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Post by Mana on Apr 8, 2011 6:35:46 GMT -6
After Garnet and co. left the ruin, Mana was unconscious for a few days. Something, whatever it was, had awakened her nightmare about the raid. The trauma was too much for her and she didn't have enough mental power to resist it. When she woke up she found that they were heading to Sacae. It was her homeland but she didn't want to go there, for now, at least.
Mana said her goodbye to them and left the group. She headed to Santaruz, she actually didn't really have anywhere she particulary wanted to go to, just wandering as a traveler. Having nothing left after her tribe was massacred, she had been trying to avoid thinking about the possibility that her mother and her step-brother were killed. Yet, she was afraid to prove it by going back to see it herself. She might be escaping from reality, but she couldn't help it.
She bought a new outfit in a small village, it was similar to her old Sacaen cloth. But she had shoulder pads now and she also undid her ponytail and wore headband, Mana giggled when she imagined how Elias would react if he saw her. Speaking about Elias, she would like to see him again someday.
Someday, she met with a travelling merchant on her way toward Santaruz. He gave her some apples after she helped him fixing his cart.
"Young girl, you are not from Lycia, aren't you?" He asked while looking at Mana who was still eating an apple.
"Yes, I came from Sacae." Mana stopped eating to answer his question.
"Aah, what a far place. Surely it must be tough and dangerous for a girl to travel alone," he said.
"Not really, I can protect myself pretty well." Mana replied proudly as she tapped her sword.
"By the way, I need to restock my supplies. Do you know where the nearest town is?" She asked.
"Lets see..." The merchant rubbed his chin while trying to remember a name. "There is a small town called Volyan not far from here, just three or four hours walking toward north. But..."
"But what?" Mana tilted her head when she noticed a frown in his face.
"Well, I have heard a lot of bad rumors about that town. I wouldn't go if I were you." He chuckled.
"Volyan, huh?" Mana repeated the town's name. She had got a bad feeling about this village. But she still had to restock her supplies.
After they exchanged goodbyes, Mana started walking toward Volyan. She didn't know what kind of problems had waited there. She didn't know that she would have to make a big decision and take a big responsibility.
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Post by Mana on Apr 9, 2011 2:59:55 GMT -6
"Not bad." Mana was walking in a street in Volyan. This town seemed quite active and the townspeople looked busy. She passed a few shops on her way, looking for foods. She would need it if she wanted to continue her journey. After looking for a while, she found a bread shop.
It had been peaceful until a group of three people joined the crowd. They were wearing headband with a strange picture in the center, it looked like a snake. The people avoided them and got away from their paths. Those men were enjoying being a center of attention.
They entered the shop where Mana was still choosing what kind of breads she would like to buy. Without permission or anything, the began to take the breads they liked and put them into their bags. The shop owner wanted to stop them but he didn't want to face the consequences. He just stood and looked down with trembling hands. The group walked toward the counter.
"Hey, gramps!Where is my favorite? The one with pork inside." One of them, who looked like the boss, walked toward the owner while munching a sandwich. The other two were still choosing.
"Y-You know...You took all of them yesterday," the shop owner replied, looking scared.
"Aah? Are you stupid? I weren't talking about yesterday. I want to eat my favorite sandwich." The man placed his hand on top of the owner's head, showing no respect at all toward him. "Well, then you will give me golds," he said.
"B-But Young Master Nuwa, you can't do that! I don't even have enough money to feed my family. Please! I ask for your forgiveness." The owner started to beg, he knelt in front of the younger man.
"Silent! You make me sick just by looking at you." He yelled. He suddenly kicked the owner's stomach. He didn't stop and prepared another punch.
But then his punch was stopped by a young girl who blocked the attack with the sheath of her sword.
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Zaph
The "Before" years
[M:0]
You got something on your shirt. Oh, gotcha!
