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Post by Swim on Oct 4, 2020 18:11:21 GMT -5
Terra listened with equal parts pity and compassion as Frida described her fear of being unable to be a worthy successor to her mother’s legacy. When she was finished Terra bit her lip, taking a moment to decide how she wanted to respond. “Your mother sounds like an extraordinary mage, blessed with incredible ability that most mages could never hope to rival... And it bothers me that you feel like you need to be her equal, when no one can reasonably ask that of you. This expectation that you measure up to her, it seems to me, is more self imposed than anything. Nobody expects you to be a Titan, Frida. It’s alright for you to walk your own path. We’re all doing the best we can and… for what it’s worth, I think you’re the strongest person I know.”
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Once they’d reached the naval base Terra looked around with excitement, taking everything in. It was an impressive sight to behold. Warships as far as the eye could see, all armed to the teeth and crewed by men and women in dark blue uniforms. At that moment it was hard to imagine a foe like Calico or even the blight mages themselves standing much of a chance.
Terra followed closely behind Frida as she led the way to the armory. A rush of warm air met them as they stepped inside, where Terra could see dozens of blacksmiths hard at work. It was much more expansive than her uncle’s simple forge, something to be expected as these men were providing arms for the entire navy, but the contrast caught Terra off guard nonetheless. She was so absorbed with the environment, the sounds and the smells of the forge that she didn’t even notice Quartermaster Jacobs until Frida called her name and brought her back to reality.
“What’s that? Oh yes, I did some field repairs, mostly just mending the acid burns and oiling up the joints so the pieces wouldn’t catch, I’d have done better with an actual forge to work at.”
Terra noticed the old quartermaster seemed to be paying more attention to her work than anything she was saying, and seemed more interested in her own armor than Frida’s. The quartermaster walked around Terra, studying her armor from multiple angles, even taking hold of her gauntlet and rotating Terra’s arm so he could inspect the undersides. “You made this all yourself?” he asked.
“No sir, I had some help. From my uncle.”
“It’s good work,” the old quartermaster said gruffly, finally finished with his appraisal. “Seems a bit old, there are a couple of pieces I might swap out but I can tell you’ve worked hard to keep the set in good condition.”
Terra beamed with pride, she had not expected such praise from the maker of Aqua’s fine armor. “Thank you very much sir. I was actually hoping to ask if I might apprentice here and refine my technique among elven craftsmen.” Frida let Terra make her own case but would look at Jacobs now with a hopeful expression.
Jacobs frowned. “While I am impressed, I’ve got a bunch of new apprentices already and simply can’t take on another person just now… But I’ve got an idea.” The quartermaster withdrew a notepad and began scrawling a message, when he was finished he tore the sheet out and handed it to Terra. “That’s a referral to an independent forget in the market district, her name is Ruby November. She’s been in town for a few years now and has some high quality gear, but she’s what you might call ‘unsociable’. But if you want to learn a unique style from an artisan, she’s just the individual. I’ve written you a recommendation, that should at least tell her that you aren’t some jackwagon.”
Terra exchanged a look with Frida then turned back to Jacobs. “Thank you very much sir, I’ll definitely follow up with Ms. November.”
Jacobs nodded and turned back to Frida. "Now young miss, let me see about what we can do for you."
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Post by Sorrum on Oct 5, 2020 11:33:22 GMT -5
Terra's words softened Aqua's heart, as she recalled the day those same words left her own mother's lips. But, that was before she disappeared, and the eyes of the nation, it's demands and expectations fell on her. She bit her lip and froze the soft emotion like a glacier. "Thank you, Terra.. but without strength, I will not be able to stand up to those forces that threaten the citizens, nor my friends." She said, glancing at the scar across Terra's throat. "If I cannot protect those closest to me, I can hardly walk free." She felt conflicted as the words left her mouth, looking away from the girl now and facing toward the waters as the ship coasted along.
~
Aqua removed her armor in private and changed into plain clothes, a black turtleneck sweater, light tan slacks, white socks and brown moccasins. The elf girl stretched her now relieved muscles of the travel armor and felt genuinely more limber. "I can't move quite like this when wearing that heavy gear.." She said absentmindedly to Terra, lifting her arms skyward. Jacobs peered over at Aqua while she stretched, but mostly looked over the armor.
"Your armor has some cracks that will require more work than Ms. Bichaparte would be able to accomplish with a field patch." He said while inspecting Aqua's helmet. Aqua saw what he was looking at as well, and remembered the battle in the mines where the blight drone had struck her helmet long ago. The helmet absorbed the attack of what may have slain her that day, but it wasn't without damage.
