Take Back the Crown

I do not wish to see the eyes of a traitor, the mouth of one who cannot say anything good. When one only has reason to hate, how could they look with any sort of relish or pleasure?, she thought.


But all she said was, "I'm just nae used to it..."


That wasn't true at all, she had seen herself in the reflections of puddles and ponds and windows. And she turned away with disdain every time.


Still she lied, so as not to cause an upset, a silent martyr in the face of her self imposed tragedy.


Foxrun didn't deserve a rant, she decided.


Then Nick was stepping away and the elf felt slightly guilty.


"I'm sorry for my rudeness..." she said, "It really is a handy thing."


Her hand wiggled the mirror.


"I shall return it to you later... Thank you." She added softly, but he was already out of hearing range.


Sighing she partly turned to Foxrun.


"I could feel you earlier. Braiding it..."


Furrowed brows lifted, lightening the elf's usually sullen countenance. She didn't mind his attentions.


"Finish the whole thing if you wish. I care nae." 


@GalacticRam


@GlytchMeister
 
He curiously watched as the other man made his leave, a rather messy one at that. Only after her answer, or lack of one, however, did Foxrun even realize he had asked the wrong question and this Nick had made his retreat due to that. He simply left it at that though, accepting the topic change a bit too eagerly. "Really? You don't mind?" of course she doesn't, she just told you that, you idiot. "you certainly have plenty of hair for it." He noted, admiring the dark hue a bit more closely.


He himself had pale hair, and his mother had the brightest golden blonde hair he had ever seen. His entire family had light hair actually. And he had never really considered seeing anybody else's hair in this way would be so, refreshing?


"I'm not use to this. I usually don't get this close to people I hardly know. And most people I knew didn't have such a deep shade. Lots of brights or colors where I'm from. And some didn't even have hair in the same sense as we do." He laughed a bit at recalling some of the less tangible types of beings. "There was this one little wood fairy, he had crazy little twigs jutting from his head for hair. And he told me his cousin was connected to an ivy tree, and so she had thinly twined ivy for hair. I've always imagined different trees as little fairies now because of that guy." He then flushed momentarily "ah, I'm rambling again, forgive me." 


@GlytchMeister@OlKaJa77
 
            "You were the ones who walked right into it!" Sverrir shot back, "It's not my fault if your senses are far less superior to mine!" He joked, he couldn't help but smile. They did have a point. He even held Yaroslav at knife point without realizing who it was- the young lad he had known ever since he was just a whelp.


            "Anyway, I would like it if you all would kindly step off of the table." He added, noticing some had not yet moved. Sverrir was about to make another comment about the horses, but then noticed Bo- who had also been caught in the net trap he set, was without a weapon. He hobbled over to the tall human and with a thick accent said, "I could have sworn you had a weapon- a trusty bow, with you before you left for the canyons. Did you lose it? What on earth happened that could cause you to leave your weapon behind!? Sounds like you all had quite the adventure!"



 
​


            Ashlar snapped to reality and took a step off of the poor table, picking his boot out of a plate full of mush. He couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the dwarves dining hall. He extended a hand towards Aggie to help her down.


@Tater
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​


            Yaroslav shook his head with a grin in response to the dwarf. After which he turned to the horses, taking it upon himself to stable them. He noticed Nick had a similar idea, but mainly to avoid Oceana- unsure as to whether he would stir her ire, or have a pleasant conversation. It was hard to tell. She was a very unpredictable character.


            He walked over, taking two horses that belonged to fellow companions, knowing that his own would simply follow him. "Oi," he grunted to Nick, "Would you help me with the horses?" He asked, gesturing to Ashlar's stallion, "Take yours and Ashlar's for me, I got the rest." He started out the door, and then whistled for his trained war horses to follow who didn't hesitate.



 
​


            Hjalmar had been one of the first to step off, and was already out the door by the time Sverrir asked everyone to move. The boy, after enduring such a frustrating and fruitless discussion with the Sphinx, wanted to find solitude for awhile. There was much on his mind, not just with the mark and the Sphinx, but with his debt situation as well. He was sure his master was tired of waiting. Hjalmar hadn't paid his weekly dues either for quite some time, and he was sure the only reason Rolo hadn't contacted him was most likely because he was out of range- or never alone. He needed to come up with something fast to literally buy more time. 


            I could always steal from the dwarves... their metal is priceless to outsiders... he thought to himself. But then he shook his head, no no no, I can't do that. This is all they have, and... it really isn't all that much. He let out an exasperated sigh.


