Fantasy World of Gea: The Greatest Adventure [IC] [CLOSED]

[Breadman]

"Don't be too hard on yourself now" Sentry gave Sera some parting words as she saw the girl try to disengage from the conversation. "You've done what you could given what you had at your disposal." And with that she let the young druid go. Crossing her arms, the barbarian observed her going to talk to their youngest member. Good, she thought. The boy seemed to be a bit shy and maybe a sweet girl like that could help him get out of his shell quicker. But what did Cecilia say again? That he should try to stick with either Sentry or Kastali? Perhaps it would be a good idea to talk to the woman to get to know her more. As luck would have it, she was right there already conversing with some others. Good time to introduce herself to the others in a more personal way.

"I'll see if I could get to know the others better." Sentry turned to Gawain, not wanting to just leave the mage hanging "Feel free to join me, master wizard." Walking over to the group that had formed, Sentry couldn't help but feel that she was in a campfire story with such colorful characters. Who know? Maybe someday they will talk about this adventure in a similar manner around the warmth of their own flame. "Hello friends!" the large woman greeted them with a smile "I hope I'm not butting in on any conversation."

 

[Dmaster]

Gawain rolled his shoulders as Gsera began to discuss the slight intricacies of her people's relationship with the Fir Bolg, listening quietly without commenting much on the matter. As it tends to happen his mind was wandering elsewhere, and at this point he was trying to compare the runes on Sentry's person to the ones he had seen on those obsidian pillars ages ago. They were both exceedingly ancient by his estimate, so he couldn't rule out the possibility that the rune smiths of her kind may have had a hand in their construction. Unfortunately he had only the vaguest memories of their shape, and he was creating lines of comparison between symbols that he wasn't even fully aware of how they were drawn. By the time he had given up on that particular thread of thought Gsera had began to step away from the conversation.

"Ah... politics." he muttered openly, turning his head to Sentry as she invited him to join her. "Pardon my lack of commentary there, I was deeply lost in thought." the wizard admits as he follows behind her. Once they joined with the others he nodded his head after Sentry greeted them warmly. "Yes, hello. I cannot smile but please accept that greeting as cordial."

 

[Develius]

​

"A good question, good sire... Your venture will start in Brannoria and then... you'll will head to Skæg. I know that some of the Skæglins are not exactly... welcoming, and for this very reason we've formed this expedition. But there are enough realms that will welcome you across the land, I am sure of it."

Dakarai lowered his head in respect upon the Emperor's wishes. "Thank you, my lord. I will prepare accordingly." The Sobekan was rather unfamiliar with the continents outside of Dúkũ, only overhearing bits and rumors from other travelers here in Eranoire. He hadn't heard much about Brannoria, but has heard bits regarding the latter Skæg. And judging by the reactions of some the individuals here, it seemed that his suspicions might be correct. A warrior culture filled with the passion of battle, it was indeed a dangerous place for the ill-prepared. But that was secondary compared to their first destination, which he knew far little about but assumed it was a bit calmer than the former. Nonetheless, he felt like he was prepared enough for the trip. Let Her Grace guide him through the turmoil and strife ahead.

The crocodilioid rose from his kneeled position and took a quick glance around the room. The others were already congregating with one another in pleasantries and conversations about themselves or the trip at hand; with the center figures, Sentry and Kastalli, holding the most attention and intrigue from the others. Unique characters as they may be, the Sobekan would find his attention leaning rather more towards Gsea. She was perhaps the closest-related out of the rest, she possessing reptilian elements thanks to her draconic heritage. The cleric had heard many legends of both Dragons and Ddraig from his time in Dúkũ since he was a hatchling - many formulating in myths and hearsay from lucky travelers. He wanted to speak to her regarding her heritage and legacy, but at the moment she was busy talking with the others. It would be rude for him to interrupt or add into the cacophony of noise at this time.

In the meantime, seeing as he was alone for the time being, Dakarai just sat upon a lone chair and simply watched the environment around him while awaiting any further comments from the Emperor.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Once the Emperor concluded his brief answer, she nodded and rose, contemplating his words. The banner of the Cartographer's Guild. She'd marched under merchant companies before, but nothing that she would consider to be so scholarly. And since it was a bunch of mapmakers and bookish types at the helm, maybe they wouldn't see fit to lay claim to the loot as heavily as, say, a band of cutthroats. Let them be concerned with their parchments, quills, and compasses, and leave the golden goblets, silver necklaces, and bejeweled rings to those who clutched them first. This group didn't seem much like the greedy sort to her, either. Everyone had their reasons for being here, but unlike a mercenary company, blood and coin wasn't at the top of everyone's minds. That causes her to lean on her sword a bit as she considered this. She could still remember the looks of the knightly squires watching her band crawl through the mud, slicing off fingers to recover rings from the dead, or disrobing dead officers to pawn off the finer cloth. A few 'dentists' had even taken to collecting teeth from the dead to better craft an implant to wire into the gums. Mmm... if there was one part of her body she'd consider armoring up with more than the leather under her clothes, it'd be her mouth. Don't need that crystal smile going away, or a dead man's tooth nailed in. And this didn't seem like the group to look very favorably on a mercenary's favorite past time.

