laughed, gesturing with his fingers for the barmaid to refill his flagon with water. "Mm. I'm known to be a cocky man, aye. Thought you'd known that. Usually I do a bit of research on my future partners before I meet them. Get to know them before I...get to know them."


Balthier drank deep from his cup and lifted a vegetable from the woman's plate, eating it and grinning. "Damn, that's good."

 

[kitsunemage]

That particular response warranted another, longer look at the male. She couldn't quite tell if he was joking, flirting, or mocking her. Or all of the above. Or none of them. To think, men complained about how complicated women were. She strived to be decidedly uncomplicated- but not simple. Never simple.


She fixed her amber eyes upon him, standing and pushing her now rather unappetizing plate away from her. At least she'd gotten to finish half of it. She took brief note of the fact that even sitting at the bar he was taller then her rather lean frame- and flashed him a rather bland but friendly smile.


"Well then. Let's 'get to know each other'- and what better way to get to know each other, then on our way to that job. If I'm going to be stuck with a partner for the duration of my trial, then we'd do just as well to use our time efficiently." That and while she hadn't managed to get out of partnering up for this particular rank test, at least she could usher them along so she spent as little time with this rather handsome man as possible.

 

[Sansa Stark]

In the middle of her conversation, or attempts at one at least, Balthier took her remaining plate and began to feed himself politely.


"At least wait until I'm done, aye? Can't deny a man food before such a big fight. Don't want me slippin' up on ya."


It was almost as if he was testing her patience, to see her limits.

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari stared at him blankly, thankful that her temper was never the kind to explode. Of course that didn't stop her from wanting to mash that pretty little face of his into the remaining food on the plate.


"Oh, don't worry. I'll walk real slow-like. You can catch up." She smirked at him, one hand snaking back to touch the hilts of her dual blades. A habit she had never managed to rid herself of whenever she left anywhere. Not that she ever took the swords off- but it was reassuring to feel them there. She took the time to flip a single silver zenny coin in the bartenders direction before she left- walking slowly like she promised.


Now she would even get to enjoy a nice noon walk outside. Of course, given how late it was getting it seemed even more likely that they would end up spending the night over in one of the hunter camps by the volcano.

 

[Sansa Stark]

As if his intentions were to spite her, Balthier ate what remained painstakingly slow, even allowing himself a few more mugs of ale. He drank in the company of those in Yukumo who desired a more fruitful evening, a night of drastic tales and dancing and all types of ill-mannered things. When the moon had risen for some time, however, Balthier found his sense and left the sleeping tavern. He hired a horse and rode for the camp near Mount Fira where he was sure to find his snarky companion.


"Is Black Wing here?" he asked the nearest man, dismounting his horse and making sure the beast found a comfortable spot to sleep for the night. "I'd hate for her to leave without her partner."

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari was a patient girl. She liked to take her time, and the walk really was quite nice. Once she arrived at the camp of course, she set about waiting at the entrance of the camp. There were things she could do with her time, go through her pouches to double check her supplies one last time. Give her beloved dual blades another whetstone treatment, polish and clean the blades. Track down a meal to finish what Balthier had so rudely stolen from her- really, what kind of a man stole a girls food?


She rather quickly ran out of things to do, and the sun was setting rather rapidly. She did not want to fight a fire-breathing dark blue wyvern in the middle of a near active volcano at night. So she did the only other natural thing. She located a few towels, stripped down to her bandeu and shorts, and stepped into the local hot springs. She promptly fell asleep in the hot waters, not caring that her skin was quickly pruning.


------


The man looked at Balthier strangely, tearing his eyes away rather quickly to continue his watch of the surrounding area. There were guards all around the perimeter, each one keeping their eyes on the area surrounding the camp. Save of course the two on the far side of camp. They were huddled together, guffawing over something or other in a rather ungentlemanly manner.


"Haven't heard of her." His eyes left Balthiers a tad too quickly, going back to the two laughing guards on the far side of camp. A line of worry etched between his brows. He was lying about something, and given his repeated glances towards the two guards- that was probably the direction she could be found.

 

[Sansa Stark]

He watched the man sternly, determined to discover Nari's location from him, but as the guard looked nervously in a certain direction Balthier knew he had his answer. "Thanks, mate."


The ex-pirate walked past the laughing guards and ignored the completely, delving deeper into the wood. In his mind there was only one thing a woman would do while waiting on someone else, in an open land like this, and since the volcano was nearby Balthier was educated in his guess of where she might have been. A sauna, just thinking about it made him crave one, but he was more in the mood for sleep than bathing. He noticed a mop of black hair and knew it had to be her. However, his approach was met with a loud laugh as he turned his back.


