On a relatively cool morning in the peaceful nation of Canis Majoris, the nation was bustling like normal. People were mining in the various mines in the northern region, some people were training to join the military, some people were busy procrastinating along the rivers. Children were playing, birds were singing, and adults were adulting. It seemed like a perfect day for those who were blissfully unaware of the dark clouds looming overhead. Earlier that morning, King Serentias IV had sent out letters to several warriors for assistance in a strange problem. Something that not even the smartest of philosophers had predicted. The Dark Sorcerer Bhhullitu has returned to the plane of the living. The very witch that developed the most powerful magic known to the nation; darkness. The magic that was powerful, that King Serentias II had actually outlawed it out of fear.
Getting the letter, the young mercenary Roy set off from Thelladhil towards the capital city of Camor. Roy was always up for an adventure and this was no different. The pay was nice, really nice. The 75,000 Axlias would have him set for several generations. Excited for another adventure and to be richer beyond his wildest dreams while taking on a potentially life-risking job was just too much for the redheaded mercenary to pass up. According to the letter, several other mercenaries had also been hired. He generally preferred to work on his own, but Roy would put up with others if he needed. Roy wasn't thrilled, but he figured if the Dark Sorcerer was as powerful as the rumors stated, Roy would need as much help as he could get. Roy was just a few hours from Camor now, currently passing through the coastal city of Chiford to pick up a few supplies before making the rest of the way. Like usual, Chiford was bustling with tourists and the smell of freshly fished fish drifted along the wind. To Roy, that was a unusually pleasing smell.
Getting the letter, the young mercenary Roy set off from Thelladhil towards the capital city of Camor. Roy was always up for an adventure and this was no different. The pay was nice, really nice. The 75,000 Axlias would have him set for several generations. Excited for another adventure and to be richer beyond his wildest dreams while taking on a potentially life-risking job was just too much for the redheaded mercenary to pass up. According to the letter, several other mercenaries had also been hired. He generally preferred to work on his own, but Roy would put up with others if he needed. Roy wasn't thrilled, but he figured if the Dark Sorcerer was as powerful as the rumors stated, Roy would need as much help as he could get. Roy was just a few hours from Camor now, currently passing through the coastal city of Chiford to pick up a few supplies before making the rest of the way. Like usual, Chiford was bustling with tourists and the smell of freshly fished fish drifted along the wind. To Roy, that was a unusually pleasing smell.
Efrier squinted suspiciously at the letter in her hands. It had just been there, beside her, when she'd woken up from a brief doze behind a rubbish dump. In it were details from the King of all people, requesting, no, demanding her and six others (who's names she'd already forgotten) to fight the Dark Sorcerer. And for quite the pay too. It was simply too good to be true.
She swung her head round, peering down the alleyway, and then towards the fish stalls. Who had even delivered the letter? How the hell did they know who she was? Why would they want her, an elf who so far had only seen the inside of someone else's mansion, to fight against such an ancient and powerful being? She could only imagine it was a trick from her former captors to lure her back. Although, there was no reason to expend that much effort on someone they considered so lowly, surely? Leaning back against the wall, she sighed and rubbed her face. This needed to be thought through.
Around half an hour later, Efrier had made up her mind. The pay was amazing, especially for someone who barely had any clothes. Her captors were in the same town as she was now, Chiford. They definitely wouldn't bother sending her far away just to catch her again. Plus it would only benefit her to leave this place, just to put as much distance between them as possible. She stood up, nodding to herself as if to affirm her decision, and stepped out of the stinking alley for the first time since she'd escaped.
The sun was dazzlingly bright at first. She blinked a couple of times to adjust, and as soon as she could see properly, somebody passed by in front of her. Somebody with a letter sticking out of his belt, embossed with a design eerily similar to hers. Efrier stared as he carried on his way, oblivious to her presence. Maybe he was one of her teammates on this quest, if it was even a real quest. Maybe he would have some answers, at least? Before she could stop herself, she'd jogged up to about a metre behind him. She'd humour this spontaneous thought, for now, and trail him.
((Hope it was alright to assume the letter was still on Roy's person, and visible?))
She swung her head round, peering down the alleyway, and then towards the fish stalls. Who had even delivered the letter? How the hell did they know who she was? Why would they want her, an elf who so far had only seen the inside of someone else's mansion, to fight against such an ancient and powerful being? She could only imagine it was a trick from her former captors to lure her back. Although, there was no reason to expend that much effort on someone they considered so lowly, surely? Leaning back against the wall, she sighed and rubbed her face. This needed to be thought through.