            He looked up, scanning the canyon walls for a quiet place of refuge, where his eyes finally spotted a ledge to sit on. He nimbly jumped up, pulling himself to the high place effortlessly. He removed his weapons, and fetched a whetstone from his belt bag. After the battle with the crawlers, their hard shells were sure to have made his swords dull. Sharpening them would make an excellent distraction from his insufferable loud mind.


@ anyone
​
 
Dorian had escaped the dining room as fast as he could after warning Kacel’la about her wyvern starting to go at the food, because he was sure that the elf would most likely rope him into trying to catch it.


He tried to find a quiet and secluded place to sit, but when he reached ir he saw that the canyon ledge had already been spotted by someone else.


"Is it okay if I sit here?" He asked as he walked up to Hjalmar. "You seem troubled, something on your mind?"


Garrett quickly stepped off the ruins of the table, happy that he had stepped into nothing. 


"Need any help cleaning all this up?" He asked a nearby dwarf.


@Lo Alyssa
 
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Oceana actually giggled.


"Ah tree faeries.." she sighed. "They were always playing mischief on the humans wandering about the edge of our forest." 


The huntress smiled proudly, turning a tiny fraction towards the fae braiding her hair.


"Although we elves always passed their forests with ease."


Another giggle.


"Turns out sprites appreciate yearly offerings of honeyed almond milk more than you'd think."


When Oceana turned back around, she gave a slight start.


The small mirror in her hand had drifted down without her noticing and reflected a scene that made her heart stop.


There in the small slice of what seemed another world was an image of an angular,  tattooed, elven face radiating mirth; the lips gently curved in a smile, eyes twinkling with mischief, cheeks rosy with pride and appreciation.


She nearly flew the mirror from her hand.


Her heart was hammering, palms sweating, breath shallow.


Was that really me?, she fretted.


That person had looked so carefree and beautiful. Truly that could not have been me!


She suddenly felt ashamed.


One such as me doesn't deserve to be happy, she thought.


Her face now a twisted mask of guilt and anger, she turned to Foxrun and barked,


"Could you finish it up already?"


Oceana inwardly winced at her own harshness and silently asked the blond's forgiveness.


But she had to go. To be alone. To hide from the feelings she had no place being a part of.


Once he was done she strut off, catching up with Nick and shoving the mirror into his hand.


"Many thanks." She growled. 


She then picked a direction and strode off, then jogged.


When she was sure she was out of sight she ran.


Away, away down sandy tunnels and stone corridors, Past tall wooden doors and blueprint rooms until at last she had to stop.


The huntress paused simply to breath, hands on her knees.


Then she looked up.


She was in some sort of tucked away atrium stuffed with strange desert plants growing out of clay pots, twining up metal lattices, crawling upon the stone ground.


The glass above was foggy but surely let the sunlight in and it was hot and stuffy.


She listened for anyone else among the shelves and once satisfied she was alone she unlatched her armor.


It wasn't the forest but it was better than nothing.


After unbuckling all the main plates she buckled them together to make a strange armor backpack.


And just sat there, basking in the relief of being alone.


@GalacticRam


@GlytchMeister
 
Foxrun had been taken aback by how open she was being, enjoying the small mention of her home. "Vexing people is what they love to do after all. I'm sure they let your people pass because they understood the respect you all held for the forest you all shared." Yet just as soon as she had seemed to finally get comfortable, she shut herself back in. 


In fact, his face fell to shock at how sudden of a change it was. "Uhm, alright." He stated, trying to shrug it off rather than take it personally. He hurriedly tied it off as requested, at which she wasted no time in excusing herself. His gaze followed after, very unsure of what to do now. And he was sure the alchemist held just as much confusion at her behavior. 


@OlKaJa77 @GlytchMeister
 
Bo's eyes widened and his eyebrows raised as his hand went to his back to feel where the bow and quiver should be, but where they no longer were. How in the world did he lose track of them? Sure, there were plenty of distractions, but - then he remembered what had happened. At the time, it was but a side-note in comparison to what else was happening. 


