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Post by Gabriel on Oct 8, 2009 21:02:33 GMT -6
Nearly a week had passed since the full team had set out of the forest to the northeast, to the frozen land of Ilia. They dropped Jya in a town roughly an hour away from their starting place, and were now crossing some hills, mountains rising in the horizon.
It's been two weeks, and yet, I don't feel like I miss home. Actually, I do, but I certainly don't miss my parents. I had read that the world was vast, and that there were many sights to behold, but I never even imagined it would be like this.
Gabriel was lost in thought, like always. Being the youngest(and probably weakest) of the group didn't help at all. They had to fight some wolves and a few bandits on the way to where they were.
"I still think it's weird for bandits to be out here. Aren't we in the middle of nowhere right now?" Gabriel finally broke the ice, taking a look at his compass, and a map of Elibe that he had bought at the last town.
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Shadow
Shaman
"... ... ..."
Posts: 236
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Post by Shadow on Oct 9, 2009 15:09:08 GMT -6
Shadow had been quiet the whole time while traveling. He was the outcast, the strange, dark, menacing figure that no one truly trusted. Even with Alphonse annoying him as usual, he knew that there were stolen glances of suspicion. Once, Shadow attempted to start a conversation with the group, to simply say that he was not a bad man, but decided against it.
Now, he was walking with the group of people, still keeping his vigil reticence. The ground now commonly had snow, and it was much cooler than Etruria. There were some trees about, but no forests of green. It was odd, but still a very peculiar and breath-taking landscape. The shaman breathed in the cool air, and sighed. Shadow, in a sense, enjoyed being here.
His calm thoughts were broken, as Shadow heard Gabriel speak. It did not annoy him, but it was odd. Usually, it was a quiet trip, and that was nice to him. But still, the young mage had a point. Shadow decided to take out his own map that he jotted in his journal. He saw the previous route that he drew on it, and had scenes of his past flash before his eyes. It was for a split second, and then snapped back into reality.
After a few more seconds, Shadow thought he found a general area of where they were. He wasn't sure if he should say what he believed, because of the stares he received afterward of him even speaking. Still, the shaman knew it was best for him to tell the young pupil of anima magic where they were.
He walked up to Gabriel, and made a slight nudge at his shoulder. Shadow then brought the journal to his level of sight and pointed to a small circle on the map. "We should be somewhere in this location," Shadow said very softly. On the map, the circle was in the location of an empty plain. Northeast of them, there would be some trees, a river, and then mountains. The shaman was unable to hide the route that was already on the map, and wondered if Gabriel would notice it.
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Post by Gabriel on Oct 10, 2009 12:28:57 GMT -6
Gabriel turned his head once he felt a hand on his shoulder. Shadow was standing next to him. He took a book from inside his robes, and showed it to the mage-in-training, pinpointing their location. He was pointing towards a small piece of land that was bordered by the ocean to the north and northwest, and
He took another quick glance at the map Shadow had, and noticed that there was a rough dotted line, coming from a bit to the southwest of the forest he had met everyone in. The line then curved a bit, passing through Ostia, and though it seemed to go on a bit longer, the rest was scrubbed off, the original path being impossible to tell. He tried to make it as stealthy as possible, so he looked away from the map as soon as he saw that the dotted line ended past Ostia, and added:
"We had to go around a big mass of water, so it makes sense. Where in Ilia are we going to again?" he asked out loud.
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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 Oct 11, 2009 0:40:35 GMT -6
Saturos walked up next to Gabriel. "I would find it extremely odd if we were assaulted by bandits," he said, replying to Gabriel's earlier comment. "Bandits tend to live near multiple populated settlements, and the towns and villages in Ilia are relatively spread out from each other due to the terrain and weather conditions." Saturos shrugged. "Most of the settlements that do exist have at least small bands of mercenaries present, so Ilia really isn't good bandit territory."
Pausing, Saturos took note of the fact that Shadow pocketed the map as he drew close. "I know of a small village that should be..." he said, pausing as he focused a little more on where they were and where they had been, "...not too far north of here." Saturos looked North. "It would be nice to find a nice place to stay, maybe even find a bar to relax in."
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Alphonse
Priest
[M:0]
A flask? Without alcohol?! Blasphemy!
