Melody
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Posts: 2
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Post by Melody on Dec 2, 2009 21:45:26 GMT -6
Melody stepped quietly through the snow laden streets, a well disguised limp impeding her pace only slightly. Her cheeks were red with cold and her nose wet by the icy air. Her footprints were quickly erased by the steady fall of snow in the small mountain town. Her eyes darted left to right looking for somewhere quiet to stay the night.
After a few more strained yards Melody arrived in front of a shabby but cozy looking inn. She let out a frozen sigh and stumbled through the door, body softening in the warmth of it's interior. Melody straightened herself after a few safe steps in and pulled off her damp hood. Even in the harsh conditions Melody's appearance suffered little. Her eyes retained a vigorous sparkle- her hair as kempt as in mid-spring.
With a few nimble strides Melody arrived before the main counter, a charming, adorable smile on her slightly chapped lips. "Excuse me- how much would a room for tonight cost me?" She batted her youthfully long eyelashes as clutched her cloak with a small hand. "Well, I could give you a bit of a discount seeing as how you're still a babe... Does 20 gold sound reasonable?" His accent was foreign but interesting to Melody's ears. "Reasonable? That would be wonderful! Thank you so much!" Her eyes sparkled happily and she traded a few golden pieces for a slightly rusty key.
People get easier and easier to manipulate. Melody's glittering exterior would never betray her dark inside. She moved to find her room but a thought crossed her mind. She turned frailly back to the Innkeeper. "I don't suppose a small meal is part of the package is it?" He laughed deeply and turned toward the kitchen, off to summon the chef. I should feel bad about all of this. With a flip of her hair she moved to find an available seat. But I don't.
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Zaath
Myrmidon
"We all make choices, but in the end, our choices will inevitably make us."
Posts: 31
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Post by Zaath on Dec 2, 2009 22:32:58 GMT -6
Zaath awoke from his nap to find that there was a fresh face in the room. She seemed to be in her mid teens, with hair past her shoulders and a petite frame. Her inviting features put Zaath in a state of caution. In his experience, people who appear in this manner, such as employers (Merc) who present themselves and the situation in a desirable manner, are often making things appear better than they are. Though Zaath had no basis for his judgment, he simply didn't trust nice people. He enjoyed the company of those who are curt and straight to the point over those who sugar coat the situation.
Zaath pulled off his hood and walked over to the fire place. He looked down at the coals and was pleased to discover that they maintained the same level of intense heat that the had not two hours before. He removed the pot from the grill hanging over the coals and brought it to his table. He removed the lid and almost immediately the scent of tea permeated the proximity of the dining area. Zaath began to pur his own cup when calamity struck. Zaath's hand slipped and he spilled his tea all over the floor and down his right pant leg, as well as spattering some all over his shirt.
"Damn it.!" Zaath said, trying to be quiet, but no matter how discreet he tried to be, he would have to ask the inkeeper to allow him to wash his cloths using their washboard and tub. His anger grew when he realized that it was probably close to the early morning segment of the day (1 or 2 AM) and the others would be leaving in several hours.
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Post by Rayl Torien on Dec 5, 2009 21:31:11 GMT -6
Rayl, after some time of reading, shut the book and let out a sigh. He was quite prob of his publication, a final testimonial to his new found ability to both read and write. The book was already out and had apparently been taken kindly to in Ostia and Pherae, but one thing was on his mind as of now: Was it a good idea to have so openly chastized That so called Prophet, Kraft or whatever their name was? They had amassed a large amount of power, and any challenge to their power could prove to have dire consequences...but Rayl's hatred toward The Prophet for the murder of Wylie the Wrestler and Crowley the Magnificent made his doubt soon fade away, as he took a look at the cast of characters around him:
There was the man who sat behind him, seemingly still groggy from rest. Hair of white, the man's apparel reminded him of a sort of practitioner of the magics, his cloak as dark as night made it clear of which he used.
A woman had walked in, probably about ten years his younger, with face and features delicate and beautiful, but she did not interest him, his mind still stayed on his beloved deceased Persephone.
The was a seemingly upset man behind him near the fire place, brewing a fine smelling tea, a drink Rayl had acquired a taste for as he was reaching towards abstinence of alcohol. the man had spilled some on himself, and the knight rose to his feet,"No need for such language, my friend." He put on a false warm smile, masking the coldness of his heart, "Would you like some help there?"
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Alphonse
Priest
[M:0]
A flask? Without alcohol?! Blasphemy!
