Zelphiam Rinko
Myrmidon
[M:0]
All who get in my way shall meet the same fate, death by my blade
Posts: 46
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Post by Zelphiam Rinko on Nov 9, 2011 17:47:22 GMT -6
"What am I doing here...." Zelphiam mumbled to himself as he walked down a rocky path. He didn't expect to be back in Bern but he was. Sadly though he didn't know what part of Bern he was in. He had been traveling for a day or two now and he still didn't know exactly where he was. Zelphiam was planning to make a quick visit home. Then he would find challengers to make himself stronger, he was also strangely in the mood to fight some bandits. As he walked he heard some commotion not far from where he was but he didn't want to think anything was happening.
"Darn," Zelphiam said as he figured that he would have to head through where the commotion was coming from the get to where he was headed. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword just in case things got a little heated. As he reached where the noise was coming from he was taking back by the Wyvern, the man looked like he could give Zelphiam some directions but the other two with him. A woman and a little girl, she was probably a bit younger than Zelphiam but anyone younger than Zelphiam was considered a little kid.
"Um excuse me," Zelphiam said with a somewhat annoyed sounding voice as he approached the Wyvern knight. "Could you possibly direct me to the closet town where I can get a map?" He asked as he then glared at the girl with pinkish hair. She seem liked the kind of person that would always get in trouble and need someone to save her, he hated people like her.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Nov 9, 2011 18:36:59 GMT -6
"Rebellion?" The manner in which the wyvern rider offhandedly mentioned a rebellion - presumably in Bern - instantly piqued Nayru's interest. She had not heard of this, but then it had been - she took a moment to do the mental arithmatic - forty-odd years since she had been anywhere near Bern. The last she had heard about the matter was when King Hargus had led his ill-fated crusade.
Since then, she had heard mentions of ongoing wars and fighting, but little else. "It has been-" Nayru paused again, searching for the words. "...Some time since I visited Bern. I was not aware that it had become so dangerous in the interim. I would be honored to accept your protection." She bowed, stiffly, a custom that she found preferable to curtseying. "Your warning is appreciated, as well. Are you with the Bern army?" Another pause, her mind trying to place together the words to ask what exactly the Bern army was even doing. "Is this - rebellion you speak of large enough that the Bern army cannot spare enough forces to eliminate the bandits?"
Hargus had been known as the Bandit King - was there a relation? Bern certainly seemed to have is share of bandit issues, regardless - but then what country did not have their fair share of issues with them? While the relative threat level fluctuated constantly, based on relative levels of discontent amongst the populace, the degree with which the army cracked down on them, and the prevalance of war, Bern had always been a relatively militarized state. It had been the most dominant military superpower on the continent for as long as she could remember, and that was a rather long time. That they would have trouble taking care of a few poorly-trained bandits seemed nigh-unbelievable.
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Jasper
Wyvern Lord
[red]I still eat babies[/red][M:-1000]
Posts: 212
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Post by Jasper on Nov 9, 2011 19:00:37 GMT -6
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid you are misunderstanding me. The Bern Army IS the force responsible for the insurrection. As your Ilian friend will confirm currently-"
Jasper was half annoyed by the new arrival, half thankful that he was saved from giving an account of the Bern Kingdom's recent shameful history just yet.
The new arrival was young man, about his age. the guy was lost, just like as he was. Waking up in the sky after getting on his wyvern drunk and half-asleep didn't leave him in any position to give direction. Jasper wasn't too keen on the prospect of explaining his exact circumstances in front of his new beneficiary. Intending to look generous rather then incompetent he replied, "I'll allow you to hitch a ride with me. You can explain what your business is in the Bern Kingdom on the way."
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Nov 9, 2011 19:44:01 GMT -6
"My apologies. I did not mean to bring up an unpleasant past." Perhaps she should make an effort to keep up with current-day events, Nayru decided. To be completely unaware that Bern had been conquered - she had of course noticed that Bern had not conquered the rest of the continent, but had assumed that the uneasy equilibrium that had characterized Elibe for so long had resumed once more. For the proud nation to have fallen was entirely unexpected. And what had that been about the pegasus knight? Elly would bear careful interrogation later. Nayru did not intend to bring up the unpleasant subject again to their Bern friend, whatever his name was, but the girl was naive and guileless.