Posts: 73
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Post by Alphonse on Oct 11, 2009 9:38:21 GMT -6
Alphonse was in front of the whole group and had been for the entire trip. He quietly trotted through the snow, staying quiet, and looking forward with a blank and empty look in his eyes. He could hear the others talking behind him but he wasn't paying enough attention to catch what the were talking about. Alphonse took in a deep breath of the frigid, Ilian air and let ot a sigh. He liked Ilia, he had been here once before, but he couldn't remember what it was quite like.
Alphonse looked at his surroundings and tried to jog his memory of where exactly he was going. He wasn't that good with, but if he had been to a place, he could retrace his footsteps no problem. Alphonse turned slightly towards his left and focused ahead in the snow; the direction seemed somewhat familiar. He overheard Saturos and nodded, turning his head he said, "I agree with Saturos, we do need a bit of a rest." Alphonse looked towards the sky at the sun, figuring what direction they should be going in. He turned a little to his left and said "This is the way to the town according to what Saturos has said."
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Shadow
Shaman
"... ... ..."
Posts: 236
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Post by Shadow on Oct 11, 2009 13:41:20 GMT -6
The shaman hastily pocketed his notebook as soon as he noticed Saturos coming. Even without his sketched outline, the myrmidon could just examine the young mage's map. Shadow did not want anyone to really see his older routes that he drew a long time ago. It was a personal loss, and it hurt just to think about the matter.
As Alphonse joined in on the conversation, the dark mage started to withdraw from the group a bit. He was still walking parallel with the men; Shadow was just several feet away from them now. He could still pick up what they were saying, and if the shaman had something relevant to say, than he would. But for now, Shadow would keep his silence.
Looking at the previous plans he had made five years back really think back. Shadow remembered the group he had traveled with. Some of the names were forgotten, but their faces stood out to him. One name he remembered well; Leera. He had wondered what had happened to the fellow shaman way back. Shadow had convinced himself that she had a better life. The dark mage's hood hid the sadness in his eyes.
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Post by Gabriel on Oct 12, 2009 13:58:28 GMT -6
"I guess we have no choice but to keep following Alphonse for a while, and to check the compass every now and then to see that we don't get derailed" Gabriel said, as he adjusted the cloth he always had hanging from his back so that it covered his neck and a part of his mouth. The Ilian grounds were much colder than he remembered the books said.
In a futile effort to heat himself up, Gabriel tried to make a fireball, but all he could come up with were some sparks. The cold certainly didn't help at all.
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Post by Gabriel on Oct 18, 2009 12:51:42 GMT -6
A few days had passed. They had somehow crossed a forest and a river(though Gabriel almost got caught up in the current), and were now climbing up the least steep side of a mountain in the mountain range. They had tried to find a usable path for a while, but once that search seemed fruitless, it was obvious that there was only one option.
Gabriel panted, and did his best to cover his face from the snow that was falling. Visibility was low, and the air was getting thinner. For some reason he now felt that he wanted to go back to Delfia. Even if he had to face his father for it.
"I'd love to have a pegasus rider to take us from one side to the other in an instant. Stupid rocks" he muttered. He had several cuts on his hands from having to clutch to sharp rocks for his life. After all, it was that or falling down the mountain side.
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Shadow
Shaman
"... ... ..."
Posts: 236
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Post by Shadow on Oct 18, 2009 19:43:37 GMT -6
Even to the shaman, who appreciated cooler temperatures the most, had to admit that it was quite cold. The snow was coming down harder than before. This made climbing even more difficult. However, Shadow had an advantage. He was tall, able to move around with a bit more ease than some, and also wore clothing that was more durable to weather.
It dawned upon the dark mage that he may have been leaving some of the others behind. Shadow then stopped, finding a good footing so that he would not fall. He then turned back, seeing the others. The shaman then focused on Gabriel, the mage-to-be. He was only a novice, but even an elder magic user could tell when others had great potential. Perhaps he noticed him the most because of some similarities. Then again, perhaps Shadow was just nicer to young people.
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Papilion
Cavalier
[M:0]
A fat man from Etruria.
Posts: 29
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Post by Papilion on Oct 18, 2009 23:14:06 GMT -6
Papilion was silent throughout almost the entire trip with the odd grunt. He started the journey in the middle of the group but purposely lagged behind so he could be at the back where no one could watch him. Papilion wasn't effected too much by the cold because he had much "fat" to heat him but it was still quite chilly.
