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Under the Shadow of the [ e c l i p s e ]

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DudeGuy

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In the world of Marosia...

...the kingdom, Elzier, is said to be at the very center. Beautiful as it was, every kingdom is said to contain a tragedy. For this kingdom, the fell came in the form of the simplest fact of the lust for power, and the betrayal from within. The Elzierian army had the four strongest knights to lead it, branching off into their own elements, but together, they were undefeatable. The Queen had given them each an area to govern, so that they would return to her to with a report of the lands around them.

To the North was the Youngest Knight, said to have reached up into the heavens and brought down judgment upon those who had sinned in the form of destructing light. Stretching towards the South was the Female Knight, igniting the flame of justice that was said to reside within the heart of all in Elzier. To the West resided the Eldest Knight, protecting the Elves with the winds that many believed to carry the voices and spirits of Elzier. Spanning towards the East stood the Cardinal Knight, soothing the world with the healing waters that gave life and health. Together, they were the four pillars of Elzier and, in essence, the world. But just like any platform that was held up by pillars, they were doomed to the greatest weakness, for they would fall if not united.

The King of Darkness had known this, thus he had gone after one that had been predicted to have the weakest of hearts among the four. No one knew how he had lured the Cardinal Knight, a great hero that no one had expected to betray them. They said that the susceptible mind he possessed allowed the King to lure him with the promise of power and leadership. This knight was said to be of the blackest of heart that had been already lurking in the shadows, caving into the Kingâ??s will and immediately joining that side. They say he was so ugly and sickening that no one could gaze upon him without feeling the darkness eat away at their sanity.

On the night that the Queen had been assassinated, the story went as thus. The Cardinal Knight had joined in the usual meeting of the four knights, reporting to the Queen of Light about the situations of the world. A beloved son-like figure and savior of the Queen from a previous war, he had been trusted to near her in any way or form. Something that they had realized been the hardest form of betrayal. Wrapping his arms around someone they thought he saw as a mother, the Cardinal Knight drove the dagger of darkness deep into her body, corroding the light that resided from within. The Amulet of Marosia flared to life and exploded, sending four pieces into the scatters of the world. At the same time, the Queen was said to have fallen with a scream that pieced all that was within range to hear.

Another version was that when the Amulet had scattered, the King of Darkness reached out his hand and caught one of the pieces like a ball thrown at him, a stream of light flaring beyond his hand, even though he had caught the main object that the light had been designated for. The magic flared, and any lower being without as much power would have been destroyed. Four lights that flared outwards to the corners of the world, leading them to where they might be able to find the shard of the Amulet. Even the three knights did not know fully where the shards were; just a general direction that the lightâ??s path showed them. But even if they found it, the question remains on those who still believe them, lips; of which the three knights was pure enough to wield part of the Amulet?

As for the Queen? Her body flared into a glow of light, and they said that as she died, her body clung to the boy that she had raised by her own hands, only to be killed by his. What she had said to him, or had done, was left to be a secret that only the Queen of Light and the Treacherous Knight to know.

But the truthâ?¦well, only those who had been within the room, the Queen, King, and knights, knew what had truly happenedâ?¦ what had trulyâ?¦

destroyed and collapsed the world.​


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[ + ] The P R E F A C E [ + ]​

"And that my friends is the story behind the fall of Elzier. It may sound like theatrics but I assure you my good people, what I speak is no tale crafted for the purposes of entertainment, but the cold, hard truth. Marosia is in trouble, in dire need of saving. Yes. . .what we need are our heroes," the man said passionately, his firey voice and wild gestures capturing the attention of the passerby's and drawing more and more people in the every growing crowd gathered around him. "But alas, we know not where they have gone too. But rest assured my friends, they are out there! They are fighting, for you," he said pointing to a boy in the crowd, "and you young madam," he said, pointing to a young woman, "and even you good sir," he said, pointing to the man standing just before him. "I believe, in my heart of hears, that despite what others are saying, our brave knights continue to stand up against the. . .injustices of this one King of Darkness, and there are others out there! Comrades in arms they have yet to have met who will adi them in this most noble quest! We will not suffer at the hands of this. . .greedy king, this man who thinks the world and the people of it a thing with which he can have his way.

"Nay my friends, he will be stopped. We will be saved. And we will know peace once more. Yes, we have lost our symbol of hope, her Majesty the Queen of Light Cecilia Von Kali, but her spirit still lived on in each of us. We all hold the light in our hearts, but we must be wary! Darkness sleeps in us all. Do not fool yourselves friends, we are all just as weak as the Cardinal Knight - nay - the Traitorous Knight! We can bend, fold, succumb to that darkness. Sometimes, it may in fact be easier than standing up and fighting. With wills so fragile, this world will crumble under the might of an army powerful enough to subdue the greatest nation to ever thrive! Elzier may be lost, Lassadar may be his, but we still stand strong. We must unite! We must fight! Man, woman, child, elf, dragon, merfolk, ogres, monsters in the wilderness. . .we must stand together if we hope to win - hope to continue living!"

The ravings of this man indeed drew attention from all around. The vendors left their stalls, the thieves dropped their plunder, common folk, noble men and women, even the town guard stood hanging off of his every word. So who was this mysterious man, preaching of unity and spreading the message of hope to these fair people? One would indeed be surprised to find out that he was nothing more than a lowly town crier! His job was to spread the word of the land, the teachings, the advancements of society to all who would lend the humble man his ear. And those that heard, learned. They were filled with passion, and with the same fiery spirit as he.

But one had to be careful about passion. That much, the Queen of the Long Empire knew. Many nations rose and fell from such fiery sermons, rousing the sleeping spirit of the every man and every woman. His words were like a ladle in a cauldron, stirring a peasant family's evening meal. Realistically, how many people could eat from a single pot? Could his feast fill the hearts of the masses that stood before him? If nothing more, Ranis Zaberisi was intrigued. Yes, very much intrigued. It was, out of pure curiosity that she stood where she stood now, huddled closely together to all kinds of people from different backgrounds, taking in the words of the simple man. If nothing else, the dragon noble felt he should be commended for being able to draw such a crowd. He had their attention, he had them all eating out of the palm of his hand, but where was he going with it all she wondered.

But the Queen was not the only important individual there. Standing directly beside her was a young woman wearing a heavy black cloak. Most of her face, with the exception of her jaw, her nose, and her lips, was all hidden by the hood. However, it was possible to see long strands of red hair poking out from underneath her hood. Her head was tilted slightly, as if deep in thought. This was the first time she had ever heard or seen such a spectacle in her short life. Indeed, she was fascinated by the man, much like the rest of the crowd. She turned her head, towards the long eared woman beside her and spoke, "This guy is really somethin' huh? Never seen so many folks all crowdin' 'round a guy jus' to hear'em speak like this."

Naturally, the queen could tell that this was no mere human she stood behind. No, the smell that she had, the aura around her. . .it was definitely something different altogether. Yet still, she was civil, and spoke as if she were truly captivated by the words of the town crier. The Queen politely bowed her head, silently greeting the young woman. "It's something you should get used to seeing, especially in towns such as this one," she started, adjusting the strap that held her instrument case in place, to shift the finely crafted leather bound case into a more comfortable position. "He is quite good though. If I didn't know any better, I'd think him a bard and not just a mere town crier."

"No matter what happens, everyone here today, and everyone through Marosia should believe that a time will come when someone - be it the brave knights, be it the traitor, or the dark king himself - will put an end to all of this. Tread lightly friends, watch your words, watch your tempers, steel your hearts, your very souls if that is what you must do. No matter what, do not allow yourself to be taken over by the fear, do not give in to the tyrant that would no sooner kill you than look at you."

Ranis was, honestly, a bit disappointed now. This was going to turn into another one of those mock prophetic ramblings that were all too common these days. Unlikes the rest of the ignorant masses, she knew what happened that knight. She knew that Gandrian killed the Queen of Light, she knew that the King of Darkness held a shard of her amulet in his hands, he even knew that the knights were alive and well. There was no way they were going to sit back and let everything that was happening happen, no, they would definitely stand up and stop the King of Darkness. They would need all the help they would get though. Maybe, this man's mad ramblings would serve some use after all.

Ranis walked away from the crowd, continuing up the road, humming a tune to herself. Her steps soon fell in rhythm with the tune, and she began to sway to and fro.

"Sub sole nihil novi est
( Nothing new under the sun )
Ad astra, per aspera. . .
( to the stars through the thorns. . . )
Quaerite prime regnum dei
( At first seek the kingdom of the god )
Ante bellum memento mori. . .
( Remember the death before war. . .)"​
​

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[ + ] Preface - End [ + ]​
 
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[ x ] Book One :: THE FIRST SHARD [ x ]​
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Hieronidan. . .

