Fantasy The Five Kingdoms - The Fall of Sarthenfall - Ic

[Bakuyoshi]

"Oh no what the Hell is your problem! I could've ran with it! I could've helped with the shades! I could've helped the others. I see the way you look at me sometimes!"

He was still huffing. One part of him saw the blood and immediatly wanted to stop. But his anger just didn't stop.

"You think I'm stupid! You think I am a complete waste of humanity! You only say nice things because I bet somewhere in that head like the rest of your people you are only thinking of how helping me can benefit you! You probably didn't give a damn you just threw away a weapon that could help us win against the shades! You hate me! Well guess what!?"

Cale rumaged through his pack before finding Angelos payment. Throwing it at the mercenaries feet

"Here take it! Stay with this little group! I'm done being protected! I'm done with it all! I'm done with people dying or getting hurt protecting me! For the love of god look at you. Thinking you can shoulder everything. Your bloody, your injured! Yet you refuse any help I've tried to offer! I mean nothing can hurt you, your Angelo the invincible! I want to help yet everything in this whole thing has made me nothing more then a repair guy! I'm supposed to be doing something like Azalea or Aria. Hell Aurelie has done more for you all then me!..."

Cale felt the anger slowly leave. He was left horrified. Yet what little was left still lingered on his face. Betraying everything he wanted to say. Angelo was his friend before this and now he could only look on as if he was an onlooker to his own actions. He was hurt yet he himself was letting his own grief turn into this rage. He should be helping Angelo not hurting him. But now every attempt he made to try and help was met with nothing on his bodies end.

All the prince could do was fall silent. Not even able to speak.

explosiveKitten

 

[explosiveKitten]

Angie sat there on the ground, wide eyed and shocked as Cale snapped at her, though honestly it seemed to be more self loathing than anything else. Calling himself useless while throwing in an insult to someone else in the crowd intermittently. But he wasted no time making sure she knew that he didn’t want her around.

Spoiler

Angelique, 11 years old
“Tomas, you are too hard on Angelique!”
“She is my daughter, Melissa! Whether she deserves the title or not! She should act better than some common street rat, running through our home covered in mud!”
“She’s a child, Tomas!”
“She is eleven years old! My sisters were proper ladies by the time they reached thirteen, and yet here Angelique is, roughhousing with riffraff on the street!”

The young girl sat outside her parent’s room, listening to them fight, as usual. Although, it wasn’t every day that her mother would defend Angie. Something about the big red welt on Angie’s cheek must have set her off.

“I’ll say it again, she is a CHILD. She is allowed to play-“
“Not on my watch! I should have thrown out that child when I first laid eyes on her! I was hoping that dreaded red would fade away, that something would exist that would connect me to her, but that was clearly not the case!”
“Tomas, stop it!”
“Your little stunt produced that child Melissa! I wanted to toss her to the orphanage, but YOU were desperate to keep her! I hoped I could turn her into a lady of some status, but NO! She insists on breaking my rules and defying my wishes!”

The young girl pressed her back to the door and slid down to the floor. Her arms rested on her knees. She began to cry.

They... they don’t want me.

She snapped. Not violently, but subtly. She looked up from her stunned stare and her face rose from shock to steely cold.

She finally stood up and stared Cale in the face with a cold teal eyes and a slight frown. With a huff, she looked down at the ground and shook her head before looking back up at Cale. “Well... I can take a hint. I can tell when I’m not wanted.” She added half under her breath, “Gods know that’s happened enough in my life to recognize it...”

She moved almost silently over to Trillium, reaches up with her injured arm and forced it to pull her up into the saddle. Once situated the woman in armor turned to look at Cale and remarked, “Keep your coin- I don’t take payment till my job is done.”

With that she turned Trillium to the opposite end of the tunnel and set the horse going at a slow trot, giving Cale a chance to stop her and try to apologize.

Bakuyoshi

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Dammit Cale do something!" Cale was desperately trying to think of some way to fix this. He was upset beyond belief. He honestly didn't want to admit he was wrong. They did this, but he couldn't let Angelo die from this. He only needed to convince him to stay. "Look...I'm sorry, just lost something sentimental is all. Please stay. They need you more then anything. And you'll die if you keep going with that wound. And as I said I'm sick of people dying for my own sake. Anyone could replace me if I die. I don't think I'm needed. But you... well they need you more then me." Cale stopped at that last sentence, And he was being truthful. He did not want anyone to die for his sake. He wanted to live so he could see Soris but he was willing to throw his life down for the others.

"After all I'm a bastard child. Even if I have royal blood who would want me to be king?"

explosiveKitten

 

[explosiveKitten]

“Ya see, that’s where you’re wrong.”

The horse wheeled around, beginning to walk circles around Cale, with Angie staring him down the entire time. “You’re not the expendable one. I am.” She looked at him and a long lifetime of suffering flashed behind the teal irises. “I’m always the expendable one.”

She stopped the horse briefly, staring forward for a moment before turning t let him see her whole face. Her face still steely, with an underlying look of pain.
“There is only one Cale, only one prince with as big a brain as yours. There are hundreds of mercenaries. There will always be another Angelo to replace this one.” She looked grim. This was someone who had accepted death a long time ago, and wasn’t afraid of it. “We can’t replace you, Cale. You are, frankly, one of a kind.”

“I get sentimentality, okay? I get it. This knife?” She pulled out the knife she often used for her whittling projects and mucking our Trillium’s hooves, “I got this from one of my best friends as a gift. If I lost this thing I’d probably be pretty damn sad. So I’m sorry. That does not change, however,” She narrowed her eyes and spoke lowly, “The fact that you just insulted me, to my face. You let your emotions take over your actions, and that’s something you’re going to have to deal with.” She turned the horse and took off towards the end of the tunnel.

“... I never said I was going to leave.” The young woman in armor shouted over her shoulder, “I’m just wandering off to find somewhere to deal with my wound. Come talk to me when you're ready to be amicable again.” With that, she turned back to the exit and spurred the horse, taking off to get away from prying eyes so she could tend to her bleeding shoulder in private.

