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Post by Albireo on Sept 8, 2020 1:41:59 GMT -5
Meribia Saito As he followed Alriik to the source of the commotion, he began to smell scorched earth, and a thick, rotting smoke amidst it. The scent conjured up images of those mutilated by the blight in one way or another. So to speak, he had simply been in contact with many victims of such to be able to recognize it on smell alone... Wading their way through the crowd they would eventually come to the scene. An Archmage, or at least that's what Alriik had referred to him as such after disappearing, suspiciously exit the scene without answering to them. He was not under the impression that he was their Blight Mage, but it seems based on the murmurs it indeed was not him. It was obvious enough this was a Blight mage attack, and he would have retorted as such, until he saw Alriik make use of the shimmering white Toku blade he had, glowing as it struck the crystal lightly. After which, he was referred to for his input. The mage who had disappeared in lightning did not make things better for himself either whether or not he was one. He would need to be questioned later. "Hmph, other than the aforementioned, not too much. As this wasn't some thief in the night or discrete murder, it'll be best to get witness accounts. We'll get a lot more information this way", he suggested. This all happened out in the open, if they wanted leads they should probably get information from those who watched. Hopefully, there were some who saw where their attacker had come from prior to the battle, and where they ran off to afterward. Though as his comment came out, the man named Sam made his comments on the matter too. Based on what he'd said, the reports on their already identified Blight Mage, and the type of attack, did not match... To Saito, this was heavily concerning. To discover the presence of an additional enemy was never good news. Then soon after, the presence of two dragons were reported. This was... Certainly not common, and made things seem quite dire. He almost cursed under his breath before turning back to the conversation. He has no further comment, but seeing as he was not the one being addressed nor was he the one with recognition or authority, he would not speak out of turn. He turned to Alriik waiting for his answer. Would they go, or did they have more reason to stay here? Personally, he did not, but perhaps if he had the cooperation of the authorities, having them collect witness accounts would be helpful.
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Post by Swim on Sept 10, 2020 21:43:53 GMT -5
After several hours of work Boltin held aloft the fruits of his labor, an artificial crystal. It was smooth and transparent as glass, and most importantly could be charged with electricity. Unlike the discarded blight crystal Boltin could interact with the energy inside, sense how much power was stored and manipulate it freely. He’d successfully bottled lightning, giving him an energy source through which he could power all of his other projects. It was however taxing to imbue the crystal with so much of his own mana. He’d have to develop another means of generating power.
At this point the sun was just beginning to peak over the treeline. Boltin got up and stretched. Soon Lisesh returned for him and the two walked around Bultaranis. A lot had changed in a short time. There were several new buildings. The health clinic, the school, housing for all the new workers. And outside of town there were some more peculiar decorations, dead bandits hung up on spikes, now picked clean by the crows. Lisesh explained what she had done and Boltin nodded in understanding. He had wanted these citizens to be empowered to protect themselves from monsters, and that included bandits. He’d certainly slain his share, there would be no reproach for him. Several lightning mages stopped what they were doing and gave respectful salutes as Boltin and Lisesh walked by. It felt good to be appreciated, it meant that he was on the right path.
As they made their rounds Boltin explained his plans to Lisesh for further improvements around the town. He expected them to be met with some skepticism but instead she appeared to take everything in stride. Clearly the ideas spoke for themselves. Good. Maybe now he’d be left to his own devices. She even made the suggestion that additional windmills be constructed outside of town and the existing ones repurposed to meet their energy needs.
The pair met with the miners guild next and explained Boltin’s reason for calling them. The foreman looked at Lisesh with some bewilderment but she nodded and repeated Boltin’s commands. The foreman shook his head in confusion but nonetheless went to inform his men. It made no sense to him but they had been well paid thus far, there was no reason to complain. He gave the order to split up his crew. Most of the men would be traveling to a ruin in a nearby province to mine a useless mineral, he and a few others would remain in Bultaranis and begin making plans for an excavation beneath the town. What exactly they hoped to find the foreman didn’t know, but as long as their funds held he and his men would do whatever they asked.
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Post by Swim on Sept 10, 2020 22:08:23 GMT -5
Terra was straightening her armor and wiping away the dirt from her face when Frida came over to congratulate her. "That was a lot tougher than I was expecting," Terra responded with a sigh of relief. "I really thought he had me for a minute. If he and Arelyn are any indication of the caliber of mage that comes out of this school then I think me and Arne are going to learn a lot."
Terra showed Frida the schedule Arelyn had given her. "It looks like Arelyn herself is going to be my fire magic instructor, that should be interesting. Her class isn't held today but we've still got plenty to do. Unfortunately with all the attention on us right now I don't think we can discretely ask about the missing children... I think Arne and I might have to come back and do that without the princess beside us."
While Terra listened to her friend's response the elf reached over and pulled a few stray leaves from Terra's hair. "Thanks, I must've missed those somehow. I guess after that fight we're both a little messy, maybe now would be a good time to go and see your quartermaster for that tune up?"
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Sept 12, 2020 19:01:41 GMT -5
As Vile vanished, Sam quickly conferred with Alriik. He hated to think it, but it felt good having someone approach him with respect, ask his opinion on things. Especially after the day he had. Then Sam mentioned the Blight Mage lived in the mountains. Did the Altiim elves not see such a big threat on the horizon? Were they blind, or did they strike a deal with the bastard? Sam then asked where Rion and Silver went. “I have no idea…” Then the sentinel approached with the news. “Those sound like ours. Don’t go charging swords first in the manor.”
