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Our tale begins in a little mining town of Caerddid…Once a boom town for the rich deposits of iron beneath its foundations, time and industry had drained its claim. However, the town managed to stay an adequate size by taking advantage of the trade route that ran right past its gates. Now a hub for traders and travelers with its mines a mere historical footnote, Caerddid was the largest town in the region of Aloun, and was second only to the Crystal City in the east.

Older than any local could remember, the Crystal City of Kesja was a civilization built in and around a steep hill, through which sprouted massive growths of quartz in colors of every imagination. Some thought the crystals a marvel of time, weather, and nature. Others speculated they were the results of some bygone sorcerrer's experimentations, and a few believed that the crystals were a wizard's declaration of love for a sweetheart. Whatever the truth, the city was a marvel to behold, and the trade route that wound across the land cut straight past its gates due to the undeniable draw of people to the beautiful structures.

Thus, the small village among the crystals grew into a town, and then a city, and then further still into a kingdom. Buildings sprawled down from the hill and into the plains below, jumping the dusty trading road and encompassing it in a matter of years. The road itself had to be widened just to accommodate the flow of travelers, traders, and the tourists who would come from miles around just to see the city at sunset. For when the last rays of the setting sun struck the crystal towers of the city, a glow would fill the streets.

Light in every color would dance between every crystalline surface, from the King's Tower at the very top to the smaller crystals on the plains below. The light show could be seen for miles in just about every direction, and some travelers even used the nightly beacon to help guide their way. It was a natural wonder, and one the citizens were immensely proud of.

But now, the crystals glowed for a different reason. Dark clouds of smoke and ash constantly hung in the skies above the towers, and rained down onto the plains below. Flames licked at every surface, blackening stone, consuming wood and fabric, and filling the crystals with a haunting, flickering, reddish-orange light. The Crystal City was curse; doomed to forever reign in fire and the monsters who thrived in it, and all because of one man's ego.

In the days before the city's demise, he hadn't seemed much of a threat. He'd just been crazy hooded man who thought his magic powerful enough to demand something from King Alton. He had been exiled from the city within hours….and by nightfall, the flames had begun to rise. All who could escape ran for their lives, and most of the refugees gathered in the nearest town (Issactown). Some refugees continued on to Caerddid, where the ash didn't fall so thickly, and the few who could afford to go further continued on.

The Greenlight Tavern in Caerddid had been filled to the brim with patrons - refugees with nowhere to go, adventurers seeking to test the flames, and traders who could go no further (for the road cut through the city itself) - for several days now, but this night, the surge of business had lulled. The night was still young yet, but an air of melancholy had settled over the town, and it seemed that very few were of the mind to drink, even if just to settle the nerves.

One long table across the far right wall held only two patrons, sitting beside a tabletop lantern and a tattered piece of paper, covered from top to bottom with ink scribbles and tears, from where the writer had furiously crossed something out. The man, dressed in forrest colors and armor befitting a Ranger, leaned back in his chair and balanced it on two legs as he nursed a mug of ale. The woman, hunched forward over the table and paper in armor that made the legs creak from the weight, leaned her head on her hand as she stared into her own mug.

"Perhaps we should try the next town out…" The man - Velan - suggested. "Issactown held no brave souls, and it seems like Caerddid is no different." He huffed somewhat, and then gave his companion a look with fake rebuke. "You did post our notice on the board in the town centre, didn't you Thalia?" The woman let her hand fall to the table with a 'thunk' and turned a glare upon the man.

"Tonight isn't a good night for your humor, Velan." She warned. "We will wait until morning as we did in Issactown. Anyone trying to use the trade route has to pass through here, anyway." She reminded her friend. "These places are our best chance of finding some good, motivated help, and we can't give up and move on just because we haven't had success within the first few hours." In spite of her words, however, the woman did sit up and roll her shoulders, stretching as best her armor would allow.