Bakuyoshi

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

The next events passed in a whirl. One moment, the Shades had nearly descended upon the horse, so close she could feel the coldness of their presence like ice on the nape of her neck, her stomach twisted in fear and anticipation, preparing to be ripped from the horse, impaled, or worse. Then Wind-Cleaver had finally raced into the tunnels, a sudden pop urging him faster than ever, and Azalea dared a glance back at Raymond as the last of the cannon ran out.

Just in time to see him backflip of. A voice cried out Raymond’s name, in both anger and horror, and she realized it was hers as she watched the entrance full with fire and Raymond face the enraged Shades, turning his back to her.

Azalea choked, spinning around and trying to turn Wind-Cleaver around, but the horse was far to scared to listen as she tugged on his mane, having no reins to pull on, but the horse only urged forward, and she could only look back in horror. She was nearly about to leap off the horse, when she realized she was far too weak, and would only slow the man down, making her anger flare as she stared behind her, panic twisting her pale, grimy features.

Her heart twisted, enraged, her fingers tightening on the horses mane, trying to will Wind-Cleaver to stop, who all but didn’t, ignoring her as he raced for the survivors. Soris would not take another. Could not. There was a flurry of emotions that twisted inside her. And none was more familiar than fear as she stared through the fire, and wondered if she would ever see her friend alive again.

Xanto Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi SandraDeelightful explosiveKitten ​

 

[Xanto]

Baxter Callahan​

As soon as Baxter made his way past all the survivors, he finally came across an open space where Azalea was riding toward them. His blue eyes immediately shifted down from the princess's face to the fiery ring behind her a bit saddened to not find an additional silhouette. "Azalea . . ," Baxter shakily questioned almost coming to a halt in his footsteps, "R-Raymond?" It was all he could mutter. The only plan Bax knew was Raymond running in last and closing the gate off with fire. He knew his brother would succeed. Ray always found his own way through, but the emptiness behind Azalea made Baxter realize that the situation was probably at its worst.

Baxter furrowed his brows looking into the fire. Did his brother burn? Did Ray get pulled back by the Shades? What exactly happened? Did Ray die? "Azalea!" He exclaimed this time running toward the princess and noticing her twisted expression. Aside from the painfully obvious situation at hand, it seemed that she was in a painful condition herself. "Whoa," The rebel leader's hand ran along the horse's neck trying to calm it down. "Are you alright?" He questioned in a more stable manner. His brother's pressing issue was there though he tried to cover it up first by primarily questioning the princess's wellbeing.

Raymond Callahan​

The man's hazel eyes widened as the Shades quickly approached him. The things I get myself into. Thoughts rapidly mushed together in his mind before he swiftly turned into the monastery. Naturally, the Shades followed through the same door first then poured through the windows. Huff. Raymond panted twisting his torso while running through the halls and rooms.

SHRIEK! "GAH!" The man made a sharp turn when a Shade nearly jumped at him from one of the rooms he entered. His body tilted but the claw made contact with his skin just enough to leave three long claw marks diagonally across his left pectoral, thanks to the armor he was wearing. That thing could have easily sliced deep enough without it. "MOVE!" His teeth clenched while running forward, throwing a chair back, and slamming another door right behind him.

Finally, he was in the biggest room within the monastery. Three odd wooden sheds were positioned at the other side of the room along with barrels of alcohol around them and some pews. Raymond continued his sprint fumbling with a match from under his sleeve just before shortly hearing the door burst open. "One day you all might get me," Ray announced running onto a pew, jumping over a wet spot and lighting up the match. With that, he threw the match down once more lighting up another fire ring around the wooden sheds and catching all the pews on fire. Then he rolled down a barrel before it bursted into flames toward the Shades that tried to enter through the ring of fire. Cough. "Just hope it isn't today," The man casually smirked getting into the shed just when the barrel standing next to it blasted in flames consuming his closed shed in fire.

___

Cough. Cough. Huff. As soon as Raymond narrowly escaped to the outside world, he broke into a forceful sprint dodging the trees left and right. His wounds stung signaling that they were much deeper than he thought they were. Not only that, but his lungs were filled with smoke. However, no matter how much he wanted to stop he just couldn't. Ray knew his escape would buy him and the rest of the gang some time so all they had to do now was move fast.

Cough. Raymond pumped his legs quicker jumping over the fallen branches along the way. Every ounce of air that entered and exited his wind pipes ached. He didn't know how fast he was going, but his vision began to blur. Soon enough Raymond's hazel gaze rapidly shifted around the area testing his eye sight. No, no. Keep up, Ray. Keep-

"Oof!" Raymond muttered before hitting the ground. Thud. "W-what? Who?" He asked flustered raising his head and a brow simultaneously to view a horse. Of course he ran into a horse. It was a Raymond thing to do.

Another Raymond thing to do was not notice the woman standing right by it.

Ms. Sparrow Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 explosiveKitten SandraDeelightful

 

[Bakuyoshi]

Priscilla had been keeping to herself for a bit. The winter season was dangerous leaving her to make many stops since her escape. Her newfound horse was a needy one, always getting tired out easily and demanding food from her when it got tired. "Gods your original owner didn't feed you much. Don't worry buddy we should be close t-" Priscilla was took out of her thought process when something hit her horse causing it to start make a lot of noise. Which Priscilla did not take kindly to as she pulled out her little experiment, loading a shot in she quickly moved around her horse to face the stranger.

"OK pal, you got 50 seconds to say what your deal is. And hurry up, last guy that didn't explain tried to kill me. Let's just say you don't want to lose your head now. Now start talking and we'll see if you running into me is good or bad luck."

Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond's gaze immediately shifted over to a woman by the horse pointing her gun at him. With another cough, the injured man slowly sat himself up before casually moving a hand through his hair to knock some snow off. Most if not all humans wandering around in the North were in search of the rebellion. It was either that or they were blind agents for Shades. The latter of which rarely happened. Can never be too sure. He thought to himself wanting to save the rebellion from risky characters.

The pain surged through Raymond's chest forcing out another cough. No doubt the lady was a Lorelthian by her accent. If she traveled all the way from the south just to get here, then that meant she had to be in search for the rebellion. The man's hazel eyes moved from her face to the weapon pointed toward him. It looked like something Cale tried to explain to him before . . the armorcracker? It wasn't exact of course since Cale worked on his own; however, there could be a good chance that she worked along side him at least once.

"Shades attacked my camp. Everyone there is dead," Raymond bluntly stated standing himself up and stumbling a bit in his steps, "I suggest you ride that way." He nodded at a direction before shutting his eyes for a second or two. After opening his eyes, Ray realized that his vision was blurring up even more. It didn't help that he was feeling lightheaded as well. Not to mention that his left pectoral was bleeding and the smudges on his face easily signaled that he came from a fire. Despite it all though, the man casually smiled freely questioning, "Say, by any chance do you happen to know a Cale?"

No longer caring about the fact that she could pull the trigger ending his life there, Ray began taking a few shaky steps toward the direction he nodded at. "If ya excuse me, I got an army of Shades to outrun," He looked over his shoulder at the stranger, "You can join me or . . . ya know."

Bakuyoshi

Clyde Callahan​

The boy walked in sync with Princess Aria glancing back every so often to check where his father was. True, the princess by his side was better than any guard. However, what Clyde needed right now was his father or- "The knight!" Clyde exclaimed watching the red head ride forward past them. His small legs pushed him forward just before he called after the cool figure, "Excuse me!"

For two straight months, Clyde has been intrigued and filled with questions for the knight to answer. He had yet to be friends with an actual knight. That, and this time his father wasn't around to stop him.

explosiveKitten

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Wait did you just say... Forget it are you well enough to keep going? I can get you on the horse and we can go to the area you pointed out." Priscilla was quick to put her gun away and rushed to assist the odd man. "Gods what the hell did you do to yourself. Look if shades are chasing let me help you get away from you. This horse can get us around faster then you can imagine." Priscilla tried to explain more as she was quick to inspect all of the mans injuries. He was in a bad way alright, and all she had was a few bandages left, and those were hardly enough to fix this. "Don't worry guy I'll get you to your friends. Just uh, try and apply pressure to the wound." Priscilla offered the man assistance as best as she could. But she just hoped she could get him to those others in time.

Xanto

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

It was Baxter’s voice that caused her to turn around. The tightness in her chest crushed her insides even further at his shaky voice as she took in his expression through the spots in her vision, the sound of Raymond’s name through Baxter’s lips caused a jolt of guilt as she glanced behind her, as of expecting Raymond to jump through the flames at any moment, the emptiness filling her with something cold in its place. The movement of her turning causing jolts of pain to run through her body.

She felt Wind-Cleaver come to an abrupt halt as Baxter tried to calm the thrashing horse. Every part of her body screamed in agony as she shakily slid off her horse, sending a fresh wave of dizziness through her, her vision spinning as her feet hit the ground, the adrenaline leaving her body and leaving pain in its wake.

She’d barely registered Baxter’s question, trying to shake away the dizziness, Azalea squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, supporting herself with one arm on the tunnel wall, her other hand pressed to her temple as she sorted through the events of the night, squeezing back the tears and letting anger take its place.

Azalea choked, angrily wiping away any stray tears as she turned to Baxter, her tone laced with anger and grief, “He jumped off the horse and closed himself off outside the tunnel...” she pushed her hands into her eyes and breathed in, trying to control her anger and her diminishing strength.

“He took my sisters...” Azalea croaked out, her voice harsh and cold and vengeful, hoarse from all the activity, “He took our parents, he took your lover,” Azalea glanced at Aria for this, her anger growing with each word, “And now—Raymond...he’s—he—“

Azalea whipped around and punched the stone walls of the tunnel, the noise reverberating through the tunnel. The pain nearly sent her to her knees. But she gritted her teeth and hit through. At least it didn’t hurt as nearly as much as her insides.

“Lea...” Aria started, whom looked as if she’d seen her fair share of the battle for the evening and took a couple steps forward.

“Don’t.” Azalea snapped loudly, her vision spinning and she squeezed her eyes shut to steady herself“How many?!” She shouted, “how many have to die because of him?!” Azalea tried to steady her heavy breathing, pressing her hands into her eyes to stop. To stop the spinning. And the pain. And the voices. And the insanity. And the dreams and the death. So much death.

Azalea opened her eyes.

Soris stood the tunnel wall opposite of her, his apathetic face watching her with amusement, his black eyes bore into her broken features with curiosity, cutting a black outline against the tunnel.

Azalea blinked and he was gone. Unnoticed. A hallucination. She slumped back against the wall. Defeated and angry at their loss and defeat. Her heart a touch colder at the loss of another friend.


Xanto Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 explosiveKitten
SandraDeelightful
​

 

[explosiveKitten]

Alex looked up from all the drama between the newly revealed Prince Cale and his bodyguard, then over to Azalea who gave some kind of wail of mourning. Things were just falling apart. And he didn’t even have anything to do with it!

The poor, confused young man looked around at all the commotion. Then he glanced over at Bax and Azale and remarked, “You know, I don’t really know much about you guys, but I know Ray well enough. He’s crafty, and kinda magical. He’ll be fine, I’m sure. Don’t give up on him just yet.” That being said, the pale man turned towards the end of the tunnel and asked, “So... we’re here now. Where do we go next?”

_______

Angie heard someone shouting at her, and turned to look over her shoulder, to find Baxter’s son Clyde running after her.
Oh... Now is not the time, Clyde.
Be gracious, now. Her mother's voice chided in her head, causing Angie to close her eyes and sigh. Of course, during all this, her mind just goes back to the “ladylike” lessons her mother taught her her all those years ago. Well guess what, mother? I don’t need really those lessons anymore!