"How long?" Aqua asked.
"Erh, hard to say. I still have to overlook the rest of the gear, but it looks like you might need a replacement set if you plan on going out anytime soon." Jacobs said.
"Very well.. I thought it might be a good idea to upgrade my equipment while I was home anyway. What do you have in stock?" Aqua asked.
"Unfortunately, the Travel gear is not in our inventory at this time. But what we do have is.." He said, reaching into his desk and pulling out a few different sheets. Each sheet depicted a suit of armor with resemblance to Aqua's Travel armor, varying in size and coverage. Aqua overlooked the different sheets, setting aside the bulkiest of armors.
Turning to Terra, she would shrug. "I believe that I will be better suited fighting from the rear until a replacement crystal for Sharksbane is available." She said, showing her the sheet that looked much different from her current armor. Aqua's new armor featured not a helmet, but a tiara with the same iconic wings, a mythril body suit, and a cloak to replace her cape. Jacobs leaned in and looked over the sheet.
"Really? This? But it's not nearly as protective.." Jacobs asked, confused.
"I am aware, but with this I will be able to perform stronger magics, uninhibited by heavy armor." Aqua replied. Jacobs shrugged, before leaving and returning with the new armor set in question. Aqua bagged the equipment, which weighed much less, before thanking Jacobs for his time and assistance.
"Anytime, lass." Jacobs smirked. "Now if you'll excuse me.." He said, before turning away back to his work. Aqua turned to Terra again.
"Tomorrow, we should go to the market and find this Ruby November Jacobs mentioned. It will be great to have someone in the markets anyway, since that's a good place to gather information. But for now, let's head home. Everyone should be back by now, and we should gather up any information they've found."
Aqua and Terra made their way out of the base much the same way they came. While she stayed calm on the surface, she felt anxious as the boat pulled through the walls and back into the city. There was something strange about the energy. "Did something happen..?" she wondered to herself. She would have her answer soon enough. 6 armed sentinels stood by the port where the ship would dock. Aqua exchanged a nervous glance with Terra before the lead of the sentinels approached them quickly. "Captain Aqua, ma'am, please come with us. Under Chief Sam's orders, we are here to escort you to Nyharllothor manor.
"What? What's happened?" Aqua asked, mild panic rising in her voice.
"A strange event happened in the eastern sector's southern districts, and we have reason to believe you may be in danger. A pillar of light arose and caused chaos in the streets, and two dragons were spotted fleeing the area and heading toward your home. One red, one silver."
"Silver flew over town in her dragon form?" Aqua asked, raising an eyebrow. Something terrible must have happened. "We were heading home now anyway. Let's be off then."
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Post by Sorrum on Oct 7, 2020 18:13:51 GMT -5
Aqua and Terra were escorted through town toward the Manor. Murmurs passed under the breaths of elf and human alike as the heavily armored sentinels escorted the nation's princess through the streets. "She's truly returned.."
"Yes.. back to free her father, most likely.."
"..And make things how they were.."
"..with the elves in control.."
Aqua's ears clicked as she looked around wide eyed at the people. who avoided her gaze, turning their heads and walking away. Aqua exchanged a nervous glance with Terra, one of several she had done today. The group soon passed through the gates to Nyharllothor Manor, strolling up the woods to where the manor was, now with a detachment of soldiers patrolling the forest and grounds.
Aqua stopped the guards to open the doors to her home herself. There, in the foyer, she would see Chief Sam, as well as some of her friends. Aqua's eyes focused heavy on the beast man, who returned her stern gaze with one just as serious. "Captain Aqua, ma'am." Sam started, coming close to Aqua and Terra now as they came inside. "I'm glad you're not hurt."
"What's going on here, Sam?" Aqua asked, raising an eyebrow. Sam motioned Aqua to the second floor, where the bedrooms could be found.
"We ran into some of your friends from yesterday here in the woods, and some other strangers. I requested a doctor to see to your friends injuries. They are resting upstairs, along with that Arne fellow, who beat all of us here. Those other two requested to stay here and that they would like to speak to you and the others, but I've never seen them before." Aqua ran past Sam and flew up the stairs in an instant, heading toward the open rooms. Within, she'd find Rion, Silver, and Arne in beds, with Alriik, the newcomer Saito, and Luke and Ember conversing. She stared, jaw wide, at the injuries on both Silver and Rion. "-Wha"
A hand would fall on her shoulder, stopping her short. Sam turned her toward him, the lion man staring down at her with pause. "Easy. There's a lot to go over." Sam said, entering the room and taking a chair among the people. "Alright everyone, now that we're all here, let's figure out what's going on in this town."
