Elementals: The Black Beast (IC, Sign-ups only)

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Hearing that the seal was not too important at the moment, Tristan merely nodded and took his word for it. He didn't know anything about it so it was all he could do. He still didn't know what that had to do with anything but he decided not to let that bother him for the time being. What did bother him was the revelation that he had been holding a sleeping gas bomb all along without realizing it. It was a dangerous object, and he could have tripped or dropped it or what have you. He was distracted from this line of thought when he heard the odd-sounding word Celteki said. Gallians had a lot of those, apparently. Some of them were rather funny, too, although now was not the time to think of funny things. He had seen a girl kidnapped before his very eyes and could do nothing about it. Thus, he didn't exactly feel cheery at the moment.

"So... What's going to happen now?" Tristan asked Kroie, sitting down on a nearby chair and putting the gas bomb on the table. At that moment he heard his stomach rumbling, but did his best to ignore it.

[Constaniana]

"Well, to be honest, I'm not so sure about that," Kroie replied. "There's no real way of telling where Nryoko took his prisoner, and finding and searching every single Watchtower enclave sounds like it would be rather time-consuming, not to mention ineffective. I suppose guards will come and arrest these Watchtower idiots...though if the military is in town like I heard it might be a good idea for me to not be here and get dragged off for questioning..." The fact that Kroie might not want to be around when the local law enforcement came could make sense, since he could be blamed for causing the brawl, but not wanting to deal with the military made much less sense for a teenage boy.

"Sheesh, what the hell happened?" Said Aldraniri, standing in the doorway with a confused expression. "Master Jarnsmon and I were eating supper when we heard more shouting than usual from over here and then some screeching noises. One of the neighbours already called for the guards, I think, but Rolphus was insistent on me seeing what was going on firsthand rather than get gossip from Mrs. Witkens tomorrown," the redhead continued.

"So, the guards are on their way? Well then, I'll leave the explaining part to Tristan," Kroie said, before quickly walking out of the inn. Aldraniri looked at the Ice Elemental, even more confused now.

[Corvus Metallum]

Back in the barroom, beads of sweat began accumulating on Barabak's forehead as he felt the cold metal of Korin's knife pressed to his throat. The Watchtower cultist was genuinely fearing for his life by this point. He knew the townspeople had taken a disliking to him after the events of the Market Square earlier in the day, but this was going far beyond that. As he looked at blade and the young man holding it, he caught a glimpse of a person matching the description Celteki had given. "Sir! The door there!" He croaked, pointing the direction he had seen blonde hair.

There was sharp Thunk! as Korin's dagger stabbed into the wall next to the old men's head. "I suggest you leave, now" was all he said to the man, releasing his collar and backing off. The young man never would kill in cold blood, but he did enjoy scaring the wits out of Barabak.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

That Kroie said that they had no way of knowing where Nryoko took the girl and that searching every Watchtower enclave would simply not do was rather discouraging, but then, it wasn't like Tristan felt like he could do even that. When he mentioned that he would rather avoid having an encounter with the military and risk questioning, though, Tristan looked quite surprised. Why was Kroie trying to avoid them? Was he a fugitive of sorts, or a criminal...? He certainly didn't seem like one, and he had actually helped fight these people.

"Why...?" Tristan began, but he was interrupted when a redheaded boy standing in the doorway asked what had happened in there. Rather quickly, Kroie left the place and left him to explain, which was not a very good idea, seeing how he was probably as confused as the boy who had just walked in.

However, that didn't mean he wasn't going to try to explain. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "Well, first those two and their knights came in along with a creepy old man. The boy that just left tried to attack him but was repelled. Then they started asking for a girl. Since the innkeeper wouldn't give her to them that scary woman pulled out this black thing, but the boy took it away and told me to catch it so I did and hid in the pantry while the people out here started fighting. The girl was there with a sack and we waited there for a bit, but then the creepy old man... He... Appeared in a black haze and then disappeared again with her. When I came back out the fight was over." He explained.

