Ito
Myrmidon
But it's only me, and I walk alone.
Posts: 82
Affinity: Anima
Profile: -Link-
OoC Alias: Killtec
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Post by Ito on Apr 4, 2017 13:16:44 GMT -6
Ito looked at the shaman, Watching carefully as the boy spoke. The girl doesn't have time for us to argue, you're right... After the supposed member of the Ilian Resistance put away his tome and held out the vulnerary, Ito felt the need to sheathe his own weapon, so he did, accompanying the movement with an intimidating flourish. "Y'know what, I don't feel very inclined to believe you. But seeing as you've gone out of your way to prove your innocence, I may as well let you be." Ito reached out as Dawson did, taking the vulnerary from the apologetic shaman.
"How's the Resistance doing? I didn't think it was a real thing, just figured it was a rumor to dissuade the Etrurians." Ito took a knee to better hold the girl, his left arm firmly cradling her as she began to struggle. Her mumbled speech reached his ears without meaning, considering the name 'Deen' wasn't anything special to him. Her forehead was burning up, so Ito decided he'd better act quickly.
Uncapping the vulnerary, he gently tipped the girl's head back and began to carefully drizzle the liquid down her throat. "Well, Dawson, thank you. I'm still not convinced that you didn't mean to attack us, but I am grateful for the vulnerary. This poor girl could really use the help." He softly brushed the girl's hair out of her eyes, then looked up at Dawson.
"I'm Ito, from Caelin. Just heading back to Lycia after a small treasure hunt with some mercenary here in Bern. Where're you from?"
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Apr 5, 2017 1:08:20 GMT -6
The unconscious girl provided no considerable resistance to the administering of the vulnerary, in fact she practically cooperated with the swordsman. It made the process go much more smoothly. The effects began to display almost immediately, the tension in her muscles beginning to relax just seconds after, followed by her breaths softening. Her fever also began to regulate itself back to an acceptable temperature as well. It appeared that the torturous dream had yielded to something more pleasant, as now instead of trying to wriggle away from Ito’s arms, she began to snuggle up into him. The hint of a smile curled the edge of her mouth, even. Though peaceful, it was a rather awkward moment, accentuated further when she mumbled “..thank you, Mama,” and after a brief pause “I love you too.”Her nightmare had yielded to a dream of home, of her mother. Not in the present time, but from her past as a younger child. Elle had been the one with the softer touch, the one who had treated all her ouchies and boo-boos, while Raeger had simply wished for Selunae to toughen up. It was for this reason that her father allowed her to continue hunting against her mother’s wishes. Still though, there was no memory more comforting than those of when she was in her mother’s arms, and the relief provided by the medicine had triggered that nostalgic feeling. Words began to invade this dream, unfamiliar voices. They seemed alien, and in her unconscious state, she couldn’t comprehend them. They brought with them a moment of clarity though, one in which she realized she was dreaming. Thus opened her weary eyes, ever so slowly taking in the blurry surroundings of twilit forest. Her mind was foggy, she couldn’t remember what led her to this point and as her eyes slowly came into focus the first thing she saw clearly was Ito’s face. Unfortunately for them both, she had no recollection yet of him and she screamed, launching away from him in a comical manner reminiscent of a startled cat leaping backwards. She caught sight of the bodies of brigands littering the area surrounding them, and then her frightened eyes glanced over to Dawson. What followed was a shriek of terror that echoed in the distance through the mountainous forest. For some reason incomprehensible to her, she didn’t have the strength to stand and run. Momentarily it looked like she was going to faint from the effort of trying to, but instead she shouted something at them that made no sense. | Music| “Wh-who are y-you and what are you d-doing in my house?!” she stammered, confusion wreaking havoc on her senses while she tried to put the pieces of what was lost back together. Finally, after an awkward silence, and with the obvious realization she was nowhere near home, much less inside a house, she followed up with a less confusing question. “Where.. where am I?” Her nerves were frazzled still, but she regained her composure, nonetheless. The huntress drew up and wrapped her arms around her knees, giving an expectant glance to Ito, whom out of the two was the only one that seemed even vaguely familiar. ‘Why am I in so much pain..? I feel like I should know these people, but… ugh.. how did I get here anyway?’