Back to the wyvern rider. He was intriguing, to say the least. She regarded him again for a moment, silently pondering, then spoke with a faint hint of a smile. "Though I am not entirely defenseless, the company would not be unpleasant, and it would be foolhardy of me to press on alone, hoping that only a lone bandit or two would notice me. Creatures of their ilk travel in packs, do they not? Strength in numbers." That caravan guard job hadn't been all bad, after all. An extra bit of cloth to add to the collection, and it was much safer to claim that she had been a caravan guard than aligning herself with any given country. Given the situation in Bern, it was exceptionally useful - and true, best of all.
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Zelphiam Rinko
Myrmidon
[M:0]
All who get in my way shall meet the same fate, death by my blade
Posts: 46
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Post by Zelphiam Rinko on Nov 10, 2011 20:11:43 GMT -6
"I can tell you know sir," Zelphiam said responding to the rider. "I'm here to visit my mother and probably take care of some "family business" and find a fighter or two to test my swordsmanship," The blonder haired myrmidon added as he looked to the woman that spoke. Zelphiam then got a strange feeling from her like she was someone extremely important but he shrugged it off.
"My name is Zelphiam Rinko," He said introducing himself with the same bland annoyed look he had for the last couple of days. He hoped that no one was familiar with his last name he wasn't sure of the Rinko Clan was really famous now a days. The clan of powerful magic users were only a bother to Zelphiam even his father.
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Jasper
Wyvern Lord
[red]I still eat babies[/red][M:-1000]
Posts: 212
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Post by Jasper on Nov 11, 2011 8:18:02 GMT -6
"Very well then," Japer spoke getting back on his wyvern. "Then if there are nothing further, I bid the lady to take Miss Elly's pegasus, so they can follow us. I'll lead us to the nearest town." He finished. Elisel seemed glad to get back in the sky and Jasper dearly hoped he would behave as obedient as usual. Their new friend said he had family in Bern, so he presumed he would not have to explain to him that the wyvern wouldn't ty to bit his head off for getting on his back.
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Elly
Pegasus Knight
Rookie Squirrel!
Posts: 101
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Post by Elly on Nov 13, 2011 2:47:51 GMT -6
Elly felt her chest tighten as she felt Nayru's hand in her back. She turned around, her eyes wide with indignation at being admonished. Nayru had to know that Heather was in terrible danger, too, everyone knew what beasts wyverns were, no? "But, I..." Her tone trailed off into a whine as she saw Nayru's serious, stern expression; even though the traveler's gaze wasn't directed at her, it still made her feel slightly guilty. She sulked silently as the rider spoke, staring at the ground, embarassed; they all had to be lies, of course, she knew his flying monster would devour Heather as soon as she turned her back on it. She'd just have to be extra-watchful by herself, for the poor filly's sake.
So engrossed was she in her thoughts, that the sound of a new voice nearly caused her to jump in surprise. She looked up in time to catch the newcomer's eyes; they were a deep tone of blue, yet they were settled into an angry glare, intense enough to make her step back reflexively. She listened, dumbfounded, as the man introduced himself as Zelphiam; his name didn't seem familiar. Why was he so hostile? She shook her head as the man's gaze finally left her, and sighed in relief. All these sudden newcomers just made her nervous, but Nayru's tone earlier had made it clear that she would brook no arguments. She was pretty scary, just like the commander back home.
The young knight remained quiet as the others talked; she felt out of place, uncomfortable, like a child eavesdropping on the talk of adults. And yet, she was a knight trainee, no? Still, they all just seemed to ignore her. She fidgeted in place; she'd always been bad at staying still. She swayed from side to side, placing her weight on a single leg as she fumed silently. The wyvern rider even dared offer to escort Nayru! That was her job, thank you very much; she had already offered her own help, and even if Nayru hadn't explicitly accepted, she hadn't refused, either, right? She waited impatiently for the two of them to climb on the scaly abomination before pivoting in place, turning towards Nayru.
"Nayru!" She whispered, her tone an equal mix of hurt and protest. "Why are we following them? I told you I'd escort you, we don't need that pegasus-eater! I'll protect you, I promised to!" She pleaded with her eyes, hoping the older woman changed her mind. Wyvern knights were all liars, everyone knew it!