Around half an hour later, Efrier had made up her mind. The pay was amazing, especially for someone who barely had any clothes. Her captors were in the same town as she was now, Chiford. They definitely wouldn't bother sending her far away just to catch her again. Plus it would only benefit her to leave this place, just to put as much distance between them as possible. She stood up, nodding to herself as if to affirm her decision, and stepped out of the stinking alley for the first time since she'd escaped.
The sun was dazzlingly bright at first. She blinked a couple of times to adjust, and as soon as she could see properly, somebody passed by in front of her. Somebody with a letter sticking out of his belt, embossed with a design eerily similar to hers. Efrier stared as he carried on his way, oblivious to her presence. Maybe he was one of her teammates on this quest, if it was even a real quest. Maybe he would have some answers, at least? Before she could stop herself, she'd jogged up to about a metre behind him. She'd humour this spontaneous thought, for now, and trail him.
((Hope it was alright to assume the letter was still on Roy's person, and visible?))
An angry scream and high pitched laughter rang through the air as Eden's younger brother chased her through the city of Chiford. They were visiting the city with their parents as a bit of a vacation. Eden's brother had made the mistake of telling someone that she was the younger sibling as a joke. Despite the young fairy being eighteen, she looked about twelve. As she ran from her brother, she yelled "That's what ya get for saying I'm the younger sibling, bro!" She had decided to get back at her brother for the joke by causing him to get soaked with water, which highly annoyed her brother, much to Edens amusement. Her parents let out tired sighs as they yelled at the two to settle down. It was obvious things like this happened fairly often between the two.
Phoenix stood up as he read the letter. He was residing in an inn room in the city of Camor. He was there doing the usual mercenary work, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be hired by the king of all people! Nor did he expect a contract with such a pay. This job was exactly what the young Phoenix Smith wanted when he set out from his hometown of Pawai. If he were to take up this job and actually come though, him and the other mercenaries being hired- or so he assumed they were all mercenaries- they would no doubt globally idolized for their role in stopping this err... cloud thing, it didn't matter to him, he was without a doubt taking the job.
The light-skinned man stood up, tossing the letter aside, it was time to get dressed for the occasion. He put on his leather armor, starting with the pants, the top, which had the sleeve's cut short, and a belt. That was just the first layer. Phoenix strapped on the iron knee guards and he was done! He didn't have impressive equipment for sure, but he had enough to get the job done.
He walked up to the mirror and made his hair nice and spiky for this occasion, though once he actually started doing mercenary work the spikes would seemingly disappear, he didn't have any sort of gel to keep it up.
Phoenix slipped on his leather gloves, tucked the letter between his hip and belt, grabbed his shield and sword, and rolled his shoulders. He took a couple of practice swings infront of the mirror at the inn to make sure his form and stance wasn't sluggish. With all that done and over with, he left the inn room, being sure to pay for his few nights there at the front.
The light-skinned man stood up, tossing the letter aside, it was time to get dressed for the occasion. He put on his leather armor, starting with the pants, the top, which had the sleeve's cut short, and a belt. That was just the first layer. Phoenix strapped on the iron knee guards and he was done! He didn't have impressive equipment for sure, but he had enough to get the job done.
He walked up to the mirror and made his hair nice and spiky for this occasion, though once he actually started doing mercenary work the spikes would seemingly disappear, he didn't have any sort of gel to keep it up.
Phoenix slipped on his leather gloves, tucked the letter between his hip and belt, grabbed his shield and sword, and rolled his shoulders. He took a couple of practice swings infront of the mirror at the inn to make sure his form and stance wasn't sluggish. With all that done and over with, he left the inn room, being sure to pay for his few nights there at the front.
Humming a quiet tune, Frederica made her way towards the city of Chiford. The scent of sea water drifted on the wind, signaling that one was near the coast, if they didn't already notice the sparkling blue waters to their west. As the young girl stepped into the city, a courier ran towards her, dropping a slip of paper into her hands. Pulling the hood of her cloak off, Frederica walked down the cobbled stones and read the letter thoroughly. After finishing her examination of the letter, she pocketed it, it seemed she was going to Camor.