Posts: 73
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Post by Alphonse on Dec 6, 2009 0:31:57 GMT -6
OoC: What's up with all the night time posting? I've become impatient...
IC: Alphonse woke suddenly, spit slithering out of his mouth and onto his pillow. He pushed himself up onto his fours, then up into a sitting position, and stretched. The room was still dark so Alphonse hadn't slept for long, but it wasn't to surprising for him, for every time he slept it felt like it was only a little nap. He reached into his robe and pulled out the severed blade rapped in cloth and starred at it for a while, still trying to wake up. Someone walked out of their room and down to the main part of the inn. Alphonse shook his head and slipped the cloth under his sheets near the pillow then reached into his robe once more and pulled out a flask.
I was hoping to save this till tomorrow, but... He opened the flask and a strong scent of beer raised up from and into his nose. Alphonse gave and a small groan as the smell overwhelmed him, and then put the flask to his lips, and had a few sips of the brew. He pulled away from his lips and gave a yawn, blinking his eyes. "Now thats what I call a beer!" he said looking back down at the flask and taking a few more sips. It was a strong beer, so it easily woke Alphonse, warming his insides and putting him in a good mood.
His room door swung open and Alphonse stepped out, closing the door gently behind him. He walked down into the main part of the inn and had a examined the faces within: He could see Shadow sleepily sitting in a chair, one of the swordsman were being helped by an unknown armored fellow while the other was minding his own business, there was also a girl who was sitting in a seat waiting for something or someone. Alphonse gave a smile and said in a bit-to-loud voice, "How are my companions this fine night!" He went over to Shadow and put his arm around him, taking a sip from his flask and then putting it up to the shamans face. "Wake up my friend! This is no place to sleep!" he said in a now quieter and kind voice.
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Papilion
Cavalier
[M:0]
A fat man from Etruria.
Posts: 29
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Post by Papilion on Dec 8, 2009 0:28:12 GMT -6
It was about this time when Papilion came stumbling in through the inn door. He looked very frigid and almost blue. He was shivering and also looked as if he went crazy. "Finally I made it around the mountain. Now where is some fire?" Looking around he recognized some people from his group. "I hate you all for leaving me! I had to kill and eat my horse and then crawl the rest of the way." He blurted to no one in particular. He then crawled to the fire because his hands and feat were literally blue as if he had frostbite. He collapsed at the warmth and not caring he didn't pay to stay at the inn yet.
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Post by Rayl Torien on Dec 9, 2009 15:49:31 GMT -6
Rayl paused from helping Zaath (name unknown to him in roleplay, obviously) when a fairly large man burst in, apparently a member of the group of people around him. This man said something about killing and eating his horse, and this infuriated him as a lover of horses and as a mounted knight. However, the Knight's Code was what kept him from speaking out and chastising the stranger. while he was looking up, he noticed the new man speaking to the shaman. This newcomer wore the garb of a holy man,"Hello there father." he called out as a sign of respect for a fellow member of the church. He was unsure of the man's standing in the clergy, after all:
Knight's Code Number one: Respect St. Elimine and Maintain Her Church.
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Zaath
Myrmidon
"We all make choices, but in the end, our choices will inevitably make us."
Posts: 31
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Post by Zaath on Dec 9, 2009 20:14:06 GMT -6
After gaining the permission of the innkeeper to use his tub, Zaath feverishly scrubbed away at his clothes with the washboard, his intensity increasing with every scrape of the grated metal object. After finishing his clothes, Zaath stood up in not but his undergarments and realized with disdain he had nothing else to wear. "I guess I'll just wrap up in my cloak as these dry over the fire..."
Zaath draped his garments over the mantel and to his surprise, was approached by the Innkeeper. "That'l be five pieces, sir." "Umm, huh?" Zaath responded in question. "Well, these are tough times, and I have to make a living. I thought I mentioned the fee." Zaath thought back to their conversation and realized that the man did, infact mention a fare for the use of his equipment. "Well..."
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Melody
The "Before" years
[M:0]
Posts: 2
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Post by Melody on Dec 9, 2009 20:38:02 GMT -6
After a restless night Melody awoke shortly before dawn. Mornings in these snowy lands were early, the sounds of rising people filling the inn well before the sun broke the horizon. Melody cleaned up a bit in the small sink at the back end of the room and picked up her modest luggage. She grit her teeth through the considerable pain in her leg, and proceeded out of the room.
