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Post by Amber on Sept 16, 2020 21:02:59 GMT -5
(I do agree that jumping straight into the party might be a little abrupt, but I think there might not be enough to do something with the group. I do think focusing on only a few people could work, though. With that said, I do have some ideas on what to do next.
- The characters are getting ready/planning out what parties to go to or whatever. We could do some brief interactions between a few of them if we wanted. Only concern about this is things getting stale, being dragged out, or just kinda floundering.
- With that in mind, maybe we take a post or two to explore our characters by themselves instead. Could prove to be some fun insight or pratice or whatever. Also it would allow a buffer between now and the party without having to worry about character interactions.
- We could jump straight into the first party. Kiran and Oswald could go, Kell could scout out one of tbe houses, and Cruva could do whatever.
Ultimately, I'm fine with anything and hopefully these suggestions will spring up some ideas.)
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Post by Myst on Sept 18, 2020 19:32:27 GMT -5
(I think either of the last too would do just fine!)
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Post by Amber on Sept 18, 2020 20:48:20 GMT -5
(Alrighty. I think I'm leaning a little more towards the second thing just for the buffer and allowing some insight into our characters by themselves, but that's just me. I already have a couple of ideas on what I want to do, though said ideas could be incorporated into other posts. I'm not sure if you have anything you want to show/do, though and wouldn't want to jump right in and leave you bored. So, I'm ultimately fine with anything.)
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Post by Myst on Sept 18, 2020 21:16:49 GMT -5
(I have some stuff I wanted to explore! So honestly I don’t mind having the buffer)
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Post by Amber on Sept 18, 2020 21:27:57 GMT -5
(Sounds good! Do you want to start or me?)
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Post by Myst on Sept 20, 2020 7:21:51 GMT -5
(You can start if you’d like! I have work until 8 tonight so I won’t have full access to my iPad)
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Post by Amber on Sept 20, 2020 9:55:20 GMT -5
(Alrighty. I have some stuff to do myself, but I should get done with it early. I'll get something up soon.)
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Post by Amber on Sept 21, 2020 15:33:37 GMT -5
(Okay, so this was longer than I intended (it's nearly 2000 words), so I'm probably going to do Kell's thing separate or later.)
Oswald, the Mithran Prince As had been commonplace for him the past few days, Oswald held up in his room at the manor. It was like all the other bedrooms he'd seen; spacious with a large bed against one wall, a desk near the windows, a soft rug pinned against the floor, a couple of lamps at various corners, and three doors on different walls in the room. One led to a private bathroom, the other to a small closet, and the last to the resr of the manor. The prince had settled himself at the wooden desk. It was a sturdy walnut with polished brass features. It reminded him of his own desk at home, only less messy and not as big or ornate. Also not in Mithra.
A pang hit his chest as he thought of his seaside home. The warm, salty air was always a comfort as were the hours of studying in the grand palace library. He missed the seafood dishes prepared by the staff and the fully stocked kitchens to expierement on his cooking. They were supposed to be there now, celebrating the success of the treaty with their newfound allies, not working with some criminal- two criminals, actually -to find out why things in Zaestro failed. Of course, that's not how it worked out. They were chasing a murderer and trying to solve what happened that night. Why weren't the Erevans at the party? Why did they attack? Oswald shook himself, though the questions quietly lingered. He turned his attention to the window briefly. Although he missed his home, he couldn't complain about the change of scenery. The fresh, crisp mountain breeze and rolling green fields was a welcome difference from the vast ocean and sandy beaches.
Oswald sighed as he leaned back and glanced down at his work. He'd done enough lamenting over various issues for a while and needed to focus on his current task. He was compiling more information on the parties, trying to figure out how a Mithran scholar would be received by the locals. Studying the nobles was most important, they held the key to figuring out what happened at the peace celebration. However, they weren't the only people they would encounter at the parties to come. Popular merchants, renouned scholars, and famous wizards were among the people he expected to attend such events. It made sense to get a jump on learning about these people before they had to meet and interact with them. Unfortunately, studying these people would only take him so far. Few outside the noble houses attended every party and there was no telling who would show up when. There was little doubt some of his time would likely be wasted.
Besides going a little more in depth with some if the nobles, Oswald also manged to get profiles on eleven new people. Much like the major noble houses, there were varying amounts of information on those he researched. Some had whole chapters dedicated to them while others barely had a page of information. If they had the time, he might've suggested studying these people further. Of course, they simply didn't have the time. It wasn't like he was one to complain, any amount of information would prove to be some good for them.
Oswald picked up his pen to continue his writings. He looked back over what he'd already written before shifting his eyes back to a book he copied everything from. His eyes moved down the page in an attempt to read it. The words began to blur together. He found himself often rereading the same sentence a few times in a row or skipping around the page, unable to focus properly. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed the sides of his head. His mind was becoming fatigued, which didn't surprise him. Simply copying down information didn't interest him. He liked to observe things to figure out how they worked. People also weren't all that fascinating in terms of study. At least not these potential partygoers so far as he was concerned. Oswald groaned, set down his pen, and got up from his seat, stretching. How long had he been at this now? Brown eyes shifted to a clock on the desk. He had done at least five hours mind-numbing work and he wasn't even halfway done. Oswald tilted his head back, loudly sighing. It was time for a break.
The prince headed towards the closet for his things. There was a book or two he wantes to catch up on reading. He pulled out the pack and placed it on his bed. Opening it, he was greeted by the enchanted iron armband. Pulling it out, he turned it in his hands for a moment and held it up. Oswald hadn't tried any more disguises since that day in Thistle's shop. He didn't know if the same could be said for Kiran. He didn't have much time to talk to her or really anyone as he plunged into the research. He had two shots to get disguises right. He wasn't about to screw it up.