His horse seemed to not be enjoying himself, tripping a lot and walking through cold water. Papilion was starting to lose his very little bit of patience with the horse's moaning. Papilion had no choice but to slide off his horse to let it regain some strength and then catch up to the rest later. Looking ahead and seeing all the young, smart mages in the group, he burned with jelousy knowing he could of easily been a well-respected mage if he actually bothered learning. Now he was just some fat guy who hated people and life.
With the snow piling down, he briefly debated if he should just turn back. He didn't have much reason to follow this crazy group into the forsaken wild. One reason he was staying though, was because of the young mage, Gabriel. When he left Delfia there was a lot of talking about a "kid" mage who ran away. He blocked it from his mind because he didn't think it would ever affect him. He didn't think about it when he first saw Gabriel and he still didn't know for sure if this mage was the guy but how many kids are found wandering alone in the wilderness. And if he was the guy, he could get maybe get a hefty amount of money for turning him in.
After a small bit he decided to stay with the group and got back on his horse too catch up.
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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 Oct 19, 2009 15:45:43 GMT -6
Either Saturos was oblivious to the cold, or didn't even care, because he kept going strong at the front of the group. It probably had something to do with his affinity to the outdoors. Then again, he was kind of a strange person when it came to stuff like this. "I can't think of a pegasus that would be able to carry Papillion across," joked Saturos towards Gabriel's comment. "Don't worry, just a bit longer and we should be done with this."
Brushing some of the snow out of his eyebrows, Saturos gripped two rocks tightly and leaned away from the mountain, looking down to check how everyone else was doing. "Everyone doing alright down there?"
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Errol
The "Before" years
[M:0]
The truth can be the most powerful weapon of all...
Posts: 36
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Post by Errol on Oct 19, 2009 20:42:10 GMT -6
Errol spoke up in response to Saturos' question. "I think we're doing well, considering the conditions," he continued, "My research could never have prepared me for this."
Errol hadn't had much reason to talk to the others. Their new companions interested him, but he found little energy to spare in this weather for long conversations. But now that he'd already started, "Alphonse, do you know of any villiage close to us in any way?"
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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 Oct 20, 2009 9:07:55 GMT -6
Zaath tried to distance himself a few paces of to the right of the main group. In the back of his mind he thought that if he got to close, some calamity would befall their group. Amidst his melancholy, he suddenly felt thankful for his large wool cloak, seeing as how it guarded him so well from the frozen climate of Ilia.
Zaath called up towards Saturos "As far as I can tell. Heh, hey, I've climbed cliffs, but not with nearly as much dexterity as you." Zaath figured he might as well continue to run his mouth, seeing as how he had nothing else to occupy him. Zaath made his way over to Shadow in an attempt to find out more about him, "So," Zaath began, "What is it that brings you to Ilia?"
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Alphonse
Priest
[M:0]
A flask? Without alcohol?! Blasphemy!
Posts: 73
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Post by Alphonse on Oct 21, 2009 20:48:21 GMT -6
Alphonse was in the back of the group, though not too far from the others. He had to take his robe before the vertical ascent started, since his robe was too tight to climb in; he had it rapped around his shoulders in an attempt to keep himself warm (though he had no where else to wrap it and he wasn't that cold). He looked up at the next rock in front of him and grabbed on, lifting himself up and continued doing so with his other hand, then his feet; for Alphonse, this was a very unpleasant experience not just because it was cold or that he was tired: Alphonse had a great fear of climbing. Though he was not necessarily afraid of heights, merely afraid of the insecurity of climbing.
He looked up at Errol after he heard him call Alphonse's name and brushed the now off his mustache. He pointed behind him and then swung back towards the cliff, grabbing on tightly and sighing with some relief,"The only villages I know of are that way, but right now I have now idea where we are now, or why we're even here. Wouldn't it of been easier to gone around this godforsaken mountain," he asked to no one in particular in an annoyed voice. Alphonse continued upward and as he raised up a foot onto the next ledge he looked downward, froze with fear at the height they were at, and looked up back towards the group saying,"This probably isn't the best time to be saying this, but I have a terrible fear of climbing."
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Papilion
Cavalier
[M:0]
A fat man from Etruria.
Posts: 29
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Post by Papilion on Oct 21, 2009 23:24:46 GMT -6
Papilion was confused unto where the group went and was having a hard time traveling the increasing slope. He finally saw Alphonze above him. "What the? My horse or especially myself can't climb this." he thought to himself.
Papilion yelled up, "Why the heck are we climbing a mountain? Is there a village up there?"
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