"Oh." Bo said, pausing at the realization. "You're right." He stated, craning his neck around his shoulder to give one last look, though he was sure his weapon was truly gone. "Well, uh, you see, we ended up running into those canyon crawlers. In the middle of the night, no less. And well... I guess, one of them came from behind and wrapped it's bug jaws or whatever you call them around here." He motioned around his ribs, "And I remember hearing my bow snap and crunch in half but uh, I was more focused on trying to get free. When I did, it was without my weapon. BUT! I did get out alive, thanks to Valeiah's skillful healing. So I'm alright!" He gave a cheeky smile, even though he did regret the fact that he lost his main weapon (apart from his magic, but that was something he couldn't really get rid of). "It's just my bow wasn't, I guess, hah."


@Lo Alyssa
 
            "Well, a man can't go traveling these harsh lands without a weapon now!" Sverrir scolded, "It'd be foolhardy! Why don't you come with me and I can set you up with some nice well-fashioned dwarf-make arrows, a bow and quiver as well!" He said turning on his heel without letting Bo give an answer. The old man already knew he would most definitely want a replacement.



 
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            "Nah." Hjalmar responded, not entirely sure what to say as he didn't anticipate socializing, "Just... well... I asked the Sphinx about something and she didn't give me much of an answer, that's all. I suppose I'll find the answer on my own as I would have naturally, but it's still incredibly aggravating." He admitted, swiping his blade with the whetstone, "Did you have any luck speaking with her? Or did you not have anything you wanted to ask?" He asked the farmiliar curiously. Was there something that troubled Dorian in the back of his mind? Or was he the sort of person to figure those things out on his own- or perhaps not even be bothered?



 
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            Lucas humbly bowed to the dwarves after they had crashed so rudely into their dining table. With a quick glance to his sister, he wandered away, not particularly interested in partaking in boring conversations with the elder folk as much as he respected them. There was still so much of the dwarven encampment he had yet to explore, and this was his first time in a foreign land outside of Valer. He could do without the sand though- it was getting into places where the hot desert sun wouldn't shine.


            Lucas turned a few corners in the maze of halls, some of them had ceilings, others were open sky. The walls were strewn with intricate designs and doorways. It would be so amazing to live here, he thought to himself quietly. He would probably miss his old home, if only he had memory of it. But he was just a baby when he and his sister ran away. He was a prince, but he grew up in a filthy tavern, not a noble towering castle. He didn't know the first thing about royal life, and a part of him felt glad that he didn't. Aside from his title, he was just like everyone else. An average boy living in an average house on an average street. Perhaps if he were born as somebody else, he'd have an average life as well.


            He was about to explore one of the rooms that was full of blueprints and plans for future projects, some were extremely wildish from what he had seen standing at the doorway- but before he could take a step, he heard quick footsteps behind him and whiz straight by him before he even had a chance to turn around. He caught a glimpse of the slim figure. The tattooed skin and ebony hair were a dead giveaway. It was Oceana.


            She probably wanted to be alone considering how fast she was moving and the fact she was heading in an empty direction. But Lucas didn't consider it, as he was not prone to noticing such things. Being bored, and having nothing better to do, the prince attempted following her- which was no easy task. She was much faster, and Lucas was shorter than she. But he managed to keep up, even if it were cutting it close.


            By the time he got to the room, he was panting like a dog and she had already settled down into a comfortable spot. She had even removed her armor! The boy smacked his lips, not entirely sure if he should disturb her, but his curiosity was a greater drive. The room itself was very beautiful, desert plants scattered everywhere on the floors and shelves, the sun leaking through the glass ceiling, "I wonder if the Caslte of Valer had a greenhouse such as this?" He asked aloud, though not on purpose, "I think it would be greener- and far more colorful." He added, realizing he had voiced his thoughts, "I wish I could have seen it before everything happened. To see my parents, or the city in its prime... but I suppose I can not miss something I do not know, so there's good to be found in that kind of ignorance." He took a seat on the dusty ground, staring up at the blue sky above him. It was so peaceful. No wonder Oceana chose this place to rest.

 
"U-uh. Oh! S-sure! Th-thank you very much!" Bo stuttered as Sverrir so quickly made the decision and began walking away. After a few seconds of hesitation, he followed quickly, his long legs catching him up to the dwarf in good time. He wanted to say something about how Sverrir really didn't have to, or that it was more than he could ask for, but he felt that Sverrir wasn't really about that sort of talk, and he would just end up getting told to shut up and take the gift. So he swallowed his pride - that for whatever reason he was less deserving of help or whatever (it didn't really matter) - and decided to be glad in the fact that Sverrir was so eager to help. 


"I'm really grateful. You guys do excellent metalwork. I'm sure that more than extends to your weaponry."


