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Post by Ilheod on Jul 22, 2016 20:49:22 GMT -6
{This thread is open to all characters. As this is an event, it is open to all and will not occupy a topic slot.} People stood amassed, filling almost every inch of space within the vast opening before the mighty stronghold of Castle Bern's monstrous Keep. Ilheod had never seen so many non-combatants gathered in one location. Even the citizen count at the City of Heroes hadn't been this eye. Though..those were Sacaens, most of whom had and were fighting along side the fighting forces, which would've explained why. As his multi-hued gaze swept from left to right, the faint ambiance of murmurs and mutterings was enough to sound like the steady break of ocean tides among the sandy shores which lined Sacae. He stood to the far right of the assembled Rebel Commanders, at the end of the line. Within his gargoyle bone armor, and the mask he wore when flying the only piece not present, he certainly stood out besides the various figures adorned in plated armor of pristine shine. They, along with various rebel officers of differing rank were standing atop the keep's vast open terrace like balcony which offered a sweeping view to the people below. Bern's citizens had rallied when the Ilian's withdrew. Most had cheered when the Rebellion arrived. In-front of them all, stood the very heart and soul of the Rebellion. Aidan Lowell. Now, the citizens awaited with a palpable hanging curiosity. What tone would be set by the newly arrived government? Ilheod himself felt that question, but he had not been apart of as many council meetings. Stanley, the previous commander of the wyvern forces within the rebellion had fallen during the siege of Larguz. With Ilheod being the most readily available officer, to have extensive commanding experience, he'd taken on the mantle of command which came to him over some thousand wyvern riders. That required no small level of management and took priority over any reports he could simply have delivered to the other generals. This ultimately, left him as in the dark as the citizens below him, as to how the council had agreed to lead Bern into the future. Aidan lifted his hand, after a few idle moments. The chattering ceased among the mass below, and the soft stirrings of the rebellion officers behind him halted. Instinctively, many of the soldiers shifted into more rigid poses and stood almost at attention. The dark haired Rebel, and patriot, spoke loudly so that all(or most) could hear. His tone booming with a steady tone which came to form a charismatic assurance that swept over the vast crowd below. " People of Bern! It's over. Our nations pain, your suffering, it has all come to an end! No longer, will foreign powers decide our fate. No longer will we suffer under oppressive kings, and mad-men." His armored hand thrust higher into the air, as words from the heart roused passions within the people below. Like the rumble of storm clouds along an immense storm the people's voices boomed. Thunderous applause. Cheering. So loud that it could be heard through out the sweeping landscape around Bern, at-least into the basin of the valley their famous mountains surrounded. However as Aidan lifted his hands to quiet the masses, it died down slowly. In a few short sentences, he'd secured their attention and most now hung upon his every word. His voice climbed with bold declaration as he shouted to the heavens above, and proclaimed for all of Elibe to hear. " Our work is not done however. Now, we can build a nation of peace. One where we don't have to worry about a war breaking out every generation. One where we can decide our own paths forward by our own accord and not under the crushing grip of another. A land where Bern is Bern, and Bern is safe. Where it's people don't have to worry about bandit kings, crazed prophets, unholy beasts or the forced inclusion of Ilia into their home. Where they don't have to fear whether or not they will be outed from their homes, the lands they were born, the lands of their fathers..." His pause was met with silence, as what felt like all of Bern waited for him to continue. " But we must do it together. We have been divided for too long. To this end..Bern shall no longer live beneath a king. Nor a queen. We, shall lead ourselves. We shall create a council, that represents the people of Bern. One where we shall meet to speak to each-other, and turn your voices into the very will of Bern. Those upon this council, Lords, Military Commanders, and individuals of great knowledge or talent shall strive to bring our home to new heights. Look to your neighbors, in the coming days. Support each-other. Only we, of Bern, know how to restore our home. " Another pause, before he resumed. " "And together, we of Bern, will restore our home. It will be a mighty task-- one that will require all of our combined strength and courage. However, it is that very same strength and courage that Bern has always prospered from and will continue to prosper from. Together, we shall build our home back to its former strength. Together, we will usher in a new era of prosperity for our country. Together, we shall become whole again. May the glory be to Bern!" A thunderous applause took to the people of Bern as Aidan once more threw a fist to the sky. The bright sky of above Bern. One of limitless potential. Where no boundary could contain their climbing aspirations. Bern would flourish. It would thrive. It would live. -- Ilheod listened as intently as the others. Though he did not roar, or cheer, he felt it. He knew, deep down, that this was the real victory. This was what they had been fighting for. As hundreds...thousands..cheered, he eased his eyes shut. He could see the lingering faces of those that had fallen behind. Those who could not see this moment. Their visage so perfectly preserved. How they smiled. As if they'd known, this would happen. The aging commander felt a soft smile climb upon his own expression as he opened them to look to those around him quietly. It was over. That sheer realization, was hard to fathom. Bern was no longer torn in civil war. It was..free.