[Neo Arcad]

Having lent her strength to the fight, Natalie was not at all surprised when the outcome was in her side's favor. Whatever "her side" was, anyway. She pulled her throwing dagger out of the knight's face with an audible *shunk* noise, and then, having re-holstered her axes, took up a position to stop the potential escape of the female Watchtower cultist. The disappearance of the elderly man startled her; it did no good to allow your enemies to escape, as they'd only come back to stab you in the back. She eyed her erstwhile comrades as well, though; their motives were far from clear and they seemed suspicious and dangerous on the whole. Except for the ice artist; he looked to be an honest traveller.

[Constaniana]

"What did this girl look like? Did you get her name?" Aldraniri asked tensely, glancing around the room nervously. Barabak wasn't sure whether he should follow Korin's advice, since one of the other people in the room might prevent him from fleeing the scene.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Tristan shook his head after hearing the red-haired boy's question. "No, I don't know what her name was, but, um... Well, she was pretty, and had long blonde hair and her eyes were... Um, greenish? I'm not really sure. Why?" The young ice-artist asked. Then, a realization hit him, and he was visibly concerned by the implications. "Did... Did you know her or something like that?" He asked, wondering how he would react if that was the case, and also fearing said reaction to an extent.

[Constaniana]

Aldraniri stood there in shock as the realization dawned that Tristan was referring to Heilaga. His breathing slowly began to quicken, panicked thoughts of disbelief and denial running through the boy's mind.

"Heilaga was working tonight, wasn't she, Berike?" he asked, already knowing the answer was yes. The boy stood there for a few more moments, the bar deathly quiet before the clanking of steel could be heard approaching. Seven guardsmen entered The Galloping Mare, wielding swords and round, red shields imprinted with Haventown's symbol: a turtuellant with a broadsword clutched in one hand, its head raised high and its jaws open, as if it was roaring.

"Right, arrest these two in the grey robes, and call in for some stretchers to carry these bodyguards out with them," said the lead guardsman, whose cape was black with a crimson trim instead of dark brown with blue trim.

"Aye, sir. Should we search for the boy that was mentioned when one of the patrons reported the brawl?" One of the soldiers asked in response. The sergeant in command shrugged, his mood difficult to tell with a helmet covering his face.

"I'm not sure we'll need go bring him in for questioning. If we need him urgently we can search the city later. For now let's just deal with this lot," he said, as three guardsmen handcuffed and lead Celteki and Barabak out of the inn. Aldraniri turned and left the tavern, sighing as he went.

"So, do any of you lot want to check in for the night?" Berike asked, as the patrons slowly resumed talking to one another and the guardsmen filed out, bringing their new prisoners with them.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Tristan merely sat there silently and watched Aldraniri's reaction with worry and guilt. As he had suspected, the red-haired boy knew her, perhaps they were even close friends. Thus, it was only natural that he would be afflicted in such way, but it didn't make him feel any better. So when the guardsmen of Haventown walked into the inn to take away the Watchtower cultists and their armored knights, the young white-haired boy merely observed them with a mild apathy of sorts, before returning to the task of examining the sleeping gas bomb he still had with him. He would probably have to keep it, he doubted there was anyone he could trust with such a thing, except maybe Kroie, but then, he wasn't here, he left.

He was interrupted by Berike's voice when the man asked if anyone wanted to check in for the night. Tristan knew that he should do so, so he walked up to the man. "Um, yes, I would like to check in, please." The ice-artist said, before listening to his stomach rumbling yet again. "And some food, if you don't mind..." He added.

