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Post by Bloodbane on Jun 14, 2020 23:55:51 GMT -5
Rion listened quietly as Iltham gave his opinion on what Aqua and the others would need to investigate in order to uncover what was causing the sense of unrest within Meribia. The fact that children were being taken, only to return in the morning with no recollection was an unsettling premise. With the beastman quickly ushering everyone out, Rion looked over and nodded when Sam recommended being careful. "We'll do our best. Thanks." he stated before following with the others to Aqua's home, nodding in acknowledgement of her plan to handle things tomorrow. As they walked through the city, he found himself taking a mental note as they passed through different districts; despite what appeared to have been the desires of Aqua's mother, it seemed there was a difference in equity between the human settlements and those of the elves. While he found himself curious about the conditions, he felt there were more important things to figure out and thus remained silent as the group reached Nyharllothor Manor. When Aqua explained where the bedrooms were, Rion finally gave a polite smile.
"Rest well, Aqua... that goes for you all as well; see you in the morning." he said before heading off in a direction to find a room to sleep in. Once he had found a room, it did not take long at all for the exhaustion from the fighting in the forest to settle in, despite what rest he had managed to get before they reached the research facilities, and soon Rion was fast asleep.
When morning came, Rion stirred slowly, grunting as he pulled himself out of the bed. Though he had rested well, he could still feel the lingering aches from the battle with Silver as he moved, looking toward his left arm as he gathered his damaged gear. While he no longer felt concerned about the damage he sustained, nor was he concerned about the energy he took in, he found himself wondering just how long it would be before he was back to full strength, as his powers had a tendency to be less effective during the process of converting dark energy, and on occasion for some time afterward. Regardless, he affixed the armor back to himself before heading out of the bedroom. Rion felt it did no good to worry about his fighting condition at this point, even if he was not quite one-hundred percent yet, it would do little to sway him from a fight if the need to protect his friends was soon to come.
After some time of looking around, Rion came across the damaged study where Aqua was cleaning up, scratching his head briefly. "What happened here...?" The explanation was brief, and before long the rest of the party had assembled once more, with the study being about as close to its proper state as possible. When Aqua led the group out into the garden, suggesting that they split up and try to gather information on various topics, he nodded.
"Sounds like as good a chance as any for me to get more information about the mountain. Might give us some ideas on where our target's hiding... or maybe some clues on where the children are ending up." Rion then smiled and nodded again when Aqua requested they meet back here by sundown. "Aye aye, Captain." he said before taking his leave and making his way down the path and back into the city.
It wasn't very long, however, before Rion realized he was being followed, to which he turned his head, blinking a couple times as he realized who was following him. "... Oh?"
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Post by Albireo on Jun 15, 2020 5:55:03 GMT -5
Meribia Lower-Quarters The Steel Rose Saito Saito was by no means a well-off individual in such times, he often through the evenings either found a spot to quietly sleep, spent a night at a table at this little bar, or went out to stake out a place. Before he knew it, he became the area's impromptu detective, a bad habit of his, always getting involved with things that seemed off. Just earlier he was solving a case of a child disappearing again at strange times, but it turned out the mother was just overly worried, and he had found a cat and regularly went to feed it, before that he helped an old man track down a possible acquaintance of his from times long past, but it turned out it was only a look-alike. The real person had died when he went around looking for info. Like anywhere he had been before, this was a place filled with both heartwarming stories, and those of melancholic sorrow. From within the bar he looked out as he heard some rather distinct screaming, 'monster', that again. As he looked out, a rather striking person stood there faced with several individuals. He recognized him... From the arrival party earlier. Though he was merely passing by, he had no clue what their significance was, nor was it on his mind to find out at the time. For now he observed... His interest was more immediately piqued when he spotted the kind of blade he carried. An eastern blade of Toku origin based on it's design. Though he carried that blade, he wore nothing that would denote he was from Toku, nor did he physically look like one, as Toku was very predominantly human. He looked up a bit from his wide-brimmed straw hat, and a wooden cane set beside him as he drank his water, looking on... He had never seen that kind of drawing stance before, but he has yet to see if this is merely a style he was unfamiliar with, or someone not familiar with Toku martial arts.
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Jun 15, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5
Alriik and the crowd stared at one another for a whole minute. It seemed as if the mob was about to back down… Before the instigator stepped forward again, rage and fear in his eyes. “Our children are going missing. Last time that happened, it was you damned silver hairs. I don't know how you brainwashed the Princess into letting you in… But you leave now.” Alriik would close his eyes, and would look down, attempting to find the right words. When he opened them, there was another rock sailing at his face. That was the last straw.
