Age of Change {IC|OPEN|Sign-Up in OOC}

[Charlia]

"A distraction would be nice..."

Alyss Hartryne
Sailing with a wimp(boat to the head?)

"...I don't remember all of the details," Alyss said slowly. "Her name was Charlotte. She lived in one of the cities around Lake Vanans, I know that much. I don't remember which one, though. I wasn't there for any real reason, it's been a while since I did anything except wander aimlessly. I was, you know, doing what I normally do, when I ran into this one guy... I can't remember his name anymore, but that's only to be expected, I suppose." She laughed ruefully. "I ended up with a lot of bruises when that was all over, I remember that much. Other than that, things went like they always do, except when I was about to leave afterwards, I ran into her." Alyss's expression darkened as she recalled the events. "She wasn't even doing anything. She was just... just sitting there. And it freaked me out, and I thought there must have been something wrong with her. Like she was blind or something, you know? Because she wasn't looking at anything... just staring at the wall like she wasn't even seeing it. But when I was about to move on, she turned and she looked at me and I could tell that she saw me, and she asked who I was and why I was there and she just sounded so sad... So we talked for a while, and she seemed to like having someone to talk to, except every time she smiled at me I thought she was going to cry... so I tried to hug her, and she almost screamed at me to stop because 'it hurts'. Those were her exact words. 'It hurts'. And then..." Alyss's voice cracked. "And then she was crying, and she just kept saying 'I'm sorry' over and over again, and I just wanted to kill someone because it made me so angry to see a little girl like that... but when I offered to help her, she said 'no'. And she apologized again. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't convince her to let me help... and I don't even know why, she was so miserable... she even outright said it to me at one point, she just wanted to die because everything hurt too much, but she wouldn't let me help..."

Now Alyss was crying.

"Why wouldn't she let me help?!"

[Taber]

---

Devan Beaumont
Hazelpond
Azemar territory
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

Without all his armor on, it was easier to tell that Devan had the frame of someone who didn't just play at being a warrior. The man's shoulders were naturally broad, but his chest and forearms displayed the thick, toned look of someone who hefted a steel blade often. Swords, especially long swords, were heavy and took years of practice to achieve the muscles necessary to wield one with dexterity as well as finesse. Devan didn't display a reaction on his face, but he felt foolish to be surprised that Jailyn dressed a bit as a man even though she was a woman. "No Hunter wears a dress, you idiot. Not on the trails, anyway." Still, there was something rugged about her that he seemed to enjoy, even if she wasn't like the Ladies of Court he had been raised to idealize.

"Cheers." He responded throwing back the wooden mug, tilting his head back. His adam's apple throbbed up and down as he drank heartily. Taking a shallow breath of satisfaction, Devan set his mug back on the counter. The flavor of the ale tasted a bit odd. As in, not like other ales. It could have been that the wooden mug had absorbed the flavor of other beverages or maybe the drink really was just this strange taste. "No time like the present." Devan finally admitted to himself. With some liquid courage in him, he hoped this task would be that much easier. The squire began slowly, as if broaching the topic delicately, "Jailyn, I have... a proposition for you."

Not leaving much time for her to question his intentions, he continued, "I wish to accompany you on your journeys. I promise I won't be a burden." He shifted a bit closer to her, though not awkwardly close. In his movement, Devan felt like his body moved without him. His feet felt like they were stone and his legs made of jelly, though he stood. Regardless, as he laid out his case, the man took intermittent sips of his Pond Water.

"I am able to handle my own, I can assure you. I can fight and swing a sword better than most."
"Perhaps I drank too quickly."
"I have fought men, orcs, and even a cyclopes. You won't need to protect me and I can watch your back. Watch out for you, I mean. Not your back, I mean. That too."
"Relax. Take another sip of ale."
"I am use to speaking with nobility in their preferred status."
"That won't impress her."
"I have acquaintances with the Highstars Merchant Company."
"Has she always been this attractive?"
"I know the territory of the Human realms quite well, m'lady! Quite well. I can even read and write!" His words seemed a bit rushed, as a someone in their cups can sometimes get.
"What is IN this ale!?"

Finally stopping his own mind from spinning, Devan gripped the counter softly as not to drawn attention to steadying himself. "So, what do you say?" The squire asked in a focused and serious tone. He had thought about this only briefly, but the Demon Hunter was almost a too good of opportunity to pass up. He needed coin and Demon Hunters easily found work, but even better, their line of work was often followed by heroic feats against monsters and terrors; stuff of nightmares. No, it wouldn't be escorting caravans or acting as a bodyguard of some merchant's manor in his paranoid delusions. Jailyn Nepveld might as well have been a gift from the Gods, given how Devan had scraped by since the passing of his old Knightly teacher. He patiently held his breath, his stomach in knots, to hear her reply.

[The Burning Sun]

Rose
Sweeping outside an orphanage in Doveport, bored

Rose never did understand why she or anyone else had to sweep the stairs leading up to the orphanage's main door. It wasn't as if there was an army of inspectors, peering down at every doorstep in the city to make sure they were clean. And in any case, the wind blowing in from the country combined with the crowds of people and wagons patrolling the streets ensured that the stairs were dirty again before the day was half over.

As usual, Rose surveyed the street before her in hopes of finding something to distract from her monotonous chore.The scene was fairly dull on this particular morning. The usual merchants trudged toward the marketplace, followed soon after by throngs of customers. Travelers who had arrived the night before walked out of the inn across the street, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

After enduring the monotony for some time, Rose set down the broom and went walking down the street. The overseer of the orphanage would soon notice her absence, but wouldn't do anything, partly because she was tired of dealing with Rose and partly because, privately, she didn't see the point in sweeping the stairs either.

