Fantasy Realms of Nymserine: Main Thread [[CLOSED]]

[Purize]

Verity looked up when Az motioned towards the guard that paced above them. With a silent nod of understanding she followed on. Her eyes widened in amazement when the brick wall opened before them... even in a world with magic, that was pretty cool. With a grin, she took Azaria's hand and their little group entered the city, also pausing to wave Kezine along after them.

On the other side they emerged into a narrow alley way. It was dark despite the sun climbing steadily into the sky and from the looks of it, Verity could tell they had just stepped into one of the poorer parts of the outer ring. She gave Azaria a glance, raising one eyebrow at her choice of entry, but said nothing. "Do you the way to the square from here?" She asked the elf.

 

[Zazz]

Azaria couldn't help but snort at the question. "Do I know the... Verity, I just led you through a solid wall." She thanked the dirty children who had pulled the hunk of rock and shook her head, motioning for the party to follow.

They weaved through the outer rings of the city, passing through piles of rubble and dirt as homeless citizens slept against the sides of lopsided buildings. Small faces poked out of brown fabrics to peer at the strangers as they passed, but no one stopped them.

Azaria led them through the back door of a small tavern and out through the front, and it was like they'd entered a whole different world; carts and people and horses pushed past each other, selling wares and delivering supplies. The rogue nodded up ahead; the square could be seen a few blocks up.

 

[Purize]

Verity nodded with a chuckle. "Fair enough." She smiled and waved at the kids as she noticed them. Their eyes were big and round against their small, gaunt faces. She remembered the coin that Azaria slipped through the wall and her heart fell a little. No doubt that was the only way the children were able to feed and care for themselves aside from stealing. Even at the heart of Nymserine, under the shining surface, there was still hardship. Verity dug through her travel bag and took out the loaf of bread she had saved from the restaurant at Meletus. No doubt it was a little stale by now, but they had probably eaten worse.

Once out of the slums the surroundings turned almost dramatically different. Aeredale was truly grand and dazzling the further you traveling into the city. Much like Meletus there was a lot of traffic and commerce, but the architecture was vastly different. The buildings were tall and built with limestone and marble trimmed with gold. Blue and white banners hung all throughout the city, gleaming in the sun. The streets were paved with cobble cut into patterns and horses with decorative carriages trotted along them.

Up ahead, Verity could see the square, noticing it even before the elf beside her pointed it out. In it's center was a grand fountain with crystal blue water that streamed around it. In it's heart was a statue that took the shape of a scale, the two sides perfectly equal with water spilling into them and overflowing out the sides. Around the square... which really was a circle, stood many shops of all sorts. There were apothecaries, bakeries, tailoring stores, and butcher shops. And ringed around the streets were marketing stalls selling everything from jewelry to produce.

People of all races idled around the square, bustling from place to place. A small group of faries sat in and around the fountain, much to the frustration of a guard who insisted they couldn't be inside it. There was an elf or two around one stall that sold fine silks and even some dwarves at the weapon stands. With a small grin, she figured that Pyrrhus would be the only Centaur to show, even among the diverse lot.

Verity motioned to one of the less busy spots, shaded by one of the many small trees that formed a loose band around the area. Hopefully in the shade their appearances would be less noticeable. "We can wait over there until the others arrive, hopefully we won't draw much attention."

 

[Brendanfp]

Ali grinned back as he took Tieve's delicate hand in his own pulling her onto Bajir. He was ready to set off, however, there was one issue... the only entrance and exit to Tieve's chambers beside the door was the small window that Shala had entered through. Ali glanced over at the red-headed spirit.

"Shala would you mind... erm... creating an exit so that we can escape this place?"

Upon asking this a wide grin spread across the Ifrit's face, "Sure why not we're already gonna be charged with kidnapping a demi-god why not destroy the world's symbol of knowledge while we're at it."

Without hesitation, the sassy Ifrit manifested a small ball of glowing red flames between her hands. She then thrust her hand forward towards the walls. The sphere of condensed flame drifted forward until it came in contact with the wall. The rooms shook violently as the sphere rapidly expanded with explosive power burning away a sizable hole in the wall. Satisfied with the work she had done Shala then drifted towards Ali and shifted into her favorite form that of a desert serpent, wrapping her self around the magi.

"Bajir towards Aeredale!" The boy commanded his djinn as he heard the priest growing ever closer.

The cloud of mystical sand shot off into the moonlit sky as Ali sat down making himself comfortable for the long trip ahead. What a day it had been.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A new broke as the morning sun rose over the party of travelers as they floated above the grand city of Aeredale. The djinn had reached his destination.

