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Post by Amber on Jun 30, 2020 20:14:53 GMT -5
Astra, the neutral ranger Fin had joined the pair at the table, examining the map with them. Astra barely paid attention to the boy as her eyes found the tiny mark of Silverton. She had been a few times before to trade or gather supplies. A few of the locals even knew her by name. It would be a good place to stop and find information, maybe even drop off Fin to help him get a fresh start. As she stared at the map, the ranger's eyes wandered to the boy's hands. They looked like they hadn't seen much, if any, hard labor. Perhaps he was a servant, sent to work in a library or to help attend to the royals. Or maybe he was lying again about who he was. It was mostly inconsequential to the half-elf. She could ask him about it later.
Astra finally turned away from the map and focused on their next step. They couldn't make it to the town today. They had to rest, eat, and discuss their plans before they could move on. The other three would eventually go their seprate ways. Although she would never admit it, Astra would lose sleep if she didn't help them. The ranger finally voiced her opinion, only for Kaethe to speak up in disagreement. After deliberating with the other woman over what to do, Astra came to a decision.
"We need to eat and rest. You three will stay here tonight and at least one of you can take my room. I don't want to travel through the forest after dark with a group. It's not safe." She paused for a moment, giving Fin the oppertunity to speak. He wanted Levey to stay tied up. "I was planning on it," she mumbled. "Anyway, do any of you have any objections?"
"Yes," Levey piped up. "I would like to not be tied up again. It gets uncomfortable."
"I'll make sure to make it comfortable, then. I don't trust you and Fin's obviously shaken up after what happened. Maybe you'll get what you want tomorrow, or maybe you won't." Astra's tone was clear, she was done talking about it.
"What do you have to eat?" Kaethe wondered, breaking through some of the tension.
"Some dried fruit and meats, seeds, and nuts. I was also planning on going hunting later if that sounds more appealing."
"Well I haven't eaten anything today, so I suppose it'll be whatever I deem most edible." Astra rolled her eyes as the merchant put her map away. The ranger silently went into one of the cabinets and began to pull small bags of food. She would let them pick what they wanted, but didn't mind going on a hunt later. It would let her blow off some steam after her day.
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 3, 2020 14:49:59 GMT -5
Finian Clarel | Astra's House
Finian frowned at Levey. Oh yes, the last thing we'd want is for you to feel uncomfortable, assassin. He was so tired, but he had a feeling he wasn't going to be able to sleep well tonight with someone who'd tried to kill him under the same roof. The others didn't know who Levey really was, but they also didn't know who Finian really was, which left both of them in an awkward predicament. I'll keep your secret for now, he thought. But only if you keep mine.
Would that be enough to keep Levey from posing any further threat to Finian? Mutually assured destruction? It would have to be.
Kaethe was asking about food. She rolled up the map and put it away as Astra ventured over to the cupboards and began pulling out cloth bags. Seeds, nuts, dried fruits and meats. Not what Finian was accustomed to, but he'd eat anything at this rate. He wandered over to join them at the table, pulling the closest bag toward him and peering inside. Salted venison. He was reminded of the rations Gryffon soldiers received during wartime: simple stuff that would stay fresh for a long time without being kept cold.
For all he knew, they very well could be at war now, if Astra's reaction was any indication. He was beginning to admire the intrepid ranger, but she was still quite intimidating. He selected some jerky and dried peaches, mumbling his thanks. "So, what's the next step?" He asked, figuring that Kaethe and Astra were already formulating some sort of plan in their heads.
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Post by Amber on Jul 3, 2020 20:30:17 GMT -5
Kaethe, the reluctant merchant Kaethe glanced into the bag Fin had pulled to himself. It held some sort of dry meat that barely had any smell to it. With a careful curiosity, she turned her attention to the other parcels, opening a few and peering inside. One held dried peaches while another had dried apples. The third bag she opened was half full of seeds she didn't recognize. As she pushed both the peaches and seeds away, Fin questioned their next step.
"That's a good question. Do you have any ideas, Astra?"
"As I said, we rest here tonight. It'll be good for all of us. Tomorrow, we make our way to Silverton and get news about last night's attack. From there I'm not entierly sure. I have to get you," she gestered to Kaethe, "back to your uncle and figure out what to do with you," this time she pointed at Fin, "and the elf."
The merchant nodded. "Alright. That doesn't sound too complicated. You'll drop me off where I need to be and I'll be on my way." That's how it always went with the other merchants. They showed up at one spot on the other side of the forest, either met by Astra or another ranger before being guided safely to their destination. The trips were usually uneventful.
"I may go with you all the way back to your base this time," the other woman mumbled. Kaethe frowned.
"Go with me? I don't think that will be necessary, Astra. Just drop me off where we agreed and I can find my way home."
"It'll be safer if I get you back myself. There's no telling what things will be like now." Because the royal family could be dead, and elves killed them. Kaethe gave a small nod. The ranger had a point, though she still wasn't thrilled about her going with her. The merchant didn't need a babysitter, she could do just fine on her own. For now, Kaethe held her tongue. It would be pointless to argue with the half-elf.
(Do you think we should do a timeskip here soon?)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 4, 2020 13:06:12 GMT -5
( yeah, I think that would be good ^^ timeskip to morning, then?
I was considering having Levey spot them as they head out and then him running to regroup with the other assassins.)
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Post by Amber on Jul 4, 2020 14:15:32 GMT -5
(Yeah I think that works. Maybe just have them start at the clearing or something.
Wait, did you mean Levey or Tyranas? I'm assuming you meant the latter, yeah I also think that works. It will be interesting.)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 4, 2020 20:30:09 GMT -5
( oops! Yeah I meant Tyranas. My bad. That works! Do you want to do the skip or should I? )
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Post by Amber on Jul 4, 2020 20:53:45 GMT -5
(No worries! And if you don't mind, could you start?
Also, should Kaethe and Astra find out who Fin is before that point?)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 5, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
( sure, I could do that ^^
Hm, maybe? Like when they get to town one of them sees his likeness on a missing poster — bc of course the kingdom’s going to be looking for their prince — and they have to decide whether to tell him or not? :0 up to you I guess )
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Post by Amber on Jul 5, 2020 18:19:02 GMT -5
(Sounds good!
Okay, I like that idea. I'll play around with it, though.)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 7, 2020 12:52:58 GMT -5
( awesome! I'll post the timeskip later today hopefully. I had an emotionally taxing day yesterday so I'm a bit frazzled, whoo )
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Post by Amber on Jul 7, 2020 13:12:15 GMT -5
(No worries, just take your time. Sorry to hear about the taxing day, I hope today is better.)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 11, 2020 12:58:51 GMT -5
(once they head out, I'll have Tyranas spot them and follow behind or something)
Finian Clarel | Astra's House
Finian leaned against the table, gnawing on his meager dinner as the others discussed the plan. Astra had a firm, unwavering way of speaking that was comforting to him -- she sounded like the kind of person who always knew what she wanted in life and was willing to do anything to get it. A natural leader. Maybe I should take notes, he thought, studying a sliver of dried peach before popping it in his mouth. What he couldn't figure out was whether or not Kaethe and Astra really liked each other that much. He was getting the feeling that they were business partners and not friends, just two people who had signed a contract or something and agreed to work together so they could mutually benefit. He wondered if Kaethe paid the ranger to escort her on her travels; he wasn't sure what Astra got out of the deal. Probably a discount on merchants' goods. He chuckled quietly.
Kaethe frowned as Astra insisted on leading her back to the merchant guild's base. She started to protest, but the ranger didn't budge. "It'll be safer if I get you back myself. There's no telling what things will be like now," Astra said in a tone that wasn't open for debate. Kaethe nodded, though her eyes sparked with indignation.
"I guess that settles that," Finian murmured as the ranger stalked away. He swallowed his current mouthful and added to Kaethe under his breath, "Has she always been like that?"