The others began to congregate fairly quickly into a little bustle of energy, like the new lads were oft to do on the first night with the company. The ones with good hearts, at least. The rotters sulked in the shadow and followed the moves of the unshaven, greasy pirates in hopes they'd learn some skills in being ruthless. Both types ended up dead by the first battle. "Eh." She caught herself by surprise, trying to remember that this wasn't just another pike company marching from one field to the next. Adventure and cartography, first and foremost. Maybe things would be different.

Curious to hear what the scallions were chattering about, Angelica walked over to the gathering and listened in with some curiosity, though she took note of some of the others that hadn't joined in with an inquisitive side glance.

 

[Fauxs]

"I don't think I've seen you back home before." she spoke in Sótiran, "I'm Sera." She hoped her introduction would help bring about conversation.

Just as the lad thought he would be ignored by his surroundings, a familiar kind approached him, speaking in a language he knows. She appeared to look similar to him but oddly different. Fauxs however, circled around the woman, sniffing her clothing as if it was curious. “Let’s play nice, friend.” Callop said to Fauxs. He then turned to Sera and replied, “Hello, miss Sera, My name is Callop and my friend here is named Fauxs. I don’t think we’ve met before, but I’m glad to have been acquainted.” The boy and his companion were truly curious as to who she was, which resulted in him to ask, “Are you like the people in my village? Or are you like me?” subtly hinting that he was not of pure tuatha origin as his father was a human.

 

[joshuadim]

["If you mean whether or not I am Tuatha, then I am."] Gsera replied, continuing to speak in their common tongue both for privacy as well as familiarity. She noticed the wolf like being investigating her as well, which led her to kneel down to further observe. ["A lovely being you have as your companion. It is of the fae, is it not?] she then asked, giving a smile of reassurance.

 

[Fauxs]

“Oh” Callop replied to recognize Sera’s answer to his question. “What made you leave your home?” he followed as he was curious of Sera’s own origins as well.

Sera then approached the boy’s companion, Fauxs who was also quite curious about Sera. “To be honest, I’m not really aware of what Fauxs truly is. All I know is that we’re best friends and us friends stick together!” he replied with a warm smile while he gently held the back of his companion. Fauxs on the other hand immediately stopped fiddling around the moment Sera took notice of his actions and stared at her instead, awaiting her motive.

 

[joshuadim]

["I had some... disagreements with my father."] she said, not necessarily elaborating but also somewhat telling the truth. ["I needed to be away, at least for some time."] When Callop wwent on to explain his relations with Fauxs further, it continued to pique her interest. ["You have a special friend then, young one."] Gsera replied with a smile as she looked at Fauxs before running its fingers along its head in a gentle manner. The creature's fur was rather warm as it remained calm and attentive towards her. The two looked at each other for a few moments of silence, as if they were communicating without words or voice, before she returned her attention to Callop again: ["And stick together the two of you shall. Keep yourselves close, for you have a special bond with this Fae."]

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Ser Alberto watched as young Syllannan walked away to speak with the other members of the Expedition. What a bunch of colorful characters he had become involved with. It reminded him of the old days of errant questing, tagging along with diverse parties of outcasts and thrill-hunters. It actually made him smile, while he gently caressed a locket hanging from his neck. But as the majority of the expedition began to get to know each other, the Knight had one last question for the Emperor and his entourage.

"Your highness..." said the knight while taking a respectful bow, "I feel the necessity to ask... were our expedition be faced with injustice in a foreign land... the type of injustice a noble soul cannot look past, can we interfere?" the question surprised the Emperor, who looked away for as moment, thinking what to say before looking back at Alberto. "Ser Alberto... right? I heard about your famous kindness, for it stripped you of your title as Grandmaster of the Knights of Salavianca when you spoke against the slavery of Goblins..." the old knight nodded, gently stroking his beard. "Yes, something I still do not regret to this day."

The Emperor gave the knight a soft smile before looking away once more. "...To answer your question, Ser Alberto." He looked at the knight straight in the eyes before speaking, with a much more serious expression on his face. "...only if it benefits Eranoire." Alberto didn't say anything, both men shared a serious look with each other. "I see... I understand." said Alberto before turning around. "Do... do not mistake this f-" Leshy tried to explain himself, feeling the need to justify his answer but the knight quickly interrupted him. "You are an Emperor first. You cannot be nice when ruling a country... You must be smart, and having a group of adventurers you amassed starting trouble in a distant land for no benefit would only bring trouble." said the old knight, stroking his beard again. "I am not blinded by morality, m'lord... And while I don't agree with this answer, I cannot say that I do not understand your reasoning." Leshy looked down, taking a deep breath before giving Alberto a smile. "Thank you... ser knight. I am glad you are joining this expedition." Alberto made another bow, a bit more theatrical this time. "As I am, m'lord. I have no more questions."

Cécilia stared at the knight as he walked away, thinking about what he just asked and the Emperors answer for a moment before looking at her liege. "I believe that will be all, your majesty." she said while glancing over at the party. "I doubt they have any more questions." Leshy nodded while looking at everyone involved with the expedition. "Quite the party we have amassed." he said while resting his shoulder against his brother. Cécilia nodded in agreement. "Since everything you needed has been prepared, I assume you'll be departing early in the morning?" asked the Crown Prince to the Scholar, while holding his sickly brother. "Yes, as early as possible... I've already told the Captain. His Dragoons will escort us out of the city and into the countryside." The Crown Prince nodded, looking at the party as they kept gathering around. "I do hope this whole thing will not bring us any trouble." he said while eyeing his brother. "...It might, but the benefits that it will bring will outweigh any negatives." Leshy looked at Cécilia, giving her a gentle smile. "I believe we are done here, lady Delafousse."