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Post by Eren on Jul 22, 2016 22:37:04 GMT -6
The Dragon Knight stood with the rest of them, packed tightly together. He heard the words spoken by Aidan Lowell. He heard and understood. His job was clear. He would need to once more offer his services, not simply as a traveling defender, justice on wings, but as a sworn vassal, a soldier of Bern once more. He had fought for Bern, he had fought for Ilia, and then he had fought alone. No longer. Now, he was left with a sense of emptiness, a vessel waiting to be filled by duty and purpose.
But Bern lived. Its breath was the collective sigh of the people, living so long in the shadow of the oppressor, now free and given the liberty to live as men and women were meant to live. Now the great nation was once more great, and its potential stood as a metric seemingly without end. This was the dawn of a new age, the ushering in of a new era, and a roaring explosion of hope, and joy, and life.
Former Brigadier General Eren Barrata raised his axe in silent homage to the man who had started and finished the monumental task of restoring Bern to the hands of the people of Bern. He nodded as he realized his mission and his duty, and he welcomed the challenges to come.
"I remember you."
A quiet greeting. A quiet salute to the man standing in front of him, though raised and near Aidan. Ilheod. Though they had met briefly, the man had fought with courage and honor. Eren saluted his skill and his experience in the field.
"Now that Bern is free, I find myself with a new void. I can no longer rely on the extermination of bandits as my contribution to the Rebellion. Now I must renew my vow to my country and once more pledge myself to the armed service of Bern.
And what of you? What has become of you over the passed time?"
Eren's voice was quiet as he spoke to himself, but his eyes never left the one who stood there. Ilheod of the Nightwings. He had earned his place, it seemed. Eren smiled softly, slowly. Every path was different, it seemed. One path lead to the sky, and another to the Senate. He regretted none of his decisions - he had fought for Bern in the way he knew to fight. Now he found himself at the end of the road, at the crossroads of the paths once more.
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Aria
Wyvern Rider
Chewy's Caretaker
Posts: 190
Bern Fame: 1
Profession: Wyvern Rider
Affinity: Anima
Profile: Aria's Profile
OoC Alias: Twilightfairy
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Post by Aria on Jul 23, 2016 8:09:24 GMT -6
Aria was among the crowd, she was at the rear of the crowd, along with Chewy. She could hear the man speech. At long last Bern was free. Free from Ilian tyranny! At least that's what's the people say. Aria herself never witnessed Ilian's abusing the Bernese people. She was busy flying around the country helping the common man with common work over the course of the war. But, she could not help but be swept up by the emotions of the crowd. When they cheered she cheered. And Chewy cheered with her. She let out a small roar and flap of her wings. The wyvern had no idea what the commotion was about, which was understandable as war, and politics meant nothing to flying creature. It did not interfere with the wyvern's day to day life. Aria leaned on Chewy's head and looked around at the crowd of people. The rider knew Bern had a large populace but this was the first time outside of a festival that she had seen so many people all crowded around in one place. Festivals brought maybe about a hundred people. But this, she swore there had to have been thousands of folks among the crowd. She had hoped to find someone she recognized among the sea of faces.
While she was busy searching for someone among the crowd, someone approached her. A man and his wyvern. A man she knew and was decked out in all his official armor. The wyvern that was with him was black as coal and dressed in armor. Chewy turned around and greeted them both. Aria was turned with Chewy, smiled, and waved.
"Emmett! Boris!" Aria tapped Chewy lightly with her heel and the brick colored wyvern made motions to let Aria dismount. The knighted man did the same with his wyvern and dismounted. The rider in his official armor took off his helmet and tied it to Boris's saddle. The man held his arms out and Aria quickly hugged him. The sky-haired rider was shorter then Emmett, and thus her face was pressed against his chest plate. She squeezed as hard as she could then let go. The armor he wore probably negated the hug all together. She rubbed her cheek.
"You think I'd remember not to hug you when you have that thing on."
Emmett laughed and shook his head.
"Never change little sister. Never change. Can you believe it though. Bern is free to rule itself once again."
"Yeah. I'm glad and relieved. You aren't putting your life at risk doing shady rebellion things anymore. Thank the skies." She spoke then lightly punched her brother on the shoulder. He scoffed.