Once the merchant responded, he nodded and decided not to press the issue further. They finished the dried goods they'd collected for their dinner in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. What would the next day hold? It was impossible to tell. So much had happened already. Finian was finding that while he liked the concept of going on an adventure with mysterious strangers, he rather enjoyed reading about them to actually participating in them.
The flames in the hearth crackled lower. Finian settled himself onto a cot piled with animal furs that was pushed against the wall, opposite the room from Levey. It was no master bedroom, but after being awake for hours and dragged across the countryside and through the forest, it was surprisingly comfortable. He dozed off quickly once his head hit his makeshift pillow. He wasn't sure where Astra had gone.
At some point in the night, he was roused briefly by a door shutting. He lifted his head and squinted as a shadow crossed the room with a bow on its back. Beside Levey on the floor was a small sack of something, probably more dried food. The ranger must've gone out hunting once the rest of them had fallen asleep. Unable to stay awake, the boy yawned and turned over on the cot, his eyes drifting closed again.
"Up and at 'em, we're wasting daylight," somebody called. Finian groaned and blinked wearily, peering around as fuzzy shapes came into focus. A small missile sailed through the air and bounced off the side of his temple. Grimacing, he sat up, the cot creaking beneath him. Beside him on the animal fur he'd used for a blanket was a small piece of dried apple. He sighed and picked it up. "Was that really necessary?" he mumbled, rubbing one eye.
There was a flurry of activity around him as the ranger and the merchant prepared for the day's journey. Astra got Levey to his feet and led him outside, barking something to him. The door banged open behind him and Kaethe followed, her arms full of supplies she'd presumably gotten from Astra's storage. (He hoped their breakfast was in one of those sacks.) Finian hurried after them, pausing near the door to examine himself in an old mirror, patting down his sleep-ruffled hair and smoothing his wrinkled clothing.
He followed the group into the little clearing outside Astra's home. Kaethe had strapped their supplies carefully to the mare, Sweets, and judging by the two pairs of feet he saw beneath the horse's belly, Astra and Levey were probably waiting on the other side. Kaethe climbed into the saddle and Finian swung himself up behind her. "So, I assume we're going back to get your cart, right?" He asked her as she pulled out the map. "And then we go to Silverton?" He glanced furtively at Astra, wondering if the ranger would want to blindfold them again until they got away from her home.
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Post by Amber on Jul 12, 2020 13:06:22 GMT -5
Kaethe, the reluctant merchant Together in silence, the three began to eat the various foods Astra had around. The ranger had temporarily untied Levey so he could eat, though she stayed close to him, obviously alert to his every move. The elf didn't eat much, quickly polishing off a few pieces of jerky and some dried fruit. When he finished, he allowed himself to be retied, though clearly reluctant at the prospect. After the ranger ventured back to the "kitchen", Fin asked if Astra was always like that. Kaethe snorted, then gave a small nod.
"Yup. I don't think I've ever actually seen her smile. I mean, who doesn't smile? With that said, I can at least say that she's reliable and that I trust her." The servant simply nodded, but said nothing further. Silence settled over the room. Any attempts Kaethe made for conversation were only met with a grunt or a nod. The merchant eventually gave up trying to engage the others. It seemed they rather wallow in the silence. Kaethe and Fin eventually finished their meal of dried fruits, jerky, and nuts. Although not everything had been eaten, a good portion of Astra's food had been shared between the small group. The woman didn't seem to care as she portioned some out for herself and put the rest away.
Just before darkness fell upon the small house, Astra had collected a few things to make the stay more comfortable. It was mostly a few furs from what Kaethe assumed creatures she had hunted. Fin didn't seem interested in taking Astra's room, so the merchant claimed it herself. No use in letting it go unused for the night, she doubted Astra would be doing much sleeping anyway. The room wasn't anything spectacular. In fact, it was rather cramped and simple. A small bed was pushed right up aganist one corner of the room, set beneath a window. Next to it was a small nightstand, a candle placed on top and a few books in the space below. A chest sat at the foot of the bed. Kaethe couldn't keep herself from looking at its contents. Unfortunately, there was nothing interesting inside, just some of the ranger's clothes.
Using the low firefight in the other room, the merchant made her way onto the bed. She placed her shoes to the side as she sat herself on the edge to test it out. It was surprisingly comfortable. The merchant always just assumed Astra slept on a pile of rocks. It would explain why she was always so grumpy, at least. With a yawn and a short stretch, Kaethe settled beneath the warm furs and drifted off to sleep.
Astra, the neutral ranger Everyone had found somewhere to sleep. Kaethe took her room, she pulled a small cot out for Fin, and laid out a pile of furs for Levey. She had more of those than she needed, but they certinaly came in handy. Everyone seemed to be asleep and had been for nearly half an hour now. Their soft breathing and the low crackle of the fire were the only sounds that filled the small house. Astra was grateful for the silence. She also hated it. She had nothing to distract her from her thoughts and worries of what was to come. Perhaps a night walk would do her some good. The woman quietly made her way to the door, then hesitated. Her eyes drifted towards the slumbering Levey. She, of course, didn't trust him. There was something more to him, though she didn't know what it was.
With a soft sigh, Astra carefully made her way out of the house. She hung around the window for a few minutes, watching the elvhen mercenary in case he waited for an oppertunity to escape. He still slept undisturbed. The ranger moved away from the window and out into the cool night. Her cloak rustled behind her as she ventured through the undergrowth. It never slowed her down, however. Despite the late hour, the forest wasn't quiet. Owl calls echoed through the trees while crickets chirped their songs, only stopping when the ranger wandered near. Astra had brought with her a few bags. If she wasn't going to sleep, at least she could collect a few things for their trip. The ranger knew of plenty of places were food and herbs grew wild in her woods.
Astra sought to collect various nuts, berries, roots, and mushrooms. Some would be for eating, others for healing if it were needed. The ranger wasn't sure what to expect from their trip, so she needed to be prepared for almost anything. As she started collecting, the worries creeped into her mind. She thought about the people who would come and go from the kingdoms, about potential conflict between Gryffon and Arthenia. How would things change in her home? How would things change for her? So far as the elves were concerned, they were too human. As for the humans, they were too elvhen. Now that there was a good chance for open conflict, Astra couldn't help but wonder how people like her would be effected.
A few hours passed and the ranger finally finished her walk. The worries had ebbed away, though questions still lingered on the back of her mind. There was only so much she could do to quell them. Eventually, she headed back into her house. Dawn was still a few hours away. Astra had been out most of the night, it seemed. As she quietly entered back in, the ranger carefully studied the room. Everyone was still asleep and nothing had been moved. Astra sighed lightly. That was a good sign. She set the bag down near Levey before settling herself in a chair. She would get no sleep that night.
Levey, the hesitant assassian "Up and at 'em, we're wasting daight!" Kaethe's voice broke through the comforting hush of sleep. For a moment, Levey was at peace as his mind caught up with his body. As his eyes adjusted to his surrondings, that peace quickly faded away. The ranger was packing up...well something while the merchant threw some small object in Fin's direction. The boy grumbled something, which Kaethe responded with a curt nod.
"Yes it was very necessary. It didn't seem like you were getting up and Astra was insistent we leave soon." The woman paused and turned to Levey, throwing something else at him. As the young elf got up, the small thing hit his chest. He cocked an eyebrow towards her before looking down. It was a piece of dried fruit. Astra mumbled something about "wasting food", clearly annoyed with Kaethe's antics. As the events of the previous day slowly came over him, Astra began helping him to his feet. While Kaethe rushed around to gather a few things, the ranger helped bring Levey to his feet. He sluggishly moved about, still adjusting to the buzz of activity.
"Get a move on. If you want a break from being tied up, I suggest you hurry," Astra grumbled. Levey blinked in surprise. Was she planning on releasing him, or did she trust him enough to untie him? The assassin didn't bother to ask. He didn't want to deal with an annoyed- or worse, angry -Astra. They two entered the clearing, the pale light of dawn bathed everything in a soft warmth. If he didn't essentially count as a prisoner, he probably would've found it move beautiful. Levey glanced at the post the mare had been tied to. The brown and white horse now had a few packs tied to her. Astra brought him to one side of the mare, though seemed a bit wary around her. That was probably something good to remember. It could prove helpful if he needed to escape.