Purize

 

[SilverFlight]

Pyrrhus smiled at the grubby children outside the gates. Some gawked at him, their eyes wide as saucers. He fished the bag of apricots out of his saddle bag and tossed it to the eldest (the most likely to dole them out fairly).
He sighed in patient acceptance as Roland mentioned a centaur alone raising suspicion. "It wouldn't be the first time I've been stopped. You have a point there. We'll meet the rest of you at the square then." He turned towards the main gate and started forward.
"Grooming tips?" Pyrrhus repeated in an enthusiastic voice. "I can tell you exactly the type of oil to get that makes your hair glossy but not greasy. There's an alchemical potion that can keep you smelling like a rose through three days of combat..."
As they walked away from the others Pyrrhus continued to pour helpful grooming information into the conversation, his loud voice dulled with the bustle of the growing crowds.
The guards did eye him with grim faces as they approached the gate, but Pyrrhus' animated conversation about personal hygiene made them lose interest quickly.
Once through the gate they were crammed in with a myriad of other people, beasts and goods. However, the benefit of being an oddity even in a town of the diverse, people unconsciously gave the centaur (and by extension Roland) more space than they would afford something more mundane.

The square was just as impressive as Pyrrhus remembered it. The rotund space cobbled in white stone with the massive fountain pouring out clear, sparkling water.
It didn't take long to find the ground. He made an effort to stay off the grass though, lest he tear the delicate plants with his metal shoes.
"It's quieter at night." He said as he looked back with a wrinkled nose at the crowds.

BugDozer73 Zazz Purize Melon Bomb

 

[Melon Bomb]

Hanging casually from the sign of a vendor, a pair of thin but sturdy strings supported a suspended, miniature wooden stall like a swingset. Attending its counter was a very, very bored sprite pretending to be invested in a hardcover book, flipping through the pages with tiny gusts of wind cast from her fingertip. Halfway between guiding the next page over, she held the wobbling page in place when she suddenly caught wind of another presence somewhere inside the square. Her wings flapped excitedly as she parted from her station, curious to greet the new faces.

She zipped around to Kezine and hovered several inches away from her nose, stealing a glance at the batch of newcomers behind her.

"My! You look like you've seen better days," the sprite said after a quick once over, nodding sagely to her own assessment. "And I know exactly what you need." Carefully, she opened her palm and revealed a lustrous gathering of powder, which inexplicably changed form upon a swift sleight of hand gesture. "A little crow's mask to hide those pesky bags under your eyes - and it is absolutely marvelous for cleansing and contour, I promise your skin will be glowing for weeks!"

"Not interested," Kezine said, swatting away at the hovering pest like a fly. "Find someone else to bother."

The sprite seemed taken aback, hastily crossing her arms and pouting at the woman who challenged her wares with. . . poverty. Not a whole lot she could do about that, really. Well, no matter! She slipped past, brushing by until she reached the silver-haired elf, Verity - the sprite reapplied herself with gusto, a bright smile on her lips.

"Oh, how enchanting thy countenance! Tranquil beauty in thine eyes, the moon in thy locks; might you be a child of Adamine?" The playful fae giggled as she spun and spiraled around Verity's figure, returning with a dash of glimmering lilac in her hands. "For a lady of your grace, only the most sublime of fragrances are due! Might I suggest, the Starsong of Legeia? While we may only dream from the earth, if we could capture the majesty of the stars perhaps it may smell something like this?" Her fingers danced in the air as she crossed and waved her arms like a conductor, a unique, calming aroma wafting over them as the air became awash with faint but scintillating lights. "For a silver apiece, a bottle of your own! Steal the ball, gift your chambers with the scent of the heavens. . ." She paused, leaning as her voice fell to a hush. ". . . or impress that special someone, hm?"

With a laugh, she bounced back and fluttered in the air expectantly before her, hands neatly behind her back.

 

[BugDozer73]

Getting through the gates was much more simple than he had originally anticipated, but non the less, in but a few short minutes they were through. Roland had been joking about the grooming, but when pyrrhus began going over his own experiences, Roland couldn't help but listen and make mental notes to visit apothecaries later. Lord knows his hair needed a stronger oil.

It took no time at all to find the group, waiting very patiently in the square. Roland smiled at them all, happy to seem them again.
"That was easier than I expected. This place is nothing like I remember.." Roland looked around, stunned by the flourishing market area and bustling center of commerce. There were so many different people... and Roland noticed the pixie flying around Verity.

"Excuse me, Ma'am? Could you point us to the local guild?"

 

[Purize]

*~~~Oo Verity oO~~~*​

As life and activity buzzed around her, Verity felt herself relax. There was a sort of familiarity to city life that she preferred to camping in the woods. While privacy was much more lacking in places like this, it always felt like there were things to do... and of course, it reminded her of home. Verity was just about to sit down on the bench when a pixie zipped over, fluttering excitedly around an unamused Kezine. She promptly swatted the poor thing away, only deterring it temporarily. Regaining her composure, the pixie then turned her attention to Verity who blinked in surprise at the sudden flurry of wings and a high-pitched voice spinning around her.

