I - The Beginning of The End

[marorda]

So she was right. They were the Crows and the Dove. But... of course the old man didn't tell them who was who. Old men showing up out of nowhere tended to keep the details from others. Especially when they knew things. Nanaya should really know that by now. Then again, she hadn't quite expected to meet the Creator so out of the blue. In the middle of a tavern. Perhaps... perhaps this was all an odd dream of sorts? Someone may have drugged her tea. Or apple juice. Whatever it was she drank last this day. Or... if this day wasn't real, whenever the last time she drank was. It might be that thief's doing. No way he'd actually let her leave town that easily, right? Perhaps he had drugged and captured her? Well, then he was in for a surprise when she woke up! But... what if it wasn't a dream or hallucination? What if it was real and the seven of them were the Crows and the Dove? Well... that meant six of them were doomed to turn evil, bring great harm upon everyone, and then be killed in possibly a brutal way.


Something, a glass shard from the broken feather, went into her body. Nanaya instinctively jumped back, only to realize it had already gone right through her skin. But there were no marks, no blood, not even pain. Nothing at all. Ah, magic, when will you ever cease to surprise anyone? After the Creator had wished them all luck, he vanished and time went on as if it had never been paused at all. Nanaya glanced at the people in the inn, and the giant's eye outside the window. How would they figure out who was who? Nanaya glanced down at herself and frowned. This was definitely going to give complications with her work, one way or another. Perhaps it was time to appoint someone to follow in her footsteps, just in case. Because, if she was being honest, the chances were six against one on her surviving this. Up until now she had always avoided death in the most unlikely ways, and it had a reason. She knew it, and she was told so. There was a reason why she was still around. The question was: was it because she was the dove and had to save everyone? Or because she was one of the crows and was doomed to die later on?


She walked outside again, watching the giant panic over what had just ensued, and she saw the fairy attempting to calm him. "She is right," Nanaya told the giant with a smile. "There are many dangers outside the town, much greater than a giant apologizing to a tree." She chuckled lightly. The thought seemed odd, that this friendly giant who seemed to be terrified of frightening or hurting anyone was possibly a crow. Then again, she didn't see it in herself either. Yes, there was darkness in her heart, but it wasn't evil per se. "Perhaps a song will calm you slightly?" she offered kindly, taking her lute off her back, sitting down on a rock and playing a tune.

 

[Skryx]

Illusions and time stopping and mysterious men claiming to be the creator and glass feathers breaking apart? She had only managed to take one step back before the glass shard pierced -no, it didn't hurt- sank into her body. It was all completely baffling to Srin. 


"I wish you luck, my Crows and Dove."  She heard him say before the world snapped back into motion. What. He had literally all the time in the world and he couldn't say anything more? Crows. And doves. Shaking her head, she moved forward to the bar and ordered drinks, glancing out the window for a quick headcount. The giant was making a racket, she wondered if he ever got a grip. Frankly, he seemed to be more terrified than the people he was supposedly scaring. With two tankards in on hand and the other arm hefting a large barrel easily over one shoulder, she exited the tavern. 


"Calm down," Srin said to the giant, amused. "Have this,'' she set down the large barrel with a thud, holding out Then she settled down on the grass, leaning back on the newly fallen tree and taking a gulp of her own drink. The remaining she held out to the bard. It was only then she allowed herself to think on what happened. Assuming she believed the man (she wasn't quite sure on that yet), then that meant she was either a Crow or a Dove. She very much doubted that she was the one dove. She wasn't a bad person, she knew, but the definitely not the best out of 7. Which meant she was going to die. She skipped that particular thought process for now. If they were really the seven, that meant that these people where her new comrades. She studied them idly.


Not too bad, I suppose. She mused, taking another gulp of drink before lounging back comfortably. 


@marorda @Kiroshiven @Fem the Huffling Riceball

 

[TheHufflepuffRabbit]

Talya began to panic. This guy was serious? No way. The red string that appeared connecting them all was even more to just make her deny it. It's all an illusion. She didn't care what he said. Flat out, that was an illusion. When she felt the sudden addition of something to her she opened her eyes, but the old man was already gone. However, the giant was now freaking out outside. Talya liked pranking people and scaring them, but seeing the big guy so disheartened she couldn't help but feel a sense of pity. That pity at least kept her distracted from the events that transpired.