"I believe we are... Thank you, my emperor. We will see each other in the morning." Cécilia bowed to her liege, before joining the rest of the Expedition. "Your majesty, Leshy d'Toulie-Laflèche, will be retiring to his quarters now!" shouted an Imperial announcer. "I thank all of you once more. Tomorrow... you will be part of history!" said the Emperor while giving everyone a respectful bow. A gesture that was uncommon among nobles. Most of the other members of the company bowed back at him as he was taken away into the castle.

Once the venerable ruler walked away, Cécilia looked at the party with a confident smile. "Alright everyone! You are free to wander Eran as you see fit. I suggest you to stay close to one another, but if you wish separate for the rest of the day, please come to this courtyard tomorrow around six in the morning!" She then looked at Grunde for a bit, giving the little slime a thumbs up as they interacted with others. "As for me... I am more than glad to give everyone here a little tour of the 'Précieuse bleue pierre' of the West!" Paulin raised his head to look at Cécilia, interested in the idea of a small tour. "Ah! Yes, I would love to see the sights of the city... but I imagine we can do some shopping while we go with you?"

Cécilia nodded while looking up at the sky. "Of course! The day is young, mon amie!" She then looked at everyone. "You can do anything you want in Eran, capital of trade, entertainment and the arts in the western regions. Only rivaled by Hamilsburg in the Empire of Hamala! So... who is coming?" Some of the members of the second team decided to stick with Cécilia, while others simply walked away to try and rejoin the party in the morning. Among them, the two dwarves that arrived late. "Heh, tour... Yeah, we making a tour alright. A tour o' the brothel! HAH! I'm gettin' meself the one with de stora brösts haha!" shouted one of the dwarves, while the other shook his head. "Fuckin' Hel Hrongar, don't be a fuckin' animal." Cécilia just stared at the dwarves with a dumbfounded expression as they walked away. "Oh... oh dear... uhm... Well, you can continue your conversations while we walk through Eranoire! Let us go, my friends!"



Alberto, Cécilia and Paulin walked out of the keep, followed by most of the members of the company into the populous city. While most of the inhabitants of Eran were Eranoirans, it was not uncommon to see travelers from distant realms walking around. Mainly intrepid merchants who tried their luck even after the Maelstrom. "Once, this city was filled with foreign travelers and merchants. 'tis a shame really." said Cécilia, while Alberto let out a dry chuckle. "You know, to some Kingdoms, getting rid of all foreigners would be considered a blessing." he said while eyeing a Myrkálfari couple. "...Strength in unity, I say!"

The party then arrived to the Market Plaza, still filled to the brim with commoners and nobles alike. Merchants shouted their prices as best they could in the sea of voices. The sounds of bards and the sight of jugglers were not uncommon either, providing some much needed entertainment and pleasant sounds to the ceaseless buzz. In the middle of the Plaza, where the overweight Imperial Crier announced the gathering of a company once stood, were two large and majestic statues made out of the finest marble. Each statue guarded by members of the Eranoiran army. The statue on the left showed a woman donning Martorian-esque armor. They had short messy hair and carried a rather simple looking crown. Underneath this statue was a plaque with the name 'Empress Era the Black, The First Empress'. The statue on the right shows a young elf-like man, standing in a heroic position, carrying a sword aiming to the sky in his left hand while his right one carried a pair of broken chains. Underneath this statue was another plaque, this one saying 'Emperor Valéry d'Toulie-Laflèche, the Good Usurper.'

As Cécilia stood under these two statues, she looked around the market before looking back at the party. "Ah, the market! I hate this place with all my heart. Yet, knowing that I won't see this place for a while does make me feel sad. This place represents Eranoire more than any other: a loud but diverse place filled with hard working people." She let out a sigh. Alberto looked around as well, smiling. "Ah yes, a good old market! Look at the selection of goods! It only rivals some of the most prosperous cities of Dúkũ!" Cécilia nodded, sighing again as she looked at a stall full of fresh produce. "Indeed... Ah, yes... my friends! Feel free to look around and if you have any questions, I'll be more than glad to answer them." She eyed the giant statues next to her. "I know this place and its history better than anyone."

 

[Infab]

"Devy, it is wonderful that you are here. I have been meaning to speak with you. It has been quite some time since I spoke with another musician. We must perform together sometime!" There was an immediate shift from her rather polite and demure manner to one of excitement as she grabbed Devy's hands. "We could compose a few songs during our travels!"

"Oh! Indeed we should! I love to bounce musical ideas and literature off fellow musicians!" he said, almost as excited as she was. It was always nice to learn how other musicians' minds work. How they interpreted songs and played their own instruments compared to his own methods. As she released his hand to focus on the others around her, Devy straightened up into one of his poses as he listened to the others. It seemed the group was getting along quite well! Only time would tell if this good mood would last them till the end of their journey...and he'd try his best to make sure it did.