A blinking white light caught his eye. It, of course, came from the letterboard. Someone had just sent him a message. What great timing. Oswald looked towards the door, hoping no one would knock or enter. No one did. He turned his attention back towards the letterboard, pulling it out from his bag. A thin, dark wooden slab had a clip on top to hold down papers. On the clip was a small quartz dial. It was magically connected to another back in Mithra. They were both cut from the same piece of quartz, which served to strengthen the connection. Beneath that, a long piece of wire curled at the base of the dial and attached to a pen holder. He wasn't sure how common the devices were elsewhere, but only nobility tended to own them in Mithra. Picking up the letterboard, Oswald placed it at an incline on the desk and hooked a pen to it. He pressed down on the rounded piece of quartz and watched as it began to write out a message.
Oswald, I assume you are in good health? Is now a good time to talk? It wrote. He recognized Wyla's writing, though knew his brother and parents were likely in the room for the conversation. He pulled on the pen slightly to legenthen the wire, so he could write underneath his sister's message.
I was feeling sick in the morning, but I am better now. Yes, we can talk, he wrote back. "In the morning" was one of the coded phrases they had decided upon before he left for Zastro. It would let his family know he was alone and unlikely to be distrubed for the duration of their conversation.
Good. I don't mean to start this meeting so abruptly, but we don't want to get you into trouble, especially because there's no one there to protect you. Have you found out anything useful on Zaestro, Kiran, or her guard?
I haven't found out much besides what I told you last. I still don't know much about Cruva. If it helps, he does seem to be more intune with magical and supernatural occurances. Maybe that marks him as a magic-user of some kind. Kiran's still deadset on bringing the people who attacked the party to justice. We still don't know who it is, but working with the elf informant should bring us closer to an answer. I've learned nothing new about Zaestro, but I'll continue to keep an ear out. Does this help? The pen was still for a moment.
It doesn't help much, but I suppose any ideas or theories you have are worth looking into. A good suggestion for the guard, though I have played around with the idea of him being an angel or demon. It would explain why he suddenly showed up six years ago and seems to be untraceable. I'll keep you updated on this theory. It's unfortunate to hear you have nothing new to share about Kiran or Zaesteo, though. Our spies will only find so much. Do you know how much expierence she has with magical items?
No, he answered simply. That was in reference to their meeting with the half-blood. In their previous correspondence, he noted how quickly she'd taken to it. The pen was still for another few moments. Oswald took the time to wind up the wire, put in a fresh sheet of paper, and apply more ink onto the pen tip. A minute later, it began to move again.
Brother, I understand how you feel about all this. I know they're supposed to be our allies, but please think about Mithra. Towards the end of the war, we weren't doing as good as we hoped. By collecting this information for us, for your kingdom, you're giving us insurance in the future. We can't let Mithra get weakened again. If you're still having doubts, maybe we can consider sharing some secrets with them. I already have a list compiled of ones that won't really harm us, which I can send to you.
I think you'll be happy to hear an update on your agreement with that thief. The document excusing her crimes is almost complete, though I still can't believe you offered her immunity. I imagine few will be happy about this, especially among our noble friends. If we get lucky, maybe she'll slip up. Then, we can bring her to trail and jail her for life or hang her.
Oswald frowned at her last note. Tempest was something of a thorn at his side, but he didn't want to see her killed for something as simple as thievery. I will consider that suggestion, he eventually wrote back. I would also like to see a copy of that document. While I trust you and our advisors have an immaculate written agreement, I want to make sure everything I told her is in order.
Alright. Please be careful Oswald, and don't get into too much trouble. Hopefully we can talk again soon.
The quartz stopped blinking as Wyla ended communications. The prince collected the page and placed it with the other. He would get rid of them later. No fireplace in the room made it diffcult to dispose of their conversations. Stacked neatly, he took both the letterboard and the pages back to his bag. The conversation was placed into a folder where he hid their communications. The device was placed beside it. Both were easy enough to explain away, that was assuming no one saw the contents of the folder. So far, no one had. Oswald placed the bag back inside the closet and headed back towards the desk. He let out a long sigh and placed his face in his hands. Guilt ate his insides and he knew he was walking a fine line. He would continue to give enough information to satisfy his family, though there was no telling how long he could avoid withholding everything. Hopefully he wouldn't get caught in the meantime. There was no telling what that would mean for him.
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Post by Myst on Sept 21, 2020 19:39:25 GMT -5
(I just read it and ohhhh boy it’s going to be quite the show if that ever comes out lol - I’ll try and get started tonight but my parents decided to cut the WiFi so idk when it’s gonna be back)
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Post by Amber on Sept 21, 2020 20:07:54 GMT -5
(Yeah, I had this idea floating around for a while and finally decided to go through with it. It's certinaly not the only idea, though. Anyway, no worries. Good luck with your wifi. I'll probably get the second reply tonight assuming the rain doesn't screw things up too badly.)
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Post by Myst on Sept 21, 2020 20:09:59 GMT -5
(It seems really interesting! I’m excited to see where it goes. As for my lads, I think I have a lot more for Cruva than I do for Kiran but I’m sure I can think of something lol I’m hoping to get them done sometime tomorrow - hopefully the rain doesn’t bother you!)
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Post by Amber on Sept 21, 2020 20:26:10 GMT -5
(Same here! Haha yeah, you'll probably figure out something and yay for tomorrow or something. Anyway, the rain shouldn't bother me much, especially because it's not a full blown storm, so that's fun.)
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Post by Amber on Sept 22, 2020 23:58:10 GMT -5
(So...this somehow turned out even longer than my pervious reply, but I had a lot of fun writing it. It's nearly 3,500 words...oops. Anyway, do with that information what you will and sorry about it being so long.)