"Why are we doing nothing in this situation? Wouldn't it be more advantages to begin taking measures to protect ourselves and our people? We should try sending words to the Long Empire. If I recall, hasn't the current Queen expressed dislike for the King of Darkness," a green haired elf asked. She stood in the war room of the estate of the royal family of Hieronidan. This elf in particular was known as Arioch Ta'Thlen, the up and coming General who gained her title repelling an attempted invasion from the bandits of the low lands. The Ground Dwellers, as they were known as here. Her blue eyes were fixed on the general that stood across from her, curious as to what possible reason they could have for not doing anything.

"General Ta'thlen, I understand your frustrations. You must understand, taking action now would only make us a suitable candidate for the next invasion," The general replied.

"Won't doing nothing leave us vulnerable though? As it stands now, an all-out offensive here will only end in our defeat," Arioch said, attempting to keep her head level.

"We have the advantage here. The savages below and their - "

"What makes you think they'll lend us their sword? Or their bow? The Ground Dwellers hate every last one of us, they would much rather die than help us continue to - "

"Then we will not count on them. We have our own tactics, we have the advantage knowing the land, the in's and out's of the forests, our shaman's can read into the future, and tell us of the coming battles, we have numerous methods to fight."

"Our enemy has the advantage of numbers. They are, obviously, a competent brigade if they could subdue Elzier in a single night. What chance have we of standing against them with no allies, no preparations. If we act now, if we send word to the Long Empire, I'm sure they will take action," Arioch said, hoping that such a thing could at least be considered an option.

"That is enough, both of you. General Ta'thlen, I know you mean well, but the Long Empire will not take action. The dragon's have always remained neutral, lest their actions sway the course of the future as foreseen by the gods. What is more, I do not think it wise to incur the wrath of a giant that slumbers. We will remain as we are, building up as much as we can as quietly as we can," the Elven King spoke.

"You're Highness, I don't think that wise. The dragon's may have always been neutral, but in this situation we - "

"In the thousands of years they have all lived, they have seen countless flags rise and fall. This will be no different. All we can do is pray that our flag continues to fly when the last blow is struck," the king said.

"Please, sire, I - "

"That is enough general. A decision has been made. Or do you intend to disobey?" The king was curious as to what the young general would do. She had talent, and she had skill, but her temper was short. She was young, and much too easily swayed by her heart.

"I do," she said, firmly and evenly. "I will discard my sword, my armor, my title, even my name if I have to. Standing here and doing nothing is a mistake. Even if I must act alone, even if I must die, I would rather do something than wait to die such a dishonorable death," Arioch said. She immediately turned and left, without bidding farewell to her leaders, her comrades, or anyone else. Like that, she had thrown away everything that she built up.

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And that was how the former Elven General Arioch Ta'Thlen ended up here, with three of the Queen of Light's brave and noble champion knights. A short time ago, she ran into the three of them - Valen, Altima, and Brand - while she was wondering out of the Hieronidan Forest. She was prepared to step out into the world for the first time when she saw the three wandering into the Elven Lands. Her first instinct was to threaten their lives and attack, however, a moment of clear thought allowed her to see their leader clearly. She immediately recognized him as the Windwalker, the Champion Knight of the champion knights, the Guardian of the Westerlands. Which would have made the other two Altima, the female knight and guardian of the Southerlands, and Brand, the youngest knight and the guardian of the Northerlands. If they had been so foolish as to expect a warm welcoming, they were met with great shock when the young elf opened her mouth.

Her greetings were curses, harsh words for the three who disappeared while the world fell apart around them. Fear and tension were taking hold, and now, no one dared to even try to stand against the King of Darkness, fearing death would be brought down upon them and their people. That was why would succeed where they failed - she would fight every last one of the enemies that made up the dark army until she stood face to face with the King himself. And, should she have to die as well, she would drive each of her blades through his heart and ensure the man a very slow, agonizing death. How she wished she could make him pay one hundred fold for every single person who lost their lives at the hands of his dark army. Indeed, she let each and every one of them have a piece of her mind, venting her frustrations from her earlier meeting with the leaders of Hieronidan.

As soon as she was 'finished', she left without so much as looking back.

It was lucky for her that the Queen had such noble and valiant champions, as their help was soon needed when the young General was met by an ambush in the lowlands. The four of them fought together, easily driving the bandits back into hiding. What else was to be expected? This was, after all, a contest between honor less thieves against an Elven General and three great knights! No, the surprise came after the battle, when she was asked to come along with the knights. They explained that they were on a journey to bring an end to the reign of the King of Darkness, and in need of comrades. Reluctantly, the high elf followed along with the three. She was, by no means, thrilled to be there with them, but if they were on a journey to restore the light to the world, she would follow them until they completed their task or until she was dead. It didn't matter which came first, so long as this veil of darkness was removed so that the light could shine on the world once again, she wouldn't hesitate to lay her life down.

Arioch walked ahead of the group, the necklaces on her chest and her anklets clicked and clacked rhythmically with her movements. Since accepting their offer to come along, she hadn't spoken a word to them, nor had she really looked at them. From her movements, her actions, even her expressions, it would be clear they picked up quite a handful. They had been walking for most of the day like this, as the high elf general had been leading them to one of the biggest cities within Hieronidan, Cam.

For the first time in hours, Arioch uttered words. Her words were of the ancient elven tongue, the trigger spell to open the gate that would allow them to pass into the city. The gates were now open.
 
It was the little things in the forest that brought life to his smile. The trees and how they whispered. The trickling water flows of rivers and streams nearby. Even the sound of stilled life calmed him and reminded Brand that there was good in the world. Good still thrived all around them, and no amount of darkness could take away the light. For in light, there was darkness, and in darkness, shone light. One just had to know how to balance it, and he knew that they would have to bring the balance back to the world.

They, being the pillars of the Mariosa. Valen and Altima didnâ??t think so, but he was sure that if one day, they were able to get Annie back, then the King of Darkness wouldnâ??t be able to stop them. They would fight with their last breathâ?¦ they would, if only one of them would give their breath back to the light.

The sounds of birds chirping drew him out of thinking about the past though, and he nearly leapt from spot to spot in following their newest companion. Each step seemed to have a spring in them for the Youngest Knight, reminding many that he resembled a bundle of energy waiting to be released. Sometimes, when he forgot to control himself, little sparks of electricity would surge from his body and flick around his flesh. They were harmless but sometimes visible, a sure sign that he needed to discharge soon.

Leaves drifted by them, a melody in the wind that was unheard by ears not born to hear them. The Orange Fields were deadly beautiful, luring those into its luscious forestry and keeping them lost in there. For an Elf of ageless time, it was like being welcomed into a new home. For those a time limit, it could be their final resting place in the less pleasant and a bit lonely way. Nature was there though, and as he watched the doors opened, it reminded him that nature was listening. Through words and actions, every living being was able to interact on a subliminal level.

â??Sheâ??s beautiful when she speaks Elvin.â?? Brand took note, seeing beauty in things that connected to nature. There was a grace about those who could ask favor of the voiceless beings around them, those who gave those beings voices. The things noted about the Elf before them were little, and it should have drew out suspicions from him, but didnâ??t. Too trusting at times, he knew his own faults, but wanted to believe that he saw goodness in her. â??Reminds me of past companions.â?? he mentally stumbled at that, suddenly wondering what happened to their companions back at the castle.

At the time, there was no choice, and the knights had to abruptly flee in order to live to fight another day. And then, there was Tsuâ??Ro, someone who had been invited to the castle that day for a peaceful dinner together with the knights and the Queen. Had he been with them at the timeâ??had he been late? Perhaps it had been for the best that something held him upâ??Brand would have asked for him to have come with them on their journey.

Snapping out of his worry for their friend, he told himself that their friend was in good health, and that he needed to focus on aiding their predicament at the moment. â??You know, Iâ??d only been to Hieronidan once before; to visit Valen when he guarded here. Iâ??m an Elf, but I was born outside of this Kingdom. Strange, huh?â? he spoke up, trying to make light conversation between them. Arioch hadnâ??t exactly made the greatest impression at the beginning, but he suspected that it was just her nature. Brand tried not to judge people when he first meets them, so it hadnâ??t been a surprise when she had spoken rather rudely to them. Rather, he felt confused as to why someone felt the need to speak so callously. However, he wanted them to get along, now that it seemed that Arioch was going to travel with them for an undetermined amount of time.

Not thinking twice about whether there could be a dangerous trap or not beyond the gates, Brand marched right on through with a smile pulling at his lips.
 
Aneolis​
â??Arenâ??t you just thrilled to be my new test subject????â?

A heavy white mist dances along the sirenâ??s room in a rhythmic pattern as her slender fingers plucked at golden strings. She hummed a soft tune as she crossed the room holding the heart shaped instrument close to her bosoms. Bright blue eyes widened as the sirenâ??s shadow cast upon him, terrified frame curling up into a tight ball. She chuckled to herself as she looked down at the pathetic human man before her. â??Come nowâ?¦why is it so hard for you to let go? All of my other dollies are content with their new lifestyles. Why canâ??t you?â? she questioned as she continued to pluck at the golden strings. Each note she struck ripped through the mist in her room sending jolt like shocks into her statuesque dolls that were loitered around her room. There was one at each corner of her room, two guarding the inside of her door, two guarding the outside of her door, two lying in her bed, and another two sitting on her windowsill looking out at the dark skies. Each and every last one of them had blonde hair, bright silver eyes, and pale skin, rosy cheeks and lips, like porcelain dolls. They were dressed in loose white silken fabrics that fell from their slender bodies, accenting the angelic air she was trying to give to them. Anyone who knew even a little about her knew she was in a good mood at the moment. She had finally found the perfect candidate for her new experiment.