Eventually, the Emperor and his heir departed, leaving Cécilia to inform them as to what was about to occur. A tour of the city! Devy didn't really need one, but it would be a bit fun to tag along to see what the others did and got into. As they departed from the castle and soon found themselves inside the market place, Devy looked about a bit rapidly. Eventually, he gave Cécilia a bow. "Pardon, madame, but I need to run a quick errand! I shall return shortly!" he stated. He had just remembered a little something he needed to do in order to be properly prepared for the journey ahead!

And soon he was off, walking quickly through the crowded marketplace. He knew the street he needed to venture to. Avalion Street. A place far too familiar to him. In particular, an alleyway on said street. As he ventured down the street and rounded into the alley, he took note of a tall, brawny orc leaned against the corner of a building behind him. Talor, the orc's name was. He had bumped into him from time to time while in the city. Routine stuff, really. Wide, muscular, never wore a shirt. Always just tartan-style pants and sandles, and that rough looking straight sword that hung from his belt.

"Talor!" said Devy cheerfully, as he approached the orc. Talor's head snapped about, giving the Jester a glare for a moment before Devy spoke again. "I need to see your boss, please."

Talor shifted, straightening up and motioning for Devy to follow him around the corner of the building. Without hesitation, Devy followed. Around the side was a door, which the pair stepped through. Inside was a darkened room, with a bar that had a handful of patrons crowded around it. Partaking of a fine scarlet liquid. The faint smell of copper hung lightly in the air as Devy passed, glancing to the patrons whom didn't seem to pay him any attention. They never did.

And soon he was lead upstairs to yet another room. Talor stopped at the door, but pushed it open and allowed Devy to step inside. The 'boss' was waiting.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Through the dark ambiance of this fine establishment, Devy was led to a doorway with a fine silk curtain. Inside, a room with various couches and tables, with more distinctive patrons sitting on them instead of the commoners of the previous room. At the end of the room was an overweight woman dressed with impressive clothing, her face covered with white powder and her lips as red as her hair was. She was sitting behind a luxurious desk, counting gold and silver coins. Sometimes pausing to take a drink from her jeweled pewter cup. When Devy and Talor approached her, the woman gave the jester a smile, putting the cup down. "Oh Devereaux, Devereaux.... Mon précieux garçon, it's been a while since I've seen you." said Bérangère Robiquet, owner of the fine establishment and a member of La Famille Écarlate. "Must be the first time I don't see you casually leaning against my trusty guard." she said with a teasing smile, eyeing her Orkish bouncer. "If you are here for updates... I'm afraid I have not seen your mother yet, my boy." she said with a much more respectful tone.

 

[Infab]

"Must be the first time I don't see you casually leaning against my trusty guard."

Devereaux chuckled, glancing up to the orc. "Well, as much of a hunk as he is...I've come to realize that he may be a little big for me!" he replied, before looking back to the woman before him.

"If you are here for updates... I'm afraid I have not seen your mother yet, my boy."

Devereaux was quiet for a moment, his mask giving the impression he was staring at Bérangère. When he did speak, it was with a blunt, serious tone. Almost harsh. Uncharacteristic of him. "Good." he stated. It took him only a moment after, however, to return to his usual self. "What I'm really here for is to stock up! I shall be joining the expedition that the Emperor and the Cartographer's Guild have conjured up! Exploration, map making, interesting stuff! I figured that they'd need a good archer, and renowned harlequin in their service."

 

[EdwardDewey98]

"Oh my dear, that pains me to hear." she said, with surprising honesty. "After all, you fill this establishment with so much joy when you play your songs... Still, I am glad there's one of our kind out there doing good." she said with a sincere smile, before her vibrant eyes looked down for a moment to a drawer on her desk. Devy could see several vials resting comfortably in the wooden drawer. Next to them, however, was a flintlock pistol. A gun: nasty little things, but extremely powerful. Luckily those things will never be common from what he heard. Bérangère then pulled around 15 vials from the drawer and placed them ob the desk. "Highest quality my dear, sources are the usual. Violent crime is quite usual these days after the... you know, the Storm." she said, with fear in her voice. "At any rate... I am giving you a discount my dear, for good times sake - only 100 denars."

 

[Infab]

"At any rate... I am giving you a discount, my dear, for good times sake - only 100 denars."

"Bérangère, I could kiss you!" he said, joyfully. He pulled the small sack of coins from his hip, and drew out exactly 100 denars. That'd leave him about 150 left. Enough for the rest of his gear, if he added in the coinage he already had on him from before. He stepped over, carefully setting the 100 denars on the desk in neat little stacks. "...Now...I should probably figure out a way to carry these without people noticing..." he said, moving a hand to his mask's chin as if he were thinking on the subject.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

"For now my dear, just hide them in your satchel." she said while counting the coins. "One hundred. Thank you Devy, you lovely boy. I hope I get to see you another day, my dear." She offered her hand to the Jester, who then 'kissed' it. "Might Gaia watch over you, my dear. Talor, if you can be so kind my friend." Following a theatric bow, Devy followed the Orkish male out of the building. 15 vials resting comfortably in his satchel next to several arrow tips. Luckily, the others will not ask about them, or about his particular addiction.