Kellan, the Reluctant Thief The city of Aqulian was mostly as Kell had expected it. Crowded markets full of exotic goods and merchants eager to make a profit, large buildings that towered into the sky with decorative arches, and criminals at almost every street corner, avoiding the attention of nearby guards. It was like most of the cities she had seen in Mithra, of which was only a few. She didn't travel much. In fact, the trip into Zaestro and then Ereva was the furthest she had gone in all her life. So far as she could remember, at least.
As was typically characteristic of her, Kell had a plain scarf loosely wrapped around her neck. One part was already pulled over the top of her head while the rest could hide the lower portion of her face in case she needed to hide in the crowd. It wasn't unusual to see people with various headcoverings in Mithra. Appearently something similar could be said for the people of Ereva too. She fit right in, undectected and undisturbed. For the past few days, Kell alternated between watching the Dover's and Fallow's residents. It wasn't the most consistently interesting work, but it was important. She already manged to get down guard patterns and staff movements. During slow hours, she was able to draw or watch the city below. She even practiced with her powers a few times. Other times, like now, she took a break from watching the manors and instead explored the city some. That was equally important if she had to make a quick getaway. Despite the guard's offer to teleport her to the city, the thief hadn't taken him up on it. At least not yet. She wanted to get a good idea of the area leading up to Aquilan before she took a shortcut such as that. Even if it meant having a bit of a sore backside and relying on a horse for a few days, it was worth it.
The thief strolled through the market, keeping a close eye on her surrondings. Though she was an unlikely target for most pickpockets and thieves, one could never be too careful. A majority of thieves went after small targets and not many were all that sophisticated. People like Kellan were uncommon among them. While those types would likely leave her alone, the same wasn't necessarily true for other criminals. It helped that she knew exactly what to watch out for as well. The woman paused beside a food stand and ordered a sandwhich. It was pricier than she would've liked, but she couldn't complain. Food was food. As she waited for her sandwich, Kell idely watched the crowd. It wasn't long before something caught her eye. On the other side of the market, a fruit stand was tended to by a tall man. That's wasn't what grabbed her attention. It was the two children eagerly talking about something, distracting the vendor. The woman selling sandwiches grabbed Kell's attention briefly. The woman gave a nod of thanks and took her food before heading closer to the stand.
Unnoticed, the thief continued to watch the children as they chattered away. One was a young girl, about twelve years old. Brown hair was in a set of messy braided tails. The little boy who was with her looked to be about eight or nine and had choppy, dark hair. The vendor spoke with the pair, amusement dancing on his features. How long had they been going at it? She wondered, curious. That's when she saw another boy. He was older and probably in his mid-teens. He too had dark hair and if she was a betting woman, she would put money on them being blood-related siblings. Absent-mindedly chewing on her food, she watched the older boy sneak behind the vendor and take a quick look around. How brash, he was going to steal from right behind the vendor. It was a smart plan, but also a dangerous one. Stealing out in the open like that, especially with the vendor only a foot or two away, was quite risky. A little worry prickled at her chest. The two youngest kids could only do so much to keep the man distracted, he would surely catch the boy.
Without thinking, the thief moved closer. Carefully weaving through the crowd, Kell kept her blue eyes fixed on the four. She paused once within earshot, hanging near the stand next to it. The boy had pulled out a sac and begun to place some fruits inside. He was quick, but quiet and steady. Not all the credit could go to him, however. His siblings were doing a fine enough job of keeping the man occupied. They were playing a little too heavy into the stereotypes of kids their age, but it wasn't an egregious problem. Maybe this would go off without a-
The older boy made a mistake. He got too greedy and snatched an apple just within the vendor's view. The bearded man took notice and spun to face the would-be thief. The boy's eyes widened as he tried to shoo away the younger children. He shifted to the side to run, but the vendor was surprisingly quick. He squeezed the thief's wrist, glaring.
"No so fast, little thief," he snarled. Kellan glanced towards the boy's siblings. Why weren't they running? The girl stood still for a moment before dashing forward and tugging on the vendor's shirt.
"Leave him alone!" The man turned to face her as she yelled at him, dragging the adolescent with him. The boy tried to pull away, but the man's grip was too strong. The girl backed away, the youngest boy joining her. The vednor glanced at the three of them, processing what had happened.
"You're all thieves trying to steal a working man's profits. The guards'll hear about this," he growled.
"No, wait. We...We'll give it back. Here!" The boy used his free hand to push the sac towards the vendor's face.
"Too little, too late. Ah, perfect." The vendor waved a hand to the crowd. Kell followed the wave towards a pair of guards. She glanced back at the kids. The oldest boy was trying to encourage the younger two to run. They refused. The guards forced their way through the crowd, quickly approaching the vendor stand. The woman drew in a breath, making a decision. She headed towards the stand, arms outstretched in relief.
"There you guys are! I've been searching everywhere for you!" Kellan exclaimed, joining the children and vendor. Her Erevan accent wasn't perfect- no one she knew could do accents like Lawry -but it was passable for most locals. The three kids shot her varying looks of confusion. They weren't very skilled at spontaneous interactions, it seemed. The vendor raised an eyebrow at her and looked her over.
"And you are?"
"I'm their aunt." She stepped back as if to study the situation. The vendor eyed her, a little suspicious. It wasn't the most well thoughtout story, especially in regard to their appearances. She had tan skin similar to theirs, but was a few shades lighter. Her round face was different from their more angulaelr features and her blonde hair made their brown hair seem almost darker. At least the three of them had light-colored eyes. "Have they been causing trouble again? I'm so sorry, I try to keep an eye on them and told my sister I'd keep them out of trouble. We see how well that went. What did they do this time?"
