Unsealed: Part One (RP Thread)

[Pashpu]

October 30, 2016.


Keone.


Amare Token hurried up the steps of Keone's Grand Palace, her feet aching slightly with each step. Cursing her old feet, she willed herself to reach the last flight of stairs. What she had to say today was too important to waste time for. Amare saw the two guards standing in front of the large wooden doors, and gave them a quick wave. Giving her a polite nod, they opened the doors for her. She walked in.


All four Houses were there, each adorned in their particular color of robes. They were deep in discussion at their ornate table, and sipping wine when the doors were opened. At once, they all turned to look at her, and Amare suddenly felt very small.


Valius* was the first to react. "Ms.Token," he nodded. "What brings you here?"


*the heads of the four houses prefer to be called by their House Name, rather than their actual name- it makes it seem as they are the embodiment of their House.


"Important news" said Amare. "There has been a ..situation."


"What kind?" said Casselia, giving Amare a small smile of acknowledgement.


"Humans, from Earth I. They've entered the city-?"


At once, the four House leaders erupted into a panic, talking at each other all at once. Earth I humans? in the city?


"-There have only been three of them so far," said Amare loudly, stopping the chatter. "Two younger women and a middle-aged man. They are in a room in the City Prison, in the custody of my guards." ( @Skryx, @Elephantom, @JustAlexandra)


Casselia spoke up. "This means that the portals have been opened. And more humans will certainly come."


Valius gave a sigh. "If the portals had not been hidden, none of this would have happened. Now we don't even know their locations, let alone how to reseal them."


"We can't change the past," Amare said. "But right now we need to worry about what to do with the Earth I humans. We can't just lock them up forever, for having committed no crime."


Laundor snorted. "Of course we can. Do you remember what happened the last time someone from Earth I came to Keone?"


"You weren't born at the time," Valius snapped.


Again, everyone started talking and taking jabs at each other loudly, with no discernible end-


"Enough!" shouted Halfmoon loudly. "I propose an alternate solution. We have these humans taken under the wing of individual Keoni. Each human gets assigned to a particular person. This way we can teach them our ways and our culture, while still keeping a watchful eye on them."


"I agree," said Casselia after a moment. Valius murmured his agreement as well, and Laundor gave a half-shrug.


"So then it's decided," Halfmoon said. "Amare, get started on a recruitment process for volunteers who want to become guardians of the Earth I humans. Until then, they can remain in the City Prison."


"I will do that," said Amare curtly. She gave a quick nod to each of the House leaders, and then exited the room. She wasn't quite sure what to think of Halfmoon's idea, but it was worth a try..

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
​

Later that day, outskirts of Keone.


The mother told her child to come inside. "It's too late!" she said. The sun had already set, and it was already dark outside. "Come inside!" she said.


"Almost done!" her daughter yelled back. She was busy building some structure with leaves and stones. The mother smiled, wishing she could go back to her days of childhood fantasies.


"Okay, just five more minutes." The mother closed the door and walked to the kitchen. She resumed her cooking. The bread was baking the bread to a nice crisp brown over the fire.


suddenly, a piercing scream


The mother ran outside, yelling. Where was her daughter? Widly, she looked around their small, stone house. Hadn't she been right there, playing with her leaves? The structure was abandoned. The mother looked a little further and then.... Oh god. A red sticky liquid was on the ground. Blood. Just a small pool, but blood nonetheless.


And surrounding it, a black, shadowy substance that was rapidly seeping into the grass. She had seen the sign in books, had heard of it countless times. It was unmistakable. The Ushu.


The Ushu were back.


You may now post.


(@Handabooo, @Skryx, @Elephantom, @JustAlexandra, @HighSanguinaryPriest, @CactusJuice, @RomanticDaffodil)

 

[JustAlexandra]

Bella had passed out from fear. 


How predictable. 


All she could remember was appearing suddenly in another place. Another city, it seemed. People were strange looking. It was almost like Halloween except everyone had the most impressive outfits she had ever seen. She had walked through the city, not knowing where she was going or what she was trying to accomplish. It wasn't long before someone who seemed to be a guard came up to her, asked her what she was doing. She had had no words, and that was when she fainted. 


Lovely...


Bella opened her eyes, but it was pretty much pointless. She couldn't see anything. Her room was pitch black. She sighed,"Thank god it was just a dream," she thought. She rolled over in her bed, reaching for a pillow to hug, but he hands grasped nothing except a cold, hard floor. She sat up suddenly, her eyes adjusting ever so slightly. "What the fuck?" she thought, looking around but hardly seeing anything. There was the faintest of lights coming from around a corner, but that hardly helped her. She tried to move toward the light, but something stopped her. "Bars?" Where was she? Surely she hadn't done anything illegal - she hardly did anything at all with her life in the first place. Had she fainted and was assumed to be drunk? 


That must be it. 