Within seconds, Alriik had drawn the blade in a reverse grip, before swatting the rock out of the air. The sword itself was… Unusual, shining bright even in the darkness. Soon, he would be in the face of the instigator, driving the hilt of the sword into the man's stomach. The angered man would double over, and Alriik would quickly deliver an elbow to the man's back, knocking him to the floor. Two of his fellow rock holders would quickly grab for the dragon tooth blades on his back, but as they did, electricity would ripple through the blades, and the men would jerk and scream before falling to the ground.
The two pitchfork wielders in the back would step forward, lunging at him in attempt to impale him on the end like a hey bale. The elf was too quick for this, however, stepping to the side and driving his shining steel through the wooden shafts like a knife through butter, before delivering a stiff kick to one of the men's heads, knocking him into his friend. Alriik would turn to the last two, one unarmed and one holding a farming scythe. They would begin to cower, before the last unarmed man quickly turned and began sprinting from the fight.
Stepping over the grunting men splayed on the floor, Alriik would twirl the katana in his hand. “… You asked for this.” The scythe wielder would grip his weapon tight… Before letting out a scream, charging the elf and putting his all into one massive swing. Alriik would simply duck the slash, the man overextending and stumbling. Alriik would step forward, and grab the man by the back of the head. “… You wanna fight a warrior? Bring a damned sword.” He'd proceed to push the man forward, driving his face into the pavement, leaving him bloody.
Alriik would step back, still breathing heavy. He'd turn, seeing a large crowd gathering to watch him. He couldn't take them all on. He just wanted a drink. A show of bravado should get them to slink back to wherever they came from. He'd take a deep breath, before raising his still clean sword, and shouting loudly. “WHO ELSE WANTS SOME!?!?” He'd scream, the sound bellowing and echoing around him, the sword shining clearly. He had hoped it was enough to clear everyone out… But at the same time, he was willing to do whatever it took to get back to the group.
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Post by Arashi on Jun 16, 2020 17:10:55 GMT -5
Silver would wander in to the manor with amazement. She could not believe Aqua lived in such a place...it was huge. She would head off to a room and promptly pass out, her body still tired from how hard transforming pushed her. She was looking forward to a nice sleep for quite awhile.
Upon waking up, she would find herself sore, but feeling at least a bit better. She did not like feeling like this, though; not being at her full fighting potential made her feel exposed and weak. It would be awhile yet before she would recover, and that bothered her. Which left her to think...she had not really done much fighting alongside the group. Did they think of her as weak? She sighed, and then threw on her hood and mask.
Silver would then rejoin the others and listen to Aqua's briefing, after waving to everyone. It appeared Aqua wanted the group to split up to gather information, which did seem like a good idea. She was particularly interested in finding out how to free Aqua's father, and hoped to come across information that would be useful for that.
Everybody would then start to split up and go their separate ways, and they all seemed to know what they were doing. Silver panicked a bit internally. She didn't feel safe alone in such a large city of strangers when she was still in a weakened state, and she was not confident on her abilities to interact with people if that was needed. She caught site of Rion and decided to follow him...but she felt kind of weird doing that without asking. So, she stayed awkwardly quiet once she almost caught up to him...only for Rion to turn and notice her.
She would look a bit surprised.
"U-uh...hey! Can I come with you?" She smiled a bit and would laugh nervously. She didn't really have a way to explain herself here.
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Post by Albireo on Jun 16, 2020 20:33:12 GMT -5
Meribia Lower-Quarters The Steel Rose Front Saito Among the mob, one of them let out a warcry, charging the blade-wielding elf in anger. With blade raised he seemed quite ready to run the poor man through, but before such an event could occur, a flurry of strikes came out between them. Starting with a rapid strike deflecting the blade, with a backhand to the charging civilian, sending one stepping away and the other tumbling to the ground. In-between them stood a man in a wide-brimmed bamboo hat, and a travelling cloak. If they added him holding a blade dripping in blood he would positively appear like the manslayers recounted in old stories of Toku. Yet in a blade's place, was a wooden cane, though battered, appeared to be rather sturdy and road-worthy. He followed the deflect with a successive strike, creating a string of attacks ending with a blade lock. "Are you prepared to kill these people? If not, then you should never have drawn your blade", their faces but inches away, Saito's red eyes glinting underneath the shade cast by his hat, separated by their current weapons, before heaving back and breaking the lock, creating some space between them. The people who had gathered had now backed away, some had decided leaving might be prudent, while others just gave them some space. He had no intention of creating a scene by intervening, but his principles would not allow him to simply watch. Furthermore, he had questions... But those may have to wait for awhile.
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Jun 17, 2020 16:36:56 GMT -5
Finishing his yell, he began to calm down, ready to step away, when suddenly another decided to take him on. He'd give a bit of a snarl, twirling his blade, electricity pulsing through it. He prepared a big swing, twirling the blade around so he would only strike with the dull edge, and brought his blade down upon the man… Before another suddenly appeared between them. Catching the blade and knocking the townsperson out of the way, this new man obviously wasn't like them. He was trained.