 

[Develius]

​

Once the Emperor retreated to his quarters, everyone was dismissed and allowed to roam around the city or leave the premises to prepare for tomorrow. Those who would stay would be given a quick tour of Eran, something which Dakarai found interest in. Normally he would avoid such an offer, but in this instance he might as well learn where he and his fellow monks resided. Quietly he rose from his seat and began following Cecilia alongside a few of his fellow traveling mates. For the most part, he remained quiet as he observed the landmarks and listened in onto the city's history. He had never stayed in the deeper part of the city for too long - only to buy and gather food and supplies for the others - but now in a group Dakarai felt more at ease and blended in more.

As soon as they entered the market place, the Sobekan glanced over at the various different colored stalls and kiosks that dotted the area. This marketplace in particular was new to him, as he usually visited a closer but smaller location near the church. Here, many sold fresh produce, spices and teas of both local and exotic origins, some of which he recognized as those originally native to Dúkũ. It was a welcome surprise to see such representation, even if the prices are a bit steep. Still, if he was going to leave for tomorrow, he might as well buy some products as a parting gift for the other monks - as well as some to take for the road. He gathered a few different products - including a few local delicacies - and promptly paid for them with the money he had left.

As Dakarai came back to the group, he'd see Cecilia glance up at two large statues that towered over the plaza. He could overhear her mention to the others:

"Ah, yes... my friends! Feel free to look around and if you have any questions, I'll be more than glad to answer them. I know this place and it's history better than anyone."

The Sobekan paused for a moment as he approached the two marbled monoliths. Having glanced at the names present on the plaques, it was clear to him that these were the previous rulers of Eranoire, but knew virtually nothing about them otherwise. He turned his scaly snout to Cécilia with a curious look.

"What do you know about these two?" he asked curiously as he glanced up at them, "Were they fair leaders or harsh tyrants?"

His upcoming answer might as well be subjective, but still any answer would give him a better understanding for Eranian culture and its history at large.

 

[Ace Cream]

Zen

Zen nodded when he heard the emperor's answer to the old knight. A very reasonable answer, they're not heroes and Zen understand this. As a messenger, he also had to witness some ugly stuffs happening below while doing his job, most of the time it's not something he can solve without putting great risk to himself so the best he can do was reporting it to the guards in the nearest settlement.

When the emperor retreated back to his chamber, Zen bowed back to the emperor alongside the other members. Since the gathering was practically dismissed, Zen didn't waste his time and immediately leapt into the sky and flew away. If they're going to start their journey tomorrow morning then he should be preparing some stuffs.

First, he must refill his stocks. Smoke bomb, pepper powder and some other stuffs. All of his regular items were mostly non-lethal though, his job as a messenger didn't require him to fight so as long as he can outfly them one way or another the job can be considered done. However this expedition would require him to protect the others, and he understand well that sometimes to protect someone he must eliminate the threats. So he looks over the market and entered the alchemy store, hoping to find something useful like strong poison or explosive.

EdwardDewey98

 

[Breadman]

Now that the Emperor had retreated back to his quarters, the party was left to do as they pleased in the city. Within reason of the civilized folk of course. A tour sounded fun, but the journey ahead was going to be long and dangerous, so she would need to prepare herself with more than just what's on her person currently. Which wasn't too much, she had to admit. The money they got should help with that.

"A tour sounds nice, but I have something that needs taking care of at the blacksmith's." She told Cecilia "I made a show of his morning already so I owe him a regular visit to make up for it." The barbarian turned her head to the rest of the party "If you're in need to restock and to upgrade your equipment, feel free to follow along. Afterwards I suggest we meet at a tavern so we can get to know each other better." With a smile, she made her way to the blacksmith, who she bought her armor from earlier. Standing in the doorway, she knocked on the frame to get his attention "Hey hammerhead, it's me again. How much for some time on the forge with some more specialized tools?" grabbing the bag of coin in one hand, she shook it a bit "Money is no worry this time around."

 

[joshuadim]

With the Emperor now having left and the group free to explore the city, Gsera ended her conversation with Callop with a smile before heading off back into the crowded streets. After being shown to the market square again, along with two towering statues that stood for figures that were mysterious to her, Gsera opted to explore on her lonesome for the time being as she quietly slipped out into the streets and walked about. Shops adorned the sides of the streets with all manner of crafts, each one different from the last with artisans and apprentices alike toiling away in making their goods. Stalls and stands also stood out from time to time to sell foodstuffs, spices, or other materials to the masses. This many aromas and smells were all so new and unique to her as she took it all in with a wide grin.

Rather than push through the bustling crowds and competing with the ebb and flow of the commoner masses, Gsera opted to take a shortcut with an alleyway nearby that seemed to cut through some buildings and head out into the street parallel to the one she was on. It took a bit of effort but in due time she managed to pass through the crowds and made her way into the alley for her destination.

 

[Infab]

It wasn't long before Devereaux had made his way back to the marketplace. Making sure that nobody in the group he was now with had see where he had come from. Up next on his shopping list: archery supplies! String for his bow, arrows, and so on. And some string for his lute in the event he plucked just a little too hard. But he could wait to purchase those things! For now, he needed to mingle. Where had the others wandered off to?