Then Saito would pitch in, suggesting to get info from witnesses, followed by Sam requesting his assistance. He’d take a moment to think, before looking to Saito. “Smart move. Not one I’d usually take, but people tend to not trust the weird-looking elf.” He’d turn to the Commander. “Hey, Sam. Get your soldiers to ask around for what they’ve seen. Remember, in this case specifically, asking kids what they’ve seen is a smart call. I wasn’t in the best of places when we met him, but the Lightning Mage is Vile Rai. He’s an archmage, lightning elmental- obviously, and supposedly a skilled swordsman.”
“Supposedly skilled. But no one had eyes on him when we were attacked.” He’d groan, irritated. “ He was with us when we the ocean, back in Shiner’s Bay. The Captain seemed to know more, we’ll ask her when we find her. And of course, I’ll escort you.” He’d flash Sam a smile. “I don’t need to keep saying it, I’m this town’s hero.” He’d turn to Saito, crossing his arms and looking up, thinking for a moment. “Hey, Saito, you wanna join, or head to the manor? That’s where everyone will be regrouping. Your call.”
---
As Axala opened her window, her quarters were met by a cool breeze. The dust and loose red hairs on her bed were caught by the wind, and tumbled to the floor. She smiled, and looked upon her people. She had done so much in her lifetime. Her people had grown so much stronger. She had found solutions to problems that had plagued her people for generations. She was still young, for an elf, but she had lived a full and meaningful life. And Exalor was ready. One more generation… That may be all it takes for her people’s dream to become a reality. She took a moment, and closed her eyes, taking in the breeze.
Her large metal doors would be rapped against twice. She would sigh, the moment ruined, and would raise her hand, raising a single finger. Light would envelop it as she idly swung it, the doors opening. A younger elf, hair tied back tidily and bespectacled, would enter. “High Educator, preparations are going well for your speech. Within an hour, all will be prepared for your speech, and all of Exxos will be there to listen. Master Exalor has been fitted for his Ascension Robes, and is awaiting your call. Is there anything I can do to assist before your address, or should I go and help with preparations?” Axala would turn to the young elf, a slight look of irritation in her eyes, her arms crossing over her stomach. “Hello, Onel. Do not worry, I am fine, assist with address. I will call for you if I need you.”
Onel would nod nervously, sweat forming on his sweat as he gave his leader a slight bow. “Y-yes, M’lady. I will be going.” He’d begin to walk away… But would stop at the entryway, looking to his High Educator. “Excuse me, m’lady. Father was seen here an hour ago, and naught since. May I know where he went?” Axala would sigh, her patience lost with Onel. “On an errand for your High Educator.” Onel would nervously step to the side, bowing again. “Y-yes, M’lady.Of course. I am sorry to bug you.” The young elf would step away, walking down the hall. As he moved, his look of nervousness changed to one of pure worry.
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Post by Sorrum on Sept 12, 2020 22:42:36 GMT -5
Sam grunted. "Already a step a head of you, got the men on that already." He said in reply to Alriik's suggestion. "If those dragons flew off to Nyharllothor Manor, that just adds to reason to locate Captain Aqua. My men will take care of investigation here, let's roll out." He said with a gesture and headed off toward the West Sector.
~
Aqua listened to her friend speak. "If Arelyn is training you, those blight mages will be coming here for training next." She joked, but then her tone changed seriously. "I took a moment from your match to go over and see how Arne was fairing in his entrance test. He battled a swordsman that fought with two blades, both covered in flames. He was doing well, but apparently the lad wasn't too happy about getting beaten and slashed at him when he showed mercy. He jumped back but was cut on his leg. One of the other instructors, myself, and a few students stopped the match, but Arne wasn't looking too good. A medical team took him to their clinic, but he will be escorted back to the Manor once he has stabilized. He told me to tell you not to worry, and good luck in your match, so when you see him next be sure to congratulate him. You're both academy students now." She tried to end on a good note, despite the bad. "We'll tell the others what happened, since he will need to rest when he returns to the manor."
"If we're going to see the quartermaster, it will have to be brief. The Q's office is inside the naval base west of here. We can reach it by ferrying the canal, much like we did when we rode Sam's canoe upstream. I would have rather saved a visit to the base when all of us were here, but there's still some time left before the rendezvous. Let's get going." Aqua said, leading Terra off the campus grounds.
They headed west some distance before coming to the bridge they'd passed earlier. Along the bank were fishing boats and trade cogs that made their way up and down the strip between the lavish elvish sector and the bustling market. Docked solemnly was a small vessel that flew the symbol on Aqua's cape on it's main sail. The men and women aboard wore armor similar to Aqua's, including the winged helmet but lacking the cape. As they got closer, the woman standing on the dock saluted Aqua in the fashion they'd seen the guards and sentinels doing prior, though her execution seemed rigid. "C-Captain Aqua, ma'am."
"Seaman." Aqua said back, returning the salute. "I require transfer to the Armory, Quartermaster's Office." The soldier nodded and called an order to the other soldiers aboard the transfer vessel. The seaman then led Aqua and Terra aboard the small ship, and soon they were floating down the canal southwest out of the city. The ship would pass through the city walls and down the river through the thick pine forest that had filled the country's wilderness for several miles before a skyline of sails and masts filled their view, with blue and gold buildings scattered throughout. The base sat at the mouth of the river leading into the bay, which was seen to be filled with a number of large trading ships that meandered about in the waters, as patrol ships glided by.
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Post by Swim on Sept 13, 2020 3:45:56 GMT -5
Terra was initially very upbeat when Frida came over to congratulate her, nothing put a spring in her step quite like winning an intense fight. But the moment was ruined somewhat when Frida informed her of Arne's injury. Terra frowned as she listened, trusting Frida's judgment that it wasn't severe and that he'd be joining them back at the manor shortly thereafter. It'd be just the two of them for the remainder of the day then.