Talya fluttered out the window and channeled her magics to form a giant hand. She then proceeded to have it rub his back. It may have been an illusion, but combining it with a the second illusion of the feeling of being touched, Talya thought she could calm him down. "Easy big guy. Look, nobody's hurt and if these people were frightened over something as harmless as you, then they're gonna be in for a big surprise outside this town." She smiled as she flew up and sat on his shoulder. "Just breathe big guy. Okay? In and out. In and out." Talya was saying it just as much for herself as the giant. She still couldn't believe what happened and ultimately, she was going to chalk it up as a shared delusion by her and the other six people that the man spoke with. There was no way the dove and crows were real. No way.

So she was right. They were the Crows and the Dove. But... of course the old man didn't tell them who was who. Old men showing up out of nowhere tended to keep the details from others. Especially when they knew things. Nanaya should really know that by now. Then again, she hadn't quite expected to meet the Creator so out of the blue. In the middle of a tavern. Perhaps... perhaps this was all an odd dream of sorts? Someone may have drugged her tea. Or apple juice. Whatever it was she drank last this day. Or... if this day wasn't real, whenever the last time she drank was. It might be that thief's doing. No way he'd actually let her leave town that easily, right? Perhaps he had drugged and captured her? Well, then he was in for a surprise when she woke up! But... what if it wasn't a dream or hallucination? What if it was real and the seven of them were the Crows and the Dove? Well... that meant six of them were doomed to turn evil, bring great harm upon everyone, and then be killed in possibly a brutal way.


Something, a glass shard from the broken feather, went into her body. Nanaya instinctively jumped back, only to realize it had already gone right through her skin. But there were no marks, no blood, not even pain. Nothing at all. Ah, magic, when will you ever cease to surprise anyone? After the Creator had wished them all luck, he vanished and time went on as if it had never been paused at all. Nanaya glanced at the people in the inn, and the giant's eye outside the window. How would they figure out who was who? Nanaya glanced down at herself and frowned. This was definitely going to give complications with her work, one way or another. Perhaps it was time to appoint someone to follow in her footsteps, just in case. Because, if she was being honest, the chances were six against one on her surviving this. Up until now she had always avoided death in the most unlikely ways, and it had a reason. She knew it, and she was told so. There was a reason why she was still around. The question was: was it because she was the dove and had to save everyone? Or because she was one of the crows and was doomed to die later on?


She walked outside again, watching the giant panic over what had just ensued, and she saw the fairy attempting to calm him. "She is right," Nanaya told the giant with a smile. "There are many dangers outside the town, much greater than a giant apologizing to a tree." She chuckled lightly. The thought seemed odd, that this friendly giant who seemed to be terrified of frightening or hurting anyone was possibly a crow. Then again, she didn't see it in herself either. Yes, there was darkness in her heart, but it wasn't evil per se. "Perhaps a song will calm you slightly?" she offered kindly, taking her lute off her back, sitting down on a rock and playing a tune.

Illusions and time stopping and mysterious men claiming to be the creator and glass feathers breaking apart? She had only managed to take one step back before the glass shard pierced -no, it didn't hurt- sank into her body. It was all completely baffling to Srin. 


"I wish you luck, my Crows and Dove."  She heard him say before the world snapped back into motion. What. He had literally all the time in the world and he couldn't say anything more? Crows. And doves. Shaking her head, she moved forward to the bar and ordered drinks, glancing out the window for a quick headcount. The giant was making a racket, she wondered if he ever got a grip. Frankly, he seemed to be more terrified than the people he was supposedly scaring. With two tankards in on hand and the other arm hefting a large barrel easily over one shoulder, she exited the tavern. 


"Calm down," Srin said to the giant, amused. "Have this,'' she set down the large barrel with a thud, holding out Then she settled down on the grass, leaning back on the newly fallen tree and taking a gulp of her own drink. The remaining she held out to the bard. It was only then she allowed herself to think on what happened. Assuming she believed the man (she wasn't quite sure on that yet), then that meant she was either a Crow or a Dove. She very much doubted that she was the one dove. She wasn't a bad person, she knew, but the definitely not the best out of 7. Which meant she was going to die. She skipped that particular thought process for now. If they were really the seven, that meant that these people where her new comrades. She studied them idly.