Soon, he saw Sentry over at the smithy's place. But of course, the woman was a warrior. She'd need some proper warrior gear. He pondered as to if Angelica was also there. Seems like those two would work quite well together. He decided to wander around the marketplace a bit, perhaps to see who he could run into along the way. He had all day and all night to do what he needed to do!

 

[Auda]

Grunde followed the other adventurers as they left the hall, trailing behind from a safe distance but never too far in case something happens. The slime focused on the streets underneath it, counting from one to three repeatedly until they’ve reached the marketplace. If the slime thought the hall filled with adventurers before is bad, the marketplace is so much worse. At least the others minded their own business last time and didn’t take too much on the slime wandering around. The marketplace however, are crowded by curious eyes and filled with merchants that has a job of invading your personal space. Everywhere the slime looks, there’s a high chance that someone is staring back at it. Guards with hands hovering over their weapons, preparing for the monster to lash out. Mothers pulling their overly-curious children to safety, away from Grunde. The hushed whispers of ‘Monster’ and ‘Dangerous’ are worse than the overwhelming sounds of merchant shepherding customers to look at their goods.

Eyes darting around its surroundings, Grunde looked for the figure of a woman. The bustling crowds made it hard to find Cécilia but the gods seemed to hear its prayer as the slime saw Cécilia in the corner of its eyes as it immediately rushed towards her side. Grunde already felt better, being near the familiar feeling of Cécilia ‘s magic, but the tense and uncomfortable feeling still lingers behind the slime. Grunde tapped the sorceress’ arms to grab her attention before pointing to the jar strapped on the back of their bag.

“I don’t like this place.”

 

[Roda the Red]

I would not consider myself as a mage...I can only do a few spells with my instrument.

"Oh don't downplay yourself like that, i personally find melodic magic fascinating, only met a few like you in the past" unlike many of the eltists in the academy, Syll had great respect for sorcery outside the academic field, just because druids don't try to methodically unveil the foundation of their magic doesn't mean they're any less respectable.

Syll was a bit confused by Korzhev's...compliment? But didn't think much about it, he did feel flattered about the comments on his weapon though. "Well thank you, it's a custom made weapon, got it commissioned by a pretty respectable blacksmith back in home city, and did some magical tinkering on it myself".

After the emperor retreated and Cecilia spoke about letting everyone do as they wanted, Syll decided that it was time to prepare himself. He was pretty excited for the first time in a while, this was feeling pretty promising, plenty of clearly talented people in these ranks that would encourage him to try his best. Thus he decided to head by himself into the market, as he had in plan to get himself a new alchemy set, he's learned a lot about alchemy from his step father since he was a kid, always believed that maybe fiddling around with magical ingredients and seeing them react would give him a better understanding of it. But even if such thing never happened, the usefulness of his hobby could not be denied.

 

[FloweryMuffin]

That had gone…surprisingly well.

Korzhev was glad their reaction to his greeting had been favourable, so he allowed himself a little smile. Seeing as the rest of the group was starting to depart for the market, in order to stock up for the next day, he finds he should do the same.

Ah, the market. A place he’d rather not venture into at all, but there were a few urgent purchases he had to make. Korzhev liked, and also disliked the market. He liked because he enjoyed watching the many traders and adventures pass through, and the sounds of a bustling market greatly uplifted his mood. He disliked it, because of the stares burning into his back. A beast, a mindless creature. Ah, how foolish!

He had walked into the market, having briefly separated from the group. He was in need of a few plants. Yarrow, preferably fresh, wolfsbane, although poisonous, was pretty useful in treating a sprained ankle here and there. It had several other uses and made a pretty nasty poison. It wouldn’t hurt to have some marigold on hand either. Maybe he’d come across borage if he was lucky. Other plants he might come across on the road.

Until then, Korzhev walked through the market quietly, in search for the required plants.

 

[Fauxs]

After Gsera ended their conversation with such lovely words and a nod, the two friends averted their attention back to miss Cecilia who has been surrounded by numerous figures the whole time. It was then announced that she would be providing a small tour for those who are interested while those who aren't are allowed to run their own errands before leaving. Callop and Fauxs were quite interested to see the city, especially with a proper guide to aid them, so they followed the woman.

Arriving at their destination which was once again the marketplace where the two had passed by earlier, some of the members were heavily invested in buying supplies while others were striking conversations with the fellow townspeople, although the two could only think about one thing; the foreign, good-smelling food. It was quite obvious of them to look for such, as scavenging for food wasn't really as delicious as properly cooked meals. Not knowing what to eat, they decided to politely ask miss Cecilia, "H-hello miss, me and my friend are quite hungry. Is there somewhere we can eat?" Callop spoke while gently tapping the woman's arm. While he was asking this question, Callop's eyes also met with the green slime from before. He lightly gave it a wave and a smile as it does not look as happy as it was a while ago. Fauxs was also looking at the slime intently as it entertains him quite as much.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

"What do you know about these two?" he asked curiously as he glanced up at them, "Were they fair leaders or harsh tyrants?"