Politely, Verity smiled and listened to the pixies poetry and alluring sale's pitch. Sure, the fae seemed sweet and cute enough now, but Verity was secretly terrified of making one mad. Her cousin Amaury used to tell her stories of pixies tying your hair in knots if you did anything to upset them, and even now as an older woman, she didn't want to test the fable. Breifly and image popping into her head of waking up in the morning with her long silvery hair being tied to the bed frame in wicked knots that would never untangle. Sylas, she knew, would have an absolute field day chopping off her hair.

With a nervous giggle, Verity fished out a silver coin and flicked up with her thumb for the fae to catch. "Thank you, I think i'll take it. This fragrance does smell lovely." She held out her palm for the pixie to drop the vile of perfume and then pocketed it for safe-keeping. Ordinarily, she wouldn't be so forth-coming towards stall vendors, especially for such non-essential items, but... she did like the smell. It may come in handy one day.

Just then, Roland and Pyrrhus strolled up to the group and Verity nodded to him in greeting. He addressed the pixie and asked where the local guild was.

Zazz BugDozer73 Melon Bomb SilverFlight

oO*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*Oo​

*~~~Oo Tieve oO~~~*​

Glass shattered everywhere, refracting light like crystals under the moon. The sound of men shouting reverberated through the tower and they pounded on the door, struggling to get it open. Just as they disarmed the enchantment and burst through, Tieve felt the world move underneath her and she gripped onto Ali so as to not fall off. Together they soared out of the opening on the cloud of missssst and rocketed off towards the stars. At first, the flight filled Tieve with fear and adrenaline, but as she got used to the altitude she relaxed and eventually dozed off.

When she next awoke it was light out, the suns rays climbing into the sky. With a start, she looked around, not remembering where she was... until she looked down. With a small gasp she saw an incredible city that almost glittered from their aerial view. Her eyes widened with recognition and she whispered, "Aeredale..."

Brendanfp

 

[Zazz]

Behind the elf, Azaria smirked at Roland's ignorance regarding the workings of Aeredale. In the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a little boy with bluish skin - matted with dirt - attempting to steal a fruit from a vendor who had his back turned. Her smirk fell as she saw the customer he was talking to glance behind the vendor. Azaria put a hand on Verity's shoulder and told her quietly, "I'll be at the Sultry Pearl, on the west side. There is lodging if you all would like. My treat." And then she was off, slipping easily through the crowd of people. She had no desire to be at a guild with her face on a wanted poster.

"HEY! BOY! THIEF!" The vendor turned and ran after the grubby boy, who crashed into someone and fell to the cobblestones, panting. Azaria saw the burly man approach, fire in his eyes. She stepped in to help the boy up, brandishing a green-jeweled dagger at the man. "You, there! Get away from him! He's a thief!" The vendor's face was red, his upper lip burried under a bushy mustache.

The rogue stood with the boy behind her, a small crowd giving them and her blade some space. "He is a boy who is hungry."

"I don't care-"

"Fine. How much is it, then? For the one fruit. Since it's so precious to you."

The vendor fumed and awkwardly named a measly amount. The half-elf snorted, and pulled out a silver coin. She tossed it at his feet, and took the boy's dirty hand, leading him past the man and his stall. Along the way, she casually slipped two more fruits into her pocket, along with a couple of coins he had left at the stall.

 

[Brendanfp]

Ali awoke to a slithering sensation as Shala stirred. His eyes opened to an infinite expanse of blue and white. The magi turned to see that next to him was the Oracle who was peering down into the city below, Aeredale, the capital of Nymserine. Ali rubbed his eyes as he sat up.

"Bajir..." the magi yawned, "you should have wakened me up early you must be tired. Take us down to the city, slowly."

A voice emanated from the center of the sand cloud, "Morning Master. I'm sorry I didn't wake you, but you seemed so content. Plus I didn't want to wake the girl."

Ali stretched his arms and yawned again as the cloud descended on the city. A white braid fell into Ali's vision. He put his hands on his head realizing that the illusion around himself had worn off. His hair was once again white, his eyes gleamed red, his teeth sharpened as were his nails. Ali sighed as he had to once again take in the reality of what he was. Quickly he recast the illusion on himself, hiding his demonic features hoping the Oracle wouldn't notice.

"Morning Tieve. We will be landing soon." Ali asked without looking at her directly, "Hope you slept well."

Bajir descended slowly and smoothly and as he neared the ground. Ali cast the second illusion on Bajir to obscure him from anyone looking up from the ground. The magi directed Bajir to an alleyway between two merchant shops, that way Tieve wouldn't be spotted or recognized. Finally, Bajir had touched down. The mystical cloud of sand slowly condensed back into a beetle and scurried back into Ali clothes.