~
The Dawnbringers sat around on chairs, each taking their time retelling the events of the day with the chief of the guard sitting in. Alriik and the discrimination he faced, his theatrics and how he had met this new stranger among them. Aqua, Terra, and Arne, how they had made connections in the magic academy, met and dueled with Arelyn, the schoolmaster's daughter, traveled to the naval base and replaced Aqua's gear while securing another connection in the market district. While these were both good and bad, the highest concern was what happened to Rion and Silver. Aqua thought them both to be powerful mages, but here they laid now in tatters.
Aqua leaned forward in her chair, looking at Luke and Ember. "I understand this has been a very eventful day, but I must know who the two of you are exactly. My friends here are gravely injured."
Aqua would also look over at Saito, and look him up and down, noting his foreign attire and weapon. "You as well."
Sam rumbled, before clearing his throat. "I know the latter is not involved with the incident, although Alriik claimed he knew another man who appeared there. A pink haired man with the power of lightning. We're still searching for him, but he goes by Vile, at least." Aqua raised an eyebrow at the mention of the name.
"Vile? Why was he there?" Aqua asked. Sam nearly shook his head.
"Not sure, he disappeared after playing smart with us. We'll find him though.." Sam said.
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Post by Swim on Oct 8, 2020 0:36:31 GMT -5
Terra had stood by as Frida looked over each set of armor in turn and as she set them aside Terra took the opportunity to study them. There were a lot of designs to choose from, and it was easy for Terra to see the strategic advantages and hazards of each set. She'd already been jealous of Frida's beautiful armor, and now that she knew the girl could swap it out at her leisure for a different make, even more so. Terra was quite fond of her own armor, proud of her role in helping to make it, to say nothing of its sentimental value for her, but it always felt plain in comparison. As she looked over the designs that Frida had set aside she began to get ideas for upgrades she might integrate. Terra couldn't wait to go and see this specialist, Ruby November, tomorrow.
After a couple of minutes Frida had made her selection and explained that she'd probably be fighting from the back of the Dawnbringers from that point on. Jacobs might not have understood her decision, but it made sense to Terra. Against the sort of enemies they'd faced lately, like the three headed dramalgamation and the giant spider, and even Silver herself, mobility would probably be more useful than heavier armor. "Good choice," Terra responded as Jacobs went to fetch the body suit. "I'll fight enough for the both of us up front, you can watch my back."
As they left the navy base Terra once again felt a surge of excitement. She finally felt like she'd made it, she'd changed direction and gotten a fresh start on her life. Tomorrow she'd begin her formal education at the mage academy and then she'd be able to find work as a blacksmith's apprentice. No more pain or fear, she could finally stop running. Put down roots and start a new life. Finally start living. All of the doors had finally opened to her, endless possibility at her fingertips, and to the extent that tomorrow was uncertain she felt excitement now instead of dread. There was just one problem Terra realized, taking note of Frida's demeanor as their boat ferried them back across the canal. Her friend clearly didn't feel the same way.
Terra frowned as their ship began to dock and six sentinels stood ready to meet them. Frida exchanged a nervous look as the soldiers approached and explained their purpose for being here. Some sort of commotion in the southern districts, and clearly Silver had been involved. They'd only been apart for an afternoon, how much trouble could they possibly have gotten into? Regardless, Terra appreciated the escort back to Nyharllothor manor.
~
While Frida conferred with Chief Sam, Terra went to check on Arne. The man appeared sedated and not completely conscious, but he seemed to be in better condition than Silver and Rion were. Before she could really piece together what had happened with them Frida and Sam called for everyone to assemble so they could compare notes. Once everyone had gathered Terra looked around the room, "I see some fresh faces, glad to see we made some new friends." Her gaze lingered on Ember for a moment longer, "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were copying my hair. I should feel insulted but when a look is fire it only means that we've both got good taste, welcome aboard."
Terra would sit back and listen, content to let Frida share what they'd gotten up to that day, but would occasionally jump in to add an important detail she'd missed. When Sam and Alriik got to the part about Vile's involvement Terra scowled openly. "I've never had a good feeling about that guy, and now he turns up here? He is too suspicious, Vile is definitely following us, probably a spy under Calico's orders."