As they waited for the other two, Astra held up a pair of sacks. "Until we get to the cart, we have to carry some things. Sweets can't carry everything, plus Kaethe and Fin. I think you can manage these bags." Levey looked them over for a moment. They didn't look all that heavy.
"What's in them?" He wondered. Astra hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Food. Once we get to the cart, you'll probably be placed inside, assuming you can fit. We can eat then." Levey nodded as the woman slung the bags over his shoulders. They barely weighted anything as he suspected. He probably could carry more if he offered. So, he didn't say anything. Kaethe soon joined them and mounted her horse. The prince trailed just behind her. The merchant pulled out her map and began to look it over. As Fin joined her on the saddle, he looked at the map.
"So, I assume we're going back to get your cart, right? And then we go to Silverton?"
"Yes. Not sure if the cart will be untouched, but it'll be there," Astra answered. The merchant sighed and rolled her eyes, obviously unhappy with the prospect. She didn't say anything, though. Once everyone was settled, Astra went back into her house. A few minutes later, she returned with a bag after- what Levey assumed -locking up. The woman, thankfully, didn't blindfold anyone this time. As soon as she joined them, they were off to start their journey.
(Sounds good to me! Also, did we ever discuss what season it was? I looked, but didn't see anything.)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 15, 2020 13:39:32 GMT -5
( I don't think we did? I was picturing early summer in my head -- their equivalent of June or something, but that can be changed of course! )
Tyranas Abelahn | The Woods
The elf woke slowly to faint birdsong, the leaves a yellow-green blur around him as he adjusted to the dawn light flashing through the branches. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the fresh scents of the woods. It was still early, but it felt like it might become a warm day. He stretched carefully, his sore muscles protesting the action. His entire body felt stiff from heavy activity and then being completely still for several hours. Sleeping in a tree probably hadn't helped that.
He swung his legs over the branch and slid down the trunk. He scratched his head tiredly, looking around and assessing his surroundings. More of the same. Anybody who wasn't familiar with these woods would be hopelessly lost by now, but he could detect signs of others having passed through here before: a flattened patch of wild grass, an unnatural gap in the bushes, a symbol carved into the trees that looked too deliberate to have been scratched there by some animal.
But there was something else there, too. Something different. To his left, the grass looked like it had been stamped down by something heavier than a light-footed assassin. The growth surrounding it appeared to have been easily brushed out of the way by something big. Please don't be a bear, he thought warily as he crept forward to inspect it. To his surprise, hoofprints had been impressed into the forest floor. He followed the hoofprints to the place where they disappeared back into the undergrowth again. Dangling from a broken branch was a single strand of fine hair, twisting in the breeze.
Tyranas took the strand of hair and narrowed his eyes. "Who brings a horse into this place?" he wondered aloud, then answered himself. "Because some fool traveler or merchant stumbled in here by mistake. Excellent." Maybe the owner of the horse would have some food or other basic supplies he could nick. The elf hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at the nearest assassin symbol. The assassin guild's trail led in the opposite direction. He bit his lip in trepidation. He really didn't want to risk getting lost, but... His stomach made an unpleasant noise, and he sighed. I'll only be gone a few minutes. Then I'll come right back.
Tyranas went after the hoofprints, resisting the urge to swing his blades and cut a path straight through the trees. That would leave a much too obvious trail for enemies to follow. So he stumbled unceremoniously into a small clearing with a rotting log off to one side. Panting, he brushed the sweat from his forehead, coming to a complete stop in front of an abandoned cart. Tyranas' mouth dropped open. He couldn't believe his luck! He hurried forward, peering into the cart and sizing up the goods. He reached one hand in and was starting to rustle around when he heard footsteps and hoofbeats approaching loudly. Of course, nothing was ever that easy.
Tyranas scanned the collection for the smallest bag he could find -- something small that wouldn't be noticed if it was missing -- and snatched up a modest leather pouch. He sprinted across the clearing and scooted up into a tree. He hoisted himself higher and higher until he was obscured by leaves. Cautiously, he inched forward on the branch, peering down into the clearing.
Finian Clarel | The Woods
Finian glanced in Astra's direction again, surprised that she'd answered. He'd been asking Kaethe. "Not sure if the cart will be untouched, but it'll be there," the ranger replied briskly, slinging a bag over Levey's shoulders. In front of him on the horse, Kaethe shifted in the saddle with a sigh. He could guess she was less than thrilled at that idea. Who knew what sort of lowlifes and thugs hid out in these woods? Only Astra, apparently.
There was a beat of awkward quiet as Astra returned shortly to her home. Sweets whinnied quietly to fill the silence. A few moments later, the Ranger was back with yet another bag. Finian noticed gratefully that she didn't having any blindfolds on her this time. "I guess that's everything," he said to Kaethe.
The merchant flicked the reins and they were off. It was somewhat slow going, as Kaethe had been blindfolded the first time and Astra had to guide them carefully around treacherous thickets. Levey kept up surprisingly well in spite of the bags all over his person. Finian, not knowing the contents of the bags, couldn't help but be impressed at the assassin's strength; the elf never once complained as they walked.
It was still early morning by the time they'd reached the cart. It looked as normal as ever. Finian breathed a small sigh of relief as Kaethe brought the mare to stop. The prince slid off the horse's back and began to unfasten the packs. While the merchant hooked Sweets up to the cart, he and Levey loaded their supplies into the back. Astra stood near them, silently scrutinizing the cart. If there was anything off about their transportation, she'd probably spot it. "Um," Finian said quietly as he passed her the second time with his arms full. "Are you going to help, or...?"
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Post by Amber on Jul 15, 2020 17:02:05 GMT -5
Astra, the neutral ranger The ranger began to lead the way through the woods. She could hear Kaethe lightly snap the reins behind her, getting her horse moving. Like the previous day, the journey went smoothly, though it was quicker than before. Astra didn't bother to lead them in a confusing, winding path nor did she blindfold them. The quicker they got to Silverton, the quicker she could figure out what to do from there. Occasionally, Astra paused to make sure the others kept up or to check their surrondings. With a group of their size, it was unlikely they would run into a wild animal. Of course it never hurt to keep an eye out.
It didn't take long to reach the clearing. The trip only took a little over half an hour and when they arrived, it was empty. As Sweets, carrying half the group, and Levey moved deeper into the clearing, Astra studied the area. It was just as they had left it, with no obvious signs that anyone had been around since they left. Kaethe pulled Sweets to a stop as Levey wandered to one side of the clearing. Astra kept her eye on him, vaguely aware of Fin sliding off the saddle. Together, the merchant and the boy prepared for the coming trip. Kaethe began to hook Sweets up after the self-proclaimed servant had removed the bags she had been carrying and placed them beside the wooden cart. As they worked, Astra studied the wagon for a moment, then turned her attention to the rest fo the clearing. Something felt almost off to her, but she couldn't quite understand why.
"Um. Are you going to help, or...?" Fin asked as he walked by, arms full of supplies. Astra sharply turned towards him and gave a half-hearted nod. She wasn't any use just-
A small rock had been kicked free from its spot to the ground. It wasn't anything unusual save for the fact that some of the grass nearby had been trampled. Astra approched the area and crouched down to examine it. The grass was flattened in the opposite direction where they left the cart. It was still green and showed no signs of yellowing yet. Someone had been in the clearing. Recently. She didn't notice it before, but could now see subtle signs of movment leading away from the cart. It had been done within the past few hours, though it was impossible to tell exactly when. Even Calder probably couldn't manage such a feat. She followed the general direction of the tracks before stopping just short where the forest grew again. The ranger wasn't worried about it. Whoever it was, was likely already gone. Eventually, she turned to the group, still ignoring Fin's question for the moment.