The vendor's grip loosed on the boy's wrist as he tilted his head curiously towards Kell. "They, um, tried to steal from me, miss. Show your aunt the bag, thief." The boy looked between the vendor and Kellan. The blonde gave an encouraging nod. Slowly, he brought the bag towards her and held one side of it, so it opened slightly. Of course, the fruit was there. Kell gasped, frowning.
"Did you steal from this man, Ari?" The boy sheepishly shrugged as they guards finally reached them.
"We're sorry, aunt Helena. I just wanted to have some fun and dragged them into it. Please don't tell our dad." Kellan crossed her arms and shook her head in disappointment.
"What seems to be the issue here?" One of the guards asked. He was an older man probably around his fifties with gray peppered in his red hair. The vendor glanced between Kell, the kids, and the guards.
"Well," he began, "these kids tried to steal some of my fruit and I caught them. Then, their aunt came and started scolding them."
"So their thieves?" The other guard- a younger bald man -asked. The vendor simply nodded. The two men whispered between themselves, deciding what to do about the situation. The vendor had since let go of the adolescent's wrist, giving them an oppertunity to escape. Guards were tricky people; there was no telling what might set them off or what the right words to say were. Kellan could usually talk her way out of a situation, but with the vendor and three children to consider, it would be all the more diffcult.
"At my signal, take your siblings and start running," Kell instructed under her breath.
"Who are you?" The boy whispered back. Instead of answering, the thief lurched forward and slammed her shoulder into one of the guards. The man yelped in surprise as the boy dashed towards his siblings. Good. She didn't have to tell him twice. The vendor stepped back in shock as the other guard tried to grab "Ari". Kell dashed forward and forcefully shoved into the man, knocking him to the ground. She bounded over his body and followed the three children. A few people ahead formed a clear path for them to take. Others who didn't move out of the way got rammed into the the oldest boy. Curses were grumbled and angry shouts followed as they moved through the street. Kellan ignored them.
"Get back here!" She heard one of the guards distantly yell. The thief didn't look back, that's how mistakes were made. The small group continued on, the woman fully aware of the guards hot on their heels. The various stalls around were a blur as Kellan followed the kids through the market. She barely paid attention to the people they passed, more concerned with escaping the guards. The three ahead slowed to a stop at a market square. The thief joined them.
"Where to next?" The older boy asked, worry lacing his voice. Kell took a quick look around. She could hear frightened murmurs of the crowd as the guards shoved through them. Eyes frantically scanning the area, the thief spotted a possible safe haven. The alley.
"Down there, go. Go!" The boy nodded and bolted to the side, his siblings just ahead of him. A few people watched their escape. They would surely tell the guards when they came by. Kellan looked upwards towards the rooftops as she entered the alley. It would be easy enough to climb up unseen. She turned her attention back towards the kids as they continued down the alleyway.
"No, don't go that way. They'll be able to follow and catch you. We need to climb, they never look on the rooftops." The oldest boy gave her a confused look, but didn't argue. His siblings followed as Kell studied the best path for them. She could make it up there through any path. Unfortunately, she had the kids to consider. The oldest boy could probably make it, but the other two would have difficulty. Perhaps they could-
"You kids in trouble? Need any help?" All eyes shifted to a cloaked mass leaning on the wall just ahead of them. The oldest boy pulled his siblings behind him as Kell stepped forward, eyes narrowed with suspicion. She hadn't noticed the man before, too distracted studying the alley. He was around his forties with blue eyes and a crooked nose. Tension rose in her chest as she studied the man. She found it easing away slightly as she watched him. Her eyes flickered to the side, towards the allway entrance. It returned as she spotted a commotion in the market, likley belonging to the guards.
"And you are?" The thief finally asked, stiffly. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, unsure about what to make of the stranger.
"Someone who can help you kids. For a price of course."
"We don't need your help. I got everything under control. Just...stay out of the way." Though bothered by the man, she tossed a coin to him anyway. Hopefully it would be enough to keep him quiet in case the guards caught him.
"Are you sure?" He asked, voice raspy. "Those guards are getting close and I do know a good hiding place." He paused and pulled out an ornate glass bottle. A pale pink liquid sat in the half-empty container. He swirled it around, admiring the liquid. Ah yes, what a perfect time to have a drink. The thief ignored him as she tried to find a path to safety. She found herself glancing to the entrance again. She could see the guards questioning the crowd, asking about their little group. People gestered to their hiding spot. Kellan sighed and got close to the man. She opened her mouth to say something, only for her senses to be attacked by the stench of fragrance. It was coming from the bottle.
"Is that...perfume?"
"Ah yes. Only the best for me." The man paused and took a swig of it. He smiled in satisfaction. Great. The perfume-drinking begger was their only hope of safety. Kell let out a long sigh before digging a few coins from her pocket.
"Alright, fine. This should be enough for you to hide us, right?" She held out the small handful of coins. She wasn't sure how well Zaestrin currency would convert in Ereva, but it would have to do. The man greedily snatched up the coins and shoved them in his pocket, cackling as he did so. Yup. Of course he was their last hope. The man spun towards the end of the alley and gestured towards a small stack of boxes. He hobbled towards them and pulled the stack from the wall. There was a small hole in the wall, though she couldn't see too far ahead.
"In here," he cackled. "You lot can hide in here. You all should fit. I'll knock on the box three times once I know it's safe. Good luck." The man motioned for them to go. With another sigh, the blonde crawled in first, just to make sure they weren't getting into more danger. Although it was too dark to see, the hole was surpsingly spacious. There really was plenty of room for them all.