Posts: 21
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Post by Zaph on Apr 9, 2011 7:51:40 GMT -6
Zaph was admiring the clouds. They were thick, bulky, well-defined, and naturally very beautiful today; a storm was clearly brewing, which excited Zaph, but more excited his wyvern, Dopey. The black wyvern made grunting noises of appreciation, and Zaph in turn patted his neck and rubbed behind his ear. This was Dopey's favorite reward, and Zaph spoiled him with it on a regular basis.
The duo flew down, out of the clouds, and over the city of Santaruz. It was very beautiful, as it always was, and the people shopping that day became more well-defined and bigger as Dopey and Zaph neared the ground. At almost a second too close, Zaph laughed heavily and jerked on the reigns of Dopey, and Dopey soared upwards, sending currents of wind bursting through them both. Flying was an exhilarating feeling that Zaph knew he would never grow tired of.
Deciding that he'd had his fun over the skies of Santaruz, Zaph, now bored, decided to head north, where a few villages were placed on the way to Sacae. Zaph spoke to Dopey, and Dopey understood well, "We're heading north, buddy. See if you can break your record speed." It was a challenge that Zaph always posed to Dopey who, while he was indeed a black wyvern that looked dangerous, was really a pansy, and speed was the only thing he was any good at other than flying. Dopey was a wimp.
So, the wyvern attempted to break his record speed, causing Zaph to hold on tighter, stow his lance on the notch on the saddle, and get down low. The wind once more felt incredible on the young man's face, and he laughed gleefully all the way. Dopey seemed to be enjoying it as well, and flapped harder and harder every minute. The two were making good time; what would have been a 2-hour's journey was about to be made in one.
Zaph ordered his wyvern to slow as the passed over a town. Zaph, of course, wasn't sure what town it was, as geographical locations of anything smaller than countries didn't interest him in the slightest. The town seemed small, easy to pull pranks on, thus Zaph decided he would land and walk around for a while to see what kind of trouble he could cause.
Smiling, and his laughing dying down, Zaph patted the neck of Dopey and scratched him again behind the ear. Zaph was almost out of breath, as was Dopey, so Zaph commanded him to land. He did so obediently, landing near a large tree right outside of the town. Zaph jumped off gracefully and tied Dopey's neck around the trunk of a tree.
Zaph stood in front of Dopey and pointed a finger, like a mother scolding a young child. "Don't you go anywhere, you hear me?" He said with slight imperative inflection in his voice. Dopey grunted and nodded his head in return, and Zaph smiled, petting his wyvern on his nose. Then he turned and walked into the town.
He forgot his lance on the saddle of Dopey.
Zaph walked into town, and now the sun was beginning to set. Things seemed really sketchy to him; he was getting looks of stares and prolonged looks of the sort. Many creepy men and women who looked fairly rough were starting to approach him, but when that happened, Zaph picked up his walking speed. After a few minutes of walking around and investigating, Zaph realized his stomach was about to jump out of his body in search for food.
Almost immediately, Zaph saw a bread shop, and decided that would be wonderfully filling enough. He thought dreamily about getting food for himself and Dopey, and his mouth began to water a bit. However, as he walked in, his dreams were shot down.
He sighed heavily, standing in the doorway, as he saw a few pretty rough-looking guys being blocked by a young girl with a sword. Great, Zaph thought, I always have the best timing.
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Post by Mana on Apr 9, 2011 20:36:27 GMT -6
"Hey! What do you think you are doing?" That Nuwa guy looked surprised when Mana suddenly blocked his punch.
"Same question for you," she said. "Hitting someone like that. What did you want to achieve by doing it?" Her deadly glare made Nuwa take a few steps backward.
"S-s...And who are you anyway, girl??? What are you doing in here? Acting like a hero? Mind your own business!!!" He tried to bluff and cover her fear by shouting loudly.
"There is no need to give someone like you my name." Mana still stood in her place in front of the owner who still sitting in the floor, watching them.
"Annoying girl..." Nuwa muttered, he glared to Mana but then looked away. "Get her, boys. Teach her a lesson." He yelled to the two other guys behind him.
Mana gripped her sword sheath with one hand and the other hand on the hilt, lowering her stance with one leg in front.