Alriik quickly found himself on the back foot, stepping back as he narrowly blocked the can strikes with Shirosame, eventually catching him in a blade look. The man then asked if he was ready to kill. Alriik would look down his nose at him. He didn't need another talking down to him. He had gotten enough of that from Terra. “I'm more focused when holding a blade. If I had went for them with my hands, they would be laying there with gouged eyes and broken necks.”
Having finally gotten a firm stance, the elf would push this new warrior away, before twirling his katana once. “Look, I am done being talked to like I am less. Less refined, less controlled, less of a person.” He'd stare at the foreign swordsman, taking a low stance, gripping the sword with both hands. “I saved this town from blighted beasts. And I'll beat that memory into this damned whole town's head if I have to. I'm not going to hide. And I'm not going to let some punk judge me for defending myself, especially when my attackers are still breathing. But you wanna go a few rounds? Let me tell you who you face.”
“I stood over Death. He lay there soulless, while I walked away. I've outlasted legends. I've outskilled masters.” He'd grip his blade tightly, his boast filled with venom. His eyes were cold, and focused. His stance, firm and motionless. “I am Alriik of Altiim. Face me, and add to my story.” Quickly turning his blade back to it's dull edge, he'd be in Saito's face within moments, swinging the blade at high speed… But each attack was focused. He was attempting to strike the samurai's joints, his plan was obviously to disable the man before he put up too much of a fight.
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Post by Swim on Jun 18, 2020 22:45:44 GMT -5
It was late in the evening and Lisesh was just about to head for home when she heard movement on the floor above her. As far as she knew all the other workers had gone home hours ago and she was the only one still at the townmaster’s hall. But as she continued to listen she could hear footsteps, a chair being pulled along the floor and at least two distinct voices talking.
Lisesh crept up the staircase slowly and cautiously, intending to get the drop on whoever was inside the office. She steeled herself and flung the door open only to find Lucas Boltin sitting at his desk and peering down at his microscope. “You’re back!” she exclaimed with some surprise. “When did you- How did you get up here without anyone noticing?” Boltin held up a finger but didn’t bother to look up from his work. “No, we need to talk about this,” she continued. “You can’t just disappear for days without a word, you’re responsible for this town now. Not to mention all the workers you had brought here who’re idle because you left no instruction. You remember what happened to the last town master that neglected his duties right?”
Boltin waved a hand dismissively. “That all can wait until tomorrow morning. I’m doing this now because I didn’t want to be interrupted. But it seems like I’m not going to get that am I? Do you have any idea what I’m working on right now? How massively important it is, how fundamentally it will change the lives of everyone living here? Of course you don’t or you wouldn’t still be here.”
“I don’t know because you haven’t told me anything. You’re the leader but I’m having to do everything by myself. We’re paying a bunch of miners to sit around with no objective, they don’t know what they’re doing, I don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing.”
“I’ll give the miners their task tomorrow. You can deal with everything else as you see fit. I didn’t ask to be the leader, you can do it. If the people insist on me then I’ll be a figurehead, I don’t want to be bothered with the day to day trivialities of running this town. I’d never get any real work done.”
Lisesh blinked, processing the exchange that had just taken place. It hadn’t been the outcome she’d been looking for, but free reign to run things as she saw fit might be even better. “Those terms are acceptable. I’ll leave you alone for the night, but when I return tomorrow morning I expect you to fill me in on your plan.”
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Post by Albireo on Jun 20, 2020 4:44:12 GMT -5
Meribia Lower-Quarters The Steel Rose Front Saito "A sword is not a comfort blanket, you claim to be a warrior but you lack the discipline of one. If you have time to be boasting of your achievements, you have time to be proving it instead. As is proper I will introduce myself. Saito, a simple wanderer", Saito raised the cane in a mid-stance, one arm, keeping the other behind him in a relaxed posture. After a tense moment, the two engaged in battle. The silver haired elf had an impressive level of physical strength and speed, but nothing he could not keep up with. The furious attacks aimed at his joints became rather transparent quickly, simply moving his body in a way that made targeting them difficult, such as turning his body to the side to expose less of them, or blocking in ways that covered more of them depending on the given direction he was attacking. With a surprising amount of strength he firmly received each strike with the cane, increasingly he began to become familiar with the depth and angles, receiving each strike closer and closer to his hand giving him more and more control over each attack, until a single shallow strike was received at a firm point, giving him leeway to repel and parry the assault with little effort. If he was successful, his opponent should be staggering, or at the very least, forced onto the backfoot, allowing him to start a counter-assault. Up until that decisive moment, he would be stepping back, and appear to be on the disadvantage. "You have a solid sense for battle it seems, but your technique is lacking. Did you truly overcome death, or did death let you walk?", these attacks were not that of Toku martial arts, that much Saito had gleamed from a few exchanges, yet this warrior fights like a ruffian, and so he may receive his strikes like one, relying more on movement than technique, moreover, he felt there was a great deal of reliance on the weapon over technique. He would put this assumption to the test as his strikes were accompanied by long strides and faster footwork to stay in his face, applying pressure until he would find an opening to deliver a decisive strike. His goal was to discipline this one, to swing a weapon about so lightly.