"Ahem. Might wanna cover up, Black Wing. You never know who could be watching."

 

[kitsunemage]

Laughter interrupted Nari's rest. She woke slowly as always, eyes blinking open- mouth gaping wide into a yawn. Then she spluttered, accidentally inhaling water. That woke her up. She tipped her head back, taking in the rather starry sky and the moon hanging low over the horizon. Either the moon had just begun to rise, or it was already on it's descent. She was willing to bet the latter given how well rested she felt. It took just about that long for Balthier's words to register in her ind. She was not a morning person.


"Well, if your answer is yourself, then I'm pretty sure I know who's watching. If it's the guards from camp, then I also happen to know- they were sorely disappointed to find me still clothed." Nari stretched in the water, letting her arms splash back to her sides before dragging herself out of the spring. She felt as weak as a newborn kitten. Something she supposed she deserved for falling asleep in the water like that. she grabbed one of the towels on the ground to wrap around her torso, the white fabric falling to just below the tops of her thighs. Her second towel got placed on her head, vigorously rubbed through her hair to try and dry the sopping strands.


The air had chilled while she was in the water, that or she'd just gotten too used to the heat. She could feel goosebumps beginning to crawl up her arms and legs. She began to move a little faster.


"Well come on. We might as well get some decent sleep before morning- if we put this hunt off any longer the Rathalos is likely to migrate to another poor village."

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Of course. I'd hate to leave before you got your precious rank, aye?" Balthier gave a wide grin and watched her dress herself, eyeing the woman's body that seemed to hide under so much armor.


"If you know so much about who's watching you, how come I had to wake you before you knew I was here? Falling asleep in a pool is awfully careless of you." He chuckled to himself and picked a berry off a nearby branch, and once he decided it was safe to eat the pirate brought it to his lips and chewed it, enjoying the taste. "How many hours to you reckon we can sleep through before the sun rises?"

 

[kitsunemage]

Amber glinted from the narrowed corners of her eyes, like specs of light in the dimly lit hot spring. She didn't miss anything. Not the way his eyes roamed over her body as she dressed, or the way his lips parted in a wide grin. It was times like this she began to feel body conscious- he could be laughing at her for all she knew, too tall, too skinny, too flat; they were all things she'd heard before. Of course, having her thoughts lead upon that train just made her irritated with herself. Why should she care what this pomp thinks?


"Sleep through? Depends on how much comfort you're used to. I give it another three to five hours before the sun rises though. We'll want to be on our way by then." Nari smiled, just the barest hint of a curl at the corner of her mouth. She plucked the next berry from between his fingers, popping it between her lips and chewing slowly. One hand lifted to run through still damp dark locks as she turned to walk back to the camp, her helm held between her arm and hips swaying in tune with her steps.


"I hope you can run without a full nights rest. It might hurt your pride to be saved by a girl."

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Hurt my pride?" he laughed, grabbing more berries and piling them in his hand as he walked. He liked the sway of her hips but he dared not give voice to such things. It was bad luck to breed ill-fortune between partners the night before leaving to slay their target. Not that Balthier believed in such silly superstitions, but perhaps she did, and an angry partner was a distracted partner. If she died on his watch, he'd never hear the end of it from other members of the Guild. His sanctuary would once again become his prison.


But that wouldn't keep his eyes averted from her, at least not until she turned to witness his obsession with her hips.


"On the contrary, my lady. I have no issue with being saved by a girl. Oftentimes I think women are very mistreated. You are as much a warrior as I am despite what you have between your legs--much more desirable than what I've got hanging there--and there would be no difference between a man saving me or a woman. You wound me with your judgments, fair maiden. Absolutely wound me. I daresay I'm not fit for this fight after all."


The cocky pirate popped a berry in his mouth once more, chuckling arrogantly to himself.

 

[kitsunemage]

"Then I guess I'll take that as permission granted. However crudely." Nari pursed her lips, absently tugging on the tip of one lock of dark hair. Jest though he did, she had to give him points for that particular show. Even now there were hunters who believed women were not up to the strength of men. Occasionally she had to square off against a rough-around-the-edges hunter trying to prove his 'manliness'. At least she could say that Balthier didn't have that particularly annoying trait. A blessing wrapped in a curse.