After walking a ways down the narrow, trash-ridden street of the orphanage, Rose turned onto the main road that ran between the city center and the outer gates. She walked to the gates at least once or twice a week. Orphans were not allowed to leave the city, so to her, the gates were a barrier between her and freedom.

She had slipped out on a few occasions, of course, but hadn't in a while because she knew that the orphanage's overseer would never let her out of her sight if she was caught.

Rose thought of the risk of being caught outside the city. Then she thought of spending the rest of the day sweeping. The former won out easily. During a changing of the guards, Rose walked out of the gates and sat by the road a little ways away.

The scene out here wasn't much more exciting, but the fresh air and the view were infinitely preferable to the cramped city. After about 30 minutes of playing on her flute and watching people pass, something caught her attention. A nervous-looking girl a bit older than Rose was approaching in a wagon, talking even though nobody was accompanying her. Occasionally Rose saw movement beneath a blanket in the wagon's rear. It was hard to tell, but the girl seemed to be talking to whoever - or whatever- was underneath.

Rose was too curious for her own good, to the point of making her brother seem indifferent to everything. This combined with her general braveness meant that she didn't hesitate to put away her flute, walk to the edge of the path, and start asking questions as the wagon came to a stop near the gate.

"G'day, ma'am. You look like you've seen a ghost! What've you got under that blanket that keeps moving around?"

Well, that was that. Elisabeth was no genius, but she was pretty sure that being caught hiding under blanket was pretty suspicious. If she was found, they would probably want to know why she was hiding in the first place, and it wasn't like she could say "Oh, because I was trying to block out the smell of your delicious blood." She didn't know enough about human society to make something up, so her only options were to...

Actually, who said she didn't know enough about human society to make something up? Laelynn was a perfect example: if tired, humans could sleep during the day and nobody would care!

"Hey," she mumbled from below the blanket in her best grumpy voice, "some of us are trying to sleep here." She poked her head out to get a clear look at whoever this person was. "Nothing interesting here, creep. Move on."

[Arctica-Aleutia]

Rose
Sweeping outside an orphanage in Doveport, bored

Rose never did understand why she or anyone else had to sweep the stairs leading up to the orphanage's main door. It wasn't as if there was an army of inspectors, peering down at every doorstep in the city to make sure they were clean. And in any case, the wind blowing in from the country combined with the crowds of people and wagons patrolling the streets ensured that the stairs were dirty again before the day was half over.

As usual, Rose surveyed the street before her in hopes of finding something to distract from her monotonous chore.The scene was fairly dull on this particular morning. The usual merchants trudged toward the marketplace, followed soon after by throngs of customers. Travelers who had arrived the night before walked out of the inn across the street, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

After enduring the monotony for some time, Rose set down the broom and went walking down the street. The overseer of the orphanage would soon notice her absence, but wouldn't do anything, partly because she was tired of dealing with Rose and partly because, privately, she didn't see the point in sweeping the stairs either.

After walking a ways down the narrow, trash-ridden street of the orphanage, Rose turned onto the main road that ran between the city center and the outer gates. She walked to the gates at least once or twice a week. Orphans were not allowed to leave the city, so to her, the gates were a barrier between her and freedom.

She had slipped out on a few occasions, of course, but hadn't in a while because she knew that the orphanage's overseer would never let her out of her sight if she was caught.

Rose thought of the risk of being caught outside the city. Then she thought of spending the rest of the day sweeping. The former won out easily. During a changing of the guards, Rose walked out of the gates and sat by the road a little ways away.

The scene out here wasn't much more exciting, but the fresh air and the view were infinitely preferable to the cramped city. After about 30 minutes of playing on her flute and watching people pass, something caught her attention. A nervous-looking girl a bit older than Rose was approaching in a wagon, talking even though nobody was accompanying her. Occasionally Rose saw movement beneath a blanket in the wagon's rear. It was hard to tell, but the girl seemed to be talking to whoever - or whatever- was underneath.

Rose was too curious for her own good, to the point of making her brother seem indifferent to everything. This combined with her general braveness meant that she didn't hesitate to put away her flute, walk to the edge of the path, and start asking questions as the wagon came to a stop near the gate.

"G'day, ma'am. You look like you've seen a ghost! What've you got under that blanket that keeps moving around?"

Well, that was that. Elisabeth was no genius, but she was pretty sure that being caught hiding under blanket was pretty suspicious. If she was found, they would probably want to know why she was hiding in the first place, and it wasn't like she could say "Oh, because I was trying to block out the smell of your delicious blood." She didn't know enough about human society to make something up, so her only options were to...

Actually, who said she didn't know enough about human society to make something up? Laelynn was a perfect example: if tired, humans could sleep during the day and nobody would care!

"Hey," she mumbled from below the blanket in her best grumpy voice, "some of us are trying to sleep here." She poked her head out to get a clear look at whoever this person was. "Nothing interesting here, creep. Move on."

Rose
Just outside of Doveport

At first, it seemed like there wasn't anything of interest; just someone sleeping, tired from a long journey from who knows where. Still, something seemed a bit off, in a way Rose couldn't quite pinpoint.

"My apologies. Anyways, welcome to Doveport. I'm Rose Churchill, but you can call me The Black Rose. Nobody gets hurt in this fair city when I'm around."

