Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jan 13, 2011 17:30:19 GMT -6
"Not in every instance, no. I've seen the untrained do some pretty amazing things at times. You know, I can juggle fire, but I can only do it by directly controlling the flame, and making it appear as juggling. What I'm talking of is real, genuine, fire juggling."
This brought something that Aaron had almost forgotten to mind. He had seen a juggler throwing fire around without magic assistance. That much was true, but he'd also gotten a formula for a mix that, when burned, stayed cool enough to handle in one's palm.
"I was only joshing you, Grayson. If you had decided to go for fire juggling, you would have found little more than pretty colors." Aaron went ahead and channeled a bit of his fire tome as he spoke, conjuring a layer of flame with so little power that it gave off little to no heat. The flames rested on his shoulders, dancing about softly while they spoke. This was not the natural fire that Aaron had trained hard to control since his accident. This was something fully dependent on him. It would snuff out the moment he turned his mind from it, and would burn nothing unless he gave it the power to do so. This was what he'd spent a solid six years studying under one of the best sages in Lycia, learning until he could knew the spell backwards and forwards.
"There's actually is something that would allow you to juggle fire without a mage's assistance, but it takes preparation, and certain chemicals don't have here."
Aaron reached up, an it seemed like a pool of fire ran down his shoulder, and into his hand, which he then proffered to Grayson. His expression was bemused, and excited. He still shared an amazement about the forces he'd learned to guide. He really had grown since starting. The last time he'd tried something like this, at his grandfather's arboretum, he'd already tired after a few measly seconds.
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Sabin
Pirate
Sightseeing's fun, isn't it?
Posts: 148
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Post by Sabin on Jan 13, 2011 21:45:45 GMT -6
Sabin, sitting beneath a pile of apples listened as bizarre events began to unfold.
First, it was that sea serpent thing. She landed on the ship and then Aaron and Jade came back up to see this monster. Then Grayson came too, and he saw Guinevere vomit on Roland's shirt. Then he saw Gabriel coming out again, and another man carrying an axe. They called him Wyatt.
Then he heard as they talked about how the sea monster was called saffra, and that she was actually a mankete, people who used their dragonstone to transform into dragons. Whoa!
Also Gabriel,Wyatt and Aaron seemed to have known each other, and Gabriel even knew Saffra? Well, it looked like things were just getting more interesting. But everyone started chatting at the same time, things were going too fast. It annoyed Sabin.
Well Sabin decided to walk up there and offer some apples. He didn't like being left out.
"Anyone want apples?" he asked, juggling three apples.
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Grayson
Nomad
[M:25]
Now isn't this amusing?
Posts: 105
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Post by Grayson on Jan 13, 2011 22:32:17 GMT -6
OoC: I just realized we could have done this in a support and saved everyone the back and forth that's pretty much meaningless to everyone but Grayson and Aaron in the thread. However, I guess it's a bit late for that. :/
IC: It would be an understatement to say that Grayson was a bit shocked when the flame that sat on his palm didn't hurt. In fact, he didn't feel any heat in it. It was like holding air. This was certainly a much better situation than the last time he encountered a mage's fire. Grayson looked down at his still charred boot and frowned.
"Well, here goes nothing." Grayson tossed the ball of flame to his other hand and repeated this process over and over. A couple times the flame almost passed through his fingers. It was odd trying to juggle something that didn't really have any weight to it. The ball of flame rested above his hand rather than on it and it took some adjustment to keep in motion.
"Okay... I think I have it. Mind giving me two more?"
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jan 14, 2011 11:43:23 GMT -6
OoC: You could put a note in Grayson's post when he approaches Aaron, letting people know that we're just gabbing for awhile. Aaron settled back once he'd managed to fix the fires to respond to Grayson's movements. He also let the flames resting on his shoulders go out. It looked interesting, he was sure, but no sense in blowing the energy it would take to maintain it. "Sure Sabin. Toss me one of those." Within a moment, Aaron had shot a couple more fire balls over to Grayson, just as impotent as before, in terms of heat. It took a little bit of concentration, but for the most part, once he'd got them going, they maintained themselves. OoC: In retrospect, this is what Aaron was referring to when he said the untrained could juggle fire. chemistry.about.com/od/funfireprojects/a/fireballs.htm
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Wyatt
Hero
The Volcano
How can someone win if winning means that someone loses?
Posts: 463
Etruria Fame: 2
Sacae Fame: -1
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Post by Wyatt on Jan 14, 2011 22:36:38 GMT -6
Wyatt turned half serious for a moment. "Dealing with the rebellion? Man, that's the big news lately. You picked up a grump too." He said, motioning to where Indigo vanished. He looked about the deck at the upheaval. "Jeez, what a mess. So, what's been going on while I was training Gabe? You're not with Sir Rayl anymore I see, did something happen?"