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Nov 13, 2011 18:31:28 GMT -6
And given a moment to collect her wits, the little flying squirrel was already dead set on living up to the stereotypical mind-war of pegasus and wyvern riders. Definitely not something that had ever happened before in the history of Elibe. Nayru's palm met the welcoming curves of her face as though it had been meant to reside there, a gentle caress that belied her displeasure with the situation. Given that the blonde swordsman seemed to have no interest whatsoever in her other than a token glance, she ignored his conversation with the wyvern lord and focused on her undersized companion.
"Elly. There is no shame in accepting aid when offered. These are dangerous times; is it so wrong to pool our efforts with those who seem amicable? Besides, he has assured us that he has no ill intentions towards your mount. Mayhap it would be wise to accept this providence rather than insult both rider and wyvern, inviting exactly the demise of your mount that you fear?" She didn't bother mentioning that she was much more likely to eat the stupid flying horse than any wyvern if it continued to glare at her mutinously. "And I will be riding with you, not he, it would seem."
It wasn't until the end of that sentence that Nayru realized she had never actually caught the man's name - more accurately, that he had never proffered it. She turned to the wyvern lord once more, hoping to stir his attention from his conversation with the newcomer. "Your pardon, wyvern rider; I did not catch your name."
While she had not been actively intending to eavesdrop, it was hard not to catch much of the conversation regardless, regardless of any degree of super-hearing she might or might not possess - she paid little attention to much of it, assuming it to be inconsequential greetings and trivial discussion, but one word served to immediately grab her attention: Rinko. She had only met a member of the Rinko family once, decades ago, but they had once been a nigh-legendary clan of powerful mages, the concentration of sheer magical power having offered them more power than some noble families. Nayru had not heard much of them as of late, though in fairness she had a tendency to keep very poor track of anything related to current events, but the coincidence was - astounding.
Still, this man did not exude the raw magical power that had garnered her attention so long ago. He was clearly not a child, nor did he appear to be the fool - had he not been blessed with that power, or had he chosen a different path? Against her better judgment, Nayru spoke up again, her words slipping slightly into a more conversational tone, albeit still laced with her customary formality. "Are you of the Rinko clan?" She continued, realizing only after a few more words that they could be taken in multiple ways. "You do not much look the part of a mage, but I confess it has been some time since I met one of that family." Had the clan devolved into - something entirely more ordinary, lacking their once-great magical power? Was this one a black sheep? Nayru found her curiosity strongly aroused, overriding her normal self-preservation protocols.
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Zelphiam Rinko
Myrmidon
[M:0]
All who get in my way shall meet the same fate, death by my blade
Posts: 46
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Post by Zelphiam Rinko on Nov 13, 2011 18:51:50 GMT -6
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until he heard the woman closest to him next to the pink haired one ask him if he was of the Rinko clan. His eyes widened as he heard the question come out of her mouth. His heart began to race and his angered feelings level began to rise.
"I am of the Rinko clan," He said in disgust, he hated saying that name, he hated it. What did she know of the Rinko clan? If she was a ally of them she was an enemy to him. What if she was sent by Berkler to come and kill him? Maybe she knew where her father was!
"I'm not a mage," He began to say as he looked away from her to the ground. "I am the son of a high ranking sage in the clan named Queht Rinko. Unlike the rest of my family I have strayed from the path of being a mage and picked up the art of the blade," He added as his facial expression changed to that of sadness and disappointment as he remembered all the beatings he had received and how is father was to punished from Zelphiam's defiance.
"My father is apart of a mercenary group called the Hellbreakers led by a man named Cryger Valkyrie I believe," He added still looking a bit sad. Zelphiam then looked to Nayru with a fierce look.
"Despite my last name I don't want to be associated with those vile people they've been nothing but hateful and cruel to me," He said finishing. He was quiet for a moment, he wanted to say more but held it in he said to much. Now he just wanted to see his mother, the only person he felt was actually there for him.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Nov 13, 2011 19:11:39 GMT -6
Well now.
She had absolutely no idea what had happened in the past to embitter the man so dramatically towards his own family, but it appeared that she had struck a nerve. Nayru's expression remained impassive, her eyes blank in response to the sudden storm of emotion, but inside her mind was racing, trying to remember anything relevant to the situation; had the clan been struck down? Had it become embroiled in war? Nothing floated to the surface. She had never really thoroughly investigated it, and the last time she had met anyone from that clan had been a goodly number of decades ago. Had the entire clan changed so much in the interim, or was it just this man?