That last part wasn't really true, but she had saved people from robbers on more than one occasion.

She gave a salute and started off, but stopped and looked back at Elisabeth.

"Maybe you should see a doctor. You look a bit... pale..."

And then she dashed off through the gate without giving any of them a chance to chastise her further, upsetting some horses as she stole across the main avenue.

[Abserdia]

Laelynn Vinge
With a vampire
Outside the gates of Doveport

Laelynn was just going to say that her "acquaintance" was up for an entire day and was resting, until Elisabeth very rudely told the young girl that she was a creep and she should leave.

She's seen the child before. Usually walks the streets, always seems to have a sword in her grip, and way too keen for trouble, especially for her age. Definitely not one for staying still, that's for sure.
Laelynn planned on apologizing for Elisabeth's behavior, but Rose left very quickly with a dash through the city.
She looked at Elisabeth, showing a small look of disapproval.
"C-couldn't you have been a bit more, um... p-polite? She's just a kid, you know..."

With a sigh, she jumped out of the carriage towards the gates and waited for the vampire.
"Well... it's time for you to see Doveport...
please, d-don't leave somewhere without me. I-I'm sure you know that by now, but I still want you to promise."

[Arctica-Aleutia]

Rose
In Doveport, just asking for trouble

Rose had made her way up to the rooftops of the shops near the city walls. She sat on the edge of a roof, and was keeping an eye on the gate as she talked quietly to herself.

"Something strange about that lady under the blanket... never seen her here before, and I never forget a face. Doesn't look to be related to that other girl, either. Her face was almost as pale as Francis', and that's sayin' something. You'd almost think her to be a vampire. Hmm... no, she couldn't be. Could she? Hmm..."

Whether or not Rose actually suspected Elisabeth of vampirism was anyone's guess. She probably wasn't sure herself. But in any case, the city had little to offer in the way of entertainment, and Rose resolved to uncover any mysteries being hidden by the two in the wagon. If they came through the gate, Rose would follow alongside them, unseen on the rooftops, and try to listen in on any conversations they might have.

[Doughertania]

Valeria Erthorn
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Sitting cross-legged in her room, Valeria Erthorn came to the same conclusion she had since she was five. The worst part about enchanting was the preparation time. First she had to be calm enough to feel magic flowing around her, filling the room with its golden light. Once she found, she had to wrestle into a single point. When she first started, it felt like she was trying to paint by forcing a river through a funnel, able only to paint large crude spells onto her targets. But she refused to give up, wrestling magic into finer and finer points until she could create masterpieces.

Like the stones that lay in a circle around her, slowly absorbing the ambient energy. They were of her own design, capable of granting life to objects for brief periods of time, a feat few could pull off from a spell let along an enchantment. Their versatility was more than worth the time it took recharging them.

With the ritual coming to a close, she allowed her mind to wander. It was hard to believe she was actually here, about to start her quest to earn her place by her father's side. Before she left, she had the royal spies compile a list of adventurers, mercenaries, and other free agents that could aid her in her mission. She already had paid a village to summon Rehgar Greaves and Dagon Argrave, two well-known champions of the people, and test them to prove they are more than folk heroes. Another such person had been scene roaming Azemar territory, someone who should be arriving in Aerilon shortly.

With the ritual over, she packed her things into her knapsack and made her way through the busy streets. It was still strange not to see slush on the ground or frost coating the window panes. It was stranger still to think that she was trying to affect the fate of everyone she passed. If she was a different, weaker person, it may have even intimidated her. Instead, she felt only a strengthened resolve.

She stopped by many of the taverns, looking for the green-scaled draken. After the third stop, she pondered a better way to do this. Perhaps she could create enchanted animals, capable of spreading out through an area and relaying information to her telepathically. An undertaking like that would require her to find a craftsman skilled enough to create detailed enough creatures, as well as several enchanting sessions to ensure the necessary spells were in place. Still, it gave herself something to think about, keeping her irritation in check as she visited another dead-end.

After the fifth tavern, she found someone who seemed to be her man. He was standing, drink in hand, surveying the bar around him. She boldly stepped up to him, bowing slightly once she reached him. "Are you the one they call Nahlonsikkendaar?" She looked him in the eye, recognizing his face from the sketching made by her father's men. "My name is Lady Valeria Erthorn, and I am in need of your aid."

[Spindle]

Olivia D'elle
Campsite
Ra'shiq Desert

Olivia smiled softly as Aseela did her best to hide her disappointment. If nothing else, it meant that she had been passable company last night. Still, she felt the insistent twanging of feelings she'd long since shackled to her control pulling in her chest. For a moment, she considered telling Aseela what it was that she was searching for, inviting the Ra'shiq with her on her quest. The question rose in her mind, potential answers balanced in a still equilibrium for a moment which seemed to last for an eternity before it began to tip back towards secrecy.

Then Aseela's lips were sealed tightly against hers again and her thoughts dissolved. For a moment she replied in kind, pressing her body against the Priestess' as she did so before pulling away from the other woman with a small sigh. This was making her choice harder and harder. Holding Aseela closer, feeling the warmth from her body seeping through her clothes and suffusing her own abdomen. With her mind whirling, she closed her eyes and sighed to herself as the unconscious equations shifted and rearranged around that moment. Leaning in again, she whispered in Aseela's ear, each word dripping like honey:

"You know...you could always come with me if you want." She murmured, "I'm looking for something which you'd be useful for."