"There was someone here recently, at least within the past few hours. Judging by the condition of your cart, it was probably closer to an hour ago, otherwise it might not be here. Or it would've been in shambles. Judging by what I saw, it was probably one person, or at least one person was sent to check it out. Whoever it is seems to be gone. I didn't see any signs of a large group," Astra explained. Levey gave a small nod while Kaethe looked over her wooden vehicle. After a few minutes, she nodded in agreement.
"It seems nothing's missing. I can do a better count once we get into town just to make sure, though. Anyway, we should be fine, right? No chance of facing any thugs or other unsavory individuals?" The ranger gave a small nod, which Kaethe returned with a brief smile. The merchant went back to attaching her horse to the cart as Astra began to helpbFin.
"Sorry about that," she mumbled as she carried a few packs over to the cart. They were pretty much done loading everything, the servant boy having to do most of the work. The fre things they brought with them didn't seem to add much weight to Sweets' load. The horse seemed like she could handle it. Levey hung around a few feet away until Astra called him over. He silently complied, allowing himself to help be loaded in the back. As everyone got settled and ready for the next part of their trip, Astra gave Levey a scarf. The elf's scarf was similar to one she had around her neck. An earthy-brown that was long enough to cover his face. Astra usually used a scarf when she went out. It did the same job as a hood, only it didn't block her vision. Once that was all settled, Kaethe ordered Sweets to go. With Astra walking beside them, it would be a good hour or two before they reached Silverton.
(Early summer is perfect. I was thinking along the lines of the same thing.)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 16, 2020 16:25:26 GMT -5
( that's perfect, then ^^ I'm also really impressed that you can crank out full roleplay responses on mobile, tbh. I'm hopeless with texting! )
Tyranas Abelahn | The Woods
What seemed like moments after he scrambled into hiding, the bushes at the edge of the clearing parted to reveal an elegant mare. Strong and sturdy, it was clear she was no show horse, but she was obviously well cared for. Sitting astride the mare was a young woman with freckled skin and short golden hair that barely touched her shoulders. She had an air of quiet determination about her. She clicked her tongue and nudged the mare forward into the clearing.
Tyranas leaned forward on his branch, his chest brushing against the knotted wood. Leaves fluttered around him, partially obscuring his view. But there was no mistaking the figure that sat behind the woman in the saddle; for weeks before the assassination, Tyranas had studied portraits of the royal family members to familiarize himself with his targets. That boy was the prince.
Oh, Levey.
Tyranas closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. He'd thought his brother had been on edge after the assassination because it was his first mission, and because the stakes had been so high. But no. Levey had failed his task. Tyranas had gotten his younger brother involved in a secret group of revolutionaries, taken him on a potentially deadly mission, and now he was missing. Father is going to kill me. Tyranas forced himself to breathe out slowly. But Levey escaped. At least he's alive. I just have to find him.
The horse carrying the woman and the prince came to stop beside the cart. When he took a closer look, he saw that the mare was loaded with supplies. Following them was another young woman -- a half-elf, he noticed almost immediately. Tyranas narrowed his eyes. He could swear he'd seen her face somewhere before... or somebody who resembled her, anyway. Stumbling behind her was --
Tyranas almost fell out of the tree.
Levey! His hands were bound, and he didn't appear to have his weapons on him, and he looked tired, but was otherwise unharmed. Tyranas forced himself to remain as still as possible, watching the bizarre little group closely.
The prince slid off of the horse and began to load the supplies into the back of the wagon. Levey, who had bags slung all over his person, joined in, while the golden-haired woman hitched the mare up to the front of the cart. Ah, the cart must be hers. Of course. She was dressed in the plain clothing of somebody who traveled a lot: nothing flashy, but comfortable and form-fitting. She must be a peddler of sorts.
So what was the prince doing with her? How did he get all the way out here? And why the hell was Levey with him? Theories began racing through Tyranas' head.
Below him, the half-elf approached his tree, her sharp eyes on the ground. "There was someone here recently, at least within the past few hours," she announced to the others. She turned to explain something to them, and Tyranas instinctively began to size her up. She was tall and strong, her dark skin crossed with scars that suggested years of experience. Pointed ears poked out behind a long white braid. She moved with purpose, her voice confident. This woman could definitely be a threat, even to a trained assassin. Did you capture my brother?
Tyranas had many questions, but no way to answer them. He watched helplessly, silently, as the group settled into the cart and pulled off through woods. Once they were out of sight, he could breathe again. The elf waited until the sound of hoofbeats and wagon wheels turning faded away.
Then he stood, clenched and unclenched his hands, and leaped. He caught a nearby branch on the way down and used the momentum of his fall to swing forward into the next tree, landing almost soundlessly on the nearest branch. He could cover ground faster this way. Swinging and springing nimbly from tree to tree, the elf pursued the cart at a distance.
Finian Clarel | The Woods
"Great," Finian mumbled, not entirely reassured by Astra's assessment of the area. His life was exciting enough without someone else tailing him. At this rate, he felt like his paranoia was justified. Levey may not have killed him for whatever reason, but that didn't mean there weren't still others out there who'd like to get their hands on him. There were plenty of shady opportunists who'd be interested in a prize like the heir to a kingdom.
Kaethe had climbed into the front seat of the cart, taking the reins in her hands. Finian shook his head and climbed up into the seat again, eager to leave the woods behind. Too many hiding spots in this forest for "unsavory individuals," as the merchant put it.
We have Astra now, he remembered, glancing over his shoulder at the ranger. She was standing in the back of the cart with Levey, hands on her hips. And one assassin who owes us his life. If they ran into trouble, those two could probably handle it. Kaethe flicked the reins and they were off, heading for the closest road that would take them to Silverton.
Finian reached into the back of the cart and pulled out a grey sack. He fished around inside and pulled out a handful of jerky, popping a piece in his mouth and offering one to Kaethe. "So, what do you know about Silverton? How far away is it?" He had the feeling this could quickly become an awkward trip if he didn't try to make light conversation.
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Post by Amber on Jul 16, 2020 21:34:22 GMT -5
Kaethe, the reluctant merchant Their arrival to the clearing was a welcomed one. Soon enough, Kaethe would be home and she could put all the craziness behind her. As she and Fin took care of things in the cart, Levey stood nearby while something distracted Astra. Maybe she found a cool rock or is just trying to get out of helping us, the woman thought as she eyed the ranger. For the next few minutes, the pair silently loaded up the cart until the half-elf spoke up. So apparently someone had been near her goods. Lovely. With an annoyed sigh, Kaethe carefully inspected the cart. She checked the mostly secure sides, the front where someone could grab something, and even underneath. After the stunt Levey pulled, she was sure to be thorough. There was nothing, as far as she noticed, taken or touched. That was a relief to discover.
"It seems nothing's missing. I can do a better count once we get into town just to make sure, though. Anyway, we should be fine, right? No chance of facing any thugs or other unsavory individuals?" Kaethe wasn't about to be robbed just because Astra didn't bother to check the nearby woods. Still, if the ranger thought they would be fine, the merchant was inclined to trust her. The half-elf joined Fin to finish up the packing. Soon enough, everything was loaded in the back. As Astra took care of Levey, Fin settled beside the merchant in the front. As soon as Levey was secure, Astra gave a signal to go and Kaethe snapped the reins. Sweets got moving. It took her a moment to readjust to the added weight, but once she got used to it, she trotted along as normal. As their journey began, Fin, unsurprisingly, started to speak. He didn't seem one to like silence. Or maybe it was more that he wasn't used to it. Either way, Kaethe found herself enjoying the change.