"It's safe," she called out. A moment later, the youngest boy joined her, followed by the girl, and lastly "Ari". The boxes were pushed back to the wall, closing off the exit. The small group waited silently, breath tensely held. Minutes later, the four could hear muffled voices from their hiding place. It was hard to make out what they were saying, but it sounded like there were three people. If she had to guess, it was the guards questioning the begger. For the next few, tense minutes, the muffled voices continued to speak. Then, there was silence. Three knocks came a minute later before light flooded into the hole. The oldest boy began to crawl out, but Kell tugged on his arm and stopped him. She carefully moved over the three kids before peeking outside. There was always a chance the strange begger could've betrayed them. If she went out first, the other three would at least have a chance of escape. As she entered back into the alley, the guards were nowhere to be found. The begger continued to hold his perfume bottle. There was now only a quarter of the liquid left.
"They're gone. Went down that way 'cause I told them that's where I saw you going." He gestered to the end of the alleyway where it split off into two seprate paths. The strange begger proved to be honest. That was good.
"Glad to see you haven't betrayed us," Kell hummed with a nod.
"Course not, bad for business, y'know," the begger cackled as the three kids pulled out of the hole. As they got their bearings together, the oldest boy looked Kellan up and down.
"Who are you, miss? Some kind of thief or something?" The boy narrowd his eyes. "Or maybe you're with the constables, tying to set us up?"
"Don't be rude, Zenas," the girl snapped. "She saved our skin after you got us caught."
"No my fault you couldn't keep him distracted," the boy- Zenas as his sister called him -grumbled.
"Well you still shouldn't be rude. If she were with those guards, why did she help us? She pretended to be our aunt, gave us a chance to escape, bribed that begger guy, and... Hey, where'd he go?" Kellan frowned and looked around the area. The man disappeared, likely slipped away while the four of them were distracted. She shrugged. Where he went was none of her concern.
"Probably ran off to spend that money on more perfume," Zenas grunted. A slightly playfulness lit his features as he spoke. Kell suppose it was an amusing thought. "Anyway, accusing you of being with the constables was wrong, so I'm sorry about that. Of course, I would still like an explanation on why you helped us. Seriously, who are you anyway?"
"To answer your previous question, yeah I'm a thief. According to you, I'm Helena. Now, I think I've given enough information, it's your turn. Who are you three and why were you stealing fruit? And please be honest. I'll tell if you're lying and frankly, I don't thunk any of us want to be here longer than we need to. Go." Zenas blinked in surprise and opened his mouth to argue. Kellan gave him a stern look.
"Zen, please answer her questions," the youngest boy whispered. The thief held back as smile as the adolescent rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I'm Zenas and these are my siblings, Abellona and Theo. We were stealing that fruit because we need it."
"Are you orphans?"
"No. We live with our mother, but she's overworked and underpaid. Can't always afford food or clothes, that sort of thing. Our father died just before Theo was born. He fell in battle. Why does that matter anyway?"
"It matters so I can figure out what to tell you. Word of advice, thievery isn't the best career path to go down. You and Abellona should look into some type of apprenticeship. Theo's not old enough yet, though I'm sure the two of you could teach him some tricks. Anyway, craftsmen make good coin, you know. I'm sure if you look hard enough, you'll find someone in need of an apprenticeship. A city can never have too many cobblers, woodworkers, or blacksmiths. I'm sure there's job positions open often enough for any of those places."
"Okay, but what if we can't get a job?"
"Oh, you'll get one. And if worst comes to worst, play up the sob story. Trust me, a good story that tugs at the heartstrings will make most more sypathetic and it usually works wonders. Certinaly worked for me during the days of winter or getting a little bit of free food. Not everyone likes little homeless kids begging around, though."
"You an orphan?" Zenas asked. Kell smiled and nodded lightly. "Oh... Well, what happened?"
"Techinally yes. But the truth is, I don't know. Found myself in an orphage at nine, no memories from before then. A few things came back to me over time, but nothing more than little stuff like my name or age. Anyway, doesn't matter. You probably should get home with your pickings. Those guards are still out there and have seen your faces. Besides, you don't want to get your mother worried." The oldest boy nodded as Kell dug into her pocket once more. She pulled out another small handful of coins, the last few she had on her. She handed the youngest two a coin each before giving the last one to Zenas. The boy's eyes widened as he brought the coins closer to his face.
"This is Zaestrin money, but...nevermind. Thanks, 'Helena'." The woman nodded and gestered them off. Abellona gave her a wave while Theo admired the coin, too distracted by it to say goodbye. Zenas offered a smile before grabbing his brother and leading the way home. Kellan watched the three siblings with a small smile. She would never do anything great, but at least she could offer little joys on occasion. The thief turned away and began to head back to the Dover's manor.
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Post by Myst on Sept 27, 2020 7:59:48 GMT -5
(My everyone in my house Lowkey imploded so I’ve been decently busy - I’m hoping to get soMething up for my lads either tomorrow or Tuesday!)
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Post by Amber on Sept 27, 2020 11:01:16 GMT -5
(Don't sweat it! Hope everything wasn't too bad and sounds good.
Also feel free to not match my post length. As I said, I wasn't expecting for either of them to be so long.)
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Post by Myst on Oct 7, 2020 23:25:06 GMT -5
(I have Cruva's draft up on my iPad, I honestly just haven't had the time I would like to work on either of their posts)
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Post by Myst on Oct 11, 2020 8:33:40 GMT -5
It’d been a while since he’d been home. Not that he’d actually wanted to go, but he’d all but exhausted the opportunities in the area. He’s gone further into the city to wreak havoc on the people, stolen a few things, pitted groups of people against each other for fun. Humans, however, weren’t fun for very long, not if he wanted to maintain a decent energy reserve. He’d already taken time to go back towards the mountains on either side of the valley, making more proper note of the species here. More specifically, the gryphons. Wild gryphons were much different than their domestic counterparts. They were interesting to watch, or at least they were to him.