She'd follow the elf away from the academy and back to the canal where they boarded a small ship. As they embarked Terra turned to her friend and asked a question that had been bothering her since the academy. "Hey, is everything alright? I know the path is still uncertain as to how we free your father, but as long as we’re together I know we’ll figure it out." Terra took a moment to look over Frida, reading her body language before continuing. "I feel like things got a little more intense than they should have between you and Arelyn. I've never seen anyone get under your skin like that before. It's clear that you two have some history but I can't quite tell what kind of a relationship that is..."
Terra would listen thoughtfully to her friend's response before continuing to say her piece. "Honestly, between you and Alriik it's made me feel like the odd person out for being so optimistic. I think we've had our share of struggle and we're finally on our way to somewhere good. I know things aren't perfect yet but I feel certain that we're making progress for once. That we're finally moving forward. Since we’ve come here I feel like I’m filled with this new sense of energy, like a switch has been flipped inside my head and I’m now hyper aware and feeling more alive than I have in a long time. Like for the first time in years I’m not simply getting by but really living you know?" Terra reached out towards the sky with a hand and closed her fist as if she were grasping hold of the sun. She turned back to look at Frida with a bright smile spread across her face. "I can’t explain it, I just have this good feeling. Like we're meant to be here and that things are really going to start going our way."
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Sept 13, 2020 21:53:09 GMT -5
Arne sat in the infirmary, irritated. The wound on his leg was slightly more than a slightly burned scratch. Even Hien seemed confused, if not a bit concerned. He sighed, his head falling back on his pillow. He needed to be out there. There was magic to learn, kids to save, a dad to get out of jail. But, no, he -had- to be here. His first day learning magic here. Spent in a lonely room. On a bed. Doing nothing. Every minute stretched into eternity as he stared at the ceiling, waiting for word he could leave.
Eventually, a red-haired nurse would step inside, but she would quickly move to the side, her hair obscuring her face. She would rush to a nearby desk, gathering some gauze and medicines for his wound. Arne would groan, looking up. “Hey, I understand that you’re worried, but I’ve had much worse. Can we go ahead and get me out? My friends kind of need me.” The nurse would sigh, before adjusting her outfit. “I’m sorry, sir. Your wound is far too severe.” Arne would look down at the wound, and would stare at the burned scratch. He’d sigh, and lay his head against the pillow. “So, what are you going to do?”
The nurse would giggle a bit, before answering in a deep, familiar voice. “Well, we’re gonna have some fun.” Turning around, the scantily clad lady nurse revealed herself… As Alriik. Removing his wig and approaching Arne. Arne would blink, before his eyes widened. “H-Hey, Al, this isn’t funny-” The silver haired elf would suddenly extend his left leg over Arne, before straddling him. “No, this isn’t funny… C’mon, nothing about me is. It’s all horrible.” Another Alriik, dressed in Terra’s armor, would rise from the side of the bed, leaning by Arne. “But now you can see just how horrible it all is.” A third Alriik, descending from above, wearing Aqua’s set, would grin down at Arne, before whispering into his ear. “Now it’s your turn to play with a bunch of swords.”
Arne would desperately struggle to move away, but his body wouldn’t respond. “H-HIEN! HIEN, HELP!” Hien would turn to Arne, wearing a large pair of sunglasses, a large cigar in his mouth. “SHEEEEEEEEEEEE-IT, I AIN’T GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT!”, the tiny dragon would respond.
---
Arne sat in the infirmary, heavily medicated. The wound on his leg was deep, and heavily burned. Hien curled up on the lap of his wounded and drugged partner. Evenutally, a red-haired nurse would step inside, replacing the bandages on his wounds. Arne would desperately look to the nurse, his eyes dilated and wide, and would give a mumbled comment. “I don’t want your swords.” He would then, lay his head back on the pillow. “… I got a dad to save.” The nurse would chuckle, patting him on the head. “Yes, but you need to recover first. You took a bad hit. Just try to relax.” Arne would weakly grab the nurse’s arm, and would give a final request. “Please, don’t be Alriik.” The nurse would chuckle. “I don’t know what that even is.” Arne would begin to relax, now free of the horror of nurse Alriik haunting him.
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Post by Sorrum on Sept 13, 2020 23:51:48 GMT -5
Aqua was stiff, taking a moment to collect her thoughts, and how to respond properly to Terra. She knew things weren't going well. She avoided it at the camp site, electing to tell another story rather than express her own thoughts and feelings on the things happening around her. But that was important, wasn't it? To stand above the hellish trials of life and rescue those in the embers. But when the future of her dear father was in doubt she felt her foundation at risk, and the shadow of her mother's legacy weighing down ever more heavily on her.
She did not know where to start. She was still aggravated with the return of Silver: how Celestrus dumped a nigh unstoppable blighted dragon on them with no explanation, and the girl required the costly sacrifice of her ice crystal when before Silver had abandoned her and the others to fight that enormous three headed dragon and a yet unseen blight mage. Silver had spoken her peace about it to everyone's understanding, but Aqua herself could not so easily shake off the life threatening consequences of her actions.
Then there was their struggle against Calico. The bastard got away, but not before a close encounter. The steam knight was a grim reminder of the fates suffered by those he captured, to become his experiments. She was not able to learn the fate of her dear friend Frederick either, though she was adamant in her mind that he would not let the prince of Berseria become a guinea pig, she was not entirely sure of the man's motives since no ransom was ever issued.