â??Pleaseâ?¦I..I have a wife and childrenâ?¦â?

She smiled as she took a couple of steps back as the two dolls that were upon her bed grabbed the man from the floor throwing him onto the bed. One held his wrist above his head, and the other held his ankles together. She hummed softly continuing her slow pace backwards to her large mirror and shelf decorated with an assortment of potions and perfumes.

â??Really?? Iâ??ve lured men with heavier burdens than yours love. Many of them had the survival of a country resting upon their shouldersâ?¦â? she said with a soft sinister laugh. â??So, sorry but I canâ??t let you goâ?¦â? she said as she placed the harp down on the shelf knocking a few vials over. She sauntered over to the struggling male upon her bed, with a clear vial of red liquid inside of it. â??Now, this will be a less painful transformation if you just lie there and accept this potionâ??s effectâ?¦â? she informed the human as she crawled onto the bed beside him, then climbed onto his lap. Grabbing at his face, her fingertips pressed into his cheeks forcing his mouth to open. She took out the small cork with her teeth, spitting it off to the side as she poured the liquid into his mouth. He began to shake fiercely beneath her and her servantsâ?? hold as the liquid seemed to seer his flesh on the way down his throat. She quickly released his jaw, holding his mouth shut so he couldnâ??t spit any out.

His skin was pale now; unlike the lively tan he was a few moments agoâ?¦ His eyes turned into a mesmerizing green, his hair growing just a few inches longer to the length of Malakâ??s. There wasnâ??t much transformation other than that as he was already the perfect height, and perfect build for what she wanted. He was almost a complete copy of the dark warlock. â??Mmmâ?¦now all I have to do is work on your mind and youâ??ll be completeâ?¦â? she said with a wide grin gazing down at her Malak dollie look a like. She then looked up, gazing at the wide mirror above the headboard of her large bed. There were mirrors all over her room. There was one at the door, one at her massive shelf of potions and whatnot, and even one above her bed installed into the ceiling so while she was having sex she could always see herself. She even had built into the door on the outside so while she walked down the hall she could look back and see herself.

â??Arenâ??t I just heart stopping?â? she asks aloud.

And in unison her dolls answered with a droll like â??yesâ??.
 
As they entered the elven territory, Altima had been surprised that they'd be greeted by one of the high elves of the forest. Usually the reclusive pointy-eared humanoids left humans alone on the basis that they were simply passing through without any other intention than to follow the trail. But this one had a nasty attitude and a smart mouth, hurling challenging insults at the trio of cast out knights like she herself was the cream of the crop. Perhaps Arioch was, but they didn't know that. Altima had liked her immediately, seeing the elf's quick wit and boldness just brought a warmth of familiarity to the female knight. Now who did that remind her of though? Oh yeah, herself. Ally had retorted to the elf's insults with witticisms of her own and could only grin when the other finally stalked off to pursue her own ambitions. Luck would have it that they'd run into her again while she was dealing with a group of wannabe bandits; of course she didn't really need the help but the trio had done so anyway and taken the time to explain their case.

Now they were on the road through the forest again without so much as a break, Altima felt like they'd been traveling for months without stopping. She was dirty, tired and growing increasingly irritable. But the design of the elven city of Cam past the towering gates took her breath away at how beautiful it was. She'd never seen anything like it before and would probably never see anything like it again so long as she lived. Which would probably really really short if those people that blamed them for Queen Kali's death ever caught up with them. "So this is the elven city I've heard about. I had thought it was only a faerie tale you told childen to shut them up." Ally commented as they passed throught he gates, brushing some offending bangs out of her eyes. The female knight was still in her armor, well consisting of a chestplate, bracers and gauntlets with a cloak spread over her shoulders and her bastard sword in it's holster securely across her back. The wind caught up from the city, blowing her sunny blonde hair about for a moment and made the tails of her surcoat dance about behind her as they walked on.

She was well aware that they had business there but right now she wanted to rest and get a bath or something. Ah to be feminine, even in the mildest sense; it gave her the right to complain about such things. "Lady Arioch, I hate to ask but do you know there's anywhere I could possibly wash all this trail dust off? I think a break and a soak in hot water might help everyone, specially you lady elf. You seem the most uptight of us all." she said with a playful grin pulling at her lips.
 
    • The High-Elves' intense blue optics shifted over in the direction of the first person to make a more towards the gate, the youngest knight. Brand de Zeus was his name. The guardian of the Northerlands, the Long Empire. He was a peculiar fellow she thought. Even when she lost her temper on the knights earlier, she could have sworn that she never even saw his smile falter. Perhaps she was mistaken about that, as she couldn't imagine anyone keeping a smile on their face while being cursed and berated, but she was certain that his smile hadn't faltered since the moment she agreed to join the knights on their journey. Well. . .being upbeat was one thing she thought - he was just so happy that it was obnoxious she thought. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing though, just different from what she was used to.

      "Half," Ari corrected in a very blunt manner, "you are a Half-Elf. It isn't uncommon for your kind to be born outside of Hieronidan, much less never step foot in it." The other half, she did not know. Honestly, she didn't particularly care. Elves were easily able to recognize their own kind, or those who had Elven blood in them. "I do not fault you for taking pride in that blood going through your veins though. It is indeed something to be proud of." Unlike most elves, Arioch didn't hold any particular contempt for half-breeds. A majority of her old comrades were half-Elves as well. It was a part of the reason they lived where they did. Rather, her words were rather friendly towards the young knight, even somewhat encouraging. He facial expression didn't change, nor did there seem to be any joy in her voice, just the same, flat tone.

      Things seemed to be all good and well until a challenge, of sorts, came from the female knight. Altima was her name. She seemed to have a short temper, which all but suited her and her element. She too possessed a quick wit, and was quick to hurl remarks when they came to mind. There were many similarities in their harsh personalities, and perhaps even in the more gentle parts of their personality. Such things had yet to have been seen or witnessed of one another by either though. "Why certainly. I do believe that if you follow the main road to the end, you'll find the pen where the pigs are kept. Feel free to roll around with them til your heart is content," Arioch replied, quickly diverting her attention elsewhere. This was either the start of a beautiful friendship, or, the beginning of a bitter, fiery rivalry. Only time would tell which.[/list:u][/list:u]
 
The forests of Hieronidan were always a breathtaking place to be, one the Champion knight, Valen had seen many times, this region being the region assigned to him to protect. The elves of Hieronidan had become quite fond of Valen, with his strange appearance and even stranger powers, he earned the title "Windwalker" from them, for his ability to move as swiftly and as gracefully as the wind, few could call themselves lucky to see him in combat, his opponents indeed got to witness this as the last thing they ever saw.

When they had last run into the young elf she proceeded to unleash her feelings and opinions upon the group of three. Brand seemed the least effected, remaining cheery despite the onslaught of insults that were cast in their direction, the female knight however had been less than pleased, throwing a couple insults back in her fiery fashion. Valen initially didn't know to react, it wasn't often he was met with such hostility, being known as a hero in these lands, he didn't get mad or lash out at the young elf, instead he simply closed his eyes and shook his head. In truth he was disappointed by Arioch's actions, he had fought alongside her once. Ari had stormed off shortly after, only to run into a group of bandits, lowly thugs who were defeated without much effort, many even retreating upon spotting the golden-haired knight. Indeed, Valen had been the one to ask for her help.

Valen had actually been glad to see the elven territories he was so familiar with again, it had been a little while since his last patrol, his last activities that kept the bandits and other negatives away from the elven kingdom, acting as their protector and ambassador of elzier. That was a while ago. Valen followed shortly behind his companions, the spear in his hand being used almost like a walking stick as he traveled along with his two fellow knights and the elven general that led them towards Hieronidan's largest city. The knight had tied his golden hair back and reversed his cloak in the time since the three had run into the elven general, changing his appearance slightly so casual glances wouldn't be so incredibly fast to recognize him. Valen trailed the other knights, remaining mostly silent as they traveled, only answering questions when asked.

Valen's appearance, even as haggard and worn as he was was still a majestic one. The knight strode with an even and brisk step alongside his companions, a neautral look on his face, his eyes down and to the right, a dign that he was deep in thought. A supernatural air surrounded him, a gentle wind that broke apart the stillness of the forest, unsettling leaves as he passed and giving his his hair a gentle sway. Valen had the air of a caring and noble man, which he was, a guardian by nature

Valen had a lot on his mind, the grief he felt for the queen still was in his heart and since the night she had died, something was inside him, gnawing away at his strength... Valen tried not to show this weakness, but he still looked a little ill. Valen looked like he had gone a couple days without sleep, and the lack of sleep was taking a toll on him. When Brand brought up his linage, Ari answered him , reminding him that he was only half-elf, though even then he should still have pride in his elven blood. Valen's golden eyes descended a little. He had always been unsure what blood he carried in his veins, his golden eyes and hair were something he had seen in no other race, save for ogres, and Valen was fairly certain he was not one of them. Valen knew he had human in his blood, but there was... something else.