Still, Cruva had lost interest in them very quickly. This drew him to his only solution where he could be properly free to entertain himself - a quick trip to see his family. This brought him back to the witch’s shop to gather a few supplies. The process of movie between the realms was a bit of work if you weren’t a deity. He was sure that the thief, who wouldn’t be exempt from the process, would find it much easier than a common person. He himself had never found it particularly taxing, but it was a hassle. It required a decent amount of frost salts, which wasn’t the easiest material to obtain.
But Claiborne had some, and she owed him.
It didn’t take him long to get the frost salts, alongside some more common ingredients from her. Before long the demon found himself back in the same abandoned building he'd been trapped in some time ago. The enchantment had likely worn off some time ago, which he was thankful for. He got to work immediately, spreading the salt on the floor in a symbol that he hadn't seen in quite some time. It'd been maybe a hundred years or so since he'd visited home, and he'd only seen the symbol maybe twenty years after that after being summoned to a residence. With a snap of his fingers, he set the salt alight and simply watched as the flames traveled across the lines he'd laid out.
Sitting down in front of it, he crossed his legs and set his hands on his knees - he'd be like this for at least three hours. Focusing for so long was the hardest part in his opinion because it wasn't just quietly watching the flames grow. No, the spell was one of meditation, forcing most of the process to be internal. It wasn't his idea of fun, but it was a means to meet his goal. After about three or four hours the flames had reached the ceiling were burning near white. In front of him, the center of the column shown a darker archway were the flames were slowly coming back down to the floor.
"Finally," The demon muttered, getting back to his feet slowly. He didn't wait for them to reach the floor and clear up, rather he invited himself through them and was quickly welcomed into his home realm. It was almost like a reflection of what he'd just left behind, but the differences were clear. The geography was a bit different, and building designs as well. Steep temples dotted the corners of the city, tall enough to be seen from anywhere within it's bounds. They were ornate, and so were the other buildings. Outside of the sins, there was really no true hierarchy within the cities. In fact, even when his father entered towns, he was generally regarded as any other demon lest he had business to attend to. He came from a very community based place, one that insisted that you solve anything you start, and if you died you probably deserved it. It's what made being prince so boring.
Despite this, he finally dropped his human visage as the fiery archway closed behind him. It jolted a few as some recognized him and others were simply surprised by the sudden entrance and change. He didn't acknowledge them, rather choosing to set off for home.
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Post by Amber on Oct 11, 2020 23:05:18 GMT -5
(Yay for family meeting. I'm sure nothing bad will come of this or at least I'm sure it'll go perfectly well. Also, some fun bits of world building for demigods and teleporting to other planes/realms. I like it and it makes sense. Also, also it's fun to see how much Claibourne is being used when she started off to have something for a side quest.)
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Post by Myst on Oct 15, 2020 13:11:43 GMT -5
(I got much more attached to her than I thought I would lol. I’m also fully at a loss of what with to with Kiran - I don’t think she’d do too much tbh lmao)
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Post by Amber on Oct 15, 2020 13:41:24 GMT -5
(That's fair. She is a fun character after all and can lead to some interesting stuff. As for Kiran, it's not fun to try and force yourself to write when nothing comes to mind. If you want, let's go ahead and skip to the party.)
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Post by Myst on Oct 15, 2020 13:44:57 GMT -5
(Yeah I’m down for getting to the party lol by It yeahhhh I really love her! My cute little half blood lol)
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Post by Amber on Oct 15, 2020 13:50:09 GMT -5
(Alright sounds good. You want to start or should I? Also, it'll be fun seeing what else she does in the future.)
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Post by Myst on Oct 15, 2020 13:55:15 GMT -5
(Could you start this time around? I’m at work and today is particularly disastrous lmao also same!! Very excited to know what she could be used for)
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Post by Amber on Oct 15, 2020 14:03:18 GMT -5
(Sure! I can hopefully get something up tonight or tomorrow. And I hope work isn't too stressful despite how chaotic it sounds. But yeah, it'll be insteresting to see where her character can go.)
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Post by Myst on Oct 15, 2020 14:16:42 GMT -5
(Take your time! And yeahhh I’m hoping it dies down especially after the last patient we just had. She just about caused a scene in the lobby)
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Post by Amber on Oct 15, 2020 14:21:37 GMT -5
(Honestly, this makes me glad I work where I do. The worst that's happened(so far) are the people next store setting off the fire alarms because they burt something or some guy being a little sexist and having my boss repeat the information I or his wife just told him. Even then there's only happen once or twice. Anyway, good luck and let's hope no one else tries to cause a scene.)
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Post by Amber on Oct 17, 2020 17:59:19 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince As the carriage rolled along the smooth stone path, Oswald could barely contain his nerves. Sure he praticed his cover story plenty of times and studied what to say to most who would be attending the party, he even figured out who would be best to talk to when. And yet, that still wasn't enough to quell the unease currently plaguing him. Various scenarios repeatedly ran through his mind, most of them ending with him and Kiran either getting taken as prisoners or killed. Even though the likelihood of that happening was quite slim, that didn't stop the prince from worrying. Few things did. Luckily for him, Kiran, of course, would be by his side throughout the night. That very fact eased some of his concerns. Not only was she a trained fighter, but if they needed a quick escape she could call upon Cruva for help.
Ga-Julei had procured an invitation for them. Or rather, he did for the Mithran scholar and researcher Bastien Lon and his personal elf guard. That, coupled with the paperwork Wyla and their advisors were able to create for the covers, would hopefully keep anyone from getting suspicious. As their ride to the manor slowed, the prince glanced out the window and towards the building ahead. A short line of carriages stopped at the front to let its passengers out before rolling along. Oswald drew in a deep breath, his nervousness rising again. He needed a distraction of some kind.