When it came to Arelyn, she didn't know what to say. The girls had been closer before she became more active in her duties, and Arelyn in her father's academy. Both trying to fill big shoes, and after those became bigger goals in their lives they had a falling out. She held back since she did not want to seriously harm Arelyn, yet Arelyn pulled no punches. That might be something to unpack later, but she could take satisfaction knowing Terra and Arne would be trained proper, a huge benefit considering the challenges ahead.
She was eager to learn more about the missing and amnesiac children; one less problem in her city, the better. It's resolution would surely see her father's freedom, though she had her doubts he would remain incarcerated even if the case remained unsolved. Barr did not scare her, but she had begun to notice the reactions of her friends to the cities and the people, not all was perceived the same. Conditions would have to improve between the races to solve this problem, but was that resolution even a possibility?
She hoped her father would be able to shed some light on the clouds of darkness in her mind. She thought about her mother, and what she would do against the blight. Wait. Mother? Blight? Aqua's head felt painful for a moment, before she collected herself. Alriik had fought for the city before? Xantan? She wondered what experience he really had against the Blight, and what he could propose. She needed to carefully consider her actions, including her words. She took a deep breath and shrugged before turning to Terra while they walked. "Well, if you mean about earlier, I've lost my temper before but it's a little different when it comes to her. See, Arelyn and I met when we were younger, around the time we were both discovering our magical talents. She could control two elements then, but I only had control over.. ice. I think the best way to look at it now is that we're both high profile people in this country: me, the "Princess", and her the heir to her father's school. Their academy has been around for generations, so a spectacle like the one you saw before was a bit more meaningful in some regard, since she sees me as her equal, or rival, I guess, to that legacy. I underestimated her and was humiliated.. I guess my pride couldn't take the blow atop of all this other stress, resting at the top of which is in fact my father but.." Aqua trailed off.
She smiled as Terra told her how The Frontier was changing her perspectives. It did feel like fate was pulling all of them here, from a third person view. Maybe this is where their journeys would end, a final battle with the blight mage in her own back yard to bring an end to the threat worldwide. An idealistic outlook that she could appreciate, and coming from Terra of all people. She remembered their conversation in Logan's clinic and the difference now, as Terra beamed at her with excitement and joy. She returned Terra's grin with a smile of her own. "Oh my. That's really great, Terra. And.. thank you for telling me that. What you just said made it all worth it; Arelyn's burns both physical and metaphysical. Once you're done with the school I'll have to find a way to convince you to join the navy, then we'll go deal with those other Blight mages and hunt down that bastard Calico. You're shining brighter than Rion right now, haha." She joked.
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Post by Sorrum on Sept 14, 2020 14:59:22 GMT -5
North of the coast of The Frontier, past the waters of The Vermillion Sea, was a archipelago of islands collectively known as The Northern Wastes. These lands were once home to native human tribes that had established small kingdoms that worshiped the magically gifted, placing them in the highest tiers of society alongside nobles and royalty. However, harsh weather changes believed to be caused by the storm of The Forbidden Island devastated the islands ecosystems and laid waste to the civilization. This weakness was taken full advantage of by the country of Vane, who would send slave ships to the isles and round up its survivors to serve elf masters for the rest of their lives. In today's world, only remnants of past civilization remain, and those who survived the death of their country now lived as barbarians, pillaging trade ships and unsuspecting coastal villages to make ends meet. One island, specifically the farthest east of the archipelago was named Serpent Rock.
Serpent Rock was a unique area in that it was a hollow inside a large, long string of connecting islands, which twisted and turned. Ships could sail from end to the next and land on subterranean beaches within the domes, which were filled with naturally occurring bioluminescent plants, such as large fungi, and odd patches of mana crystals that emitted light in the night time.
Within this dreamlike tunnel was the lair of the infamous Calico Pirates. The island walls provided stable shelter, and outposts and patrols above would protect the inhabitants from raiding wastees or Frontier Navy assaults. Inside, buildings dedicated to maintaining the pirates, the ships, and their provisions remained dry and undisturbed by the hostile environment outside.
In his office, in the heart of the compound, Calico drummed his fingers on his desk while overlooking a document. Sitting across from him was his research and engineer specialist Sarah, whom looked down at the floor, afraid to look up and see the dread pirates red gaze on her. She had made a mistake, and she waited for his punishment with growing anxiety, the room silent besides the sound of the pirate's fingers drumming on the desk.
"Sarah."
"Captain."
"Explain what went wrong."
"The schematics of these two models of the MAW are very similar, the auxiliary power source addition could be considered a benign hardware update given the already high energy demands of the machine."
"It says here," Calico said, dragging his finger to a line on the page before him. "it's purpose is to restart the machine in event of unplanned shut down, not to help it run an extra mile or two."
"..."
"And that this steam knight had improved safety functions that protected it's mount."
"A secondary, emergency shielding is hardly useful against certain types of magic bombardment."
"Sarah."
"Captain."
"Do you know why I keep you around?"
"Because I'm one of the few people alive that can piece together this technol-"
"No, dear. I keep you around because I consider you family. Now please, stop staring at the floor and look at me." Calico said, breaking the tension. Sarah did so, and saw a soft expression on the captain's face. He held the document aloft. "You made a mistake. We could have given that to one of the boys that's been with us for years but we wasted it on some new-blood land lubber with less life in his eyes than a beached whale." Sarah sighed.
"I'm sorry, captain."