[Neo Arcad]

Natalie was mildly put off when the guardsmen wrested Celteki from her grasp. She'd wanted to dispose of the bombwitch herself. Now things would get all legal, and she might come back for revenge. Shaking the thought from her mind, Natalie heard something about the kidnapped girl being friends with some other kid and stuff. (But Watchtower is my enemy now, too...) she thought. No sense in thinking about it now; it'd be better to sleep on the problem of what to do, and come up with a solution in dreams. Though it was rare for her, she decided to stay in the inn, behind a locked door, rather than risk sleeping out on the edge of town like usual. "I will 'check in' as well." she told Barabak, matter-of-factly, as she checked her gold pouch.

[Constaniana]

Berike nodded, walking into a small office behind the counter and returning a few moments later with two brass keys and handing them to Natalie and Tristan.

"The rooms are upstairs, and the numbers for the rooms are on the keys. I'll bring some food up to your room in a bit," the innkeeper said, before speaking to Korin. "You there, lad. Are you going to be getting something to eat? Shouldn't you be getting home by now, anyway? It's not too late, mind you, but when I was your age I didn't stay out at this hour in bars," the man said, filling a mug for one of the customers.

[Corvus Metallum]

Berike nodded, walking into a small office behind the counter and returning a few moments later with two brass keys and handing them to Natalie and Tristan.

"The rooms are upstairs, and the numbers for the rooms are on the keys. I'll bring some food up to your room in a bit," the innkeeper said, before speaking to Korin. "You there, lad. Are you going to be getting something to eat? Shouldn't you be getting home by now, anyway? It's not too late, mind you, but when I was your age I didn't stay out at this hour in bars," the man said, filling a mug for one of the customers.

Korin looked over as he pulled his dagger out from the wall and put it in it's sheathe. He was about to answer when he realized he hadn't eaten all day. "I guess I could use a meal," he said, "Besides, even if I left now, I wouldn't get home until after dark." The last bit was true, his family two or three miles outside of town into the surrounding woods.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Tristan took the key from Berike's hand and then left, ascending the stairs in order to look for his room, though not without thanking Berike first. Once upstairs, the youth took several moments examining the symbols on the doors to see which one matched the one on his key, eventually finding the right. He took the key and nearly dropped it before sliding it into the lock and opening it, entering the room. Once he was inside, he closed the door again and placed the bomb next to his bed, sitting down on it and looking through his belongings to see how many round metal bits he had accumulated, how many ice figurines he had left and which ones, and other such things of mundane nature.

[Constaniana]

"Alright, ye can sit at one of the open tables; one of the waitresses will get your order in a wee bit," Berike replied. "You know, that Aldraniri lad looked rather sour about Heilaga being kidnapped. I mean, a lot more than the rest of us, for certain. I just hope the boy doesn't do anything stupid."

---

Aldraniri awoke later the next morning than he usually did, a result of secretly staying up late through the night, doing one thing: packing his bags. His rucksack had simple things in it; some changes of clothes, a knife, a flask, some loaves of bread, a pouch of jerky, a small pouch of pocket money, a bedroll and a small journal. As he dressed in a light orange jacket and white undershirt he wondered whether this was a wise choice he was making. After all, he could easily leave the search for Heilaga in the hands of the town guards or the Dragoons and continue his life here in Haventown. Why put himself through the dangers of searching through the wilderness for a man who who teleport with ease?

"Because I could never live with the guilt of not even trying to save her. The Dragoons have enough problems with bandits and brigands, and I remember some of the blokes in the Galloping Mare arguing last week about political tensions and whether there would be war with Erisiln or something like that, so I doubt the local soldiers would be willing to search for Heilaga, and it's not like I can hire mercenaries to go after her or something," thought Aldraniri, closing his bag up and slinging the harness over his right shoulder. Donning black trousers and fastening up his pair of boots, the boy walked over to his bedside and knelt down, taking out a cloth bundle. The teenager slowly unwrapped it, revealing an iron sword in a plain brown scabbard. It was the first sword that Aldraniri had made, so he figured it was best to take this one, rather than one of the better ones that Rolphus had crafted. Finally, Aldraniri put on his lucky blue scarf. The young man took one last look around his bedroom before sneaking out.