@Lo Alyssa
 
Oceana had been sitting for a moment before she sighed. She heard steps ringing off the stone of the hall outside the atrium.


In walked the young prince Lucas who took a seat nearby and commented on the plant life in the room.


Oceana held back a snark quip about her doubt of the success of human green thumbs and caressed a nearby desert flower. The pretty, pale yellow flower reminded her of Foxrun's hair and she winced. She would have to apologize later.


"Perhaps." She replied softly. 


She thought of her home forest and the constant ache of feeling out of place no matter where she went.


"Yes I think you're right." The huntress murmured, "It's better that you never have known what you have been missing."


Indeed, she thought, looking upon the prince with his proud nose and snowy hair. 


But sometimes it's the people themselves who influence the belonging in a place.


One day he would rule a kingdom. 


She would never rule anything at all.


Her new braid fell forward over her shoulder as she looked down at her hands. The reflection of her smiling face in the mirror flashed before her eyes.


...Some people just don't belong anywhere. 


@Lo Alyssa
 
            "Och, you flatter us." He stated, turning on a corridor and pulling a heavy set door open, "It's the earth that gives it true strength, we just give it shape." He added walking into the dark room. He flicked a switch and the room was lit up with a greenish-yellow luminance.


            It was the armory, or that's what it appeared to be with its racks of weapons and shields. The dwarf waddled over toward the far side of the room, stopping at one particular rack that had an assortment of bows on it. Dwarves had a unique identifiable design, but each weapon they forged was different from the last- never the same. Always changing, like the plates in the earth shift and crack.


            "Go ahead and take your pick!" He said proudly, gesturing to the rack that had not only bows, but quivers full of hand carven arrows as well, "They'll never fail you in battle as long as you know how to use them. Trust the steel, and you might find they work better than your last weapon of choice." He added with a wink.



 
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            Lucas looked at her with a tilted head. It sounded like she was speaking from experience, not just agreeing with him. The boy then gazed at the ground instead, playing with the sand, drawing images into it- subconsciously of what he thought his home once looked like in its glory days.


            "I..." he started thoughtfully, "I know why we're making this journey. But..." he struggled to find the words, "Why?" He said glancing up at her though he wasn't necessarily asking her specifically, "Why is Kvacht so hellbent on getting the crown? Why does he want to rule over us when he already has a kingdom of his own in Syrk? Why would someone so powerful target the smallest kingdom on the planet? Is he after power? Then why does he leave the lands beyond the sea alone? And he's already as powerful as he can be... No, I think it's something more... Why would he go through so much trouble just to open a tear between our worlds just to rule over us? Especially when we were once allies? It just... it doesn't make any sense to me the more I think about it. Not unless..." Lucas' brows furrowed, "Unless something we don't know about happened to make them that way..." He added, but at this point he was only wondering of the possibilities.

 
It was certainly a sight to see the stunned faces of the dwarves as the whirlwind of sand cleared.  One look around the room and Nameen forced her head down, in an attempt to hide her grin.  Staring down she stepped carefully out of the wreckage of the former table before raising her head again, a neutral expression back on her face.  


Realizing that she hadn't gotten the solitude she had been seeking before their sudden return, Nameen began to make her way towards the edge of the room.  While steering around some of the mess, she heard a faint thud, and turned to catch sight of the alchemist Nick with his foot in a pot of soup.  After avoiding him for the past day, the sight of him her insides twist as remembered the previous night.  She immediately veered in the opposite direction.  


Hypnotist, power, fear. 


Nameen shook her head, her urge to be alone suddenly becoming her only focus.  She set off at a brisk pace, brushing by a seemingly confused Foxrun and a handful of dwarves grumbling over the mess.  


After aimlessly turning several corners, Nameen found herself in a lone hall, the commotion she had left behind out of earshot.  After unstrapping her blade from her back, she peeled off her dusty cloak and let it fall to the floor.  She sat down on it, letting her sheathed sword sit in her lap while she ran her fingers through her short white hair.  


Hypnotist.  Since hearing him utter the word, the alchemist served as a living reminder of what Nameen had left behind.  Behind his voice she could hear others, male and female, uttering much worse things.  


Titles that she perhaps deserved. 


@/anyone 
 
Oceana was mulling over the young prince's question and swirling a bare toe in the sand.


Her loneliness and despair were a cloak upon her shoulders as she thought. Then a familiar voice echoed in her head suddenly.