Melody arrived downstairs to a sight similar to the one a few hours ago before she had retired to her bed- people bustling about, seeming to be in a hurry to get to their destinations. She glanced about, realizing she was the only one with no particular place to go. Her goal was not yet in sight- even she was uncertain as to which direction to march on in.
As she walked toward the door, Melody noticed the man she'd seen spill his tea making some sort of transaction. His face was slightly distressed, and he seemed to be in a spot of trouble.
"That'll be five pieces, sir." Melody could tell from the man's somewhat surprised body language that he had no money to pay the man.
Gently she moved toward the duo, hand slipping into her cloak and reaching for the money she had saved on her little deal last night with the innkeeper.
"If it suits you," she said charmingly, arriving adjacent to the man called Zaath, "please make use of this." She put her hand out to the man, five gold pieces glittering in her palm. "I won't be needing them." She smiled innocently and waited for the man to take the money. Or refuse it, she supposed, but that would be rather self-important.
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Saturos Prox
Swordmaster
The Wildcard
I'm almost incapable of lying. I'd be a terrible spy.
Posts: 351
Etruria Fame: 1
Profession: Undercover Operative
Affinity: Anima
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Post by Saturos Prox on Dec 9, 2009 22:44:47 GMT -6
Saturos had woken up early and had gone outside for his early morning workouts, since Zaath hadn't shown up yet. As he was finishing up another set of push ups, a pink haired girl stepped outside with a bucket of soapy water and dumped it on the snow, causing the snow to melt then refreeze. It left a slippery block of ice behind. Eying the girl, Saturos moved up beside her. "Excuse me, miss," he said, "would you happen to be the barmaid?" The girl looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and turned away. "Not interested," she said curtly, beginning to walk away. Saturos stepped in front of her and raised his hands in protest. "Oh no, you misunderstand," he protested, flustered. Why did everyone's minds go straight to that? "I simply wanted to talk." The girl looked back at him, a bored look in her eyes, and put a hand on her hip. "Are you just trying to shoot the breeze or is there something you want?" she asked. "I don't have time to just talk aimlessly, and I can't imagine what information a barmaid from a backwater Ilian town could give you." Saturos smiled nervously. She was just as blunt as her brother; a bit ruder though. "I was just wondering if I could talk to you about your brother," said Saturos. The barmaid looked back at him, narrowing her eyes. There was a pause. "What brother?" she practically spat, then slammed the front door in Saturos' face. He rubbed the back of his head. "Was it something I said?"
Saturos slowly opened the door and stepped inside the inn. She was scrubbing the counter vigorously. "Excuse me..." said Saturos softly. The girl looked up at him. "What!?" she barked, then rubbed her forehead and sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Just talking about him gets me upset," she said. Saturos raised an eyebrow. "Richter, you mean?" he asked inquisitively. The barmaid put her rag away and sat down on a stool. "Yeah, Richter," she muttered. "So you know him? Do you know how he's been?" Saturos shook his head. "I was going to ask you the same thing, but no, I knew him before he left. He was a mercenary in the unit I fought in. I was traveling with a group to Ilia, and Richter'd told me before all about his home town. He was so proud of his upbringing and his family. I thought I'd stop by and say hello. I had no idea that..." Saturos stopped with an awkward silence. "Ah, this is awkward and I don't even know your name..." The pink haired girl stared back at Saturos and smiled slightly. "It's Mary," she said, holding out a hand. "Nice to meet you..." Saturos grabbed her hand and shook it. "Saturos," he replied. Mary nodded. "Nice to meet you Saturos."
The two sat and talked about everything. His life, her life, Richter's life, why the sky changes colors, and why it snows in Ilia. As the two wrapped up the conversation, Saturos put his cloak back on. Mary raised an eyebrow. "It's still early," she said. "You're leaving? What about the group you came with?" Saturos just shrugged. "I was just tagging along," he replied. "I came here to do what I needed to. Now it's time for me to go. Just one more thing...Did Richter happen to say where he was going before he left?" Mary just shook her head. "Nothing, nothing at all. I just remember him looking at me. He stared at me with the eyes of someone who had died," said Mary. She stared off into nothing, remembering memories long shut away. "The only thing that kept him going was hate. If he hasn't gotten himself killed yet, I bet you he's looking for those mercenaries. They had left the day before he did, and they never came back. They probably got themselves killed, or at least moved on to a more profitable village. We had been their primary extortees..." Saturos frowned. "I see..." he said, as he turned to walk out the door. "Wait!" shouted Mary after him. Saturos stopped and turned back around. "If you ever find him, tell him...tell him his sister misses him, and that he needs to come home." Saturos nodded, then walked back to the door. As he opened it, he stopped. "Don't worry, I will," he said, then quietly walked out of the inn into the snow. The door closing behind him, he sighed. "Well, where to now?" he said, the snow and wind blowing through his hair. Giving one last look at the village, Saturos walked out into the snowy plains.