Thankfully Master Jarnsmon was still asleep, as Aldraniri didn't want to face the blacksmith in person. He had left a note on his nightstand, so hopefully the blacksmith wouldn't be too panicked about finding his apprentice gone. Not making a sound, Aldraniri walked out of the smithy, turning left and making his way down the street, trying not to be noticed.

[Corvus Metallum]

As Korin sat down at one of the tables, he commented, "I know he did seem distraught about it. I don't know him, but you're right, I hope he doesn't do something idiotic or get himself killed." As he waited for his order to be taken, he drummed his fingers on the table in a rhythmic, almost musical pattern. In truth it was a song he had gotten stuck in his head from one of the street performers he had heard in his visit to town.

[Olthar]

As Blue walked beside the river there were a few bubbling sounds, before a young woman leaped out of the water, shaking her light blue hair a bit before smiling at the slime girl.

"Hello there, Blue. Lovely river they have here, isn't it? So nice and clear, even with this city right next to it. I wish they were as good about keeping rivers clean down in the south, especially around Kriegenland. That canal is just sickening at times. But enough of me complaining about the environment. What's someone like you doing here? Normally slime girls don't go near human cities," the stranger asked, cocking her head to one side.

Blue giggled a bit at the woman's question.

"Water fairies aren't very common, either. So we're both unusual then!" she responded, laughing, "Oh! Did you know that there's this girl with a thing that makes bubbles? It's so fun! She asks a lot of questions, though. Are you here to make bubbles, too?"

[Agritum]

"Alright, ye can sit at one of the open tables; one of the waitresses will get your order in a wee bit," Berike replied. "You know, that Aldraniri lad looked rather sour about Heilaga being kidnapped. I mean, a lot more than the rest of us, for certain. I just hope the boy doesn't do anything stupid."

---

Aldraniri awoke later the next morning than he usually did, a result of secretly staying up late through the night, doing one thing: packing his bags. His rucksack had simple things in it; some changes of clothes, a knife, a flask, some loaves of bread, a pouch of jerky, a small pouch of pocket money, a bedroll and a small journal. As he dressed in a light orange jacket and white undershirt he wondered whether this was a wise choice he was making. After all, he could easily leave the search for Heilaga in the hands of the town guards or the Dragoons and continue his life here in Haventown. Why put himself through the dangers of searching through the wilderness for a man who who teleport with ease?

"Because I could never live with the guilt of not even trying to save her. The Dragoons have enough problems with bandits and brigands, and I remember some of the blokes in the Galloping Mare arguing last week about political tensions and whether there would be war with Erisiln or something like that, so I doubt the local soldiers would be willing to search for Heilaga, and it's not like I can hire mercenaries to go after her or something," thought Aldraniri, closing his bag up and slinging the harness over his right shoulder. Donning black trousers and fastening up his pair of boots, the boy walked over to his bedside and knelt down, taking out a cloth bundle. The teenager slowly unwrapped it, revealing an iron sword in a plain brown scabbard. It was the first sword that Aldraniri had made, so he figured it was best to take this one, rather than one of the better ones that Rolphus had crafted. The young man took one last look around his bedroom before sneaking out.

Thankfully Master Jarnsmon was still asleep, as Aldraniri didn't want to face the blacksmith in person. He had left a note on his nightstand, so hopefully the blacksmith wouldn't be too panicked about finding his apprentice gone. Not making a sound, Aldraniri walked out of the smithy, turning left and making his way down the street, trying not to be noticed.

"After the brawl had ended and the guardsmen had arrived, the innkeeper realized that one of his employees, a young waitress called Heilaga, had been kidnapped in the midst of the violent confrontation. Such news was devastating for the bartender, as was for Aldraniri, a young man who worked as the apprentice of the local blacksmith, and who was apparently in a sentimental relationship with the kidnapped waitress.