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Dawson
Shaman
Posts: 65
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Dawson
OoC Alias: Fargus
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Post by Dawson on Apr 5, 2017 21:03:36 GMT -6
Dawson breathed a slight sigh of relief as the swordsman whom called himself Ito put his blade away and took the vulnerary from his hand. "Well...the resistance is going fairly well at the moment. We got alot of spellcastors including me that joined up with it thats for sure, but we're still small and low on money and supplies, but we're going strong..." Dawson said. "In fact, thats one of the reasons that I'm in Bern right now. I'm going to try and find some way to get more money and supplies for the resistance back home...
Dawson then perked his head when Ito mentioned he was heading back to Lycia. "I also came from Lycia but..." he paused. He wasn't certain if he wanted to reveal THAT much about him yet. The fact that he was trained by Draco himself, the same person that Dawson now seeks to defeat. "...I'll just say that someone...someone took something very valuable from me when I was young, and now I plan to get him for that...
Thats when he saw the young bowwoman wake up, clearly surprised. Dawson honestly was glad for the distraction from his past. "Easy there, you were hurt, but you'll be all right now..." he said. He still felt very guilty about his shots hitting the young archer and Ito, but he was still glad all the same to see that their both going to be fine for the most part. He still needed to hold back some information about himself, he didn't know if this Ito guy was with Draco or not. He didn't look like it, but he couldn't be too careful...
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Ito
Myrmidon
But it's only me, and I walk alone.
Posts: 82
Affinity: Anima
Profile: -Link-
OoC Alias: Killtec
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Post by Ito on Apr 5, 2017 22:41:51 GMT -6
Ito listened carefully to Dawson, nodding every so often to provide the shaman with a feeling of acceptance. It was good to hear of a resistance, and that it was keeping a strong pace. Ito hated the Etrurians more than anything he had hated before, and it was relieving to hear someone else didn't like them much, either. Just then, the girl snuggled up to him, awkwardly calling Ito 'Mama'. It left him somewhat surprised, but the initial shock was quickly replaced with... compassion?
I don't remember feeling this way before... It's almost... warm. Is this what an older sibling feels when they care about the younger ones? In a word, Ito would've called it 'perplexing'. He'd definitely have to ponder on the feeling at some point, most positive emotion being foreign to his recent memory. Just as he made the personal note to retrospect, the girl opened her eyes. Ito watched sympathetically as he saw the confusion and fear present in her expression. She practically flew out of his arms, stumbling back to the ground and curling up whilst shooting a glance at Ito. As Dawson began to speak to her, Ito reached out and firmly clamped his gloved hand over the shaman's mouth, cutting off his sentence. Ito tossed a quick, but very clear message to the fellow Lycian with his eyes, stating that he'd handle it.
"Miss, let me explain a little. We're out in the Bernese woods and the brigands - those dead ones on the ground - tried to mug you. They almost killed you, but I was able to save you from them. You weren't free from injury, though, and this shaman here, Dawson, was passing by and very kindly gave us a vulnerary to help you. I'm Ito. How are you feeling?"
Ito hoped to paint the shaman in a decent light for her. If she truly didn't remember what had happened, Ito thought it best to not remind her.
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Apr 6, 2017 5:12:20 GMT -6
With a furrowed brow, the young girl studied the pair before her. Bits and pieces of memory flashed in her mind. The malicious glint of the bandit’s eyes. That brought back the cut on her arm, which was no longer bleeding to her surprise, though the mark on her arm still remained behind the slit now carved into her bracer. Her fingertips traced along the injury as Ito refreshed her memory with his version of the events she’d experienced here. ‘There were three of them, and then he showed up..’ Selunae nodded emphatically to his explanation, though there seemed to be more to the shaman’s involvement than he was allowing her to hear. ‘What is a shaman anyway? I don’t get it..’
In the short time Ito was talking, she recalled the fierce battle cry that had allowed her to escape in the first place. ‘That was Ito… I’d really be dead now if not for him, I guess.’ The girl’s features relaxed and a tired smile spread across her face. Still, she didn’t recall any injuries so severe from the bandits that would leave her in this state. Perhaps it was just physical trauma, though that was a word beyond her vocabulary. Something about the sight of this Dawson sent a shiver up her spine, and she couldn’t explain it as of yet. Perhaps it was something about the way he averted his gaze when she made eye contact. Also, the way this ‘Ito’ had been quick to silence him tugged at her thoughts as well, but for now she was content enough with the explanation to not outright contest anything she heard. Dawson’s wound clearly would have came from either the myrmidon’s sword or her own bow, but that detail escaped her, else it would have raised alarm.
