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Post by Queerly on Jan 3, 2019 14:47:31 GMT -6
Hello Starborn, and Welcome to Aodh Plot 704: The Sun Still ShinesTeam Leaders: Omar Participants: Ranzir, Taavetti, Asalah, Leonides, Isolt Please keep the following in mind!- Posts must be a minimum of 175 words. There is no maximum!- No strict order is enforced, but there must be at least two posts between your own character's.- No god-moding or reading characters' minds (unless your pony is a literal telepath, anyway) - Always get consent before harming another character!- Your team is precious. Try to interact with everyone. <3- Have fun! Even if your pony isn't. 8'D Prompt: In the wake of Ashlar’s destruction, King Isador has called for every town within a radius of Hrag-Ba’al to be evacuated, and military aid has been dispatched alongside the order to flee. But the Chevaliers are worn thin by war and unrest; with no other choice, the decision to accept civilian volunteers is made. Your party of soldiers, good samaritans, and laborers have traveled by train to reach Bloom, and from there you set off on foot for your true destination: Hearth, a small hamlet nestled on the edge of the Drakefire Wood, appreciated for their weaved textiles and herbal remedies. Currently, you are only a few minutes from arrival, and as you draw closer to the village you start to feel at ease. The sky is clear, the birds are singing, and Ignacio’s sun is on your shoulder. Location: Edge of Drakefire Time of Day: Morning You do not have to wait for your leader to post!
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 3, 2019 17:59:30 GMT -6
║⇷ O M A R ⇸║ "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning."
This wasn't quite what he had in mind when it came to the life of a Champion... But it was one he accepted, and he volunteered for. Ignacio had blessed him with freedom, and he wanted to use that freedom properly to help others, regardless of if they were slaves or commoners as well.
Striding forward, Omar glanced to his sides, seeing both good hearted souls and warriors. While he wasn't a born Aodhian, Omar still felt a small bit of pride at seeing how others came forward to answer the call to aid others. It didn't diminish his smoldering anger for those who believed in owning slaves, but for now, he set that aside. There were lives to be saved. It seemed like they had gotten an easy assignment, but still, the Kirin threat was a looming overcast shadow. They did need to get to the village before the Kirins did. But it didn't seem urgent yet. It wasn't the closest village to the odd city that had emerged.
Sword strapped to his side, Omar held his head high, watching Jarl, his wolf, trot ahead of them, sniffing about while moving from place to place. He wasn't concerned. If there was anything wrong, Jarl would let him know. Working his jaw slightly, he again glanced to the others at his sides. The silence was getting to him a tad...
This was reminding him of the raiding parties he had once been part of in Onea. But those had been much louder, filled with cheers and bellows of war from his fellow Raiders. This was quiet and calm. It unnerved him. Huffing slightly, Omar parted his lips, breaking the silence, "I think we're almost there." He tried, fumbling a bit for words. Kaia above, that was a bit awkward. He was rusty at this. Ears flattening, his tail lashed slightly. He used to be a Raider, a leader of warriors, he could do better than that! "With Ignacio's grace, we'll be able to get in and out and get the job done." He added.
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Post by kruuja on Jan 4, 2019 8:01:36 GMT -6
RANZIR For their walk to Hearth, Ranzir had taken upon himself to guard the right front of their motley crew of civilians and soldiers alike. Donning the regular armor that of Chevaliers, he appeared as alert as one would expect, but awfully stern - a passive frown drawn on his face that he unfortunately couldn't do much about. Every now and then the stallion glanced at the others from the corner of his eye, but aside from the few words that had been exchanged before their hurried departure from Bloom, he had shown little interest in conversing. Instead he merely kept his eye on the winding trail before them, as well as the trotting wolf that had tagged along with one of the equines. So far though there had been no signs of danger, despite the abnormal circumstances behind their mission, and as someone suddenly spoke up, Ranzir's ears perked up too. The tall Chevalier turned to look at Omar as he kept on walking, his neck guard's metallic plates grating against one another slightly. Their real job was still ahead of them, but they could always hope for success. Should, for a failure wasn't much of an alternative this time with its potentially heavy cost. “Think there's no need to worry about his blessing”, he replied calmly, nodding towards the sun shining above them. Glancing again at the forest around them, Ranzir pondered in turn. “But I suppose now would be as good a time as any to figure out how we want to go about this whole evacuation business. Any of you familiar with this town?” The latter might've been brought up during their short train ride, but the preparations for this trip had kept his mind far too occupied for him to recall it. With a small group like this one, splitting up seemed like the most efficient choice as far as ensuring that none of the townfolk got left behind was concerned. The safety of their group itself though would be anything but guaranteed.
337 words | Post 1
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jan 4, 2019 8:45:18 GMT -6
The doctor quietly shuffled her bags into place as the group made their way past the edge of drakefire wood, her eyes focused ahead while her mind quietly thought back to her two boys that had been left in Airita's care. She could only hope that this time she wouldn't come back to find her son brandishing a weapon or throwing fits to get things he didn't deserve.
They had picked up a few bad habits since she had been in the desert... but at least this job wasn't going to be as difficult for the mare to stomach. She was here to help others, after all, and make sure that none of the horses in this town were injured or in need of medical attention.
Easy. It was actually a nice change of pace for the mare. Quietly she listened to her companions speak, taking note that she was once again the odd one out among chevaliers and champions and other hard working horses that knew how to wield a weapon if need be. As they asked about how they wanted to go into things, Asalah tried to think on if she had ever been further out of Valore.
"I... don't know the town, unfortunately." She started. "But I think it may be wise to figure out who has blessings that could help with evacuation and have them in front? I can protect anybody if... things go wrong." She hoped that wouldn't be the case. It seemed as if everything was going to be okay for once; her nerves weren't standing on end nor did she feel as if she was in any immediate danger. "I can phase through walls, though I'd like to hope we won't need to use that... as long as the town is still in one piece." 1 | 304
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Post by Waterdrup on Jan 4, 2019 13:07:56 GMT -6
Leonides | Merchant Leonides wasn’t sure why he had volunteered, maybe it was because he wanted to help, maybe it was because of the free trip to see Bloom. Both were equally likely. The dunalino stallion had never left Valore, but Bloom had interested him and it did not disappoint. Leo had selfishly stalled to look around, mulling over the possibilities of opening a coffeehouse along the rainbow coloured street someday. Just this morning he had left his precious coffeehouse in the capable hands of his young slave, Algren… and he missed it already. Leo wasn’t one to take a day off or to travel around, but now that he had, he didn’t hate it. The change of scenery was nice, the huge redwood trees of the Drakefire were a stunning sight. If only the company had been more charming. Again, Leo looked around the silent group without any familiar or particularly pretty faces. He was starting to feel bored. The stallion’s ears swivelled forward when some of his companions started to speak up again. Omar was a powerful looking specimen, but he was fumbling through his words. Ranzir on the other hand was sounding very down to business. The cute jellyfish hippocampus started to talk about Blessings, something Leo didn’t have. He let out a deep sigh before speaking up, making sure they heard his voice. ‘Look, if we’re to evacuate the whole town, then let’s start with finding whoever runs the place. Let them round up their own village.’ The stallion waited for a reaction, feeling rather proud of his solutions.