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Post by Gabriel on Jan 15, 2011 15:11:01 GMT -6
OoC: You know, Wyatt was there when Rayl walked away. Shortly after meeting Aerious, if I'm not mistaken.
"Not really, no. We just took different paths. We met again yesterday while in Pherae, actually. Rayl had other matters to attend to, though, so once again, we're not working together" Gabriel said. Even if he trusted Wyatt, the less the ones that knew Rayl was headed to Bern, the better.
"As for what happened...well, not much. If I'm not mistaken you went your way after the battle in Laus. After that, we made it to Ostia. Everything was in ruins. Etruria set camp there and build a small fort, probably just to show that they mean to stay. While watching them we got attacked by some...wolve-like things. They...couldn't have been alive. They were rotting. Their fur was almost non-existent, their skin fell off with each step, and their eyes were as red as blood. We survived and decided to make our way back to Pherae. Most of the group left us on the way back to Pherae" Gabriel said with a sigh.
"As for those of us left...well, we were told to head to Bern, confirm the rumors of a civil war and scout the area. The marquess probably wants to know more before he makes a move himself."
Gabriel wasn't about to mention the "help" part. Only Rayl knew of that. For the rest, simply scouting would do for now.
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Wyatt
Hero
The Volcano
How can someone win if winning means that someone loses?
Posts: 463
Etruria Fame: 2
Sacae Fame: -1
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Post by Wyatt on Jan 15, 2011 15:40:07 GMT -6
Wyatt was working on clearing things off of the deck while Gabriel spoke. Broken items went over the sides, while he put upright and re-stowed anything he could. When Gabriel mentioned thos wolves though, Wyatt whipped around.
"You've seen them too?! Me and Arron and some of our companions were attacked by them in a forest between Laus and Ostia. In the fight a fire broke out and we got separated. I actually got knocked into the nearby river and washed a good deal down stream, so it's been a bit since I saw them. Let's see...what were their names...There was Sir Denzel, a young Knight of Laus, Lilith, a happy-go-lucky Shaman, ummm...an Archer named Wein and a Sacaen...Yaen I think was his name." Wyatt pondered for a moment.
"There were more, I am pretty sure. But I can't remember the rest of them." He looked a bit concerned for a while. "I've never seen animals like that before. More importantly I've never seen animals act like that before. Even when the forest was ablaze they still attacked us, normal wolves would run...."
It was an interesting question, that was for certain.
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jan 15, 2011 16:53:34 GMT -6
So. One was named Grayson, and the other Jade. And the man with red hair, the one other than Wyatt, his name was Roland huh? Looking between the last two she had brought to mind, since Grayson had moved away to speak with Aaron, Saffra began to stand. She was a little slow. She was tired, and needed her rest. Maintaining her true form, as well as flying with it was draining...it was hard to maintain, even for someone who was as old as she.
"That is quite a nice off, Roland, but I will be fine where I am presently. I do not intend to stay for too long I think."
She nodded her head, and looked to Jade. Questions, more and more. My, how this one was interesting. If he had her lifespan, she wondered if he would see to it that all things would be filled...what a dull world that might be. Who wanted to know everything and everything?
"Calm down, young Jade. I am unsure how to answer all of your questions, so let me begin with some of the more simple ones. Yes, I am from the Western Isles, and yes, there are Pirates. As for treasures, I am unsure. I have seen many valuables in my time, but never considered them "treasures" like what humans consider. There certainly are mysteries, but it is home for me, and I never really carefully considered the place as mysterious before. Interesting..."
Saffra gave a delightful laugh. This young pupil reminded her so much of her younger brother. It was delightful. Tapping the staff against the deck of the ship, Saffra then eyed the boy carefully.
"What about you? Where did you come from. What kind of family were you raised in? What do you aspire to become?"
It was fair questions for fair questions. Saffra liked information, even what most people consider useless information, though she did not find life so useless. Still, she offered a wink to Roland. He seemed a touch troubled with the young boy's constant assault of questions, perhaps fearing for all their safety should she become enraged. It was a quite common though process many have undertook with her. She wasn't so fearsome, was she?
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Post by Jade Priyellis on Jan 15, 2011 18:17:00 GMT -6
"Me? Well, I'm from Etruria! My father was Count Reglay! And... I aspire to be like my father some day!"
That was Jade, losing his guard so easily after just questioning someone. In normal circumstances, Jade probably wouldn't have revealed his identity or roots, but while transfixed and awed by the manakete, he dropped his guard, and so would admit anything if he was asked, even in a tone that was not too fierce, sharp or inquiring.