"Thank you Bajir, you can rest now," Ali whispered to his djinn before turning to Tieve, "You in the mood for breakfast? I know this great place around the corner, however, you might need to cover yourself with a... cloak or something. To avoid being recognized... I mean unless you don't mind." The magi offered as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Purize

 

[C.C.]

The rest of the trip into the heart of Aeredale was a silent one. Morrigan mostly just exchanged worried looks with her mother's ghostly visage. The deeper into the capital they went the fewer people occupied the roads. It was as if with each wall they passed, she was entering an almost entirely different city. Morrigan sighed in relief as the carriage came to a halt in front of an illustrious manor.

"We have arrived!" The coachman announced from his perch.

Sir Chester Fairwing unlatched the coach door and stepped down from the carriage, holding his hand out for Morrigan to follow and she did. As Morrigan stepped out of the carriage the shadowy ends of her dress were the first to touch the ground. The nobleman led the way down a cobblestone pathway that led to the front door of the manor. The estate itself was a massive plot of land that housed an almost ethereal looking garden. Exotic plants littered the property adding to its flare. The pristine manor contrasted starkly with the tightly packed cottages and stone-built building found in the outer-rim. The nobleman led Morrigan through a set of dark oak wood doors and into his manor.

"The head of the household, my father is right this way," Chester whispered as he removed his leather coat and closed the oak door behind her.

Morrigan and her mother followed Chester through the maze-like structure of the manor. The hairs on the demi-gods arms rose slowly as she neared closer to Lord Fairwing chamber. She recognized this feeling it was the aura death... and it was near. Chester came to halt in front of another oakwood door, however, this one held a plaque that read 'Jarvis Fairwing'. The aura of death was so close now that Morrigan could smell its pungent aroma and feel its chilling grasp.

"He's in here," Chester said as he jeered a finger towards the door, "Go ahead and work your magic."

Morrigan looked back at the nobleman with dismay, "I'll try my best," she retorted before turning the knob to the oak wood door and entering the chamber of Jarvis.

 

[Zazz]

"If you're going to do something illegal, at least be good at it." Azaria led the boy out of the hustle and bustle of the crowd and crouched before him, running her fingers through his hair. "Don't linger; keep walking. Don't quicken your pace or you'll look guilty. And most importantly, don't look behind you when you're running for your life." The boy hung his head and nodded, stealing glances up at the half-elf who had saved him. She brushed his filthy hair out of his eyes and produced one of the two apples she had stolen. "Here. Share with a friend." She tucked a few silver coins in his pocket and stood. "Don't get caught again." And the boy ran off.

The rogue turned out of the alley and down another, until she was back at the small tavern. The bartender shared a glance with her before she took the trapdoor leading under ground.

A ways down the tunnel, she came to a gambling den with a set of rather unsavory looking fellows. One had wispy grey hair, a crooked nose, and some menacingly sharp teeth. Another was a dwarf with a chunk out of his ear. The half-elf leaned against the rugged wall and calmly checked her nails, picking at the undersides with the tip of her dagger.

"I'm looking for Erich. Is he here?"

"What business do you have with him?" The crooked nosed creature looked at her with his beady eyes.

"A trade. From Meletus," Azaria answered boredly.

Behind the table, a wooden door opened, and a man with a sharp black beard poked his head out. "Did someone say Meletus?"

Azaria pushed off the wall and pulled out the chunk of merfolk webbing (since they apparently don't have tails). "Your posting advertised 13 gold. Plus... delays along the way. My price is fifteen. Take it or leave it."

The man, Erich, watched her spin her blade between her fingers and decided she was not bluffing. With a nod, he dipped into the dark room and returned with the gold. "Always a pleasure."

"Mhm." Without further adieu, Azaria turned on her heel and left the tunnels, heading for the Sultry Pearl.

 

[Melon Bomb]

Catching the coin midair, the pixie smiled as she proudly held up the silver piece with both of her tiny hands. Then, peering over the rim of the coin she stuck her tongue out at Kezine, who casually flipped her the bird without looking. The fae's frown came so naturally that she hardly noticed she was wearing one. Wow, what a rude person! Awful, just awful! The most ill-mannered brute I've seen all week!

Exasperated, she was ready to fly back to the stall and give her partner an earful about this giant human's evident barbarism when she was approached by another unfamiliar face.

"Local guild. . . ?" The sprite tapped her chin as she hovered, eyes drifting up as she mulled over the question. "You mean Astra?" Her finger traced a circle in the air before pointing southeast, toward the heart of the city. "You'll find it in the next ring over - it's got a huge sign with bold letters, you won't miss it."