It didn't matter. While her curiosity was still far from sated, it appeared that she had accidentally touched off an internal detonation with her words. Whether it was the wording or simply the subject was irrelevant; it was clear that there were deep-rooted issues for the stern facade to dissolve so quickly into hatred and sadness. She wasn't much of an empath, but it seemed as though she should say - something to remedy her blunder. "Then you have my apologies for bringing up a subject so - important to you." The trauma was obvious, if she could not understand it. Nayru wondered how her persona might have been altered in a similar situation. "I meant no harm. It had been quite some time since I met any of that clan, and wrongfully assumed that it had remained as it once was."
It was interesting, though, that he had followed the path of the blade. She had tried, once, but it was no more in her nature than she could decide to be a different element; the embrace of the storm was her calling. It was with a tone tinged with the slightest hint of longing that she spoke once more, words less carefully filtered than usual. "I envy you, Zelphiam, that you can follow the path of the blade. Would that I could as well - but it was not in my nature, just as magic was not for you."
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Zelphiam Rinko
Myrmidon
[M:0]
All who get in my way shall meet the same fate, death by my blade
Posts: 46
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Post by Zelphiam Rinko on Nov 13, 2011 21:00:11 GMT -6
Zelphiam let out a small sigh, normally he would have told this woman to screw off but he felt something different about her, he couldn't put his finger on it but he felt that she would understand him better than anyone else but hey that was him. "I should be the one apologizing," He said in a humble more calm voice than before.
"I overreacted, you are unaware with the past I have with my family and it was wrong of me to snap at you like that," He said as he then bowed to Nayru. "I'm sorry," He added as he brought himself back up. As she said something about him following the path of the blade he remembered his reason. He let out a small sigh his reason was a dumb one now that he thought of it.
He pulled out his sword from its sheath and looked at the blade. "My reason for following the path of the blade is a selfish one," Zelphiam began. "It's not to become better or to protect people really. It's just to beat a man that my father knows," The blonde haired boy said. "It's a petty reason but it's my own and I follow it," He said as he sheathed his blade.
"Um miss I have yet to learn your name," He said with a more calm and relaxed facial expression.
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Elly
Pegasus Knight
Rookie Squirrel!
Posts: 101
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Post by Elly on Nov 14, 2011 1:15:04 GMT -6
The young knight looked away at Nayru's statement, somewhat dejected; though phrased as a question, her voice's tone left it clear that she was being chided. "Um, yes, but..." They're nothing but pegasus-eating scaly monsters, she thought to herself. Their riders were barbarians, were they not? They were always the villains in the stories told in the barracks late at night, and even the knights spoke distastefully of them during training. They had to be evil, that man was just scheming to get Heather, she knew it. Why didn't Nayru believe her?
Her eyes fell on Heather, and her mood brightened instantly. Of course pegasi were better, how could a creature as sweet and loyal as her mount be compared to a wyvern? Suddenly, her eyes widened as an idea came into her mind, unbidden. That was it! All she had to do was show Nayru how much better pegasi were, and she'd agree that wyverns were inherently evil. It was so simple! A sly grin spread on her face, unnoticed by the girl, who was by now deep in thought. Her mind, failing to find any flaws in her perfect logic, turned to the obvious next step. As Nayru had already stated, she'd be flying with her, atop Heather. All she had to do was make sure the filly was on her best behaviour, and carried the two of them safely behind that...monster. She felt her shoulders tense as she thought of the wyvern again, and absently bit her lip nervously. She'd keep her distance, just in case it suddenly turned around and attacked them. "Alright, Nayru, I understand!" She chirped brightly, holding her hands behind her back, before approaching Heather. She had much to prepare!
Her attention turned fully to the blonde-haired man as he started telling his story, her innate curiosity compelling her to listen in as she grew enraptured by it. It wasn't as though she was a gossip, but she'd always enjoyed listening in from time to time at the tables when she worked at her papa's tavern. Maybe he wasn't as bad a person as she'd thought earlier, when she had been on the receiving end of his glare; his expression had softened considerably since then, even though his stare was directed at Nayru. Maybe she should introduce herself, too! "Hey, um, Zelphiam, no?" She said, smiling at him from her pegasus' side. "I'm Elly, future pegasus knight! Nice to meet you!"
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Nov 14, 2011 1:46:06 GMT -6
"We all have our inner demons, do we not? It is not my place to judge your motivations, Zelphiam. I do not know that which you do, the countless incidental steps throughout your life leading up to the crystallization of that goal. All I can see is the bare steel of your conviction... and a man capable of admitting fault. A rarity in this day and age."