Bella decided she had to right the situation. Surely, they would understand, wouldn't they? She stood up slowly, a little woozy. Her hands reached out and grasped the bars, holding her up. "Hello?" she said, but there was no response. "HELLO?" she said a bit louder "I'm not a drunk! I just faint sometimes!" She realized that that wasn't very convincing, but what else was she supposed to say? 


((Sorry if that's a little sub-par in relevance to how it's written. I'm having a hard time writing good sentences right now for some reason. Hopefully you can't tell lol))

 

[boo.]

It had been just another sleepless night. Anaphe was used to it, but the harsh way of breathing above ground hurt her throat, and so kept her awake. She wished she could be under the water again, floating lazily among the sea plants and gazing up to the surface far above her. But that was not to be so. She had a mission that allowed for no distractions, especially not any under water. She needed to remain focused. 


It wasnt long after the sun poked its head above the horizon that Anaphe was out of the inn and on her way. As per usual, she combed through another part of the nearest market, finding no success in her search for the elusive Trelif root, which was the only thing that could save her mother's life. It seemed as though no one had heard of it, and that they were much more interested in the fact that an Aurian was actually there. It was true, the water-dwelling species almost never came out of the water except for business. And even then, one or two days was the longest period they would spend in the fresh air. Anaphe, on the other hand, had been here a week, and she was beginning to feel the results.


Her skin was dry and flaky, and as mentioned before, her breathing was somewhat ragged and shallow. While she was not in extreme discomfort, she knew that she would have to go underwater sometime. But the thought had not even crossed her mind that she could be putting herself in danger. Her mother was the heart of her family, and Anaphe knew that she could not be given up. She would find this root, and their life would return to normal.


But things were already changing. The word on the street was that person's from Earth I, or so it was called, had appeared yesterday. They were already in custody, but this was big news. The last time they had been here... Things hadn't gone so well. That was why a certain tension was in the air, and everyone seemed to be looking around corners and keeping away from any shady characters. 


But this gave Anaphe an idea. While it was a long shot, there was a chance that these foreigners could know something about healing. Maybe, just maybe, they knew of this disease, and could know another cure. This Trelif root had no leads, and as far as anyone knew, it was a myth. If she could become a guardian for one of these humans... Perhaps she could find something.


And so, doing something she never thought she would do, Anaphe made her way to the Grand Palace. As she walked up the many stairs, she thought of what being a guardian would include. And besides, would those humans know about Aurians? How would they react? Would they be frightened? These questions swirled in Anaphe's head as entered the building.

 

[Elephantom]

RON

Acid; it was something that Ron took, way back in the past — the experience was somewhat of a dizzying show of lights and other contemporary fireworks — but now, he felt like he might've taken some more of that acid again. The world was slowly drawing out from the hardy grasps of reality. Acid, he thought. It was hard to the tongue, a hard A.


Always a hard A. He always did like the word, yet he never thought he'd get to use it this much. He was, of course, murmuring words; expletives mostly, mixed in with the occasional Acid.


Other than the sordid subject of acid and the effects of its consumption, Ron couldn't think of anything else — anything that relates to a coherent explanation of the situation, that is. The trip was hilarious, though. From the scenic view of a tranquil ocean, to the hard surface of one really sandy ground. He could imagine it was the beach; perhaps it really was the beach. But it wasn't the beach, at least from what he was seeing at the current moment. No, it wasn't the beach. It was, more or less, a consortium of odd buildings, different to the eye, different to look at. Didn't even fit the landscape, though, it seemed befitting to its denizens. However, from Ron's sole view, it was a shit-land full of shitty people, and it was all a shitty trip that could be produced almost exclusively by only the most shittiest of acids. He tried to ask for a cigarette, but was thoughtfully denied. The very thought of his imagination denying him a cigarette was aggravating. Time passed real fast. Faster by the second.


Aside from his orgy of vulgar thoughts, Ron was also speculating on how to get back to the real world. Get back out of the acid trip. Acid trip. He silently muttered the word. He liked the word. Acid. Trip. He was drowning in and out of a massive sea of theories. His hopeless denial might've produced it, or the placebo effect of his purported usage of acid, might also have produced it. He wasn't sure. He was never really certain about anything at all.


In spite of his distractions from the present scenario which he was forced into, Ron resisted the grabby hands of the guardsmen who escorted them. Them. Indeed, there was two other men — more precisely women, as Ron seemed to recall. Nevertheless, he had to wrestle control of his precious hat away from the aforementioned grabby hands of the guardsmen, who responded only with glares of contempt. He despised handsy people, especially people who wanted control of his hat, and therefore, essentially his brain. 


What was he thinking? Even he; a methodist by heart; couldn't make sense of either the words he himself spoke, or the place he was involuntarily thrust into.


Alas, their brief journey to the cell was accomplished. Cell, Ron realized it was a cell; he looked at the bars, and the dimly room it barred access to. It was simply not the best thing he was supposed to see in his entire day. Probably, it was the worst thing he was supposed to see that day. He looked at the surroundings. Death, gloom, destruction; Motto of all emos, and the ultimate description of the place he was in. He silently chuckled.


