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Post by Dragonseluna on Oct 6, 2017 21:24:38 GMT
Luna
While the group continued onward with the unconscious Luna, the icy mage was remembering an event close to her heart...
The night was still young as an older man stared out the large window pane toward the rising full moon. 'Tonight is the night.' He thought in his head as one of the double doors creaked open. There stood one of their most loyal servants, Dolores, with twelve-years-old Luna standing there patiently, waiting for her Father's orders. "You brought her, good. That will be all Dolores." "Sir, if I may..." The large room bellowed with anger, "Leave now Dolores!" Her father practically turned on his heel as he yelled at the older woman. She bowed her head and left, closing the door behind Luna, then locking it. Luna had never heard her father yell before, she was taken aback by the sight. "Luna, my dear," he began "If you would come here please." She slowly approached, afraid to upset her father and be the next one yelled at. He had turned to face the window again and his dark blue robes were illuminated by the full moon. She carefully put her hands in front of her as she looked up at her father.
"Tonight, you will become what every Sylvaire hopes to be. It will be a long and grueling process but you must endure it." He had now turned to look down upon her. "Every Sylvaire who goes on to lead the family must face this challenge. It is your turn now." Luna hesitated but she eventually spoke up. "But Father, I haven't even mastered the Advanced spells, while Lucien is a master at swordplay and has memorized all of the Sylvaire histories. Gray has become an amazing mage and Bahlero is a master tactician." Her father smiled at her. "Yet you remain here, while your brothers go on to fight on battlefields. You hold so much potential within you, my dear Luna. You could become an even greater mage than your brother, perhaps even surpassing your ancestors before you." Luna frowned. She didn't want to become the head of the family, she wanted to be a girl and play in the flowers, make ice sculptures, run around the manor! Her father sighed. "I have already made my decision. It must be you or there will be no one to lead this family when I am gone."
There was an awkward silence until her father pointed to a magic circle on the other side of the room. "You will stand in the center of that circle and when the clock strikes twelve, we will begin." Luna nodded and obeyed, but as she turned her back to her Father she could feel the air in the room shift. When she reached the center and turned to face her father, she didn't even hear him say the words. A blast of icy wind almost blasted her back, if it had not been targeting her feet, which were now frozen to the ground. "Father?" Her voice wavered. She was scared, frightened. Why would her Father freeze her in place? This wasn't like him at all! "It will be over before you know it, my dear." She saw her Father's lips move but she never heard a single word. The moment he spoke a pain shot through her entire body as if it was constricting her into a ball.
As her Father continued speaking all Luna could feel was immense pain everywhere. Her fingers and toes had begun to bleed and it didn't take long for the little girl to fall to her knees. Screaming in pain and agony, tears ran down her face as she tried very hard to speak. Her thoughts were racing and all she could do was constantly ask 'Why?' Her spine broke and reformed several times as Luna's body ached and jolted with the immense pain. It was as if every wound Man could bear was being struck on her. She could barely breathe and the very few times she could she tried to shatter the ice with her fists but the pain was too much. Then everything went black.
Back in reality, without sudden warning, Luna's left arm shot toward Galen's shoulder, gripping it tightly. Her nails would dig through the cloth and try to puncture skin or scratch armor. In a pained whisper, Luna would say "Why.... Father...."
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Post by shadowknight on Oct 7, 2017 1:32:22 GMT
Galen
The walk to the palace was near silent, save for the occasional mumbles from Luna and a handful of half sung lyrics to an unknown song that the spunky bard was humming behind him as he followed his 'captor'. More guards began to surround them as they drew closer to their destination forming an armored escort ten men strong by the time they arrived.
'Guess they heard we were coming.' He mused as they were marched through the gates. The figures clad in white robes apprched Galen rapidly. The leader of the group was an elderly woman with a wizened look about her eyes, she was flanked by two bald men holding a stretcher between them.
"What are her injuries?" The woman asked as she eyed Luna.
"She took an arrow to her shoulder, goblin make, poisoned." He said, giving the lead healer the information he deemed necessary, "I did what I could to patch her up but she needs proper care."
"It's a good field dressing," the woman said as she motioned for the two men to take Luna and place her on the stretcher. "She'll be fine. His lordship has personally ordered our best healers to tend her wounds." He watched as the two men carried her away down the corridor.
"She's been through a lot." He said tuning back to the old woman, handing her a small sack of coin, "make sure she gets this. Had to ruin her robes, should be enough for a new one."
The old woman looked at the sack and smiled at him warmly. "I'll make sure she gets it. Blessings of Helines be opon you." As she moved away a small squad of guards approached, the leader adorned in a long navy blue cloak.