 

[SilverFlight]

"The Sultry Pearl," Pyrrhus repeated diligently, "I'll meet you there." He followed her with his gaze as she walked off a little briskly, only finding the boy after the vendor had called out.
He decided not to intervene, knowing Azaria had matters well in hand. Instead he resolved to see what the others would do.
"Weren't we looking for the Circle?" the centaur asked casually when Roland questioned the pixie salesperson about a guild.
Pyrrhus did his best to hide a smile when he watched Azaria pull one over on the irate vendor, he had little sympathy for the man.
Not far off a small wood board held a jumble of notices and Pyrrhus sidled up to it to scan the scraps of paper for any performances he could catch while they were in town.
"Oh! 'Try and Try Again' is being performed by the Meletus players this week!" He exclaimed excitedly. "That one is very good. I know someone in that troupe. The best damned longbowman this side of the desert. Could memorize anything in the blink of an eye, I'm glad his new career is working out for him."
Zazz BugDozer73

 

[Purize]

*~~~Oo Tieve oO~~~*​

Like a flash of movement in her peripheral, she saw it before it happened. The color drained and bled from Ali's hair and his eyes grew red. His teeth and nails sharpened... and for a moment, Tieve couldn't tell if this was the present. The strange feeling faded and Ali turned back to normal in a blink. She stared at him with a curious gape briefly until she shook herself. He didn't seem to want to make eye contact with her anymore as he asked her a question.

With a small yawn and a stretch she replied, "Good morning mysterious kidnapper." She gave him a toothy smile to show she was only teasing and then leaned over slightly, her own pale white hair falling in front of her face as she looked around the alley they had descended into. "I suppose I could eat..." Promptly, her stomach protested, and she blushed, "a lot."

Looking down at her own appearance she shrugged. "You'd be surprised by how many people don't know what the Oracle looks like. Most of the general populace has never seen me. I'm usually kept away and out of sight." She stuck out her tongue in emphasis of her distaste for being treated with such fragility. "I think i'll be just fine as I am."

She bounced on the balls of her feet and then began marching with gusto down the alley in a random direction. "Right then! Where are we eating?"
Brendanfp

 

[Brendanfp]

The faint aroma of damp ground and wet leaves lingered in the air. Tieve's playfulness caught Ali off guard. He found her quite interesting. Earlier on during their trip, he was second-guessing his choice bring the Oracle with him, but slowly she was putting his heart at ease. Ali let out a faint chuckle as he watched Tieve march off in the wrong direction.

"Where are you going with all that energy?" Ali snickered as he reached out and took her hand in his, pulling her along with him down the alleyway, "It's this way."

As Ali guided Tieve down the alleyway his head began to fill with errands he needed to run before leaving the capital. He also needed to assess the nature of his partnership the Oracle but he could do that over breakfast. Ali snapped back to reality as the two rounded a corner and exited the alleyway. Before the two sat a cottage style building hanging a sign that read 'The Golden Egg Tavern'.

"Oh man, you're in for a treat... trust me this place serves the best breakfast in the outer ring," Ali asserted with confidence as he dragged the Oracle into the pub, "and the best Ale," he whispered to himself.

Purize

 

[C.C.]

As the dark wood slowly creaked open, the pungent scent of death intensified tenfold. Morrigan was undeterred by the scent as she had become a custom to it over the years. Morrigan and her mother entered the large bedroom. She got the sense that Javaris was a hunter before he became ill from all the animal heads and crossbows that adorned the walls in his room. In the center of the room sat a large bed occupied by a small man. His eyes were closed and his skin was pale. Morrigan watched has the frail man took in slow shallow breathes, and next to him stood a ghost. The specter had the visage of an elderly woman. Morrigan approached the bed now standing next to the ghostly woman.

"He's your husband isn't he?" Morrigan whispered.

The woman said nothing but nodded slowly, "You can see me? Just who are you?" She said slightly shocked.

Morrigan couldn't help but grin, while slightly inappropriate she always loved the reactions of the dead, "I am Morrigan, daughter of Erebus."

The woman stared at Morrigan in disbelief, "Are you here to prolong his suffering like the other?"

Morrigan considered the question for a bit. She looked down on Jarvis the old man who was ready to die and noticed that while the soul was ready to go he was being kept alive with cleric's magic. She saw that the poor man was in pain and that bothered her profoundly. She put a hand on the man's frail chest and focused on his small whithered soul.

"I release thine soul to pass on into bliss of the void," A faint black aura emanated from her hand. The mans face relaxed, before passing on.

Morrigan looked beside her and noticed that the woman was no longer alone. The ghostly image of Jarvis stood next to his wife, both of them smiling now, "Thank you," he whispered as they both faded away.