As they entered the room, Ron noticed the more precise details. It was sub-par in terms of cleanliness. The room really needed some tidying. Ron inspected the site, before murmuring some inaudible curses.


Acid. He was now thoroughly compelled to hate acid.

 

[HighSanguinaryPriest]

Word had traveled quickly down the grapevine about the Humans of Earth I appearing in the city. This of course bothered Dorian little as he polished his exosuit. It had been a year since he sold his services to house Halfmoon. And a prosperous year it had been. Every month his salary was paid in both coin and technology. Said technology going into his armour. While inferior to the other Mechanized suits at the moment, it had earned him quite the reputation when he put down challengers. While it wasn't the most durable or carrying the most firepower, it was the most agile and strongest, and still has plenty of room for improvement.


Polishing his suit, he heard a couple of servants talking about some recruitment for guardians. People to look over these Dimensional visitors. To say he was intrigued was an understatement, as he listened in. After several minutes of listening and polishing, he decided to head to the prison. It was the end of his shift anyway, plus it would probably be in the best interest of the Halfmoon family to have one of them under their watch. Tossing the rag into a bin, Dorian donned his suit, and made his way out of the manor and into the city.


The walk was rather uneventful, and every practically knew who he was due to his armour. To say the least, it was quiet and smooth going as he made his way up the steps of the prison and through the entrance of the facility. Making his way towards the front desk, he removed the helmet of his armour and tucked it under his right arm. "Hey mac." he said to the guard at the front desk. "Heard about the Earth I humans, and some recruitment for acting as a guardian for the poor saps. Sign me up"

 

[CactusJuice]

It was a dark night in the downtown suburbs of the city. Few traveled here this late at night. Those who did were generally the kind of people you didn't want to meet. All quiet except for a some footfalls in the distance. They drew closer. A man sprinted down the street. His long, red hair flew about wildly as he ran past the run-down buildings. His green eyes were filled with terror. He looked wildly about searching for somewhere, anywhere, to hide. His eyes filled with hope as he spotted an alleyway. He looked around for his pursuer. Seeing no one, the man sprinted into the alley. The spark is his eyes dwindled as came to a realization. It was a dead end. The man looked around and spotted a trash can. Hiding behind it, the man hoped it would cover his scent. A few tension filled minutes past as the man remained frozen with fear.


 

If it hadn't been for the quiet, the man wouldn't of heard them. Soft footsteps approached accompanied by some sniffing sounds. A set of glowing blue orbs appeared in front of the alleyway. A dark, not quite human form surrounded the orbs. The creature's ears pivoted back and forth searching for the slightest sound. "It must have been a rat." The creature's cold voice broke the silence. The orbs continued on. A few seconds passed, and the man realized he had been holding his breath. He let out a deep, relieved breath as he rose. As quietly as he could manage, the man started walking to the entrance, but he froze when he heard something softly land behind him. He is fear filled eyes turned to meet the orbs, and he let out a- "Kenyon!" A blonde haired girl in a sparkling black dress snapped her fingers in front of his face. Kenyon looked around slightly dazed. Day dreaming about capturing the redheaded guy the other night had made him momentarily forget where he was.


 

Kenyon took in the building. The brick building was filled with round, wooden tables and chairs. It's walls were mostly barren except for a few paintings and the occasional wooden blank nailed into place as a make-shift repair. A fire crackled in the fireplace on the opposite side of the building; a billboard was on the wall beside it. It was the tavern he got most of his jobs from. He was standing behind a large wooden bar. "Kenyon!" The girl yelled as she snapped her fingers again. Kenyon shook a way the daze. "Yes?" He answered. "Your first customers are here!" She whispered furiously as she pointed to some women sitting at one of the tables. They smiled sweetly and waved at Kenyon. "Why don't you go do what we hired you for!" Kenyon remembered now. The Aurian that usually worked for them was on vacation, so the bar owner had asked him to work here on ladies' night. He had wanted a "more exotic option", as he put it, for the ladies. He grabbed a bottle of wine. "What I am supposed to do again?” He spoke each slowly and deliberately in a monotone manner; it was how he usually spoke. “Well you could start by smiling.” The teenage girl replied snappily. Kenyon tried make his lips form a small smile, but he just ended up making awkward lip movements. The girl put a palm on her face, and she sighed. “I don't know why my father hired you; you're hopeless. Just go over there, offer some food and drink, get what they ask, and talk to them.” Kenyon nodded at most of what she was saying, but paused when she said “talk”. “...what should I talk about?” He questioned. She shook her head. “I don't know; talk about whatever you want. Your work, their work, your past, their past, you can talk about the Earth 1 humans who entered the city for all I care!” He nodded and brought the wine over to them.