For a moment, she considered the Ra'shiq. She was devoted, that was one of the few things Olivia knew for sure, and she was going to have to overcome that in order to win the Priestess over.

"And let's sweeten it a little." She added, "If I don't find it within a year, I'll come back here, with you, in chains...or whatever else you want me to wear. And if I do find it..."

She trailed off, before picking up again:

"We'll see about something equally juicy."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Nahlonsikkendaar
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Juskouria
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

Nahlonsikkendaar was having one last drink before he retired to bed when the elf stepped up. At first he didn't see her, mainly due to the fact that he was around nine feet tall, so he towered over others. But when the elf began to speak, Nahlonsikkendaar looked down at her.

Instead of answering her question about if he was himself vocally as most would expect, Nahlonsikkendaar simply nodded. Then when the elf introduced herself as Valeria Erthorn, he simply put his hand out signalling for her to stop. There was a moment of silence before he spoke. "What do you need aid with, and why? Keep it short. One word only."

---

Agnimukha Vasuman
Bay of Serpents
Kla, 29th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"Maybe... Maybe she didn't want you to get hurt?" Agnimukha said, "I'm no... no expert but it sounds like something my... my adopted mother would have done. She would bare the... the pain to protect others. Though... she never acted like hugs hurted or smiled like she was going to cry. So maybe not."

[The Burning Sun]

Laelynn Vinge
With a vampire
Outside the gates of Doveport

Laelynn was just going to say that her "acquaintance" was up for an entire day and was resting, until Elisabeth very rudely told the young girl that she was a creep and she should leave.

She's seen the child before. Usually walks the streets, always seems to have a sword in her grip, and way too keen for trouble, especially for her age. Definitely not one for staying still, that's for sure.
Laelynn planned on apologizing for Elisabeth's behavior, but Rose left very quickly with a dash through the city.
She looked at Elisabeth, showing a small look of disapproval.
"C-couldn't you have been a bit more, um... p-polite? She's just a kid, you know..."

With a sigh, she jumped out of the carriage towards the gates and waited for the vampire.
"Well... it's time for you to see Doveport...
please, d-don't leave somewhere without me. I-I'm sure you know that by now, but I still want you to promise."

Elisabeth nodded and watched as Laelynn jumped off the carriage and walked inside the building. A small sign above the building displayed what looked like a bird's nest and the words The Dove's Nest Inn, which, if she remembered correctly, meant the building was a place humans often went to for food, drink, and lodging. Elisabeth smiled at her small accomplishment, until a butcher covered in blood walked past and her parched throat flared up with a vengeance.

Right. She definitely needed to do something about that. If she waited too much longer, no amount of magic in the world would be enough to mask the scent to a manageable level. The problem was, short of randomly grabbing someone off the street she had no idea where to start. And, from the looks of the crowded streets, that would be much harder than anticipated.

Her thoughts drifted back to the erstwhile butcher. Maybe they sold human blood as well? No, that was preposterous. Idly dreaming wasn't going to get anywhere. Wait - maybe she could get some blood from Laelynn. The two were already traveling together, so nobody would think twice about them sharing a room. If she attacked her during her sleep, she would be able to prevent any struggle and have ample time to clean up any mess, but...then she wouldn't have anyone to guide her around the city. The longer Elisabeth pondered the idea, the less attractive it became. Getting blood from Laelynn was probably the best bet, but she kinda really didn't want to kill her outright. But how to extract blood without the target ever noticing? Perhaps she could...

"Um...e-excuse me?"

Elisabeth turned around to find Laelynn behind her, holding a door key. Evidently, she had succeeded in getting them some rooms.

"Oh," she exclaimed. "I'll be right up." With that, she grabbed her valise and a few stray items and walked into the inn.

[Charlia]

"So maybe not."

Alyss Hartryne
Are you depressed yet?

"...I could've killed him so easily, though," Alyss mumbled. "Then she wouldn't have to get hurt anymore. It wasn't like it was going to hurt me..." She sighed. "At least... I might've given her a bit of relief. Maybe just for one day. Since he'd already had his fun with me, he might've left her alone... at least for a while. I want to think that... that I did something to help. Even if it was just that little bit..."

[Tachil]

Rascal
Lord Foreton's Estate

"Well anyway I have wasted enough time as is, so lets just get to the part where either you pick up that sword of yours and die...or you can call of your hunt for my head and then I'll think about letting you live. I'd personally go with option 2, but option 1 does have that shock factor to it. Either way that's just my opinion." said Rascal circling Lord Foreton like a predator playing with its meal.

"Oh please boy, you were nothing but some poor and pathetic orphan who served his purpose!" Lord Foreton exclaimed, turning to face a now intrigued Rascal. "And now, your just a waste of space and creation. You won't even be remembered when you are gone from this world. You may have received my family's name, but other than, but other than that you have NOTHING!!! And when I get my hands on you I will ENSURE your name is erased from history, your corps disgraced and fed to the wolves and personally ensure you don't make it to the afterlife. Your, not the only one to want and TRY!! To come for my head and you certainly won't be the last. Lord Foreton continued spiting a combination of blood and saliva at Rascal's feet.

Rascal simply chuckled in response, turning his right foot left and right to inspect if any part of Lord Foreton's Insults had hit their target. His chuckle turning into laughter that grew more and more cynical as time passed on. Until, Rascal had finally given in to his rage and kicked Lord Foreton with enough force to send teeth and blood splattering against his crimson walls and his body lounging across the bedroom.