"These things aren't easy to come by, but by the great water titan's breath, I hate seeing a cash cow like that Princess get away, while I simultaneously lose some highly valuable tech." He said in despair, slumping back into his chair and dropping the document on the folder, papers falling out and scattering on the floor. "Bastard might have lived long enough to make it to shore somewhere."
"I think the odds of that are pretty unlikely, Captain." Sarah said, tilting her head. "We could send a ship to inspect the site as well." Calico looked at her in surprise.
"Are you forgetting the Reality Storm? If it wasn't the mages or the waters, you can bet it was that that got him in the end. No, I won't go chasing after some hidden treasure like a pretentious teenager at sea." He said, turning his head up to glare at the ceiling. Silence filled the room again, before Calico groaned and rose, stepping over to a map of the world. He skimmed the locations, looking at waterways and rivers, bays and seas, oceans and continents, before scratching his chin. "Toku.. haven't been that way in a while. Sarah, I want you to stay here and fix up our other Steam Knight so it's better than the one we lost. I'm going to sack some Tokunese villages, find me a nice broad to pour spirits with, and recover what we lost financially." Calico grabbed his hat and put it snuggly before heading for the door, as the red glare in his eye returned faintly. "Should be a fun time."
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Post by Sorrum on Sept 15, 2020 16:24:26 GMT -5
Mr. Honeyfarm wiped the sweat from his forehead with a dry cloth, and covered his eyes from the harsh sun. The portly fellow was currently atop a camel in the Bowl of Wind, the name given to the desert that made up the center of Berseria. He was flanked by two men, one, Buck, his carriage driver and bodyguard, and a male Roc beastia by the name of Durse, a large fellow wearing light green and white armor bearing the Iron Sand Mercenary Corporation emblem on his left breast. His body was covered in light brown feathers, and his rather thin legs were covered by sheets that protected them from the sun. His beak was as shiny as gold, and his eyes like emeralds, shaded by a leather helm which his head feathers could breathe in. Both men rode on camels as well, and were armed. Buck with his saber and pistol, and Durse with a pair of curved blades that resembled sickles.
In front of them rode another beastia, a female eagle breed with a smaller build but similar shape and look to Durse, yet with lighter brown feathers. She was also dressed in similar armor. Her name was Tauros, and it was her duty to both protect and guide the merchant on his way through the desert to Sun Bark, the city where the desert heat broke and grassy fields and farms could be found. It was here that the nation's largest markets existed, and unlike their volatile northern neighbors of Vane, Berseria's markets were open; and booming.
"Desert oasis in several kilometers, respected Honeyfarm." Taurus called back. Mr. Honeyfarm simply looked down in despair, hoping the girl would tell him they were just another sand hill away. Buck drank from his water canteen, and shook the bottle as it swished emptily.
"And not a moment too soon." He cursed. Long ago, the Bowl of Wind was called the Bowl of Water by the citizens of the nation. It was a beautiful sea filled with fantasy like creatures, coral reefs and exotic fish. But some several hundred years ago, the water level receeded below the sands, leading to the sea's death, as well as decorating the desert hills with sun baked corals and skeletons of fish. It was theorized that the sea was once the home of a titan of water, but the titan either died or went into dormancy, as winds and heat soon transformed the ocean floor into a harsh climate. Pockets of water were discovered and trails were made, but those unfamiliar could find themselves lost and dying of thirst soon. Bandit groups naturally began to appear to attack trade routes as established guides appeared, causing a demand for protection, and thus the mercenary group Durse and Taurus belonged to was born. Honeyfarm, a pioneer, had long wanted to break into the Berserian markets. Now that he had a foothold in Eulene and Shiner's Bay, he would find a business partner to bring his business to the international level. So long as he made it through this desert first.
"Any sign of trouble yet, Buck?" Honeyfarm asked. Buck merely shook his head.
"None." he said in reply. Durse squinted at the man and clicked his tongue.
"T'would be lucky, or unlucky to come across such a group. The drought has made even the desert oasis in a rough state. Bandits are better off staying in their caves and rationing their small streams instead of coming for us, especially when we have no caravan to sack."
Buck scratched his chin. "Too bad. I've been practicing my swordplay these last few weeks, wouldn't mind at least a little excitement."
"Careful what you wish for, armsman." Durse said. "Djinn may hear you."
"What's that?" Buck asked. "What's a jim?"
"Djinn, armsman." Durse corrected. "Malevolent spirits that roam the desert, looking for the desperate. These ghostly men and women appear to offer miracles to travelers, but instead cast them into madness they may feed off of. Some say they cursed the respected titan to such a fate, and killed him, causing the Bowl."
"Interesting.." Buck said, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a cigarette. The birdman paused while Buck lit up his smoke, then shrugged.
"Perhaps your eyes are not as world hungry as respected Honeyfarm's." Durse stated.
"No, I don't mean any disrespect. It just sounds a bit far-fetched to me." Buck said, taking a drag. "What do we do if we run into one of those?" He asked.
"Kill it, just like anything else." Durse said flatly. Buck rolled his eyes.
"Don't really know what I was expecting.."
"Quiet, you two." Taurus snapped. She stopped her camel. So did the others. She dropped her reins and stepped off her camel, and scouted ahead on foot while keeping low to the ground. Both Buck and Durse rested their hands on their blade handles, prepared to engage in whatever enemy may be lurking. However, Taurus would soon raise a feather hand up, signaling an all clear. She returned to the group and mounted her camel again. "T'would seem the remains of a caravan attack took place ahead, though there is not a soul in sight. No reason to linger on it, lest we become Bowl Bones." Taurus quickened her pace, followed by the others, as their camels galloped past the remains of a carriage, its inhabitants and cargo kidnapped and stolen.