“I owe ya a big one then, huh? Both’a ya.”
Traces of her energetic enthusiasm began to work their way through her fatigue, and with a pained effort, judging by the twist in her expression and the moments that gave her pause, she returned to her feet. The attempt resulted in what resembled a newborn giraffe trying to stand for its first time, and her poor balance sent her careening forward a few steps before collapsing into the myrmidon’s chest. She blushed instantly with a sheepish grin as he caught her and prevented the huntress from falling.
“I’m so sorry! I uhh.. I just feel so dizzy. Maybe I should sit a little longer..” the crimson-haired girl hastily explained, embarrassed. She didn’t sit though, instead opting to lean against a tree. She visibly winced as her right shoulder brushed against it. In fact that entire side was very tender and sore. Just what had happened?
“My name’s Lunie! I’m a hun- *ahem* an adventurer! Great ta meetcha Ito! You too Dawson! I sure thought my goose was cooked.. It’s a good thing you turned up when ya did,” the ‘adventurer’ blurted out all at once, offering a big smile to her saviors.
“I’m sore all over, but I’m pretty happy ta still be standing. Sure could use some food though. Feels like I haven’t eat in weeks, I could eat a horse!” The chance to actually converse with her rescuers had put Selunae back into her normal, chipper mood, the two strangers providing a counter-balance to the stress of the events that had so recently transpired.
“So, why’s a pair like you out here in the middle’a the sticks?” Did they arrive together? She wasn’t sure. She still had trouble placing the Shaman in her recollection, though clearly he was here now. “Prolly should be settin’ up camp afore it gets too dark,” Selunae paused, frowning with a shudder as she glanced to the ambient carnage. “Just, not here with the dead guys..”
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Dawson
Shaman
Posts: 65
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Dawson
OoC Alias: Fargus
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Post by Dawson on Apr 6, 2017 21:13:34 GMT -6
Dawson followed Itos clear indication to just remain silent for the time being. Yeah...he's very likely a better talker than I am at the moment. Besides, no need to bring back up the bad incident Dawson thought as he placed his hand over his wound. He could feel the blood starting to slow down now, but he knew that he would still need to get it tended to sometime, likely by a professional healer in another town or village. His gaze drifted slightly away, still unable to bear the guilt of even looking at the young archer whom called herself Lunie. Though he couldn't help but give of a slight chuckle at the young archers actions.
Dawson not knowing what else to say dug into his satchel to see what other supplies he has. Only my Flux tome, a spare vulnerary, and only some nuts to last me on my trip...not sure what else I can offer... he thought. He then sighed softly as he looked in the distance. It was true, it was looking to get late and a camp was in order...just not around the dead bandits. "I'll go find some wood to help set up the fire I guess" Dawson said. He was just glad that the vulnerary for the most part worked. Granted elder magic can be dangerous in the hands of even an beginner of the dark arts, he was just thankful that it didn't look like there was any other permanent damage on the young archer. He was just mostly glad that Ito didn't kill him for his actions!
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Ito
Myrmidon
But it's only me, and I walk alone.
Posts: 82
Affinity: Anima
Profile: -Link-
OoC Alias: Killtec
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Post by Ito on Apr 7, 2017 0:10:17 GMT -6
Ito wanted to smile. He really did, especially as the young adventurer stumbled into him from unrecognized exhaustion. It was kinda funny, but brought back that sweet feeling at the same time. I really wonder what that is. It's been a long time. The girl ran her mouth for a bit, a new sense of energy appearing in her tones and expressions. It was nice to know she was brightening up, and it probably helped that she didn't recall the shaman's attacks. "Feeling pretty sore, eh? I'm sure some rest will help that." Ito himself felt pretty sore, the shaman's Dark Magic Attack leaving a pretty big dent in Ito's stamina. He watched Dawson rummage through his satchel, nervously refusing to make eye contact with Lunie.
I wonder what he's up to...
Lunie then asked what the two men were doing in the woods, and Dawson carried out Ito's prescribed silence from before. "Well, Lunie, I'm an adventurer myself. I was just leaving from a treasure hunt here in Bern with another mercenary, and Dawson here happened upon us during the end of our scuffle with the brigands; he's on his way to gather some money for a few Ilian friends of his, or so he's told me." Ito held eye contact with the girl, his calm expression hopefully comforting while he searched her eyes with his own. Was she suspecting something of the shaman, as Ito was? Or was she trying to remember the shaman's attacks? Ito couldn't be sure, but she didn't seem as comfortable with the shaman as she was with Ito. Granted, both men were strangers to her and that was to be expected, but even so Lunie seemed to trust Ito a little more.