"Now Now, Lord....Foreton I may not have been the first to come for your head, but I think we can agree I'm certainly the closest and I wouldn't go around planting Ideas in my head If I were you in this situation." Rascal uttered, grabbing a now disoriented and shocked Foreton by the neck.

"I..I.."
mumbled Foreton as he gasped for air.

"Come on now, I can't understand what you're trying to say when you-"

"Lord Foreton we have received a report that Rascal......"
One of Foreton's knight's had burst through the door interrupting Rascal only to pay himself back the same courtesy.

"Well, the man sold me out 10 minutes later than expected. I guess his will was a tad stronger than I had originally imagined. But this is perfect, now I don't have to go through the trouble of getting what I want in writing. A well respected witness will do and a knight...BOUND by HONOR and an OATH of HONESTY as mine, can only be the work of Ro himself." Rascal continued in an exaggerated tone.

"K-Kill him. Kill him now!"
exclaimed Lord Foreton. Prompting the knight to draw his sword.

"Now, I'd stop right there. Did you not take an oath to protect the House of Foreton? The exact house I became a part of when.....this... this thing adopted me. Striking me down will only end with your head on a pike serving as a reminder to those you once called your brethren of what happens to a disgraced knight who breaks their oath. Lord Foreton will not save you, and I know you know it all too well. So I SUGGEST you sheath your sword and stand there a witness to this bastard's decree or a witness to his death."

Releasing his grip on Foreton and grabbing his sword's handle , he continued

"So then, will it be the path of disgrace, or the path of honor?"

The knight stood firm, his sword drawn and ready to strike, yet his mind was clouded. He knew all to well the words Rascal had spoken were true. If he heeds Lord Foreton's commands not only would he risk his life in unnecessary combat but also be guaranteed certain death. Meanwhile standing there and possibly watching Rascal kill Lord Foreton didn't sit well with him either. His grip on his blade grew ever firmer as time passed, till thoughts of his wife and 2 sons flooded his mind.

Slowly sheathing his sword and bowing, the Knight gave his answer.
"Lord Foreton, I know this isn't my place to speak, but given the current situation I cannot act and therefor ask that you accept his demands."

"Thank goodness I'm not the only one with a brain in this room. Now than Lord Foreton, this honorable knight has asked you to reconsider your actions, as do I. Killing the man who has helped me make to this point doesn't sit well with me either, but I refuse to go on living like a terrified animal wondering when you will strike next. So I implore that you truly think this through. You remove the bounty on my head and promise to never hunt me down again and I will promise never to return and keep all secrets you entrusted with me." added Rascal.

Still shocked and angered at the knight's disobedience Lord Foreton reluctantly agreed gesturing the knight to officiate the promise and spread the new decree.

"Well then, Now that is settled I'll be taking my final exit."
Rascal said backing away

"But sir, why the window? We have a door here that I just came through not to long ago. In fact it is still open and if you allow me to escort you, your path will be safe."
Exclaimed the concerned knight.

"No no no, do not take away my grand exit. As we agreed upon, this will be my last time setting foot on this Estate and I'd rather like to leave in an impressive fashion if you don't mind. It should be the least I deserve..... May the gods ensure our paths never cross again."
and with those last words Rascal dropped from the ledge as the knight attempted to grab him. The knight continued to search for blood, stepped on grass or even pieces of armor, anything to help him peace together Rascal's fate, but alas his searched proved to no avail.

"You just had to come searching. Definitely not how I originally imagined my grand exit would be."
Rascal whispered to himself in disappointment as his dagger began to loosen from its wedge.

"Stop looking over that accursed window and get me aid!!" exclaimed Lord Foreton, finally causing the knight to withdraw from the ledge.

"About time!" Rascal quietly exclaimed, dropping to the ground and booking it to the forest. "I need to put as much distance as I can between me and here before he discovers I helped myself to his reward money. I mean I did turn myself in after all."

[Abserdia]

Laelynn Vinge
The Dove's Nest Inn
With a vampire

"So..."

Laelynn closed the door behind her and sat on the bed. The room seemed comfy enough for the price she paid, but she's stayed in this inn many times before, so it wasn't really a surprise.
A mostly empty wardrobe stood to the left of the door, the only things in it being a few forgotten pieces of clothing.
Next to Laelynn was a nightstand and an unlit candle. A single casement window on the far side of the room provided most of the light, and beside that window was a desk with a quill, ink, and two drawers on both sides.

The bed itself was rather comfortable. It was clean, big enough for two people, and had a warm blanket laying on top of it.
All in all, the room was nice. Not amazing, but homely. Hopefully Elisabeth doesn't feel the need to sleep anytime soon, though...

"What are you going to do?" She asked. "W-what do you usually do?
You say that you haven't seen many humans, so where do you get your blood? V-vampires can't drink animal blood...

can they?"

Laelynn wasn't very familiar with vampirism. All she was ever told were the horror stories that only really taught her about ways to kill or ward off vampires, not how to feed them. She was just worried that Elisabeth would end up getting too hungry and end up attacking someone.
So, as long as it was legal and moral, she wanted to do anything to help, regardless of how strange and frightening the situation was.

... I still can't believe I'm doing this!

[Arctica-Aleutia]

Rose
The rooftops of Doveport

"Meh. All they did was head into the first inn they came to. I'll check back on them later."