Wordcount 259 | Post #1
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Post by kruuja on Jan 5, 2019 19:43:52 GMT -6
RANZIR Ranzir's gaze strayed from Omar to the two other civilians as they began to share their thoughts. There certainly was merit to their suggestions, but as varied as they were, it wasn't exactly what he had wished to hear. Still, the Chevalier simply nodded in agreement. "Naturally", he flashed a polite smile to Leonides, his tone remaining amicable enough as he mused: "But sir, you're aware what happened in Ashlar, correct?" Considering the relaxed attitude the golden stallion had shown in Bloom, it was as much a genuine question as it was a subtle jab, but Ranzir didn't expect an answer to either. After all, none of them would be here if it wasn't for Ashlar; a whole town all but obliterated from existence, leaving behind only ashen ruins and bodies scorched black by fire. A tragedy far too costly to be allowed to repeat itself. Granted, Ranzir hadn't been there himself to witness these rumored displays of insatiable hatred, nor had he suffered personally because of them. The unicorn had heard more than enough to know though, that he would prefer to keep it that way too - thank you very much. The stories circulating around the Chevalier Barracks about the destruction, as well as the Flamines who barely escaped with their lives, had been nothing short of terrifying, even from the perspective of a soldier. "I agree with the lady", the unicorn added rather placidly, quickly glancing at Asalah. "Meaning that if things do go south, we better have a plan concerning our own retreat too. Other than getting out and fast, of course." The least their group could do was to ensure, that they all were on the same page. Sure, the unfamiliarity of the town was unfortunate but expected. Hell, he hadn't even remembered that such a hamlet existed. "I'm here to ensure your safety, just like the residents'."
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Post by mariahwhy on Jan 5, 2019 21:53:51 GMT -6
Isolt | Labor Slave
Isolt had spoken very little the whole trip thus far, save for a few polite yes's and no's in response to other questions if directed solely to her. It would seem to the others just a slave's tendency to blend into the background, but it was more so that she was simply overwhelmed. When the option to volunteer had been posed to her she had leapt at the chance. She had only recently been allowed to go back to work after the incident that left her with a broken leg, and while she had thought she'd be ecstatic to get back to helping repair the city, things had changed. In her extended medical stay at the sanctum the labor force had been replaced by serviles and pit fighters. The atmosphere among them was different, and while she had been a loner before, she now found herself a complete outlier. She was the one who had stayed behind. They talked about her, she knew, and how she had refused freedom with the other labor slaves after the vindicators' explosion. And then she was the one who had been favored. Allowed to stay at the sanctum and receive medical care and good food as a reward until her leg was fully healed. It hadn't been the absolute best care, but it was certainly more than she had ever been granted in her life, and more than any slave could expect. She was resented among the slaves, and applauded by the king. Both sides of the coin were uncomfortable, and she could not have accepted the offer to temporarily get out of the city fast enough. However, she failed to truly thin k about how this meant out of the city. The train ride had been something else. She had never traveled past the train station in her life, and seeing the city from the outside as it grew smaller behind them had brought a tear to her eye. She had never seen its magnificence as a whole before, and she missed much of the natural beauties around while she kept her eyes locked on the glittering roofs and stone walls before they finally disappeared among the trees of the forest. Bloom was a beauty in its own right, and she marveled at it, head constantly twisting and turning as she followed the party from the train station to the outskirts. She could appreciate the unique architecture of the town, and she hoped that one day she might be able to visit it in further depth. It did not pass her attention, either, that there was not a single labor slave about. But the apprehensive wonder that filled her chest turned into ice cold terror as she suddenly realized the last house of Bloom's outskirts was passing by, and they were stepping into the true wilderness of the Drakefire Woods. Never in her life had she not been surrounded by walls, or buildings. The squishy forest floor underhoof was unfamiliar, and everything smelled so much like dirt. She was beginning to regret her decision. She wasn't ready. She wanted to be back home, among the shambles of the Dark District, cozy among the warm stones. But finally a deep voice - Omar's - pulled her from her reverie. She looked forward to where he led the group, trying to focus only on him and slow her racing heart. It had taken some time for Isolt to remember where she had known him before. In the Vatros Sanctum, months ago. She could hardly remember what had happened there - talk of freeing slaves, wasn't it? But she had been sure that he was a slave then, wasn't he? And now he was a champion - a free horse still living among the wonders of Valore. It was inspiring, and she told herself that perhaps if he could do such things, she could walk through these woods. She had always dreamed of being a chevalier's assistant, had she not? This was basically her chance to do so, only without a specifically assigned chevalier. Even better, she traveled with a couple chevaliers, and a couple of civilians as well. Yes, she could do this. She had to. This was her chance to prove herself worthy of a position as a slave in the Valiant District. The mule breathed deeply, the others' slow conversation keeping her preoccupied. She did not feel it her place to speak. Only to listen. At the mention of a blessing Isolt ducked her head, oddly embarrassed and glad that she limped behind the rest of the group. Blessings were a moot point in the Dark District. Very few slaves had them, and if they did you really didn't know or talk about it. Of course slaves were often around commoners with blessings, but that seemed different than this. She was supposed to be here to help out. To contribute, just like them. But the mare had never even considered a blessing. It had always seemed irrelevant to a labor slave inside the walls of Valore. She rolled the bit of her bridle in her mouth. What if... It didn't even bear considering. Instead, she tried shifting her thoughts back to the conversation. She had no idea about planning escape missions... her only experience was stopping them. Isolt felt bad for the citizens of Hearth, being made to leave their homes. That they knew it was in danger and there was little they could do to stop it. (Post 1: 910 words)
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 5, 2019 22:17:23 GMT -6
║⇷ O M A R ⇸║ "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning."