 

He talked quite a bit about these “Earth 1 humans” throughout the night. From his understanding, it seemed they were dangerous, or at least the last Earth 1 visitors were. He didn’t mind danger, however, and he was quite curious to see what all the fuss was about. He also was curious about what exactly “Earth 1” was, and he wondered how different it was from his world. Perhaps when they returned the visitors could take him with them. Besides, he could use a change of pace. He made up his mind, and he began his trip towards the palace.

 

[Pashpu]

Amare Token really didn't know what to think of the Earth I prisoners. She had just given them a visit, behind the mechanically controlled doors so they couldn't see her. The older man seemed almost totally insane, and kept murmuring something about acid. She would have to keep an eye on him. One of the women was awake (was her name Bella?), and she had been yelling about being drunk, but seemed better now. The other woman still seemed to be passed out, or asleep- she didn't know which. Amare had ordered the guards to give the three Earth 1 humans a second helping of food, as well as a vial of moondrink, a moon-light energy infused liquid that could boost energy and stop delusions. Then she walked to the palace to see how her recruitment project was going.


@Skryx @JustAlexandra @Elephantom


--


Amare sat down on a chair inside the front of the palace, absent-mindedly drumming her fingers. She was not used to sitting down and working- she preferred moving around and giving orders. But there was really nothing she could do here but just wait for her guards to bring the volunteers in.


After several minutes, Macran, her secretary guard, appeared leading three volunteers towards her. She had to blink when she saw them. Two of them were not even human, not even Keone! Besides a powerful-looking man dressed in armor stood what looked like a half-Khargran boy and an Aurian. And yet they thought they should volunteer for this important task somehow? Composing herself, Amare addressed the three:


"Welcome. Please tell me your names," she said calmly.


"And also why you wish to volunteer for this position. I'll have you know the this isn't a game- the Earth I humans are potentially dangerous, and you need to have the skills and strength to potentially deal with a dangerous situation," she said, giving a meaningful glance to the two younger non-humans. "In addition, you will essentially be ambassadors of our culture to them. So please, try to impress me."


@Handabooo @HighSanguinaryPriest @CactusJuice

 

[Skryx]

Red had been to a lot of places and seen a lot of strange things. This probably was the weirdest though. How did she even get here? The start had just been a whole lot of confusion, but now she was being led by some police types to somewhere. She went along quietly, knowing it was better to cooperate. Looking around, it was probably best to assume she wasn't on Earth anymore. Despite how ludicrous the thought seemed, she knew for sure she had just been walking on a nice, normal street in London and this wasn't anywhere in bloody London as far as she could tell. Or any other place she knew on Earth. Listening to the two guard. She eavesdropped on the conversations of the guards and heard random strings of phrases, the most common being 'earth I'. What did that even mean? Earth I? As opposed to what? Earth II? 


It was giving her a headache. There were two others with her, and she focused on them instead. They seemed like to be as confused as her. Well, the one who was still awake anyway. The girl seemed to have passed out. Or maybe she was dead? Oh wait, no, she could see her breathing. The man seemed to think he was on an acid trip though. She tried to ask the guard people questions, but they just stayed silent. Somewhere along the journey she must have fallen asleep. Apparently travelling to a possible parallel dimension (she was taking this far too well, she was aware. Maybe she read too many books) didn't diminish the fact she had pulled an all nighter prior to this. 


Red woke up in a cell. The passed out girl was now awake. The guards were bringing in something. Food? She sat up cautiously. But maybe she should talk to her fellow prisoners. 


"So, uhm. Hi," she spoke aloud, addressing the two of them. "Either of you know what's going here?" 


@CactusJuice @Elephantom

 

[HighSanguinaryPriest]

Dorian stepped forward and gave a small respectful bow. "I am Dorian Aurel." he said in introduction before going into his explanation. "I am mostly doing this out of my own curiosity, and partially for the benefit of House Halfmoon. I will not only learn them in our ways, but also put them to work as to further immerse them in our culture. while it is good to be a guest, it is best to have a job to keep from going stir crazy, and will give them a little money in their pocket." He explained with slight reverence. "If I am allowed a ward, said ward will be staying with me at the Halfmoon Manor, and will follow me around on jobs as to learn everything possible of our culture." He added with a sincere smile. So far the night was going pretty well. He had gotten off work early, Polished his suit, and was about to potentially get an alien for a ward, not to mention it was payday. Life was pretty good for him at that moment.