Rose had kept an eye on the two travelers, only to see them head inside. Resolving to return later to continue spying gathering data on them, she made her way across the uneven roofs until she ended up across the street from the orphanage. Using her sword as a handle, she ziplined across a clothesline, upsetting someone's laundry, and came to rest on the roof of the orphanage. A child in the street below saluted her; she had long since gained the respect of the other urchins in this part of the city.

Having no desire to be put to work doing chores, she remained on the roof, and played some tunes on her flute. A ways away, she could make out the window of the inn that her two targets had entered. She knew there was something strange about that one girl, she just knew it. And, she told herself, if there was anyone who could figure out what it was, it was The Black Rose of Doveport.

[Charlia]

"A few days?"

Conveniently, five days later
Blackburn

Even after five days, Mara still didn't seem to feel any worse, and she wasn't sure at all why her mother kept worrying about her. She felt just fine, after all. And she had a cool picture on her hand, so what was there to complain about?

Other than the fact that this new city was filled with more people than she'd ever seen... Charlotte didn't seem to be very comfortable with it either, shrinking into herself and flinching slightly whenever someone so much as brushed against her. Mara just held her mother's hand tightly, and hung on to Wulf's sleeve with her other hand, not exactly enthusiastic about the crowds. They were squishing her, at least, that's what it felt like.

I want to go home, she thought dully. Home was nicer. Quieter.

Then again...

There were things at home that she didn't like, either... things she didn't like at all.

I don't know...

[Doughertania]

Nahlonsikkendaar
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Juskouria
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

Nahlonsikkendaar was having one last drink before he retired to bed when the elf stepped up. At first he didn't see her, mainly due to the fact that he was around nine feet tall, so he towered over others. But when the elf began to speak, Nahlonsikkendaar looked down at her.

Instead of answering her question about if he was himself vocally as most would expect, Nahlonsikkendaar simply nodded. Then when the elf introduced herself as Valeria Erthorn, he simply put his hand out signalling for her to stop. There was a moment of silence before he spoke. "What do you need aid with, and why? Keep it short. One word only."

Valeria Erthorn
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
When she approached the fabled draken, she had expected for a hard sell. In fact, she had planned for it. By all accounts, the demon hunter had been reported to seem adrift, climbing the ranks of the Nightdawn Council and Order of Ymir due more to his skill than his ambition. What she offered was a chance to make a real, lasting impact upon the course of history. That and a considerable amount of wealth, but by all accounts Nahlonsikkendaar seemed to care not for money. What she hadn't expected was to recruit his aid through the power of a single word.

His request caught her off guard. Was it even possible to describe her request in a word? To explain how much of her life was resting on uniting the squabbling provinces of man? She considered refusing the restraints he set, but while she was proud she wasn't stupid. She needed his help more then he needed anything she could give him now. She allowed the two to stand in silence as she considered the best way to answer his question. Finally, she turned back to him, spread her hands to gesture to the humans crowded in the tavern.

"Unification." With that one word, he should understand her intent. More importantly, the enormity of the task should make it clear why she was seeking his aid. She ordered a drink as he considered her response, repressing any feeling of doubt. She had not come this far to fail before she even begun.

[Castle Crashers]

"A few days?"

Conveniently, five days later
Blackburn

Even after five days, Mara still didn't seem to feel any worse, and she wasn't sure at all why her mother kept worrying about her. She felt just fine, after all. And she had a cool picture on her hand, so what was there to complain about?

Other than the fact that this new city was filled with more people than she'd ever seen... Charlotte didn't seem to be very comfortable with it either, shrinking into herself and flinching slightly whenever someone so much as brushed against her. Mara just held her mother's hand tightly, and hung on to Wulf's sleeve with her other hand, not exactly enthusiastic about the crowds. They were squishing her, at least, that's what it felt like.

I want to go home, she thought dully. Home was nicer. Quieter.

Then again...

There were things at home that she didn't like, either... things she didn't like at all.

I don't know...

Beowulf, Blackburn

After five days of constant travel, Wulf was absolutely exhausted. His legs ached, and he wanted nothing more than a warm bed to sleep in and a little better food in his belly. He couldn't really complain, though; atleast he'd gained some company. That made it all tolerable. Now, they wandered through the tightly packed streets of Blackburn, but Wulf had no problem with the crowds. They were all he'd grown up in, after all. The others didn't seem as fond of it, though, as he notced the anxiousness on Charlotte's face and how tight Mara hung onto his sleeve. It would be comforting, if only she wasn't cursed with the mark of a cat...but it could be worse, he assumed. Finally, he decided to speak. "Uhm, so where are we heading exactly..?" He asked, wondering what her goal was.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Nahlonsikkendaar
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Juskouria
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"Unification.... Geind...." Nahlonsikkendaar muttered and took another drink. She seeks to unify the kingdoms of man. Presumably not under her own banner, as she doesn't seem to be foolish enough to try that. Or is she? She only answered what, not why she wanted. Though that's to be expected.

"That only answers what. Not why." Nahlonsikkendaar said, "So, why? One word."

---

Agnimukha Vasuman
Bay of Serpents
Kla, 29th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"Maybe she didn't want that." Agnimukha said, "Some... Some slaves in her position start to... to well, develop subconscious attachments making it near impossible to escape or sometimes, even want to escape... maybe she was afraid that if you tried to stop him, then he would harm her even more, or even.... maybe she was protecting someone?"

He paused, "Anyways... I think... I think I should try and get some sleep..."

[Charlia]

"...maybe she was protecting someone?"