"Ah! A good question, my friend!" said Cécilia, while eyeing the statue of Empress Era. "This is Empress Era the Black, daughter of King Otho III, King of Swadilan..." She looked around the market plaza for a second until she noticed the nearby amphitheater. She pointed the structure which had a distinctive Martorian style. "You see, nearly nine hundred years ago, these lands were inhabited by tribal humans known as the Swadi. The early ancestors of the Eranoirans and Hamalans. They were eventually conquered by the Great Martorian Empire, and Otho was the fourth generation of tributary Swadling Kings." Cécilia then returned her attention to the statue of Empress Era, gently stroking the name engraved on the plaque. "By the time Era was a young princess, the Martorian Empire was in a steady decline due to inept Emperors and corrupt senators, a they began to force their tributary states to become fully integrated into the Empire. I always find it funny how the Empire used to have so many tributary states led by foreign Kings when the Martorian senate and the Emperor hated said foreign Kings... Sorry, I digress. When King Otho III died, Kaisar Cassius Aedeptus Martori attempted to take the lands of the Swadi, only to find out that the King's only daughter began leading a rebellion against the Martorians. She led a extensive guerrilla campaign for four years before the Martorians surrendered and pulled their forces out of ancient Swadilan."

Looking back at Dakarai, the scholar gave the inquisitive gator a smile. "She was then crowned as the Queen of the Swadi, but she gave herself the title of 'Kaisarine' or an Empress... Many scholars who are blinded by the 'Glory' of the Martorian Empire blame Era for the eventual fall of the Empire. I disagree, as the Empire was going to collapse regardless of her rebellion... As for her rule, well... she ruled with an iron fist but she pales compared to some of her eventual successors." She crossed her arms while leaning against the plaque. "A little bit of trivia...you might have noticed this already now that you understand our language, but the Empire was named after her. 'Eranoire', a common motif among the western realms... Brannoria was named after its first King, same with Hamala."

Cecilia then got off the plaque of Empress Era to look at the marble statue of Emperor Valéry d'Toulie-Laflèche. Even from this short distance, Dakarai was able to tell that the scholar had a much more solemn look on her face. "...But this man here, this is the man that saved Eranoire from evil." Her eyes slowly drifted down to to the plaque in front of her. "...And I mean it literally. Before Emperor Valéry we were ruled by The Mad Emperor... Jean Claude d'Toulie." Even if Dakarai was a foreigner and knew little of about the continent of Helmos, the infamous stories about 'The Mad Emperor' had reached everywhere. "Genocide, displacement, slavery, serfdom... that man nearly destroyed the land of the Tylwythálfar just to make a point. The crimes he committed against to the people of the Emerald Woods are indescribable... one would think such a vile man was just a servant of corrupted powers but... no, Jean Claude d'Toulie was just a man like any other... But luckily, he made a fatal error."

"When he... forced... himself onto Queen Gwynnevere of Glenwanfathan, the now Slave Queen gave birth to a Hobálfar which she kept as a secret from her captor for a decade until she had the courage of letting her child go into the care of a Ser Galand Dutierre, a Knight of the Order of the Griffon. That boy would grow up and become Valéry Laflewe. The Good Bastard, as some of us call him to this day... When Emperor Jean Claude returned from a terrible campaign against the tribes of the Emerald Woods, he found that this bastard child of his was leading a rebellion, one that had gathered the support of nearly all peasants, elven slaves and even a few Dukes and Counts who detested the Emperor joined." Cecilia took a deep breath for a moment, clearly moved by the history of Emperor Valéry.

"It was a bloody rebellion, one that costed the lives of nearly two million Eranoirans, both loyalists and rebels... But the rebels triumphed and Valéry beheaded his father in this very plaza for the crimes he had committed not only against the Elves but against all of Gea." Dakarai and those in the group are able to tell the large amount of flowers and offerings sitting at the foot of the statue. "He gave Eranoire hope... and while his descendants have not exactly been as... great as he was, they never betrayed the people of Eranoire... Oh, for Gaia's sake!" she exclaimed while swiping a tear before turning her gaze back at Dakarai. "I am getting emotional again, sorry... I am very immersed in the history of... figures like our Emperor here. Good people, and specially good nobles, are hard to come by in history... Its another reason why I want to explore this world, to study as much of other realms history as possible." she said, with a smile on her face.

Paulin, who was a meter away from Dakarai, stepped into the conversation. Sharing the same feelings the scholar had. It was not hard to tell the young man was a bit teary-eyed. "I d-do not blame you, Miss... I also get emotional when hearing about our Emperor. I wish we had great heroes like him again." he said while putting a denari on the statue. "There's always going to be great heroes like him, young boy." said Alberto as he gently stroked his wizened beard. "Who knows...maybe during your life time, you'll be able to see one of these heroes again." Paulin gave the old knight a smile, hoping that he was right about that. As Cécilia approached Dakarai, she felt someone touching her.

“I don’t like this place.”

None other than Grunde, who showed great discomfort. It wasn't hard to understand why. While she tried to stay ignorant of it, most members of the party gathered unwanted attention from close-minded people. But Grunde gathered the most attention, even from well intentioned individuals who showed great fear at the sight of a slime. "Hmph..." Cécilia looked down while gently petting it. "...Wanna get back in the jar? Don't worry, Grunde, I'll leave it open so you can talk to the others more freely. I know its hard to communicate even through magic when there's a jar in the middle." Alberto showed some curiosity about the relationship between the scholar and the slime. He was an open-minded man, but he never thought he'd travel with a slime, and it was quite interesting to see the attachment they had for a human. It was almost child-like.

