Kingdom of Freya {Yvette & BothReachedForTheGun}

[Yvette]

In Freya, the elements guide everyone's way of living. Each person is born with an element, two if they're lucky. This element dictates how they live their life. A dragon is the purest living form of an element, and taming one brings great honor and pride to your family and your village. Common villages are found scattered in this vast chain of mountains and at the top of the highest mountain sits the Royal Palace, simply called the "Royals" by the villagers. They control anything and everything withing Freya, but they can't do it on their own. Naturally, anyone in power will need some kind of military force. The Kingdom of Freya has enemies and needs protection. Every 10 years, the Royals have four people prove their worth by taming dragons in their own element. Only then can they join the Royal Guard to protect the Kingdom.


(Sorry it's short. I figure the more creative, elaborate stuff will come in the actual roleplay!)


Character Skeleton:


Name:


Age:


Gender:


Element:


Personality:


History:


@BothReachedForTheGun 
Name: Zujula


Age: 19


Gender: Female


Element: Fire


Personality: There's something enticing about her, perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply a feeling of shame. But nonetheless, people tend to become her friend, while trying to hide from her. Zujula is never cruel to the people she loves, but she's no pushover. If anything threatens her or her village, she's immediately there protecting everyone.


History: Zujula was not born into a wealthy family. In fact, her family barely had enough to get by. As a child, she worked hard to earn money for her family, doing even the most disgusting jobs. Once she found her element, she trained in it more than she worked. Her family suffered slightly for it. They had less to eat, but they got by. When an invitation from the Royals came to her home, it seemed her training would pay off. The problem was, heights were not her friend. She'd fallen a good distance off of the mountain before, giving her a nice scar that marred the left side of her face. She would have to conquer her fear of heights before she even thought of taming her dragon.


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Name: Alluin


Age: 17


Gender: Male


Element: Air


Personality: Alluin is light-hearted and loves fun above everything else. That doesn't mean he can't be serious every once in a while, but he avoids it if he can. He hates to see despair in anyone, whether he knows them or not, but despair is a familiar thing in his village. Most villages were very poor, especially when compared to the Royals. He was very lucky in that he got a house with heat and his parents both had very well-paying jobs, but he didn't keep this to himself. He would spread what he had to others when he could and would always go out of his way to make people smile.


History: Alluin was a happy child. He never cried. He never fussed. That attitude was a breath of fresh air to the village, which was draped in sadness for most of the year. He never changed. Even when he was 10 and he began to work for his family, he never took anything he had for granted and was known around his village for bringing light to everyone's lives. When he discovered his element, he used that to try and help people, although air wasn't as useful as water or fire would have been. He trained very hard in it, trying to find new ways he could help people, and then he received the letter from the Royal Palace. His decision was very obvious. He was going to get himself a dragon.

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

Name: Marlowe


Age: 24


Gender: Male


Element: Water


Personality: Marlowe is described as, first and foremost, a leader. There has always been something about him that draws people near. He has a charming smile and is quick to laugh. Marlowe is known for helping people in need. Well toned, he takes a strange satisfaction out of hard work. He has a tendency to over work himself.


History: Marlowe is from a village on the edge of the mountains, facing the sea. When He was nineteen, a large hurricane ravaged the shore. It destroyed the land, homes, and even lives. Sadly, the hurricane took Marlowe's parents, leaving him and his little sister alone. Instead of drowning in his sorrows, Marlowe used his profound gift of water to push the tides back and safe what was left of their little village. After his heroic feat, the Royals began keeping a close eye on the young man. When they decided to issue a letters to find new elementals to protect the country, one was sent to Marlowe. Never before had someone of his village received such a letter. It was a very hard decision for him, but after making sure his little sister was well cared for Marlowe started to make the trek to the Royals to claim a dragon.


Name: Aelwyd


Age: 21


Gender: Female


Element: Earth


Personality: Aelwyd is a very motherly person. She is intelligent, and can usually sense the moods of others. She can be extremely sentimental. She is usually a listener, but always has some practical piece of advice to give. Little children tend to gravitate to her. She can be very bosy, expecting people to listen to her word as law sometimes.