Nari tilted her head over her shoulder, about to commend him for his point of view on the matter- her mouth abruptly snapped shut. Crimson rose to her cheeks, and she had to hurry to hide a bewildered expression. She glared at him instead. She had turned just fast enough to catch his eyes roaming where they really should not. It was bad enough that he had unabashedly watched her as she dressed- he had been talking to her then, and not really looking anywhere overtly rude.


"You-" Nari cut herself off, 'biting her tongue' so to speak. Though it may have required some literal biting to keep her scathing reply from coming out of her lips. She took her helm from it's position between her arm and hip, firmly tucking it over her head to help hide her burning cheeks. She could only hope he hadn't noticed the blush in the dim light of the path back to camp. She couldn't exactly afford to offend someone she had to work with the following day- especially not when said someone may very well be saving the object of his fascination. Nari started walking just a tad bit faster, relief pouring through her veins as the camp came in sight.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Balthier gave out a great laugh as the color rose in her cheeks, having caught him in such a dirty act. It amused him to see her react in such a way, powerless to control the blushing on her own face. It gave him a boost of pride in knowing he had done that to her, but he wasn't cruel as she assuredly believed. He knew the line between teasing a woman and harassing her, and that was certainly not a line he intended to cross where Black Wing was concerned.


"Apologies!" he offered, the remains of his laughter still on his tongue. "You can sleep peacefully tonight, I'm no monster. I just enjoy a bit of fun here and there." The pirate shoved the remaining berries in his mouth and wiped his hands, jogging a bit to catch up with her.


"Can you blame me, after all?"

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari gave Balthier a sharp look, Amber eyes growing brighter as the light of the camp finally reached them. Her cheeks seemed to have regained their normal hue, though she still felt a tad warm. It was hard to tell if he was honestly giving her regard- or pulling her strings like those of the swooning women he left back in Yukumo village.


"No. I can't blame you- for having fun. The object of it is a different matter entirely." She had to wonder why she was getting so worked up about this. Perhaps it was just the pre-hunt jitters getting to her, even though she had long since rid herself of those. This was also the first hunt she had taken with someone else since her master had died.


She refused to acknowledge the fact that it might be the man himself who was making her so edgy.


"That side over there is the mens quarters- Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to get in another cat-nap." Nari fled quickly, not giving him the opportunity to get another word in edgewise. Perhaps revealing a bit more about how perturbed she was then she had intended.


Not that she intended to sleep. No, she was much too wound up. She would go over her weapons once more, maybe grab a bit to eat, then wait for him at the gates.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Balthier woke from a dreamless sleep with a smile on his face and warm blankets around him. He hated to leave such a perfect place. Laying in bed all day was something he desired more often than not, but it was never something he allowed himself to overly enjoy. Giving in to such a relaxing thing for too long bode ill for a Hunter such as himself. It would make him fat and lazy and slow which were certainly not good qualities that a man like him should have. Laziness would have to remain in his dreams.


The pirate slid from the comfort of his temporary bed and dressed himself, bringing all his weapons in check and making sure he had enough to eat and drink. Sausages and eggs were on the menu that particular morning, and he ate his fill to remain comfortable. Strapping his weapons on his belt, Balthier downed a final glass of orange juice (that may or may not have bee spiked for added flavor) before approaching the gates where the silhouette of Black Wing waited for him.


"All pruny?" he asked as he approached her, chuckling.

 

[kitsunemage]

By the time Balthier emerged from his nights rest Nari was buzzing with energy. She always felt this way during a hunt- like a heightened sense of everything around her. She felt like she could go on for ever and never stop. She was always in a good mood before a hunt, enough to even forget his little miss-steps the day before.


"Oh no- I managed to put myself back together long ago." Nari stood smoothly from her seated position, tucking her dual blades back into their sheathes on her back. Her lips parted in a wide grin that revealed straight white teeth. That was the first time she had smiled in his presence. It softened her face, took away some of the sharp edges with the endearing dimples.


"Now if you're ready grandmother, we can finally get moving." Her grin faded into a more manageable smile- just the barest of curves at the corners of her lips- and she turned to leave the camp. A small bounce in her step.

 

[Sansa Stark]

He liked her smile, to say the least. It make her look considerably less threatening.


"Grandmother?" he laughed, sliding into a casual pace at the woman's side. "You wound me yet again. So cruel. Perhaps I'll let the beast eat you."


Balthier wondered why the woman had such a spring in her step; was it because she enjoyed going on hunts so much, or because she had something planned up her sleeve? Whatever the case may be, the pirate thought it rude to ask and kept his inquiries to himself.