"Truthfully, I don't know much about Silverton. It's a good town to stay in overnight, but there's not a lot of money to make from it. The people who live there are friendly and are quite welcoming to outsiders. They like having a drink with strangers and are prone to telling tall tales. I've spent enough time in their inn taverns to confirm it personally. Anyway, we'll probably get there in an hour and a half or so, probably before noon." With Astra nearby to point give directions, the group backtracked through the path they took the previous day. It didn't take long to come to a section of road that split off into three makeshift roads. They turned on the one that would lead them straight to Silverton. For the next while, idle chatter filled the air. Eventually, Kaethe turned the topic onto Fin's personal life.
"What was being a servant in the castle like? What exactly did you do? Were you able to leave much, if at all? And what about your family? Were they servants as well?" It was a lot of questions to throw out at once, but the merchant couldn't help but be curious. Here was a boy who lied about being a lost noble only to reveal that the royal family was attacked and he was actually a servant. Kaethe couldn't help but wonder what drove him to such lies. Perhaps he would reveal the answer on his own, or maybe she could figure it out depending on how he answered. The merchant was unsure if she could understand how he worked. At least she would get to know more about the boy.
Levey, the hesitant assassin As Kaethe and the prince took the front seat, Astra loaded Levey into the back of the cart. She, of course, kept him bound. There was no such thing as being overly cautious with a mercenary, it seemed. Levey quietly sighed as the cart began to roll into motion. What would Tyranas think if he saw him now? Captured at the back of a cart with the sill-alive prince he was supposed to kill who was riding in the front. Maybe he would laugh at such an absurd sight. Maybe instead he would express disappointment or even shame at the fact the young elf had failed his mission and lies to him. Wherever you are, Nas, I'm sorry. Once again, guilt began to rise up in his chest. Not only did he fail his brother, but he was unlikely to find out Levey's fate. It wasn't like the failed assassin left a note for him. Any signs of his survival were all left on the trees he marked up. When Levey failed to show up with the other assassins, Tyranas would be left wondering what happened to him.
How would the older elf react to that? Would his brother get lost in the woods, searching for him? Would he assume he was taken by some wild animal or killed by rogue bandits? What would their parents think, especially their father? With a sigh, Levey lightly threw his head back on the cart. I really didn't think this out at all. As guilt and shame continued to consume the elf, he tried to get his mind onto something else. That something else was Astra. The ranger was a hard one to figure out. That made her interesting. She disliked Levey because he was a criminal, but she never went out of her way to hurt him or make anything difficult. She didn't like people all that much, but seemed to care about their safety. She was smart, possibly even educated judging by the books at her house, but lived in the middle of nowhere as a ranger. Those were all just pieces in the confusing puzzle that made up Astra Nailo.
(Pft yeah. It's amazing I don't have more spelling or really just general errors because of it.)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 20, 2020 15:24:10 GMT -5
( good afternoon! c: how's things? )
Finian Clarel | On the Road
"It's a mining town, isn't it?" Finian was a little disappointed the merchant didn't have more to say about the place. He knew it was the kingdom's main supplier of silver and that it was home to primarily working class families, but that was all. It was too far out of the way to be worth visiting for the royal family, its citizens too insignificant to be worth mentioning in conversation -- unless it involved a complaint about those lazy miners and late shipments.
The prince thought it was ironic, really; Silverton fulfilled an important role, and he was sure its absence (or at least, the absence of its silver) would be sorely missed if something ever happened to it. Yet, most people in the capital seemed to be completely ignorant of its existence. Where his parents saw unsavory peasants, Finian had always imagined the people of Silverton as honest, hardworking, down-to-earth folks, and the town itself as a quaint village. The town was a several days' journey from the capital, so he'd never been to it. He was eager to see what life looked like in a small town - it had to be so different from his own!
Idle conversation filled the air as the cart bumped along down the dirt road. Trees continued to grow along the edge of the worn path, but they had thinned out enough that it could hardly be called a forest. The woods were, at last, well behind them. Finian felt like he could breathe again. He tilted his head back, gazing up through the branches, and noticed several round shapes hanging from them. Apples! "Hey, look!" He stood up, wobbling slightly, and snatched one from an overhead branch. He sat down and took a bite, just as Kaethe asked him another question. "Hm?"
The merchant was looking at him expectantly, but her face was friendly. Ah, of course. She wanted to know more about his life in the palace. Now he got the sense that she was genuinely curious and not just trying to get more answers from him out of suspicion. Somewhat awkwardly, Finian wiped his mouth and sighed. "Well, the palace has a lot of servants, and they all have different jobs. There's the ones who clean, the ones who prepare the food, the ones who care for the royal family's horses, do the laundry..." he named them off on his fingers as he spoke. "The actual royal family is small."
He shrugged, rolling the apple from one hand to the other. "Anyway. I don't know who my parents are. Some of the servants are orphans or beggars who get lucky enough to work in the palace. I mean, there's no formal interview process or anything, but." He polished the apple against his shirt and gazed down at the tiny face reflected back at him in the red. There was one servant boy who had been assigned to tend to Finian -- bring him freshly folded laundry, make his bed for him, that sort of thing. Finian had never even known his name. He hadn't thought about it before, but now he was surprised to find himself feeling a little... guilty?
"I was one of the ones who tended the royal family members themselves," he told Kaethe. "So I mostly stayed in the palace all the time. The others -- the more undesirable ones, I guess -- were given jobs that would keep them busy elsewhere." Where we didn't have to look at them. He frowned.
"So, are you really going to be leaving after we get to Silverton?" he asked, changing the subject. He took another bite from the apple and glanced over his shoulder at the back of the cart. "Where are you going to go next? And what's Astra going to do?"
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Post by Amber on Jul 21, 2020 14:12:24 GMT -5
Kaethe, the reluctant merchant "Yes it is. They mostly mine silver due to the despoite-rich caves. I think they also get some copper, zinc, and lead out of the mines too." The other metals had their own uses for the kingdom, though Kaethe didn't know for what. As a merchant, it was probably important for her to know. She was sure she could ask about it once they reached the town. "I do know they keep a small percentage of whatever they mine, it's not a lot," she added. "Most of it goes to the capital and is used for trade or sold to expert craftsmen throughout the city. It makes sense seeing as there's only one or two silversmiths in town. I doubt they could keep up with all the silver collected from the mines."
As Kaethe and Fin conversed, the path through the forest soon began to open back towards the vast field. Dense underbrush thinned out to a few bushes while the trees had begun to grow more sparse. As the merchant services the land, she could barely see a few buildings in the far off distance. She didn't know if they were homesteads or a part of another town. They were getting close to Silverton now. Within the next half hour, they would see the outskirts of the town and would arrive there soon after. Kaethe glanced over as the boy exclaimed beside her. Looking up, she noticed what the object of his excitement was. Apples. The beautiful, bright red fruits lazily hung in a few trees around them. Wobbly and off balance, Fin reached for one of the apples and somehow managed to not fall off the seat. He plopped back down as Kaethe began to ask a few questions.
The boy seemed hesitant to speak for a moment before launching into some answers. By the sound of it, he was some sort of personal attendant to the royal family. That explained away the clothes and why he was knowledgeable about the workings of the royals. Fin was an orphan. That made sense. As an orphan, there was nothing keeping him at the palace, especially because he ran. Kaethe could related to that, though at least she had her uncle. She didn't say anything on the matter. She didn't need anyone feeling bad for her. Fin eventually confirmed her thoughts. He seemed guilty about the idea. About being considered good enough to be in the family's presence while others were cast aside, out of sight. The thought made Kaethe's stomach churn a little, causing the woman to frown. Who got to say what was desirable and what wasn't? Well, the Clarels apparently. A bout of silence settled over the pair. It was brief as Fin asked if she would be leaving after they reached Silverton. Kaethe glanced at him.
"I probably will. I'm expected back soon and now that the royal family has been attacked, things may grow tense. My uncle will start growing worried if I don't show up." As she spoke, a spike of...something shot through thw woman's chest. Was it sadness? Guilt? Worry? Kaethe couldn't quite place the emotion. Instead, she smothered it and answered his next question. "I'm not entierly sure what Astra plans on doing. She'll either leave with me, or pass me off to someone else to get me back sagely. She does that sometimes when she's busy or whatever. Knowing her, it might be the latter so she can figure out what to do with you and the elf. It's not like she'll leave either of you stranded somewhere," the woman replied with a chuckle. It simply wasn't how the ranger worked.