@Pashpu

 

[CactusJuice]

Honestly, Kenyon hadn’t come here planning to take an Earth I human back with him. However, he decided he’d try; it could prove interesting. When they were questioned, he purposely waited to see what the human would say. He knew he’d have to be at least as convincing or more so to receive this duty. When the old women looked at him, Kenyon covered his ears with his cloak in a self conscious manner; his face, however, showed no sign of embarrassment. He took a step forward, and he gave a low bow. “My name is Kenyon Sharpfang; it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a mercenary; I’ve been one for years. I deal with danger on nearly a daily basis, so this would not be a change. I’m known for my reliability. The only time I haven’t completed a job is when someone else completed it before me. You may have noticed my unusual heritage; it makes me far stronger and faster than your average Earth II human. It also makes my sense of smell and hearing superior as well; this makes me a superb tracker. I also have the ability to use some transformation magic, so I am well equipped to deal with danger. I am well versed in both Keone and Khargran cultures. Due to my hunting experiences, I’m also quite familiar with the local fauna, and, unlike my full-blooded cousins, I have full control over my instincts and emotions.  If my loyalty is of concern, it may relieve you to know I’m not the most welcome in my other homeland due to my Keone blood.” At the mention of his homeland, he traced his scar on his cheek absentmindedly. “I also had the opportunity to become a member of one of the noble houses, but declined due to personal preferences. If the human’s safety is of concern, I can refrain from taking the more dangerous jobs, and I can assure you that I’m more than equipped to protect a human from any dangers that may present itself. If that is not enough to impress, please hire me or express another way I can.” After quickly delivering his vocal resume in a monotonous manner, Kenyon stepped back. I hope I didn’t forget to mention anything. Though his face didn't show it, Kenyon was nervous.
@Pashpu

 

[Elephantom]

"Shit, is it the best thing you can spit out?" Ron sharply looked towards the girl who dared to speak out towards him. His tone was icy, and as slow as the slowest sludge. It was evident that he was going through a moment of frigid realization.


The room he was in, it felt significantly more expansive than it probably already was, and it was truly a very small room suitable only for a similarly minuscule number of people; undoubtedly, the effects of consumption of this so-called acid were the true culprits. Culprits, vile ones. Regardless, the girl's idle question made little sense to him. Why would a figment of his imagination ask him a wholly nonsensical question that border on the verge of making someone very, very sick? Clearly, it had the power to create mental lacerations — stupidly deep ones. Ones he'd surely want to avoid rather than pursue. That was actually how Ron felt like at the current moment. The room was spinning, but the bile inside him seemed to out-spun it, the bile was steadily triumphing. His stomach twisted up; he felt like he was going to vomit right there, right then. Most possibly on the girl's face. He tried so very hard to control — oh, how he did his best — his abdominal muscles, and therefore, avoid the alluring reach of the climbing stomach juice — indeed, it climbed like a monkey, but was as fluid as liquid, possibly a liquid monkey, to be accurate. He shook his head; no, he hated monkeys and their grotesque bananas. Still, he girl continued her hollow words, as Ron listened absent-mindedly. Why was she still speaking? The torture his ear had to suffer was impossibly immense. He wanted to claw his ears out, but it's anatomically impossible for one to claw his ears out — it just doesn't work, much to Ron's utter dismay. He had to stop it, and for that to happen, he HAS to answer; it was the inevitable.


"Theorize, missy, and you'll find the most likeliest answer. So, if you'd kindly excuse me, I need to think. Or, if you still need to verbally hog someone, feel free to conflict my assertions or the other girl's." The latter sentence was spoken more slowly, as if to precisely elaborate something to a six year old — except, with more brutality. There was more clarity in his words than before; it wasn't quite slurred anymore.


Ron's attention straddled off from the girl, towards the jail bars; actually, nothing in particular. He was finding it thoroughly hard to think. Thoroughly, only in the sense that his mind wanted to think it was hard, or was it supposed to be vice versa? Ron rubbed his temples. There was a stupid mystery here, and he felt a needless compulsion; like it was ridiculously entitled to him; to solve it. He was, simply, rather drawn to the concept of it, obviously against his better judgement. He retreated the bulk of his attention towards the two girls who were quite young, much more younger than him; their very presence was vigorously suspicious to him. Redheads don't end up in an acid-induced nightmare. They really don't. So, unless his brain had a better explanation for it, he'd have to idle around for a while. For a good while.


He leaned against the brick wall, which more or less, felt much like a soft clay brick than anything. Of course, it was most likely that his trench coat was padding out the roughness, or otherwise, it'd be mighty weird to find his jacket stained; to even the most singular of threads; with wet clay. He frowned. If his coat truly got muddled, then he'd have to stay that way. He frowned even harder, expressing his disinterest and annoyance towards his own mind.


[SIZE= 12px]@Skryx[/SIZE]

 

[JustAlexandra]

j.justalexandria{
font-family: 'Bad Script', cursive;
}

Bella was thankful when a guard finally came to the door. Finally ready to listen to her. "Thank god! This is all a mistake. I just pass out sometimes, I wasn't drunk in the street - I promise. I'll take a drug test or a pee test or what-" She stopped as the guard slid some food and drink through a hole in the gate and turned around, ignoring Bella. She looked at the food on the ground, barely being able to see it. She leaned down and picked up one of the trays along with a strange, glowing drink. She pouted - that could not be natural. 


Someone else spoke then, making her jump and slosh some of her drink onto her skin. Well, at least it didn't sting. "Um... well I had assumed that I passed out drunk... but I'm beginning to question it," she said, sitting down on the floor with her food and drink. 