Not too bad, I suppose. She mused, taking another gulp of drink before lounging back comfortably. 


@marorda @Kiroshiven @Fem the Huffling Riceball

  Callum looked down at the three girls, feeling comforted by the giant hand, the music, and the drink, which he took a sip out of. "Th-Thank you....all of you....." he said, looking curiously at the lute being played for a moment. Would he end up getting murdered by one of them, or vice versa? And if he was supposed to kill them....would he have the heart?


  "S-Soo.....the legend...." he began timidly. "Do you think it's real....? And if it is, what then...?" he added, looking at the ground. "I just now met some people who won't chase me off or anything, and if it's real, I'm probably a Crow. Giant....thing.....you know. The giant is always the bad guy, so I wouldn't be surprised....." He sighed, looking at the sky. "I just don't get it. It's a child's tale that I've always hated. Why that story.......?"

 

[Kiroshiven]

  Callum looked down at the three girls, feeling comforted by the giant hand, the music, and the drink, which he took a sip out of. "Th-Thank you....all of you....." he said, looking curiously at the lute being played for a moment. Would he end up getting murdered by one of them, or vice versa? And if he was supposed to kill them....would he have the heart?


  "S-Soo.....the legend...." he began timidly. "Do you think it's real....? And if it is, what then...?" he added, looking at the ground. "I just now met some people who won't chase me off or anything, and if it's real, I'm probably a Crow. Giant....thing.....you know. The giant is always the bad guy, so I wouldn't be surprised....." He sighed, looking at the sky. "I just don't get it. It's a child's tale that I've always hated. Why that story.......?"

Talya looked over at the giant and shook her head. "First off, the tale is just that a tale. A myth, a fabrication of beings long ago trying to make sense of things. There is no chance of it being true. That guy was just a VERY powerful human mage. Nothing more. It's no different than me making illusions that trick the mind." Talya sighed as she sat on the giant's shoulder. "And from what I can tell about the seven of us, IF the phony legend is to be believed, you'd more than likely be the dove." Talya looked at the sky. "You apologized to a tree for knocking it over on accident. If any of us were you, we wouldn't have given it a second glance, I don't think. I know I wouldn't have." Talya stretched her wings a bit and fluttered around the giant. "But like I said, the legend of the crows and dove is just an old wives tale. It's something told to entertain, nothing more. So we should all just move off this crazy topic." Once again, Talya was trying her best to convince herself along side the people that she'd suddenly met. But that was easier said than done.


@Skryx @marorda

 

[marorda]

Nanaya took the drink that was handed to her and smiled politely at the woman who handed it to her. She paused her song to take a sip, feeling as though she was nearly choking on the taste of alcohol. "Thank you," she said politely between the coughing, although it was rather clear she didn't quite like the taste. That, and she didn't handle alcohol too well. No, she'd prefer some non-alcoholic drink. Like apple juice. DAMN, she sure loved her apple juice. And not just any. No, there was a special kind of apple juice, mostly drunk in the courts of lords and ladies. Having her connections sure helped getting her "fix", so to speak. Nanaya set the mug down on the ground and glanced from the fairy to the giant.


"Once more, she is right," Nanaya told the giant. "I doubt anyone else of us would give a fallen tree a second glance, let alone apologize to it." She paused for a moment. "But I must say I disagree on the other part. Although unlikely, there is a chance the man's words are true. Although legends are usually regarded to as just that alone: legends or old wives tales, I firmly believe many of those stories actually have a core of truth to them. It might not be as literal as six crows and a dove turning into all of the races and then wreck havoc, but I would not be surprised if something along those lines has indeed happened in the past. I am not saying I belieev the man's words, but it is something to take in mind. It may be true."


She glanced at the fairy. "Unless you really wish to believe it is a coincidence it was specifically the seven of us to get chosen, even if there were many others around to fool. We all represent our own race in this tale." Nanaya put the lute back in the bag. Now that the giant had calmed down, and she was engaged in an interesting conversation, it deserved her full attention.