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Jun 20, 2020 17:38:09 GMT -5
After Saito made his comment, and Alriik's flurry progressed, the elf realized the situation he was in. He attempted to switch up the timing and direction of his blows, but the swordsman in front of him seemed to get a better read on him with each strike. A look of confusion would briefly cross his face, as Saito began to advance on him. It was all he could do to go onto the defensive, but soon even his deflecting seemed to not be enough. His sword knocked to the side, Alriik saw the staff coming at his chin, but had no means to stop it…. But Saito would see a wry grin cross the elf's face before he was struck.
Alriik would be knocked away, getting brief air time before landing hard on his back. Shirosame, his dear katana could tumble from his hand, landing on the pavement. For a moment, he lay motionless... Until the elf's collection of blades would began to shake and shudder against the pavement, discarded katana included. The elf would begin to give off a faint chuckle… Which turned into a heart felt laugh… Then a hearty guffaw… Before turning into something loud, echoing and deranged. The elf would slam his hands against the ground, a gust of wind from his greatsword pushing upwards and onto his feet. The elf would take a moment to compose himself… But even as he did, there was a look in his eye and a smirk on his face.
He'd clap his hands together three times, stepping forward. “Bravo! Wonderfully skilled you are, Ser.” A gust of wind would emit from the katana on the ground, propelling it back into Alriik's hand, where he would sheath it. “It's one thing to be overpowered, outsped… But rarely if ever does a man show me up on his swordsmanship alone. Saito, good ser, you have made my day.” The grin not leaving his face, he'd take one knee, looking down. “May I better introduce myself. I am of the Dawnbringers, Captain Frida Nyhorlothor's personal retinue. We currently are gathering information on the goings-on in this area, but recent events have left me…. Compromised, and these swords are vital to my well-being due to the way my clan augmented and altered my biology with their magic. Though I understand where you were coming from… I ask you see where I am, as well.”
He would take a moment to allow Saito to answer, before speaking again. “Allow me two more requests of you. First, Captain Nyhorlothor's Father is in desperate trouble. Is there any way we could acquire your assistance for the coming trials? I feel a blade of your caliber would be of great use in the coming days. Second…” He'd bow even deeper… Before the grin changed into a Chesire-esque twisted grin. “… Round 2?” Saito would see the air around Alriik's greatsword distort, before a massive gust caused it to launch from it's sheath, flying hilt-first toward the samurai!
Expecting Saito to dodge, Alriik quickly drew the twin dragon teeth, jabbing them into the ground, before pulling them up, the blades now impaled on a large stone. He'd watch for which direction Saito dodged, before swinging his blades, the rocks flying from the twin swords at high speeds, attempting to catch him in the middle of the dodge! He'd then leap at Saito, the blades of each sword releasing a bellowing gust of wind, causing him to spin like a top as he moved through the air, as he attempted to strike repeatedly with the dull sides!
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Post by Albireo on Jun 21, 2020 1:45:09 GMT -5
Meribia Lower-Quarters The Steel Rose Front Saito The look on Saito's face was one of distaste, though it would be barely visible underneath the hat, he still at this moment had the hat and cloak on. He sensed his strike earlier was shallow, not enough resistance, meaning Alriik had jumped with it. That held true as he watched him retrieve his weapon. As Alriik brandished his other weapons, Saito didn't seem to share the optimism of the situation that his opponent did. "So battle is just a game for you then? On top of that you have a duty and would jeopardise it by fighting uninvolved civilians? You are no warrior, just a child playing hero", say that as he might, Alriik's arsenal began to become active. Magic? It wasn't unexpected, and yet to see him brandishing his magic meant trouble, not just for him but also for those around them. This area was not exactly the most spacious, a simple fight with swords could be sustained here, but if he used magic too... Regardless, fighting magic users was not something he was unfamiliar with, but this boy was far craftier than the one he fought earlier, already layering a few different approaches. Unfortunately they were both overly dramatic when it came to their standing as people. The greatsword launched hilt-first at Saito was blocked by the wooden cane, yet it shattered as it veered off-course. It wasn't a complete deflect, causing the blade to swing a bit and swipe his hat away, leaving Saito with just his cloak, his face now properly visible. Given the size of the large boulder, he would be hard-pressed to see his opponent would he move away, furthermore they both had comparable land speed, but he expects the magic user with wind can probably move a bit faster in this condition. If he was up against a caster this would not be an issue, but this one used a mix, finding a way to stand his ground would be the best option, and enter close-quarters on his terms. He took a deep breath as he lowered into a stance, one hand on the sheath and the other poised around the handle of his katana. "I see now you came here to die, well then 'hero', you shall die a fool's death, and your journey shall end here". As the boulder went flying towards Saito there was a tangible suspense in the air as the opportunity of Saito dodging increasingly became unlikely. A single flash of silver, followed by a perfect line down the center of the large stone would open up and reveal that Saito had slashed the rock in two. In that moment, his silhouette beyond the stones was like that of a demon, black garb, glowing red eyes, and steam-like breath as his hair appeared to flair up. Dull sides or not, Alriik's use of magic seemed to send a different signal. Lunging between the stone he had cut in two he aimed for a single stroke to rest his blade against his throat. Depending on his reaction and speed, would his blade reach his neck first? Or would Alriik's? Or perhaps a deadlock?