Valen snapped out of his little trance and looked over at Brand, smiling briefly for the younger knight, if anything, Valen truly admired his energy and will, he also admired Altima's fiery personality. As such he didn't attempt to interfere in her verbal jousting with the elf, indeed, he simply smiled gently. It was good to see that his companions were dealing with the events well. Valen looked forward "Ari, thank you for taking us to Cam, I appreciate your aid in these grave times." Valen's voice was calm, not without emotion but instead soft, almost hypnotic in it's nature.
 
Altima heard Valen's tone of voice and frowned a bit, she didn't like to see her friends looking so gloomy. She walked over for a moment and smacked him on the back in a more brotherly-way then a sisterly one and grinned wolfishly. "Hey Vallie, cheer up. Somethings can't be helped now, you're going to chase off the good looking women if you keep looking so down." She teased, nudging him with her elbow gently and kept prodding him for a moment until she turned her attention back on Arioch.

"I actually meant that seriously.." she said, becoming more sober and stepped toward the elf. "While a mud bath might be good for the skin, I was asking about something warm and welcoming." she said and thought for a moment. "Or maybe both of us could strip down, get in the mud and wrestle around a bit to brighten the days of our two guys here?" she smirked widely and boldly eyed Arioch. "You definately have the body to brighten someone's day." she winked.

She crossed her arms but retained that impish, flirty grin as she watched their new companion and waited for a response, walking slowly if she had to to keep moving if necessary. Ally was always like this: she tried to cheer people up by being flirty or teasing or blatantly naughty as she didn't really like to see people so down for too long. It really created a problem with morale if you walked around carrying chips the size of redwood logs on your shoulders. She missed the Queen too but she was trying to stay upbeat and cheery like Brand was, altima had resolved not to ever show weakness of any kind in public; she'd get weepy and bummed out later in private.
 
Half.

The word was sharp and cutting, directly hitting the subject on the head and reminding him that he was in no way pure enough to be considered part of the race that Arioch was part of. For a moment, he didnâ??t say anything, but just wore a neutral expression his faceâ??bordering on curiousness for some strange reasonâ??with his lips pressed together. Brand wanted to ask if she looked down on half-breeds, but the moment passed and instead of passing judgment or questions to what she truly thought, he smiled at her. â??I guess thereâ??s no hiding it, yeah?â? he stated, gazing around as they walked a bit further in. So lost he was looking up, that he fell behind them a bit while wandering, and didnâ??t note the random rocks along the forest ground.

Of course he was bound to trip on one of them, and instead of finding his footing and balance that Elves were known to have, he swayed side to side and stumbled a bit. Gracefully though, as he quickly found his balance and continued to walk on as if nothing happened. Itâ??d have been easier to pretend nothing happened if he hadnâ??t just healthily groped Altima and Valen in the process of flailing limbs, but all was well again, so he didnâ??t complain. The blonde just had to get used to his new height, so surely they understood. The other two knights had seen him at various stages in his adolescence, and perhaps only the Long Empire had been the ones to see his rapid growth from a little four foot something kid to the towering male he was now.

â??Thereâ??s a bathing house here, if I remember correctly.â? Brand spoke up, picking up his pace to catch up with them, since he fell behind a bit. â??Not that I object to a mud bath, but weâ??d need a bath right after it.â? he was mainly talking to no one though, as he was merely muttering softly to himself as the two women spoke. However, at the last thing that Altima stated, he set his bluish eyes upon their companion in curiosity. Blue eyes, as his golden hue only bled into his eyes when he was using his magic.

Unabashed at staring, his eyes swept over the soft looking hair and down along the plains of her smooth skin. Creamy and smooth, just like most of the Elves, if not a bit tinted in shading. Her clothes suited her well, curving around supple breasts and gripping hips. At that, his eyes wandered back to peer at her breasts, completely unaware that it might have been seen as lecherous, The only thought in his mind after a good hard stare at the Elvinâ??s breasts, was that he was sure Altima had a larger set.

â??Someoneâ??s body can brighten a day?â? he asked after a notable moment. â??Can we bathe together then? Perhaps with Vallie?â? Brand connected that if Arioch was able to do that, then why shouldnâ??t they utilize their resources? Valen seemed like he had a harder time holding his head and heart up again, so if a little mud bath among them together would ease the tension away, then he was willing to get a little dirty.

As they spoke though, they wandered further beyond the gates and into a deeper forestry area that nearly glowed orange. The little light that shone through the Eclipse was eerie, but among lands such as these, it was almost ethereal. From what he remembered, there was a small village or town up ahead that they could rest at.
 
Little splatters of rain drops came tapping down from the darkened sky, sending all little shops in the bazaar setting their tents up or closing down all together. It wasnâ??t often that Alusair received rain, but when it did happen, it trickled down like a haze, before pouring down like the earth was thirsty for a drink. Just at the edge of the bazaar, a figure began to hasten their steps. Rain was never good for the hair and much worst for the clothes, so finding shelter was priority at the moment. When it became apparent that the blonde in question was going to get rained on, an umbrella of sorts popped opened and was held over the delicate beingâ??s form.

Soft blue eyes gazed upwards with innocent amazement, before the delicate lips curved into a smile. Her dress was just above the ground enough that even the wet ground couldnâ??t ruin it, as her short heels clicked upon the cobblestone. A strong figure of a male with deep black hair and pitch black eyes stood next to her, holding the umbrella out to shield her from the pouring rain. Lin didnâ??t complain about the image, as she was grateful for its consideration.

Small arms slipped into position to hold onto the maleâ??s arm, before leaning her head against the broad shoulder. â??Thank you, Shadow. Youâ??re the best.â? the lady stated, walking in time with the male. He didnâ??t say anything, not even a shift in his features to show that he heard her, but the minute twitch in his arm told her he heard her and acknowledged her. That was enough though, as they wandered down the quickly emptying streets and towards a tavern just beyond them. The two of them looked like a happy and well mannered couple, peacefully walking without being disturbed by the rushing surroundings around them.

The exact moment that she was under a tarp that was placed along the outside of the tavern, the male distorted his image. The coloring just seemed to fade away into darkness, before only a figure of shadows stood there. Soon after, the limbs and form rippled like a water image, and the umbrellaâ??s form melted away into the shadows. The entire being was soon just a splotch of shadow that faded into the backgrounds and darkness around her.

Completely unaffected by that, Lin fluffed her dress and brushed off anything that might have been on her skirt-half or shoulders. Just as she was going to open the door, another person was coming out. The male tilted his head towards her and muttered a â??mâ??ladyâ?, before holding the door open for her. â??Thank you, sir.â? she smiled, giving him a curt dip of her own. Inside, the saloon like area to the side was marred by no more than a few people, and the stairs leading up and down to the side indicated that this area was also an inn. Lin moved to sit at one of the stools and before she could call out for service, the bartender moved himself before her.

â??Welcome, little miss. What can I do for you today?â? he asked, tone a bit rough, but words well organized for most bartenders.

â??Just some warm cider, if itâ??s no bother.â? she didnâ??t think itâ??d be a good idea to drink in such an area, and the harsh alcoholic drinks that she could see people gulping at didnâ??t seem to bold well for her if she drank the same. He stated something about it never being a bother, before returning with her drink. Lin wrapped her slender fingers around it, feeling the lacy gloves she had on rub against the glass, before lifting it up towards her lips and took a small sip. Yes, the warmth of the hot drink was just what she needed after being out in the rain; despite not having a drop of water upon her form, since Shadowâ??s â??umbrellaâ? had absorbed the water to protect it from splashing onto her in any way.

The said being was nowhere to be seen, but she knew that he was luring in the shadows, watching from wherever the darkness laid under the light. It bothered her not though, as she sat alone at the bar-edge, sipping a non-alcoholic drink and observed her surrounds for something entertaining to watch.
 
    • Definitely a half. . . Arioch thought, seeing the way that Brand tripped on the root. An full blooded elf wouldn't have done such a thing. Even without looking, they would have been aware of the presence of the rock, and would have avoided it entirely. It was a bit entertaining to watch Brand stumble about, trying seemingly with all of his might to regain his footing. The way his arms flailed about and the way he stumbled around was rather comical. She could not help but wonder if this were something that he was doing on purpose, or if his balance was really that bad. Such stumbling and grandstanding was one of the many reasons that half elves were usually looked down upon by others, but for Arioch, this situation stirred memories of her own unit, and the way that a few of her companions would move about. It seemed as if the grace granted by their Elven blood was only displayed in battle.

