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Post by Gabriel on Apr 14, 2010 5:36:51 GMT -6
The whole group was reunited before they even stepped through the main gates of Laus. Ostia being their destination, they set out to find what really happened to the once-mighty city.
Right outside of Laus, Gabriel turned around to the soldiers, issuing what seemed to be his last command towards the entire unit.
"Golden Lance division. At Sir Rayl's and Lady Lucy's request, this is the place in which the group splits. Most of you will head back towards Pherae, and inform the marquess of everything that's happened so far. The rest of us will move forward, to Ostia. We need to know whether the rumors are true or not."
"If they are, then those of us heading towards Ostia will be in grave danger. We do not know whether Etruria still hangs around Ostia, but if they do then we can consider ourselves dead men. Which is why as few of us as possible will continue on. We need to avoid being large. That way, they will have a harder time spotting us."
He stopped for a few seconds. The soldiers looked grim and sad. Some were relieved that their journey was reaching a close. Some had diverted their eyes to the sky. Debating perhaps whether to go to Ostia or not.
"Ultimately, the choice is yours. I know I will go on. As long as only a few follow me, I don't mind who does or doesn't."
How had things even come to this? Up until a few months ago he was nothing more than a rich, noble boy in Etruria. It only seemed like yesterday when he left Delfia, seeking refuge in a nearby forest.
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Post by Chelsea Dagger on Apr 14, 2010 12:46:35 GMT -6
Barely waiting until Gabriel had finished his speech, Chelsea urged Spirit forward. She was going with him. She didn't know what made the choice so easy, but she knew it was what she wanted to do. After turning Spirit around so she was standing next to Gabriel looking back at the troops, she locked eyes with Kelvin, hoping he'd come too. She figured he would, but if he didn't... She was still going. She felt like she needed to.
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Post by Valcrist on Apr 16, 2010 11:54:33 GMT -6
Unlike Chelsea, Valcrist was lost in deciding. There lied two paths in front of him, and he didn't even have the slightest fathom of the right way to walk. One way lead away, to safety, to the mundane life he was so used to before he even joined this group in the first place. To Pherae, another large city, and hopefully one that does not make him want to reconsider his entire journey. On the other path was Ostia, the largest city in all of Lycia, decimated and destroyed. Nothing but ruins and danger lay ahead that path. Danger and potential emotional devastation. Not only will he have to witness the greatest city in all of Lycia reduced to a shadow of it's former self, but Chelsea is headed that way... Something that would only cause more problems as well, but...
Valcrist stood there, biting the end of his thumb with an apprehensive stare on his face. His other hand laid on the pommel of his blade, pushing it gently without thought. There was also the matter of his training with Yaen, if he left now, he would never even have his first lesson. So it isn't as if anything would be lost... but...
Damnit! What should I do?
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Yaen
Swordmaster
Prince of Blades Mad Swordsman
Now let's play the Song of Swords.
Posts: 305
Sacae Fame: 2
Bern Fame: 3
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: Vagabond
Affinity: Thunder
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Post by Yaen on Apr 16, 2010 18:11:27 GMT -6
Yaen knew his decision already. "I am in the employment of the Marquess of Laus to investigate the rumors regarding Ostia." he stated. "Therefore, untill I have completed the terms of my assignment, I will accompany you." he further stated, stepping forward. "My blades are at your service, young sir."
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Post by Valcrist on Apr 20, 2010 16:54:48 GMT -6
He was hesitant, doubting his self. Doubting everything he did, or thought about doing. Is this really what he wanted? Did he really wish to walk the path of broken glass and shattered bodies? Did he really want to go to Ostia? A battered and beaten city, only a shadow of it's former glory... His mind was in overdrive, thinking about all the choices in front of him.
He was looking at this too hard, like he usually did. His mind was full of stories of heroes and legendary men, stories about the stars, stories about the men on this land. He tended to view everything as a big dramatic moment, even if it wasn't what he planned. He needed to stop worrying and follow his gut... and his gut told him one thing.
"I'll go along with you guys." He said sheepishly. "I may not be the best fighter... but I can still help you if your weapons are damaged." He had a glimmer of a smile on his face. He needed to follow Yaen anyway, if he wanted to be properly taught how to fight... and he knew it wouldn't be that easy to just leave Chelsea behind.
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Post by Gabriel on Apr 20, 2010 17:08:24 GMT -6
Everyone seemed ready. It hadn't been long before everyone split into two groups. Chelsea, Kelvin, Valcrist, Yaen, Harlow, Wyatt and Mikar seemed intent on following him, and he wasn't about to stop them. He'd need as much help as he could get.
He called over a soldier, asked for ink and paper and wrote a short letter to Marquess Edward of Laus. Mostly just informing him of what he was about to do, and what they had achieved thus far. He also detailed the incident at the academy, as well as Rayl's and Lucy's decisions. He sent the man off with the squad headed towards Laus, as he turned back to those that would accompany him to Ostia.
"We...might not be ready for what we might find at Ostia. There's not much we can do but press on, though. I won't believe that Ostia has fallen until I see it for myself." Gabriel made sure to have a spare horse be left with them, with enough provisions for a week or two. He took out his map and compass, and pointed to the northwest. "It shouldn't be long. We might make it there by nightfall" he said, stroking Starlight's mane, as she started trotting down the path. "And thanks, guys."
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Post by Chelsea Dagger on Apr 20, 2010 18:07:14 GMT -6
Chelsea gave Gabriel a smile. "Anytime. Not like you can get rid of us that easily." She gave him a playful wink and giggled. Her thoughts turned to Ostia, the city she had heard was in ruins. If it was such a great city, how could it fall? It didn't seem possibly. Sure they've have to have some amazing defenses. So if a city like that could fall... What chance did their group have? She shook her head, she didn't want to think about stuff like that. She reached over and grabbed Kelvin's hand, rubbing it softly. She had to look on the bright side.