"…we'll wait until dawn," Thalia decided quietly, unwilling to outright admit that her hopes were no higher than Velan's. "If still no-one has approached, then we will move on." Satisfied by this, Velan nodded and finished off his ale. Raising his hand to summon a barmaid for more, the Ranger let his chair fall back onto all four legs. Thalia waved off the barmaid when asked if she, too, wanted a refill, and kept her eyes on the tavern door. There had to be some brave souls here who would help...";

Hotaru enters the Traven, a long black cloak pulled up to shadow her face in darkness, and long enough to hide even her feet. Glancing around, she settles back into a dark corner. Not knowing what would happen next. But her instincts told her to be on alert...

The rogue ran a hand through his deep blue hair as he read the notice board, a hand at his hip as his eyes squinted to read in the darkness,"Well this is impossible."he said with a sigh before he snapped his fingers and a small, blueish light erupted from his finger tips, faeirie fire. He brought the light close to the notice and board, no longer having to squint from the soft luminescent light.

"In need of help..."he murmured as he read a particular notice that had caught his eye. The corner of his lips twitched in a smile as he continued to read,"Let's go take a look shall we? Perhaps they'll give me something to do."he stretched his arms above his head with a groan before he set out walking.

The Greenlight tavern...Greenlight... "Ah! Here it is."he chuckled as he gazed up at the sign that hung, indicating this was the right inn. The Rogue pulled down his hood and his soft gray eyes looked to the sides before he pulled the door open. He was surprised to see just how full the inn was today but he didn't let it distract him as he looked around for the ones in search of help.

As Thalia stopped speaking, a war axe crafted out of dragon bone sliced into the table, going straight through as if the oak table was made of butter.
A large Khajiit man was staring down at them, his body covered in heavy, spiked dragon bone armor an he had a helmet crafted of the same under his arm. One gloved hand was on the hilt of the war axe and he pulled it out and attached it to a clip on his waist. On his back was a wide assortment of weapons, all crafted out of dragon bone except the shield and arrows. The arms on his back were a large dragon bone bow, and a massive halberd. The arrows were made out of ebony and the shield was a large brass thing that was In the shape of an upside down egg but curved outwards and there was a tab hanging out of the bottom with circles cut of bronze of increasing size on the tab.
"Hello, comrades. I heard you were searching for help," he grinned at the pair.

Velan glanced down at the remains of the table, his mug still halfway to his mouth. "…I can't deny, that was quite the entrance." The Ranger mused aloud. Thalia gave him a quick look asking for silence before she stood up to face the Khajiit. He towered over her by a good foot, but the woman still managed to exude some air of authority as she looked up at the newcomer.

"That we are," She confirmed. "You found our notice in the town centre, then?" The question was fairly rhetorical, as the notice was their only actual plea for help…unless word of their mission had already traveled from Issactown, but news just didn't travel that fast. "You realize that what we are asking is not going to be easy to accomplish…" They didn't have time for faint hearts chasing after adventures that were out of their league. Though to be honest, it didn't look like there was much that was beyond this man's league, at least in appearance.

He put his hand to his mouth in mock fear, "Oh... There's danger? Never mind then," he said sarcastically, "Comrades, one does not simply buy dragon bone armor or dragon bones. That's something you've got to get and make yourself," he smirked, "The weapons too. I assure you, I may be a cat, but I am scared of almost nothing, for every man has fears. None of mine are going to be on this adventure though."

Hotaru smiles, and rises from her corner. "You seem very sure of yourself," she said to Dmitri. A feral smile plays on her lips. This must be what she was waiting for. Making sure her face was shrouded in the shadow of her hood, she steps forward and joins them.

Thalia turned to face this shrouded newcomer, unable to hide the wariness in her eyes. "And who might you be?" The Paladin asked, trying to keep her automatic suspicious out of her tone. Just because she fought against evil didn't mean she had a right to see it in everything. Velan leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other and took a sip from his ale, content to watch for the time being.

Hotaru smirks, sensing the emotions of the group. "My name, will not be revealed in this Traven, nor will my abilities. However I understand you need help? Lets call it a hunch." Hotaru smirks, and chuckles to herself.