"Mr. Honeyfarm, when we arrive-"
"Yes Buck, we will hire another guard. I was thinking just the same thing."
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Post by Swim on Sept 16, 2020 23:59:26 GMT -5
Terra laughed along with Frida, it seemed like her positive attitude was infectious, and it filled Terra with joy to see the elf smile again. "I was actually thinking I might look into using my powers for constructive purposes, the roads in Meribia are a work of art." Terra responded as Frida lay out her vision of the future. "I'm sure it'd take awhile for me to learn to build something so immaculate, but... I'm still not sure my place is on a boat. Maybe if you taught me to swim first but..." Terra trailed off and shivered involuntarily as she recalled the dead things she saw in the water. "I had a really close call last time... probably wouldn't be standing here today if Rion hadn't fished me out..."
After a moment Terra shook her head defiantly, clearing her mind of doubts. "What am I saying, a little seawater in the lungs is nothing compared to the blight horrors we faced! And nothing is going to keep me from standing beside you when the time comes to face Calico again. Next time we're bringing him down."
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Post by Sorrum on Sept 18, 2020 19:01:04 GMT -5
Aqua smirked. "Construction as well? I think you may want to pick only a few things to focus on at one time, otherwise you'll go crazy never having any free time. But if it's something you want to look into, I heard a rumor some time ago that there's this beastman fellow by the name of Tyven who's really good at the job. We could seek him out another time, perhaps?" Aqua frowned as Terra recalled her near drowning in the sea during Calico's attack. "I'm sorry, if I hadn't been so hellbent on finding that scourge, I would have taken note and fished you out myself, or given you an island of ice to stand on. You see.. a long time ago, my father and I would be visited by a man known as Frederick, or Freddy. He is, or was, the prince of Berseria. His family, and by extension, the nation of Berseria, became our allies following The Frontier's separation from Vane. His father had come down with an illness that did not allow him to leave his castle during the day, and thus it was the Prince and his two younger twin sisters, the Princesses, that began to visit instead. Frederick was like.. an older brother to me."
"One year, Prince Frederick's ship was attacked as it crossed the Gyre back to Berseria. The Princesses hadn't accompanied him that year thankfully, but unfortunately that was the year Calico had risen in notoriety. A report had come in that ships were disappearing in the seas surrounding us in sudden clouds of fog. Those heads of the navy, notably Iceberg, had thought it some amateur report of novice seaman, and future reports were dismissed regarding them.. until Berseria asked us where Frederick's ship had disappeared to in our own waters."
"Eventually, we were able to find one of these so called fog storms and caught sight of Calico's flagship some nautical miles away, when an armed galley broke free from the clouds and returned to it's main armada. Calico was then tracked back to the eastern wastes, but.. a full assault led by combined Frontier and Berserian forces failed. Serpent Rock is a heavily defended fortress. Efforts to pierce it's hull were met with horrors that sent elf, man, and beastman alike fleeing, unable to fight. And those who did were overwhelmed by the monstrosities Calico kept within. I fear that place as I believe it is as horrible as the threat of Blight, and created by a man no different than any other. More however, I fear the fate of Frederick, as no ransom or demands were ever issued for his safe-being. I believe he may have become one of his experiments.. much like that simpleton thug Calico turned into a walking assault machine."
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Post by Vic Alriikerson on Sept 20, 2020 23:04:31 GMT -5
The full moon held high over Port Town. One side facing the sea, the rest surrounded by the blighted ruins of a massive city now only settled by the dead which refuse to die, Port Town was never an easy town to live in. But it was fair, and hardworking, those living there bonded together by shared struggles and harsh punishments for betrayal. Exile may be a hard punishment elsewhere, but when all that awaits you are the eternally damned and the crashing waves… Few have survived exile from Port Town. And those who have, well, you could hardly count them among the living. The eponymous port of Port Town was the one safe access point to the town: the two roads that ran through the safer parts of the Dranian Ruins were still highly dangerous, and never taken by civilians. But the Port itself was a vital stopping point for ships in the area, the various farms and supplies from inside the walled city have kept many a sailor healthy and along their way. From the port, there would be a small market, and which would lead to the cultural center in the middle of the town, surrounded by the housing areas, would when then lead to the farms that would line take up all of the land between the houses and the walls. The cultural center in the middle kept the most important buildings within Port Town: The Hospital, The Library, the Mayor’s Office, and the Fort. The Hospital was the second largest building, and was notable for the large statue of an elven woman draped in loose robes that was built into the side of the structure. It was always in chaos, due to the harsh nature of the town and the hard work within, not to mention the explosive personalities. The Library was half as tall, but twice as wide, and was a vital point of travel for all residents of Port Town. After all, there was much history to remember and, as the locals love to recite, ‘Port Town Remembers’. Built into the front of the structure was a man dressed like a noble, holding a book. The smallest but most resplendent building was the Mayor’s Office, formerly the Lord’s Estate. It’s name and function changed when the residents as a whole decided the Lord of the Blight Hunter’s Guild and the person running the town should be different people. In it’s grounds, in front of the building, was the statue of an elven man, long haired, caped, and powerful looking. The largest building, behind all of them, was the Fort. The headquarters of the Port Town Blight Hunter’s Guild. The Fort was a large structure, the upper half of it seemingly built at a different time than the bottom, the structure seeming a bit of a haphazard blend between modern and ancient. Before the great double doors leading into the building was a final statue, a woman in armor, standing