Alyss Hartryne
Conversations with wimps
Kla, 29th of Bylu, 396 MB

"...but who would she even have to protect..." Alyss started to speak, but her voice trailed off and her eyes widened as a rather sickening possibility occurred to her.

Oh, gods. That's... that's not possible.

"...Enjoy your rest," she said quietly, her voice sounding dazed and very far away. "I... I need to think about some things..."

[Charlia]

"Uhm, so where are we heading exactly..?"

Charlotte
Blackburn, Not-Scotland
Jawuz, 30th of Bylu, 396 MB

"We have to get passage to Eilla Aiqua," Charlotte replied tiredly. "That's where the Nightdawn Council has their headquarters... that's where, hopefully, we can get the first item on the list. Unless they refuse... in which case all we can do is start looking randomly and hope for the best."

They can't refuse... They can't... I don't know what'll happen to Mara if I can't get what Arena wants, but I can't let anything bad happen to her... Please, Ouna, let them be feeling generous.

[The Burning Sun]

Laelynn Vinge
The Dove's Nest Inn
With a vampire

"So..."

Laelynn closed the door behind her and sat on the bed. The room seemed comfy enough for the price she paid, but she's stayed in this inn many times before, so it wasn't really a surprise.
A mostly empty wardrobe stood to the left of the door, the only things in it being a few forgotten pieces of clothing.
Next to Laelynn was a nightstand and an unlit candle. A single casement window on the far side of the room provided most of the light, and beside that window was a desk with a quill, ink, and two drawers on both sides.

The bed itself was rather comfortable. It was clean, big enough for two people, and had a warm blanket laying on top of it.
All in all, the room was nice. Not amazing, but homely. Hopefully Elisabeth doesn't feel the need to sleep anytime soon, though...

"What are you going to do?" She asked. "W-what do you usually do?
You say that you haven't seen many humans, so where do you get your blood? V-vampires can't drink animal blood...

can they?"

Laelynn wasn't very familiar with vampirism. All she was ever told were the horror stories that only really taught her about ways to kill or ward off vampires, not how to feed them. She was just worried that Elisabeth would end up getting too hungry and end up attacking someone.
So, as long as it was legal and moral, she wanted to do anything to help, regardless of how strange and frightening the situation was.

... I still can't believe I'm doing this!

Rather than make a beeline for the bed as Laelynn had, Elisabeth spent some time poking around the various drawers. Evidently satisfied with what she found, she plopped herself down onto the room's single chair and looked at Laelynn just as she finished speaking.

"Well," she began, "I used to live in this old castle a little ways into Blackwood Forest. Most of my blood was...procured by others. And, uh, no, vampires cannot drink animal blood, just like we can't drink blood that's been separated from its host and is no longer living."

Elisabeth paused for a few seconds, as if mentally tallying a list. "The problem is, if I bite someone they temporarily become a vampire too, and the vast majority of us are not nearly so well composed. On the other hand, if I drain blood without using my fangs, we have the same issue of a witness who will gladly get us both killed. Basically, unless I drink from someone willing, I have to kill them at the same time."

At this, she stopped, appraising Laelynn's reaction with a wry smile.

"Anyway, a couple of the rooms in this inn only have a single occupant. If we wait until nightfall, we could probably ambush someone in their sleep. Or I could go look for...oh! Cities like these have lots of poor and homeless, right? I'm not picky about my food at this point. Anyone alive will suffice, really."

[Vulnier]

Lord Aramsu Salehi's Representative
Bayikoyunlu, Ra'shiq Sultanate
Ra'shiq Desert
Huxius, 26th of Bylu, 396 MB (going to assume)

---

"My lord has a request for you." He said, "He seeks an amulet to be made for his to be wife. But he wants it created from a chain made by the dwarves of Korn Boldor, the actual amulet part is to be made from the tooth of a Vithiisk Terror with two feathers from a Caladrius attached to it. He also seeks to have a diamond from the Vale to be embedded in the tooth. Is this possible for you to do? My lord is willing to pay a vast sum to have it completed."

Jaal was stunned, his smile now replaced with that of a grimace. While Jaal had taken requests on amulets before, it had never been on such a scale on what the representative asked. It took a Jaal a few seconds to find his voice before he spoke. "That is... quiet the big request, friend." It was more than big, it might as well have been impossible. A diamond from the Vale? A tooth from the Vithiisk Terror?!? Suicide!

But that is what made it so alluring. The unpredictability, the journey, and the chance to tell stories that would make even his father jealous. And in the end, all he needed to do was grab a few items from the journey to get a big reward. In Jaals eyes, it was a win-win situation.

With a renewed spark in his eyes and a grin only matched by his excitement, Jaal said, "But what am I saying?! Of course its possible, after all, your lord wouldn't have asked for them if they weren't possible to get." Jaal then got up from his stool, now leaning over the sandy stall, his grin returning to his usual smile as he calmed down. "Tell your lord that his request will be as good as done. Though all I ask in return is that he keeps the pay warm and that he have patience." Jaal then stood up, wiping a bit of sand off of him before looking back up at the representative. "Is that a deal?"

[Doughertania]

Nahlonsikkendaar
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Juskouria
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"Unification.... Geind...." Nahlonsikkendaar muttered and took another drink. She seeks to unify the kingdoms of man. Presumably not under her own banner, as she doesn't seem to be foolish enough to try that. Or is she? She only answered what, not why she wanted. Though that's to be expected.

"That only answers what. Not why." Nahlonsikkendaar said, "So, why? One word."

