Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 19, 2009 19:55:33 GMT -6
Valorian glanced sideways for a moment at Jya with a smile, he'd hoped she could fend for herself, it would have been a short fight otherwise. He winced as the squire had his face rearranged, but still noticed the soldier trying to make a move for his weapon. With a swift action, he wrapped his staff between the man's legs, sending him to the ground in a heap. Valorian stepped over him and simply stood there, as pleasant as could be.
"Now, can you tell me where your army was headed? I'm trying to stop them from committing a genocide."
The man's lips were sealed. Well sealed of any useful information, as he began muttering and chanting prayers. Valorian sighed.
"Religious Zealots. Never get any good information out of them. Just get out of here, go home or what have you." The soldier got up and went to retrieve his weapon, at which point he fell to the ground as Valorian's staff cracked him upside the head.
The young boy sighed as the scene was finished. "Well...I was kind of hoping they would have been more useful. I'm surprised though, I didn't think you'd be so..." He examined her handy work. "Effective."
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 19, 2009 20:28:25 GMT -6
“Yeah, maybe they have something on them that’ll help us out.” she said, before searching the squire’s pockets and anywhere he might hide something. It didn’t take long before her mind fully registered the conversation before, whatever genocide meant, she didn’t like that word at all. It had been awhile since something really peaked her interest so she tried to pursue the topic.
“So what exactly is a geno-side? Err…I mean why chase an army?” she asked curiously as one of the pockets seemed to contain a pack of chewing tobacco. Throwing the annoying packet away, she continued to search the body, waiting for a response. She was curious and wished to help out in some way, even if it was the tiniest bit, like how Alcibie had once did.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 19, 2009 20:43:03 GMT -6
Valorian thought about chastising her for looting them, but she had the look of one who'd never been given anything before in her life, so he let her be. Instead he fielded her questions as she looked over the pair.
"A genocide is...well it's killing an entire race of people. Mostly for political or religious differences. In this case..."
How much did she not know? Oh well, he had some time to explain it. "Sacaen's are what we call 'Polytheists', or 'Pagans'. They worship many spirits, the sky, the earth, the rain, all things that bring them life and prosperity. Most of the civilized lands in Elibe follow the teachings of St. Elimine, strongest in Erturia."
He paused and saw a small scroll on the soldier's waist, snatching it up. "So the majority believe in one divine being, St. Elimine herself, and the Sacaen's believe in their spirits. As long as any can remember they have lived in harmony, but not anymore. Someone..."
He cut himself off, realizing how much he was saying, and finished quickly. "Erturia is here in mass, probably performing a 'religious cleansing'. It might be better called 'convert or die'. That is why I am chasing them." As he finished he began to read the scroll, and his brow furrowed.
"This is bad, they've sent more here then I imagined. These two were part of the Prophet's Lance, that's an entire Battalion of troops...are they aiming to scorch the plains in one strike?"
He paused to think, clearly wondering the course of action he should take.
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 19, 2009 21:01:06 GMT -6
“I probably don’t understand the complete concept, but everything you just said sounds bad,” Jya responded, unhanding the man and took her place next to the boy. For what she could decipher from the information, someone was trying to force another. At the moment, this boy intended to go against an entire army? Well, that was suicide to say the least, but she couldn’t just let him go on with it by himself. He needed more help or at least a great plan.
“So Valorian, how do expect to combat an entire army?” she asked, before remembering a battle in the past, she had seem super human antics, one man slaying pretty much everyone who got in her way or was it just part of her deluded memory? Focusing back to the bishop, his goal didn’t seem as farfetched now. Nonetheless he still needed help.
“I don’t think you can do this with just you and I.”
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 19, 2009 21:07:47 GMT -6
Valorian listened and nodded at her words. "Well, your right about that. There is no way I can fight them head on but...I just know that I have to follow them. I'm being pulled. Did you ever get that feeling that there was something you had to do? Something that only you could do?"
He paused for a moment. "Something is telling me that if I follow them, something will happen. Something important. I can't ask you to come with me on such a fools errand though. Maybe it's better for you to travel on alone..."
He looked off on the horizon as he said it, the last thing he wanted was another death on his conscience.
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 19, 2009 21:25:18 GMT -6
Jya shook her head, she wished for such an important feeling, well she had a hung perhaps that if she followed this boy around, perhaps whatever she was waiting for would happen. Getting close and next to the guy, she gave him an encouraging slap on the back, that’s what some people do right?
“Not to worry, I won’t die that easily, I somehow managed surviving a war against bandits before, so I guess going against a professional army isn’t pushing my luck!” her voice churned cheerful and positive, even though she knew she sounded like a complete idiot that really made no sense. The guy obviously had his own problems, so what? They’re in this together, like it or not.
“Adventures are nice, huh?”
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 19, 2009 21:35:28 GMT -6
Valorian was surprised at her decision, but couldn't help but smile. He could see one thing very clearly though, as clear as day. Jya was not brave, she was not strong, she was not even adventurous.
She was just lonely. A lonely little girl. It would be wrong of him to take her with him knowing that, but it would be worse to leave her alone again.
"All right then, let's get going shall we? The note seems to indicate that they were heading to an area about a days travel from the river we are near, then they were going to cut east across the plains. Armies move slow, so if we move quick we might catch them."
He turned in the direction he had indicated and looked over his shoulder at her. "Wait a minute...bandit war? You mean the destruction of the Ruinz Bandits in Bern five years ago?"
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 20, 2009 20:31:02 GMT -6
The day had dragged on quite uneventful, the thief girl had simply followed the bishop boy around the plains. It felt as if they were getting nowhere, the whole landscape seemed the same for her. Plopping herself down next to fire, she dug into her bag and pulled out a loaf of bread. It wasn’t great, if anything the time made it stale, but she was able to afford quite a few of it.