"I'll go with Dawson, see if I can scout out a decently sheltered campsite while he looks for firewood. You stay here and rest up, okay? I'll be back soon."
As the shaman and the myrmidon made it into the tree line and were out of earshot from the young adventurer, Ito turned on Dawson, grabbing him by the collar with his left hand and holding him against a tree, lifted off of the ground an inch or two. Ito spoke in a very serious, hushed tone, doing his best to intimidate the shaman into revealing more about himself. "I've got absolutely no reason to believe anything you've said up to this point, Dawson." Ito's right hand curled into a fist and was held up to Dawson's face. "I want you to give me names and descriptions of those in the resistance, as well as this 'someone' you spoke about needing to get revenge on. And for goodness' sake, don't say a WORD of those magic attacks. You're lucky the girl didn't remember them, giving me a reason to end your pitiful life and any hope this 'resistance' had of making use of you." Ito set the other Lycian back down, letting him go and turning back to the clearing to call the girl over. "Hey, Lunie! I think I found a good spot! Think you can make it over here on your own, or would you like me to come and help you over here?"
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Apr 7, 2017 10:21:47 GMT -6
The shaman’s continued silence disturbed the huntress further, but she didn’t let it show. Don’t look a gift wyvern in the mouth, that’s what she’d heard people say. She supposed that meant beggars can’t be choosers or something similar, but she didn’t put much thought into it, honestly. She was just as perplexed by Ito’s stoic countenance. He had scarcely reacted to anything, and it was starting to bother her just as much. What was up with these two? The huntress pursed her lips and shot a quick glance between the myrmidon and shaman. Ito responded only by silently looking directly back into her eyes, while Dawson cast his gaze downward, seemingly using it as an excuse to verify the contents of the satchel he carried. Selunae sighed, giving up.
She smirked at the blond’s suggestion of rest, she had said the same thing hadn’t she? She hadn’t actually followed her own advice, but she certainly felt the need for rest. She allowed herself to slide back down to a seated position, her fatigue causing her to drop faster than intended. She landed with a muffled ‘Umph’ escaping her lips at the impact of her bottom hitting the earth beneath it. She chuckled very briefly, hoping she could garner some sort of reaction from one of them. Relief washed over her exerted muscles as she focused her attention on the duo. No reaction, though. The swordsman maintained his calm stare, while the spellcaster simply hadn’t noticed at all. Disappointing. ‘Nothing?’
The archer’s eyes lit up, erasing all signs of frustration as Ito mentioned treasure hunting. The notion was something she romanticized no to end. Searching through ruins long forgotten for treasures and wealth untold. As soon as Ito had mentioned Dawson’s affiliation with Ilia, the excitement faded somewhat, and she gave a wary glance to Dawson who was now glancing back up from his satchel. She lived somewhat close to the capital where Ilia had exerted control over Bern not so long ago. Deen had left to join the rebellion and she had intended to do so as well had the conflict not ended when it did. Bern and Ilia weren’t at war now, but that didn’t bring Deen back. As anger and emotion clouded her expression, she noticed that Ito was closely studying her reaction with that same unnerving calmness. She couldn’t figure him out any more than she could Dawson. ‘So. You’re with Ilia, Dawson. You better not try anything. I’m keeping an eye on you..’
“You’re a treasure hunter? Did ya find the treasure?” Try as she might, the excitement of the first subject reclaimed her focus as the excitement of treasure was too much to ignore. “Someone else is with ya too?” She only remembered seeing Ito and Dawson, and there was no sign of this other ‘mercenary’ he referred to. Maybe they had parted ways before she awoke? She chose not to voice her concerns with Dawson. What if they took her as a prisoner?
“Will do, Mister Ito,” Selunae replied dutifully with a smile as the swordsman turned to leave, then quietly added as soon as he and Dawson were out of earshot, “Guess it’s just me ‘n you. I hope you three don’t start tryin’ ta get up.” Selunae instantly regretted saying that, as if speaking the words would somehow cause it to happen. It felt like an eternity of awkward silence as she waited for the others to come back. She was ready to put an arrow into each of the corpses just to make sure they didn’t stand up or crawl after her. However, her bow was missing. Surveying the area, she noticed it was lying on the ground beside the bandit that she remembered attacking her. The arrow still protruded from his midsection.