"What do you think you'll do after we reach Silverton?" Fin was a runaway servant who was under the service of the royals. It was unlikely he would be missed, though if they were investigating the attack and realized he was missing, it could mean bad news for the boy. Perhaos he could be used as a scapegoat if they were desperate for results. The feeling returned in a wave as she thought about the consequences. Kaethe scowled and forced it down again. Whatever happened to Fin wasn't her concern. He would be Astra's problem once she was gone.
(I've been doing good, thanks for asking. I'm enjoying my job, like my bosses, and my hours. I was unusually tried yesterday for whatever reason, so I didn't post yesterday. But whatever, here's my reply now. Anyway, how are you doing?)
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Post by Tealraven on Jul 25, 2020 21:13:29 GMT -5
( good to hear! I'm glad you're enjoying your new job. What kind of job is it, if you don't mind me asking? I've been busy painting a room, so I've been unusually tired myself. It's coming along though. I'm liking how it's turning out )
Finian Clarel | Entering Silverton
The prince lifted his head as fuzzy shapes came over the horizon. At this distance they were hard to make out, but they definitely looked man-made. They must be not far from the little mining town; he wasn't aware of any other villages out this way. Beside him, Kaethe was pondering her next move. He nodded slowly, though his light blue eyes were glazed with a faraway look. The attack on the royal family had already disrupted her life in a dozen little ways, and it was undoubtedly going to throw the rest of the kingdom into chaos.
For all he knew, the assassination could be only the first strike of many more waves to come. He still didn't understand why, though. The elves and humans had always hated each other, but during Finian's lifetime, they'd at least come tolerate each other's presence. Arthenia and Gryffon had been at peace for years. But it was the elves who'd infiltrated the palace that night. Now their kingdoms might once again be on the verge of war, and for what? Why had they tried to undo all that progress?
Finian glanced at Levey. The elf seemed to be steadfastly avoiding the prince's gaze. Finian had so many questions for him -- questions that could save Gryffon from an impending invasion, if it came to that -- but he couldn't ask any of them without blowing his cover. Kaethe finally seemed to believe his story, and she'd already done so much for him. He felt thoroughly trapped.
No longer hungry, Finian set his half-eaten apple on the bench seat next to his thigh. He'd feed it to Sweets when they pulled into town.
"So, I guess the elf and I will be her problem, them," he mused. He wasn't thrilled at the idea of being left alone in an unfamiliar town with the fierce ranger and the sullen assassin. He couldn't help but wonder if Astra had only been as kind to him as she had because Kaethe was with him. He twisted in his seat and leaned over the back, waving his hand to draw Astra's attention. "What's going to happen to -- to him?" He asked, nodding at Levey.
Tyranas Abelahn | Tailing the Others
The tall, slender elf stopped to catch his breath again, planting his hands on his knees. It had been easier to track the wagon's path through the forest, as ridiculous as that sounds. There the trees grew close together, and he was able to leap from branch to branch to keep up, the rustling leaves both giving him cover and muffling the sound of his footsteps. Once the wagon left the woods and the trees became sparse, however, he'd had to improvise.
Not to brag or anything, but Tyranas was usually a master of improvising (or so he liked to think). But following the cart closely enough not to lose track of it, yet staying far enough behind not to be heard or spotted, all while sprinting from cover to cover, was proving to be a significant challenge. A couple of times he got close enough to choke on the dust kicked up from the wheels. Once he even contemplated just saying "screw it" and commandeering the cart. The half-elf ranger might be a problem, but he and Levey could handle her. The merchant was just dead weight. Then he'd finish what Levey had started and they'd be outta there.
But for all his grandiose plans and love of risk-taking, Tyranas was not quite that stupid. He gritted his teeth and stood up straight again, shaking out his hands and moving into a runner's stance. Doin' it for Levey, he told himself. I'm just doing it for him. Then we go home and forget this ever happened.
Tyranas still had to regroup with the other assassins; he had no idea what was going on in the capital right now, but he was fairly confident the rest had gotten out alive. But he couldn't bring Levey this time. Not when he'd already risked so much. This is my fault. Maybe they could work out some kind of deal... Tyranas wouldn't tell their father what happened to Levey in exchange for Levey not telling their father about the secret gang of assassin-revolutionaries Tyranas had gotten involved with. As the oldest, he was supposed to be the responsible one, after all.
The elf sighed. What a mess he was. He jogged after the wagon again, and this time, other shapes came into view around it. Distant buildings? They must be heading into a nearby town to stop. Interesting...
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Post by Amber on Jul 26, 2020 18:24:43 GMT -5
Kaethe, the reluctant merchant Fin became silent. Kaethe frowned then spared a glance towards him and noticed a far-off look in his eyes. Something troubled him. Of course, the merchant could probably figure out what it was, though she didn't bother to dwell on it. It would pass and the servant boy would return to his chatty self soon. As the cart continued to roll along the road to Silverton, Fin glanced back at Levey a few times. The mercenary unsettled him, which was to be expected. Although she didn't say anything on the matter, the elf made her uncomfortable too. Not only was he some sort of criminal, he was, well, an elf! Elves had reportedly attacked the royal family, which was bad enough. If they ran into the wrong people, it could spell trouble for her.
Kaethe forced the thoughts from her mind as Fin joked about being Astra's problem. She smiled at the comment just as he began waving to the ranger. It caught the woman's attention and earned a narrowing of her eyes. She seemed...curious? Quietly, the half-elf joined them at the front of the cart, though mostly remained in pace beside them. Fin asked the ranger what she planned on doing with Levey, giving a nod toward him. Kaethe glanced back at the elf. He stared at the wall of the cart, either ignoring them or lost in thought.
"I'll bring him to the border and let him go, probably. Send him off with a warning and let the others know to look out for him, just in case he causes trouble." Others? When Kaethe glanced back at Levey again, she could see him shifting around uncomfortably. Had Astra said it loud enough for the elf to hear intentionally as some sort of threat or had it been accidental? The merchant wasn't about to ask, though knowing the ranger it could very well be a cobination of both. The ranger dug in her bag for a moment, before pulling something out.
"We're almost in town. Here." Astra handed Fin a spare cloak. It was simple, mottled with browns, dark grays, and even a few muted greens. It seemed to be the perfect garment for hiding amongst the foliage as she wandered around. "Even though you're a servant, the clothes tell a different story. It draws attention, and we don't need to deal with that right now." After the garment was taken up, Astra stalked away from the pair, this time walking just ahead of them.
It didn't take long for the once distant buildings to come into focus. Made from wood and stone, the quaint structures stood tall as they approched. A welcoming atmosphere seemed to fill the outskirts of town, making Kaethe smile. People waved as they passed or shouted a friendly greeting. As they rolled into the square, the merchant noticed a fountain where children splashed around. A few stands were set up on the sides of buildings, selling food, clothing, and other goods. They were probably locals. Traveling merchants wouldn't make a lot unless they had exotic goods. As Kaethe pulled Sweets to a stop, she took a quick looked around the square.
They had arrived to Silverton.
Astra, the neutral ranger As they approached the town, Astra pulled the scarf around her neck over her head. It would cover her white hair and eyebrows. Strangely, she supposed, that was the only white hair on her body. She remembered her father saying something about elvhen noblitiy and royalty being divinely touched. That, whatever deity or godly figure kissed their foreheads, gave them strange colored hair to stand out from the rest. Astra wasn't sure how much she believed the old tales, though neither did many elves, it seemed. Many scholars claimed it had something to do with ancient noble and royal wizards trying to seprate their family lines from each other. Others believed there were many groups of elves back before the kingdom of Arthenia was established, strange-haired elves being the minority at one point. Only a handful of them say all elves once had unusual hair colors, but mixing with humans eventually took it away. Only supposed "pure" bloodlines kept the locks. It was usually used as an argument against humans and especially half-elves. Again, Astra didn't know what she believed, but it certainly wasn't the last claim.