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Post by Bloodbane on Oct 13, 2020 23:00:08 GMT -5
Once everyone had gathered, Luke exhaled a slow breath. "Hoo boy... all right, where to begin... I can't say I know much about the guy your friends were dealing with, but one thing's for certain; he definitely was wielding the power of darkness." he said, looking over to Ember briefly then looking back to Aqua. "Now, a garden variety blighted mage isn't much for the two of us normally... but he had something we've been asked to try and find, and even though as far as I could tell it was incomplete, it was enough to be a problem given your light-wielding friend was already overexerting himself. Couldn't say why that guy was here, but your dragon pal mentioned that they were chasing down some lost kid...?"
At that, Ember crossed her arms, shaking her head. "To be more specific... we've been asked to find the fragments of this staff to not only keep them out of the wrong hands, but to prevent their completion outright. That being said, when we reached Mt. Remorse after hearing of ruins pre-dating the formation of Neo-Vane, we found something else entirely..."
Luke nodded. "Yeah, my guess is the folks poking around in there are from these parts, but the magic keeping them from going too far in isn't like your typical barrier. We tried to explain it likely wasn't safe, but I suppose it's natural to be curious about things one doesn't understand. And that brings us back to your partially-crystallized friend." he said, scratching the back of his head before leaning forward in his chair and extending one hand outward, revealing the reddish crystal that was primarily hidden by the armored glove he wore, giving the appearance of some sort of magic focus. "I myself have a similar... trait, I guess you could say, though where his is based in light, mine's in fire. But knowing his focuses on light leads me to believe we're going to need his help in figuring out what's inside there, and making sure it stays safe. After all, crystalline walls that stand up to our kind of magic aren't something you come across every day." he explained, before pointing in Ember's direction with his thumb. "Oh, right... I should probably explain that there's something... different, about the kind of fire I cast. I don't really get it myself, but she might be able to explain better."
Ember scoffed lightly. "Give me the hard job, will you..." she said, then looked over at Terra when she spoke about her hair color, giving a short laugh. "Well, friend, it's certainly one thing to have a look that's fire, but..." she then pulled up the sleeve of her jacket, revealing that along her arm were patches of red scales that did not take on her human-like appearance, though among those scales were similar red crystals that extended outward like small spikes, the largest appearing to extend slightly farther from her elbow. "... in a way, you could say fire is in my blood. Now before I explain further... what do you people know about the Alpha Dragons?"
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Post by Arashi on Oct 19, 2020 1:03:22 GMT -5
Silver lay in her bed, staring absent-mindedly at the ceiling of the building. While she was conscious, her previous injuries were all set off again by this fight, and her wings would be left useless for awhile; she was not in good shape and had no energy left. She paid no mind to those entering the room aside from silent relief that everyone else seemed to be in one piece at least; she was too focused on her failure to both protect a companion and kill a dark mage. It haunted her.
Plus, that kid...
She wanted so badly to see Rion get up and be fine. It would be the only confirmation she would take of him being okay at this point.
The dragon would quietly listen as everyone spoke about what they had gone through today. She had no desire to speak at the moment, and figured Luke and Ember could cover enough of it for now until she regained more of her energy. She wanted to tell Aqua and the others about the child, but could not find it in her to speak right now, and she would prefer Rion helped to explain what they saw.
Silver's ears perked up a bit at the mention of "Alpha Dragon". She would do her best to shift her focus and listen.
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Post by Sorrum on Oct 26, 2020 20:17:47 GMT -5
Aqua's expression grew grim with the tale of events. The mention of Vile's reappearance, while concerning, faded as Luke and Ember told her about the blight mage. She was growing confident that their ensemble could take down a blight mage, but whoever they were proved to be powerful and cunning. Were it not for these strangers, her friends would be dead. This mention of an artifact that could make the blight mage even more powerful was also distressing, knowing that they might even be stronger the next time they meet. She glanced at Silver, who only barely seemed moving where she laid, and for a moment felt shivers. They had been trying to save a child, and this was the result.
They would have to go fully prepared if they were to defeat this foe.
~
Sam grunted, stepping in. "Perhaps I should explain, regarding the child. There has been an increase in reports of missing children lately.. sometimes, they come back, but can't remember anything about where they've gone or what happened while they were. It's been causing fear to spread to the denizens of the city.." He said, taking a step toward the center of the room. "Not only that.. the people living in the countryside are scared of a rumor that, a man once thought dead was seen entering the abandoned mines.."