Gingerly getting back to her feet, she took a few wobbly steps over to his corpse to recover her bow. Inspecting the arrow next, she felt a little pride at what had clearly been a great shot. Nervously she reached to reclaim it from the brigand’s body, it belonged to her after all. It was the very same moment she had touched the arrow that Ito had shouted from the distance. To say it startled her would have been like referring to a fearsome dragon as a mere lizard. With a sudden shriek, she lost her balance, something she barely had found to begin with, and fell right onto the corpse. The result was shrill screaming that neither of the two young men could simply ignore. Before anyone had time to return to her, she had come to the realization it had been Ito, and rolled away from the bandit onto her back. She didn’t answer, but instead just stared angrily through the leafy canopy above her into the quickly darkening sky. This was quite possibly the dumbest thing that happened to her today. Her only response was an exasperated sigh as she waited for embarrassment to kill her.
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Dawson
Shaman
Posts: 65
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Dawson
OoC Alias: Fargus
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Post by Dawson on Apr 7, 2017 13:46:15 GMT -6
Dawson shuddered after Ito finished his "conversation" with him. He felt more threatened by it, but all he could do was sigh when Ito finally put him down. Guess I don't have much of a choice huh? I'll have to tell him... Dawson thought as he picked up a couple of sticks. He really didn't want to risk putting others in danger by them knowing, but it couldn't be helped...
Dawson returned back to where Ito had indicated the camp should be set up at. In a hushed whisper while he set down the sticks, he said to Ito "Fine...I'll tell you EVERYTHING, but...not in front of the young archer" He sighed, but was interrupted when he heard the archer scream. He grew nervious, if she was in trouble, he didn't want to risk hurting her again, but he couldn't just sit by idly. "Can...you go check it out I guess?" He said, clearly looking more nervious.
Dawson then started to walk through the woods back to where the young archer was when he suddenly paused. Wait a moment...something isn't right here... he thought as he got out his flux tome. His eyes then perked up as he then saw in the corner of his eyes an axe heading straight for him! He managed to roll out of the way in time and looked up. When he saw the markings on the thrown Hand Axe, Dawson gasped. No way! It can't be...they found me... he thought as his worst has came to be. "Black Wolf...I was wondering when you'd show up..." Dawson said while clutching his flux tome in hand.
"Well if it ain't Dawson uh? Its been a long time there" A heavy burly voice called out. A man with a black armor and shoulder pads then walked out into Dawsons view. Clearly showing signs that he was a Fighter, the man whom Dawson recognized as Black Wolf pulled out his Regal Axe. "I'll admit, I'm a bit surprised that Black Dog was driven off my you and that mage, but with me, it'll be different. If you value yer life, you'll come back with me to Draco and tell me where the young spellcastor went, what ye say eh?" Black Wolf said with a chuckle.
Dawson glared at the man as he prepared a dark energy attack. "This is what I say Black Wolf, I will NOT go back with you to Draco, I'll NEVER go back to Draco, you hear me? he yelled at Black Wolf as he flung dark energy at the fighter. Black Wolf merely smiled slyly as he held up his axe, causing the dark bolt to dissipate when it hit the metal. "I was hopping ye would say somein like that, now I have no reason t let ya live, I'm so gonna enjoy this!" Black Wolf said as he rushed toward Dawson, Axe raised over his head.
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Ito
Myrmidon
But it's only me, and I walk alone.
Posts: 82
Affinity: Anima
Profile: -Link-
OoC Alias: Killtec
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Post by Ito on Apr 9, 2017 15:02:03 GMT -6
Ito winced as the girl's scream rang in his ears, her shrill set of pipes hitting a note so high Ito didn't even know it existed. His timing seemed to have been impeccable, and as the girl rolled onto her back Ito hurried over to her. As she gazed into the sky, Ito popped into her field of view with his hand outstretched. "Sorry about that," he said, with a certain positivity in his eyes that hadn't been there before, "would you like some help up?"
Ito looked happy, despite the lack of a smile on his face. To him, Lunie's actions were cute - like a young child trying to figure something out on their own. It made him want to smile, sure, but Ito still couldn't make himself do it.