"They weren't shady things. They were perfectly legitimate tactics for the betterment of Bern's people."
"Uh-huh." She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the wyvern Boris.
"And you Boris.. come here." She made a few motions with her hand and beckoned the wyvern over. The creature leaned his head down and allowed Aria to pet him. She scratched the wyvern under his chin and neck.
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Zacharia
Shaman
Kingmaker
"You fight for the promise of a better tomorrow for this country."
Posts: 172
Bern Fame: 3
Illia Fame: -2
Profession: Advisor
Affiliation: Bernese Senate
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Link
OoC Alias: Zach
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Post by Zacharia on Jul 26, 2016 13:22:37 GMT -6
From the balcony, the soldiers strained their necks to peer down at the crowds below. Meanwhile, Zach was fidgeting with his clothes. If the boy could move any more than he was now, he'd practically be rolling on the ground. He tugged at his starchy, fitted collar again and again as he adjusted his suit. Despite the weather being perfectly temperate, it was sweltering in the heat of thousands of bodies. Zacharia didn't mind being decked out in royal gear, but did he really have to wear such... form-fitting clothes? Not even the people below the mage could see him or the soldiers he stood with. And worst of all, the royal tailors were holding his cape hostage in their workshop. Something about being all grimy and frayed and "not washed since the first coming of Elimine". Bah. They wouldn't know taste if it slapped them up-side their perfectly coiffed heads.
Lowell raised an ironclad hand, beckoning for silence. Within moments the thrum of the crowd shrunk to a small whisper, and the soldiers stood at attention. Even Zach gave up on his fidgeting. Everyone already knew of the stalwart general, Dan. But what impression would the High Consul, Aidan Lowell make? It seemed like everyone on the grounds leaned in a little closer, straining their ears to catch his voice.
And what an impression it was. Zach's eyes opened wide in surprise. He knew that Aidan had a passionate side underneath his gruff demeanor, but it always caught him off guard when the man used it. His voice was even-toned, yet so warm and so full of pride. And all of that pride was for his people. The boy couldn't help but beam.
As the High Consul spoke, Zacharia's mind wandered. In his mind's eye, he could see the Bern that he had dreamed of. Lush mountains, beautiful valleys, peaceful days. They were so close to that ideal now. No more wars stood in their way, nor in-fighting, nor oppression. And yet... There was still many years of rebuilding ahead of them. The Emblem weighed on his mind as well. Although Aidan looked much healthier now than before Zach took the Emblem, it was still a mystery wrapped in an enigma for them. And soon, the mage would have to track down the Shrine of Seals, and then...
Zach snapped back to attention, focusing on Aidan's speech. This wasn't a day for worries; this was a day for celebration! For now, he would have to set aside all concerns and simply believe in the general's ideals. After all, he was an advisor now. Advisors had to be there for their wards.
With a final flourish, the man's speech was over. Its response? A deafening roar of cheers that shook the castle to its very foundation and echoed off of mountaintops for miles around. Even the commanders on the terrace joined in the uproar of applause. They were celebrating Aidan's speech, it was true, but there was more to it than that. They were celebrating the promise of that new tomorrow The people of Bern had been given hope again. Tears welled in the child's eyes, silently rolling down his cheeks. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he'd make it all the way here, in one piece.
Lost in a sea of noise, Zacharia quietly responded to the cheer. "May the glory be to Bern."
It was over. There were no more fake-outs or false promises of an ending. It was finally, finally over.
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Post by Kelvin H. Calderon on Aug 5, 2016 9:18:21 GMT -6
As the crowds below him cheered on the birth of a new Bern, Kelvin couldn’t help but think back on the maelstrom of activity that had led up to this moment. He had been getting dressed and readying his armor for the ceremonies of the day, when Aidan had ambushed him bearing a letter from the newly formed Bernese council. In it, he expected to find a minor commendation and perhaps the assignment of a small role in the new military, but the reality was much grander. Rather than having him assume command of a small battalion under some higher-up, they were awarding him one of Bern’s highest honors: to command the military as one of the three Dragon Generals. He had been speechless at the time, offering Aidan little more than a slack jawed look of surprise. His fellow commander let him know that he need not respond immediately, but Kelvin snapped back to reality and had accepted the position on the spot. What had followed were a number of ceremonies, granting him Bernese citizenship, nobility, knighthood, and finally, the appointment to Dragon General. With all the pomp and circumstance, he had barely had time to join up with the other rebel commanders for the announcement of the new Bern.