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Grayson
Nomad
[M:25]
Now isn't this amusing?
Posts: 105
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Post by Grayson on Jan 15, 2011 18:39:48 GMT -6
Grayson took the two flaming spheres that Aaron had just supplied him with and added them into his passing from one hand to the other. One after the other, they followed in an arc from his right to left hand and then passed back to his right hand. The visual show was simply dazzling to him. He almost dropped one as he juggled thanks to the lights distracting him so. After finally gathering himself, he was able to concentrate on his juggling. Grayson walked forward a bit and threw the balls higher, spinning as he juggled them. The wheel of flame that he was creating changed into the framework for a dome shape. Finally, Grayson tossed two of the balls in the air, hit the third with his nose into the air, spun one more time, and caught the balls in succession. Grayson finished the show with a similar pose to the one he struck at the ranch.
Grayson stood on the deck breathing heavily with a large smile plastered on his face. This time, it wasn't a smile of showmanship. He truly enjoyed and was even fascinated by what he just did. Walking back to Aaron, Grayson gave the mage a nod in thanks.
"That was truly exhilarating! Thank you for that. You can get rid of these, now." Grayson noticed Sabin's offering of apples. He was quite hungry and he heard fruit was good to have on the sea, "I will have an apple as well, Sabin!"
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Zerachiel
Assassin
To many you will simply be another fool of a bloody king, but to me you shall always be a friend.
Posts: 99
Profession: Etrurian Assassin
Affiliation: Etrurian Inquisition
Affinity: Light
Profile: Zerachiel
OoC Alias: Elias
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Post by Zerachiel on Jan 15, 2011 21:02:54 GMT -6
"Alright then, just remember the offer stands if you wish to partake of it." The mercenary said, looking at the dragon woman and giving a slight nod of the head. She seemed to be up to her neck in unwanted questions, it would be the polite thing to do to leave her be for the time being. The Waltz kid was being bothered by some firebrand of a child, but the two seemed friendly enough with each other. Also it really wasn't any of his business anyway.
Over there the immature archer and the green haired mage engaged in some antics, but that too was none of his business. It might be best to just try to keep to his self for the minute, everyone was busy with someone else and Roland just didn't have the heart to interrupt them. Or the spare sanity. Instead he headed back toward his discarded shirt, it would probably be best to see if he can salvage it. He remembered that Sabin broke a crate of apples earlier, so he decided to check the other crates for something to use. A little tag was in the corner, this was just rum, typical. Roland was half surprised that they weren't being accosted by drunken pirates yet, as that's how his luck usually worked.
He decided to spy at another crate, it looked like iron, useful but not what he was looking for. Ah, limes. Not the oranges he wanted, but would work just as well. Lemon would of done in a pinch too, he needed a strong smelling citrus fruit to overpower the smell of vomit and to hopefully clean it off. "Hey." He talked to a deckhand, one who seems to be a bit preoccupied cleaning up after Sabin's mess. "Mind if I snag a lime?"
"Just don't make a mess like your friend."
"Promise." He would of held a thumb up, but the man obviously didn't care. Instead he slipped five gold into his hand. "Thanks pal, good luck with the apples." The man picked up considerably.
"He-hey! Thanks!" Pocketing the gold, he went back to work considerably happier.
"Alright..." He carefully pried the top of the crate open, it was relatively small. About up to his knees, he used his blade as a crowbar, pulling out the fruit. Any good ship carried limes, especially on long voyages, keeps you form getting sick.
He decided to go in the lower decks, less likely to be bothered by dragons or vomiting noblewomen that way. Time to whip out Hawkthorne's miracle stain remover, a family secret that his mother picked up. It was her job to clean clothes after all.
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jan 15, 2011 21:03:15 GMT -6
Aaron watched as Grayson's show started, grew more complex, and then finished with flair.
"Bravo Grayson. That was a fine showing. Heh, maybe we ought to consider taking our cover a bit more seriously." This last bit sounded a bit sarcastic. Offhand, even. Aaron wasn't really planning on employing their "cover story," so much as he just wanted one available if it was needed.
"Keep one of those on hand for me, Sabin." Aaron grinned at the bearded man. "I think I'm going to go and have a visit to the dragon."
Aaron approached, listening in as Jade and Saffra spoke back and forth. You'd think that the green-haired scholar would be bursting with questions, but he was mostly just amazed by her presence. Creatures from the war of the scouring. Th Scouring... That brought something to mind.
"You said your name is Saffra? My name is Aaron, Saffra, and I'm hoping that you could help me with something, if you're willing."
The mage pulled out his worn Fire tome, and opened it. What he retrieved from the pages was an rumpled parchment, folded a few times, yet still clear enough to see what was on it.