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Jun 22, 2020 18:56:48 GMT -5
As Alriik twirled at his opponent, there were no thoughts in his head. Only actions. Head finally clear, grin stretched across his face, he'd bring his swords together, slamming the against Saito's katana. “YES! VERY GOOD! I-“ His eyes meeting Saito's, he'd finally see the man's expression was the opposite of his own. No thrill for battle, no heroic smile or desperate resolve. Only darkness and death. “… Your eyes…” In that moment, Alriik's grin melted into a look of pure worry. The pressure on his swords would wane, his grip loosening. And he was back there again.
In the pens of Exxos, having finished his sanguination of two different blades. In Port Town, charging towards the burning Church of the Lady of Light. Axala, his mother, approached his cage. He barreled into the doors of the Church, revealing Xaphan, surrounded by his dead subjects. Axala kneels down to look him in the eyes, and explains just why he is such a failure. Xaphan's body twists unnaturally towards him, loosing floating like a marionette loosely placed on the ground. Such darkness… Their eyes were once filled with light. Where was the light? Where was the light?
Within a second, Saito had taken advantage of his shock, blade against his neck. “… Forgive me, friend. I believed I had found a kindred spirit. But you aren't like the other man I knew from Toku… Got a bit presumptuous. My swords will return to their sheathes and remain there.” He'd proceed to sheath his two dragon teeth, and raise his hands in surrender. “I meant you no ill will, honest. But… Your eyes… The death in them… What did you do?”
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Post by Albireo on Jun 23, 2020 3:31:53 GMT -5
Meribia Lower-Quarters The Steel Rose Front Saito The exchange came to an immediate close as he from a lowered stance with his blade pointing up, the edged side pointed at his opponent's throat. In that split moments right before the blade stopped, it really felt like he was out to kill, a true killing intent. Not something one can forge in a dojo. Saito's eyes were wide in the heat of battle, still ready to move again. It was rare however for someone to ask him when they saw those eyes, anything at all in fact. Many of those he had fought and apprehended simply cowered in fear, so it seems this man too had some grit to him, but it was undisciplined and unrefined. As Alriik posed him the question at bladepoint, a simple twist of the wrist pointed the edged side away before he stepped back, pulling his blade away, recognizing that his opponent had surrendered, if the hands had not been any indication. He flicked the blade to the side before twirling it and cleanly sheathing it away, so too did simply putting the blade away have a form it seems, like a technique. As the atmosphere began to thin out again, he took a pause as he thought about how to answer... Indeed, what did he do? The rise of Toku's current shogunate was a bloody one, a lot of resistance from within, the people, and soldiers from old wars. There was plenty of blood to be shed in all of Toku's history, peace or otherwise. At the apex of the last generation's though was him. "Many things, unfortunately I am not forthcoming to be a storyteller right now", he responded. He took a breath, and stepped over to pick up his hat, also paying respects to the shattered cane. Though it's life was short, it was still a present from someone. Then turning back to Alriik. "Alriik is it? Well, I have little interest in your merry band, I only hope they are more disciplined than you are", for a moment it seemed as if he would walk off, but he headed towards the bar instead. "Be that as it may, while you're here it would be wise to have a drink", he entered before Alriik. It seems at the very least he would talk.
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Jun 23, 2020 15:48:29 GMT -5
“Understood.” He'd reply. As Saito approached the bar, Alriik would retrieve his greatsword, and follow the samurai into the bar. The inside, as opposed to the sheet metal exterior, was made of sturdy, well-worn oak. Various lanterns and fire places showed the area was a bit dusty, but full of life. The walls echoed friends and family members talking over one another, waitresses and bartender replenishing drinks and providing meals. In the back, the kitchen could be seen, a massive man gingerly managing orders on a tiny stove. The walls were lined with paintings- The Nyhorlothor family, various notable figures from the town… And near the back, was a picture of a younger-looking Alriik, standing an grinning at the side of a platoon of guards.