"H-hello miss, me and my friend are quite hungry. Is there somewhere we can eat?"

Speaking of children, the young boy named Callop approached Cécilia as well. While still uncomfortable about having a child in the party, she couldn't help but to give the child a smile. Especially as he gave a smile to poor Grunde. "Well, I know of a tavern and eatery that serves amazing food on the cheap. It's a haven for us scholars who want a quick but fulfilling meal... What say you? Want to go to The Happy Goblin?" she asked, in a rather cheerful tone.


While flying through the rows of stalls and other small tents, Zen eventually found what it seemed to be some sort of tent with a sign written on the front. 'Helmite Poitions', a rather generic name but enough for the little Tengu. When the messenger entered the tent, he began witnessing a quite particular scene as a patron, who seemed to be some sort of Hedge Knight, started crying in front of the small Potion Seller. "You... had your say, potion seller but I'll have mine! Y-You... you are a rascal! A rascal with no respect for knights!" exclaimed the knight as he cleaned his face. The old potion seller simply glared at the knight with contempt. "Why would I respect knights, when my potions can do what you can't?" The knight was clearly hurt by this, and simply stormed out of the building towards the nearest tavern. The now available potion seller looked at the small Tengu with some contempt as well. "If you are here for my strongest potions... I am telling you now, they are not for sale! They are only available for the strongest beings!... But I sell weaker potions... for weaker beings." he said while showing his quite amazing display of vials and bottles filled with liquids of various colors. "...What will it be, traveler?"

"Hey hammerhead, it's me again. How much for some time on the forge with some more specialized tools? Money is no worry this time around."

"Bloody Hel, woman..." said the blacksmith as he cleared his sweaty forehead, slightly startled. "...Glad to see ya again... Uh, did yer Eranoiran got better? Your accent is less strong." said the smith as he set down the horse shoe he was finishing. "A-anyways... I see you got recruited into that company, eh? Glad for ya." His assistant was nearby, still looking at Sentry in a rather awkward way. "Hmph... boy, get me the tools the lass requested, will ya?" shouted the smith, snapping the assistant back into reality who then quickly walked away into the back room.

As Sentry looked about the smithy, the owner looked at the runes on her weapon. That's when the man realized he had something the ancient barbarian could use. "Hmm... lemme tell ya something lass. Eleven years ago, I was working on a set of 'em fancy tools for some foreign mercenary company. I had most of it done, but then... the Storm happened, ya'know... the big one! Never heard from those mercs again, and I have this Anvil and set of Tools sitting in the back of the store only gathering dust." He leaned over the workshop table he was standing behind. "Ya seem like a good lass... so tell ya' what... I'll sell 'em to ya for 125 denars. Entire set. I imagine that'd be useful for ya... And as an extra, I'll let ya work on yer stuff here for free." With these tools, Sentry's smithing rolls will receive a +2 points bonus.


While walking through the alley, Gsera at one point noticed a young adventurer entering the alleyway. The young man with long orange hair cleaned the sweat from his face, and stretched his arms for a moment before taking off what seemed to be a set of Leather Armor. He placed these items down before putting a feathered hat on his head. "Well... I didn't need this for long! Better meet with the others..." He said before walking away. Gsera didn't try to approach the young man, but once he was gone, she approached the set of armor he had left on the ground. This was rather well made leather armor! It had a combination of styles, but the Cuirass distinctive Martorian style which stuck out the most. Why would he leave this there? Did he use it for a specific reason and had no need for it anymore? Why not sell it back? She didn't know what to think, but one thing was clear, the adventurer left it here on purpose and it was up for grabs! With this expertly crafted armor, Gsera (or another member of the party) would gain +1 health points.


As a curious Syll walks around the tent shops in this area, he accidentally crashed against a knight that emerged from one these tents. He apologized to the tall man with a weird chin, but the knight simply ignored him and sobbed, walking away from the confused half-Elf. Syll didn't know what to say to the man, so he decided to keep looking for a shop he could buy more alchemical components. Right in front of the tent Zen was buying his potions was a local herbalist who also happened to sell some rather exotic materials. Syll approached the stall, but realized he wasn't alone. He noticed poor Korzhev trying to look at the stall, but had trouble due to his small stature. Something the lady herbalist behind the counter found rather comical until she noticed Syll approaching. "A-ah! W-Welcome sir... Welcome to my little shop! I am a herbalist and most of these items you see here I have collected them myself... Do you need Blood Leaf? Which is excellent for Healing Potions! Or maybe you need some Sotiran's Luck? Amazing for healing colds... but if combined with Alfari Root, it'll make an excellent Endurance Potion! I have also found a very rare ingredient... Ol' Lichen! If you get Mandragora Root, and get some grinded Alfari Roots, you'll have the best Stimulant known to any alchemist. Said to even awaken the recently dead!" she said while putting some Marigold and Wolfbane in a small pouch for Korzhev. "Say... an offer for you too, frog... person... uhm, yes... I have come across some Leppa Berries. Amazing for healing if combined with Blood Leaf and Aloe... but it's most commonly used in Leppa Brandy."