Another voice came from within the cell. Well, less a voice and more of the sound of someone throwing up. "Oh god..." she said, pushing her food away and putting her head between her knees. The man then proceeded to make a particularly rude comment, which she would normally have been rude back, but considering the situation she was fresh out of witty come-backs. Or any com back at all. 


The smell of vomit filled the cell, and she scooted as close to the bars as she could, trying to escape the stench. There really was no escaping, though. She couldn't even speak for fear of throwing up herself. 

 

[boo.]

It took Anaphe a moment to realize that she had been led to the Guardmaster herself. The Aurian had never met someone of such high status before, and so out of shock, the best she could manage was a slight bow. What could she say to her? Her tongue felt like a lump of clay in her mouth, which it most likely was. She could really use a drink of water right about now, but that would seem rude. She needed to make a good first impression.


Anaphe waited as the two males spoke their parts. They seemed experienced; at least, more so than herself. They knew how to talk to someone like this, while Anaphe knew nothing of it. She was a nobody! How could she have expected herself to do something like this? It was as her mother had always said: "Anaphe, you're a tough girl, and stubborn too. You never know when to stop, do you?" Of course, that had always been said in fun, but now Anaphe could see its meaning.


The Aurian straightened herself, brushing off her slightly dirty garments. She wore a slightly shiny fabric that could be worn both in and out of the water. She hadn't had time to wash her clothes for a while, so she hoped that she wasn't too revolting.


Bowing once more, Anaphe took a deep breath and began to speak. "I am Anaphe. I do wish to act as Guardian to one of the humans, to teach them of the culture that is so often overlooked. I am afraid that I am not the most wealthy, nor the smartest of brightest. But I can teach survival. I do not know how different their world is from ours, but I expect that they have never seen an Aurian before. Let me introduce them to my species; they need to know not just about themselves, but about others."


There, that should satisfy. Anaphe did have her own motives, but she dared not speak them here. Would the Guardmaster think her selfish for wanting one of the Earth I humans to help her? To give her possible information about this disease that plagued her mother? Anaphe could think of no other way. This Trelif root was impossible to find, so it seemed. 

 

[Pashpu]

Dorian stepped forward and gave a small respectful bow. "I am Dorian Aurel." he said in introduction before going into his explanation. "I am mostly doing this out of my own curiosity, and partially for the benefit of House Halfmoon. I will not only learn them in our ways, but also put them to work as to further immerse them in our culture. while it is good to be a guest, it is best to have a job to keep from going stir crazy, and will give them a little money in their pocket." He explained with slight reverence. "If I am allowed a ward, said ward will be staying with me at the Halfmoon Manor, and will follow me around on jobs as to learn everything possible of our culture." He added with a sincere smile. So far the night was going pretty well. He had gotten off work early, Polished his suit, and was about to potentially get an alien for a ward, not to mention it was payday. Life was pretty good for him at that moment.


@Pashpu

It took Anaphe a moment to realize that she had been led to the Guardmaster herself. The Aurian had never met someone of such high status before, and so out of shock, the best she could manage was a slight bow. What could she say to her? Her tongue felt like a lump of clay in her mouth, which it most likely was. She could really use a drink of water right about now, but that would seem rude. She needed to make a good first impression.


Anaphe waited as the two males spoke their parts. They seemed experienced; at least, more so than herself. They knew how to talk to someone like this, while Anaphe knew nothing of it. She was a nobody! How could she have expected herself to do something like this? It was as her mother had always said: "Anaphe, you're a tough girl, and stubborn too. You never know when to stop, do you?" Of course, that had always been said in fun, but now Anaphe could see its meaning.


The Aurian straightened herself, brushing off her slightly dirty garments. She wore a slightly shiny fabric that could be worn both in and out of the water. She hadn't had time to wash her clothes for a while, so she hoped that she wasn't too revolting.


Bowing once more, Anaphe took a deep breath and began to speak. "I am Anaphe. I do wish to act as Guardian to one of the humans, to teach them of the culture that is so often overlooked. I am afraid that I am not the most wealthy, nor the smartest of brightest. But I can teach survival. I do not know how different their world is from ours, but I expect that they have never seen an Aurian before. Let me introduce them to my species; they need to know not just about themselves, but about others."


There, that should satisfy. Anaphe did have her own motives, but she dared not speak them here. Would the Guardmaster think her selfish for wanting one of the Earth I humans to help her? To give her possible information about this disease that plagued her mother? Anaphe could think of no other way. This Trelif root was impossible to find, so it seemed. 