"I hate to tell you this, Lunie, but I never did find any treasure. The only thing we found in that tomb - the mercenary, his pals, and I - were monsters. A bunch of zombie-like creatures that attacked us as we explored. It was somewhat terrifying, really, but it also fuelled my drive to keep going. Like I said before, there wasn't anything there worth my time. So, I left the mercenary and his friends with my sword and the remembrance of some bad memories from my own past."
Ito looked at Lunie, seeming content with sitting here and chatting with her. It was nice to talk, he realized, almost comforting as he got the chance to speak his mind.
"Have you ever had the chance to find treasure, Lunie? Or have you not adventured long enough to find a chance?"
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Apr 10, 2017 2:29:22 GMT -6
As Ito strolled into her peripheral view, Selunae rolled her eyes and sighed. “I hate you so much right now, ya know that?” Ito seemed amused by her predicament and tone, as if he’d at least partially pieced together the shenanigans that had led her to this, by the timing of her scream and her current position. At least, amusement was what she saw in his eyes. It was a welcome change even if it came at the expense of some of her pride. With a smirk, she dropped the facade of mock anger and glanced to the proffered hand.
“Hmm, no thanks. Doin’ pretty well for m’self on the ground with ‘cold and ugly’ here,” the huntress remarked lightheartedly before taking Ito’s hand and using his strength to stand again. She rubbed her temples, feeling a little woozy. The smell of blood was heavy here so close to the bodies, so she began walking towards the stream, leading Ito there as they talked. All things considered, Selunae seemed to be handling all this death pretty well. Truthfully, she was nauseated by the corpses and still quite frightened by how quickly the tides of battle had seemed to change. From what she could tell, whether she had lived or died had been decided twice in quick succession and the prospect of it made her head spin. She didn't want to look or sound weak though, so she coped. As she listened to Ito, she heard the words "NOT" and "NEVER" in the background as if Dawson was upset over something. The huntress paused briefly in between steps, but she credited the shouts to being directed at Ito for wandering away instead of helping with the camp preparation. She might have paid more attention if she hadn’t been disappointed in the shaman for not coming to check on her as well.
“Don’t you dare say that word!” Selunae scolded, interrupting Ito’s story at the mention of zombies. “I mean.. uhmm.. I’m not… scared or nuthin...” The girl gave an obvious, nervous glance back to make sure the bandits were still dead, before continuing. “There was no treasure? Sounds like a waste o’ time to me. Course, I’ve never been on a treasure hunt. Unless this stream over here counts. It’sa treasure ta me,” the huntress deliberated, fairly pleased with her accomplishment. ‘Why would you expect to find anything but monsters in a creepy old tomb anyway?’
“If ya want the truth of it, this is the first time I’ve uhmm... ventured off from home like this. What about you, Ito? You seem so... blank? No, what is the word I’m looking for? Like you’ve seen this so many times that it doesn’t bother you. Unfazed? I think that is it.. Anyway, is somethin’ wrong?”
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Ito
Myrmidon
But it's only me, and I walk alone.
Posts: 82
Affinity: Anima
Profile: -Link-
OoC Alias: Killtec
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Post by Ito on Apr 15, 2017 0:48:55 GMT -6
Blank.
That sounds about right to me.
It had been quite some time since Ito's life had been highlighted by positive emotion. Things had just gone by for him, and he'd taken charge of them with a pretty melancholy attitude, now that he thought about it. Plenty of sleepless nights on the road had been accompanied by tears, his silently prolonged grieving leaving him without recompense as he traveled along the lonely road.
Ito never isolated himself, though. Human contact was something he secretly craved, an unfathomable desire residing within him to warm up to positive emotion again.
It had certainly been a long time...
"It's your first time out, eh? Must've been an exciting day one. I remember mine was a lot worse than this.
I started out in Lycia as a young swordsman, learning from the military leaders of my territory. Those who taught me were very qualified, being heroes of a number of battles and victors of many encounters like this, I'm sure. I wasn't much with a blade back then, and I probably won't be in the future. I worked hard though, and that's the important thing for an adventurer. Perseverance.
Anyways, as I grew up, I met a nice girl. We dated, we married, and we'd planned on having some children at some point. My wife and I lived in a very small town, a good ways out of the way of any travellers and far from any sort of authority in the law. One night, a very large, very demanding guild of brigands and bandits - much like the ones we fought today - came and began ransacking the village. They forced everyone out, and it was either slaughter by brigands or mauled to death by monsters, if you couldn't outrun the monsters. My wife and I, we decided to run.
