[center][h3]Valdr[/h3] Front of the Library of Arius [@rivaan][@floodtalon][/center] Valdr collapsed like a ragdoll after the girl shoved him off of her after an unfortunate mishap where he was knocked into her. He struggled a bit to get up before finally just going limp, for a few moments, both parties had thought he died, but a single quiet utterance confirmed otherwise, "food...", he said. It appears that whatever strength he seemed to have left was pure willpower, and as soon as anything knocked him off his feet, he was down until he got some help. [hr] [center][h3]Gargling Drake Inn[/h3] [@EnterTheHero][/center] Dark Knight, the meaning of knight was that of a warrior of good, one who fought for the good of their nation, to defend it's people, uphold justice and the laws of the land. The traditional sense of the knight favors peaceful resolutions and the generation of a harmonious community. Commonly they take to the sword and shield, a balance of the sword that strikes evil, and the shield that protects the people. Such is the way of the knight. However, reality does not see fit to have things be so convenient, thus the birth of the Dark Knight. Even well before the First Dark Knight, there were many scorned warriors who upheld their own creeds, their own justice, and dirtied their hands to do so, but many of them fell to this impure world. The Dark Knight is the warrior of good who dirties their hands with blood to continue that creed, at any cost and with realization of the realities of this world do they fight. That is a Dark Knight, when things are out of hand for the law, in they come, like a phantom, and though the resolution be bitter and perhaps grotesque. The Dark Dragoon is a famous title around here, that particular Dark Knight, the teacher of the one now sitting in the Gargling Drake, playing Triple Triad with the patrons. They seemed intimidated at first, but despite such an aura, he commanded a unique camraderie that was borne from a military man. There were a few quips he did hear about though... He could start pursuing them, soon as he won that 20 gil he just lost from that last round back. [hider=Some Info] [i]"Those Swords of Valor guys, not really what people think. I hear they've been helping out the farming folk outside of town", "Well that's a bit strange, didn't they just a lynch a man from a quarter nearby?"[/i] From what can be gleamed... It seems there could be a few reasons for this disparity in opinion, though it's always in the governing power's interest to discourage support for a rebel faction... But this seems a little different. Rebels don't wear uniforms, so framing them is difficult. [i]"Hey what happened to Fenton?", "Ah that rat? I heard he rolls with the Swords now", "Oh really, is he gonna be okay? He's never one to fight", "He says they helped him out or sommat. Last I heard he was in the Wing District, god knows why"[/i] A lead perhaps...? [i]"Missy needs these for tonight, no questions asked. You get in, hand it over, get out, Understood?"[/i], suspicious... From the corner of his eye he could see that exchange, the two left at separate times and quickly when they did. The bag given did not seem like a care package either. Well, he can choose which lead to press and what to do... So it seems the Swords of Valor were the biggest topic. Something did not sit right with how they were regarded so it seems... Anything else he heard was idle chatter or about some bandits, or some of them were actually bandits who came in to unwind or like him, find some info on things, but they weren't causing any trouble. [/hider] [hr] [center][h3]The Fang District - Near Royal Garnet[/h3] [@Hero][/center] The young maiden made heads turn as she walked down the streets, it appears she was heading back to her room in the Royal Garnet. What business did she have? Not too many knew, and others had guessed she may be a foreign summoner. Though Dogma had been banned, Summoners still had a celibate status among common-folk as capable of calling upon the gods they prayed too. Every face she passed did not seem to interest her, but as she neared the Garnet, one figure stood out for just a moment. The face was that of a skilled aristocrat, smiling, crafty body language, but those eyes unnerved her, and the unnaturally pale short silver hair, as if this man was nothing more than a puppet, but in mere moments he was gone. As she walked up the steps, she felt that unnatural hollow abyss once more, turning, she could've sworn he just walked passed her, but alas, there was nothing there... It was a surreal experience... Like a waking dream... Try as she might, the man was no longer around. Garbed in aristocratic clothing with such a terrifyingly lacking aura, those well-versed in nation's various fashion would recognize it as a high Ayntayikk garb. It wasn't as if someone had no presence, it's as if someone's presence was a negative, like a black hole... As soon as she calmed down, she turned back to the Royal Garnet's lobby. They offered much here. Recreational facilities, a large banquet hall, a dojo for visitors, a bar, and there were even VIP lounge rooms where likely political dealings took place, unsavory or otherwise. It seems some of the foreign ambassadors from the recent summit are still here, so she can hear about some of the going-ons taking place in other countries if she so pleased... As she passed, she got a few small quips however. [hider=Some Unintentional Eavesdropping] [i]"Cid has really outdone himself this time. The new Magi-Steam airship is a monster I tell you..."[/i], a pair of Escain gentleman, one is clearly the ambassador for the summit. [i]"Congratulations on getting the Magitek project approved for Karo, Ambassador", "No no, thank you. These recent years have been fruitous. Now there are preparations I must attend..."[/i], a conversation between a Karo representative and based on garb, an Escain assistant. The both seem passionate about the topic. [i]"Is it true...? That Ayntayikk Ambassador was... Hm I see..."[/i], so says who appears to be am ambassador. [i]"I hear Raelin is in the middle of a rebellion...?", "We have been told it is of no concern. A small uprising? But we will be home before any of this affects us",[/i] this was followed by some hearty laughter. [i]"It is little wonder Songdae showed up... Do they still dislike Raelin that much?", "No, I hear there has been a lot of inner politics, so they have been too preoccupied to send anyone so it seems",[/i] A Frinian and Raelinian man, likely the secretaries for their respective ambassadors. [/hider]