She considered just continuing forward but opted to slow down and let the kid speak.

“Yes, Clyde? What is it?”

Ms. Sparrow Xanto

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"He'll keep taking until we end him. So long as he draws breath people will die. Nothing more complicated then that." Cale had no emotion in his voice. It was more so him stating a fact. "If we allow this to drag us down then we are not ready for this." Cale was surprised at his own words yet in his head he was speaking the truth. 'That's right, we've all lost people. This should have been made obvious in my head a lot earlier." But as he looked back to Azalea he felt a tinge of guilt "But by the gods we can try to limit our losses. I... no we have to stop him. If we don't more people will die Az. I know it may sound cruel but for Raymonds sake we have to get moving. That undead bastard isn't going to stop because we feel bad. To him our loved ones were just the beginning. And I don't know about you but I don't buy he's invincible. Everything has weakness, we just have to find it."

Ms. Sparrow Xanto Blackrose7 SandraDeelightful

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Before Raymond could take another step, the woman hid her armorcracker look-alike and nearly jumped to his assistance. What were the chances? Didn't she just threaten to kill him a few moments ago? Despite the too good to be true scenario, Ray slowly turned his body to avoid sudden aches and faced the stranger when she suggested for them to travel by horse. More than enough pain surged through his body particularly when she suddenly inspected his injuries. He tried keeping the grimaces to a minimum though to divert their attention from his wounds to what he thought was a more timely matter.

Typically Raymond rarely accepted offers, but that day as a whole was an exception. So he nodded at the invitation knowing that the castle was at an understandable distance. There wasn't any doubt they would be able to catch up to the rest of the group by horse.

His curious mind still craved to validate of her character before bringing her to the group, but he figured that he knew the basis already. Besides if they reached the castle then one of the rebel leaders would screen her anyway. "Thank you," Ray shakily lifted himself onto the horse's back. "What's good luck like you doing out here?" He asked obediently pressing his right hand across the wounds on his left pectoral. It obviously wasn't that effective, but he knew that that he'd get the right materials once they reached the location.

"Raymond by the way," His left hand extended for an introduction that he hoped was brief. There was a light headed feeling that made him feel like he would fall off at any moment. "If we ride toward that direction and we should see a snowed in castle tucked away at the corner of our eyes," He added nodding at the direction he gestured toward earlier.

Baxter Callahan​

Baxter's blue gaze watched Azalea as she went over to the tunnel wall and wiped a few tears away. It didn't take long for him to furrow his brows in disbelief when she followed up with an explanation about his brother closing himself out. Either the younger Callahan had a plan or there really was no other way but to self sacrifice. It was a thought that stung the rebel leader's throat and made it harder for him to swallow.

Soon enough, Azalea began listing some of the group's significant losses. Baxter looked away though avoiding eye contact with anyone else around them once she stated Raymond's name. Thud. The odd sound prompted the rebel leader to shift his focus back toward the princess who just punched the wall. Aria tried calming her, but Azalea just kept at it. Usually Bax derailed her from snapping or at least discouraged it whenever it happened. This time was different though. It was understandable for anyone to break in times like these. They just had to continue keeping their mission straight in the midst of it all.

Fired up expressions like those were often followed by short silences. Baxter shifted his eyes back to Azalea a bit softer than usual noticing her slumping against the wall and reaching that point.

Then Alex piped up. It was as if the thin guy knew the small string of hope Baxter had for Raymond's survival that he tried to hide away. In truth, Raymond was too unpredictable. Baxter didn't want to raise any hopes up though. The best thing they could do now to justify Ray's probably death was to carry on and survive. He would save the mourning for . . later. Bax merely nodded at Alex's optimism even if he didn't know what to believe. Not once did Bax let uncertainty show through his face though during it all. It was oddly calm. However, a deep look into his eyes and anyone could see that he was pretty sad. From the surface, he managed to pass it off as somewhat empathetic. It was a side he barely shown.

"Lose the battle to win the war," Baxter looked at Azalea recalling what Ray declared in defeat whenever he lost against Bax in a game. After a few more steps they entered a dark stone room that was soon lit up by a few of the rebel leaders who were familiar with the escape route. Alex naturally spoke up again after keeping his silence for a few brief moments. "There is only one way to go if we are all the way down," He stated walking onto an inclined plane. They were just below the frozen-over garden which had secret doors probably blocked by some snow. Once Baxter reached the top of the incline, he looked behind him signaling for others to back away before pulling the secret door and stepping aside, "Up and out."

A bunch of snow fell in, but easily cleared their way out.

Clyde Callahan​

"Are you alright?" The boy asked with a fading smile once he noted the knight's bleeding shoulder. He was no stranger to deep wounds especially since his father would sometimes come back with a few injuries from missions. Poof. The sound of snow falling through the door from the other side of the ceiling caught Clyde's attention. "Your wound could get frozen," Clyde looked back at Angelo removing his overcoat before taking his vest off. From what he heard, they were already at their location. A little chilliness for him wouldn't be too bad. The boy wasn't so sure about Angelo's wound though. After a few brief moments, Clyde wore his overcoat once more and held his small vest out to Angelo. "It is not much, but I hope it helps," He said looking up at the knight.

The kid kept walking waiting for Angelo's response until he heard Cale's words. "What's a bastard?" He questioned to no one in particular. Of course by this time, Baxter was already in the snow surveying the area before signaling the rest to follow.

Eventually his father gave the signal allowing the rest of the group to enter the abandoned castle grounds and breathe in the cold air once again.


Ms. Sparrow Bakuyoshi explosiveKitten Blackrose7 SandraDeelightful

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Oh you know the usual. Thought it was lovely weather for a nice stroll. Is what I would say if not for the fact that I have ran from so many things. Do you have any idea what is going down back in Lorelthia? I'll tell ya your leaders may not like it one bit. Don't know about the others but every noble is kissing the shades asses. 'Down with the royal families!' they say." She kept on yapping, but unlike Cale this was someone who needed all of this out. Every bit of anger was pronounced in her stories of the corrupt nobility. Her escape from her country, the fact she was living on vegetables for the whole ride up.