And now here he stood, alongside the men he had fought with to win Bern’s freedom from its oppressor. He swelled with pride as Aidan spoke to the people and cheers echoed from the courtyard below. They had done it. From a small riot in a minor town to a major military movement going head to head with the Ilian military, Kelvin couldn’t believe how far they had come. He only wished Nasir could be here to see the fruits of his labors. Unfortunately, they had lost contact with him shortly after his arrival in Larguz and it was later discovered that the Ilian occupation had learned his identity and publicly executed him. Now that the conflict had ended, his body was to be returned to Linz and a memorial was to be built in his name, honoring the man who had created the spark that ultimately lit the flames of rebellion.
The speeches and celebrations eventually came to an end, and Kelvin, coming down from the euphoria, excused himself. He had several matters to attend to before his official duties began. He knew that his time would be consumed by his new role, and these matters were to important to postpone until things calmed down, if they ever did. Spotting one of his fellow Dragon Generals, he pulled Ilheod aside for a moment to inform him of his departure. “I’m going to be leaving Bern for a short time. I have some personal matters to attend to before I officially assume my new position. I should only be gone no longer than a month or so. With any luck I’ll be back sooner than that. I’m sure you’ll be fine in my absence.” With that, he gave his comrade one final salute and headed for the stables. He had a long ride to prepare for.
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Aria
Wyvern Rider
Chewy's Caretaker
Posts: 190
Bern Fame: 1
Profession: Wyvern Rider
Affinity: Anima
Profile: Aria's Profile
OoC Alias: Twilightfairy
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Post by Aria on Aug 9, 2016 19:52:25 GMT -6
Boris enjoyed Aria's gentle scratching and let out a mid tone set of growls that almost sounded like purring. His tail tip gently started to bounce gently up and down. Aria smiled softly and kept petting her brother's wyvern. She was examining him. Boris had several scratches and scars along his body. His armor was also full of nicks and scratches. His chest looked as if it had been hit by fire. His scales were a different shade of black then the rest of him. Aria frowned.
"Boris you've been through so much haven't you.. protecting my big brother.." She spoke with a soft voice. The wyvern lowered it's head and gently nuzzled Aria's face. Aria patted his head. Emmett sighed softly in disapproval.
"Would you please stop pampering him like he's a pup."
"Oh.. shush you. Look at how happy he is.. Boris has put his life on the line for you through out this civil war. The least I can do to show my gratitude for that is to pet him a whole bunch. Isn't that right?" She spoke that last bit in a manner similar to that of a mother talking to a cute young baby. The wyvern agreed and moved his neck so Aria could scratch another area.
"You know as well as I have it's been a team effort. I was the one who helped to bandage his wounds and have him healed when his injuries became too great. I stayed up with him.. comforted him." Emmett was always a bit jealous of Aria's ability to charm even the most stubborn of wyverns.
"I know that big brother." Aria sighed softly and slowly lessened her petting.
"So.. What now? Are you going home?" She asked with some seriousness in her voice.
"No. I.. have things to do here. I'm a lieutenant to the new army now.." He spoke and put his arm over his chest.
"Huh, well that explains why you are decked out in the good armor. Congrats! So.. when everything's rebuilt.. can I still crash at your place?" She asked.
"Still mad at the old man?"
"Not really. We made up. But, I still don't like that look he gives me every now and then. It's like I failed him." She shrugged.
"You.. sort of did. I mean.. you know.. from a business perspective. But, yes. You and Chewy will have a place a spot at my place. Provided if you don't mind sharing that place with the children. What.. are your plans anyway? I could put in a good word.. get you back to being a solider to the reformed army." He approached his little sister and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I haven't thought about what I wanted to do. To be honest I didn't think the civil war would be over.. I.. like my freedom. So I might just keep roaming and helping the people."
"Alright."
Aria turned to look at her brother then gave him a light punch on the shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her neck, pulled her close to his chest, and gave her a noogie. Aria struggled to break free. She wasn't in any pain as a matter of fact she was laughing. Eventually she shoved him and broke free from his grip.
"Right then. Enough of the sibling love.. We've got to celebrate! Free Bern!"
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Post by Syana Flamberge on Aug 10, 2016 20:58:25 GMT -6
Down on the streets, you could barely move from the sheer mass of the crowd. People elbowed and jostled passed others in hopes of getting a better look at their saviors. The ones who had freed them from their oppression. One place much less crowded, however, were the rooftops of the city itself. Everyone was busy celebrating together, that none had wanted to separated themselves from the party. Except for a lone figure with fiery red hair.
Syana stood atop her perch, staring down at the seen beneath. She had never seen anything like it. Then again, most of these people had been through hell, so they deserved a little celebration. The rebellion had never been something near and dear to the mercenary's heart. Sure, she had been along for the very beginning of it, but that had more to do with protecting Aidan than actually caring about whether the country was occupied or not. Heck, if Saturos hadn't of been there, she might have never taken the job at all.