On the parchment was a sketch, taken down when Aaron visited Roland the Champion's tomb. What had prompted him to take this particular image down, was the fact that it did not match the art style of the other images around it. The art was somewhat odd shaped. It consisted of:
In the first piece of it there was a dragon posed as if shielding something with it's wings, perhaps an egg of some sort? All that was obvious was that it was intending to cover something from view. The picture next to it had no dragons, but a shinning light depicted as the sun in the place of the guarding dragon from previous. This sun like symbol did appear elsewhere on the wall, in the various pictures depicting Scouring battles.
"Do you have any idea what this could mean?"
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jan 15, 2011 21:59:38 GMT -6
Saffra was warmed by the boy's enthusiasm at explaining himself to her. Her questions were answered, but she did believe she knew that name...didn't she? It sounded familiar...but nothing came to mind other than something she could not grasp at. With a sigh, she nodded her head, a little disturbed that her memory failed.
"Well, I look forward to watching you grow into such an important role, young Jade. Do the world proud, and never forget your direction."
Saffra looked to Roland, and thanked him with another trained smile. That was kind of him to suggest it, but she would not allow herself under the deck. She could get trapped there. Her attention was pulled away from the two, overhearing Aaron speak about wanting to have a chat with a dragon. That had to be her, unless there was one around she had not seen.
Propping herself up on the magic-less staff, Saffra's wings flexed a touch, pulling one infront of herself as she inspected it, as if not expecting the man to walk over. He was rather handsome, she thought, and a mage, by the look. Odd, those two attributes seemed to go hand in hand rather commonly.
"How abrupt."
Saffra just grinned at Aaron's driven nature. Sure, he introduced himself, but had also not allowed her to do the same. He knew her name, but still, the social convention seemed to be lost at that point. Saffra regarded this with a sad sigh. What made it worse, was the fact she never even got to say if she was willing or not! Humans were always a little pushy, and always so rushed.
Taking a look at the page, Saffra seemed a little blank in response. She didn't think anything of the drawing, but then took the parchment and stared at it.
It didn't come right away, but Saffra's eyes slowly began to open, and she bit her lower lip. This sparked something, but oh, it had been such a long time ago. Saffra looked up Aaron, and gently rubbed her fingers over the drawing.
"Where did you find this?"
It was almost less a question than it was an order. She wasn't visually upset, or upset in general, but this was something old. Something long forgotten, almost even by her.
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jan 15, 2011 22:31:40 GMT -6
Aaron suddenly realized his rudeness, when she commented on his abrubtness, and flushed a bit in embarrassment. He was just so intruiged, and focused on this old mystery that all things else seemed secondary to it.
"Where did you find this?"
Her voice carried a powerful compulsion with it. It was, however, one that he had no desire to resist. He did take a deep breath before answering her though.
"It was in Roland's tomb." He knew she would know which Roland he meant. He also questioned the safety of bringing up Roland with a dragon. For all he knew, she could have been alive during the scouring.
He spoke softly now. Quietly. These were not common things to be bandied around after all. It was unlikely that anyone other than someone truly dedicated to studying the oldest histories of the scouring would know of it. Even Aaron only knew of it because he'd stumbled directly onto something, and then spent hours poring over one of the best libraries in the land to find a trace, the merest hint of information on it.
"There's more. I looked in a library, and found an old text carved on Elimine's tomb at her death. The books I read through seemed to suggest some kind of link, but I'm unsure about what it could all mean."
The beating of wings. Binds the king When wings cease flight. Look towards the light. For light divine Will brightly shine. When light is faint. By darkness taint. In the hearts of men. The king will rise again.
He passed his notes to her. They were all burned into his mind now, but the notes and sketch helped others see what he was so curious about.
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Wyatt
Hero
The Volcano
How can someone win if winning means that someone loses?
Posts: 463
Etruria Fame: 2
Sacae Fame: -1
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Post by Wyatt on Jan 17, 2011 21:18:42 GMT -6
Wyatt looked back and forth, everyone seemed involved in their own conversation, and here on the open seas, he finally remembered something he'd talked about a long time ago. Spying one of the senior sailors on deck, Wyatt moved over to him.
"Hey, you guys ever heard of an Island called...uh..Vengence...no Valor! Yeah that was it, Valor."
The Sailor looked at him as if he'd just been slapped across the face, and his gaze hardened quickly.
"It'd not be wise to be mentioning the name o' that cursed place. Any ship that set sail for there n'er returns. Now back ta work ya swap!" He barked, pointing about the disheveled deck.
Wyatt was a bit surprised, but resumed work with a grumble. What sort of place was this that Lilith wanted to visit that scared hardened Sailors so bad they wouldn't even speak of it?
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