We didn't make it far, though. My wife just wasn't built for intense physical exertion like I was, especially for how long we needed to go until we were in the clear. So, I slowed down. I tried to fight off the monsters as we ran, but there were... so many... I couldn't do it on my own. My poor wife, I... I watched her die, helpless to do anything about it. It was the most pain I'd ever seen someone in. I wish I could've saved her from it, but I'd been injured too badly and was on the verge of death as well. My many years of training had prepared me to survive, unfortunately. So, I did.
A traveling mercenary group happened to be nearby and heard the monsters. They were traveling between contracts and picked me up on their way, nursing me back to health and taking me in as one of their own. I trained with them, learned from them, lived with them, and did everything with them for a few years after that. Then one day, when we were traveling near Etruria, some military band under the command of The Prophet came and killed the mercenaries that I had come to love like family. I couldn't do anything against a small army, so in fear I ran. I still regret leaving them behind, saving my own life like a coward instead of losing it with them like heroes.
I eventually worked my way back to my hometown, the place my wife and I had lived before she was murdered. In one night, I executed every single one of those darned bandits who'd taken her from me. I couldn't stick around after that, however, so I fled into the night, and after a series of small... adventures, now I'm here.
I'm doing my best to become better at my trade, so that eventually I'll never have to see someone experience the same pain my wife felt. That's part of why I tried to help you, honestly. I don't feel it's right to leave someone to die, like I was forced to witness and experience."
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Apr 15, 2017 4:15:54 GMT -6
The inquisitive huntress took a seat on a fallen tree by the stream as Ito began his story. Her idle curiosity had touched on something considerably more colossal than she imagined it could, though. As Selunae listened to the insipid manner of Ito’s tone, the would-be adventurer grew mournful and morose. Here she sat, listening to a first-hand account of tragedies worse than anything she’d ever experienced, yet the swordsman recounted them with the same disinterested calm tone of a passer-by commenting on cloudy weather at the marketplace. The tale of his wife distressed her to no end, but other than the soulful remorse in his eyes, no emotional response manifested in his body language or tone.
Selunae had lived a sheltered life in comparison and had never known true loss the way Ito had. She’d heard tales of bandits and brigands, but until this very day they had seemed just as likely to be ghost stories. When she would listen in on the conversations of the older men, there would be the occasional mention of an obscure village or settlement being ransacked, but daily life went on as if nothing had happened on the larger scale. Now, listening to what this man before her had lost, a tightness gripped her chest, and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. It was all she could do to hold her composure and rein in her emotion. It was written all over her face though, there was no hiding the swell of desolation that spread across her features as the stoic swordsman concluded the tale of his wife’s untimely demise. Surprisingly, to Selunae at least, she was the one between the two of them that looked to be in desperate need of a hug.
As the story winded on, Selunae made a silent mental connection linking the Prophet to the terrifying stories she’d heard about the siege of Ostia and how the dread magicks had razed the Lycian capital. It was the source of her fear of magic, after all. She hadn’t seen it, oh heavens no. She’d never left her quiet corner of country life in Bern until this foolhardy trek she had bullheadedly embarked on. A sliver of apprehension towards Dawson slowly chipped away at her subconscious, a sense of trepidation that she couldn’t grasp for reasons she didn’t understand. The foreboding had nothing to do with his Ilian connection, she was sure of it, yet she couldn’t place the source.
Ito’s turmoil was plainly evident in his eyes. It was Selunae’s only true window to seeing what he truly felt behind the unrevealing tone he consistently maintained. To lose so much, and have no choice but to simply endure it. Ito certainly seemed convinced his actions were vindicated by his loss, and Selunae would certainly wish to do the same were she in his shoes, yet he never seemed to find any peace or closure from his vengeance. She felt a compulsory urge to help him, but she was unsure how, or even where to begin.