The rogue attention was caught as he heard a large smashing noise in the corner of the inn. He usually found investigating large noises tend to be helpful. The rogue easily slipped through the crowd, a hand to the clasp on his cloak as he slipped it off. The rogue wore a clean white button up shirt underneath a jacket that didn't seem to find in with this era. He also wore a pair of tight fitting black pants with black boot that laced up to his knee.

Leith let out a chuckle as he watched the scene before him,"My a cat-women and a man in full dragon bone armor?"a big grin came to his lips,"I think I might just enjoy traveling with the four of you. Assuming, of course you posted the need for help."the handsome rogue bowed to the women in armor,"Leith, at your service."he said with a soft smile.

The khajiit smirked as the two others approached, "You might be of help " he said to the neko, "But you?" he poked Leith with a big finger and layed his ears back, "You make my fur stand on end. There are not many people I don't like without getting to know first..." he examined the man's unusual apparel, "But I do not trust you, comrade."

Hotaru steps forward, and examines te new comer. " I think he could be of some sort of use...". She stares him in the eyes. "Prove that you can be."

Hotaru turns to Thaila. "When will we be leaving? Its getting hot in this cloak... It differs from my usual attire. "

Leith chuckled and threw his cloak over his shoulder,"It's unusual for anyone to trust a rogue, of course but I came here with the intent to help."he turned to the neko with a steady gaze,"I've proven myself enough considering the fact I cam here in the first place. Does this journey not require those with experience and bravery?"he grinned.

"You could just be foolish and stupid, rather than actually brave or experienced." Dmitri commented.

Hotaru steps forward, and moves close to him, so that he can see the flashing of her eyes. Leaning forward, she whispers into his ear in a scary and seductive manner. " Showing up was just the beginning. You have proven nothing as of yet. I believe you can be useful, even if only as bait. But get in my way...", Hotaru chuckles," and there will be hell to pay." Hotaru smiles silkily, and turns away from him.

Thalia hadn't taken well to the thought of her important quest being in the hands of someone who refused to identify themselves, and she turned to look at Leith still wearing an unimpressed scowl. Seeing as the conversation between Leith and Dmitri as quickly becoming heated, Velan took this as his cue to step in, and stood up, returning Leith's bow with a slightly shallower one of his own.

"A pleasure to meet you, sir Leith. I'm Velan Rederik, of the Black Forest." The Ranger introduced himself quickly. He then straightened up and gave Thalia a tiny nudge. The woman got the message and wiped the scowl from her face before returning the elf's bow with a slight nod of her head.

"And I am Captain Thalia Sheval, of the Crystal City." She straightened up and squared her shoulders, moving forward as if to leave the introduction behind. "And if all parties are willing to cooperate," Here she paused to give Dmitri and Leith a stern look. "We will be leaving for the Black Forest in the morning. We will need to pass through there to reach the towns on the other side."

"A pleasure to meet you both."he said in a polite tone before the amusement in his eyes was quickly extinguished as they began to settle into more serious business,"I'm glad to cooperate."he murmured with a small smile, his eyes glancing to the two felines. He knew those two won't be likely to cooperate with him so he decided to be careful. Rogues aren't the most trusting since they are rarely trusted themselves.

Dmitri looked back at Thalia and his usual, jovial personality coming back into play, "Whatever you need of me, it can be done," he gave a bow to the ranger and the captain, "I'm not the most intelligent man alive, but there are a lot of things I do know."

(Is it alright for me to join in or it doesn't really matter?)

As the sound of of boots, banged to roof to roof. A black shadow, jumped from her last leap, and landed on the hard concrete floor. There was no one around, and everything around the human like figure felt empty. Until the the shaodow like figire took off the hood, of the cloak. It was a women, with velvet eyes, and crimson red hair which made her look a little unusual. She scanned the area, as another shadow like human figure appeared behind her. Until this time it was a women with white hair, and emerald eyes. "Is this the place mistress Momoko?" Asked the white haired women, Momoko shook her head and began to walk.