The blonde stopped in the middle of the city plaza, peering around for any others who seemed like they got the same letter. Of course the inattentive blonde overlooked Roy, and suspected Efrier, but didn't go to confirm it. Frederica shrugged and began to move northeast, towards the outskirts of the city. The heat of the day began to intensify as the girl had gotten to the edge of the city, bandits and brigands alike hung around these parts of town, looking to rob those exiting the city. As Frederica began to stow her cloak in the small pack she wore, a few of the lowlives began to eye her.
The blonde stopped in the middle of the city plaza, peering around for any others who seemed like they got the same letter. Of course the inattentive blonde overlooked Roy, and suspected Efrier, but didn't go to confirm it. Frederica shrugged and began to move northeast, towards the outskirts of the city. The heat of the day began to intensify as the girl had gotten to the edge of the city, bandits and brigands alike hung around these parts of town, looking to rob those exiting the city. As Frederica began to stow her cloak in the small pack she wore, a few of the lowlives began to eye her.
Janella hailed from Vinione, she had traveled a long way to get to the capital city. The elf had been made aware of the assignment via her 'employers,' who had known the King was seeking mercenaries. They had referred Janella, suspecting the reason behind the King's search but it hadn't been confirmed. Janella had been suspicious, assassins had a lot of enemies and she thought it was a trap. But the lure of thrills and that much money was something she could not deny. She could retire for the rest of her long life with that sum.
Even with her reservations the elf had set a grueling pace and pushed herself hard, taking a well-deserved rest in Camor. She also wanted to restock her pack with rations. She strode with confidence through the markets even if she was petite, making decisive purchases and haggling with the merchants. Janella set out on the road by herself, figuring she might encounter some trouble, but she was also sure enough of her abilities that she thought she could handle it.
Her hair was tied back in a single braid, the silver in her hair woven through it in streaks. She wore her cloak and hood to ward off the chill of the morning, pack and bow over her back. Up ahead on the road, she saw a blonde woman stuffing her pack into her backpack while some highway men eyed her. Janella quickened her pace, calling out to the woman to avert any trouble, "Are you traveling to Camor? We could walk together, for mutual protection. Some unsavory types are about," a withering scowl was cast toward the vagabonds with that last sentence, her cloak hanging open and revealing the plethora of blades along her athletic frame.
Even with her reservations the elf had set a grueling pace and pushed herself hard, taking a well-deserved rest in Camor. She also wanted to restock her pack with rations. She strode with confidence through the markets even if she was petite, making decisive purchases and haggling with the merchants. Janella set out on the road by herself, figuring she might encounter some trouble, but she was also sure enough of her abilities that she thought she could handle it.
Her hair was tied back in a single braid, the silver in her hair woven through it in streaks. She wore her cloak and hood to ward off the chill of the morning, pack and bow over her back. Up ahead on the road, she saw a blonde woman stuffing her pack into her backpack while some highway men eyed her. Janella quickened her pace, calling out to the woman to avert any trouble, "Are you traveling to Camor? We could walk together, for mutual protection. Some unsavory types are about," a withering scowl was cast toward the vagabonds with that last sentence, her cloak hanging open and revealing the plethora of blades along her athletic frame.
Being the distracted warrior Roy was, he decided to take a stop at a nearby food stand. He was hungry, like usual and always enjoyed some fish. Ordering himself a nice platter of fried catfish, Roy went over to find a table. Despite his tuned senses, he hadn't even noticed the person following him, though that could be because of the hundreds of people walking around the area as well. His violet armor shined softly under the sun, his sword rested on his back. When his fish arrived at his table, his face lit up like you just handed him a million Axilas.
Nerys kicked back lazily on the bed in the assassin's guild sanctuary with the letter that had just been passed to him from one of the junior guild members. Opening the letter and reading by the candlelight, he let out a bark of laughter. Next to him, his friend Antoinetta stirred and pushed a lock of blonde hair out of her face. Sleepily, she sat up and leaned against his side.
"What are you laughing about?"
"It seems I've been summoned by the King to 'fight an evil that has once again risen in the land.'" He handed her the parchment.
She took a moment perusing it and whistled. "Did you see how much they're offering for this?" She huffed out an incredulous laugh. "You could retire to the ocean and live the the rest of your life attended by servants!"
"As if I'll ever retire."
She responded by elbowing him before resting her head on his chest. "When will you leave?"
"I think tomorrow morning is soon enough, don't you?" He turned to face her with raised eyebrows.
With a mischievous look, she replied, "Definitely early enough," before leaning forward to kiss him playfully on the lips.
When she pulled away, he asked, "Will you miss me this time?"
"Never."
"What are you laughing about?"