'Hypnotist.' It mumbled, along with a strange amplified feeling of fear and sadness.


Her head shot up, looking around the room for Nameen but the warrior was nowhere to be found.


Strange, she pondered. Her telepathic connections were usually with animals and only spanned short distances. 


This was the first time it had happened with a human, and so far away too.


But as fast as it had happened it was over. 


Little did she know that Nameen had also experienced the instant of unified thought.


Meanwhile the elf attempted to shake off her nerves and answer Lucas' question.


She found that she could not so she shrugged and said,


"I have nae one clue, my prince."


A heavy pause.


"Sometimes people just turn cruel. Or perhaps they were never who you thought they were in the first place." The elf muttered sullenly.


@Lo Alyssa


@Rydellius
 
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Bo's eyes lit up as he looked at all of the different bows, and he gave Sverrir a few looks of disbelief, still amazed at his generosity. He let out a small "Aaaaa" of excitement, his hands brushing the many bows before he'd pick one up and look at it closely. He picked up one that caught his eye. It was a little larger than the others, but when he picked it up it felt like the perfect weight. The limbs of the bow were detailed with a beautiful carving that swirled to the ends. With a small smile, he lifted if up, resting his hand in the grip, and pulled back the on the string. As he released it, his smile grew bigger. 


"I think I like this one." He said, throwing it up slightly and catching it again. "It feels good. It pulls smoothly, and it's really quiet. I'm sure the accuracy on your bows it great too - I mean, I'm only assuming. But it'd be nice to test it out if I can. What about arrows? I'm less picky about those, as long as the point is sharp and the shaft is straight, really." 


@Lo Alyssa
 
"Even if I had something that troubled my mind enough for me to want a prompt answer, I would not ask the sphinx. I have trouble trusting people who are not family. Maybe as a criminal you can relate." Dorian shook his head. "And there's nothing that I can even ask about. What will happen  will happen, and I know that all questions  get their answers in due time." He added with a shrug. Dorian then sat quiet for a minute, thinking. He then suddenly turned his head to look straight at Hjalmar, his eyes glowing for a second like the eyes of a cat at night with a bright light directed at them; they soon turned back to normal. "You're worried about something. Is it the sphinx again, or is it something else? I might be able to help. Crow and crow and however that ancient saying goes." 


@Lo Alyssa
 
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Agitha watched the whole thing go down. Amazed by the sheer power that the beast had, she watched the muscles ripple with power and grace as it created the magic ring. Sticking close to her horse, she held it's reins, half looking towards the entrance of the pyramid expecting Pippa to run on in. He didn't. A bit of relief flowed through her and she closed her eyes, feeling the whispy magic tug at her hair and cloak. 


Sudden smells of food filled her nose and she opened her eyes, blinking in the light of the hall with slight confusion,"Oh?" looking down, she saw that she was almost stepping on a massive roasted hog. Giving a small squeal of surprise, she took Ashlar's hand daintily and hopped down off the table quickly.


"That was amazing magic; maybe when this is all over I can study under her. " her voice trailed off at the Sphinx's words of heed echoed through her head. 



This trip wasn't a skip through the meadow. People will get hurt. Some could die. Looking up to look at the rest of her friends, her heart ached a little. She only just made the friends, she didn't want to lose them so quickly. She found herself squeezing Ashlar's hand a bit too tight and released, tucking her hands close to her sides quietly.


@Lo Alyssa
 
            "Of course, of course!" Sverrir smiled gleefully at the one he had chosen, "I knew you'd pick that one from the start- each weapon, I believe, is destined to be weilded by someone's arm. This one matches your strong one perfectly!" He scooped up the matching quiver and some arrows that were waiting to be of use, "Let's head out to the training area, shall we?" He asked, shutting the light off and closing the door, quickly waddling down the hallway. When he reached outside, he turned left and headed towards the clearing visibly up ahead where the dummies and targets were set up.





            "But never without cause." The prince responded, "I know everyone seems to think so badly about the daemons- and I know I should hate them too considering all they took from me... but..." he was quiet for a moment. A deep frown spread across his face, "But a part of me just can't understand why someone would be so intent on destroying everything. What drove them to hate life itself? Perhaps it is because I am young... but I simply can not understand it." He added, though he understood that at that point he was likely not making any sense, "If anything, I feel sorry for them... it's such an empty path to follow- all these sacrifices, and for what? A pointless call." He finally said. Though admittedly he found himself hating the daemons, his feelings fluctuated from hate to pity.