      "It is. . .no problem. If this will help end this madness taking hold of the world, I'd do it a thousand times over," Arioch said, humbly accepting Valen's thanks. As they continued to walk, she tried to ignore the comments made by Altima, but when Brand continued to push them, she could feel herself growing more irritated with the two of them. A part of her wondered about a more level headed and serious person like Valen put up with the two of them all of the time. "I'll have to refuse such an offer. I'd rather not wallow about in hog waste. There is a tavern in the town where we should be able to rest and bathe. I care not what the three of you wish to do, but I would appreciate it if you didn't drag me into your nonsense." Her words were not harsh, but rather, nonchalant. Though she was traveling with the three knights, she was making it clear that she didn't wish to be involved in any shenanigans that they got themselves into, especially things that had to do with rolling around in the waste of other beings.

      The High Elf lead the small group down the remainder of the path that finally lead them to Cam. Cam was the largest city in Hieronidan, which the location truly showed. There were elves everywhere, moving about gracefully under the trees talking, laughing, shopping. . .it was as if they weren't affected at all by the darkness in the sky looming overhead. Sadly, most of her people were like this, Arioch thought, blind to what was coming their way if Vayne wasn't stopped soon. She should have been happy to be here amongst her people, but their ignorance was embarrassing. She scoffed at them, at their smiling faces, at the bliss born of their refusal to accept what was happening in the world around them. When they finally reached the tavern, Arioch walked away from the group and to the owner. The two of them spoke in Elvish, taking advantage of her ability to converse fluently with the man in their native tongue, and her status to get them a discount on their rooms. They would be able to stay here practically free for the night.

      "Here are your room keys. There is a bath in the back should you all so desire to strip down and cheer one another up. . .however you plan on doing that," she said, leaving them to think whatever they would of what was now going through her head.[/list:u][/list:u]
 
"Arioch, you need to really lighten up." Altima said in a no-nonsense tone. She kind of didn't appreciate having her attempts at lighthearted cheeriness crushed so thoroughly like that. Perhaps elves liked to be dour or something. She was certainly seeing it in their newest companion and found she didn't like that trait; Arioch was really coming off as haughty, arrogant and pessmistic; like some overtly pragmatic noblewoman. "Eee!" she squealed, hopping forward suddenly when she got groped by Brand while he was trying to catch himself after tripping. It was enough to make the female knight start laughing as she helped her friend up and steadied him until he could get going on his own without falling over...again.

"Brand, my friend. You need to pay more attention to the road and stop staring at ms haughty's boobs." She grinned at the young knight and continued on with a grin. It was just too much fun to poke fun at the elf; and just as fun to see the youngest knight trying to be smooth about what he was doing.

She however, wanted to say that the elf needed to stop taking things so seriously. The world might be having troubles now but the important thing was not to get bogged down by it all. Darkness only wins if there's an absence of light afterall. "And if I wanted to my friend, I'd drag you with me to have some kind of amusement if I thought it might help you but i'm kind of hurt by the fact you have no sense of humor." Ally sighed and went into the Inn/tavern with the rest of them. Once they got their room keys, Altima went off to her own room to unload all the stuff she was carrying with her in the form of supplies and even a tent attached to a backpack of sorts.

Altima would eventually change into something more casual and headed down to the baths out back and stripped down before stepping into the steaming hot spring with a loud sigh of contentment and splashed out before she sat down to lean against the ledge. "This is so much better..." She said, unbraiding her hair to let it hang loose, floating ontop of the water that was coming just high enough on her to conceal most of her rather ...huge breasts, only leaving the top side of tehm visible.
 
    • Taverns were often lively places at all times of the day. If one needed a tall cold glass of mead to keep them going, this was definitely the place to come. Even if they didn't want to drink, and needed a bed on which to rest, or a meal to fill their stomachs, a tavern was definitely the best bet one would have during times such a these. Indeed, that was the reason this particular young woman stopped by the tavern here. She purchased a room, some food, and a drink. After eating her fill, she decided to linger for a while and enjoy her drink. In the middle of said enjoyment, she had been approached by several men, all of whom were trying to hit on her, she guessed. It was hard for her to be sure as none of them could see her face because of the positioning of her cloak. At the very best, they could see her mouth, her soft pink lips, and a braid of red hair. Definitely nothing more.

      There was an easy way to settle this and get some enjoyment out of it though, she guessed. She purposed a drinking game, a fairly simple one. They would arm wrestle. It was a very masculine contest, one of strength an not necessarily skill. Already, she had the men hooked, but a simple contest of physical strength would be no fun for her. So then, she suggested that the winner take a shot every single time they won, and that should anyone of the three men or herself give up at any point, their little game would be over. If she were human, such a contest may have been fair. However, she weren't. What was more, alcohol was like water to her body. Without drinking large amounts of it, she didn't even feel a thing. Needless to say, the odds were definitely in her favor.

      BLAM!

      Another victory for the young woman. Her grin broadened as she took yet another shot, sitting the small glass on the table to be refilled by one of the men who had earlier given up. "You wanna go again, or should we be callin' it quits now," she asked. Not once had her arm touched the table. She had to admit that the men were strong enough to actually make her use a considerable bit of her strength. If this went on for a few more hours, it was very likely that she could have fallen to one of them. The amount of time that would take would be more than any of them were willing to put into such matters.

      "Bah. . .let's go. My mood is ruined now," the last of the three said, getting up and leaving the table.

      "Suit yerselves then," the cloaked girl shrugged. She quickly took hold of the shot glass and drained the contents of it down her throat, enjoying the tingly feeling it gave as it went down. Maybe just a bit more. . . she thought, looking at the empty class in her hand. For a several minutes, she sat, stared, and thought, finally deciding sometime later that a bit more wouldn't hurt anything. Another bottle, and she would stop for the day. Yes, Itsuki was cutting down on drinking, trying to quite altogether. Most of her kind would have laughed at the notion. Ogres loved to drink, quite a bit actually. They drank, and they drank, and they drank, and they fought, and they drank. It was the way of their land. Until the King of Darkness took over. They tended to drink more and fight less these days, fearing an execution with them as the main attraction. Such a thing had nothing to do with why she was here now though. No, far from it.

      Such thoughts had no place now that she was far away from Lassadar. She had heard that the City of Light had fallen, and that was the reason for the everlasting Eclipse, and knew that no place would truly be safe from the grip of King Vayne, but she was doing her best to stay out of as many conflicts as possible. At one point in her life, she had indeed fought for the dark army, not out of loyalty or really necessity. After a night of drinking, she found herself on a wagon with a bunch of her friends being carted off to be armed and given the law of the land, as it stood now. She was of no importance, rather, she was mere canon fodder on the field, those who would have died and not have been missed at all. That was the only reason she was able to escape their ranks without being killed. It was a big risk indeed.

      Itsuki returned to the bar sometime in the middle of her thoughts and purchased another bottle for herself. Sitting beside her was a young woman who looked rather. . .out of place here. Nobility maybe? She definitely looked as if she had some money to her name. "Oh, 'cuse me," she said, taking a seat beside the young woman. The young ogre figured it was at least polite to say something to the lady sitting beside her.[/list:u][/list:u]
 
Sipping on her drink, Lin allowed her eyes to wander the tavern. At first, there seemed nothing interesting outside of the crazy drunks and those who did nothing more than cheered on people to drink or to drink themselves. That wasnâ??t a surprise though, as this was a drinking pub for many people. After work or away from stress, a place to let loose and have funâ??perhaps a small fightâ??was away to get away. Instead of focusing on those people though, she watched the gamblers. People sometimes spent their fortunes on such petty games. It was like an addiction that rooted beyond the game; something she didnâ??t care to ponder on too long.

When a person moved to sit next to her, she swerved her gaze towards the said voice. An ogre, perhaps not by looks, but spirit. Crystalline blue eyes flickered towards the shadows as if to tell them to stay where they were, before holding out her drink as if offering a toast. â??Be my guest. Seems like youâ??ve had quite the drink for such a fine afternoon, maâ??am.â? the blonde offered as a conversation starter. It wasnâ??t polite to not offer it at least, so she held out her laced glove hand and brightened her smile. â??My name is Lin, by the way.â?

â??Iâ??ll be glad ta show tâ??e liâ??l misses â??round townâ?¦ and afâ??erwarâ??s, we can â??etire to meh bed.â? a crude remark came from her left. Lin had been facing her right and the Orge, before turning her head to face a rather drunken man. His breath reeked of cheap whiskey and his eyes were dulled by being too sloshed. It was obvious that he was looking for either a fight or a fuck, and with the way that his eyes roamed up and down her form, it was obviously a fuck.

For a moment, she contemplated about going into the back or somewhere private with him andâ?¦ teach him a lesson. But that thought was shoved aside as she turned her attentions back to the redheaded woman. Best not to be rude to someone that had not offended her in any way.
 