Morrigan left out a sigh of relief as the two departed, but now came the hard part. She made her way back towards the oakwood door where Chester stood. Morrigan couldn't look the nobleman in the eyes, "Your father he has passed on, it's better that way."

Chester looked down at her with fury in his eyes as he raised his hand into the hair, "Better that way! Because of you, I have lost any chance of becoming Master of the household to my vermin of a Brother!" Chester wanted to strike the woman, however, his better judgment swayed his heart.

"Bertram!" he called and along came running the coachman, "escort this vile woman out of my presence before I do something to anger the gods."

"Of course Master Fairwing! Come ere' woman right this way to the carriage," the stubby coachman called.

Morrigan was hurt by the Nobleman's words, but she had expected no less. She followed Bertram to the entrance of the manor and towards the carriages.

 

[BugDozer73]

He offered a thank you to the fairy and slipped her several copper pieces before turning back to the group. Roland looked to Verity and smiled. "Well, it looks like we made it. The big city. I am still a little shocked about deciding to come here..." He mussed his hair nervously and felt some color bloom on his cheeks. "I am glad I came." He said with more certainty, his determination regaining its grip on his heart. looking around at the city, Roland found his bearings in the direction of the guild, "astra".

"I will go collect the money from the bandit bounty. You and the others should find a place for us to stay for the night. Maybe the place Az mentioned wont be so bad. It will give us a place to stay while we begin our circle training. I will meet you guys there." He gave Verity a smile to let her know he would be back, and nodded to the others. With that, he turned and dove into the sea of people washing up against the fountain.

He walked through the crowds of people, focused on finding the guild, trying to ignore the merchants calling to him fervently. At one point, a vender reached for his blades, his own model in his hands. Roland put his hand on the hilt and glared at the man, who quickly backed off with a bowed head. As he walked he thought about the sword on his back. Greuwn had said he found them with me on Konalaka island, swaddled on the sands in blue and green silk drapes. Every time Roland had drawn them, they had felt like they were a part of him, almost like they had his own heart beat thrumming through them. They were light, and strong, and he could tell they had a power to them, of which he had no comprehension of. Perhaps in time, there ability would be revealed to him.

He became so lost in his thoughts that it came as a total shock when he looked up and found himself stairing into an empty building, abandoned. Most of the crowds had vanished, save for a few children skittering by and a man sweeping the street. He was old, and frail, his grey beard as wispy as the locks on his head.

"Excuse me.. can you tell me where I am?" The older man looked over at Roland and leaned forward as if to get a better look at him.

" 'rom out a town, eyy? Heh heh heh, well 'ats alrigh. 'ees 'eer is da ol' guild build'n. Went outta buissssness bout 8 months a-goo. Now, 'ome times so people 'oo don got noweer eelse to go use it as a som kinda hotel for da evenin's." He was hard to understand, his voice whistling through his remaining 3 teeth, but Roland got the gist.

"Really? How'd it go down?"

" weeel, that ot'er guild, astra, 'as been sukin up a lot of dem buinesses. Lot o' thugs, that 'uild is, I think.. Sum people's don't lik how aggresv 'ey can bee."

Roland listened to the man speak and turned back to the building, a wondrous look in his eyes. The place was old, sure, but sturdy and beautiful. With some work....

"How much do you think a place like this goes for?"

When he got no response, he turned around to find he was alone in the street, with no old man to be found. Roland turned around a few times, but saw no trace of the man anywhere, or of his departure, besides the curious scent of salt breeze now drifting through the air. Roland looked back at the old building and wondered.

Focus.. Roland shook his head and turned away from the building, making a silent promise to return later. Before he left, however, he began to feel a tingle in his gut, like his entire core was being shook by an intense force of mana. Roland felt a profound draw to a force of power, tugging at him, and it took some focus to keep moving and not follow the scent of mana.

30 minutes later, Roland finally found himself in front of the Astra guild hall. It was larger than the small town guilds, and the "adventurers" posted outside, conversing and looking over people who passes, seemed much more thuggish, much to the description of the old man. Unwaveringly, he strode past the bandit looking adventurers and into the guild, looking around for the bounty distributor.

 

[Zazz]

The Sultry Pearl looked quite ordinary on the outside; it seemed to be a well-established tavern in an okay neighbourhood, surrounded by everyday businesses. A sign hung from the door with its name, underlined by the sultry silhouette of a woman lounging about holding a pearl in the palm of her hand.

Azaria pushed open the door and went past the ale drinkers, slipping through the bead curtain to the room beyond. Music filled the air, though not too loud; just enough to create an ambience. A familiar face turned at her arrival and smiled. Azaria opened her arms as the scantily clad woman excused herself and approached the rogue, her open skirt flowing after her like a silky desert whisper. The horned fairy fit comfortably in the rogue's arms and held her around her waist as Azaria's fingers ran through her red hair.