"Hey...Hey no need for weapon!!!" Nuwa looked panicked, he quickly turned around and pushed his bodyguards to leave the shop. His big bodyguards bumped into Zaph but didn't apologize at all. "I will remember this!!!" His last word rang in the air when they had finally left.
"Those people are nothing but cowards." Sighing, Mana turned around and knelt in front of the owner. "Could I pay now?", she said, smiling.
The shop owner couldn't hold his tears and thank Mana many times, he even gave her extra breads and discount. Despite her effort to refuse, in the end, she was forced to accept them.
When she was going to leave the shop, a man (Zaph) was standing in the door, blocking the entrance. "Sorry, could you step aside? You are blocking my way," Mana said.
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Zaph
The "Before" years
[M:0]
You got something on your shirt. Oh, gotcha!
Posts: 21
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Post by Zaph on Apr 10, 2011 12:34:55 GMT -6
Zaph sighed heavily as the tension rose and the heat increased. When the leading brute commanded his filthy goons to go after the girl, Zaph was about to step forward, but then realized two things: one, he didn't have his lance. He could fist fight, but then he realized the second thing: he had been slammed through and bumped into by the man's guards, nearly knocking him over into the dirt outside. Zaph's knees nearly buckled, but he caught himself in the door frame of the shop. In anger, he shouted behind him, "Watch yourself! I've got my own man-eating lizard for people like you!" Realizing it was silly to even mention, Zaph blushed slightly, then regained his composure.
The men had all left, and the shopkeeper was still fairly hysterical. Zaph stood in the doorway for a moment, watching as the young woman continued with her purchase, awed by her own composure and how she just handled the situation. Then again, she did have a weapon. Everyone was more confident with a weapon.
Zaph studied her for the moment that she was purchasing. He continued to study her through respectful yet narrow eyes as she approached the door, and met her eye as she asked him to step aside. He was silent for a moment, and eventually respectfully stepped aside, but then after a moment, turned and called back, intrigued by her performance. "Who are you?"
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Post by Mana on Apr 10, 2011 22:41:11 GMT -6
When she left the shop, she felt the crowd outside the shop staring at her. Embarrassed, she walked faster. She wondered what attracted this many people to gather in front of a bread shop. Some was smiling at her and there was also a few who looking at her with pity or fear in their eyes.
Mana just walked a few steps away from the shop when she heard his voice. She looked back and saw him looking at her, the girl needed a few seconds to be sure that she was the one he called to. But, why did he call her? Did she know this man?
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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 11, 2011 0:54:39 GMT -6
It had been a few weeks since Arturia had left to take on Bern by herself, and Yaen prayed to the Spirits nightly that she had made it. Never the less, Wein and himself had continued on in the opposite direction, towards Erturia. It had been Wein's idea, really, not his, and Yaen was still debating whether or not he'd actually enter Erturia, being a pagan and all. There was just one problem to take care of before he got to that.
"Wein, my friend, I think we're lost."
Yaen was used to getting lost. Not that he couldn't find his way around, but being the aimless drifter he was, it happened quite a bit anyways. "Also, I think we're running low on supplies." he added, just as his belly started to rumble. He reached for a pouch at his side and produced a piece of jerky. "What I'd give for an apple." he lamented before biting into the tough meat. There was nothing wrong with jerky, but after having nothing but dried deer meat for a week, Yaen was ready to bite into a big, crisp, juicy apple. "Why aren't there any apple trees? This is Lycia. Lycia has plenty of trees. Oak trees, pine trees, willow trees, ash trees, but I haven't seen one apple tree..." He complained, wondering why the Spirits had chosen to deprive him of his favorite food. "Wein, your eyes can see farther than mine. Please, tell me you see something. A town, a city, a tree with one single apple hanging at the very top where it's dangerous for a man to climb? I'm going to lose my mind if I don't eat something besides dry rations!"