It was such an happening that made me realize that this 'Watchtower Society" was growing to be an incredible threat for the safety of Gallia's citizens. It dawned upon me that someone would have needed to find the courage to list all of their deplorabe actions, and submit them to the governmental authorities in the nation's capital, to ensure the end of such a cult. And it was there that I decided to take on the burden of....

---

Charlie raised her sight from the notebook, to get a look at the street where she was walking in. She had the bad habit of writing while walking, which usually caused her to get lost in unknown cities and end up in less-than-recommendable neighborhood. After one of such misadventures, Charlie had realized that she needed to be a little more attentive of where she walked.

And it was there that she noticed Aldraniri's attempt at sneaking away from the village. Smiling in an entertained manner, the Southerner waved at the boy.
"Hey, ginger chap! Where are you going?"

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Tristan woke up early that morning, though not for any good reason. Dreams of white vastness usually gave him a solace of sorts, but they seldom did when he found himself in that gloom place with that evil man. However, nightmares soon gave way to a more terrenal concern: Sustenance. Deciding to take advantage of his early awakening, the young white-haired boy created some figurines in order to sell them at the marketplace, and also took out some metal bits to buy food, as he had the strange feeling that he would not stay in Haventown for long, and he had learned to trust himself in such things. Thus, he went outside, out of the inn, though before that, he stored a certain figurine, one that he did not want to sell.

Needless to say, since he always made few figurines at a given time and only made more when he was done selling them, his transactions did not take very long and so the ice-artist was done rather quickly. Thus, he decided to take a stroll around town. And it was during this stroll that he saw Aldraniri, the red-haired boy from the previous day, apparently speaking with a girl he saw talking to the innkeeper that day. At that moment the boy remembered the events of that day, still unable to understand why any of it had to happen. Were some Gallians truly that vile?

Either way, Tristan waited nearby, deciding that he shouldn't interrupt their conversation, but also wanting to give the other boy something.

[Constaniana]

"Bubbles? Oh, those are rather easy. Yeah, I could make some bubbles," the blue-haired woman remarked, summoning several of them with a flick of her wrist, like it was as difficult as spreading hot butter on toast. "And I'd like to point out that I'm not a fairy...well, I'm rather terrible at subtly, unlike Caelstion or Terestark. I'm Hydrata, Goddess of Water. Nice to meet you Blue. So, how do you feel about adventure? Obviously you don't mind travelling, since you came here to Haventown by yourself with no problems...but what about fighting bad people and monsters?" The deity asked bluntly.

---

Aldraniri was a bit surprised to see the Southemen teenager again, especially wandering the streets in the morning. But he reasoned that if she was a writer of some sort then her habits might be different from other girls her age, especially if she was writing about Elementals.

"Oh, I'm just going...out," he replied, unsure about whether to tell her about the reason he was leaving town. But then, if she was interested in Elementals, perhaps she would have some knowledge about different kinds of magic, since it seemed Heilaga's kidnapper used some sort of Darkness magic to escape, which was rather odd for a member of a magic-hating cult. "My friend got kidnapped by one of those Watchtower people in town last night, so I was going to go out looking for her..." The Northerner explained, raising his voice just enough that Charlie could hear him without shouting it to everyone on the street. Even at this hour there were plenty of people on the streets, normally traders wanting to set out on the road early, or apprentices fetching firewood for a bakery or pottery shop. However, there seemed to be a different sort of bustle on Astrin Avenue this morning. Soon enough Aldraniri could see the source of the strange busyness: Galllian Federal Soldiers. "Well that's a bit odd. Normally the army doesn't come inside the walls, since there's nothing here to concern them," He murmured, sounding a bit confused.