before a massive wave, and labelled “The Liberator”. The building had few windows, and the few that were there were small. The lower half was made of an old stone, finely built, but the upper half was simpler, but more fortified. The only large window on the building was notable for leading to a simple balcony. The reason for this room being the least defensible was actually quite simple: it was the office of the most powerful member of the Port Town Blight Hunters, it’s Lord. If the blight were to strike, he’d rather it be at him, so he could deal with it quickly. But the Fourth Lord of the Port Town Blight Hunters was not in his office at the moment. On the outside, in among the various smaller buildings and sheds that surrounded the Fort, was a series of animal pens. Horses, and Oxen filled most of the Pens, but near the back was a single Pen, labelled “dangerous”. Inside it was a pack of large, light blue furred wolves, their long hair puffing up and sparks bouncing from follicle to follicle. These were the Thunderwolves, a rare breed of wolves made by a mad Tokunese mage many ages ago. Rare was it that one would be seen so far from their homeland. But the Fourth Lord raised these wolves for a reason: he needed a connection to his unknown home, and they were the perfect conduit to that. The Lord was within the back of the Pen, surrounded by the pack. They all eyed him warily as he tended to a bloated wolf in the back. “C’mon Luna, you got this. Breath, girl.” The beast would wine, before yelping in pain, lightning sparking in all direcrions. The Lord took the blow, the lightning bouncing off of his skin in a burst of light, seemingly without him even paying attention. “I know, it’s a lot, just breathe. Here, let me help. He would take his hand and place it against the wolf’s head, a gentle light shining briefly, as the wolf began to relax somewhat. He would return his hand to the wolf’s stomach, the light shining briefly again, before returning to assisting with the birth. Luna would produce a litter of 12, and despite the runt’s best efforts to pass, none of the pups were lost. After spending an hour with the pack, and ensuring the pups health, he would step from the pen, carrying with him a small container. As he stepped out, the man would become visible in the moonlight: He was a tall man of Tokunese descent, with long golden hair. He walked barefoot, and wore an open white kimono, over a pair of black umanori hakama. His body was covered in scars, his stomach was wrapped in cloth bandages, and his left sleeve, well, it was tied off and loosely flapped in the wind. He stood for a moment, and looked to the moon. And he would smile. Deciding to get a better view of the cosmos, he would return to his office, though the dusty halls of the Fort, and onto his balcony. From there, he could see the entire town, to the walls, and over. But most importantly, no other building stood taller than the Fort in Port Town. So he could enjoy an unobstructed view of the moon and stars above. He smile, and open the container he took with him from the pen. He opened the container, and looked inside- Thunderwolf milk. He would raise the container to the sky, and speak to the moon. To my unknown home I uphold the tradition Or at least try to He’d take a drink of the milk, before sighing, and looking over the horizon, to the broken buildings outside their walls, and those that refused to die within it. He’d sigh, and begin to turn to return to his office, which a flash of light from the edge of the horizon caught his eye. Within a second, the flash became a streak, piercing the darkness and heading straight for the town. Within another, it would have gotten through the gate, and into the town. Upon a third, the source of the streak would be within his Fort. A dog bestia, wearing a white gi, covered in brown fur would soar into his office, the door slamming open, the wind blowing past him at the Guild Lord, strong enough to send a lesser man flying off of that balcony. But the Lord was no lesser man. He simply approached this new figure with a smile.
“Pound, you look like you’ve got news.” said the Lord as he approached the bestia. “Tell me, what’s got you rushing home so fast?” The dog bestia was also known as Pound Lightwalker and was the Lord’s Second-In-Command. As he spoke, he wore a look of pure excitement on his face. “A little birdy told me a silver haired elf with a bunch of swords is in Meribia. Looks like he’s travelling with a certain Lady Frida Nyhorllothor.” The Lord would smile upon this news. “So he’s in the area. Good. Keep an eye on him, but don’t bother him.”
Pound’s face would immediately drop, and his excited tone would shift to one a wining one “But Zaaaaaakk. I haven’t seen Uncle Al in, like, 10 years now. Can’t we just grab him for a few days and drop him back off with the Princess?” The Fourth Lord of The Port Town Blight Hunters, and the grandson of the unnamed warrior who carried the sword Danshiro, Zakk Shiro, would look to the bestia with a stern look. “Look, I miss Uncle Al just as much as you. But if he’s busy, he’s busy. If he has to help the daughter of the Liberator, let him do that. He wouldn’t be gone if he wasn’t working. So just keep an eye on him. We can grab him as soon as he’s got time, or if we really need him.” The bestia would groan. “Fine, I’ll go back to keeping an eye on things. See you tomorrow.” And with that, there was a flash.
And within a second, that flash streaked from the Fort, and within another, it was at the walls, and upon another, it was upon the horizon, where it stayed until it faded into the night. Zakk sighed, and walked through his office, to his quarters. He prepared himself for rest, and climbed into bed, pulling his blanket over him with his singular arm. He turned within his bed, and looked to the small shrine he had set up in his room. It was framed around a small statue of the same woman seen on the side of the hospital, an ancient and often forgotten deity of light. Her arms were open, and upon her arms he laid his set of 6 tokunese blades… And her face he had covered with an odd alabaster mask… That seemed to glow, even in the darkness.
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Post by Swim on Sept 21, 2020 23:36:13 GMT -5
"I like to keep my options open," Terra smiled coyly when Frida called her out for wanting to get involved in several vocations. "I'd started thinking about it after talking with Alriik earlier. About what I'd like to do I mean, when the day comes that we don't have to fight anymore. And I really admire how your father and a lot of the other earth mages in Meribia can use their gift for something besides battle. So it is something I'd like to learn, maybe as a new hobby if nothing else."