“So umm,” she truthfully had nothing to say. Taking her focus away, she simply stared into the fire; such a thing had always made her wonder in awe. An item that destroys, yet boost morale, warm yet hot enough to scorch your hand. She split the bread in half and put one part back into her bag, before starting to nibble on the edges. The silence really seemed awkward and suffocating. It felt as if someone had stuffed the smoke from the fire deep into her lungs, yet she didn’t dare utter anymore than what was needed.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 20, 2009 20:44:58 GMT -6
Valorian had not been keen on the idea of starting a fire, but he had to admit it was a good idea. He noticed over the day that Jya wasn't as sturdy as he expected, and he wasn't about to blame that on her being a women. She looked sick, but rarely showed it as a weakness, so if she wanted a fire to keep warm he would not begrudge her. It was when he saw her pull the loaf of hard bread from her pack that he reacted first, pulling a small leather bag from under his robe. He'd set his staff down as he fumbled with the packages string with his right hand, finally slipping it down and pulling out a small piece of meat. Not a lot, but good enough for the two of them, since they were both rather small.
"It'll be a busy day tomorrow, I can feel it. Might be good to keep your strength up." He said, skewering the meat on a stake before placing it over the fire. As he did the fire crackled and seemed to bend and twist. With a gasp his hand recoiled immediately. He held it close as though it was burned, though that was impossible as the fire was still new and not at all hot enough. Even so, the momentary look from his eyes would be enough to say something was wrong.
"Hm...yes. It will take a while to cook, but it should be good..."
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 20, 2009 21:09:09 GMT -6
Jya was quite surprised to see Valorian react so strongly against the fire; it wasn’t something normal travelers would mind at all. She knew though, it was best not to pry, everyone had their own problems. There still wasn’t much of a conversation to going, sighing she reached into her bag and handed the other piece of meat to the buy. Than something caught her eye, her head shot out towards the sky as there appeared to be a shooting star racing and quickly disappearing. That brought back a certain topic.
“You know how people wish they could fly? Well I remember wanting to do it some point in my life, but when I flew on top of a wyvern it simply made me throw-up, but that guy would have killed me if I did…”
“Anyways about the bandit war thing, I’ll confess all I can remember was slitting so many throats and the feeling of piercing flesh, I still wonder how I was able to get out of that mess, but,” she stopped herself, there was just too little she could fully recall of that event.
“It was in Bern, but you make it sound important. It was just a mass scuffle with bandits right?” she asked, contemplating on the past.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 20, 2009 21:16:45 GMT -6
Valorian listened to her stories, telling of flying on a Wyvern, being at the final battle, and it struck home with him.
"A mass scuffle? Hm, I suppose to the masses it would have seemed as such. But no, there was a lot more going on behind the scenes and..." He paused. "I think that incident caused what is happening now. Nothing is ever meaningless. Every action, no matter how small, can change the world. A simple thing, perhaps a wrong committed or a gesture of kindness, these can cause outcomes we couldn't possibly expect. Sometimes it is these good actions that cause more sorrow, but that is life."
He realized how profound he was being and glanced to her with a smile. "In any event, that scuffle was indeed very important. If I could have been there, I might have been closer to solving the mystery of what is happening lately...But wait, you were there as a fighter? You couldn't have been older then twelve or thirteen back then. How did you wind up there?"
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 20, 2009 21:41:04 GMT -6
Jya finally began to explain what she thought lead to the whole situation.
“Well I was thirteen, that’s when I took upon myself to do so much with what I learned from a traveler. First I ended up meeting with a group of people, Alcibie, Rayl, Myra, and perhaps others, memory not so clear. After a few clashes, somehow the city went ablaze, some say from a dragon, but I can’t remember. Somehow I got separated from them and lots of things happened where I met these other guys and…” she trailed off trying to recall the details of her past.
“As I remember I was smaller back then, able to easily able to cling to Alcibie’s back,” she said getting up and using her hands to show how tall she was from the ground.
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 21, 2009 18:29:04 GMT -6
Valorian glanced over the girl, wondering about a few things. Namely how a thirteen year old would handle the battlefield. "In the thick of things from the beginning I see. You've certainly had an exciting life. But what happened to all of those people, you keep mentioning this Alcibie? What was she like?"
It had been so long since he'd really talked with people, he was curious what it was like to have real friends and traveling companions. Or maybe she knew how he felt better then he thought, after all...
No, there was no need to think on such things.
|
|
|
Post by Jya on Oct 21, 2009 19:17:34 GMT -6
"She was kind and comfortable to cling to," Jya replied, that was the best she could describe her. It made her uncomfortable talking about the person she truly admired. More simply put, she truly missed the woman, how was she doing, is she alive, and so forth. From the corner of her eye she realized how truly long time had passed.
"Umm is the meat burning or is that just me?"
|
|
Valorian
Sage
[M:-1030]
Where there is life, there is hope.
Posts: 484
|
Post by Valorian on Oct 21, 2009 19:23:53 GMT -6
Valorian smiled a little at how odd she found it to talk about her. But at her other comment he looked up and snatched the meat off of the fire. He held up the meat and had a half smile.
"It's a little well done, but it should still be ok. Good nose." He handed a larger piece of it to her, explaining. "You need it more, I've eaten well the last few days. But it sounds like you really cared for her. Like a mother eh?"
He wasn't sure if the mention of family was a good idea for now, but it couldn't really hurt could it? "I'm a little jealous. I've never met anyone like that. Maybe after I finish my work here I could help you find her? I mean, it might be good to have a travel companion for a little bit longer." He tore into his piece of meat with a smile to her. "It's been a long time since I really did something for someone elses benefit like this, I think it will be good for me."
|
|