Alriik would take a deep breath, closing his eyes and taking it all in… When suddenly, she was upon him. A little old lady, half his size, would grip his ear, twisting it and pulling the elf's torso down so he could hear her yell at him at her height. “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT, AL!? You start fights in front of my bar, you go around yelling, and unless the princess turned into a male human, YOU DIDN'T BRING HER.” The elderly human woman would proceed to pull Alriik toward the bar. “You are damned lucky I feel too indebted to you to throw your ass on the street!” Alriik would winge in pain as he was pulled away. “Ow, Isa, I swear! The first fight was self defense!” The woman would turn, and look to him. “And the second?” Alriik would flash a bit of a nervous grin, shrugging. “Ego, adrenaline and a love of the fight?” The woman, unimpressed, would continue pulling the elf to the bar.
Leaving Alriik by a stool, Isa would then walk to the other side. She'd motion for Saito to approach. “Sir, please forgive my idiot. Since you had the self control to not lop his pretty little head from his shoulders, I suppose you've earned a few drinks on the house.” Alriik would chuckle a bit. “Aww, you think I'm pretty.” The woman would roll her eyes. “Good to look at, good at fights, good heart, dumb as a sack of rocks.” Alriik would sigh. “I mean… 3 out of 4 ain't too bad.” Isa would look to Saito. “The name's Isabella Williams, proprietor of the Steel Rose. It is nice to meet you, Stranger. What's your drink?”
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Post by Albireo on Jun 24, 2020 0:57:54 GMT -5
Meribia Lower-Quarters The Steel Rose Saito Saito found a seat at the bar, so this vagabond with a title was a regular here. It wasn't the first he'd heard of heroes fighting for a country that didn't seem to appreciate them, it was a very common trait in those he'd cut down. Still, it was strangely refreshing to not be required to do so by a duty. Regardless it appeared as though this man's lack of discipline was a well-known feature. As the lady who introduced herself as Isabella turned to him, he simply responded, "Just some tea will do". It was a rather hard cut through the more jolly atmosphere that was just established, but it was all in his character. He got his tea in any case, and a kettle, they didn't seem to have anything fancy but that didn't bother him, this as an establishment that sold liquor afterall, tea was not a common if at all purchase here. After he and Alriik had settled and their drinks were served, he turned the conversation back to him. "So then, tell me about your outfit, the Dawnbringers. I don't guarantee any assistance, but if you're helping these people, at the very least our current goals would align", his statement and request was rather cold and business-like. He heard talk of children disappearing when the people confronted Alriik, either he was wrong on the mark some few days ago, or there was more to it than that. He would hope it was neither of those assumptions and he truly was right, but often it was not so simple. He hoped it was just a deranged lunatic mage, but the more he poked, the stranger it began to appear. It would do him much good to not get involved with these affairs, yet his own principles even in his current state would not allow such things to go unpunished.
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Post by Swim on Jun 24, 2020 1:09:16 GMT -5
Unfortunately there wasn't enough time for Itham to answer all of the group's questions, and as much as Terra wanted to ask him more about her crystal she wanted to give Frida as much time as possible with her father, and so she stayed quiet until it was time for them to leave. Itham didn't seem terribly concerned about his own situation, instead asking that they investigate the mystery of the disappearing children. He seemed to imply that they were somehow connected to a blight mage operating out of Mt. Remorse, though how those two things were connected Terra couldn't say. She still wasn't even convinced the blight mages had set up within the Frontier, she'd seen no evidence so far, but Terra had to trust that Itham was aware of the goings on within his own country.
Frida was silent as she led the way through the streets of Meribia. Terra stared at the back of the girl's helmet as they followed her, wondering how she must be feeling at this point. Terra took it as a positive sign that Itham was unharmed, and that his jailers seemed to be friendly towards him. She'd anticipated having to help prove Itham's innocence, but now it looked like he'd be able to handle the situation himself in time. A thought occurred to her, but now didn't seem the best time to bring it up with Frida. So she continued to follow the elf through the rainy streets, glancing around at the emptied market stalls and the nearby homes.
Even partially obscured by the light rain, Terra couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of elven architecture. In fact, the drizzle might have even served to heighten the mystique, shrouding the homes in a misty veil. It had never occurred to Terra that a home should look so fancy, she'd grown up preferring function over form. And yet... each of these buildings might have jumped out of the pages of a storybook, and Terra found herself mesmerized. But even these grand homes were as nothing compared to Nyharllothor Manor. Only now, as she followed Frida through the sprawling marble gardens and into the magnificent estate behind them could Terra truly appreciate the scope of the word 'Princess'.