The conversation turned back towards their encounter with Calico and his pirates, and Frida shared a sad tale of a person who had been very dear to her. Terra listened with all the compassion she had as Frida described her loss, and subsequently the failed assault on Serpent Rock. "So you know where to find Calico but he's holed up in a fortress too tough to crack..." Terra's expression turned thoughtful. "It's a good thing you know an earth mage then. But maybe a direct assault isn't the best approach... Maybe a small group of mages could accomplish what the navy couldn't. If we could slip onto Serpent Rock unnoticed we could disable Calico's defenses from the inside. Once we've stripped his armor we can signal the fleet to come and mop up. We'll face down Calico together this time and we'll either find Prince Frederick or we'll avenge him."
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Post by Sorrum on Sept 25, 2020 19:23:28 GMT -5
Aqua's eyes lit up at Terra as she suggested The Dawnbringers launch an attack on Calico's fortress. "I.. I mean. That would be great.. it would really put a lot of people's minds at ease to bring that terrible man to justice. But I fear that asking you and the other Dawnbringers to risk their lives for something that I am personally invested in may be too selfish. And if.. if we were to capture him and rescue Frederick, you'd surely become an honorable hero among the lands beyond The Frontier and Berseria. But such a task.. I wonder if we are truly capable.." She wondered allowed, fantasizing of the idea. "Between you and I, Terra, I fear the expectations passed down on me from my mother's legacy. If I could bring peace and faith to those who fare the seas, and their families at home who mind them, I could stand to shed this shadow of her power. I have feared that since my magic is not nearly as potent as hers I may not be capable of ever avenging Frederick or those lost at the hands of pirates. But.. perhaps if I had you and The Dawnbringers aboard The Mirage, we very well could.."
~
The Naval base, Meridian Shield, was composed of several fortresses built along the coast and supplemented by myriad buildings, notably was the amount of canals leading from the seperate fortresses and buildings where several long battleships could be seen ferrying from the open sea to the different buildings. These warships were quite larger than the trade ship they had traveled on to The Frontier, and were manned by soldiers wearing armor similar to Aqua's. Notably, large harpoon guns and cannons sat atop and within the ships hull, underneath a blue and gold sail canopy. Some mages could be seen near the waters around the ships, adjusting them to flow fluidly through the canals and weaving through the passages toward the different buildings, where workers would both supply and repair the ships while seaman disembarked and either rested or tended to the injured. Of these, some men wore dark blue suits and black hats with gold trim, signifying their status as senior officers in the navy and either Captain or Admiral ranked. Servicemen wore blue or dark gold jumpsuits as they tended to the ships, some with the assistance of magical powers and some not. Regardless of this difference, nobody would be found slacking around the higher ranked officials. Even as their canoe glided by, Aqua seemed to stiffen and stand upright as one such tailored officer turned and walked toward their boat, even though they had been passing away at a distance it would be unreasonable to assume he was coming toward them.
The canoe carried them through these canals to a building that smelled of burning coals and steam. The Armory was a blue and gold trimmed building like the others but unlike them did not have access to its insides by the river, those wishing to enter would have to disembark at the port and enter. Within the walls, several men and women gifted in metal and leatherworking created and repaired the blue and gold armor worn by the members of the navy. One special department, that had closed down temporarily due to lack of resources, dedicated itself to creating the crystal weapons used by different military members, as well as designing for other implications useful to the navy. Here, weapons much like Sharksbane were created and delivered or rewarded to outstanding individuals in the military, but for the time being, it's doors were closed.
Upon disembarking, Aqua grabbed Terra's hand and quickly led her to the armory's doors. "We should keep a low profile while we're here today, otherwise it'll lead to us being late to the rendezvous." She explained, and opened the doors without delay. Inside, the building was hollow and composed of steel beams that held up its roof, which was covered in multiple vents, and everywhere one looked you could see many pieces of armor, from breastplates to helmets to shields to blades, on racks and on tables, being inspected and tended to by individuals in black aprons and goggles. Upon entry, one individual noticed the pair first. He was an older man in his 60s with most of his head bald, save for frizzy white hair that bushed out around the black goggles strapped to his head. His nose curled like a beak, and he had several scars from burns suffered from accidents while smithing. He wore a blank white shirt that had accumulated black dust at his wrists, and his hands were covered in thick black gloves meant to protect him from high heat. He was a tall fellow as well, at least a head taller than Rion or Alriik. He dropped what he was doing, which was helping another three smiths carry a heavy piece of equipment across the floor, causing an accident in the process, and strode over to Aqua and Terra.
"Well, if it isn't Captain Frida!" He shouted proudly. Aqua smiled.
"Hello, Quartermaster Jacobs." She replied. "Never one for a formal greeting, are you?"
"Not in a million years, honey!" He said. The old smith reached over and snagged Aqua by the shoulder, and pulled her in for a hug, which she returned. "It's good to see you again, young miss." He said, then let her pull away. "Though, we thought you'd be gone much longer."
"Yes well, things have happened.."
"Right, your father. Don't worry, Barr is an idiot and this stunt is gonna cost him in the end."
"I agree." Aqua said, smiling at the man's comment. One long look at Aqua, and Jacobs was tilting his head.
"What happened to your visor? And the rest of your gear? Looks like you had some outside work done."
"You're right, sir. I did. This is my friend, Terra, she's the one responsible. I believe she's got some real talent in her, I'd like you to take a look at her skills."
"Well, well.." Jacobs grinned, taking a look at Terra and appraising her armor with interest, then looking at Aqua's. The man bit his lip and focused as years of armorsmithing experience evaluated the girl's work.
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