"It seems I've been summoned by the King to 'fight an evil that has once again risen in the land.'" He handed her the parchment.
She took a moment perusing it and whistled. "Did you see how much they're offering for this?" She huffed out an incredulous laugh. "You could retire to the ocean and live the the rest of your life attended by servants!"
"As if I'll ever retire."
She responded by elbowing him before resting her head on his chest. "When will you leave?"
"I think tomorrow morning is soon enough, don't you?" He turned to face her with raised eyebrows.
With a mischievous look, she replied, "Definitely early enough," before leaning forward to kiss him playfully on the lips.
When she pulled away, he asked, "Will you miss me this time?"
"Never."
"I had been on that target for three days waiting for the right moment, and then that stupid courier came in and ruined all that planning!" I yell out, and punch a tree next to my camp, then sit down on my bedroll with a sigh. "At least the pay for the job for the king will more than make up for it. But valid contract or not, mark my words, when this is over, that man shall meet my blade." I move my bedroll back under my tent, and lay down. "At least I'm already outside the capital. I'm not going to go to the castle yet, I'm going to wait for a while, don't want to show up early and have to wait hours upon hours for others to arrive."
Eden's younger brother continued to chase her through the streets of Chiford, though now both siblings were laughing. It seemed they had forgotten the original reason why this chase was going on. It was clear both had endless amounts of energy, despite being eighteen and seventeen years old and both were fairly childish at times. All of a sudden, Eden stops, causing her brother to ram into her and the two siblings to go tumbling into who knows what.
They hadn't gotten very far when the man stopped at a stall to eat. The scent of fresh, sizzling fish cleared her nostrils of the sewage and rot stench of her temporary 'home'. Her stomach grumbled; she hadn't eaten in days, apart from some of the not-so-stale scraps she could scavenge. She had stolen a sword from her captors, but going after their money would have been far too risky.
Driven partly by curiosity and partly by hunger, Efrier approached the stranger and asked, "May I join you?" in a soft voice, almost like a hiss.
Driven partly by curiosity and partly by hunger, Efrier approached the stranger and asked, "May I join you?" in a soft voice, almost like a hiss.
Shrugging, Roy simply nodded. While he loved food, he certainly couldn't eat all of this on his own. He split it in half, offering the newcomer the other half. "Are you to the town?" He asked in a calm, rather emotionless tone. He had to eat quickly, so he really didn't know why he was wasting time with some conversation.
Her half of the fish was gone in just a few gulps. She hadn't eaten it, she'd inhaled it.
"Thank you," she said, briefly closing her eyes as she savoured the lingering taste. "And no. Not new. I... I wanted to ask about that letter," she went straight to the point. She pushed forward her own letter, which had been neatly folded in her hand the whole time. "I think we have the same one."
"Thank you," she said, briefly closing her eyes as she savoured the lingering taste. "And no. Not new. I... I wanted to ask about that letter," she went straight to the point. She pushed forward her own letter, which had been neatly folded in her hand the whole time. "I think we have the same one."
Studying the letter for a moment, Roy nodded. "Yeah, we do. I'm actually heading out towards Camor to meet with the king. I presume you are, too?" He asked, having finished his own half of the fish. "The reward and the chance to meet an ancient sorcerer seems nice... I really look forward to completing this job."
Eden and her brother had happened to stop tumbling near where Roy and Efrir were. Eden happened to hear the conversation and perked up at the mention of a job. She wanted to join in on it, purely for the chance of adventure. With little hesitation, she decided to approach the two, practically dragging her brother along with her. "Hi! I'm sorry to interrupt, but I kinda overheard something about some sort of job and wanted to know if I could tag along. I'm a cleric, so maybe I could be of some use and perhaps this could help me develop my skills a bit more, not to mention the chance of adventure seems fun." Her bright green eyes practically sparkled with excitement.
Sighing, Roy turned to the kid approaching. Oh, boy... I suppose another friend will be alright... "I don't have a problem with it, but there's a high risk you'll get killed along the way, I hope you're aware of what kind of power the Dark Sorcerer contains." He warned the girl, "I'd rather not drag you to your death."
Nerys woke early the next morning to gather up a few supplies for the journey to Camor. Antoinetta helped him don his leather armour, as the straps could get complicated to do on his own. Once he'd pulled on his knapsack, and strapped his ebony bow and quiver to his back, he wished some of his guild-mates in the sanctuary a good day and walked with Antoinetta to the entrance.