"You see," Sam continued. "The Frontier became less welcoming and locked it's borders following the disappearance of Prince Frederick of Berseria. It was believed that a ship that had drifted into Meribia Harbor was carrying escapee human slaves that had miraculously crossed The Gyre, all the way from Vane. They were welcomed by Lord Itham and were provided shelter, as was custom then. However, these were not slaves seeking asylum, but undercover pirates working for Calico. The Frontier and Berseria suffered a dramatic defeat at the pirate's fortress, and relations between the two countries struggled. Lord Itham, perhaps in not his best moment, sealed the borders of The Frontier and limited foreign trade to the port city of Sandora, well away from the businesses of Meribia. The town shrank after that, the economy began to decline. Taking advantage of the now dependent, the upper class raised their prices on goods. And sure enough, when man couldn't feed his children, crime began to rise. I've been a guard for some time, but we never saw days like these. Man and elf used to be harmonious, but now are at each other's throats."
"History lesson aside.. I can say this is good. At least for our investigation. We were working a case for some time that involved a nature mage selling hypnotic plants we thought might be in co-operation with a human trafficking plot, but it went cold when some kind of accident occurred. Witnesses said a vigilante struck down the nature mage in her own shop, leaving her to the authorities while he hid away. When the sentries arrived, the woman was missing, and with it our best lead. But now, we can start looking for the real culprit, that blight mage!" He said, a fiery glow in his eyes.
~
Aqua grabbed a nearby chair and sat while the pair continued. At the mention of a staff, Aqua raised an eyebrow. This artifact, was it magitek? Could the crystals the blight mages created also be used as catalysts for their necromancy? That was unsettling, but honestly just felt like more wood on the fire at this point. She herself knew about the mines and what it used to represent to the people of the nation, but also knew it to be the place of many ghost stories. These two had business there, yet even more wood on the fire.
"If father had sent anyone to investigate the mines, he would have sent Orca." Aqua said, flatly. Sam nodded, but it was clear that that statement may not have the same meaning to him as others. "Orca is the codename of a navy team who specializes in guerrilla tactics." Aqua explained. "They're who are called on when the nation faces an abnormal threat. Each member is a powerful mage that graduated at the top of Sillenai's school and came referred by the Archmage himself. Simply put, they're the best of the best. Whatever this barrier is, they will break it before long." She noted, even thinking to herself for a moment that if Orca had gone against the blight mage, they could likely take them down. Maybe even the amalgamation, if they could find a weakness.
Upon seeing the crystals on Luke and Ember, Aqua though of Rion's immediately and knew this could not be some coincidence. The two were connected, somehow. Aqua rose from her seat and stared wide eyed at the crystals. "You must be the ones who were at the Research Facility, the man with the inextinguishable flames."
"The.. Alpha Dragons?" Aqua prompted. She struggled to remember something, perhaps a passing mention in a book, but was unclear what the woman meant.
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Post by Albireo on Oct 28, 2020 2:32:39 GMT -5
Meribia Saito Saito truth be told felt it was rather... Sudden, they would allow an outsider let alone a stranger in on this. It was either supreme carelessness, or altruism to more than just a fault, regardless he himself had no malicious intent, and so he explained his situation forthwith. It was rather easily summed up that he was a wanderer who had been looking into the case of the missing children. There was not much else to say nor much else he wished to share. All that being said, he did not refuse as this was a chance to see the people Alriik had been talking about, given they were going the right way. He had the honor of seeing but a few of them, though from all things mentioned, they had met a great deal of other colorful figures in their... Adventures too, evident by the earlier person Alriik had identified as "Vile", who he addressed with some familiarity. Not at all an ominous name. The conversation soon moved towards a brief history lesson, informing him of the socio-economic struggles resulting from sabotage and assault from pirates. It would explain the less than eager disposition of the townfolk, prior to arriving he was under the impression this place was crowded, and good to hide in, but that didn't seem to be the case when he did arrive. That question answered aside, they settled on the affair with a nature based blight mage, and a vigilante. Saito did a short cough as that was mentioned, seeing as... That was him. To think she got away after he'd knocked her out cold... Unfortunate, but reminded him only of his limitations. "So that mage had been working for someone greater? I had hoped it would be simple, but it appears all is not as it seems...", he surmised, pursing his lips in thought, one arm crossed and the other resting on it. He then turned back to the conversation. "In that case, what is our next step?"
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Post by Sorrum on Oct 28, 2020 22:39:31 GMT -5
Sam turned an eyebrow up at Saito's words. Now that he thought about it, witnesses did describe a man who looked similar to Saito at the scene, but he also trusted Aqua's friends to some extent. He better say something now, before the subject can change. "You sound like you know something about Greta Burch. That case was still being investigated. Mind telling us a little more about what you know?" He said, eyeing the blade on the man's hip.