A ghost of a smile quirked at the corners of Nayru's lips as her words slipped into a combination of acceptance and joviality. She had an immense appreciation for humans who could admit to being wrong in a situation, more so the tighter they were emotionally linked to it, precisely because she knew how difficult it was. That humility still existed in an age where disagreements were settled with steel and blood continued to bolster her belief that there was some inherent value to humanity. "I go by the name Nayru. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Zelphiam."
She bowed lightly, ignoring Elly's conspiratorial whispering to the thrice-accursed horse who was likely about as excited about their meeting as the manakete was. "What will you do when you accomplish that goal, though?" Nayru cut herself off before that line of thought could spawn another lecture; she seemed to be in the habit of making quite certain that everyone in earshot knew what her opinions were today. "I hope that you find that out along the way, not afterwards." Granted, that attitude was a nigh-constant with her, but normally it was at least seasoned with a general dislike of attracting attention that helped keep her traitorous mouth shut a good portion of the time.
It had been a while since she had been forced into interaction with so many people at once, and she was more or less winging the entire exchange. It didn't help that Elly's effervescent personality and issue with keeping her mouth shut seemed to be contagious. Speaking of which - there the little flying squirrel went again, leaping headfirst into conversation. Nayru was suddenly very keenly curious as to whether she could morph, devour the pegasus, and get away before anyone realized what was happening. Even if she failed to escape, at least it would be less troublesome than actually dealing with this... "Heather."
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Jasper
Wyvern Lord
[red]I still eat babies[/red][M:-1000]
Posts: 212
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Post by Jasper on Nov 14, 2011 2:48:18 GMT -6
The blonde man's story fascinated the young knight of Bern as well. The mercenary group "Hellbreakers" was not a name he was familiar with but it seemed a detail worth remembering. Jasper was impressed by Naryu as well, it seemed unlikely for her to be familiar with the family history of a guy she had just randomly chanced upon in the middle of nowhere.
She's pretty strange, I wonder where she's from. Jasper thought, only then realizing he had been addressed as well. He hadn't even given them his name...
"Ah, my apologies. I am Sir Jasper," he introduced himself, still not used to using the title of "sir" that had only recently been bestowed on him. "And this here is Elisel, who, again, I assure you, you have naught to fear." He finished, looking at the young girl. His patience was starting the run dry, Bern had a lot to pay for, to be sure. But a insult to a rider's wyvern is an insult to his honor. And Ilian Mercenary Organization had been quite eager to take it upon themselves to make Bern pay every due already.
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Zelphiam Rinko
Myrmidon
[M:0]
All who get in my way shall meet the same fate, death by my blade
Posts: 46
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Post by Zelphiam Rinko on Nov 14, 2011 8:25:23 GMT -6
Sir Jasper, Miss Nayru and Elly, these would be the people he was going to travel with. In his head Zelphiam slammed his head against a wall. He had just left one group and wondered into another, he was beginning to think he was a group finding magnet. The blonde haired myrmidon would travel with these people until they proved to be useless to him. For now the man named Jasper would take him to his home to see his mother.
He then turned to Elly has she spoke about her becoming a pegasus knight. Strange, Zelphiam figured that the Wyvern would have eaten the pegasus by now. It seemed to him that a pegasus was like a flying steak to those lizards but he figured in this case Jasper's wyvern was trained not to go randomly attack pegasuses.
"Miss Elly, Sir Jasper nice to meet you both," Zelphiam said to the two as he bowed to them both. Now Nayru had asked him what he would do after he was able to beat Calnith. He wasn't actually sure what he would do, after thinking about it for a bit he was sure what he was going to do. Destroy the Rinko clan and take down the Hellbreakers, they were responsible for his terrible childhood and they would pay. He of course wasn't going to tell these people his vengeful plan.
"I'm not sure," Zelphiam said to Nayru lying of course. "I'll probably figuring it out as my journey continues," He added. Zelphiam then noticed something, weren't all Pegasus riders from Ilia? If so what was she doing here? Especially since it seems Bern and Ilia are at odds with each other. He wasn't going to say anything of course he didn't want to start something between the Wyvern Knight and the little Pegasus Rider who wouldn't stand a chance against Jasper.
"When we'll we get moving Sir Jasper?" Zelphiam asked as he turned to the man. He wanted to get home as fast as possible.
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