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Wein Lowell
Sniper
The Noble Arrow
If you're a glory hound, then I'm king of the glory hounds
Posts: 268
Lycia Fame: 2
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Post by Wein Lowell on Apr 12, 2011 4:20:55 GMT -6
"Oh, dry rations aren't so bad," responded Wein, his gaze scanning the horizon. "You don't have to worry about them spoiling like fruits and vegetables. They're also very good for boosted energy." The archer looked around for an apple tree, but as Yaen had already pointed out, there were none. Not particularly odd, considering this wasn't really "apple country", though Wein saw no reason to bring the fact up to Yaen. The swordmaster was bothered enough as it was.
"Just think of it this way," continued the archer, glancing sideways to his companion. "Once we find a town, I'm sure we'll be able to find someone who has an apple. The probability of a situation otherwise is honestly quite low." As the two passed through a small grove, Wein resumed his visual search, this time spotting a chimneyed rooftop that had previously been out of view as his vision impeded by one of the large cedars they had just passed.
"And my eyes have indeed spotted just that, Yaen," said the Ostian, a grin spreading across his face as the town came more in to view with every step they took. As familiar as he was to wandering weeks through the wastes and woodlands, nothing pleased him more than the sight of civilization. Civilization meant warm food and a warm bed, two things Wein would never be able to stop loving. "Looks like you're done with dry rations for now."
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Post by Mana on Apr 16, 2011 10:17:47 GMT -6
People in the street still stared at her which made her nervous. "Well, I-I have to go now. Bye!!!" She ran to leave the place, avoiding the staring. Mana didn't know what she had done. Obviously, they were amazed to see her action. But in the other hand, some was pitying her because they knew those men wouldn't let her leave the town in one piece.
Mana stopped running when she got into a tavern. "Wheew..." She wiped the sweat on her forehead. She had been far enough from the bakery. "What have I done to have them staring on me?" The Sacaen girl grumbled and took an apple from her bag, she still had a lot. Eating an apple would help to ease her thirst after running.
While munching her apple, she saw two men with same clothes with those three thugs from earlier sitting in the corner. When she looked at the other direction, she saw another group with same clothes as well. She decided to ignore them though and found an empty table for herself.
Mana placed her bag on the table and sat on the wooden chair. She then remembered about the time when she met with Garnet and co in Etruria, that time she tasted alcohol for the first time in a tavern. Now, she wanted to try again. That time it tasted bitter, but maybe Lycia beer would be different.
"Ah no, I will get drunk." She perished the thought.
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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 18, 2011 19:03:53 GMT -6
Yaen clapped his hands together for joy. "Finally!" he cheered. "Let's go find the tavern, quickly! I want to celebrate with a nice, big pint of apple cider!" The normally calm swordmaster grabbed Wein by the arm and, like a small child, dragged him towards the desired location.
Taverns were never terribly hard to locate, especially in little towns like this, and a seasoned drifter like Yaen could find one no matter where it was built. With childish excitement, he dragged Wein into the tavern and to the bar. Taking a seat on one of the stools, he raised his hand. "A tall mug of apple cider, please."
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Zaph
The "Before" years
[M:0]
You got something on your shirt. Oh, gotcha!
Posts: 21
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Post by Zaph on Apr 19, 2011 15:29:50 GMT -6
Zaph was near awestruck, but also embarrassed. Had his social graces, or lack thereof, scared this woman away already? The young man scratched the back of his head sheepishly as he turned and watched her scatter off without even giving him her name. Maybe it was rude of her, Zaph thought, but he didn't hold it against her. Maybe she truly had some place to be.
Not thinking about Dopey at all, Zaph decided to give chase. He turned and casually followed the girl, whistling all the while. She darted into a tavern, and shortly after she did, Zaph also noticed two men coming in-- one being nearly dragged-- and proceeding to take seats as well. Intrigued, Zaph followed suit. He came to the door of the tavern and walked in, quickly noticing the girl he had just met; or rather, what could have been considered meeting her.
He peered around, his curious green eyes meeting some of those of the other patrons of the tavern. Some were laughing, some eying his suspiciously. Instead of dwelling on the awkwardness he felt, he slowly walked up and took a seat beside the girl he met, whose name he still did not know. He coughed a bit and watched her for a moment, finally deciding to speak up.