"And to abridge it. The shades are not the only issue you gotta deal with now. And the fact that I learned how easy it is to manipulate Ezerian bandits!" She ended it as the horse jumped over a fallen tree. "Oh also when we get there I have questions for you when you are better and not potentially ready to die." She paused before speaking back up. "Names Priscilla."

Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond blinked in silence a couple of times smoothly moving his extended hand around the woman's waist once she got onto the horse. He casually made it seem as if that was his intention to do so rather than shake her hand, which she almost unknowingly overlooked. Maybe she wasn't accustomed to shaking hands? Wow, she talks a lot. The man thought to himself listening to his new acquaintance vent about Shades and nobles. Regardless, Ray made it a point to nod in understanding as well as pay attention to her words.

Hm, reminds me of Azalea. He absentmindedly thought soon predicting that the princess would unleash some sort of fury if he did make it back alive. Every so often Raymond would shut his eyes to keep his vision from blurring up further and retain his balance on the horse. He would also clench his chest in pain or cough away from the stranger whenever he felt the smoke in his lungs clash with the chilly outside air.

"Ha, I'll be the determinant of that," Raymond weakly replied in response to the stranger's Ezerian bandit manipulation confession as he tightened his grip around her when the horse jumped over a fallen log. Once the horse roughly landed back on the ground, he loosened his arm around the woman. "Priscilla if I were you, I'd ask the questions now," He mumbled unintentionally resting his chin onto her shoulder, "Not sure if I can make it." Honestly, his vision was starting to get discolored. At this point Ray could have sworn that he was about to pass away or collapse . . . which, he did.

Thud. His body sounded against the snow immediately after his grip loosened from Priscilla. The man had fallen into a state of unconsciousness. Fortunately, the snowy castle could already be seen at the distance they were at.

Bakuyoshi Ms. Sparrow NinjaGirlGamer

 

[explosiveKitten]

Angie sighed and with her good arm, reached over and pulled Clyde up onto the horse, settling Trillium into a casual trot.
“I’m fine, Clyde, really. Don’t worry about me.”
She glanced over at the kid after he offered her his little vest and pushed the little thing back into his arms. “Honestly, Clyde. I’ll be fine. Worry about yourself.”

She continued in silence for a while, ignoring the throbbing, aching shoulder she had until she heard another question fall from Clyde that put her immediately on edge.
Is it even my place to answer that? Would Baxter even want me to answer that? Should I ignore it? ... ehhhh.

“... well, the word is often used when referring to a child of unwed parents.” She stated, glancing back over her shoulder at Clyde, “Because in this day and age it is just plain blasphemous to be as such even though you didn’t have a choice in the matter. For example, I am one.” She looked forward again and set the pace of the horse a little faster. “But that’s just between you and me, hm?”

“The term is also used as a derrogative, or an insult. Not that that should be a surprise, given how it’s commonly used today. Because being born of unwed parents is such a taboo, people use the term ‘bastard’ to imply someone is lesser than another simply by the circumstances of their birth, which is the furthest thing from the truth. Either way, it’s a a bad word and I don’t think your father would appreciate you repeating it, so let’s not, hmm?”

She narrowed her eyes as they entered the snowy castle grounds, her eyes straining against the light bouncing off the snow, stinging her retinas as they adjusted.

Cold and snowy, she thought with a scowl, pulling her cape over her injured shoulder to at least somewhat shield it from the elements. Wonderful.

Xanto

Alex watched as Bax only nodded at his hopeful encouragement, before wandering off towards the opposite end of the tunnel. Alex watched him go, briefly, before turning to look at Azalea.

The normally fiery princess looked broken, slumping against the wall, curled in on herself like a wilted, dried up flower. It was sad. Alex didn’t like sad. He sought to change that.

Slowly, he approached the wilted princess like someone would approach a scared wild animal. He himself was scared of what Azalea might do when he reached out to her, but godsdamnit! He just... he wanted to help. And he couldn’t think of any better way to help than to offer encouragement.

Carefully, the pale man reached out to Azalea, offering a hand but not going in to touch her, not just yet.
“I uh... I don’t claim to know what you’re feeling right now, but... I... I’m... I think that... it must hurt to lose people you love, especially with all of this stuff that’s going on.” He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, glancing off to the side, “I don’t remember anything about where I come from, or who my family may have been. If they’re even alive right now. And I don’t know anything about your family, but I’m almost certain that anyone’s family wouldn’t want them to just shut down when tragedy strikes. Like I said, I’m sure Raymond is fine, but if he isn’t, he wouldn’t want us to sit here and mope about it. So... come on princess. Please? We should get out of the cold.” He offered his hand again with a sympathetic look on his face.

Ms. Sparrow

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Azalea nodded, taking everyone’s words to heart. Yes, Raymond was...unexplainable, she smiling slightly at the thought, but how far could his luck run? Her smile diminished at the thought as she focused on Baxter’s features, recognizing a vulnerable side of him she hadn’t seen before.

She’d seen that own expression on her face once, when she found out her siblings were gone. Baxter was good at hiding it, oh yes, but his eyes were a window. All eyes were windows to everybody’s soul. It was a lesson Ana had told her. And she’d never forgotten it.

She tore her guilty gaze away from Baxter. As a stranger, a young man she didn’t recognize approach her. She stared him with narrowed as he spoke, not wanting his sympathy or pity and opened her mouth to tell him so until his words hit home. She didn’t know who he was. But he was right. She had people to avenge after all. A very, very big kill list.

Stubborn in her ways, Azalea pushed herself up herself, refusing the hand, knowing she’d hate herself even further if she started relying on others to help her get off the floor, not wanting to wound her pride further.