            Seeing that the conversation would not go anywhere nor reach a conclusion, the young boy asked the elf another question on his mind, "Oceana?" He started, looking up at her with his bright eyes, "Do you know how Kvacht's invasion has affected your people? Regardless of the racial differences in our land, my sister has always told me that it is a rulers responsibility to hear the voices of the people over which they rule. I've only heard of the elves in stories, and I seldom see them walking about... in fact, I think you're the first I've seen... but technically, the Valerian line rules over all of Algoran which would also include your people... yet, I've not heard their perspective on Kvacht and- well, on anything really." He rambled, but hopefully made his point. He wanted to be a good prince, and perhaps an even better king someday. He was interested in hearing Oceana's thoughts and opinions on the matter- and on all other matters as well.



 
​


            Hjalmar turned away at his last question. He had his reservations, and he couldn't say that he was able to trust any of the criminals he had worked with in the past- or still working with for that matter. But the longer he thought about it, the more it seemed a good idea to confide in the familiar. "I'm in deep debt." He said bluntly, but with a sigh he further explained, "In my youth during a desperate time I got involved with someone who tricked me into an unbreakable pact- of the magical sort I'd like to emphasize. I'm not that submissive. If it were merely a promise I would have broken it long ago, or a threat, I could care less- there's nothing they can really threaten me with... I'd rather not get into why or how, but suffice to say I am more of a slave now than I am a thief." He chuckled, he just loved to boast about his career and skill, but in truth it wasn't like he had much else of a choice. "I stole and I killed more out of necessity than pure excitement, and it caught the attention of a particularly powerful entity. He's what thieves like to call the god of the shadows, whether he's a god or not, I don't know. But he's certainly as powerful as one it would seem. I don't think I know any poor sot who has ever broken free from one of his deals, and I highly doubt I'll be the first." He added, "Of course, that doesn't stop me from trying. Better to fight than to submit, at least to me."



 
​


            Ashlar squeezed her hand back before she slipped it away, "I do believe you'd say that about any powerful magical entity." Ashlar laughed, trying to distract her from whatever despairing thoughts she was thinking, "I hear our next destination is Tárfella, home to the leading Academy of the Arcane Arts. I'm sure you'll feel the same for just about any mage you come across." He laughed.


            "Our?" A voice sounded beside them. It was Svetlana, and she had her eyebrow raised at the man.


            "Ah, yes." He looked at the old woman, "I would like to join you on your journey... if you don't mind having me." He gave a slight bow to the elder.


            Svetlana shook her head lightly and chuckled in response, "I was waiting for you to say something actually. I had the slightlest feeling we wouldn't be departing any time soon." She took a step towards the door to enjoy the sunshine outside, "Welcome to the company, young Ashlar." She smiled fondly before turning to leave.


            "Well, that was easier than expected." Ashlar laughed at Aggie, "I was so sure that at least someone would object."


@Tater
​
 
  Dorian listened quietly as Hjalmar spoke, nodding along. He knew the younger thief's situation well, having been stuck in similar pacts a few times before. He decided to say just that.


"I've been under someone's heel for most of my early life. First my father, then, when I ran away, the wills of the city. When I first killed at 8, some thief guild master decided to swoop in and claim my talent for himself, train me into a good little weapon. I killed him a few years later. To escape the consequences I hopped between other teams until I was old enough to finally be seen as someone serious, all the while already pulling strings. No-one ever suspects a teen. Then all it took was some poison, some knives in backs, and a pile coin, and I was a free man." Dorian recounted. It was just the bare minimum to say to seems like he trusted Hjalmar.


"But I guess breaking away from your pact will not be as easy. All I can tell you is that the wait only makes freedom taste sweeter." He chuckled.


"As for your debt, I might just be able to help you. You would be no use to this group if your attention is often divided."


Dorian's gaze seemed to unfocus, like he was lost in his own thoughts, probably using telepathy to converse with someone. When his eyes snapped back into focus, he held out his hand, a heavy pouch landing in it. The familiar peeked in it, chuckling as he saw a collection of little oval plates, some as big as his palm, others as small as the nail of his pinky finger.


"Golden dragon scales. If whoever you owe finds the right buyer, these will be worth twice their weight in gold, if not more. If anyone asks, you stole these from a passing explorer." He said as he tossed the pouch to Hjalmar.


@Lo Alyssa
 
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Oceana continued to listen as the prince spoke. 