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Post by Swim on Nov 1, 2020 14:20:50 GMT -5
Terra listened attentively as Luke and Ember began to share what they knew. She shook her head when they asked about their familiarity with Alpha Dragons, hoping they'd explain further. But more immediately interesting to her was the staff artifact they'd mentioned, and how it had apparently boosted the power of the blight mage that had attacked Silver and Rion. "Do you mind backing up your story just a minute, I'm confused on a couple of things. How long have the two of you been fighting Blight mages? I was under the impression until recently that we were alone in this fight, but then Alriik told us about the Port Town Hunters Guild and now you two have turned up. Can you tell us who sent you both looking for this staff, do you work for General Enfurnus?"
She'd wait for their answer and then ask a follow up question. "This... barrier you've mentioned. If it's built into Mount Remorse would it be possible to just tunnel around it? Either with digging equipment or a stubborn earth mage?"
~
The discussion shifted to the problem of the missing children and the probable involvement of the nature mage, Greta Burch. "I can attest that nature mages are a lot tougher than they let on," Terra volunteered, recounting how she'd nearly been overwhelmed by the academy student. She grinned and shot a glance at Alriik. "They're not all a bunch of soft researchers. And they're very good at laying traps. They might use children as bait again to prompt us to rush in carelessly. But in regard to our next step- I'm not sure that this changes anything. We still need to follow up on the leads we've uncovered and figure out what is happening to these kids. Only now we've confirmed a blight mage operating within the city, and so we watch our steps. I don't want anyone else getting ambushed the way Rion and Silver were."
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Post by Bloodbane on Nov 3, 2020 22:07:20 GMT -5
At hearing the discussion over this group of Elite mages known as Orca, Luke smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "I have to admit, that definitely sounds interesting... but I'm not so sure if they can break this kind of barrier." After a moment, Aqua went on to mention the research facility, at which he put a hand to the back of his head. "They mentioned me, huh... it can't be helped I guess; I melted the last pistol I had when we tried our hand at the barrier ourselves, so I had to find someplace that had a little more... understanding of this stuff. Gotta hand it to you though, you Frontier folk sure know your way around magitek."
"You'll need to excuse Luke's... confidence." Ember said, rolling her eyes at Luke's behavior. "But I would have to agree, this is nothing like the kind of magic you'll see taught in a school here, or anywhere in civilization. Depending on what this barrier is meant to protect, I would not be surprised if this barrier encompassed all angles surrounding the place. But if what we have seen really does lead to what I believe to be the case, then we may have a way inside." She had not gone into details just yet, mainly because not only had she yet to go into detail about the Alpha Dragons, which seemed to be a phrase of intrigue to the crew, but more pressing concerns needed addressed.
"While the Blight is certainly one threat to the world, artifacts such as the rod this mage appears to have some dealings with are another matter entirely; one that can't so easily be dealt with by roaming around in groups like yours." Ember then looked to Luke with a nod, at which time he reached to his side and pulled out a second firearm, one that looked remarkably different than any magitek weapon. He held the weapon across both hands, allowing the others to take in the details. Despite resembling a gun in shape, the weapon appeared to be made mostly out of a material that had been carved to bear such a resemblance, with its most prominent features being the unusually sharpened look of the gun's "hammer", the wrappings of the handle that resembled a dark leather, and the ornate fashion in which much of the gun's "barrel" had been carved out. Functionally, it looked to be more akin to a magical focus of some sort, purposefully shaped to resemble a modern weapon instead of a rod or staff.
"I asked about the Alpha Dragons before, for while little is known of their existence, they are at least heard and written of in recorded history, as dragons who could store greater amounts of magical energy through crystals such as my own, making them naturally far more powerful in their native elements; their lairs lined with crystals formed from the magical energy that would radiate from their presence. And for a time... that was all I knew from the tales passed down to me from my father, and his before him." She looked over to Luke after a few seconds. "... But then I learned dragons were not the only ones who could bear such traits."
Luke nodded, sighing lightly as he put away the ornate firearm. "And she never lets me live it down, either." he chuckled, before shaking his head. "In all seriousness, though... I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Ember. In dealing with some... er... less than reputable folks, I had started a blaze that quickly had gone well out of control; all the teachings I had regarding fire magic had failed me, because the flames just wouldn't stop, y'know? I woke up to find the place had gone all... crystallized, I guess? Kinda like that forest you hear so much about around here... And, well, there she was." Luke then looked to Ember with a cheeky grin. "And it's just been one adventure after another since, ain't that right?"