"You won't do anything too stupid while you're gone, will you?" She asked.
"Me? Do something stupid? I'm the soul of caution."
"I'm serious, Nerys, if you get yourself killed I'm going to kick your ass."
"Consider me warned. I'm sure we'll see one another again soon."
She nodded and embraced him and he made his way out into the sunny streets.
Not long after leaving the quiet of the sanctuary, he was nearly bowled over by a couple of young fairies laughingly chasing one another through the streets. He smiled at their exuberance and continued making his way down the street, but stopped when one of the fairies--the little girl--started a conversation with two people sitting at a street-side food stand, one a red-haired human and the other a dark-skinned, bald elf.
The redhead was saying to the fairy, "I don't have a problem with it, but there's a high risk you'll get killed along the way, I hope you're aware of what kind of power the Dark Sorcerer contains. I'd rather not drag you to your death."
The summons he had received had been about the return of the Dark Sorcerer, Bhhullitu. Strange that he should meet someone so near to him who may have gotten the same summons. Putting on his best charming smile, he approached the table.
"Greetings! I was just passing by and overheard that you may be heading to Camor?"
"You won't do anything too stupid while you're gone, will you?" She asked.
"Me? Do something stupid? I'm the soul of caution."
"I'm serious, Nerys, if you get yourself killed I'm going to kick your ass."
"Consider me warned. I'm sure we'll see one another again soon."
She nodded and embraced him and he made his way out into the sunny streets.
Not long after leaving the quiet of the sanctuary, he was nearly bowled over by a couple of young fairies laughingly chasing one another through the streets. He smiled at their exuberance and continued making his way down the street, but stopped when one of the fairies--the little girl--started a conversation with two people sitting at a street-side food stand, one a red-haired human and the other a dark-skinned, bald elf.
The redhead was saying to the fairy, "I don't have a problem with it, but there's a high risk you'll get killed along the way, I hope you're aware of what kind of power the Dark Sorcerer contains. I'd rather not drag you to your death."
The summons he had received had been about the return of the Dark Sorcerer, Bhhullitu. Strange that he should meet someone so near to him who may have gotten the same summons. Putting on his best charming smile, he approached the table.
"Greetings! I was just passing by and overheard that you may be heading to Camor?"
Janella Silentread wrote:
"Are you traveling to Camor? We could walk together, for mutual protection. Some unsavory types are about,"
Frederica trotted towards Janella, at a closer look, she was less a woman and more a girl, undeveloped facial features (among other details) gave it away. It seemed she had answered her question by beginning to walk alongside the elf, thir height contrasting immensely. As they walked Frederica's voice rang out in a clarion register, "Allora, chi sei?" Of course it was futile to think that Janella might understand her. She attempted her best English with a heavy Italian lilt after a momentary pause, "Ah... who... errr, who are you?"
Instead of dragging on conversation, Frederica waved it way with a quick swipe of her hand, it probably wasn't needed anyways. Her mind wandered as they moved forward for Camor. Questions as to why Janella was travelling to the capital? Who else was selected for this mission? Why was she chosen, of all people? How did they even find her? Questions of minor similarities rolled through her head during the silent trek.
The elf glanced over at the brigands, seeing that they had decided to back off. Even though she enjoyed working alone, Janella often found that traveling alone had a number of disadvantages. One of them being that highway men found a lone traveler much more vulnerable, a much more tempting target. She looked confused at the first language that Frederica spoke, responding to the next words that she understood. "Janella, and yourself?" She wasn't interested in much more than small talk, happy enough to walk along in silence, not exactly an open book. She was surprised at how young the other female seemed to be, but shrugged it off.
Janella started to think about her mission, wondering how her talents would fit in with others that had been selected, also trying to calculate the odds that any of them were going to survive this mission. If they did survive, how was she going to spend her money? Whenever she arrived at Camor and moved beyond the outskirts of the city, the smell of the various meats and vegetables wafting throughout the streets reminded her of her hunger. Loving heavily seasoned foods, she purchased some lunch, sitting down for a rest as she ate before moving on to the castle.
Janella started to think about her mission, wondering how her talents would fit in with others that had been selected, also trying to calculate the odds that any of them were going to survive this mission. If they did survive, how was she going to spend her money? Whenever she arrived at Camor and moved beyond the outskirts of the city, the smell of the various meats and vegetables wafting throughout the streets reminded her of her hunger. Loving heavily seasoned foods, she purchased some lunch, sitting down for a rest as she ate before moving on to the castle.