"Sir," the lieutenant said, his men forming a circle around Galen, "I've been ordered to take you in. Handover your weapons and come with us."
'It's come to this,' Galen sighed as he unclasped his weapons one by one and tossed them on the floor. The lieutenant binding his wrists in irons as he gave the order for his men to secure the weapons. With one last glance in Luna's direction he allowed himself to be led away to whatever fate awaited him.
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Post by Knukails on Oct 7, 2017 2:15:11 GMT
Vokun
"Sir, they have arrived". The princes attendant said.
"Ah, so they have," The prince groaned as he rose, "Vokun, come with me".
The boy was picking at his new armor. Solid black with carvings that seemed familiar but not enough to think too hard about, "Its heavy," He complained.
The Prince had to suppress a laugh, "You'll get used to it," Turning his attention back to the aid, "Send them to the meeting hall and request that War Adviser Wassa do the same.
"Ah and please prepare some drinks, I'm sure our guests would like that."
The aid bowed and turned away to follow his duties, leaving the prince to walk towards the meeting chamber with Vokun in tow.
"Now, lets see if we can get these individuals to come into the light," the Prince said with a smile.
Vokun continued to pull at the armor, not used to the feeling of being covered fully in armor, "Question," He states.
"Answer," The Prince replied.
"Why buy me to then not command?" Vokun asked plainly.
The prince tilted his head, trying to think of the right wordsto use, "More useful with own mind," He said mimicking the boys speech patterns.
"Accepted but not make fun of speaking," Vokun spat back, "Did not spend time so-cia-liz-ing," he nodded in affirmation in being able to say the word.
"Noted," the Prince nodded in respect. The two then completed their short journey without any more small talk.
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Post by draco on Oct 7, 2017 6:10:54 GMT
"A thousand tiny foes with more teeth than their number, A few brave souls stood to fight for one another..."
Muttering gentle words to herself in a soft tone alongside the long strides of her compatriots, Liliana seemed to be caught up in her own business making sure that her restringing process was going just perfectly so that she would be ready when she met the royal family and make a name of her family finally after so many years of being simple and mediocre. With her special ability she had been able to wow and amaze many people along the way, he would probably enjoy it a lot too! Hopefully...
No! confidence Lili! You got this!
Finally getting everything set up, her new string tuned correctly and playing a few notes just to make sure that it sounded correct she finally got a good look at the situation they had gotten into and was a bit shocked that she had been so absorbed in her work that they had become surrounded by what felt like a dozen or so guards. She smiled nervously, giving any that met her gaze a tip of her hat as silent greetings. When did they get around them? why were they so close, it felt so awkward being amongst the higher ups and nobility. This must be normal, or something, greeting of a thousand guards! She liked the name of that.
Holding her instrument to her side, dripping water the entire way, she came up to stand just behind the one named Galen and peered over his left shoulder briefly, then his right, trying to see past the tall man as she listened to his concerns over the pretty white haired girl. Even handing over a small bag of his own gold coin to the priests in a token of good faith. She gasped dramatically as he did, drawing a few gazes over to her if only for a moment. What a gentleman! truly the largest of men were some of the kindest of souls! So her mother said, and so it seems to ring true!
Though, most were taller than she...
Distracted in thought, she nearly missed the others that had come up to them and was fully pulled to attention when she heard the clacking sound of this gentle beast being shackled and pulled along by chain. Her eye's widened at this injustice and in the time it took for them to take three steps she stomped one foot forward in a loud squish of sodden boots and the kicking up of dust. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
The loud and sudden sound of her voice even startled herself a bit, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up a bit as she suddenly realized the entire division had their eyes on her. But with a confident smirk and a clearing of her throat she jabbed one hand out, pointing to the man named Galen with a triumphant gaze as she exuded absolute determination from every pore. Her hair frizzing up just from the energy she was feeling right now.
"This man is innocent! you cannot take him away!" she exclaimed at them. Making the guards look at each other in confusion, who exactly was she again?
"Sorry miss..." asked one of the men
"Liliana Capri, The Judge of Gods!" She continued, answering their implied question in mere moments as she took another powerful step forward and opened her arms up as if she would hug the man. "And you cannot take this man! he has committed no wrong! no treachery! no fallacy!"
Before any of them could interrupt her, she played a note on her lute just to get the point of her serious tone across, a low hum that vibrated through the air and lingered even as she continued. Her smirk turning quickly into a toothy grin as she clapped Galen upon the shoulder a bit harder than she had intended. But to someone that strong, she could hardly overpower or even possibly hurt them through strength alone. "A man like this could do no harm to a lady like that! his accusations of being a vile, savage, and monstrous creature of man are false, wrong, and untrue!"