Valeria Erthorn
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB
Valeria watched the draken closely, trying to decipher whether her answer was acceptable, but it was of no use. The demon hunter merely repeated her response, taking a swig of his drink before stating that she only answered the what. At the very least, he was willing to hear why, which she took to mean her response was somewhat decent. But the bigger challenge was to explain why she wanted to unite the humans in a single word.

She tried to keep the irritation out of her mind at the game she was forced to play, concentrating on the task at hand. Which was the right response? She was trying to prove herself as a worthy successor to her father's kingdom, so perhaps "reputation" would suffice. But that didn't really emphasize how important this task was to her. The end goal was to become Queen of the Vale, so maybe she should say "power." However, without context, it would be easy to misconstrued this as her wishing to rule over the humans, a goal that was foolhardy at best.

She looked back to the draken, having settled on her word. "Immortality." Of course, uniting the kingdoms of man would not actually let her live forever, and even if this was the case drakens and high elves have some of the longest lifespans of any sentient creatures. But there is more than one way of living forever, and cementing a spot in history would certainly help ensure your name would never be lost to the sands of time. And more importantly, it was the truth. If she could do something that would ensure all would remember Valeria Erthorn, surely she would be welcomed into the Vale royal family with open arms. At least, that's what she hoped.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Nahlonsikkendaar
Aerilon, Azemar Territory
Juskouria
Tiph, 25th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"Vozahlaas. Immortality...." Nahlonsikkendaar said and looked at her, It's likely not physical immortality. Probably immortality through stories. She wants her name to go down in history. Glory... Moro... is what she seeks..

"Very well." He said, "I'll help, but you need to help me first."

---

Lord Aramsu Salehi's Representative
Bayikoyunlu, Ra'shiq Sultanate
Ra'shiq Desert
Huxius, 26th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"That it is." The representative said and bowed slightly, "I'll inform my lord that you have taken his request. Farewell."

---

A group of Slavers
Blackburn, Amaurri Territory
Juskouria
Jawuz, 30th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

Little did Charlotte know, but as soon as she entered the city with Mara and Beowulf, she became a target. Four slavers had spotted her. A human warrior from the foot of the White Iron Mountains, a wood elven assassin from the depths of the Blackwood, a former Ra'shiq thief and finally a human mage from Blackburn. Greed told them what to do. Who'd care if a traveler and her kids went missing? So they followed them, remaining out of sight until the opportunity arose. Two of them quickly moved to cut off their victims when they turned down a less crowded street.

"My look what we have here." The Ra'shiq said as he stepped around a corner, pulled his blade and stood in front of Charlotte and the children, "A red haired woman and two young children. What do you think?"

"I think they'll fetch a pretty price." The Wood Elf said from a roof top over looking them with a bow.

"Shouldn't we see what the red headed one could do first?" Another voice said, this time from behind them. The human warrior held his makeshift ax ready, "I'll happily test her out."

"Now, now." The human mage said as he stepped beside the warrior, "You'd likely damage her. You should let someone with less bulk and more control test her out."

---

Agnimukha Vasuman
Blackburn, Amaurri Territory
Juskouria
Jawuz, 30th of Bylu, 396 MB

---

"AHHH THANK THE GODS!" Agnimukha shouted as he flew off the boat and hit the ground face first. "Sweet, sweet solid ground. I've missed you so much. Though, not going to kiss you. That would be weird... but you are an extension of my aunt... AH screw it."

And with that Agnimukha gave the ground a few kisses before standing up. "Now... I'm hungry..."

[Charlia]

"Now... I'm hungry..."

Alyss Hartryne
Blackburn
Jawuz, 30th of Bylu, 396 MB

"You change moods fast," Alyss remarked goodnaturedly. "Is there something you have in mind, or are you just planning to go eat whatever you can find? Please don't eat any of the people, by the way, I believe that's frowned upon."

You should let someone with less bulk and more control test her out."

Charlotte
Blackburn
Jawuz, 30th of Bylu, 396 MB

As soon as the slavers started to speak, Charlotte felt the chill of despair creeping into her mind. I finally, finally get away, and now I have to go back to that life...

And Mara... my sweet little girl, they'd... No, I won't let that happen, I won't let anyone hurt her. She won't end up like me. I swear it.

Ouna. Please. Please keep her safe. I don't care what happens to me--oh, who am I kidding, I don't want this to happen again, but I can survive as long as Mara is safe. Please.

Knowing it was probably useless, she brought out her knife, trying to make it seem like she knew what she was doing. The fact that she was trembling and the absolute terror on her face made it rather clear that she was essentially helpless, and she knew it.

"Mara," she said quietly, her voice shaking almost as badly as she was, "close your eyes, okay?"

I don't want you to see this.

She glanced briefly at the sole female member of the group, pleading with her eyes. Don't let this happen. She knew it was no use, of course. But she couldn't help but wonder how the other woman lived with herself. What if someone did this to you? Don't you ever think about how much it hurts? Or do you just not care?

You'd care if it happened to you, she thought bitterly. She almost wished that someone would teach the slaver what she was doing. Almost.

But this was something that she wouldn't wish on anyone.

"L-leave them out of this," she finally begged, hoping that at the very least she could keep the two children safe, and at the same time knowing perfectly well that that wasn't going to happen. After all, as long as they could make more money, what did they care about who they were hurting? "Please... Do whatever you want with m-me, just leave them alone... They're just children, please, p-please leave them alone..."