The ranger stayed in the lead, keeping watch for any signs of danger up ahead. Of course, to her that would be banners of the royal family or soldiers in Silverton to bring news of the attack two nights ago. The last thing they needed to deal with were nosey people looking to cause trouble. She pulled the scarf over her ears as they ventured closer. For now, she decided to keep the lower part of her face uncovered. Sure there was always a chance someone would notice something unusual about her, but a quick glance wouldn't reveal her heritage. As long as she kept her hair and ears covered, it was unlikely someone would connect her pointed features with her being a half-elf anyway.
The wagon finally rolled into town. The group passed the townsfolk as they bustled through, occasionally waving at the new arrivals. Astra acknowledged them with a nod or small wave back as they reached the rown square. The cart came to a stop behind the ranger as she observed the area. She easily recognized a few familiar faces and gave them a friendly wave. As the ranger scanned the town center, her eyes fell on a small group. She stared at a large man with pale skin for a moment. He had thick, black hair and a beard that went up the sides of his face. One of his companions spotted Astra and tapped him on the shoulder before pointing her out. The muscular man looked away and turned towards the woman. He narrowed his eyes and began walking towards the wagon.
"Uh, Astra should we be running?" Kaethe asked from behind. Her voice betrayed her unease. Astra stood her ground and stayed silent as the man reached them. He leaned forward, his frown melting away and replaced with a jovial smile.
"Astra Nailo! Is good to see you!" The man exclaimed as he pulled the ranger into a hug. Astra's eyes widened as she suppressed a yelp while he squeezed. With a soft sigh, the ranger returned the gesture, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"It's good to see you too, Yasen."
(I work at a pool supply place. It's a franchise and we do repairs, water tests, clean pools, and sell pool chemicals, cleaning equipment, toys, filters, pumps, etc. I only work in the shop, however.
Anyway, painting a room sounds good. Perhaps not fun, but every room needs a good paintjob/remodel once in a while. Hope it's not causing you too much trouble.)
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Post by Tealraven on Aug 3, 2020 18:27:33 GMT -5
( aah, I'm sorry I haven't replied yet! I've been preoccupied with the 5-Clan rp and other projects irl. I will get a response up in the next day or two! hope you're doing well ^^ )
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Post by Amber on Aug 3, 2020 20:01:53 GMT -5
(Don't sweat it, I understand! Anyway, sounds good and thanks for that. I'm doing pretty well, how about yourself?)
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Post by Tealraven on Aug 3, 2020 20:39:04 GMT -5
( I've been busy, kinda tired, but not bad! Going to be finishing up the room this week, hopefully.
sounds like working at a pool would be a pretty sweet job to have during the summer o: does it get very hot where you live? )
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Post by Amber on Aug 3, 2020 21:50:58 GMT -5
(Oh yay for that! And once the painting is done, you can enjoy the "new" room.
I live in Texas (around the smaller towns out by the Dallas area, but in the country) so it does get pretty hot. But I'm glad for air-conditioning it's pretty cool and seeing as I work in the shop only, it works. Also during slower times I get to read and relax a bit or talk with my bosses, which is great.)
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Post by Amber on Aug 12, 2020 17:29:37 GMT -5
(How have you been?)
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Post by Tealraven on Aug 15, 2020 13:18:41 GMT -5
( ugh, I am so sorry for falling behind on this. I had an unexpectedly busy week and my internet connection has been really bad the past few days - I actually started writing a reply and then lost the connection halfway through the post. But that's been fixed, so I should be good to go now. I'll finish that reply up and post it today. Again, my apologies for making you have to wait so long! )
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Post by Amber on Aug 15, 2020 14:12:34 GMT -5
(No worries, I just wanted to see if you were doing okay! Anyway, sucks about the internet connection and losing a reply halfway through. That's never fun. On the bright side, at least it's fixed. Also, no worries again. I understand.)
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Post by Tealraven on Aug 15, 2020 19:46:20 GMT -5
Finian Clarel | Silverton
Fin raised his eyebrows skeptically at Astra's flippant response; the boy clearly wasn't too impressed with her plan. So she was going to dump the assassin at the border. Turn him loose and send him on his merry murderous way. She didn't know his true identity of course, he remembered. To Astra, Levey was just a misguided mercenary. Fin shrugged and decided not to question her, as he knew that nothing he said would change the ranger's mind anyway.
The cart slowed as it pulled into the modest little town. The road had become less rocky as they approached. Here it could properly be called a road: it widened into a flat, well-worn track, almost paved smooth by generations of people and horses coming and going. The buildings around them were older than those in the upper district of the capital city. They might be a little beaten down, but they still had a certain charm. Quaint. That was the word rich folks like Finian's family used to be polite when they went out among the working class, like they were trying very hard to find something nice to say about them.
Finian accepted the cloak from Astra and threw it around his shoulders, snapping the clasp into place just above his collarbone. As the cart rolled to a stop, he took a quick look around to get his bearings. There was a fountain. Some stalls with vendors halfheartedly hawking their wares to passersby (they didn't look like any of the ones he'd seen in the capital's market district). Children laughing and playing nearby. He noticed they weren't wearing any shoes. The prince frowned. The atmosphere in this town was welcoming enough on the surface for him to feel immediately at home. Yet beneath the cheery attitude of the villagers who greeted them was an air of exhaustion. These people seemed... tired.
Once they came to a full stop, he swung himself down onto the ground. He offered the rest of his apple to Sweets, who crunched it gratefully, and turned to face Kaethe. The merchant's smile had been replaced by an expression of alarm. "Uh, Astra? Should we be running?" she asked. A gruff looking man was stalking towards them. Fin tensed and reached for his knife, just as Astra hopped down beside him.
A look of recognition came over the bearded man's face. He threw his burly arms wide open and pulled Astra into a bone-crushing hug. Finian's jaw nearly dropped open. "It's good to see you too, Yasen," the Astra replied, her voice muffled.
"Who's this?" Finian asked. He honestly wasn't even surprised anymore. But maybe this stranger would have information that could help them.
Tyranas Abelahn | Silverton
Once the wagon reached the outskirts of town, Tyranas donned his own cloak and pulled the hood up over his head, covering his pointed ears. No telling how these rural Gryffon hicks might react to a full blooded elf in their midst. The wagon was slowing down now, so the motley group must be nearing their destination. He'd have to keep his distance if he wanted to avoid being noticed. He was reluctant to leave Levey behind after just finding him -- who knew how long it'd take for him to find him if he disappeared again? -- but he'd seen his brother tied up in the back of the cart. Levey wasn't going anywhere without the others for now.
Tyranas headed down a sidestreet, running his fingers lightly along the walls of the buildings that leaned towards him. He could feel lines in the aging wood, cracks in the chipped and flaking paint, and once or twice some graffiti of the Milton was here and A + J Forever variety. But he wasn't interested in small town gossip. Silverton evidently wasn't big enough to host an assassin hideout; it was probably too far off the grid, not enough connections.
But no hamlet or city was completely devoid of assassins. Even if there weren't any of his group here, he was sure to find somebody in the trade, or at least some other criminal lowlife type who knew somebody who was. There was one place where you could find all kinds of interesting characters from all walks of life.
He stopped in front of a small tavern that was missing part of a window pane. Some horses were tied up nearby, drinking idly from troughs attached to their posts. A faded wooden sign creaking above the door read: the Silverton Swallows, with two little birds etched beneath it in silver filigree. True to its name, a few swallows swooped out from nests tucked up into the eaves, chirping cheerfully. Or perhaps it referred to the drinks provided at the bar itself. He tried not to think about the other implications of such a name.