"I missed you," said the redhead softly, nuzzling Azaria's cheek. She giggled. "You could use a bath. You smell like roasted venison." The rogue snorted and let herself be led up the stairs to the fairy's quarters.

Later, Azaria lounged in the second room, watching the fairy go about her business. She fiddled with the saldalwood dagger Pyrrhus had given her, carefully carving out a small hole to put it on a cord. A bowl of cranberries sat on the low table in front of her, next to a rosey drink.

 

[SilverFlight]

While Roland made his way to collect the bounty they had earned Pyrrhus turned his attention to the direction Azaria had gone.
"Right, I suppose we had better see about this 'Sultry Pearl'." Pyrrhus stepped forward, leading the way through the thin crowds, creating a path for the others as most people who saw him coming got out of the way.
It did not take him long to track down the modest establishment. Anyone he asked in the seedier parts of the city thought twice about mugging a centaur, most gave him straight answers.
"How charming." Pyrrhus said without the slightest hint of sarcasm. He genuinely meant it.
The doorway was only slightly wider than the pub in Meletus had been but Pyrrhus managed. The music faltered as he stopped in the hall, but a bright smile from the centaur reassured the player he was not here for the 'usual' package.
"I was given the name by a friend, I believe she is here now, a dark-haired halfling, bit broody but a charming smile."
One of the girls stood to answer him, a thin but pretty thing, who seemed unsure of the massive centaur now standing in her foyer.
"Do you do massages?" Pyrrhus began hopefully, "because I would really love a shoulder and back massage, and I suppose I'll take your ah, largest room."
A second girl rose to help, but a rough hand dragged her back onto the couch where she had been sitting.
"Not you. Get someone else to deal with the mule."
If the man had only called Pyrrhus a mule he would not have batted an eyelid, insulting as it was. The girl tried to stifle a cry of pain when she was grabbed however and Pyrrhus' expression turned grim.
"Unhand the lady, sir." The room suddenly went quiet. than man, didn't comply. Pyrrhus stepped up to him, not looking particularly intimidating as he had to bend down so as not to hit his head on the ceiling.
"I will not ask you again." He said, his voice dangerously quiet.
In the next moment a grubby man was heaved out of the door by the seat of his pants. He hit a muddy rut in the road with a screaming curse. Pyrrhus took the money for his unpaid services and tossed his wallet in his face.
"You're not coming back here." Pyrrhus said firmly, "or next time, I will not just toss you out."
The man whirled, but something in Pyrrhus' eyes made him stagger back. He nodded and fled.
Pyrrhus apologized for the commotion and handed them the coin, but the girls seemed all too relieved to see the reprobate gone. Apparently he had not been a model customer.
Pyrrhus was asked to wait in the hall while his room was prepared, a few other girls looked expectantly at the door and Pyrrhus' companions.

Zazz Purize Melon Bomb

 

[Zazz]

The redheaded fairy glanced at the centaur in the hall curiously. She recalled Azaria mentioning an ensemble of adventurers - not her exact words - that may come to stay the night. Her soft face lit up with a smile as she approached them, a tray of curious little snacks on a silver tray. "Oh, you must be Azaria's companions. Come in, have a seat wherever you like."

 

[SilverFlight]

Pyrrhus gave the young fairy a bright smile. He looked about the room at the luxurious couches, finely upholstered and...very delicate.
"Thank you um, I think I'll stand." He did however try one of the little snacks, taking a tiny strawberry-topped cake between to of his large fingers and popping it into his mouth.
"That is...absolutely divine! Are there any more like that?"
Pyrrhus moved a little to the side and sat his equine haunches on the floor, trying his best to be out of the way.
Zazz

 

[Melon Bomb]

Several minutes ago. . .

Charlotte slammed open the guild doors, making a beeline for the stairs with a forceful stride. Idling mercenaries with drinks looked at her incredulously before awkwardly shuffling to form a path, exchanging confused glances as they felt the wind from her rushing past. From the rows of tables filling in on their lunch, a nervous young man in emerald green armor quickly stood to his feet and attempted to intercept her.

"Mrs. Capela, there's something that-"

"Don't talk to me," Charlotte cut him off, shoving an open palm in his face. "I'll be with you in a few minutes." The man's eyes followed the woman up the stairs, frowning as he shook his head and turned back to his crew at the table. He swept his hands through his hair, wondering how he could deliver the news without admitting his own failure. The man next to him gave him a hearty pat on the back, silently reassuring him that things would be alright.

Keeping her word, the guild master reappeared at the top of the stairs a few minutes later, this time descending with less. . . carelessness. A black halter dress hugged around her waist and lightly fanned out below, dropping to her ankles. No heels though, she hated the damn things. As she climbed down she gestured the young man to her again, this time with a friendlier smile.