“Well,” Azalea said weakly, feigning a smirk as she supported herself on the tunnel wall, “if he is alive, I’ll kill him myself, Raymond, the great idiot, scaring the tonsils out fo everyone like that.” She said wryly, to the optimistic stranger, scowling the slightest with a smile, trying to add humor in a dark situation as she usually did when she wasn’t in a bad mood herself. But no humor could replace the dull ache in her chest, the ache that told her it was unlikely she’d ever see Raymond again.

Somehow it was the weasel, Cale’s words that kept her moving, his words sticking in her mind long after they were spoken, moving slowly through the pain. Azalea knew he was right, though she hated it had to be him of course. There wasn’t a time to be weak now. She had people to kill after-all And Soris did have a weakness. But one that wasn’t optional. She wouldn’t tell them...not yet. Not until she found another way. There had to be another way.

She’d been angry at Cale. For keeping secrets. How could he not tell them? But what right did she have to be angry? She’d kept so much from them, was still sleeping so much from them. She’d tell them more. When they had a moment.

Azalea, with great effort and pain, made her way up the incline and into the abandoned castle grounds, welcoming the fresh blast of cold, frigid air that hit her pale, sweat beaded face, and she fought the urge to collapse in the snow and lie there forever, her dark, rose red hair a deep contrast to the white surroundings that surrounded them.

She took it in through spotty vision, the castle sat high on the mountain, farther in the north where the sun was rare and the snow common. The castle walls were mainly intact, and the castle had a high vantage point that would see they’re enemy coming from multiple directions. It would do. It would have to do.

Azalea breathed out against the cold, blinking back her spotty vision, cursing Soris a thousand times over for whatever he did to her. She prayed she’d never have to feel this pain again. Both physically and mentally.

Something in her hardened as she looked upon the desperate people that filed unto the castle grounds. The very people that casted her now with blameful and angry glances, blaming her. For Soris. For the death of all their loved ones. For their suffering she had wrought with her mistakes.

She stared back unflinchingly, ignoring the hurt and anger their stares caused her. They knew nothing. She didn’t have to explain herself. Her stomach clenched tightly. Now, now she was vengeful. She was going to make Soris wish he’d never caught them in his web. She was going to make him pay.

explosiveKitten Xanto Bakuyoshi​

 

[Xanto]

Clyde Callahan​

Before Clyde knew it he was being pulled up onto Angelo's horse. The boy extended the arm with his vest toward the guy insisting his assistance, but found the armored man pushing it back into his arms. In which case, the boy removed his overcoat and began wearing his vest again.

Then Angelo made the endeavor to explain what bastard meant. Clyde tilted his head to the side listening to the dictionary definition the knight gave. Apparently, a bastard was a child of unwed parents. It was something the boy didn't find to be too bad. That was until Angelo continued that being such a person was blasphemous. The child looked up with green eyes at the redhead in front of him who continued to ride on into the snow just in time for his small arms to wear his overcoat again.

When Clyde learned that Angelo was born out of wedlock he almost smiled. Note the word "almost". Of course what stopped him was that bastard was a bad word. "But that's just between you and me, hm?" The kid quoted Angelo's earlier words putting his hand on top of the knight's cape to guard the man's wound from the cold. Hopefully word of him saying bastard wouldn't reach his father at all.

After hearing a few somewhat silenced horse trots, Clyde casually mentioned, "Don't worry, I'm one too."

Baxter Callahan​

Baxter was at the front of the line leading the group to the castle's backdoor entrance into the hall. Click. Click. Thud. With a few twists of a key and a kick to the back double doors, the rebel leader was able to open up the abandoned castle and welcome the rest of the survivors in. "Welcome to our new abode," He stated as warmly as possible before stepping aside to hold one of the doors open for all to enter. It was a challenge to keep such a composed demeanor since his brother could have possibly died within the time it took to get there.

It didn't take long for the leader to kick his mind into gear and push the mournful thoughts till later though. "Those who are injured head over to any of the rooms in the right wing. If you require immediate medical attention stay in the throne room," Baxter firmly ordered nodding at some survivors. The abandoned castle wasn't completely barren of resources. After each monthly collection back at the camp, the leader made it a recurring goal to allocate 10% of all obtained resources of the camp into the castle for emergencies. His safety precautions weren't a waste after all.

"Everyone lodge with or around the groups you arrived in. Your presence will be recorded in updated rosters tonight," Baxter continued as more people flowed into the castle, "Salvaged supplies are to be placed in the storage rooms. Individual duties will resume as soon as possible if applicable to this setting. Otherwise, see me or Princess Aria for updated tasks." His firm gaze landed on the group of royals and their company most likely inwardly struggling to find reason for everything, "Royals and the rest of the group that came with them, head to the throne room for immediate attention."

Ms. Sparrow Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 explosiveKitten SandraDeelightful

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

A bird was flying through the air, past some trees, dashing through leaves. It landed on a small branch while scratching it’s peak with its claw. Footsteps are heard faintly from a distance than get louder and louder. A man rushes by which causes the bird to fly away scared.


The man was running in the woods, trying not to fall in the snow. Jumping over rocks and logs while seeming to be in a hurry or in a chase. The man huffed and huffed clearly he was out of breath running from something. He looked back making him stop when he didn’t see anything in sight. This caused a bit of relief in him, however something moved in the bushes. The man turned in response “Who’s there!” The man shouted in a panic. Unsheathing his sword he circles around trying to observe his surroundings. Something rattled in the bushes again. He decided to grab a snowy rock and throw into the bushes. The rattling stopped and the environment grew quiet.


Before he could react to anything, a kick to the head jerks him to the ground hard. Blood dripping from his mouth, two hands pull him up making him stand. A woman’s blue eyes pierces through him like a predator. The man grew cold and froze up in fear.