Honestly, Kenyon hadn’t come here planning to take an Earth I human back with him. However, he decided he’d try; it could prove interesting. When they were questioned, he purposely waited to see what the human would say. He knew he’d have to be at least as convincing or more so to receive this duty. When the old women looked at him, Kenyon covered his ears with his cloak in a self conscious manner; his face, however, showed no sign of embarrassment. He took a step forward, and he gave a low bow. “My name is Kenyon Sharpfang; it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a mercenary; I’ve been one for years. I deal with danger on nearly a daily basis, so this would not be a change. I’m known for my reliability. The only time I haven’t completed a job is when someone else completed it before me. You may have noticed my unusual heritage; it makes me far stronger and faster than your average Earth II human. It also makes my sense of smell and hearing superior as well; this makes me a superb tracker. I also have the ability to use some transformation magic, so I am well equipped to deal with danger. I am well versed in both Keone and Khargran cultures. Due to my hunting experiences, I’m also quite familiar with the local fauna, and, unlike my full-blooded cousins, I have full control over my instincts and emotions.  If my loyalty is of concern, it may relieve you to know I’m not the most welcome in my other homeland due to my Keone blood.” At the mention of his homeland, he traced his scar on his cheek absentmindedly. “I also had the opportunity to become a member of one of the noble houses, but declined due to personal preferences. If the human’s safety is of concern, I can refrain from taking the more dangerous jobs, and I can assure you that I’m more than equipped to protect a human from any dangers that may present itself. If that is not enough to impress, please hire me or express another way I can.” After quickly delivering his vocal resume in a monotonous manner, Kenyon stepped back. I hope I didn’t forget to mention anything. Though his face didn't show it, Kenyon was nervous.
@Pashpu

"Dorian Aurel, you seem like a fine individual. I am honored to accept you as a guardian," said Amare. "I think the Earth I woman called known as 'Red' would be best suited for you." @HighSanguinaryPriest


Amare then turned to the Khargran boy. "I do not fully trust you," she said, narrowing her eyes. "I hope you do not take offense. However, you seem to be quite capable and I'm willing to give you the opportunity to prove yourself. You should be able to handle the man named Ron Graves." @CactusJuice


"As for you, Aurian girl," said Amare, "I'm not quite sure why you are here. Your motives seem valid, but you don't really have any qualifications. And I'm not sure you're physically fit for the job, unfortunately. I mean, look at you... you look miserable and dehydrated. How long have you been above ground?" Amare stood up. "Do come along with us to the prison though. We have doctors specifically to treat Aurians- they will keep you hydrated." @Handabooo


Amare motioned for the three of them to follow her, as she walked down the palace's steps, heading to visit the prisoners. When she opened the door she was suddenly confronted by one of her guards.


"Guardmaster!" the guard yelled. "The prison has been attacked!"


"What? Who?!" exclaimed Amare.


"We don't know," said the Guardmaster. "But two of our guards are dead, and it's total chaos out there."


Amare gasped. What the hell was going on?! "Come on! Hurry!" she said to the four of them, and raced towards the prison as fast as her legs would carry her.

 

[HighSanguinaryPriest]

Without so much as a word, Dorian donned his helm, the crystalline lenses glowing an aetherial blue. Without any further prompting he took off down the corridor, an Armoured Juggernaut in a well kept palace, his heavy footsteps leaving cracks in the polished floor as he charged past the elderly Guardmaster. "Stay behind me. We know not what lies ahead." his voice boomed, distorted by his helm and voice modulator he had added. If there was anything he knew about warfare, it was that psychological was among the most effective. Reaching back, he grasped the hand grip of a rather ornate looking rifle, and pulled it from the mag-plate that had been keeping it secured. Weapon in hand, he racked a round into the chamber, not losing pace as he worked as a walking bulwark of mechanical parts, Metal and death. Beside the heavy footfalls, the sound of combat could be clearly heard as they got closer. "Guardmaster, What are your orders?" he boomed mentally preparing for the fight to come.


@Pashpu  @Handabooo  @CactusJuice

 

[Skryx]

Red suppresses an amused laugh at the other woman's answer. "I don't think you were drunk," she says lightly. "Even if you were I don't think that's what we're in here for." What were they in here for? It was definitely troubling, but she hoped that wherever they were, whoever was in charge was reasonable. Perhaps they had some answers. If they weren't about to be horribly executed without any explanation or trial anyway. But she didn't think so, otherwise why go through the trouble of keeping them here? In this situation there wasn't much she could do other than keep a clear head and hope for the best. Just then the man spoke, voice slurred and tone hostile. She raised an eyebrow. If anyone was drunk here, it was him. Standing, she walked over to the trays the guards had brought in, picking up a vial of liquid and examining it. The food smelt about normal, not exactly mouthwatering, but edible. Turning her attention back to the strange liquid as the man continued to talk, she took an experimental sip, unsure what to expect. And blinked. She felt...refreshed. Her thoughts much clearer, and the dregs of sleep that clung to her seemed to disappear. Red gave the vial an appreciative look. Definitely better than coffee. 