No need to worry... Omar gave a small grunt of annoyance. There was plenty that could go wrong. He had seen it in his youth, many times, despite his and... Rasmus' careful planning, sometimes, things still went wrong. To have the blessing of a god would be welcoming, and it had been long since he accepted the place the lord of fire held in his life.
"No, I'm not familiar..." He hesitated slightly. He hadn't... Truly been out of Valore for... Years. He looked to the trees and wilderness around them. This was what he remembered growing up with. Surrounded by woods and nature, held in Kaia's embrace. Perhaps there was no need to worry about Ignacio's blessing today, but worry about Kaia's grace being bestowed on them. They may be in Eithne, but nature was Kaia's domain... He wished he could take Demetrius here... He himself was getting the chance to walk outside of Valore after years in chains... But he couldn't give Demetrius that privilege... Not yet but... Maybe soon...
Drawn out of his reminiscing, Omar glanced to Asalah. He recognized her, of course. How could he not when she had been closely linked to his job for quite some time? Omar huffed lightly. "I have fire and earth manipulation. I've had quite some time to practice with them as well." He said, nodding lightly. Hearing another tone, Omar turned his aqua gaze to the other stallion. Hm.
"While I agree with finding the leader of the village, we are here to aid them." He said, looking forward to Jarl once more. "We find the leader, and assist them in rounding up their village. We make sure no one is left behind, and we make sure everyone is unharmed or healed."
He listened idly while Ranzir spoke again. He'd heard something of what happened there, but he didn't know the full extent. Humming lowly, Omar thought slowly, carefully. "If we do encounter the Kirins, I can wall them and us off with my earth manipulation, block their advance for at least some time. My fire will do nothing against them. They're fireproof, right? So unfortunately that leaves me down a blessing, scaly bastards." Ignacio better not come down in the flesh again for him saying such a thing once more...
But he remembered seeing Bale, another slave who climbed to glory, like him, both before and after he became covered in scales. Kirins were fireproof. If he remembered right, it was a big source of drama regarding the birth of the kirin princess whoever, and also Bale after he... Changed. So that made one blessing useless. It left him with his physical strength and battle knowledge, and his earth manipulation.
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Post by Waterdrup on Jan 7, 2019 10:35:22 GMT -6
Leonides | Merchant Leonides looked at Ranzir for a moment with pursed lips, before quickly shaking it off and easily conjuring up his ‘customer friendly’ smirk. The dunalino stallion was too proud to admit how little he knew about Ashlar. Having heard unpleasant rumours that he did not want, did not need, to pursue. It had been bad, bad enough that they needed the help of civilians to evacuate some remote settlement. At least the Chevalier was taking his job serious and Leo was not foolish enough to disregard the soldier’s protection or ability to strategize. Omar seemed to have recovered his confidence as he reacted to Leo’s words and the merchant nodded in contentment. Feeling comfortable enough to follow someone else’s capable lead. Of course, now that Leo was here, he would help. Though he had no Blessing or tactical insight, the stallion would just make the best of it, like he always did. Besides, after the dull train ride and following walk, Leo would be glad to spend some energy on this mission. A mission that seemed easy enough, they’d figure it out. Smoothly the young Aodhian moved within the group until he was walking besides the sparkling hippocampus. “Asalah, wasn’t it?” He asked, his voice softer now. “Would you tell me how you received your Blessing? The one that lets you walk through walls?” He smiled at the mare as he patiently waited for her answer.
Wordcount 233 | Post #2
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Post by empyre on Jan 7, 2019 17:21:19 GMT -6
Taavetti // Chevalier
By the gods he was BORED. Bored and conflicted and missing home by the minute. He'd downed that aging potion and joined the chevaliers in order to protect his family from the death and fear and pain that had been far too common in his life, and yet now he was being sent to a village he had never been to in order to save strangers from kirins. If you asked Taavi he'd say they all may as well hand the herd over to them for Ignacio's sake! It was theirs to begin with, and as Ignacio's children the god was almost certainly on the side of the scaly bastards anyway. Not that he wanted anyone to die at all, gods no, he'd never sit back and just let anyone die pointlessly. Didn't mean he had to be chipper about being sent out here under the command of an ex-slave though. He didn't really have anything against a slave of course, he treated most everyone the same, but it got on his nerves more than he'd like to admit that he was being placed under someone who had NO authority previously.
"Electricity." He stated bluntly to the question of blessings, a scowl set into his features at the thought of using Ignacio's blessing against one of the god's own creatures. This was all kinds of fucked up, it really was, and Taavi was disturbed deeply by how so many Aodhians were ready to go to war against their god's first children. It was suicide in his opinion, may as well walk up to Ignacio himself and kick him in the face. He would fight for his herd, though, if that is what they wanted. He would not see more of his people perish uselessly. He shook his head with a sigh, it all seemed so pointless, but if it had to be done then he may as well get it over with.
"I haven't been, if we find someone with a map that would be useful, or I could send Lucie and you your wolf to scout." He suggested, trotting to be able to walk beside Omar, Lucie also speeding up to remain by his side, "I can talk to familiars." he added to make sure his idea was understood.
post 1 // 350 words
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jan 7, 2019 19:36:29 GMT -6
The mare quietly side eyed the slave, Isolt, that was traveling with the group while the others talked about their ideas. Some discussions were better than others, though Asalah didn't have much else to add as far as thoughts went as the others began speaking with themselves.
Instead she took the time to study the mule's build; she was awfully scrawny for her age... though the fact that she was still on all fours and capable of keeping up with the group told the mare she was determined to do her best. Asalah frowned, debating on whether it'd be noticed if she tried sneaking a few extra bits of food into the poor girl's meals later on...
Her thoughts were interrupted by the... not really cocky one, but the guy who thought it'd be best to leave the village to do their own work. Asalah may not have been talking, but she most certainly had been listening. All the way down to when the guy that was now standing beside her asked her about her blessing.
There was a momentary pause in her gate as the question struck home. Her first blessing from Cascade was actually a bit of a sore spot for hippocampus/kirin hybrid, if only because she had made the decision as an act of defiance more so than an act of her heart. The sound of the Crucible crumbling beneath her feet returned to her for a brief moment, the wave mother's voice calling out her name as she requested help.
Healing regeneration or intangibility.
She should have gone with her heart instead of listening to her head. Not like the guy beside her needed to know that tidbit. Her regrets towards choosing intangibility weren't his to know frankly, and it would expose too much of her past to really... be reasonable.