Tyranas stepped through the door, and a small bell tinkled overhead. It wasn't happy hour yet, but a steady murmur filled the room, covering the sound of his footsteps across the floorboards. Only the patrons closest to the door bothered to glance up at him from the foaming mugs of ale they were nursing.
Tyranas surveyed the room silently. If there was one thing that united all classes and races, it was a good drink. Here, an assassin could hide in plain sight. He sidled up to the bar and placed an order, digging in his pocket for some coin he'd nicked back in the palace. He shot the clock a furtive look. Hopefully he wouldn't have to hang around too long for things to get busy in here; he was on a bit of time schedule, after all.
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Post by Amber on Aug 17, 2020 11:38:26 GMT -5
Kaethe, the reluctant merchant Wide-eyed with surprise, Kaethe watched as the large man wrapped the ranger into a hug. Even more astonishing was Yasen- that was his name apparently -had gotten Astra to smile! Well, calling it a smile was a bit of an overstatement. It was probably something more akin to an amused scowl or a happy frown, but the merchant would take what she could. Brown eyes shifted to the newcomer again. The affable man had a northern accent, Kaethe assumed he was from Vendev or it's sister nation of Yerdev. She couldn't be sure, she was never good with placing accents. There was some sort of dust coating the front of his shirt and trousers and she caught the faint scent of wood. It seemed he was a craftsman of some sort.
"I barely recognized you with that scarf," the burly man continued. "Can't blame you though, my friend. There is some...troubling news I think you'll want to hear." The man's attention shifted towards Fin and Kaethe as the former asked who he was. The man grinned as the ranger introduced him. "This is Yasen," Astra replied simply. The man lightly laughed and gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder.
"Ah, I think the lad wants to know more than that, my friend. Is good to ask questions. A sign of a keen mind. Anyway, I'm Yasen Calsik. I'm a woodworker here in Silverton and a friend of Astra. Who are you two?"
"I'm Kaethe and this is Fin," the merchant replied as she gestered to the servant. The woodworker gave a respectful nod, still smiling. It was an odd contrast to Astra's usual tense demeanor. She had never expected the half-elf to befriend such a friendly man. Or befriend anyone really. "How do you know each other?" Kaethe wondered. Before Yasen had a chance to say anything, Astra interjected.
"You said there was news?" The woman quickly asked. Yasen nodded.
"Yes. You can look on bulletin for it. Your friend seems eager to hear the story, so we can talk more about it when I'm done." The ranger nodded and split off from the group as Yasen enthusiastically began. "Is good story, trust me. One day, I was in forest gathering wood for my work. I had a nice bundle of branches and logs, perfect for making tools, weapon parts, or toys for the children. I was heading back home when I heard something behind me. When I turned around, I discovered it was a bear! Fearsome beasg it was, with its monsterpus claws and hulking body. I ran as fast as I could towards home. There was no way Yasen Calsik would be bear food that day!
"Unfortunately, during my frantic run, I wasn't paying attention and fell. The bear was over me and I thought for sure I would be dead. But then! Then I heard the snap of a bow and an arrow went flying into the beasts hide. As it roared in pain, I ran into the trees and watched it carefully. Another arrow came, and than another. Eventually the monster ran away and I escaped with my life! I went out to collect my wood, and that's when I met my savior, Astra Nailo. She took me back to Silverton and since then, I've considered her my friend." The man finished his story with a laugh and jovial smile. How did someone find such a person? By saving them from a bear, apparently. Astra joined back with the group soon after the man had finished his story.
"Did you find anything interesting?" Kaethe ask. The ranger sighed, almost seeming regretful. She glanced at Fin for a moment before shifting her green eyes elsewhere.
"The royal family is dead."
"As I said," Yasen sighed, "is troubling news."
Astra, the neutral ranger With her companions preoccupied with the woodworker's story, Astra stalked to the bulletin. She watched the townsfolks as she passed, keeping alert. Luckily for her, there didn't seem to be any castle guards around. That didn't make her any less tense nor was it cause for her to removed her scraf. Not everyone in town was like Yasen, especially with the news about the attack on the castle. She had to be on high alert until it all blew over. If it all blew over. As Astra passed the fountain, she took note of the people around. The residents of Silverton weren't very wealthy. Women wore patched dresses with torn hems and old aprons. Most children were shoeless and wore tattered clothes. Some were shirtless, others with nothing better than a sac on. Mine workers who had taken the early shift were coming back from their labrous work, their clothes covered in rock dust and dirt. A few were bandaged from various injuries on the job. They couldn't take a break to nurse their wounds, otherwise their families may starve.
The ranger sighed. She knew it was a terrible situation for the people of Silverton. She also knew they were hardly the only ones to expierence such difficulties. There were towns just like theirs all over the kingdom. All over the world. Astra smothered the thoughts as she came upon the bulletin. Old, yellowed pages filled the board detailing news or town gossip. They were covered by a large, prestine sheet and smaller pictures above. She paid no mind to those as she began to read over the news.
Tragedy struck two nights as the royal family was slaughtered in their sleep. King Arman Clarel, Queen Estelle Verchial, Crown Prince Florian Clarel, Princesses Rhea and Felicity Clarel, and our former King Alexius Clarel were all murdered in cold-blood. Reports from surviving staff claim elves were the cause of the horrendous event. The barbarians responsible have yet to be found, but our most elite investigators are working tirelessly to bring the knief-ears to justice. All is not lost. Prince Finian Clarel is believed to be the only survivor of the massecur. His body has not been found and there were no signs of a struggle in his room...
Astra stopped reading as her blood froze. Fin said he was a servant in the castle who escaped the massecre that night. He wore the fine clothing of a nobleman. Or maybe it was the simple garments of a royal. The woman drew in a deep breath. Fin could be a nickname for many names. It was likely there was more than one boy in the castle who had the name or used the nickname of "Fin". Her eyes wandered to the pictures above. One was a shared portrait of the king and queen. Another few were of the previous king, his daughters, and the oldest prince. Astra's eyes shifted to the last. It was the self-proclaimed servant boy. The half-elf stared at it for a while, unsure how to react. Fin had lied to them, but who could blame him? He seemed to be in more danger now than she had once assumed. After a moment, Astra took in her surroundings. Nobody would notice her messing with the papers. Probably. With quick, percise motions, Astra ripped the prince's picture from the board, folded it, and stuffed it in her vest. Silently, she stalked back towards the small group, unsure of what to do next.
Levey, the hesitant assassin The trip to Silverton had been uncomfortable. Of course, he had also been in the back of a wood cart on a bumpy road tied up. He was happy when they eventually pulled into town with its smoother paths, which made for a more comfortable ride. Eventually, they pulled to a stop in what he assumed was a town square. He couldn't see much from the back, though could hear things fairly clearly. There was a quick commotion as someone approched, followed by friendly greetings from a man with an unusual accent. A few minutes later, he launched into a story about he and the ranger met. Levey listened curiously. Anything to get his mind off his...current situation. As the man- his name was Yasen -finished his tale, the ranger had returned to the group.
"Did you find antthing interesting?" He heard Kaethe ask.
"The royal family is dead," Astra said from the outside. Levey cringed, guilt tugging at his chest. He knew they were dead. Tyranas and the others had taken care of them as he searched for Fin. But...to hear the words out loud sent a chill down his spine. Curiously she didn't mention the prince... Astra knew about Fin! She had to, right? There was no way the official statement didn't mention his survivial, right? Levey gulped. What did that mean for the prince? Could the ranger be more dangerous if she knew who he really was? Would she sell him, ransom him, or even kill Fin? Most of all, why did Levey care? If the prince was killed by someone else, then his job would be complete. He could return to Tyranas and the others. They could go home, fulfilling the mission of their grandparents. Things could go back to normal. Only, they wouldn't. No, Levey couldn't let the boy die, not after everything that happened. With a guilty conscience, the assassin made a choice. He would help protect the prince for as long as he could.
(I meant to post this yesterday, but I had work and we lost power from 6pm to like midnight. But here it is now!)
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