The man's words were much clearer the second time he spoke. He was the one muttering about acid, she remembered. Perhaps he was disorientated. Understatement, she grinned to herself. Or maybe he was always this grouchy. Either way, she wasn't fazed. She had met too many kinds of people and seen too many places to be put off by a few harsh words. Looking down at the vial in her hand, she picked up the last one. Crossing the cell to where he sat, she held it out, careful to keep out of his personal space. "This might help," was all she said, simply, noticing the frown he had. 


Moving back, she settled down on the floor, where the trays was. She had just begun to eat when she heard the sounds of a commotion outside. Looking up, she grew uneasy, hearing shouts of alarm and the sound of metal on metal. Standing up slowly, she moved to the bars of the cell, trying to see what was going on.


@Elephantom @JustAlexandra(Oops, just realised I tagged the wrong person last time)

 

[CactusJuice]

"No, offense taken." He responded. Ron Graves. He DOES sound dangerous. Is it possible they entrusted me with a more dangerous one? He was brought out of his thoughts by what the woman was saying to the Aurian girl. He followed her down the steps. "Perhaps, I could assist the Aurian? I am more then capable to handle two humans, and you seem to trust her more then m-" His suggestion was cut off as the guard came shouting about an attack. Then he was running. His Khargran blood allowed him to easily outrun the Guardmaster, so he held back. The heavily armored man insisted on taking the lead, so he ran just behind and off to the side of the walking tank. I guess there's not much need for stealth anyways. Whoever's attacking is likely expecting more guards. He scanned the area, sniffed the air, and listened closely; he was looking for any hints as to the danger they'd be facing. He hadn't planned on fighting, so he'd have to rely on the small dagger he kept or his magic depending on the situation's severity. He ran along waiting for the Guardmaster's orders; his footfalls were much quieter then his juggernaut companion's.
@HighSanguinaryPriest @Pashpu @Handabooo

 

[JustAlexandra]

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font-family: 'Bad Script', cursive;
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Somehow the other woman had began to eat her food. Bella shook her head, unable to imagine how she could with that horrid smell. She took a sip of the drink anyways, her mouth feeling dry. It didn't taste like much, but it was similar to a shot of espresso, except perhaps a bit less jitter-inducing. She downed the rest of the drink, feeling better despite the unwavering smell of vomit. She looked at her food, not able to really discern what any of it was. It didn't look too bad though, and she assumed that it wouldn't kill her. She took a bite, less than pleased with the flavor but not completely revolted. She ate about half and then pushed it away. She felt full enough to not have to force herself to eat the rest. 


"I don't think so either, anymore," she said, in regards to her assumption about drinking. "Not sure how I could have ended up in here, though. I haven't done a bad thing in my life. Couldn't even drink when I was underage." she said. Many of her friends had drank when they were young, but she always refused to or just pretended, usually dumping her beer down the drain as she went to the bathroom. Luckily alcohol seemed to make people pee a lot, so it wasn't usually questioned. 


She wondered why, of all the things she could be thinking of, why she was reflecting on her teenage decisions. It wasn't like that was the reason that she was there. She pulled in her knees, resting her arms on them and her chin on her arms. "I wish they would at least tell us why we were in here. This has to be illegal..." she said, recalling something she had heard offhand from one of the lawyers at the place she had worked.


"It's funny. Right before I woke up I had such a weird dream as well. I usually don't dream at all when I pass out. There were all these strange looking people. Some humanoid but...not quite. I must have an imagination I didn't know about," she said with a weak chuckle. 


@Skryx


@Elephantom

 

[boo.]

All at once, a feeling of despair found itself inside of Anaphe. Her chance, her one chance to find a cure began to slip away, leaving only a soft imprint upon her soul. Yes, she knew her reason for becoming a guardian was selfish and had been most likely rightfully refused, she couldn't help but feel a downpour of sorrow and misunderstanding. Why couldn't she have just a chance? How could this human refuse her when she hadn't even seen what she could potentially teach?


The Aurian simply stared after Amare after she suggested she visit their doctors. She wasn't the one that needed healing, her mother was! But it seemed as though no one knew of this disease that caused her to be on the verge of death, and yet forced to feel the fire that burned in her entire body. It was maddening and kept hopelessness from ever leaving their household. But Anaphe had never given up, not once. Something had to cure it! There had to be a way!


But when man bedecked in the garb of a soldier ran to their guide with urgency on his face, Anaphe was forced to bring her thoughts to the present. The man stated with fear that something was attacking the prison. Who would want to do that? A hum of uncertainty filled the atmosphere, shich caused Anaphe to step back. The other two that had come here seemed to know what they were doing. In fact, they seemed rather bold. So bold that the half-Khagran had volunteered to help her.


She didn't need help! How rude of him to suggest such a thing! "I believe that I'll be fine, thank you," growled Anaphe hoarsly. No, what she really needed was water, and lots of it. Perhaps the doctors could help her. But at the moment, it seemed as though that didn't matter. What could she do? She was tired and her throat hurt again, which meant breathing fast would hurt. Should she stay behind? With uncertainty, she trailed behind the group, afraid and yet mystified. 


@CactusJuice