History: Aelwyd is the youngest of a brood of children, which is typical of a family of earth elementals. When she was a child, she was often seen clutching at her mother's skirts as the healing house she worked at. As she grew, Aelwyd began working alongside her mother and soon surpassed her skill in healing. Now, she is the youngest person to ever run the healing house. The message that was sent to her was placed in the trash, since Aelwyd was convinced she had found her calling where she was. It was picked up by one of the other healers, and they all agreed Aelwyd should go. After much dissent and complaining, they all convinced her that if anyone was to tame a earth dragon, it would be her. 
Wind ripped through the trees, causing the first few leaves that had changed colors to drift down to the ground. Autumn was the most beautiful season at the Royal Palace. That's what tourists and new comers were told when it was autumn, anyway. Had the official Claiming ceremony happened at any other season, murmurs of stunning springs or wonderful winters would have taken over the bustling city that surrounded the palace. But autumn ruled the land now, and the Palace did truly look lovely as the leaves turned yellows and oranges, reds and browns.


That same wind gusted over the four young adults inside the Palace garden, roughly cutting through their hair and clothes. Marlowe ran his fingers through his brown hair to settle it back before folding his arms over his chest to keep warm. He looked around himself to take in the garden they were standing in. Great trees stood all over, and autumn flowers rustled gently in the wind. A small pond bubbled softly in one corner, juxtaposed by a great golden bowl in the opposite corner, a fire blazing inside. This garden held all of the elements within stones walls that looked more ancient than the trees. Over to one side, the mountains that made up their country provided a picturesque background that many a painter had been inspired by.


The four of them, once they had all arrived, had been herded into the garden. They were all about to meet His Excellency, King Eldred. The man that they all might one day protect with their own lives. Aelwyd, sitting on a bench as she waited, hoped that they were not kept too much longer. A bag was slung over her shoulder, carrying many of the healing herbs she always took with her.


Aelwyd had travelled for two days to arrive at the Palace. That was three days ago. She had gone to the front gates and announced her reason for being there. A guard had shown her to a building off to the side of the Palace, near enough for quick access to an entrance. It held four small rooms and an area to cook and eat. She had settled into the small room provided for her, putting what little things she had brought with her all around until it was as cozy and welcoming as she could make it.


A little farther off from the edifice that she and the others would live in was a large building that many would mistake for an oversized barn. Aelwyd knew what it would hold. Dragons. It would be a place of rest for the dragons that the four elementals were expected to claim.


She brushed imaginary dirt off of her split skirts and, tired of the uneasy silence in the garden said, "Well, we are all about to become very close. Might as well introduce ourselves." When three pairs of eyes looked in her direction, she smiled. "My name is Aelwyd. I'm from Sandine. I have a very deep relationship with the earth," she said. Most earth elementals did not refer to "controlling" their element, believing that the earth cannot be controlled. Instead, they commented on their connection in a more personal way. A stray hair fell into her face as the wind rolled through again. Aelwyd almost undid her bun to replace it, but ended up tucking it behind her ear. She made a motion with her hand to indicate someone else should speak.


Marlowe nodded at the young woman, in agreement with her reasoning. If they all four claimed a dragon, they would become the protectors of the king and realm. They might as well get to know each other. "I'm Marlowe. I come from Olimar, a water village by the sea," He told everyone, loosening his arms to make sure he did not seem standoffish. Of the four of them, he had been the last to arrive. All of his belongings were in a pack off to the side, his bow and quiver of arrows sitting on top of the pack.

 

[Yvette]

Zujula stood facing the Royal Palace. It was almost unreal how beautiful it was, and it sickened her. Her family was living in a makeshift hut that barely kept out the rain, and here, people drank out of golden cups and had more rooms than they had people. She kept it down. She knew that if she proved her worth, then the Royals would help her family. That was the only reason she was here. She had no undying love or loyalty to the Royals. She had only a burning desire to help her family. Zujula brushed her red hair back with her fingers and tied it up into a messy bun. Most fire elementals had a trait that made their element clear. For some, they had scarlet eyes. She had eyes that were black as coal and hair as red as the flames that burned them. She shifted the small bag on her shoulder. It was all she had. She had a few changes of clothing and a dagger that was inscribed with her father's name.


It was the only sentimental thing she owned. She wasn't liked by the majority of her family. They didn't believe that controlling an element was natural. They believed it was God's work, so they stifled their elements. Zujula's father was the only person who encouraged her. As she gripped the handle of the dagger tightly in her hand, she remembered every moment he spent teaching her to fight and defend herself. But he died trying to tame his own dragon, which only increased her family's animosity towards her element. She pulled her shoulders back, standing up straighter. She was here. Against her family's knowledge, but here nonetheless, and she would stay here. Black eyes slowly looked down the edge of the mountain, fighting every urge to jump away from it. She couldn't even see the ground from this high up, but she would push that fear away. Soon, she would be riding a dragon, unable to even see the tips of the mountains. This was nothing.