As far as these horses were concerned, she was from Harborside, and the town wasn't exactly... known for it's doctors. She let out a short sigh. "Well... Leonides, right? Do you remember when the crucible got attacked by Vindicators?" She began. Had it really been over a year since the attacks had happened? Time flew.
"Well, I ended up being in the front row of that disaster and got knocked into the ring itself alongside my sister. She was in trouble and I called out to the gods for help." A brief pause allowed the mare to consider her next words carefully. She could remember the call to Cascade as if it was yesterday. She hadn't seen her, but there had been an obvious presence in the air. "Cascade, one of the patron gods of my town Haborside, came to my aid and gave me a choice, and I chose intangibility... I had hoped to use this ability to.... get us out, but I was still unused to it, but I think it can be... helpful in this situation. I've learned much since then."
She fell silent, mulling over her words. Had she learned much though? Her ear flicked as she heard the tail end of another horse in the group.
"Oh, I can talk to familiars as well... though I'd like to hope my skills in herbalism are a bit more important to the group at large. I just hope that with the day being... so nice... we don't have to worry about treating any wounds or anything."
Famous last words. If anything bad happened, Asalah would look back on this moment and wonder if she had jinxed it by saying as much out loud. 2 | 594
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Post by kruuja on Jan 8, 2019 16:10:26 GMT -6
RANZIR Equines of many talents, huh. Much like Asalah before, had Ranzir now fallen quiet in turn, merely turning his ear towards whoever was currently speaking while he mulled over his companions’ words. By the sound of it, their little group was either extremely lucky or some standards had been retained after all - even in the face of Aodh's latest troubles and the poor decisions that had followed. Decisions such as allowing, if not encouraging civilians to aid the military. Disheartening, really, but as frustrating as it was to see untrained herd mates being subjected to potential dangers such as this trip, the unicorn knew perfectly well that the options were limited. The need for manpower was dire, and the situation wasn't about to improve anytime soon with the Kirin King breathing down the nation's neck. As the hybrid recounted a past incident concerning her blessing, the Chevalier couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her, but no sympathies were offered to the mare. Instead his attention returned to Omar and the only other Chevalier in the group, Taavetti. Some upstart he had come to recognize over the past few months after transferring from Opulence back home, but their presence was much appreciated still by the older Chevalier. "Right", Ranzir replied laconically to the other unicorn's woes about the kirin kind, refusing to delve deeper into the subject with his niece being a kirin and all. Sort of, at least. "But sounds like we've got ourselves covered then. It’s not a solid plan, but it isn't a bad one", he added, more compliantly this time. The unicorn wasn't going to admit his own lack of blessings, though. "As long as nobody starts playing a hero, I think we will be fine."The more Omar talked, the more his accent perplexed Ranzir, but the stallion came off as someone capable of taking charge when needed to, and that was all that mattered to the Chevalier - for now.
328 words | Post 3
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Post by Waterdrup on Jan 9, 2019 10:26:34 GMT -6
Leonides | Merchant Asalah’s pause when asked about her Blessing did not go unnoticed by Leo, the reaction peaked his interest and he listened carefully to the story that followed her short sigh. As she fell silent, Leo took a moment to consider his words. Before he could speak up, the mare jumped in on another conversation about familiars. She seemed nervous to Leo and he wanted to make her feel at ease. “As Talented and Blessed as you are, so absent are mine, though I can brew you a chocolate coffee that’ll make even the gods envious.” He joked confidently, giving Asalah a wink. Still, he couldn’t let her somber story go without a reply. “About the crucible attack, I’ve heard of it, though I haven’t witnessed any of it myself. That must’ve been terrible, Asalah, I’m sorry to hear you were part of that mess.” The stallion felt genuine sympathy for the smaller horse. Suspecting she must’ve seen some horrible sights. “Did you manage to help your sister out?” His question might’ve sounded a bit too forceful, but Leo couldn’t help himself as memories of his own little sister seeped through.
Wordcount 191 | Post #3
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Post by Queerly on Jan 9, 2019 19:13:53 GMT -6
HearthAs you come around a bend in the trail, you finally spot a decorated archway, heralding your welcome to Hearth. And yet... something is wrong. Beyond the arch the town of Hearth is intact, yet completely absent of any life. There is no bird song, no children's laughter, no bustle as Aodhians move about their day. The town, with only its inn, a hoof-full of shops, and a reach of cottages, sits barren.
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 9, 2019 20:26:14 GMT -6
║⇷ O M A R ⇸║ "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning."
It seemed like there was some agreement from the merchant now. Good. Omar's ears twitched while he listened to the idle chit chat, looking over to the young one speaking to him now. Ah. "That's good. It may be of some use if they find anything and need to tell us" He shifted in a slightly uncomfortable manner.
He might be on equal footing with the Chevaliers and commoners now, but it didn't mean that he truly felt a connection to them. He still felt more familiar with slaves, and while the one slave here did settle his unfamiliar feelings, she wasn't very talkative... He didn't blame her. So he let the others speak, before glancing over his shoulder and dropping behind some to stride alongside Isolt.
"I hope you don't mind my company." He said in an attempted gentler tone. "Between the two of us, I find more solace in those who wear the dragon brand than those who go without." He sighed softly, watching the equines in front of him now, with Jarl still trotting ahead and sniffing about. "It might not be my place to offer such a thing, but if you need help while we're out here, or anyone chooses not to listen to you, you can come to me. I'll not turn my back on one of us." He glanced at her.
He overheard mumbles about the crucible months back. He didn't remember much of it. He wasn't at the scene, instead doing work and fighting his latest master. Hm...
Then the wolf started whining ahead of them, from around a bend in the trail. Head lifting, Omar sped up, trotting past the others to round the corner and see his familiar. He halted in his tracks.
The hair on his neck prickled, muscles tensing. Something wasn't right. Ears pinning, gaze hardening, Omar looked over his shoulder. "Watch your step, and keep your voices low. I'm still learning about Aodhian ways, and even I can tell this isn't normal." He gruffly said, looking forward. He loosened Einar, his broadsword, from her scabbard on his side, pulling her out ever so slightly from the leather casing. "Jarl. To me." He huffed. Had the Kirins arrived before them? He considered having them split into groups to look over the city...
But there was strength in numbers. And those with little to no fighting experience had to remain close. He and the unicorn, Ranzir, were only ones he trusted with proper fighting experience. The other chevalier, practically a child, he had little faith in. So he stepped into the archway, stepping into Hearth.