"I'd understand if all of you would think I am crazy," she smiled. "But as a bard and as a person who's been around for a while, I've learned to question things around me. I've learned there's a truth to many tales. And I have just seen a lot of strange things happening in general. There is little that surprises me nowadays. Another legend turning out to be true would be nothing new. Now having a part in it, however, with a six against one chance I will die... that would be something new. I've avoided death up until now, so something had to come along that's bound to kill me, right? Although we might be able to change the course of the story. I hope we would... I neither feel like killing or being killed."

 

[TheHufflepuffRabbit]

Talya looked over at the giant and shook her head. "First off, the tale is just that a tale. A myth, a fabrication of beings long ago trying to make sense of things. There is no chance of it being true. That guy was just a VERY powerful human mage. Nothing more. It's no different than me making illusions that trick the mind." Talya sighed as she sat on the giant's shoulder. "And from what I can tell about the seven of us, IF the phony legend is to be believed, you'd more than likely be the dove." Talya looked at the sky. "You apologized to a tree for knocking it over on accident. If any of us were you, we wouldn't have given it a second glance, I don't think. I know I wouldn't have." Talya stretched her wings a bit and fluttered around the giant. "But like I said, the legend of the crows and dove is just an old wives tale. It's something told to entertain, nothing more. So we should all just move off this crazy topic." Once again, Talya was trying her best to convince herself along side the people that she'd suddenly met. But that was easier said than done.


@Skryx @marorda

Nanaya took the drink that was handed to her and smiled politely at the woman who handed it to her. She paused her song to take a sip, feeling as though she was nearly choking on the taste of alcohol. "Thank you," she said politely between the coughing, although it was rather clear she didn't quite like the taste. That, and she didn't handle alcohol too well. No, she'd prefer some non-alcoholic drink. Like apple juice. DAMN, she sure loved her apple juice. And not just any. No, there was a special kind of apple juice, mostly drunk in the courts of lords and ladies. Having her connections sure helped getting her "fix", so to speak. Nanaya set the mug down on the ground and glanced from the fairy to the giant.


"Once more, she is right," Nanaya told the giant. "I doubt anyone else of us would give a fallen tree a second glance, let alone apologize to it." She paused for a moment. "But I must say I disagree on the other part. Although unlikely, there is a chance the man's words are true. Although legends are usually regarded to as just that alone: legends or old wives tales, I firmly believe many of those stories actually have a core of truth to them. It might not be as literal as six crows and a dove turning into all of the races and then wreck havoc, but I would not be surprised if something along those lines has indeed happened in the past. I am not saying I belieev the man's words, but it is something to take in mind. It may be true."


She glanced at the fairy. "Unless you really wish to believe it is a coincidence it was specifically the seven of us to get chosen, even if there were many others around to fool. We all represent our own race in this tale." Nanaya put the lute back in the bag. Now that the giant had calmed down, and she was engaged in an interesting conversation, it deserved her full attention.


"I'd understand if all of you would think I am crazy," she smiled. "But as a bard and as a person who's been around for a while, I've learned to question things around me. I've learned there's a truth to many tales. And I have just seen a lot of strange things happening in general. There is little that surprises me nowadays. Another legend turning out to be true would be nothing new. Now having a part in it, however, with a six against one chance I will die... that would be something new. I've avoided death up until now, so something had to come along that's bound to kill me, right? Although we might be able to change the course of the story. I hope we would... I neither feel like killing or being killed."

  The giant thought for a minute, closing his amber eyes, then, sighing, he shook his head. "I....don't want to get involved in such a bloody story. I mean....I just.....if I'm a crow, I don't want to die, and if I'm a dove, I don't want to live." Callum looked over to the path from where he came, almost dazedly looking at his extra-large footprints. Looks like he would play the role of the coward once again. The giant slowly stood up, then, just like that, he ran. "I-I'LL JUST AVOID THE STORY ALTOGETHER! P-P-PROBLEM S-SOLVED!"


  It was the same as always with him, he supposed. Running was the only solution to this. If he ran, nobody would get hurt. Finally, he was several paces away from the tavern (exactly one mile). Callum sat down, looking at the sky once again. Why was it always him?

