Schwarzwald - First Era"Sadly, my father is in his deathbed, my family hates me, I have neither food, nor friends that are alive." Joseph said, looking at the ground. "I'm sorry about jumping down on you. No offense, but I thought you might be a creature, so I had to take the offensive. Can you tell me your name?" He asked. He stroked the Tapir that was asleep in her arms. I should try to get on her good side. She would probably make a pretty good ally. He thought. He pulled out his bow and shot at a nearby snake, shooting it through the skull with one arm.
"My name is Evangeline but you can call me Eva if you want, I do recall saying so hey! you have a good aim" answered Eva looking a the dead snake. "Anyway, you want a job? It might not be much of a good thing to ask but I know where a nest of creatures are, not too much to get rid of but the place would make a good headquarters for people fighting them, I'll give you some nice stuff and a place to stay in the headquarters, oh an I'll come with you, can't let you go by your self, so what do you say?" asked Eva pulling her sword out and smiling.
"Sure, I guess we're allies now. Can we get some food real quick, I haven't eaten in what feels like days." Joseph said, stomach growling. He extended his hand to show that they were allies, hoping she would shake his hand. He then retracted his hand back, realizing it wasn't necessary. He grabbed her hand and led her toward the town, also holding his short sword. With good enough aim, which seemed to come naturally to Joseph, would put any beast to sleep within minutes. They were in front of a nearby convenience store. The sign was starting to tilt, the windows were boarded up, and the area reeked of death. "You want me to go in first?"
Eva looked at Joseph and smiled. "Come one we're allies, we go in together" answered Eva pushing the half eaten door. She put her sword away and took out her longbow and aimed it around. "Come on, if we're lucky the creature that might sleep here will make a good practice dummy" answered Eva. The inside was dark and there was not a glimmer of light. "Hey do have somthing to light this place up? just so we can take a look around" asked Eva looking back a Joseph.
Schwarzwald - Second EraOtto arrives with The Emperor Franz Joseph's party and their escorts. He let the Emperor and the Members of the Council speak together first, though he wished to have a word with him. Despite the somewhat shaky relationship between nobles and the commoner, the southwest was a calm region since the pirates were exterminated by the Emperor iron fist.
However, he remembered why he disliked the City upon arriving earlier today. It's boring, opulent, calm, rich. It is unlike anything else in the continent, and in many ways a foil to the south's rigidly native customs and ways. The natives are not people to be trifled with, and they rarely forget a grudge. The Recklinghausen especially waver between acting like cunning sneaks and passionate fools, but they are always dangerous. He brought with him a small party, only 3 knights and a few more men. Space was limited on the boats for the extra lords who chose to join Franz Joseph.
Guests from all across the West and beyond thanked the Great Sun they had manage to evade the maelstrom, more than a few comparing the brashness of the inclement weather to their brusque host… though The Emperor seemed to be in a jovial enough mood that night. For wine flowed, the choicest dishes were served by the platter, and despite his weeks of abstinence, who was he not to indulge at his Councillor’s wedding? And what a wedding, the Emperor above all storms thought.
Cassandra looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her before, resplendent in a white dress upon which pale silver griffins seemed to dance, intertwined, their eyes glittering moonstones. Her red tresses were piled on her head in some fashion one of her handmaidens had no doubt picked up in the capital - Franz had seen plenty of young ladies at court with similar styles, though none could match the effortless grace with which Cassandra held herself. He saw his step - sister Adelaide a brief, encouraging smile across her from his other side, and felt proud of them both. Both doing what is best for the family. After all, to be involved in a political intrigue is no small thing, and both of his step sisters were admirable, in his eyes.
“Shame Joseph couldn’t make it,” Franz Joseph said to his son as a brief aside.
“Hunting is as good a reason as any, I suppose,” Cassandra replied with a smile, at which his brother chuckled into his goblet.
Pleased with the proceedings, Franz Joseph looked down the hall at the great tables, groaning under the weight of a hundred dishes and more. Guests from far and wide laughed and bellowed, chatted and whispered - all under the eyes of the Great Sun. Tearing his gaze from the proceedings, Franz wiped his fingers on his cloth doublet - White, in colour, with little decoration but a small red circle adorning each side of his chest. He caught the eye of the young Nightingale groom, and raised his goblet in salute.
Nightingale spoke up as he walked in "Your Grace. I hope your time in the Capital were not as stressful as mine."
"Don't mention the Capital in this cheerful place."