"Well, I'd imagine they might be investigating for further Watchtower activity, or there's the less pleasant possibility, which is that they'd be looking for me. Though I'm unsure whether these troops are from the local garrison at Castle Baehloch, or part of the group that was hanging around the docks yesterday evening with two ironclads," said a cool, steady voice. Aldraniri was surprised to see the black-haired boy from The Galloping Mare there again, as well-dressed as ever.

"When did you get here?" the redheaded youth asked in surprise.

"I was making my way towards the Western Gate, and happened to notice you two talking. I was just hanging back near one of those alleyways while you two were chatting. If you were trying to be stealthy about it you could use a bit more practice at it, but I doubt anyone in this crowd is actively listening anyway. Now then, since you seem interested in going after Watchtower I thought we could have a chat about them. But preferably a good distance from this place, since I've been slightly distrustful of Federal troops as of late," said Kroie.

"Well, I was heading out of the city anyways, so I suppose it couldn't hurt...what about you, miss?" Aldraniri enquired of Charlie.

[Agritum]

"Me?" Charlie replied, "Given that my investigation in this town has seemingly come to an end, I was already planning to move away to discover more about the Watchtower. I'm interested on documenting this cult's activities and then show them to the central authority back in the capital, so that something may be done against them. So, I guess I'll join your search party." Charlie said, with a small nod.

[Escalan Corps-Star Island]

Estrada came around groggily eyes blinking into focus and looking up at the rough oaken beams of the ceiling. He winced as his head turned and touched the wall, sending bolts of pain lancing through his skull. Shutting his eyes as the burning subsided, he waited until he felt clearheaded enough to stand up, he gingerly moved to a fully seated position before pushing off the floor and straightening his back. Bad move. A kaleidoscope of colours beat against his brain, throwing him reeling into the wall. He staggered to his feet, gritting his teeth as the blood filled his brain again. He looked around at the interior of the Galloping Mare.

As the Watchtower men had left, Estrada had received a blow to the jaw that had sent him sprawling into a table, upending it and him and leaving him unconscious. He reached up and touched the back of his head, and his hand came away sticky with blood. Shrugging it off for the moment, he picked his way outside, collecting his pack as he went. Spotting at least one face he recognized, Estrada strode over to Aldraniri, resolved to ask him what the basis and purpose of the Watchtower incursion was.

"Aldraniri," he called, hoping for a favorable response.

[Olthar]

When Hydrata created several bubbles, Blue giggled and clapped her hands, creating a sound that was wet and splooshy.

"That's incredible!" the slime girl exclaimed in excitement, "Can you make more?"

Waiting expectantly, Blue very obviously completely ignored everything the goddess had said afterwards.

[Constaniana]

"All right. First things first we should leave town, obviously," Kroie stated, turning and walking in the direction of Haventown's Western Gate. Shaking his head a little at the other boy's bizarre paranoia, Aldraniri followed him. He heard a faintly familiar voice calling to him and cast his eyes around the street, until he spotted the man who had entered the smithy yesterday, asking about a job.

"Oh, hullo again. A bit surprising to see you again," Aldraniri replied, wondering what the man wanted.

---

Hydrata sighed, rubbing her forehead for a few moments before creating another display of beautiful bubbles. Hoping that the childish slime girl was content with that, the goddess of water asked her the same question.

"So, as I was saying earlier, are you capable of taking a life if it's a bad person or monster putting other people in danger?"

[The Inritus Extraho]

Amata 'woke up', unfolding himself from where there had been a pile of rocks outside a random gate - nine hells, let's call it the Western Gate - and patted them gently. "Thank you, brothers..." he murmured to them softly, and then turned back, walking back into the town. Yesterday had been... crazy. But hopefully some of those other people, the ones who had confronted the protester-terrorist in the square with him, would have something he could do. He was, after all, mainly bored.

[Olthar]

The slime girl giggled some more and jumped around happily.

"Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles!" she cried out, squirming and dancing in joy, "I love you so much, Miss Water Fairy! I'll do whatever you want if you'll give me more bubbles!"