Ember narrowed her eyes slightly at Luke, before looking back to the others. "Indeed. Whether by some natural pull to a power similar to my own, or perhaps some prank of fate, Luke's outburst woke me from a rather lovely hibernation... since then, we've been trying to find out what brought us together, and after what we've learned so far, I believe the one that sent us here has the answer."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Still think so, huh? Well if the Boss really does know, I wish he'd drop the goofy mysterious elder act and just tell us already." he scoffed briefly. "Guy says he's a white dragon, but I don't buy it. Whatever he is though, he does know a lot about these artifacts... and if they're all like Prominence here, then I'd say he's definitely preparing for something big." he said, lightly patting the holster where he just returned the artifact.
"That isn't to say the one who sent us is any less aware of the looming darkness, however... though he hasn't spoken of it much, if Luke is right then I would imagine our leader is more aware of the threat the blight poses than anyone in this room. Perhaps that is why we've been tasked with searching for these; instead of combating the darkness directly, as was done in the past against Urufu's forces, it may be that he is seeking a more decisive resolution to all of this, for these artifacts appear to be a key to powers even beyond those of the Alphas." Ember stated, before looking to Aqua.
"That is why Luke and I will be returning to Mt. Remorse..." Ember would then look over to where Rion was resting, though it seemed the conversation had brought him to stir as he was now sitting upright. "And why we hope your friend over there will be willing to join us."
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Post by Albireo on Nov 3, 2020 23:52:18 GMT -5
Meribia Saito Saito with his arms crossed turned to the captain, addressing him on his relation to the nature mage. He sighed and turned his gaze downward before turning back. If he refused to answer it would only place suspicion on him, furthermore... At this point there was nothing to gain if he was to hide any information on that matter. He also noticed Sam's gaze on his sword too... Yes indeed, it would immediately identify him as someone from Toku, an outsider so to speak. "I'm just a wandering blade, my stay in Meribia has involved me in some of the things that ail the people there, it started with just helping people with small errands, and led to fighting Greta... The man you were told of in reports was indeed me. I kept things anonymous because I did not do it for glory, nor did I want any attention", he gave his answer on the matter. He had no idea of a greater thing going on behind the scenes it seems, he was honestly just helping people, and it led him to Greta as he pursued the common source of some of the problems. "But now, it appears things were more complex than I had hoped. Why are things with blight mages never so easy...", his face had a slightly annoyed expression as he looked away for a bit, the line seemed to indicate a personal gripe of his. His gaze turned back to Sam for affirmation, "If that is all you need, shall we return to the matter at hand?"
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Post by Sorrum on Nov 8, 2020 21:12:46 GMT -5
Sam considered the man's words. He didn't condone vigilantism, but something about the altruistic virtue in the man's actions made him loathe to punish the action. "I see.." Sam said, crossing his arms. "It's MY job to bring down criminals, not yours. You didn't do this for glory or a reward however, and without the current situation, we'd likely never have met. Property damage is still a crime, but I doubt you destroyed that shop with just that sword of yours." Sam said, locking eyes with Saito. "Tell you what. The town guard suffers from a lack of personality and initiative. Men like you are actually the kind I can depend on. That being said, I'm not condoning your actions. Just this once I will look the other way, but " Sam spoke his piece. Current situation aside, the beastia put the job first.
Aqua also looked over at Saito and Sam, hesitant to intervene on the warriors behalf and undercut the guard chief. She knew Alriik wouldn't bring someone to her home that he didn't trust, but what he'd done on his own time was his to answer for. Turning back to Luke and Ember, she wasn't sure what to say, either from lack of knowledge on the subject or exasperation over the fact that yet again, another thing to worry about has come onto her plate. Alpha dragons sounded like a made-up myth to her, but she couldn't ignore the similarities between Luke and Rion. They weren't here to antagonize her either, so..
Aqua sighed. "Well. I owe you thanks for saving them. I don't know who this kid may have been, but it sounds like he was their bait. I'd imagine that, if he were even alive at the time, he may no longer be. Those mages don't seem to care about anyone they hurt." Briefly, she remembered the young child who she saved in Aldur not so long ago, and how the creatures tore apart her relative right in front of her. That young girl would remember that moment forever. Aqua's brow deepened over her eyes, imagining how many other countless people this has happened to since then. It had been so long since they had seen Enfurnus and Celestrus, and how they're entire communities may have been wiped out by that sole blight mage and his monster dragon. It can't keep happening. No. It stops here.