All that being said, she had been there for the start of this whole mess, so it only felt right to be there at the end. Her eyes swept over the balcony containing the leaders of the rebellion. It made for a nice picture, but as an assassin, Syana knew that they'd better hope the rebellion was truly over. A couple of skilled assassins and the head of the rebellion would be gone in an instant. She kept her eyes peeled just in case there were others thinking the same. Seriously, had they not listened to her briefing on security at all!?
But her worry seemed to be for not. There was nothing but celebrations and good times to be found here. Her eyes swept the balcony again. She recognized several of the people there from the few times she had popped in. The green knight. The red wyvern rider. And right in the center Aidan himself. Syana couldn't help but let a small smile grow on her face. "Nice job, big guy."
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Aria
Wyvern Rider
Chewy's Caretaker
Posts: 190
Bern Fame: 1
Profession: Wyvern Rider
Affinity: Anima
Profile: Aria's Profile
OoC Alias: Twilightfairy
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Post by Aria on Oct 2, 2016 12:40:20 GMT -6
"Yes for Bern!" Emmett spoke. He would later dismiss himself from his sister's company to be with his wife and children. He choose to celebrate with them rather then with his sister. However, she could celebrate with them whenever she choose. Aria sighed softly. She loved her brother but he could be rather dim to her emotions sometimes. She wanted to sit down and grab a drink with him and hear what he had done so far. But the sky haired rider understood that his priorities lay with the family he had produced.
"Now what to do? How to celebrate?" She thought to herself. The taverns would be full of patrons. Chewy nuzzled her shoulder as if to acknowledge her presence to the sky haired rider. Aria patted her nose.
"I'm trying to figure out something to do Chew. I know you probably want to frolic and catch up with your own brother. But he's with Emmett." She spoke and Chew let out a semi whiny noise. She wanted to run off and play with the other wyverns. Aria was tempted to have her do just that. She didn't need Chewy bothering her especially in a crowd of this many people.
"Alright. Go roam around. Meet me back at the north tavern at sunset. You remember where that is right? That place where you got your nose smacked by that street vendor for sticking it where it shouldn't be." The wyvern didn't make a noise it was thinking. Aria sighed.
"The one with those apple trees. With the bees." She spoke in a rather annoyed tone. Those bees were upset at Chewy for her hitting their hive with her tail. And both rider and wyvern were stung by those little yellow bastards. The flash of knowledge and realization could be seen in Chewy's eyes as it perked up. It knew the place. She also knew to steer clear of those apple trees and it would be safer in the grasslands around it. The wyvern let a out a growl and scampered off. Aria looked around at the crowds. She still didn't figure out where she wanted to go. She shrugged and let herself wander around the crowds. Maybe she'll run into someone else.
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Asri
Thief
"I am a good person. Why won't you believe me?"
Posts: 101
Profession: Thief, spy, informant, etc.
OoC Alias: Mana
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Post by Asri on Oct 6, 2016 13:04:12 GMT -6
Asri looked back when she almost reached the gate. Her gaze wandered to the crowd and then to the castle in the distance. It wouldn't be the last time she saw this city and those stubborn men from the rebellion again but the thief didn't know when she would come back here. A meaningful smile appeared in her face as she wondered if someone would be a little mad for her. After all, she decided to depart without saying good bye. Hmm...no, they probably wouldn't. Despite her flirtatious attitude, Asri had always been careful not to create unnecessary attachment. It was only business and fun. Maybe no one would remember her and she was fine with that. The carefree woman simply wasn't good with handling attachment.
The bag Asri was carrying was full with...souvenirs. Well, actually they were stolen from the treasury vault. Gold bars, jewelries, and some important documents and whatever she fancied. It would be considered the fee for her service, right? Not that she had done much but she still deserved a little payment. Laughter escaped Asri's thin lips when she imagined how those people would react after they found out. Among those people she had grown fond to some of them, like Aidan who welcomed her despite her shady background and Euphemious who had been her "plaything". Zach was quite cute but she hadn't much chance playing with the young guy. Alright...enough...to much reminiscing. She didn't want attachment, remember? Shaking her head in disbelief, the crimson-haired thief wondered if she had become soft.
The fun time in the rebellion had ended and there should be another interesting and profitable job in the other countries. And who knows...maybe the next job would me more fun and challenging than the rebellion. Asri would like to try offering her service to those Etrurian nobles. Why not? They seemed rich and needed someone to do their hideous plot, right?
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