When Brand somehow managed to grope him, Valen straightened quite visibly, eyes opening more in shock before he cast a look at Brand. The kid was the tallest member of their little group, which seemed to work against him with the current terrain. Valen smiled briefly at brand, shaking his head "Sometimes, Z, I wonder how you patrol in the north, with all that Ice." Valen grew up in the north, he knew how hard it could be to move around when one couldn't run over the snow like he and the others did. The male chuckled lightly, looking over to Arioch and then to Z, the younger male's antics managed to make him smile, he was always able to do that.

"We will, General, or we will die trying. This I can assure you" Valen's face and voice again became grave, he was not kidding, he would defeat the king, kill him with his own two hands if he must. Valen ignored the comments about wallowing with the pigs, he had no need, want, or intention to roll around in the mud, though a nice hot bath sounded wonderful at the moment. "I wouldn't object to bathing together, no mud though." Valen didn't get why people would roll around in the mud often, he had never even heard of it until he got to Elzier from the temple he grew up inside in the Long Empire territory.

Valen followed Ari and the others to the tavern that she brought them to. He bid his farewell to the Elf before going to what would be his room. Valen changed his clothes and put away his things, Valen then went to the bath, wearing only a towel around his body. "I am glad we got this chance to relax" the male smiled to himself, he went to the same bath Altima did, not exactly caring that she was not wearing any clothing, and that he wasn't. Valen wasn't big on modesty, he had never learned to be ashamed of his body, and his life with the other knights, and later the elves wouldn't make him ashamed of his physical form. Then again, he was also more sexually liberal than most of.

The male walked into the bath, waving to Altima and smiling a little. Valen entered the water himself, taking his towel off before he did, sighing with relief as he felt the warm water touch his skin. Valen loved baths such as this, they were one of those things vital to survival where he grew up. Valen sat down in the water and relaxed, "It seems like forever since I have taken a warm bath, it is good the elves enjoy them so much. Valen took a moment to care for the still tender wound he had received the night the queen died. The wound would leave a scar, almost one to match the wicked one across his chest that was given to him the night his adoptive parents died, though that had faded recently. Valen undid his own hair. "I wonder if Brand will be joining us" Valen smiled, for a moment Anticipating what brand would likely do if he did.
 
Once they reached an inn of sorts, he found himself exploring the inner areas with his eyes. It wasnâ??t as damaged as one would expect during the time of war, but then again, the Elves had a sense of grace about them, even in such times. The people were half expecting something to happen it appeared like, but no one seemed to be overly worried about it. Brand had to wonder if it was a flaw of the Elves, knowing that the Eclipse was upon them, but remaining somewhat ignorant of the dangers that was just at the doorsteps of every family and individual.

Shaking that off of his mind though, he followed his companions towards the rooms and bathing areas. The blonde gave a short wave to Arioch, hoping that the Elvin woman wasnâ??t angered by their interactions. It seemed like she was nearly always angered or peeved at something, when she wasnâ??t falling into the Elvin habits of noting the life of nature around them. Brand would have chalked it up to the monthly visit of mother nature, but he was wiser than that to speak of it around the women. So instead of speaking to her, he just smiled in her direction and hoped that Arioch was going to remain safe from harm, before indicting with a wave of his hand that they would join up with her again for a late dinner after their wash.

While the other two knights seemed to just dip themselves into the bathing area without worries, Brand stood in the changing area and hidden from sight. He was a bit more conscious about his body than Valen or Altima were, mainly because he wasnâ??t used to seeing it himself. Such a strange notion, but with the rapid growth he had, he felt as if he was a strange to himself as well. Puberty did such strange things to the body!

â??I willâ?¦â? he called out, hearing Valen speak about him. First thing was first though. Clothes. It was harder to get off than he anticipated, arms pausing half way and tugging as if he expected for his body to be shorter. After a struggle and a few items being bumped into a dropped onto the stone ground with loud noises, he emerged into the bathing area with a towel around his waist. â??Where do we plan to go after our short rest?â? the blonde asked, arms crossed over his chest as he went right into the water with the towel.

â??Right inâ?? being a gentle term. Rather than stepping into the water, he more like tripped into it. Those pesky rocks and bumps in the ground were entirely something he hadnâ??t gotten used to, as the Northern Guardian was used to sliding along the icy grounds. Most were smooth in the Long Palace; at least, before Ranis went into her tempers and stomped in her Dragon form on the ground. In an attempt to save himself, he merely flung himself in a random direction and rammed his entire form against the wooden â??fenceâ?? inside the bathing area. Nonchalantly, he hooked his arms around the edge to appear relaxed, as if the movement had been purposeful.

Warmth flooded his body and soothed his muscles, but the blonde made sure not to completely relax. It just wouldnâ??t do if he allowed a spark or so of energy to release from his bodyâ?¦ and in result, probably electrocute his companions. His blue eyes were trained above their heads though, finding it somewhat awkwardâ??despite their close relations with one anotherâ??to look them in the eyes. Not when their bits and pieces were on display just under the waterâ??s surfaceâ??something he wasnâ??t used to seeing overall. He blamed the self imposing awkwardness on the fact that he started puberty later than most males of their age; that, and heâ??d blame his parents for such genes.
 
    • Arioch ignored Altima's comment, thinking it best not to entertain the blond knight anymore than she already had. Instead, "Miss Haughty" retreated to the comfort and solitude of her room. These people she was traveling with, they were heroes. Knights. Champions. People who were selected as the Queen of Light as the people who would guard and protect the land from whatever harm would befall it. But the elf was left wondering. . .were these really those people? Valen was the only person she thought fit the role as a knight and protector. He had the presence of someone with authority, and seemed to be the kind of person who could lead an army with ease. That was really saying something, the Elf knew from experience. It had hard to earn the trust of a group of knights and get them to listen to orders. Especially if your ideas were less than conventional. Altima? She struck the High Elf as being a bit. . .off in some way. A bit unstable in a sense. As for Brand? There was no way she would have pegged him as being a knight. Not in a thousand years. There was no doubt that he was strong, but he played the part of the fool well. That is, if he weren't really one. Half Elves were a strange lot though, and often proved to be rather entertaining at times if for no other reason than just being so different from full blooded Elves.

      While the three knights settled in the baths below, Arioch took this time to relax herself. She removed her cape and placed it on the bed, then her weapons, which she placed beside her cape. The elf planned on taking this time to meditate and connect with the great Goddess of Nature, the deity of the Elven people. The earth, their home, was ruled and cared for by this particular deity, and the Elven people were her children. And her children were granted the gift of being able to speak with their Great Mother so long as they believed in her and tried with the entirety of their hearts to do so. Arioch sought guidance, confirmation that she was doing the right thing by leaving her people and traveling with the fugitive champions of light. She left the king, left her post, left her unit, her friends and those she had known for all of her life behind.

      She was no longer a general, but just a person. Just someone who desired to do what she felt was right for the world. Was it the right thing to do? She pleaded with the Great Mother for an answer, but their came none. At the most, all she would say was she would learn the answer to all of her questions in time. It was obvious that was was happening was something so great that not even the Goddess could speak to her child about it. Arioch could not hide her disappointment, but at least she had something to hold onto as she continued to press forward. There would be answers. The comfort of knowing that was, perhaps, better than knowing the answers themselves.

      Arioch disconnected with the great spirit for now, careful not to let herself linger in the spiritual realm for too long. The only people who could remained connected to it for extended periods of time were the Shamans, the Priests and Priestesses, and the Necromancers. For normal folk such as herself, staying there would lead to them getting lost in that realm, leaving their bodies empty shells. Such a fate was not at all appealing to the former general. For now, it was, perhaps, for the best that she did go down into the baths. She, however, was hesitant to just join three people she hardly knew in such an. . .intimate setting? They were heroes, and obviously trustworthy enough to have gained the blessing of the queen of light, but Arioch didn't trust any of them yet. Not personally. If anyone, she probably had the most faith in Valen after working with him before. But by the same token, they all did help her out when she was in the middle of an ambush before, and even asked her to come with them after she was less that civil with them. They couldn't be bad people. Right?[/list:u][/list:u]
 
    • Instinct told the young Ogre to hop up onto her feet, jump over the young woman in front of her, and land square on the man's face to knock the rest of his teeth out, however, Itsuki knew that doing so would only land her in trouble. She didn't want any trouble right now. All she desired was a drink, and perhaps, a simple little conversation. The remarks of the man left a bad taste in her mouth though, especially since he was being so rude and interrupting the conversation that she had just started with the young woman who had introduced herself as Lin. Itsuki kept her eyes on Lin for now, touching the glass bottle together with the glass from which she drank, and even taking the young woman's hand. "Nuthin' that'll stop me from movin' along as normal. You can jus' call me Itsuki," she replied in a rather cheerful manner.

      Lin had to have been from higher birth. The more that Itsuki looked at her, and the way she dressed, it became more and more apparent. The way that she carried herself was another clue. She spoke clearly and properly, was well put together, and very polite. There was that, and the fact that the man sitting on the other side of her was still sitting on the other side of her. Someone of "lower" birth would have just hit the man in the face and gone about their business. That was one thing that Itsuki saw that her people and other people had in common. But if Lin were a noble lady, why was she here alone like this? This was a rather low class tavern, and she was here without anyone looking over her shoulder, no guards. . .nothing that Itsuki could see. There was a strange air about the young woman though, which was something that the Ogre just couldn't deny.