Unconsciously, the half-orc rubbed the armband around his wrist. It fit comfortably and would be almost impossible for him to lose or for it to get stolen. Iron was common enough to be of little value to most and it was well hidden beneath his coat sleeve. Oswald pulled out a pocket watch with a mirror on the inside and popped it open. The disguise hadn't faultered. Of course it didn't, the enchantment had been preformed perfectly. He still looked like the dark-haired, blue-eyed human he had imagined days ago. It was the same man he had seen before they left the informat's manor. Drawing in another breath, the man closed the watch and placed it back in his pocket. The distraction worked. Their carriage pulled up to the entrance of the Dover's manor as the one ahead rolled away. The prince glanced out the small window before turning his attention towards Kiran.
"You ready?" He asked with a voice that wasn't his own. Another alteration thanks to the enchanted armband. There wasn't much time to wait for an answer as the greeter opened the door and bowed.
"Invitation please." Oswald nodded and handed the clean-shaven man the ornate page. He took a brief glance over it before handing it back. It was likely some percaution to see if it appeared authentic. Wordlessly, the prince exited the carriage and began to ascend the steps to the manor. It wasn't like the grand staircases common among some of the Mithran buildings, but Oswald wasn't one to complain. He didn't have to worry about being out of breath by the time they reached the top. At the door, another man waited along with a couple of guards. He held out his hand, gesturing for the invitation as well. It was likely a more thorough examination of the invite to mame sure no one unfavorable slipped in. Of course, it wasn't a perfect system as he and Kiran were getting in.
"It's good to have you this evening, Mister Lon. I hope you find tonight's event enjoyable," the man said with a smile and short bow. He waved the pair through, guided by one of the guards. Another replaced him as they were led to the main room.
The hall where the Dovers were hosting the event was a grand spectacle. An emerald-green, velvety-looking carpet cascaded over the pale marble steps while drapes of gold and the same green hung from the high ceilings. A large stained-glass window stretched towards the third floor balcony of the hall, Oswald only able to imagine what it must look like as the sun rose through it. He glanced at the people below as the guard left the pair to return to his post. Both servants and partygoers alike swarmed around the hall. They were easy enough to separate from each other just from their clothing. The servants garb weren't nearly as eye-catching or vibrant as those of the attending guests. Some wore tightly-fitted, ornate dresses that reached down to the floor and dragged behind them. Others wore well tailored suits with intricate embroidery on the coats in various accents of silver or gold. While the clothing styles were different, it was much like the parties he was used to. Turning to Kiran, he slightly gestered to the crowd below.
"Where should we start?"
Kellan, the Reluctant Thief
While the others were off to some fancy party, Kell was on the roof- just as she had been for the majority of the day -watching the Fallow's house across the street. She was alone, save for Magnar, but didn't mind being left out of their plans. They had an unspoken agreement; she would stay out of their way and get her work done while they would leaving their bothering to a minimum. That's how it mostly worked at least. Appearently the demon didn't necessarily count seeing as his princess ordered him to help her. Though she wouldn't admit it, having him teleport her near the city for the last two days proved to be helpful. She could spend more time studying her targets as well as Aqualin itself. The city offered various points of interest and she intended to explore them some before the job was finished.
For now, the thief was content on watching the house. Kellan had most of the guard movements down and had gotten to known the outside of the building fairly well. Despite almost being ready, it would be foolish to make her move tonight as she wasn't prepared enough. That wasn't going to stop her from getting inside. She had managed to get an idea of what to expect when she'd finally take the ledgers, however it was important to map out a few routes for entry and escape. Besides that, she needed to know the interior better before she felt comfortable enough getting in. One could never be too careful with those kinds of things. Luckily, she didn't have to wait much longer. Once thirty minutes passed, the guards would momentarily shift their posts and she could get in.
As Kell turned her attention back towards the street below, she still found it quiet surprising. In Mithra, it's wasn't uncommon to see people celebrating one thing or another, parading through the streets well into the night. Here, she could only spot a few people on the streets below. A tan-skinned, blond man quietly strolled near the Fallow manor, likely enjoying an evening out. A woman with dark hair wore a bright yellow dress that almost seemed to glow in the darkness. She seemed to be joining a group of friends for a night out after a day of work. Then, of course, there was the odd begger or two dressed in rags asking for food or coin. While crowds were easy to blend into, the more empty streets would make it easier to get into the manor unseen.
As Kell sat back and continued to watch the building, Magnar joined her. The large feline curled around the thief and rested his head on his legs. Kell gave him a pat before turning her attention to her bag. After a moment of hesitation, she dug through it and pulled out Dagger of the Sun. She turned the sheathed weapon in simple leather over in her hands. It made sense why the original would be left back at the palace, it would've drawn too many eyes and prying fingers. The royals wanted to blend in to get their work done and a decorated sheath such as that would make that diffcult. She pulled it out just a little and admired the slightly curved, golden blade. It was sure worth a lot and would've sold for a heafty price. Of course, that would've been the case if had been looking to do so in the first place. Not only would it have been too diffcult to sell such a famous piece, there was the possibility they could trace her steps and catch her. With the guard actually being a demon, that possibility was almost absolute. Besides, it would've been way more interesting to put it back and see the confusion it caused.
A bit of movement caught the woman's attention below. Kellan shoved the weapon back into the leather sheath and stuffed it back in her bag. Had thirty minutes passed already? Setting it aside, the thief took a look below.
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Post by Myst on Oct 28, 2020 12:54:32 GMT -5
(Sorry I died - My focus has been hell and i've been job hunting. I'm gonna get a reply up tonight!)