"So, if everything comes together at that mountain, then I can assure you we will be heading there as well. But, not until these two have recovered." She glanced over at the mildly conscious Silver and the rousing Rion. "They're both going to need rest, so I can't let you take Rion. I'm sure you understand that, though. He'd only slow you down as he is." Aqua looked the pair up and down. They were powerful enough to keep the blight mage at bay and rescue her friends. She respected them, but she was starting to see how manipulative her foes could be. She did not know enough about these Alpha Dragons, who or what these people were and what their mission was, or who their leader is. "I believe we're both facing the same enemy. I've only faced one blight mage, the others have had their own experiences. But I know they are not to be underestimated. I can't stop you from going on your own, but I must insist you hold off until we're at our full strength, so we may assist one another." She bowed her head.
"It's not for me. My father, Lord Itham Nyharllothor, has been imprisoned over the problems facing this country that now seem to be connected. Resolving one issue may solve the other, but it's more and more apparent that I lack the strength to take on this foe alone. Any more you can tell us about this issue concerning the mountain and your reasons for being here, please, share them."
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Post by Swim on Nov 10, 2020 1:01:55 GMT -5
Terra didn't fully understand everything that Luke and Ember were saying, but they came off as informed and experienced, and they'd already saved Rion and Silver's lives so she was willing to put her trust in them. Frida was right that they were in no condition to travel to Mt. Remorse now, but when the time came to confront the Blight mage it would certainly be good to have powerful new allies adding their strength to the effort.
Trusting that Frida could plan the relevant details with Sam and Luke, Terra stood up from her chair and walked over to the beds where Rion, Silver and Arne lay. Three of their number incapacitated in one day, they'd need time to recover their strength before the Dawnbringers could explore Mt. Remorse and confront the Blight mage directly. Arne's injuries weren't nearly as severe, he was currently passed out and seemingly under the influence of a powerful pain medication, but he'd be alright. Rion seemed to have gotten the worst of it, he hadn't moved since Terra had arrived but she'd have to trust Luke's word that he'd recover. Movement caught Terra's eye, Silver though seemed to be shifting in her bed. Terra walked over to her side and noticed the half dragon's eyes open, lucid and listening to the conversation. "Hey," Terra said softly. "How're you feeling? Can I get you water or anything?"
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Post by Sorrum on Nov 15, 2020 20:26:39 GMT -5
Alriik, who had been unusually quiet after retelling the events of his day, watched with tension as Sam started in on Saito. "..Hey, Sam. It's fine. Don't worry about it, big guy!" He said, trying to intervene. "Trust me, he's a good guy. One of us." Alriik hoped so, anyway. He'd gotten to know only a little about the Tokunese warrior but knew he was no evil-doer, but that might not matter to the town guard. "We were right behind ya, ready to go with that Vile guy, yeah? So cmon off that." He shrugged. Sam's gaze turned on the elf now.
"Excuse me? This is my job. People messing with my job isn't what I call 'good.'" The beastia huffed. But the air in the room did feel less dense now. Sam turned away from the swordsmen, but did not walk away just yet. "You find something or see something like that again you tell me. Got it?"
Alriik waved his hands in dismissal. "Of course, of course." Then glanced over at Saito, unsure what to say to him. Then, he turned his attention to the conversation of the Alpha Dragons. Alriik stroked his chin. Big dragons, he had an idea how to kill them. Mythical, make believe dragons that are centuries old only made him think of such legendary heroics that must be taken to defeat them, likely to be retold through the ages in song and poetry. But if that was real, and Rion and Luke were real, and they're connected somehow, then he himself must become legendary and heroic to face this next obstacle.
As the fantasy of glory to be told throughout the ages transfixed his mind, he'd soon snap out of it; "You made a promise to Lord Itham, to the Captain. You gotta focus."
"It's all you're good for, anyway."
Alriik shrugged off the voice mocking him from the past, and focused on the scene ahead of him. He looked at Luke's weapon with disgust, instantly remembering the encounter at the Research Facility with the weapons development techs. It saved Rion and Silver however, so he'd try not to mention it. Taking a step forward, he'd take the moment to introduce himself, but felt he had missed something entirely. He looked over at the girl, Ember, and instantly felt a chill run down his back. "N-no-" He gasped, immediately turning and looking away. "Uh.. uh.. excuse me!" he said, running out of the room and down the hall, nearly knocking the sentinels aside as he ran to the bathroom, before anyone could stop him or say anything.
Inside, running water filled the sink Alriik leaned over. That girl, a dragon with the power of fire. It had been on his mind since he.. since forever. But in that room was like a feeling come to life. He dunked his hands into the cold water and rushed it across his eyes, trying to calm down.
~
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