      But the man on the other side of the young lady seemed to demand attention. He needed to go before he caused either of them anymore grief. "'Scuse me sir, but don'cha think it's a lit'le rude to just butt into a conversation like that? 'Specially when she's got no interest in whatever it is yer callin yerself sellin'," Itsuki said. She wasn't necessarily trying to pick a fight, rather, she was trying to get the man to leave the two of them in peace. She was drinking, she was having herself some fun, she just chased off a group of people trying to do the very same thing to her! What was it with these menfolk who were always trying to get someone into bed with them? Well. . .this man had obviously had more than enough to drink already. It wasn't even night time yet. Itsuki would try to solve this in a calm and reasonable manner, but if she were attacked, she would not hesitate to defend herself.[/list:u][/list:u]
 
Altima had slid down farther into the water, not out of a desire to hide, but just out of sheer relaxation. "mmmmm" she bubbled pleasantly as sh continued to soak up the warmth of the hot spring and stayed there for a few moments. When Valen showed up, she was still soaking it up and looked out from the water at him like a crocodile and straightened up but enough to still cover her bust. "Well I'm pretty sure he'll be along, we all look like pigs in a wallow after all that run-walking." She sighed, raking a hand through her how damp but clearly cleaner hair. Her skintone was cleaner looking too with the healthy golden glow of a safe tan.

It might've been salacious of her to do but when Brand showed up she couldn't help trying to embarass him by making it seem like it was nothing. She straightened up more to stretch out and lean back against teh ledge, and thrust her arms over her head as she did. Which in essence brought Altima's huge breasts up out of the water and bounce a bit. "mmmmmm" she said until she popped her arms and shoulders. "Feels good doesn't it?" she asked, shifting around to cross a long leg over the other and braced her arms on the ledge behind her. It was all just a show to see how embarassed she could make the other two for a little fun.

"We've come such a long way. What's next." she sighed some. "I know we're here for something but man I'm still tired. Are we going to go out after it at first light tomorrow?"
 
Valen reached into a small bag he had brought with him, withdrawing his pipe from within the bag, with his tobacco inside it. He turned to his companions and smiled a little bit, nervously, taking a small flint from within then discarding the bag. Valen never went anywhere without his pipe. The male lit the end of the pipe then took a breath from it, inhaling the fresh smoke and relaxing a bit as the rush from within hit him. The man smiled a little "Well, I guess we should get to looking for our first objective."

Valen looked down, considering their options. "If we are to stand any chance against the King, we need to unite Marosia against him, whatever remnant is hiding in Elzier is still on our side. I will meet with the elven leaders and offer our appeal, if they would fight alongside us, just as they did against the king of the dead so many centuries ago, we would have a considerable ally" Valen looked down at the water, he couldn't see through it that deeply thankfully, neither could anyone else. "If we could gather Marosia against the king, we could defeat him, first I suppose we should talk to the elves, then perhaps the dragons and the other races."

The dragons would be unwilling to aid them of course, so would the monks that raised Valen despite their familiarity, Long seemed like an unlikely place to stop for allies. The inhabitants of the cold north would have to see the truth, that the king would be able to reach them after he conquered the rest of the world. Valen looked back up, distracted by the feeling of his chest beginning to burn. Valen paused, covering his mouth as a small fit overtook him, starting with a simple ragged cough that grew worse over the couple seconds it lasted. Valen quickly turned around, turning away from his fellows. The coughing fit only lasted for a couple violent ones, and as Valen took his hand from his lips he noticed specks of blood on his hands, it was black. Valen casually slid his hand in the water to get rid of the traces of blood.

Valen glanced nervously at Brand, then Altima and took a deep breath from his pipe, blowing smoke out from his lips in a long stream. "I am fine" The male spoke before either ally could. He wasn't really fine. "Anyway, for now, we shall unwind in the city, we can spend the night here, but after we should get heading out, Altima, perhaps we should to to your homeland and attempt to ask for your family's aid?"

Valen himself slid a little further into the water, taking a puff from his pipe. The smoke felt good in his chest, and when he released it, he couldn't help but feel empty. The smoke made the pain fall away from him at least, though he knew both Brand and Altima did not care for his habit.
 
Upon hearing the other blonde male cough after husking in some of that poisonous gas, the youngest jerked his attention towards Valen. Before he was able to speak though, the eldest warded him off. It did nothing to ease his worry, but he didnâ??t dare speak against a statement. Pressing his lips together, Brand nodded stiffly, before worrying over the next cough. He wanted to do nothing more than rip that pip from Valenâ??s hand and show the other male how much venom the concoction had, despite itâ??s â??naturalâ?? like nature.

Glancing over at Altima, he noted that she was stretched out and relaxing away. It really should have been strange for them to be in the bath together, nearly a few feet away from one anotherâ??s private zone. But they were used to one anotherâ??s presence, almost comforted by the moments that they would walk side by side and have their shoulders brush. At least, that was how it was for Brand. He couldnâ??t say for certain they didnâ??t enjoy those close moments as well, but he hoped they didâ??else he feared he was a strange one.

â??Weâ??ll be able to handle this on our own, wonâ??t we? I mean, at least Cam, since her hometown is rather far compared to where we are.â? he noted, trying to remember the distance between Alusair and Cam. The distance would have to be covered twice, taking up too much time to get help from. He believed they could handle Cam without the help of many thoughâ??mainly because of two factors. The first being the fact that he didnâ??t want to disturb the Elves with groups of uninvited guests, and the second being that they had not yet seen anything dangerous deep within Cam.

The people were still roaming around as if nothing has happened, and the Eclipse wasnâ??t a present danger. That also meant that the shard had not yet disrupted its surrounding. There was no need for alarm just yet, and if they could find the shardâ??s location in peace, they could extract itâ??s essence without any suspicion from those around them. He remembered curling up with Kali years ago, her stories told in her calming voice about the Amulet that resided within her.

It had been just after the Incidentâ??one that he would not speak of to anyoneâ??and she decided to tell him that there are more frightening things; a psychological play to show that what he went through wasnâ??t that bad. The Amulet, she had said, held not only light, but a source of power that could alter the ever shifting environment around it. If left in the wrong hands, it could mimic the holderâ??s will, whether or not it was consciously asked for. Large landscapes could be changed, turning deserts into tropical forests, to reanimating a loved one, and even the simplest task of keeping a cutting knife sharp and unbreakable. There was an unlimited possibility of what the Amulet could do with just its presence.

With that in mind, he was nearly sure that with just a shard of the Amulet, it could and would be noticeable. Even now, they could slightly feel its pull. Kali had blessed her four knights to feel the radiance of her magic, thus tying them to the presence of the shards. Though the pull was weakened by the fragment of the Amulet, they were also guided by the anomalies through rumors and facts. The Elves had mentioned some strange eerie things occurring deep within their temples, of people going in to offer their prayers, and coming out with such an accursed luck, that they dared not to go back in. Strange indeed, as the Temple of Eleem had been said to be gifted with a touch of luckâ??quite the opposite.

Beyond that though, he could tell that the people of Alusair would be needed for if they went to the Long Empire. No, not if. He had to go. Had to see if Ranis was holding up well. The woman was of one of the strongest wills he knew of, but any ruler would suffer if their people were suffering. The winters were heating up, the ice was melting. Long Empire was on the brink of losing its cool grounds. Many Dragons required the cooling temperatures, enjoying the breeze for their healthâ??what with such thick scales. Their wings required the exercise it took to fly in harsh conditionsâ??if the environment changed drastically, the future generations would suffer a massive de-evolution.

Taking a deep breath, he suddenly found himself fearful of the second home he ever knew, one that he protected with his life. But no, he mustnâ??t let his mind and heart stray; Ranis, though the drunken woman sheâ??d become, was not stupid. She would not let her own people become any less than the powerful beings they were without a fight. Pressing his lips together, he began to swim towards the other two, noting that they were closer together than he was. Well, he rather walked to them, as the water was not that deep. Perhaps if he was smaller he would have to swim.

â??Valenâ?¦â? his fingers itched to pull the pipe away yet again, but he only stopped midway of pulling his hand out of the water and ended up clenching it to his side. â??Iâ??m scared.â? the young blonde suddenly announced. He hoped it worked, as it had worked a few times in the past, when he had been but a small boy thatâ??s entered the knights much too early in everyoneâ??s opinion. Brand never said he minded the elderâ??s habits, but he had voice that he didnâ??t like to be held with such a scent floating around him. And he only wanted to be held by his companions when he was scaredâ??something the youngest was never ashamed to admit when times got hard.

Glancing over at Altima, he tried to get her to cooperate with him through a silent plea. He hoped that Valen would not question it, and would leave the wretched pipe to join the fire and lightening knights.
 