She blinked and a vision of her hands bathed in blood filled her eyes. She didn't bat a single eyelash and kept on staring. 


Would you feel sorry for me too, my prince? All of the hope that I have tossed away. Tasking myself with the destruction of lives, however corrupt, and craving an end to my own cursed existence...


The elf's finger twitched as if it was going to move but otherwise stayed frozen on her lap. Another sluggish blink.


Am I no better than Kvacht?


The topic suddenly shifted to questions about her people and a pang of guilty bitterness swelled in her forlorn heart.


She began in an indifferent tone.


"Elves live in clans all around Algoran but often shy from human society. Much like the dwarves here." An elegant hand rose to gesture at their surroundings.


"We differ like the pebbles in a stream bed. Wood elves, dark elves, sea elves... We are different but one."


The once noble words the clan elder had told her now dripped like a bitter bile from her lips. 


"I was present for a meeting of the clans directly after the throne was usurped but I was only 14. Things seemed prosperous on the mountain but other clans started to have problems; sacred plants dying, fish with stunted growth, raids of supply keeps. All the work of daemon minions no doubt. An overall rise in poverty and crime ensued."


A dark scowl erupted across a tattooed face.


"And then the humans started getting ideas. They kept coming too close to our village, hacking down ancient trees. They set horrible traps for rare animals."


The low voice grew thick with anger, accent emphasizing the growling quality.


"They took members of our clans as slaves."


Eyes shut tight, Oceana tried desperately to fight off the image of Kígyo's band of mercenaries as they stole off with members of her clan, all of them clad in irons.


"That's why I could never forgive Kvacht." Her rumbling murmur said.


"He started this entire mess."


@Lo Alyssa
 
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Smiling quietly to Ashlar, she nodded,"Yea Im a bit of a sucker for magic. Not sure if you could tell." her face flushed slightly and she looked towards the older woman. It took a few moments to register who she was before reaching out," AH! Miss Svetlana? If it is all possible, I would like to speak to you one on one sometime soon. Doesn't have to be now but...sometime." a shy smile flicked across her face as she stood eye to eye with the older mage. 


She could feel the magics come off the woman, making her blink quickly in surprise. 


Glancing back towards Ashlar she cleared her throat again,"The Sphinx said it was a matter that you could handle."


@Lo Alyssa
 
"Yes!" Bo nodded and eagerly followed Sverrir down the hallway with his brand new bow in hand. He didn't know where things were in their elaborate desert dwelling, but it was amazing that they had so many resources. Bo smiled as they approached the training area, and he took the quiver and arrows from Sverrir's hands so he could get geared up. With the arrows in the quiver, he slung it over his shoulder and eyed a few targets at the far end of the clearing. 


"I can't tell you how grateful I am for you and all of your friends and family being so welcoming and helpful and everything." He commented as he drew an arrow back and focused on the still target ahead. "It's actually rather uncommon... nowadays." His voice got quieter as he focused more intensely, and then with one quick release of the arrow, it propelled forward, lodging itself into the target, only narrowly missing the bulls-eye. He looked down at Sverrir with a small smile as he drew another arrow out of his quiver. 


"Looks like I've still got it." Whatever 'it' was, he didn't really know actually. If 'it' was decent bowman skills then he did have it. "It shoots quite nicely." And he aimed again, this time shooting into the bulls-eye. 


"So uh... what's your weapon of choice, Sverrir? Or do you usually stick to making them." He asked, aiming for the next target.


@Lo Alyssa
 
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As soon as no-one was looking, Kacel'la crept out of the crowded room, wandering aimlessly until she found a quiet but well-lit place to sit.


Somehow, despite the fact that she knew that she should be happy like all others, [SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Kacel’la[/SIZE] just couldn’t place a true smile on her face. Yeah, it was still bright and cheery as always, but only if you looked so far. Her mind’s whispers had grown louder, coaxed into existence by the memory of the hum of the sunstone’s power; it was just too familiar to her. She just wanted to spread her wings and fly, be free, as much as she could, for at least a short while. But she wouldn’t, as the scars and tears on the leather membrane of her wings were just a bit too fresh for her to try anything while so close to other people. She would keep them hidden.


Instead, she took out her journal and bits of charcoal to draw as Sera curled around her shoulders.


She sung along to the first tune that came to mind, trying to focus on anything but the press of sharp scales from underneath her skin. The song came a little too close to home.