It was quiet. Too quiet. And it unsettled him.
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Post by mariahwhy on Jan 9, 2019 20:57:29 GMT -6
Isolt | Labor Slave
When you have been trained to not take part in conversation, you didn't exactly process it. You heard it, maybe you knew what they were talking about, maybe you didn't, but no response or inclination to your own opinions came to mind for most conversation. And so most of their talk of kirins and talents and what-if's washed over her. But when Omar suddenly dropped back beside her she could not ignore him. Particularly not now that he was a champion. The idea of his current rank, whether he had been a slave previously or not, instinctively made her nervous to speak to him. But his former rank made it an odd mix of awe and comfort. He did well to mention the brand, a symbol that the mule took extreme pride in. She twisted her ears almost bashfully, eyes lowered, but a smile crossed her lips. "I don't mind at all," she replied. "And thank you. That's very kind of you." She couldn't dare tell these commoners and chevaliers what to do, but the sentiment was still nice. A sentence from the nearby conversation brought her mood back around. "Do you remember when the crucible got attacked by Vindicators?" The hybrid mare had not been speaking to her, but Isolt suddenly jerked her head up, eyes locked onto Asalah. Of course she remembered. She remembered every little detail of that night. How the explosions had shook the entire city. How the slaves had run past her, out the wall of the Dark District and into the inky black night into the land of Eithne. How she had simply stood there, staring into the void, until the chevaliers had come to block it up and found her there. How, without sleep, she was taken to the crucible the next morning with the remaining labor slaves, and began to piece back together the city's heart. That horrible night had seemed to be the catalyst of all the bad things that kept happening, and Isolt had wished many times that she could go back and stop it from happening. "That must've been terrible...""It was," she whispered before she could even realize the words were leaving her mouth. Understanding that she had just spoken aloud, an action that proved her to be eaves-dropping on a non-slave conversation, she dipped her head and fell further behind. She shifted the packs on her back, full of extra supplies they might need, pretending to be busy with the rearrangement. She had been so side-tracked by the memories that she had completely forgotten Omar's kind words, or to notice that he had returned to the front of the group. But when he suddenly brought the group to a halt she had to step to the side to avoid running into anyone. She looked around the group for guidance. It did seem odd for the city to be so still, but with so little life experience she wasn't entirely sure this couldn't be a normal thing. The outside world was a complete unknown to her. "Maybe they've already left," she offered quietly, her confusion and the discomfort settling in her chest making her forget herself.
(Post 2: 528 words)
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jan 10, 2019 7:03:42 GMT -6
There was a brief moment between discussions where she could have sworn she heard the labor slave, Isolt, respond to the observation that Leonides made, but it happened too quickly and was too hard to really heard for Asalah to really make note of it or try to ask what she had dealt with. Though a pang of guilt surged through the mare nonetheless as she considered how the night must've been for everybody that had been there for the attack.
It'd be best to move on from such discussions, which was why the mare in turn worked her way towards answering the next question that had been asked, though she tried to avoid thinking about the wink that she had been given by her new companion. "Yeah, we both got out with minimal injuries, thank Ignacio... but it was still hard recovering from everythin-"
She stopped, realizing the tension in the air. With a frown, she turned towards her other companions, taking note of Omar up front. Something didn't... feel right.
"... I thought we were evacuating a busy town... not a.... well... this." She said softly as she took note of the lack of noise, the archway feeling like a gate to another world. "Are we going to go further in and see what's... happened?"
Her mind immediately jumped to the worst case scenario as worry tumbled through her stomach. There weren't any burn marks... so that was a good sign (she hoped.).
"I-it at least doesn't look like any dragons have been through here...." She whispered, though the sudden thought of Ignacio's blessing with illusions came to mind.
She didn't like this.
3 | 276
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Post by Waterdrup on Jan 10, 2019 13:21:17 GMT -6
Leonides | Merchant Leonides merely glanced at Omar when the blond unicorn started to trot forward, as he held his attention towards Asalah. Though he’d realized by now she was not really interested in him, showing no response to his advances. Of course the young stallion felt something like disappointment, for the mare was cute and pretty, but it was nothing to get hung up about. After all, the sun was shining. And by the end of the day he’d have the opportunity to woe many stallion and mare with grandeur stories about how he helped save the people from Hearth. Of course he’d have to think up something more adventurous than a plain evacuation, but he’d have enough time to think about this on the journey home, later. The group of horses started to round a bend in the road and Omar spoke up, his gruff tone breaking up any chatter. Leo paused to look up, a mix of annoyance and curiosity in his brown eyes. He could see the village, finally, but it appeared quite deserted. Had the inhabitants already left? Had he walked all the way out here for nothing? Asalah voiced some of his thoughts, as did the labor slave carrying their supplies. Omar had readied his large sword and Leo noticed some of the horses around him tense up with worry. There was no sign of danger though. “We could make a quick sweep of the town to make sure everyone has left.” He suggested, looking at Ranzir.
Wordcount 250 | Post #4
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Post by kruuja on Jan 11, 2019 0:19:41 GMT -6
RANZIR Ranzir glanced over his shoulder at the two unicorns, discreetly raising his brows at their somewhat lowered voices as mild curiosity crept into his gaze. Unlike Omar apparently, the Chevalier had felt no need to pay any extra attention to the sole slave of their group. Why would he, with Isolt being as quiet and obedient as she was? Seen but not heard - just like was expected of her and any other slave. A sudden whine pulled Ranzir back to the moment from his wandering thoughts. Alarmed, he shot a tense but meaningful look at the other Chevalier before taking a few galloping steps after the fair-headed unicorn and their wolf. Behind the bend he brought himself to a full stop, ears perking up as he stared at the peculiar sight that had suddenly unfolded before him. Even from afar the silence felt heavy, unnatural in its pervasiveness. Frowning the Chevalier followed Omar's example, pulling his blade from its scabbard as quietly as possible as his silvery teke enveloped its handle. As Omar assumed the command in one shift order, the young unicorn simply grunted in acknowledgment before turning to Asalah and the rest. It was far too soon for the Chevalier to make any guesses, but the hybrid was certainly right about the evident lack of destruction. If the kirins with their beasts hadn't gotten here first, who then? If they had, could there be an ambush lying in wait? Or maybe a mistake had been made, and the town had already been evacuated. Too many possibilities either way. Contemplating, Ranzir returned Leonides' gaze seemingly just as calm as before. Without a doubt, he felt nervous somewhere deep within his core, but was he going to let it show to the civilians? No. "Don't see much of a choice", he whispered to others in a hushed voice, eyes turning to the other common horse next. "Taavetti, take the front with that dog of yours. The rest of you, stay close - you heard what Omar said." He commanded in turn with a low, clear voice. A piercing look was shot at Isolt as well. "All of you. I’ll watch your backs, don't worry."