She came up to Galen quickly with a hop and a skip, reaching up and pinching his cheek like an elderly grandmother would. Tugging on it gently to bring him down to her level as if to compare her face to his. "Look at him, sir, and tell me that this man looks like he would be one to harm the silver haired woman and bring trouble!" Liliana didn't even seem to breath between each new sentence, stringing one into another effortlessly as if she had all of this planned ahead of time. Giving the men no time to respond to her grand accusations.
"You are going to jail and possibly execute a perfectly good man with good morals and a kind enough heart to give her the gold to buy herself new clothes. NEW CLOTHES! do you know how expensive clothes like that are? no, of course you don't and would never understand!" She said, releasing Galen's cheek and crossing her arms across her chest as she leaned backwards a bit in just truest certainty that could not be questioned in the slightest.
"Even if you were to take him, you CANNOT! You understand why? because our job is to keep an eye on this man! He is under OUR charge until we turn him over willingly to you! But I digress, and simply state that this man should be a free man! one that will come with us until we so shall decide what to do with him and I will take it no other way!!!"
With that, she seemed to finally suck in a long winded breath and release it again in quick pants. The silence that followed long and even a bit hollow. Truly she had worked her ways with words on these people, right?
... Right?
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Post by shadowknight on Oct 7, 2017 14:36:25 GMT
Galen
'Truly a talent this one has,' he thought as the young bard came to his defense in such a grand fashion, leaving the room speechless. 'But I can't let this continue, if she doesn't stop they'll have her in chains aswell.' He reached out and clasped a hand on her shoulder, his shackles clanging a bit as he did so.
"It's alright." Galen said as she turned to face him, a hollow smile masking his face. "I swore to get Luna to the Palace and that's what I have done. Your friend Ben was under contract to capture us and bring us here, his contract is also done. He did his job, now they are doing theirs."
A pair of the guards placed their hands on his shoulders and pulled back slightly so he would take a step back. "Given that he isn't here its a good bet he is getting payed. Which means that I belong to the Guardsmen now."
"If you really wanna help speak to ben." Galen turned from her as the guards indicated it was time to leave. "Farewell Liliana Capri....its been....interesting." He said with a chuckle as he was lead through a doorway and out of sight.
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Post by Lady Ruliya on Oct 7, 2017 15:27:07 GMT
When Zaphia reached the gatehouse again, she was met by a burly man in gleaming gold and cream armour. They had been waiting for her, an escort sent by the Prince. They lead her inside the courtyard, up a flight of steps and through several long corridors. They stopped outside two massive wooden doors, with intricate carvings on them. The guards opened the door, but did not go inside, instead the motion for her to go in alone.
As she did, she noticed it was a large, circular room with a massive circular table in the centre, that could easily fit around twenty people. She wondered as to the purpose of the room as she looked around, grand stained glass windows filled the far wall, an ornate and glamorous chandelier hung from the ceiling. She figured Royal meetings were held here. There were desks, tables and chairs along the left wall as well, for note taking perhaps?
Whatever was supposed to happen, was yet to do so, for it seemed she had arrived early. She walked to one of the desks of the far wall and perched herself on the edge, and waited.
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Post by Zeritia on Oct 7, 2017 15:36:09 GMT
Ben let out a long winded sigh as he felt the sack of coin hit his hands. Captain Jerome gave him a nod of approval “Good work out there Tergum, who knew the Raven of Westreach would have been the assailant.” Ben nodded his head and pocketed the gold. His pockets were nearly full with the two sacks of coin and would have to head out soon to add the extra to his vault of coin collected over the years. “Still it was fun, hopefully this time WILL be the last you need to hire me for some time. Don’t want to bleed you dry of all your coin hehehe.” The Captain scowled as he saw Ben’s ever-present smile.
“Away with you Tergum, before I find some reason to throw you in with the Raven.” Ben merely smiled back and began walking at a sedate pace he pondered the past couple of hours. ‘It looks like things are starting to happen more often. That means more jobs....eh who knows maybe by the end of this I’ll be able to retire nice and quietly.’
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Post by Dragonseluna on Oct 7, 2017 16:38:33 GMT
Luna
She laid motionless as the healers took Galen's bag of coin and rushed off to see to her wound. They went through a maze of corridors before finally reaching their destination. Quickly and carefully laying her on a slab of metal they went through the small process of using whatever means necessary to allow the woman to make a full recovery. Through this entire process however, a man hiding in the shadows of the room watched eagerly.