Once inside Frida explained where the bedrooms were and left before anyone could say much else. She must have a lot on her mind. Terra sighed as she climbed up the stairs to her bedroom and dropped off her belongings. Then she looked around. The bedroom was quite spacious, decorated with fine artwork, an ornate looking fireplace and hand crafted furniture, and dominating the center of the room was an enormous bed. Terra walked over to it and pressed down, testing its firmness. It was softer than any she'd ever felt before. She was about to throw herself down on it but at the last moment remembered her armor and hastily peeled that off. She'd have felt terrible dirtying the sheets or catching a thread between the joints in her mail. Once she had changed into plain clothes Terra fell backward into the soft bed and stretched out, and out, and out. She propped herself up, now completely enveloped in blankets and peered around. Terra couldn't believe she had room to sprawl out like this, the bed was so vast it could easily fit two or three people! Nobody needed a bed this large, and presumably Nyharllothor Manor had one in each of its guest bedrooms.
Despite how plush and comfortable the bed was, sleep didn't come. After a time Terra got up from the bed and walked over to the bedroom window where rain continued to patter down. In clearer weather it would have offered a wonderful view of the gardens below, maybe tomorrow she'd have a better opportunity to admire them. Terra sighed again and stepped away from the window. She knew she should get some sleep but right now she felt restless. Frida and Itham had both told her to make herself at home, so she figured there was no harm in walking around until she got tired.
Stepping into the now empty hallway Terra was a little unsettled by how quiet everything was. The hallways were long and wide, but there was no sound at all apart from her own footsteps and the rain coming down outside. None of her companions were anywhere to be found, presumably they'd all gone to their beds for the night. Without really intending to, Terra found herself standing outside Frida's room. She felt torn by conflicting desires to comfort her friend but also to give her the space she required. At one point she raised a hand to knock, but after a few moments of thought she let it drop to her side. She'd made her decision.
Near the stairwell Terra passed the Nyharllothor family portrait once again, this time taking a closer look. She smiled at the child Frida, she’d been an adorable kid. Then she turned her attention to Frida's mother, who appeared to be the spitting image of her friend now. The resemblance was uncanny, and small wonder that every citizen in the Frontier was able to recognize her now. Terra frowned as she studied the woman in the portrait, beloved by her daughter, husband and countless citizens. "What happened to you..?" Terra whispered quietly.
Terra spent the next few hours exploring the manor. Some of the rooms were locked, but most she was able to tour at leisure. First she came to the kitchens and fixed herself a snack to eat as she continued her exploration. Adjacent to the kitchen was a vast dining room with enough chairs to seat dozens of people. Next to that was a parlor for entertaining guests, and a studio containing musical instruments of all kinds. Further on she stumbled upon what must have been Itham's workshop, filled with clay, paints and various half finished projects. There was a training room filled with padding and a variety of weapons, Terra assumed this was where Frida had been instructed in combat. Finally, Terra stumbled upon the Map Room. This room might have been most impressive of all. The walls were all painted to resemble a map of the world and in the center of the room stood a spinning globe nearly as tall as Terra was. Mounted along the walls were masks, weapons, taxidermy animals, and various exotic items that Terra couldn't identify. “These must be trophies from General Aqua’s world travels,” Terra thought to herself. As she gazed up at the decor Terra accidentally knocked over a small plastic tube. As she picked it up from the floor Terra realized that it was intended to protect some important document, and she drew out the rolled up parchment to find a map, much like the one that Frida had shown back in Eulene. It appeared to depict the Northern Wastes, a land mass above The Frontier if Terra remembered correctly. As she studied the map now Terra noticed a number of black Xs in various places. Probably locations that the Nyharllothor family visited at one time or another. It didn’t mean much to Terra now so she rolled it back up and set the tube aside. There was still so much more to take in. The map room was almost a museum one could spend all day in. Once more Terra found herself envious of the elven lifespan. She was sure it would take several human lifetimes to explore all of these places in person.
After several hours of exploring the manor Terra finally felt tired enough to sleep. This time she sank into the soft sheets and faded into peaceful slumber. Terra awoke feeling well rested the next morning, she strapped on her gear and went to join the others outside. A good night of rest seemed to have done wonders for the rest of the Dawnbringers as well. Frida explained her plan to split up and see what they could uncover, and Alriik got very excited. Terra smiled. This was good, she'd been worried about him the last couple of days, this was a positive sign. She just hoped he wouldn't get into too much trouble on his own. Rion and Silver also seemed to have ideas they wanted to pursue and they left shortly after the elf. That left Terra alone with Frida, Arne and Hien.