With that, the unicorn stepped aside, nodding towards the archway as he waited for the others to pass him. He could guard the rear alone just fine, as long as Omar and Taavetti kept the front secured. It would probably be wise not to take any unnecessary risks here on out.
416 words | Post 4
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Post by empyre on Jan 12, 2019 1:05:19 GMT -6
Taavetti // Chevalier
Taavi's blood ran cold at the sight of the empty town. His stomach just about dropped to his hooves as he shifted uneasily in the silence.
"I don't think they evacuated themselves, where would they have even gone?" He spoke softly in response to the idea that the citizens had left of their own accord. He nodded back to Ranzir at the other chevalier's suggestion and began to walk cautiously toward the the front gate. Lucie trotted forward to stay ahead of him, as Taavi turned a rosey eye on Omar, nervousness churning in his gut.
"Everyone be alert." He said over his shoulder to the others, his gaze catching on the slave in their party, then quietly he spoke to the large unicorn by his side, "Should we unbridle her? She may need to defend herself..." He figured an ex-slave might have a better idea than he would on that decision, seeing as Taavi himself had never worn a bit. He didn't think there was much of a chance of her making a run for it, not that he would particularly care if she did other than being disappointed in having one less pair of hooves to help out with this; whatever this was going to be...
Post 2 // 208 words
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jan 14, 2019 22:24:26 GMT -6
The others went into defense mode almost immediately, leaving the mare only a few moments to collect her own thoughts. A frown was placed firmly on her lips as she listened to the discussion, knowing full well that it would be better to allow the chevaliers to do the main work.
Though some of their remarks did rub her the wrong way (not entirely, as they were obviously focusing on what needed to be done). Despite the fact that she was a mere civilian, she had seen war before and in this case, she felt that being in Aodh gave her at least some kind of advantage... However, she held her tongue, knowing full well that this was not the place to raise her voice and remind them of her job on top of everything else. Staying close to the others was better for her blessing anyway. If they needed a shield, she'd be able to reach the most at the center of the group.
The mention of taking Isolt's bridle off gave the mare reason to pull herself out of her thoughts and back into the moment. With a slight frown, she glanced over at the younger mare.
Yes, taking of her bridle would be better, but she also didn't want to direct attention her way at those thoughts. After all, she needed to be more careful than the average Aodhian... Seeing as how she was supposedly from Harborside and not from Talori...
"I'll trust any of your judgements on that matter." She said simply. "I'd admittedly like to know more about what's going on in the town before we start... jumping to conclusions..."
4 | 277
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Post by Queerly on Jan 17, 2019 18:57:09 GMT -6
HearthAs you move through the quiet hamlet, you discover little more than disquieting silence. The storefronts stand empty and locked up; should you knock on a residence door, no one answers. The only establishment that grants entry is the inn, left unlocked so that its patrons could come and go freely. Inside there is more unnatural stillness. The establishment should be bustling with staff and customers, but there doesn't seem to be a single soul here. You poke around the main den, looking for a scrap of evidence as to what happened here. At length, one of you tests the door to a room and finds it unlocked. You open it slowly, revealing a cozy bedroom... and the lifeless body of its resident, curled up on the bed as though in the middle of sleep.
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 19, 2019 11:13:29 GMT -6
║⇷ O M A R ⇸║ "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning."
"Maybe they've already left."
Omar's ears twitched. Maybe. But his gut told him that that idea wasn't the right one. Had they left, doors likely would be open, signs of chaos and hurried evacuations scattered about... It was almost peaceful here.
He grunted lowly. "Yes, we're going farther in." He replied to Asalah. She was right, thankfully, there weren't any dragons or wyvern marks. His gaze flicked to Taavetti, then back in front of him. Hopefully the kid could handle himself.
The cautious question that he posed to Omar was a bit surprising. Omar worked his jaw slightly, glancing back at Isolt. His first instinct was to say yes, to let her go. But if she ran, he didn't want to be an easy target for whatever consequences came from it. And he'd likely be an easier target than the Chevaliers, especially if he agreed to doing so.
He hesitated, thinking for a moment. Damnit. "To fucking hell with it," he hissed under his breath, moving back to Isolt. "I'm going to take off your bridle so you can use your teke. We don't know what's going on, and we need all the hooves we can get if something goes wrong. Please, don't run away. It could end poorly for you, and me if you do so. If not everyone here." He grumbled, reaching up and unbuckling the contraption, sliding it off of her head.
Placing it on her packs, he turned, glancing at her before he returned to the front. Still nothing. Still silence. Giving some soft orders to check a few doors, and letting everyone take turns testing the handles, it was clear that everything was oddly locked.
"If they got here before us, I'd expect shit to be broken down, busted into and generally a wreck... The fuck..." He mumbled under his breath after testing a door to a residence, and then knocking, with no response.
Meandering through the town, reaching the bar, a small victory was achieved when the door gave. "Alright. Search the place, be careful, but check every damn inch of the building. This might be our best chance of figuring out what the hell happened here." Omar said, stepping through the doorway and glancing about. Jarl trotted along his legs, immediately sniffing about the main room.
It is just as dead and still as the rest of the town. Just as calm. Gritting his teeth, Omar slowly climbed the steps to the inn rooms, testing the doors one by one. And then one gave. He paused, looking back towards the stairs. "I got an unlocked door!" he called as loudly as he dared, to let the rest know what he found.
Then he slowly pressed the door open, holding his sword ready.
And then there was a body. Shit. "...I found something." He added, tightening his jaw. He wasn't stepping in the room until more eyes were here, more eyes to confirm he wasn't just mistaking a sleeping equine for a body.