“Where are the rest of the men?” The voice from the woman broke the silence in the woods. “I...I don’t know” The man could barely talk. The woman throws him down into the snow “I’m not gonna ask twice” An arrow wisps by the woman’s face drawing a small cut on her cheek. Shouts of men were heard just a feet ahead in turn made the woman smile. Waiting for the attackers to come, the first one with a spear charges forward. In a flash gets a boot to the face. Another one with a sword swinging head on. The woman grabs the man’s wrist and breaks it doesn’t see the third coming and receives a punch to the jaw. Catching her off balance, this made her mad. Two men were ready to attack. She picks up the spear from the snowy ground, breaks it in half. They both run towards her, dodging the first one then kicking the second one. Twirling her body to slash the man’s throat and driving it through the chest. His buddy dashes at her in rage, she pushes the dying friend into him causing them both to fall down. The fight was over, and the air grew still again.

The woman heard a horse from the distance. She figured she needed one because of having been days on foot, it would have been a nice break. Dropping the half broken spear, she walks towards what appears to be a man on the ground unconscious and someone with him. She at first approached with cautioned not knowing if they would rebel or not.

Xanto
Bakuyoshi

 

[Blackrose7]

Annabel and her gang were watching all the drama that has been happening, because they didn't want to get involved with that. ‘I am pretty sure that Raymond is alive. I know that he wouldn't be so easy to be taken down in a situation like that, for he would probably have a way to get out.’ thought Annabel.
She has faith in Raymond, since she didn't want the shades to kill him. Not to mention that Annabel wants her rematch against him in capture the flag, as he used a grappling hook to cheat against her.

Everybody in Demonic Velvet quietly followed the group until they arrived at the abandoned castle. “Finally, we arrived at our shelter. I thought we would not get here with all of that drama that was going on.” said Annabel. At this point, she was pretty much sick with all the yelling and hitting in their group, because they should be glad that they are alive, to begin with.
Turning her focus to Cale, Annabel went to go talk to him. “Hey Cale. Do you need to talk to someone that isn't going to yell at you for keeping secrets or for other personal things? Because I really don't want to deal with that crap.” said Annabel.
She was the only one who didn't care if Cale was a prince. For that fancy title wasn't going to get in the way with her treating him like a normal person.

As Annabel was asking Cale about that, she didn't hear his answer once Baxter said that they have to go to the throne room. ‘Oh come on. Can we get a break after what just happen?’ thought Annabel.
Daisy looks at Annabel, and just sighed from looking at her face. “I can see that you are getting pretty tired from this, Annabel. But you need to hang on for a few minutes by going to the throne room.” said Daisy.
“Let's get this over with then.” said Annabel.
Annabel and her gang went to the throne room like they were ordered to do by Baxter.
Xanto , Bakuyoshi , and everybody else.

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Twas a valiant effort Annabelle. But I don't think any of us are in the position to be keeping secrets anymore. When I am in that throne room I will present my reasons for keeping myself a secret. I bet the only person that knows my secret will back me up."
Cale waved Annabelle off as he began to make his way to the throne roof. Inside he could hardly contain himself. He was in a castle! He's always wanted to see one in person. Now if only it were not so dire a situation then this would be a magical moment for him.

Blackrose7

(Nearby) Ms. Sparrow Xanto SandraDeelightful

 

[explosiveKitten]

“Yeah... it’ll be our little secret.” She winked at Clyde briefly before the horse forward to catch up with Baxter.

After sufficiently stashing Trillium in the makeshift stables, Angie hauled Clyde off the horse and began to unpack the animal. Once done dragging what little supplies she’s managed to bring with her inside, Angie soon walked into the massive castle, out of the wind, at least. Still walking with Clyde nearby, just making sure the kid got inside without a problem.

It wasn’t big, clearly hadn’t been used in a while, but it seemed nature hadn’t quite managed to start to reclaim it yet, so it couldn’t have been too long ago, right?

She was prepared to wander off to deal with her wound, but something Cale said stopped her in her tracks. She had been walking passed him when he spoke up, to Annabel apparently.
“I bet the only person who knows my secret will back me up.”

Ohhhh, really? Now you need my help? Hohoho, not today buddy boy.

“Why?” She asked, looking at him as she walked passed, looking at him very pointedly, “You don’t need my help.” She turned and walked backwards, looking at him with her hands up in a big shrug, “I’m just a dumb mercenary, right?”

With that, she turned and kept walking, approaching Baxter. Once handing the kid off to his father, she gestured at her injury and stated vey flatly, “I’m going to go deal with this. Feel free to start without me.”

That being said, she turned and started off to the infirmary to grab some medical supplies. She’d need them, then she’d have to find somewhere secluded to strip down and wrap herself up.

Xanto Bakuyoshi

Alex looked saddened by Azalea’s stubborn dismissal of his hand. Though, he was honestly expecting to get bitchslapped by the temperamental princess, so he supposed that was a good thing.

When everything was set up and ready, he looked around at all the people rushing around and instead of sticking around to see what Baxter was discussing, he opted to wander off and see what he could help with.

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Azalea gave an exasperated sigh at Baxter’s orders, not wanting any special attention due to her title. Other than a few cuts and scraps she earned while fighting it out with a couple Shades, there was nothing the medics could do for her. It had felt as if Soris had burned her from the inside out, every movevent made increasing her agony tenfold.

No, she just needed rest. To let her body recover. The medics could do nothing, not with magically inflicted injuries such as this. But Azalea shuffled her way along to the throne room anyway, not wanting to cause Baxter any further grief. He’d just lost a brother after all. It was a miracle he was keeping it together.

Azalea entered the castle, trying to focus on not collapsing, she honed in on the details of the dark, cold castle as she walked through the Great Hall, a massive hallway that seemed to stretch forever.

The castle was a hundred years old at the least, three hundred at most, by the aging of the stone. The red carpet beneath her feet was old and eaten away by moths, and the pillars that upheld the great hall had been cracked and chipped away. Torch sconces remained unlit, and it seemed as if nothing living had been there for a long, long time.