"What you did back there..." he began, narrowing his eyes out of interest. "Pretty cool stuff."
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Wein Lowell
Sniper
The Noble Arrow
If you're a glory hound, then I'm king of the glory hounds
Posts: 268
Lycia Fame: 2
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Post by Wein Lowell on Apr 19, 2011 23:24:14 GMT -6
Wein let himself be dragged by Yaen, seeing no reason to poo poo on the taller man's parade. As Yaen almost magnetically found the local tavern, he sat down and quickly got down to business, ordering himself a drink. Likewise, Wein did the same.
"I'll have a pint," he asked the bartender in succession. "Do you import Ostian here?" The bartender shook his head. "Afraid not," the older man replied, fixing up Yaen's apple cider. "At least, not anymore. Didn't you hear? Ostia blew up! Etrurians did it. All of our shipments stopped after that." Wein's smiled drooped. Oh right. Ostia was gone...
"...How could I forget?" muttered the archer, before artificially perking himself up. "In that case, just get me the local Santaruz stuff." The bartender nodded, placing Yaen's drink in front of him, before starting on pouring Wein's order. Wein, however, just kind of sat there feeling more than a little despondent.
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Post by Mana on Apr 20, 2011 8:29:03 GMT -6
OoC : Mana had given her name in my post before Yaen's first post. Don't worry, I edited my post to match yours ^_^
Mana just watched as Zaph joined her. She remembered him, he was the guy in the bread shop, the guy who asked her name. She wondered why he followed her. "Which one?" She asked. Mana didn't understood, she never considered her action as something cool. She just couldn't stand watching when those men started making a fuss. "Well, if it's about the thugs in the bakery...I just helped a little," she said.
Mana rolled her eyes and looked around the tavern. She was kinda embarassed, she really drew attention in that bakery. Now, a man even followed her just to say that her act was cool. Then, she saw someone who looked familiar, not the person, but his cloth and hair color. "A Sacaen?" She thought. Well, she never met another Sacaen except Selibas since she left the vast plain, it was good to see a fellow Sacaen here, in Lycia.
Mana stared at him for a while before she turned to Zaph again, she didn't want to make that person get wrong idea if he noticed someone, a girl, staring at his back.
"I am Mana, a Sacaen warrior. Who are you?" She asked the older man.
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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 21, 2011 9:55:16 GMT -6
Yaen looked over to Wein, feeling a deep pang of empathy. He rested a firm hand on the older mans shoulder, and gave a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry too much, Wein. This is not the first time Ostia has been destroyed, after all. They'll regroup, rebell, and rebuild, just as they always do." He promised. "...You know, years ago, I met another Ostian archer. Not quite as polite with his tongue as you, but a good man none the less..." Yaen smiled fondly. "He was the only one who thought I could ever be more than a cripple. It's thanks to him that I've gotten where I am today."
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Wein Lowell
Sniper
The Noble Arrow
If you're a glory hound, then I'm king of the glory hounds
Posts: 268
Lycia Fame: 2
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Post by Wein Lowell on Apr 21, 2011 16:32:49 GMT -6
Wein looked at Yaen with the look of a child whose puppy had just died. "I thank you for the kind thoughts, but Yaen, never like this," spoke the archer in sad protest. "Ostia has been injured and damaged before, but this? Ostia isn't there anymore!" Wein's voice grew louder as his sadness morphed into anger. "Lizards can grow new tails, yes, but not if the lizard itself has been obliterated! Ostia is gone. It's burnt to the ground." The normally placid archer slammed his fist down on the bar counter, attracting the attention of a few patrons.
"My family could be nothing more than a bunch of smoldering corpses and I wouldn't know it any more than I know when Marquess Santaruz uses the washroom!" Wein's face was twisted in woeful anger as he yelled. As he looked on at his friend, however, his gaze slowly softened back into sadness. He turned away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get angry at you. I know you were only trying to help." His shoulders hunched, he accepted his drink from the bartender, taking a sip before sighing. "Besides, I think that girl is trying to talk to you."
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