"Okay. Sorry about that, lay it on me Nidora," she said, standing at the base of the stairs with her hand resting on the knob of the polished banister.

"Prefect Winter came in the other day," he started, making sure not to break eye contact as he spoke. "It's about the reserve team we sent with him last week. . . they, uh. . . deserted."

"You told me you had them under control," she said coldly, narrowing her eyes.

"I-I thought I did!" Nidora sputtered, grasping for words he could defend himself with. "They were behaving perfectly fine, we did all the necessary training and regulation drills-"

"Right. That's fine, things happen," Charlotte sighed with a wave of her hand, dismissing him knowing fully well that nothing productive would come of his fumbling. "So what's the verdict? Are we in trouble or not?"

"We're not sure yet," he admitted, sheepishly letting his gaze drop to the floor. But only for a second. "They're still reviewing the incident. Do you want me to. . . ?"

"Don't worry about it, I will talk with Winter. Find Daina and tell her we're going to hold an emergency guild meeting in an hour."

"Yes ma'am." Nidora saluted, hurrying up the stairway. Charlotte wasted no time in making headway toward the east wing when something caught the corner of her eye. The doors creaked wide open, and who came strolling in but the mysterious seafaring bladesman himself. What was he doing here, anyway? Was he looking for. . .

Then, it clicked.

Oh. Right, someone probably posted the bounty to our guild. Shouldn't have been that hard to guess.

Charlotte called to Roland with a smile. "Well! Fancy meeting you here. We're a little busy today, but if there's anything you need feel free to ask." Turning slightly, she snapped her fingers to somebody standing by the guild board and pointed to the counter. "Bounty nine, chop chop!" With a nod, the girl returned shortly with a sack of gold, awaiting further instruction. "The poster isn't here right now, but the next time he comes in I'll let him know it's been taken care of." With a nod, the girl handed Roland the money with a blush, struggling to avert her gaze.

 

[Purize]

*~~~Oo Verity oO~~~*​

Verity smiled and nodded to Roland as he went off to collect the bounty. Then, with a shrug of indifference, she followed Pyrrhus and the others to go to the Sultry Pearl. It even sounded shady, but she might as well go. It was probably cheaper than most of the inns she'd been to in Aeredale.

When they got there she tilted her head, it looked somewhat normal from the outside, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. Once inside, she looked around like a curious wide-eyed child in a museum. Seeing some of the...er.... concubines... did make her a little uneasy, however and she shuffled behind Kezine. She watched as Pyrrhus got upset at a rude patron and practically chucked the man out into the streets, Verity couldn't help but chuckle quietly as the scene before her.

A fae woman with red hair smiled at them and offered them a seat, and after a moments hesitation, Verity obliged, nodding at the lady kindly. Sometimes the elven princess surprised herself at the strange situations she often got herself in. Staying at a brothel though... was rather high on the list of the strangest things she'd ever done. No doubt, her little group wasn't their usual type of clientele. She crossed her legs and folded her hands into her lap. It was essentially a tavern in here... mildly, she wondered what sort of food and drink they offered.
Melon Bomb SilverFlight Zazz

*~~~Oo Tieve oO~~~*​

The small demi-god halted mid step and turned on her heel to look at Ali, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "I knew that, I was just checking to see if you actually knew the way through the city." She nodded defiantly and crossed her arms over her chest, walking back to Ali. "Since you past the test, I trust to follow you."

They left the alley and walked along the cobble streets until they reached a quaint little cottage. It was possibly one of the most adorable little buildings Tieve had ever seen.... but then again, she lived in a library. She nodded, not letting any of her admiration leak onto her expression. "I gather you've been here before?" She walked through the doors and looked around. It was nice inside, rather matching it's cozy-looking exterior. She seated herself at a table, tucking her dress underneath her as she sat.
Brendanfp

 

[Zazz]

"Oh, yes! Of course!" The horned redhead disappeared for a moment, only to return with a larger version of the tiny strawberry cake. She set it on the low table in front of them and dragged it over a little so that Pyrrhus could reach. Satisfied, the fairy rana delicate hand along his shoulder and told him sweetly, "You just let me know if you need anything." Moving on to Verity and Kezine, she gently brushed the latter's hair from her face and played with Verity's. "Such pretty hair... What would you lovely ladies like? A drink? Some fruit... Perhaps a nice hot meal?"

Behind her came the rogue, carrying her bowl of cranberries and her drink. Azaria kissed the fairy's jaw as she passed and took a seat between Verity and Pyrrhus. She looked much more relaxed, here, than she had been for the duration of their trip. "You found them, I see."

"I did! You didn't tell me you had such beautiful friends." The fairy winked at Verity and giggled.