Azalea breathed out in pain, her knees nearly bucking and her face contorting as a sharp pain in her side had her stopping for air, clutching unto a pillar for a brief moment. After a few moments she pressed on into the throne room, pushing open massive oak doors with the assistance of others, her eyebrows lifted at the sight.

It was a large, just as cold space, the room was massive as well, held up by more massive pillars that looked like they once held some great archtechtaul spiral design. The room was mainly empty, Dave fore a few old looking benches at the far ends of the walls on her left and right, and the red carpet she stood on led up the a massive throne on the far end of the room, raised up by a couple stone steps one would have to climb to get to sit on it, the old throne looked big enough to fit two of her.

The castle raised many questions. The Five certainly never held a castle, not that she knew of, Soris’s castle was her own castle back in the day...so whom did this once belong to? She’d heard or read nothing of it in her studies—not that she studied often back then, naturally.

Azalea started as an arm looked around her waist and under her arm, and she glanced to her side, surprised to find Aria guiding her to one of the pillars benches.

“You look like your about to faint.” Aria stated baldly, with a weary smile, though her gaze had her fair share of solemness as well, Azalea has no doubt her cousin was saving her grief for another time as well.

Azalea scoffed, forcing a grin on her cracked lips, “Oi, you look awful yourself.” She jokingly, her voice strained, trying to add light to their very dark situation, as she typically did when she wasn’t in a foul mood. Aria smiled slightly in response before helping Azalea to the ground.

Azalea lay back against the pillar witha sigh, waving Aria off weakly as she went to go attend her other duties the rebellion required of her. She watched people scurry about to and fro, watching the more injured get carried in and the torch sconces along the wall were lit, doing little to fend off the coldness of winter from outside.

Despite the heaviness and weariness that tugged at her eyelids, she fought to keep them open. All she could see was him. Soris leering at her. His words in her head. Reminding her that he was simply allowing her to live. Them to live. That he could kill them the moment they became a problem or stopped amusing him.

Azalea brought her hand to the now itchy scars on her cheek as Nathanial Whiteman entered the throne room, stopping at the entrance and surveying the room until his gaze landed on a now scowling Azalea.

“Your still alive. How lucky for us.” Azalea said dryly, her tone laced with sarcasm and smugness.

Nathanial fixed her with a steely gaze, “Watch your tongue, Princess.” He said harshly as he approached, his footfalls firm and stiff as he approached.

Azalea stuck out her tongue just to piss him off further, despite the voice in her head telling her she was being immature.

Azalea’s eyes narrowed as he stood in front of her, and she peered up from the floor at him. “I didn’t see you out in the field, General.” She said pointedly, fixating him a harsh yellow stare.

“I was helping civilians get to safety.” The General said with mild annoyance, though his own stare challenged hers.

“Will Aria and Baxter contest to that?” Azalea challenged in a sickly sweet tone, tilting her head witha false smile as she looked up at him.

The General kneeled down on one knee so they where nearly head to head, still much taller than herself. “Are you accusing me of something, Miss Azalea?” He asked exasperatedly, but his jaw clenched in restrained anger.

Her eyes narrowed to pinpoints. “You had men in the woods. We should’ve been warned. One should’ve made it back.” She hissed.

“Well he didn’t.” Nathanial growled, his voice low, “And you’d best keep your mouth shut on things you don’t understand, girl.”

“I think I understand enough to know you have many secrets, General.” Azalea seethed in a low voice, “And if I find out you had anything to do with today’s attack, your gonna hope Soris kills you before I do.” She said, keeping her tone low, but her anger was obvious.

“I’d watch where you throw your accusations, Princess.” He snapped. “I’m not the one who released Soris, am I?” He tone was cold, but she could recognize the mocking tone that underlaced it. “Some would wonder if you and him were...closer. He certainly seemed to take a liking to you.” Nathanial threw back in her face.

She felt like she’d been slapped. Her emotions quickly sharpened into something much darker. Quick as lighting, Azalea reached out and grabbed the collar of his jacket and yanked him closer until their faces were inches apart.

She ignored the burning pain in her scars as she whispered, “Raymond is dead. If we would’ve had more warning, many more of us would’ve made it. Including him.” She cocked her head, “isn’t that convienent?” Her tone was deadly as she continued on, a sickly sweet tone that only meant death as she said, “ If I find out—when I find out what you’ve done, and I will, I will ship you back to Soris in little peices. One. By. One.” She smiled, “And you know I will.”

Nathanial pulled out of her grasp and sneered down at her as he stood up. She didn’t care who was watching as she challenged his stare, her jaw clenched. When she saw him, all she saw was a mistake. The knowledge that Raymond could’ve lived if his men had warned him. That he held many secrets.



Nearby:

Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 Xanto SandraDeelightful ​

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Ah fuck me twenty ways to sunday!" Priscilla shouted when she heard the thud. Horseback went out the window the moment Ray went unconscious. She quickly turned her horse around. To get the man. "No chance am I going there without you." She said as she tried to get her 'friend' out of his nasty situation. The castle was in sight and she could get there before night time. Then she heard something, footsteps. The snow had given them away.

"OK if you are here to kill me at least look me in the eye!"" The lorelthian women shouted as she whirled around with her gun drawn half expecting to see a shade. But instead she saw a women. "Oh... thank god, thought you were a shade. Not sure what your problem is but say hello or something. That could get you killed if it were anyone else!"

NinjaGirlGamer Xanto

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

Ivanna seemed unfazed with the gun pointed at her. “Easy there Twinkle toes” She said while gesturing the hand. “I just want the horse. Well..Maybe not to steal but more of a borrow” Smirking, She probably could easily take this woman down. Anyone with a gun probably doesn’t have hand to hand combat training well enough.


Her eyes viewed a castle behind her, might be good enough for shelter but she needed the horse first. Seeing the unconscious man almost made her feel pity. Survival is Survival, Her hand moves towards her sword handle.

Bakuyoshi Xanto