Alluin listened as footsteps passed by his room. One of the others, he thought to himself. The air inside of his room swirled around him, throwing his blond hair around and chilling his bare chest. He was never one to wear clothes. Oftentimes, his family couldn't afford to buy him clothes, so he just chose not to wear them, choosing to only wear long pants. He even went without shoes. Those were even more expensive. Food was much more important. He grinned and left the room. He brought nothing with him but a few extra pairs of pants. He didn't have a weapon with him, mostly because he never learned to fight with one, choosing to fight with his element alone.


He jumped up and opened the door, a burst of air exiting the room with him. He was very excited. He would be meeting the other three people chosen to join the Royal Guard. Alluin smiled, seeing two people already gathered. They were both girls and he couldn't help but wonder if he would be the only guy...That would be unfortunate. He greeted the two with a smile, the wind seeming to pick up around them. The air was very in sync with his emotions and would react according to his feelings. He was relieved when the fourth person showed up and it was a guy. So it was even. Excellent. He couldn't help but wonder if this was done on purpose by the Royals, but quickly shrugged that off. He listened very carefully to the first two introductions and after a glance at the red-headed girl, decided to go next.


"My name is Alluin. The air and I are very good friends," he said happily. He seemed very naive; childish almost, but he was by no means innocent. He just chose to push away bad feelings and bad thoughts. It made him feel lighter, like his element. As if agreeing with his statement, the wind picked up once again. "I'm from Azmar. It's a pleasure to meet you all!" The atmosphere was very tense, so he attempted to lighten it with a wide grin. It was what he was best at.


Zujula acknowledged that it was her turn and smiled politely. She wasn't a social butterfly by any means, but she was polite if anything. She held her head up and met all of them eye-to-eye, despite being somewhat short. She brushed her hair out of her face, not even attempting to hide the nasty scar that marred her face. She crossed her arms over her chest, which was tightly wound by bandages, more for "My name is Zujula. As you've probably figured out by now, my element is fire. I'm from Lunaris. I'm looking forward to working with you." She said, clearly showing her confidence that all four of them would tame their dragons without issues and would definitely go on to the Royal Guard.

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

Aelwyd smiled once all the introductions were made, a ritual completed. She had not wanted to be here, but once the women at the healing house has practically forced her to come, Aelwyd had determined she would make the best of the trip. She had no worries about meeting a dragon. A simple gauge of the others made her feel pretty confident that they too would be able to claim their own dragons. Of course, her 'feelings' were never an exact science. Aelwyd was known for being wrong every once in a while. It was very rare, though.


The other three seemed like they were all decent folk, to Marlowe. He could tell that none of them were from wealthier parts of the country. Between their clothes (or lack thereof in Alluin's case) and the scant items that each had chosen to bring, Marlowe figured that they had each been chosen based on their circumstances. It made sense. Why get a rich water elemental who may inherent a small title when Marlowe could use the money for his little sister back at his village and was young enough to be able to pack up from his family and leave. If he were in charge, Marlowe probably would be doing the same thing. That did not make it any better, but at least he knew the motives of the Royals. Not that it would matter if he did not live through his dragon claiming.


He was just about to ask the others a questions when the sound of multiple pairs of boots were heard clomping through the garden. Both he and Aelwyd jerked their heads in the direction of the commotion. They were greeted with the sight of four burly men, weapons in each of their hands. These men each stood attendance on their charge. An elderly man stood in the circle of massive bodies. He was short of stature, and was balding slightly, his soft white hair flowing in the wind. King Eldred smiled softly at the four young people in front of him. Once she realized who the old gentleman was, Aelwyd immediately stood up and performed a small bow in respect, Marlowe a beat behind her.


The King of the realm spoke to them. "Thank you each for coming here. I do hope you each realize what a splendid opportunity this is for you all. As I am sure you all know, you will each shortly be tested by trying to claim a dragon. This is a difficult task, and I have seen my share of people who have died at the hands of the almighty dragons. Do not go into this thinking it will be an easy task. If any one of you wishes to bow out, you may do so now. I will give you money to get you back to your village, and you can be on your way," he said. To Marlowe, he sounded more like a tottering old man who should be tinkering away at some new device, not ruling a country. He was likable, yes, but capable of greatness? Marlowe wasn't sure. Maybe Eldred had been an extraordinary ruler in his heyday.