 

[Kiroshiven]

  The giant thought for a minute, closing his amber eyes, then, sighing, he shook his head. "I....don't want to get involved in such a bloody story. I mean....I just.....if I'm a crow, I don't want to die, and if I'm a dove, I don't want to live." Callum looked over to the path from where he came, almost dazedly looking at his extra-large footprints. Looks like he would play the role of the coward once again. The giant slowly stood up, then, just like that, he ran. "I-I'LL JUST AVOID THE STORY ALTOGETHER! P-P-PROBLEM S-SOLVED!"


  It was the same as always with him, he supposed. Running was the only solution to this. If he ran, nobody would get hurt. Finally, he was several paces away from the tavern (exactly one mile). Callum sat down, looking at the sky once again. Why was it always him?

Talya didn't like this elf. She was acting like a know it all and it put her in a foul mood. "Listen here you anceint-" before she could finish though the giant had started running and all she could do to maintain any semblence of balance was hold onto the giant's clothes for dear life. 


The breeze was powerful and as long as she held on Talya felt like it was invigorating, she had never moved so fast in her life. Thankfully the giant stopped and Talya looked back. "You know, you sure are fast Mr. Giant." She sighed as he seemed so disheartened.


"Don't let what that elf said get to you okay? She's just puffing out hot air." Talya flew to be right in Callum's face. "There's no way the story is true. I've been travelling long enough to know that nobody would willingly die for these selfish people of the world. So just relax, okay?" Talya wasn't about to tell Callum to return to the village. She just felt like she and he were in the same boat. They both wanted to just live their lives and ignore what that crazy old man had said.

 

[Skryx]

"A bit...excitable isn't he," Srin commented, watching the giant run away. She tilted her head to the bard. "I don't think you're particularly crazy. The fairy might be convinced that man was a regular human mage, but the power he has makes me think otherwise. Stopping time is no small trick, not that I know much of magic." She stared at elf for a long time, contemplating. "If you don't like your drink you can always give it back to me." A large grin revealing pointed fangs punctuated that statement.


@Kiroshiven

 

[Vii]

He could see it, a sight of many, many other times, carved in his mind for over four years or so. Rolleigh at last. He was home at last. To think he would come to see it as such…his younger, stubborn self would have laughed at his face, surely. He felt as human as every men and women of the capital but given his circumstances, but there was more to someone than their exterior, as his mother used to say…  Brushing his blond locks with his fingers in order to disperse thoughts that did not suit him, Karma made his way to the deck of the Nightingale, shouting at his men the usual procedures prior to anchoring.


Once with his feet set on land, the captain of the large ship observed his surroundings, as if to find a face in the docks. But, to no avail, he was left with a sense of empty disappointment. Well, perhaps it was a strong word for such. But to not be welcomed on arrival felt rather foreign by now, as years of travelling had proved so. Perhaps they were far too busy to come? Perhaps they had forgotten? Even so, he was here, standing by the ship, a large bag on his back, his hair slowly dancing in the breeze. With a sigh, he bid farewell to his crew for now, rejecting generous offers to come celebrate their arrival. He wished for some peace of his own, choosing to head to a tavern nearby, known for respecting one’s privacy and quiet. With a mug by his side and maps by his table, Karma cherished a moment of his own, one that he would most certainly not have yet again for a long, long time…

 

[TheHufflepuffRabbit]

Talya didn't like this elf. She was acting like a know it all and it put her in a foul mood. "Listen here you anceint-" before she could finish though the giant had started running and all she could do to maintain any semblence of balance was hold onto the giant's clothes for dear life. 


The breeze was powerful and as long as she held on Talya felt like it was invigorating, she had never moved so fast in her life. Thankfully the giant stopped and Talya looked back. "You know, you sure are fast Mr. Giant." She sighed as he seemed so disheartened.


"Don't let what that elf said get to you okay? She's just puffing out hot air." Talya flew to be right in Callum's face. "There's no way the story is true. I've been travelling long enough to know that nobody would willingly die for these selfish people of the world. So just relax, okay?" Talya wasn't about to tell Callum to return to the village. She just felt like she and he were in the same boat. They both wanted to just live their lives and ignore what that crazy old man had said.

  Callum sniffled, looking over at the fairy. In the entire whirlwind of not wanting to be the hero or villain, he had forgotten about how she had stayed latched onto his clothes. He did agree with what the girl had said, though; dying for the people of this world seemed ridiculous. 