 

You had your maps drawn


You had other plans


To hang your hopes on


Every road they let you down felt so wrong


So you found another way


 

Running away from her clan had been her best choice, as bad as it seemed at first.


 

You've got a big heart


The way you see the world


It got you this far


You might have some bruises


And a few of scars


But you know you're gonna be okay


 

‘Fake it ‘till you make it.’ She thought, full of irony.


 

And even though you're scared


You're stronger than you know


 

If you're lost out where the lights are blinding


Caught in all, the stars are hiding


That's when something wild calls you home, home


If you face the fear that keeps you frozen


Chase the sky into the ocean


That's when something wild calls you home, home


 

‘As if there’s home for monsters.’ Another wayward thought.


 

Sometimes the past can


Make the ground beneath you feel like a quicksand


You don't have to worry


You reach for my hand


Yeah I know you're gonna be okay


You're gonna be okay


 

‘And what if there's no hand held out?’ Her mind supplied.


 

And even if you're scared


You're stronger than you know


 

If you're lost out where the lights are blinding


Caught in all, the stars are hiding


That's when something wild calls you home, home


If you face the fear that keeps you frozen


Chase the sky into the ocean


That's when something wild calls you home, home


 

When she stopped singing, she let out a mirthless chuckle before ripping apart the page on which she had drawn. ‘Home. What a stupid daydream of mine. No abomination can ever have a home.’ She thought before she picked another page and started silently singing another, more cheerful, tune.


@ anyone
 
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"Yep, sure, yeah, let's, eh, get 'em out... And escape ourselves..."  Nick muttered as he took hold of the horses and led them out of the building, following behind the axe-wielding warrior.   Oh, what was his name again... Yar... Yaroslav?  Yaroslav led the small herd to a stable, where he, Nick, and a few dwarves all  worked to get the horses corralled and given food.


Once the animals were taken care of, Nick glanced sideways at a dwarf before looking to Yaroslav.  "Sooo... What's the financial situation?  Are we all paying for our own horses?  I noticed some dwarven tack on a lot... Of... Them..."  Nick's voice trailed off as he spotted the tattooed elf storming out of the tavern and down the street.  "Oh fer cryin' out loud."  Nick looked up at the sky, eyes squinted shut as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair before setting his hood back on his head.  "Ok, uh... Yaroslav?  Can you give me some pointers on our ragtag bunch of misfits?  I feel like I'm walking through a geyser field all the time."  He looked back again and noticed the prince going after her.  "And do we need to go after the boy to make sure he doesn't get an elven arrow in the eye socket?"


@Lo Alyssa
 
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Still sitting in the barren hall Nameen's head shot up suddenly upon hearing a foreign voice echo throughout her head.  She leapt to her feet before nearly falling against the wall as she was hit by a wave of emotion.  Feelings of conflict, anger and immense guilt clouded her mind, before disappearing again in several blinks.  


As quickly as it come the strange phenomenon had faded, leaving Nameen with alone again with only her own bitterness.  Only now, confusion had replaced some of it, pushing the haunting thoughts away for the time being.  


What in the world was that?  Nameen thought, head spinning from left to right, expecting a dwarf coming around the corner, or even one of her wandering companions.  Someone had to have been the source of the voice.  


But her one good eye caught nothing, and Nameen found herself deeply unsettled.  Even if there was an explanation for the voice, there was still the other.. experience.   If she was certain of anything, it was that those emotions hadn't been hers.  While similar in ways, they had still been foreign. Almost like another language to her.  


Suddenly feeling restless, Nameen scooped up her cloak and set off down the hall.  She made several aimless turns before rounding a last corner, only to see Kacel'la sitting as she had been, humming a tune.  


"Oh- sorry," Nameen blurted immediately, before looking down at her companion with a sudden thought.  Was it her?  


After a moment's hesitation she inquired quietly: "Were you- speaking before?  Or did someone go by here?"  


@L1d1ja @OlKaJa77 (kind of took a guess at what Nameen experienced, hope I got it somewhat right) 
 
Kacel'la's head snapped up in surprise and alarm, only for her to sigh in relief when she saw that it was only one of her teammates. She instantly poceeded to fix a slightly more convincing friendly smile upon her face before replying.


"Singing maybe, but not speaking, and no one passed by here, unless I've become blind. Is something wrong? Can I help in any way?" She asked as she stood up, Sera letting out disgruntled whistles at being jostled.


@Rydellius
 
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