"I don't know anyone in this city apart from the Nyharllothor family," she began. "I don't have any contacts I can shake down for leads. But I had an idea about where I might go to find information about these disappearing children. If all of the adults in town are clueless then I want to find a school and ask some questions of the other children. Even if the kids themselves have amnesia, surely one of their friends has noticed them leaving at night and tried to follow them. Maybe I can retrace their steps, do some digging, find some clue..."
"It might be worth looking into," Frida said thoughtfully. "The largest school in Meribia is the Laphaessir Academy run by Archmage Silennai. It's probably where I would have learned to use magic if my parents hadn't taught me. Funny enough, I was actually planning on taking both of you there after our talk on the Shepherd about finding masters for the two of you."
"Well that settles it, lead the way!" Terra said to Frida before looking over to Arne. "What do you say Arne, ready to find an instructor?"
The sun shone brightly now as Frida led the way through the now crowded marketplace and toward the academy. Humans and elves hurried around them going about their business, but once they were through the crowds Terra fell into step next to Frida and spoke to her. "A thought occurred to me last night after your father told us to concentrate on gathering information about these children. It seems like he's going to be okay, that his current situation is just a large and annoying inconvenience... That he'll soon be free and back to business as usual. Which makes me think that arresting him and removing him from office isn't the end goal of whoever is scheming behind the scenes. I'm wondering if he's meant to be a distraction. That your father is merely an obstacle in the way of someone pursuing a larger prize. If that is the case they'll make their move soon. Can you think of any large event happening in the next few days, some piece of legislation one of the governing houses might sneak past while everyone is focused on the business with your father?"
Aqua listened in earnest to Terra’s suspicions. Until now the group had been supportive but not very vocal about their thoughts on the situation at hand, and she found herself glad to have discussion. “I agree. My father said much the same, that this is a ‘power play’ by the House of Man against him and that it has no real weight to it. But now that we’re here I’m starting to notice there’s a strong air of tension wherever we go. I’m full aware that things in the city and between the races aren’t quite equal, but it must be being escalated by the forces at work as it has never been like this before. I mean, the way they treated Alriik when he walked into town… that’s so unheard of.” Aqua looked down as the memory passed again. She would ponder for a moment any large events coming soon. “I’m not quite sure. My father would have mentioned a bill in the houses if it were something like that. And there’s no way they could pass such a thing when they so blatantly tried to get my father out of the way to do it, it’d be anarchy.”
“They can’t go through public channels then. Hopefully Alriik can find something with his friends in low places… Whatever they’re planning, they’ll do it soon. They’ll want to make their move while your father is still imprisoned, there’s not a large window of time left.”
After a short walk they came to a sign which read "Laphaessir Academy for Gifted Youngsters." Beyond it lay a great stone building surrounded by grassy fields and encircled by a wall. Far afield Terra could see groups of mages drilling in the yard. Was this what formal education was? Terra’s heart beat excitedly, longing to be out in the field with them and learning new magic forms. Terra and the others followed the wall along the perimeter until they came to the gatehouse. Terra glanced at her companions thoughtfully. “I suppose it’s better that we don’t lead with wanting to get inside so we can interrogate the students. Wait here a moment, I'm going to try to be discrete.”
Terra entered the gatehouse and found an older human woman seated behind a desk. Terra walked up and greeted the woman with a cheery wave. “Hello! Your academy is just beautiful from the outside, I was wondering how visitors might go about booking a tour of the grounds?”
The woman behind the desk narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Terra. “The academy is off limits to visitors,” she finally responded. “Only students and faculty are allowed inside.”
“Supposing I was a prospective student,” Terra offered. “How would I know that this was where I wanted to learn magic if I couldn’t tour the academy beforehand?”
The old woman gave a throaty laugh which turned into a fit of coughing. When she’d finished she back up at Terra. “You must not be from around here. The facility isn’t why people come to study here, it’s the faculty. Everyone in The Frontier knows the Archmage Silennai by his reputation for turning out the best mages in the world. You can apply like anyone else and see if they’ll accept you… but if you’re not from Meribia you’re probably wasting your time.”
“I’ll take that chance,” Terra said confidently, picking up an application and retreating a short distance to fill it out.
Once it had been completed Terra returned it to the old woman who pulled out a pair of spectacles and began looking it over. After a couple minutes of awkward silence Terra attempted to make small talk. “So… the Academy for Gifted Youngsters eh? I’m not too old to enroll here right, won’t stand out?”
The elderly woman snorted. “Bit of elven humor. We’re all youngsters compared to the Archmage…” Then she frowned, clearly unhappy with something written on Terra’s application. “As I thought, you’re not from Meribia. I’ll need to see your travel visa.” Terra reached into her bag and fished out the papers from the immigration office. The old woman studied these documents and looked up after a moment, a look of surprise on her face. “Are you… traveling with the Princess?” Terra nodded, no point in trying to conceal that now. “Well you should have led with that, I’ll get these approved by admissions right away!”
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