The male seemed to stare at the other woman with a long and disinterested stare. He didnâ??t seem to understand a word she was saying, as her words werenâ??t enunciated clearly as the first womanâ??s was. Even still, he didnâ??t appear hostile, just drunken curious. However, it seemed clear that the women were interested in talking to one another, and while he believed he had a chance of getting to know one of them, two would be a bit hard for his addled mind.

Lin just smiled politely at that and bowed her head to him as he seemed to get the idea and backed off. The man held up his hands as if in surrender and wandered off back into the throng of people, the heavy alcoholic stench the only thing that lingered. Soft eyes turned her gaze back to Itsuki and a gentle gleam of appreciation glittered there. She hated when men pigged themselves over her, thinking that just because she was a small lady in a ran-down placeâ??places she usually found entertaining or convenient as a bypass stay.

As if she would come so unarmed and prepared, but they ignored the fact and still thought sheâ??d be interested in such disgusting men. â??Do you know this area?â? she asked, noting that Itsuki had addressed the man as if she knew he was trying to get Lin to â??buyâ?? something. â??I was planning to stay in Alusiar a few days, but Iâ??m rather lost in the townâ??s layout. Perhaps, if itâ??s not too much to ask, you guide me through a few streets that are safe?â?

Of course, she didnâ??t specifically need safe streets, but it wouldnâ??t due for the soft blonde to be seen in such dangerous areas. Almost as if her request was heardâ??then again, it was probably impossible to hide from himâ??a man seemed to come out of nowhere and sat on the other side of her. He had generic features, simple and unseeing, despite solid eyes staring forward towards the bartenderâ??s direction. Shadow was often times protective, despite staying hidden most of the time. If Lin was to travel around the raining town, then he would provide umbrellaâ??s for the two females. Though heâ??d have to be less suspicious about it.

Lin only turned to give Shadow a small smile, as if she wasnâ??t surprised by another manâ??s presence right in the place the other male had been in. â??This is Shawn,â? she had almost said â??Shadowâ??, but the words didnâ??t even have a missing beat between them. â??Heâ??s my guardian, but the guyâ??s a mute and nearly blind. Sometimes, I really wonder if he could protect me as hired.â? she half teased, a gentle laughter escaping her lips. Shadow, or rather, Shawn, didnâ??t seem to react to the words, but instead, turned his rather glazed and unseeing eyes, almost as if he was a blind man, towards Itsuki and waited for the Ogreâ??s reply to the Ladyâ??s request.
 
Stop your stressing master....I'm sure the information you've received is more than accurate...

I know...I know....but I can't help it. What if I've missed them...What if I've gotten here too late or something and...you know~

Tsu'Ro yawned softly into his right hand as he held his towel around his waist with his left. He was exhausted...psychically and emotionally. He had been worrying himself to death ever since he had arrived at the cam. The tall demon shook his head making his long dark hair fall down onto his face. Silken locks draped over his shoulders and down to his lower back hiding parts of the tattoo upon his back.

Come on master...

Firu'en insisted as it strolled out of the inn room. With the large tiger's sudden appearance it scared a group of elven girls headed to their rooms.

"Firu! Come back you can't just wander off like that...."

Tsu'Ro shouted after the white tiger as he darted out of the room after the other.

Oh come now master have some fun.... Loosen up a bit.

Tsu quickly tied the towel properly as he jetted down the inn stairs after the other. His heart was beating so fast it felt as if it would pop. It seemed everyone was staring at him now, their eyes roaming his nearly naked body, catching glimpses of the tattoos that decorated his pale skin.

Please Firu...you are attracting far more attention than I need right now...

The tiger hadn't said a word, making the demon chase him all the way to the baths. He was apologizing the whole way there, as his tiger thought it was extremely amusing to scare the fuck out of unsuspecting people as he turned various corners dragging poor Tsu'Ro along. Upon entering the changing room, Tsu'Ro could help but fall to the ground in exhaustion.

What's the matter with you ne? Trying to cause me a friggan heart attack? the demon questioned the beast as he raised his hand to clutch at his chest. God his heart was beating so fast...so fast it seemed it were skipping beats. Sorry master but you have been so uptight ever since we passed those gates. As a matter of fact you've been way stressed ever since we embarked on this journey. When we got here, you just got worse. I'm just a bit worried as all... Tsu sighed softly walking over to Firu'en and stroking his head softly. As he did the faint voices, and sounds of moving water caught his attention. Come...w-we'll go back to the room. After I change I'll get you something really good to eat... Firu growled softly shaking its head. I know what you are up to....you are getting in that bath...I didn't drag you all the way here for nothing...now let's go master... Before Tsu'ro could grab the green color around Firu's neck it was already gone darting off into the bathing area. Without thinking he too darted off into that area jogging after his pesky companion.

"Are you trying to get me kicked out?"

Tsu asked the tiger as he crossed a small walkway over to the other. His dark hair conveniently fell down over his face as his heart seemed to freeze in place. Vibrant gold hair and caramel colored eyes seemed to stop all flow of time. It was him. The one he had been searching for. How unexpected. Hazel eyes peered through dark strands other familiar faces coming back to him. Valen...Altima...Brand.... Tsu thought. Suddenly the tiger sneezed, from Valen's pipe snapping Tsu'Ro out of his thoughts.

"Come on let's go..." Tsu insisted as he grabbed onto Firu's collar. The tiger resisted a bit pulling back. If these are the people you have been searching for...then why are you trying to leave? Honestly, now that he was within their presence, he suddenly felt he wasn't ready to meet them so soon again. It has been quite a while...perhaps he should just forget them.
 
Altima pouted a bit that her display hadn't caused any amusing reactions and concentrated on what was going on instead and sighed. They wanted to return to her homeland, she didn't want to go back; then her sisters would be all gushy and sentimental and it'd just be embarrassing. "I really don't want to go back. It'd just be embarrassing for me." She said with sigh, but they in the end would probably have to go regardless of how she felt about it.

But it still made her squirm some but more out of a need to wash herself off and slid down and away from them until she got to the deeper end of the pool and dunked herself underwater and began to wash out her hair. "But we have to go in the end after we get the shard that's here somewhere." She said. "I can't guarantee that they'll be apt to help; sometimes they're more concerned with private security." Altima reported after a few moments of thought.

But seeing that Brand was acting scared again she just sighed, having the same pang of sympathy considering that he was the youngest among them. Quietly, she went over and gently hugged him from the side, her breasts squishing against his shoulder for a moment as she did. "Hey don't be scared. As long as we're all together there's nothing in the world that can beat us, Not even those dark bastards." she said, trying to cheer him up in a serious fashion and cuddled against him for a moment to help it along.
 
When Altima stated she did not wish to return to her homeland, though Valen's statement was less of a suggestion than an order, they simply had to go and request aid, or at least warn them to fortify their borders and strengthen their walls. "Altima, we have no choice in that matter, we need to at least warn your people of an impending assault, Kali's brother is spreading his rule quickly, he will likely focus on those resisting him first, but eventually, if we do not stop him and his forces nothing in our world will be free from his rule. In a sense, Valen was glad Vayne wasn't as bad of a tyrant as he could be. For some time Valen had actually respected Vayne, his methods weren't something he or Kali approved of, but he took the lawless nation of Lassadar and destroyed all forms of crime there. Valen had heard stories of how horrible Lassadar was before Vayne arrive, though that was before his time... murder, rape, looting, poverty, death, all on a daily basis, Vayne took all of those things away, which at the time seemed truly noble. Valen hadn't seen Vayne's true goals however until Gandrian murdered the beloved Kali.

Valen took another puff from his pipe, stifling another cough, before looking to Brand, listening to his words intently. He knew about brand's distaste for his habits, though he had no idea how deeply he resented it. The pipe and the tobacco inside eased Valen's pain, it helped him relax, calmed his nerves, and helped him think, or at least those were the excuses he used to justify his habit. Valen also knew Altima didn't care for it, or he would have asked her to light it for him.

"We can handle Cam on our own, though I would hope we would be able to get the general to travel with us, she is a woman of great skill indeed, I have fought by her side before. If we find what we seek here I will speak with the elven council, attempt to get them to ride with us against the king" Okay, the elves didn't often 'ride' but Valen had the word worked deeply into his brain. Valen's eyes turned to Brand as the younger male walked towards him in the water.

Valen's eyes softened when Brand muttered that he was scared. The admittance kind of put him into older brother mode again. Fear was natural, and though Altima was quick to assure him that he had nothing to be afraid of, she was rather incorrect in that, there was much to be afraid of, though fear was not a weakness, something to shun, it was something to overcome.

Valen chuckled briefly "It is okay to be scared, brand." Valen started, his voice again returning to it's soothing state "We are all scared, even I am scared, but we have to face our fears if we are to be victorious. Being afraid is natural." Valen seemed to forget about his pipe for a moment as he moved a little closer to Brand and Altima, who was now squished up against him. The squishing made Valen chuckle, though he made combat by gently resting a hand on Brand 's shoulder.
 
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