  "I....I just want to live a normal life....." he said with a shrug. "I-I want a home.....a family....my tribe was wiped out when I was a kid, so I started wandering. Guess it taught me about the world and how they view us giants. N-No, after how they have screamed at the sight, told me not to eat them, and even went as far as trying to hurt me, I don't want to kill anyone or die for them." He paused for a minute, then had himself smile calmly at the fairy. "Ah, sorry....I shouldn't have said that. Er.....OH! I forgot to introduce myself......h-how rude......m-my name's Callum.....Callum O'Malley.......it's nice to meet you. A-And thank you.....you've been really nice, even though we just met....."

 

[Kiroshiven]

  Callum sniffled, looking over at the fairy. In the entire whirlwind of not wanting to be the hero or villain, he had forgotten about how she had stayed latched onto his clothes. He did agree with what the girl had said, though; dying for the people of this world seemed ridiculous. 


  "I....I just want to live a normal life....." he said with a shrug. "I-I want a home.....a family....my tribe was wiped out when I was a kid, so I started wandering. Guess it taught me about the world and how they view us giants. N-No, after how they have screamed at the sight, told me not to eat them, and even went as far as trying to hurt me, I don't want to kill anyone or die for them." He paused for a minute, then had himself smile calmly at the fairy. "Ah, sorry....I shouldn't have said that. Er.....OH! I forgot to introduce myself......h-how rude......m-my name's Callum.....Callum O'Malley.......it's nice to meet you. A-And thank you.....you've been really nice, even though we just met....."

Talya just listened to Callum as he spoke and nodded as he agreed with her. "Yeah. A lot of species like to capture fairies and use them as entertainers, wish granters, and other horrible things in castles. Thankfully, I'm smart enough to avoid being caught." Talya smirked a bit. "That and making a full blown dragon appear out of nowhere that roars in their face and nearly barbecues them with flame. You'd be impressed how much an illusion can make your brain feel." Talya chuckled as the giant finally introduced himself. "It's a pleasure Callum. And don't worry about it." Talya forced a bit of a smile at the fact he said she was being nice.


"Callum, I'm going to say this now, I'm not exactly.....nice." She cleared her throat as she looked at him. "I'm good at being pleasant, because my job as an entertainer, makes me be that way. Don't get me wrong, the fact that we got all tied up in this together somehow means you'll probably get better treatment out of me than most people, but I'm not nice." Talya emphasized this point because it was the truth. She was a liar, prankster, and conartist. She manipulated people to make a quick coin and then would move on her way.

 

[Tedronai]

The sudden lurch of the coach stirred Myriil out of his quiet reverie and the world again flooded in. His head was filled with the rattle of the wheels as they bounced along a road that was in truth a dirt track peppered with half buried stones. He felt the warmth of a sun that hung at its midday zenith caress his pale skin, and sighed.


Along with all the other sensations had come the unwelcome reminder of the many tasks he had set himself. Each one seemed to clamour for a piece of his attention, but he knew that even with only the smallest slither of his mind he still could not address even half of them. Just as butter could only be spread over so much bread, there was only so much of him to go around and already he was spread too thin.


The coachman shouted apologies for the disturbance but Myriil was already sinking back into meditative state. He was an old man and as such had precious little energy without squandering it. He would deal with all of his tasks in due course, but for now he could do nothing and so he tried to put them out of mind, but the tranquillity he sought proved elusive.


Pinching the bridge of his nose and massaging his eyes to tried in vain to sooth himself, but as much as he wished to ignore them, the growing list of tasks played on his mind. With each of the backwater provinces that rolled by the window of his cart, each one the domain of dirty humans, his irritability grew and the more he longed to be back in Viross.


This trip had at least been a productive one. He had successfully sown the seeds of war between many, if not all of the many tribes of Giants in Kallum. Anyone could start a war but to create a feud that could endure beyond that first skirmish; that could become so deeply engrained as to become part of a race’s very being was a skill, and he was a master of it.


Yes, he thought to himself as he imagined the building tensions amongst the Giants, seeing the future play out in the darkness behind his closed eyes as though it had already come to pass, he had done well but it was too early to congratulate himself. There was still so much to be done. All he could do now was sit back and hope for an uneventful journey, and a quick return to civilisation, but even for a master manipulator such as himself, some things were still outside of his control.