An hour or so had passed when she finally opened her eyes, laying upon a large white bed with silk red covers. Pillows fluffed enough to suffocate any unwary sleeper. She barely had any awareness of her surroundings when she saw him. His dark crimson robes hid his well-built body and his board shoulders almost made him look handsome. He was standing across the room, staring at her intently. Without any hesitation and ignoring the pain iner her shoulder she lurched upwards throwing her right arm forward screaming "Elitcejorp!" Out from her hand shot a small icicle that whizzed past the man's head, shattering against the wall.
"Is that anyway to treat the man who informed the healers how to deal with your unique medical issue?" The man sounded somewhat hurt, but the smile on his face was evident enough.
"Alex. Where are my brothers?" Luna was gripping her left shoulder.
"Safe and sound, but believe me when I say you don't want to know where. You might try that little stunt again." Alex's grin was getting wider. Luna went to fire another icicle at Jim before he raised a finger, "Ah, ah, ah. Don't want to make the Prince believe you're actually a threat." His wide grin turned into a scowl as he headed toward the doorway. Luna had finally noticed that she was in one of the dozen guest rooms in the palace, Alex's to be precise.
"You're untouchable as you are now. Having piqued to Prince's interest, no harm can come to you... at least in this palace." He twirled his hand near his cheek before winking at Luna. "Flare." And with a flash of bright light, he was gone.
Luna slowly got out of bed, blinking as she saw new robes to wear... and an extra gold pouch? Her weapons were nowhere to be seen. 'Most likely confiscated.' She quickly changed, which added some mild pain to her still healing shoulder. She now had to find Galen, and get him out of whatever prison Alex may have thrown him in.
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Post by shadowknight on Oct 7, 2017 17:12:25 GMT
Galen
The musty air filled his lungs as he trudged through the dim corridor beneath the palace. The metal of his shackles dug into the flesh of his now bare wrists and ankles, the guards having stripped him of his armor and left him clad in a ratten prisoners tunic.
"Welcome to your new home 'Raven'." One of the guards laughed, shoving him into a dank cell little better than the sewer he jumped out of a few hours prayer. He turned and glared as they locked the iron bars, twirling the keys as they strolled away. Galen made note of the man's face.
"When I get out of here I'm breaking that bastards nose." Galen grumbled, plopping down in the cleanest corner he could find.
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Post by MugiwaraBlair on Oct 7, 2017 19:27:43 GMT
Vras Ari
Light level rose in the dim dungeon tunnels, torches, about four, which meant at least twice as many soldiers, and only one prisoner judging by the sound of their steps. She closed her eyes and focused on the noises, this little game was the only entertainment while she waited for the meeting.
The prisoner was a man, taller than most, strongly built. Not struggling, likely a lawful one, or at least honorable. Her burgeoning thought that he might be the "Raven" mercenary from the sewers was confirmed by a vacuously sneering soldier before she fully formulated it.
"They should let you out soon human" she said disinterestingly "the prince will want you"
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Post by shadowknight on Oct 7, 2017 20:10:50 GMT
Galen
He jumped despite himself, startled at the sudden voice.'Who said that?' Galen pressed himself against the bars, squinting hard against the darkness. As his eyes adjusted to the lack of light he noticed a slim figure propped against a far wall.
"Who are you?" He asked inquisitivly, "what would some pampered ponce want with me?"
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Post by MugiwaraBlair on Oct 7, 2017 20:41:23 GMT
Vras Ari
The human squinted at her, struggling to see her, if he saw her at all, humans had such terrible senses.
"You will know soon, no doubt the fancy human will make fancy talk in a fancy room"
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Post by shadowknight on Oct 7, 2017 20:58:56 GMT
Galen
"Well that's comforting." He said, slipping back into his cell and slumped against the wall.
"Sooooo....," He said, trying to fill the silence, "you an elf? Gotta be, though I'm sure that's not a cell your in, what'd you do to wind up in the palace dungeons?"
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Post by MugiwaraBlair on Oct 7, 2017 21:39:45 GMT
Vras Ari
"No member of the Vras Burguul would be imprisoned by peons as you were" she scoffed.
"I came through the tunnels, the ones you coursed aimlessly in earlier, running from vermin"
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Post by Knukails on Oct 7, 2017 22:05:49 GMT
Vokun.
As Vokun & the prince approached the meeting room the boy suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. "What is it"? The prince said with a confused look. Vokun was sniffing the air. "Elf". he sniffed some more. "Blood Elf".
Prince Garrett showed a face of genuine surprise & intrigue. "Thats impressive Vokun, how could you tell that"? The boy looked at him plainly. "Have hunted". The prince put together the context & decided it'd be wise to take it at face value. "I see".
"Well...". Not knowing how to add to that exchange he opens the door to the meeting room & walks through with the boy. "Ah, Zaphia, your quite early".
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