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Papilion
Cavalier
[M:0]
A fat man from Etruria.
Posts: 29
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Post by Papilion on Dec 14, 2009 19:13:54 GMT -6
Not long after Papilion passed out he was woken up from water splashing his face. "What?" Papilion jerked up with water dripping from his face. "You need to pay if you're staying here", someone from the inn said. "oh" Papilion dug through his pockets until he found some spare change. "Here" Yea, it costs more than that to stay. "oh" Papilion was started to get annoyed. "You know what, I'll just leave." Snatching his money back he left the inn.
About 1 minute later he regretted it. He hadn't warmed up sufficiently and was still exhausted. He was also starting to hate Ilia. "I am getting out of this wasteland as soon as I get the wanted kid"
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Zaath
Myrmidon
"We all make choices, but in the end, our choices will inevitably make us."
Posts: 31
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Post by Zaath on Dec 15, 2009 10:16:08 GMT -6
"Thank you." Was all Zaath could say. "Thank you very much, but if you'll excuse me for a moment..." Zaath walked over to the hearth and grabbed the articles of clothing sitting on it. He then walked into a closet and dressed himself. He then walked out and began to search for Saturos within the confines of the Inn, but had no luck. Zaath swore under his breath as he walked outside to continue his search.When his efforts yielded no positive results he walked back inside and calmly sat back in his chair. He was looking forward to that spar, but he figured that it was no large loss. "Guess I'll just practice alone..."
After retrieving his tea pot from the fireplace, Zaath looked up to melody and asked in a polite voice "Excuse me, miss. I was wondering if you would like to sit with me and have a cup of tea. It's the least I can do for your assistance." Zaath smiled and waited for her response.
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Post by Gabriel on Dec 16, 2009 14:50:51 GMT -6
Gabriel walked out of his room and downstairs to the main room of the inn. He seemed to be in a much better condition than the previous day. A good night of rest was enough to get him in good shape, apparently. The place was bustling. Maybe Illians preferred alcohol in the morning? Thinking back, he did remember reading that some beverages would help people dealing with the cold, especially those with high amounts of alcohol. Maybe they used alcohol as a way to prepare themselves before going hunting.
Then Gabriel realized that he had been standing at the end of the steps for minutes while thinking, which made him snap back to reality. He saw Zaath sitting on a table, talking to a girl roughly of Gabriel's age. Close by were Shadow and an all too happy Alphonse, seemingly talking to an armored man.
Saturos, Papillion and Errol were nowhere to be seen in the room. Probably still asleep, or walking around town, somewhere. Gabriel decided to take a sit between Zaath and Alphonse, and asked the bartender for some water. Seemed like this would be one long day.
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Post by Rayl Torien on Dec 19, 2009 15:27:16 GMT -6
OOC: As Alphonse has yet to respond.
IC: Rayl watched as people went about their business, seeing as how the priest had ignored his salutations: perhaps he was busy in thought? Oh well, the cavalier made his way for the door of the inn, holding his books in his hand...yes, books. They were both of his own writing, the first being his already published Magnificent Adventures of Crowley, and the second was a work in progress he was writing about a certain zealotic tyrant, entitled: Plague Across Elibe. He didn't care if That self-proclaimed Prophet knew that Rayl openly defied him, that man laid waste to the fundamental teachings of both St. Elimine and Holy Knight Barigan...
Speaking of which...perhaps he should make his way for the tomb of Barigan and pay his respects. It was said the temple was frequently visited by Pegasi knights who were departing to further their training, as a way to pray for good fortune. With this new sense of direction in mind, he exited the inn and entered the stables, where his good friend and mighty horse Elibe stood, not too shaken by the cold, it's heavy breath visible with each snort as he shook his mane," Don't worry old boy, just one more detour and we'll be back at the ranch..."
When not training young knights the ways of chivalry and mounted combat, Rayl spent his spare time either on extra patrols, or tending to the horses at his ranch. He had raised quite a few for the useage of the Marquess and the knights, and some of his horses were the offspring of mighty Elibe himself.
Putting the feed bag on Elibe, he began stroking the trusted horse's man with a smile on his face: his only good friend he still had frequent contact with besides Night, and some of the other veteran knights of Pherae.
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