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Post by mariahwhy on Jan 19, 2019 18:59:16 GMT -6
Isolt | Lavor Slave
Isolt listened intently as each horse voiced their concerns and ideas for a plan, eyes sweeping back and forth between them, admiring the way they came up with ideas. Until Ranzir spoke up again and shot her a scolding look. She ducked her head, eyes on the ground again. That was her mistake. She nodded her head in understanding, taking up a place just in front of the chevalier as he brought up the rear of the group and they entered the town. At first she just peaked up under her brows, chancing a look at the strange town. She was so enamored by looking around that she didn't hear the briefly whispered conversation about her, and as Omar drew up next to her again she almost flinched, turning her gaze down quickly. But his words immediately snapped her head up, green eyes searching blue for some sort of understanding. She couldn't have her bridle off! Not here! Not outside of the Dark District! Wouldn't the champion get in trouble if other Aodhians were to find out? She couldn't chance him losing the champion status he had worked so hard for, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him not to do it. Instead she stood still as a statue as he slipped it off, promising to herself that she would not mess up this chance they had given her. "I won't let you down," she murmured, turning to watch him the leather and bit on her packs. She stared at it for a moment, before being ushered forward once more. She felt oddly light. Exposed. Vulnerable. She glanced back at it again to make sure it was still where Omar had put it. The mare took a deep breath through her nostrils, and turned her eyes forward. At Omar's orders to check doors she briefly hung back, thinking this was not work for a slave, but then she thought again. Her bridle had been removed to allow her teke to work, and she would not waste that gift. She would be as much of a help as she could. With her head a little higher she joined in, checking everything she could. Her face was set and serious, and she made sure to look hard at anything in case she missed any piece of evidence. She was checking the bar kitchen when she heard Omar's call. Taking a last look around the room, she turned and followed the others up the stairs. Looking around them she set eyes on the body. Dead bodies were nothing new to her. One job of labor slaves was to dispose of the dead that no one claimed, and with all of the recent events in Valore there had been no shortage of those. The mule had seen much worse looking corpses, and it was honestly kind of odd to see one looking so peaceful. She looked to the other mare in the group. Wasn't she a doctor?
"What do you think happened to them?"
(Post 3: 501 words)
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Post by Waterdrup on Jan 20, 2019 11:24:23 GMT -6
Leonides | Merchant As the group moved into the hamlet Omar and Taavi took up the front while Ranzir guarded the back of the group. Leonides rolled his eyes at everyone’s nervousness, the little town was clearly abandoned in an organized manner. By now it was so quiet that they would easily hear anyone approach, plus, they had two canines sniffing about. It didn’t surprise him that it was the Champion who had unbridled the labour slave. It did surprise him however that the chevaliers seemed to take no action to stop it. Leo didn’t mind and he didn’t comment. Though he had noticed Asalah glancing at the slave a couple of times, he didn’t expect anyone besides Omar to show much consideration for the mule. She appeared a smart and hardworking slave, careful to follow the Champion’s orders. Leo was only half-heartedly checking the doors as they followed the road up into the town. It was obvious to him that the people had left on their own, without panic. Taking the time to lock up their homes, guarding what they couldn’t carry with them from opportunistic thieves. As he concluded this they found the inn to be open, odd. The young stallion raised his eyebrows in curiosity as he too wandered inside. There was no sign of life here either, no plates or cups left on the tables, nothing to suggest anyone was still around. They started to try more locked doors and Leo let out a sigh in boredom and impatience. He was about to suggest they just went back to Bloom and ask around there, but Omar had seemed determined to find something. So when the unicorn called out from upstairs Leo was eager to see what it was. The wooden floor creaked under his hooves as the merchant approached Omar, who was standing on the threshold of an open room. His face looked tight and Leo’s brow slowly lowered into a frown before he looked into the room as well. Curled up onto the bed lay a body. At first glance it looked asleep, but it was far too still. Leo felt his lips part as he realized what he was looking at. “Oh…” He had only seen death up close a couple of times, and he would’ve liked to keep it that way. His frown deepened as the atmosphere changed to something serious. The young Aodhian noticed Isolt coming up behind him and she seemed surprisingly unmoved by the sight. "What do you think happened to them?"Leo felt uncomfortable and he cleared his throat. “Maybe they snoozed through the evacuation?” He tried, stepping back.
Wordcount 437 | Post #5
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jan 21, 2019 12:03:28 GMT -6
The fact that the town was so deserted perturbed the mare as she went from door to door, always careful to keep at least one member of the party within sight as she did so. She wanted to be mindful of the others in case something tried to attack them, her mind set on ensuring that she did not appear as the weakest link in the group because she was a simple doctor. She had faced more than one situation where she needed to be stronger than she seemed; from her travels as a young filly to the boat attack to her excursion into Sedo, there was little she hadn't seen at this point.
The hybrid quietly kept her eyes down as she watched Omar remove Isolt's bridle, her thoughts quietly rejoicing in the fact that she hadn't been the only one to consider it. Though she did worry that the Chevaliers would say something on the matter due to his original position. The mare bit her cheek nervously, but continued on with her own personal duties as they entered the town. After all, Isolt wouldn't be much use with the bridle on when it came to opening doors... unless the chevaliers preferred her demeaning herself by using her mouth.
Asalah was almost relieved when they found that the inn was still unlocked, the sound of the door hinges squeaking a nice break from the silence that riddled the rest of the area. As all of them filed in, the mare tried her hardest to keep close to Isolt. Being the slave of the group, the mare was almost positive that if a fight broke out or if something bad happened, she'd be the least likely to handle it well.
She was near the kitchen, trying to open up what she could only assume to be a pantry door when Omar called out, mentioning that he had found something. However, Asalah was slower than some of the others to head up. She wasn't entirely sure why, but the silence of the town had her on edge, giving her reason to pause and wonder if she wanted to know what he had found before following.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she took note in how Isolt was glancing around, the slightly bored look on Leonides face, and the concerned posture Omar held.
"Maybe they snoozed through the evacuation?"
Quietly, the mare pushed her way through the other two to see what Leonides was talking about. Her eyes gazed upon the scene with a silent curiosity, until they landed on the body laying on the bed.
She regretted her decision almost instantly as she felt a not so distant memory surge up to the forefront of her thoughts. The way it looked, as if it was sleeping, was too close to what she had come across nearly.... was it six months ago? Her stomach flipped as she tried to erase the flow of memories that now threatened to disassociate her from the world she stood in.
She swallowed, pushing the thoughts aside as hard as she could and stepped forward. "Omar," Her words were shaky, but she pushed the fear out of her voice in a matter of seconds. "If you don't mind?" She glanced at the body itself, hoping he understood that she wanted to examine it and see if the poor soul was just asleep or truly dead.
With a wordless nod, he stepped aside, allowing her a closer look. She took in another slow breath, forcing her rapidly beating heart the chance to calm itself before she moved forward. There was a small part of her that wondered if this was some kind of purposeful set up; a trap of sorts, but she didn't let the feeling stay with her for long.