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Alistair
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Posts: 1
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Post by Alistair on Apr 24, 2010 16:20:59 GMT -6
"This is no way to travel; I should get a horse," muttered Alistair. He reached down and massaged his feet. It had been days since he'd abandoned his household back in Laus. Rumors of some kind of expedition had started moving about, giving Alistair hope that he might be able to cower behind a group of unfortunate souls.
He'd managed to catch up to the group, mostly by pure chance, and now shadowed them. Eventually there would be a fight or some good opportunity for Alistair to work his way into their good graces. It shouldn't be all that difficult, really. They didn't look like they had that many magic users, and even the ones they had couldn't possibly be as good as Alistair. Not like such a thing even existed in the first place.
Dusting himself off, Alistair got ready to begin following the group, hoping they all didn't have horses or some other fast way of travel that he'd never heard of. Walking was for peasants after all.
Wait, had they said... Ostia? Oh boy, was this going to be fun. Hadn't the place gotten demolished by an attack recently? Did nobody pay attention to current events.
"Certainly a group of imbeciles in desperate need of my assistance," insisted Alistair. "for now I shall follow them using great amounts of stealth and cunning."
And the shaman began walking noisily nearby, managing to step on twigs and trip a few times. But he'd keep up... more or less.
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Yaen
Swordmaster
Prince of Blades Mad Swordsman
Now let's play the Song of Swords.
Posts: 305
Sacae Fame: 2
Bern Fame: 3
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: Vagabond
Affinity: Thunder
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Post by Yaen on Apr 24, 2010 21:08:44 GMT -6
Yaen tried to focus on the road ahead of him, but he found it very difficult. Something just kept nagging him. Finally, he could take no more of it. "We can hear everything you're saying!" he shouted over his shoulder to the boy who had started following them.
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Post by Valcrist on Apr 28, 2010 17:10:15 GMT -6
He looked out of the corner of his eye at their stalker, failing at trying to be undetected. I should just ignore him... He held the bottom of his chin in thought, as he kept his pace amongst the other members of the group. If he needs something, he'll come to us, right? Otherwise, with the way he's sneaking, we're in no danger of being ambushed by a single man. He recalled the many many maps he's read in his life, not having quite the photographic memory, but was able to recall some things. There's nothing more interesting then the outside world when you're all cooped up.
We aren't quite at Ostia yet, so we shouldn't have to worry about... whatever could of caused Ostia to fall. He nodded to his self silently, thinking he was right. Then again, it was only a thought formed from a faulty memory. His feet picked up the pace so he could walk alongside a certain horse. "Chelsea, I'm still a bit in the dark... What do you know about what happened? You know... to Ostia..." Harlow told me his home was destroyed... but I think I wasn't paying attention to the rest. I was... distracted.
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Post by Chelsea Dagger on Apr 28, 2010 17:22:34 GMT -6
Chelsea shifted her gaze from Kelvin to Val, taking in what he said. She frowned as she tried to remember what she had heard, but it wasn't coming back. "I really don't remember... I mean, I know I heard that is was destroyed. But I don't remember how or by who..." She kept frowning, trying hard to remember. What had Rayl said? "Sorry I can't tell you more... why do you ask?"
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Post by Valcrist on Apr 28, 2010 17:30:28 GMT -6
"I... I just want to know." He said hastily. It was true, for the most part. "I don't know much about anything it seems, so I just wanted to know the full story." His ignorance was a big sore spot. He left his home thinking Elibe was just fine, that it was the nice place from his books, but... it wasn't. He instead found a continent of war, and somehow ended up in an army. It wasn't his plan, to say the least...
"I'm sorry, I just... I don't know anything, and it bothers me. It feels like... like I'm blind." And when you're blind, sometimes you step on people toes, like I did with Harlow. "Ah, never mind. I'm sorry for bothering you." He managed a slightly forced laugh, complete with a foolishly fake smile.
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Post by Chelsea Dagger on Apr 28, 2010 17:46:18 GMT -6
Chelsea gave the novice a smile back. "It's fine, Val. We'll figure out what's going on soon enough, I expect. Don't worry." She reached down and patted his shoulder. "And don't worry about it, you're never a bother." She gave another of her famous smiles to him as she leaned back up and stretched.
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Post by Valcrist on Apr 28, 2010 18:07:55 GMT -6
He calmed down a bit. A slight sigh escaped his chest before he gave a more genuine small smile. "Thanks." It was a bit easier now, though that may be because his mind had too many issues on it to focus and drone on only one. Yesterday, if she had done that, he would of blushed, been at a loss for words... But now he was just happy. It was better to have a friend, then pine over someone you barely knew. A lot happened in just a few days... He felt like a totally different person then he did back on the ranch.
"I guess it's not about the length, but the intensity..." He said quietly, with a confused but peaceful look on his face. "Sometimes more happens in just a few days, then what happens in an entire decade." He laughed. "I spent my whole life craving change, and now that it's happened... I'm scared of it. I guess I wanted adventure... but never wanted anything to be different... Does that make any sense to you?"
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Post by Chelsea Dagger on Apr 28, 2010 20:40:39 GMT -6
Chelsea was quiet as she listened to Val speak. She felt for the novice, she really did. So much had happened since he had joined, no wonder he was feeling afraid. She nodded to him. "It does make sense, Val. I was afraid at first too, I think we all are. It just takes some getting used to, is all. If everyone was used to war from the start, there would always be fighting. It's a good thing you're scared, if not I'd be worried about you."
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