“Ito, I.. I’m..,” she sputtered faintly, unable to form the words that so easily came to mind. ‘Ito, I’m so sorry.’ Such simple words, yet she choked on the attempt to give voice to them. Her lower lip trembled, her chest ached. Her resistance had faltered for but a moment in her failure to articulate her condolences, but in that instant, everything she was holding back burst through. A single sniffle was the only warning Ito would get before the torrential flow of tears and emotion overtook the huntress. Selunae stood, suddenly lunging forward into the hero that had rescued her. Her arms wrapped tightly around his torso and she buried her tear-streaked face in his chest, wailing incoherently. It was a culmination of the stress and strain of her journey as well as the plights Ito had expressed in his tale. In any case, if she was the only one displaying emotion, she would just have to show enough for the both of them. She did just that.
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Dawson
Shaman
Posts: 65
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Dawson
OoC Alias: Fargus
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Post by Dawson on Apr 19, 2017 20:01:20 GMT -6
Dawson glared at Black Wolf as he charged at Dawson. Dawson rolled to the side right as the regal axe swung to the side as it made a tiny cut on Dawsons cheek. He got back up and looked at Black Wolf. "Heh...not bad Dawson, seems yer fighting hasn't gotten rusty from being away from Draco, too bad it won't be enough to defeat me though!" Black Wolf said with a hearty laugh. Dawson assessed the situation as Black Wolf picked back up his Hand Axe.
"Here, here's a present from ye truly!" Black Wolf said as he threw the Hand Axe in Dawsons direction. Dawson then fired a dark energy bolt at Black Wolf, striking him in the shoulder before he had the chance to raise his Regal Axe. Dawson tried to turn to avoid getting hit by the Hand Axe, but he got nicked at the side, causing a cut in his side as it started to bleed slightly. Gritting his teeth, Dawson stared down at Black Wolf as he got up slowly, holding his Regal Axe in both hands now. "Your going to need to do better...than that Black Wolf!" Dawson said as he held his side with his free hand. Black Wolf only replied with a snarl as he glared at Dawson. "You...shoulda stayed with us Dawson...you were Dracos right hand man even...you'd give that up for this "ideal" that you seek?" Black Wolf sputtered as he then lunged at Dawson again. His aim was off as it hit the side of a tree and got lodged in it. "Yes Black Wolf, I won't let you, Black Dog, Draco, or anyone use others for their purpose like this, I WILL strike you down!" Dawson said.
"Heh...you got a sharp tongue there...lets see which is sharper...your tongue...or my axe!" Black Wolf said as he grabbed his Hand Axe and lunged at Dawson again.
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Ito
Myrmidon
But it's only me, and I walk alone.
Posts: 82
Affinity: Anima
Profile: -Link-
OoC Alias: Killtec
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Post by Ito on Apr 19, 2017 23:47:38 GMT -6
The swordsman watched Lunie as he told her of his past, her very being seeming to grow sorrowful at his own dreadful experience. He wanted to reach out to her, comfort her somehow, but he just didn't know how. He was afraid to gain a new friend, as death seemed to haunt him, looming like some sort of twisted, evil guardian angel. He held back his kindness in fear, fear of his past repeating like history. His inner demon had stuck around since the first time he lost a loved one, and it seemed to prevent him from making friends to attempt preserving their lives. Whether it was the Ilian knight, the Sacaen swordswoman, or any of the other travelers and mercenaries he'd met on the road, he always held back to try keeping his deathly stalker away.
Ito tried to hold back with Lunie, too. Then her first sniffle came.
Oh, Lunie. Don-
Ito's thoughts were cut short as the young adventurer before him stuttered an apology. The condolences were greatly appreciated, but for one dastardly moment the swordsman thought to decline them. No. Don't reject them. You are BETTER than you used to be, Ito! You can accept her sympathy.
After all, haven't you been longing for a friend to talk to?
The girl threw herself at Ito, tears streaming down her face as she embraced the cold myrmidon. Ito nearly stumbled back in surprise, shifting his balance to avoid falling over backward. He looked down at her, then held his arms across her back to return the hug. "Lunie... Thank you. You have no idea how long it's been since someone's been so compassionate to me." His voice was somber, but held a grateful undertone.
Ito closed his eyes, shedding a gracious tear and giving a small smile. The first smile I've had in a long time.
It felt good to talk about it. Ito never made the connection, but it seemed that talking about it lessened his emotional pain little by little. While death might've followed Ito like a puppy, this small amount of relief and, to an extent, closure, helped him to open up a little, and be a little braver as he proceeded. Maybe I can have a friend or two. Maybe my history won't repeat itself if I establish new friendships. Maybe they won't die, too.
Maybe I'll be able to smile again later.
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