As she made her way up to the bed, she began to check for a pulse, preparing, praying really, for the horse to just be asleep, and that her touch would cause them to jolt out of their slumber.
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Post by kruuja on Jan 26, 2019 15:53:12 GMT -6
RANZIR The other Chevalier's suggestion caught Ranzir by surprise, but the stallion made no objections. Given the current circumstances, removing Isolt's bridle made only sense to him, but it didn't mean that the unicorn exactly liked the idea of a slave roaming free. Aside from a cold, assessing stare he let Omar's decision slide, swishing his tail in silent disapproval before turning away to check the door of a nearby building. Their search for residents continued, but with each locked door, the uneasy feeling only grew within the Chevalier's chest. The stillness didn't sit right with him at all and when they finally came across the inn and its unlocked door, Ranzir felt hesitant. Regardless, he followed along, tailing the group as he had done since the moment they had entered Hearth, but a glance was shot over his shoulder towards the empty street before closing the inn's door behind him. It didn't take long for the group to scout the building that soon turned out to be just as desolate as the rest of the town. The Chevalier pondered whether they should try to force some of the doors, but a chance to voice this idea passed the second Omar found... Something. Ranzir was quick to trot upstairs to the now open door, stopping right behind Asalah, who had frozen in place to stare at this said something. As Leonides backed away from the doorway, Ranzir leaned closer just enough to take a peek inside the room. The stallion took a step back, his ears flattening as he watched Asalah carefully approach the body. The unknown equine looked so peaceful, curled up on the tidy bed like some sleeping beauty from a twisted children's tale, but the Chevalier wasn't used to seeing dead of any kind. Much less so this up close and if it had occurred to him that anyone could find themselves in a mild shock, he might have had words for his sudden numbness. Ranzir had always seen himself above such things, simple problems of those more weak-willed than him, but now the pale unicorn could only look. He felt empty. A little perplexed even, for he knew how he was supposed to act when faced with an unexpected situation, but he couldn't bring himself to help the mare or search the room. How disappointing. As if to escape his nagging thoughts, he turned his attention to Leonides and others as they continued to wait together. "There's no blood", he hummed very matter-of-factly. The body didn't bode well for their evacuation mission, but they couldn't just assume the worst and leave anymore - not after finding proof of folks still living in this god forsaken hamlet in the first place. "Think we should break into the other rooms? They might not be the only thi- ... one left behind."
470 words | Post 5
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Post by Queerly on Feb 1, 2019 9:08:10 GMT -6
HearthAs you discuss your next move, a sound catches your attention. It sounds like the scuttling of hooves - tiny hooves, at that - and after a moment's pause, you could swear your hear a whimper.
You follow the sound. It's coming from the neighboring room. The door is locked, but the handle is easily broken - one of you need only take the blunt end of a sword to it, and the door creaks open.
Inside, the room is less pristine than the last. The blankets have been pulled off the bed and dragged beneath it, and there's fruit skins in the wastebasket. As you step into the space, you hear another soft whimper from beneath the bedframe.
It's a foal. A little girl, huddled against the wall with a stuffed toy between her hooves. She shouts in terror as you spot her, and begins to cry. "Leave me alone!"
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Post by empyre on Feb 2, 2019 20:33:59 GMT -6
Taavetti // Chevalier
Taavi stood back from the examining of the room in which the body lay. He'd seen enough death, he didn't want to have the image of another extinguished life burned into his memory. When he heard whimpering at first he thought perhaps Lucie had somehow been injured, but when he turned to look at the large dog she simply tilted her head at him silently. He soon realized the sound was coming from the room adjacent to the one the others where examining. Cautiously he approached, and upon finding the door locked, swiftly bashed it open with the hilt of the sword on his side.
The room was overall unimpressive and unassuming, and a bit messier than the last. That wasn't what Taavi was concerned with, though, as he spotted the child the same moment she cried out at him. Slowly he lowered himself down to be as close to her level at possible, forcing a soft smile to his face. He felt his chest tighten at the sight of her, thoughts of his younger siblings floating to the surface of his mind. "Hey," he nickered gently, "My name is Taavetti, me and my friends are here to help you." He explained, hoping she would see he would do her no harm, and perhaps even agree to come with them without being forced.
post 3 // 223 words
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Post by Waterdrup on Feb 5, 2019 5:28:01 GMT -6
Leonides | Merchant The silence pressed on as Leo stepped back further, giving other’s more space to look or move into the room. He felt a pang of sympathy towards Asalah, as the sweet doctor had to inspect the body to take away all doubt. The blond stallion hated this situation, it was supposed to have been a simple mission under the sun. While the rest of them waited in the now crowded hallway, Leo met eyes with Ranzir.
“There’s no blood.” The chevalier stated, probably having considered a fight. "Think we should break into the other rooms? They might not be the only thi- ... one left behind." Leo sucked in a breath and looked away sharply as those last words hit him unexpectedly. Combined with the depressing atmosphere it brought back sudden memories of his little sister. The young Aodhian swallowed, quickly forcing those unpleasant feelings deep down again. He shook the mane from his face and grinned as he looked up, ignoring the quickened pace of his heart.
“Great idea, soldier.” Leo agreed, giving Ranzir a wink. “Let’s bust in some doors.” He added excitedly as he moved further into the hallway, happy with the physical distraction. He paused however when he heard whimpering. Taavetti had heard it too and looked at his attentive dog. Leo watched as the dark haired Chevalier moved to break open the simple door handle with the hilt of his sword and entered the room. Another whimper from under the bedframe had Taavetti kneeling down to greet what had to be a foal. When met with a high pitched ‘leave me alone’ Leo flattened his ears.
The Chevalier could take care of a sobbing child. Leo straitened up and approached the next door. He reeled back to raise his front hooves, bringing them down hard on the door handle. The wood creaked as the metal bend, but the door stayed shut. Leo swished his tail in annoyance and braced himself, channeling all his current frustration as he slammed his shoulder into the door with a stifled grunt. Feeling the wood give was satisfying and Leo stepped in as the door swung open.
His brown eyes quickly scanned the empty and unused bedroom. This was an inn after all, vacant rooms were no abnormality. Leo let out a nicker as he turned back to the group of horses. “I’m going to try some of the homes instead.” He said to no one in particular as he started to make his way back to the stairs.
Wordcount 419 | Post #6
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