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Post by Amber on Oct 28, 2020 13:46:00 GMT -5
(No need to apologize. I hope job hunting is and continues to go well.)
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Post by Myst on Oct 28, 2020 14:22:30 GMT -5
The Angered Princess She had watched their surroundings as they passed, wondering the last time she'd left her kingdom for a party. It hadn't been recently, especially since she'd all but begged her mother to convince everyone to come to the desert for the celebration of peace. She loved parties in her kingdom, and they happened rather often.
This was different, however. This wasn't a party meant for one's enjoyment. They were here for information and to form relations as to keep everyone more protected. They were outsiders, in this case, despite the invitations the elf had produced for them. While not as uneasy about the situation as her companion, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen should something go wrong. After all, Cruva wasn't by their side tonight - he was likely somewhere with Tempest, or at least in the same vicinity as her. Sure, he was only a call away, but that left more time for things to happen. Not that she expected anything to falter, but with the way things were going lately, it was possible.
Okan Ra, elusive elven mercenary. Always working but never caught. That's who her invitation was for, anyway. It was the name she'd given her new, and only, persona. The tall, mildly build elf she'd create back in Thistle's shop. She'd summoned it after placing the small set of cuffs on her left ear. This way, it would be visible. After all, it wasn't uncommon for scholars to hire mercenaries to guard them at outings, and it would reduce the chances of others speaking to her as if she was a scholar herself. She'd left the rest of her near-white hair straight down, realizing it fell just above her waist. From what she knew (though she wasn't sure it was too accurate) elves of all occupations took pride in their hair and preferred to leave most of it, if not all of it, untouched. Uncut.
The question of being ready came much sooner than she thought it would, though only nodded in confirmation as the door to the carriage was opened. Kiran followed her friend's lead, handing over her invitation. As soon as it was returned, she followed him out of the vehicle. though was quickly by his side with long strides. As they traveled up the stairs, she briefly watched the others both in front of and behind them. Everyone's status seemed very clear to her - who was of worth and those guarding them if they so chose. It made her less worried that she'd stick out.
At the top of the stairs, their invitations were requested once more. She handed it over wordlessly, seeing no reason to speak. Personality-wise, she was working to embody Cruva. He made for an excellent guard in her opinion, and being able to quietly listen and collect information would be beneficial. Besides, she was sure nobody would want to hear the words of a mercenary in a setting like this.
Once they were inside, she took a moment to marvel at the structure. It seemed their general theme relied heavily on emerald type colors. While not her favorite, it looked rather nice here. She would admit, the stained glass window was wonderful. 'Perhaps I should get one.' she thought, eyes trailing over all its details. Soon, green eyes fell to those who were already in attendance. From up here, she couldn't quite spot anybody familiar. Still, it was worth noting that any personal protection that had been hired seemed to blend in rather well.
When Oswald spoke up, she glanced over to him. "I say we get a feel for the crowd and go from there."
The Summoned Guard His trip home had been short. His younger siblings had been surprised at his sudden return, thinking he'd left for good after his last visit. He'd reminded them that he would, in fact, always come back. The right of Wrath personified was his, and his alone. Not only did they take him at his word, they asked if they were to carry anything out on his behalf. They were some bit younger than him, maybe by 75 years or so, maybe more. They weren't as ambitious as he was, however. The youngest had once admitted that he was sure he wouldn't live up to such a title, better suited for leading the charge in battles should there ever be one. The second youngest, on the other hand, took pleasure in simply creating chaos whenever and where ever he could, often dragging some of the other sins into his antics. That, and he was a bit fearful of his sibling.
As he should be.
Cruva had simply told them to do as they pleased, though did request they remind anybody vying for what was his that he'd be back and his court would be reassembled. They took his words with ease before asking what he'd been doing for all this time. The demon didn't bother entertaining them thus far but assured them he'd been busy. They spoke briefly of their father, how he was slowly but surely waning in power. It wasn't something he'd expected to hear, but he was sure he still had a good bit of time before he was home permanently.
He'd been home for maybe a day or two before he left them once more. He'd returned to the estate they were staying at and woken with Valiri. Primarily, he asked her how long he had before he was to uptake his father's place. Furthermore, if he'd be bound to home or if he could continue coming and going as he wished. On the latter, she'd been a tad vague, though it seemed more so because she herself was unsure. That was unusual for her, though he supposed it could be something she was unable to see. Maybe he'd ask her again later. She'd questioned if he was going to shift back into his human visage, as he hadn't yet. The guard had only shaken his head, finding himself tired of being limited.
Before he knew it, the two royals were leaving for their party and the thief was off to the Fallows to collect ledgers and papers. Before this but after returning, he'd sent her to the property and brought her back a few times. He himself hadn't traveled to the property since the last time Zaestro had business here, but he still knew it well. He could easily retrace the path they'd taken into the building, what office they'd used. Tonight, however, he found himself rather bored. Boredom quickly found himself on the edge of the Fallow's property, staring at the main entrance from the darkness. Sure, it wouldn't be ideal to cause any trouble here right now, but he could think about it.
Bi-colored eyes simply stared, soon landing on the guard that took the place of a pair at the front entrance. Sure, the poor man couldn't see him, but Cruva could see him easily. 'He's nervous... must be new.' He could feel the nerves rolling off him even from this far away. Putting newbies on the nightly rotation wasn't unheard of, but with such an event happening not so far away, he'd thought it would be nothing but seasoned guards tonight.
He turned away, taking off suddenly. The sound startled the poor guard - he'd felt it just before he was out of range. Until he was needed, he had other things to do. The thought of the Tolenai's being of angelic descent hadn't left him, and he was determined to find them.
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