[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/SS9Gk9X.jpg[/img][/center] [color=1BC617]Time: Night Location: River Fairy Kingdom -The Pretty Flower Interactions: A couple of locals Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch of amas, transmission bracelet[/color] [hr] [color=B7E3B6]Orias moved through The Pretty Flower, slowly taking it all in. It was a lively place, packed full of fairies who danced, drank, and laughed with ease. Yuka’s explanation, that fairies enjoyed an escape from reality held true. Who could blame them? Who wanted to face the reality they were all heading towards. Orias certainly didn’t, he found soon himself at the bar with a glass of mead in front of him. [color=1BC617][i]Just need to loosen up a bit,[/i][/color] he told himself. He was lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces and he clung to his glass as if it were his last lifeline. He could understand the fae mentality, he’d take another reality over his own right about now. Maybe another night away from being Prince Orias, from having to think about war and all that came with it. A break from worrying about family he hadn’t seen in decades, from wondering if he ever would see them again. He finished a glass of the sweet-tasting mead faster than he’d intended. His cup was quickly filled to the brim by a smiling fairy. He thought of how he should've stayed in Roshmi, kept his fake name and fake life, searching for ways to make the dark elf occupation just a little more complicated. He wouldn’t have to be responsible for a human boy lost in a world he did not belong to, wouldn’t be negotiating with allies on behalf of a kingdom and family he’d left behind. Another was glass emptied only to be refilled. No one asked for his help, certainly not his own family. They wouldn’t want to see him, wouldn’t want him meddling in anything important. The Biren name had remained scandal-free since he left, they were all better off believing him dead. Another glass was emptied and refilled. This was selfish. What did he think he could fix? Who was he to think he could go around playing hero when he was anything but one. And it was too late to stop. He’d already thrown his name out, and already made deals with Augus. It was all happening too fast, too much responsibility. He glanced around for his companions, two familiar faces that, really, he barely knew anyway. They both seemed distracted, both would get along so much easier with the free-spirited fae. His eyes moved towards the door, an easy path out of all this. But what then? Orias finished another glass, he looked around again. It took a long while before Orias left the bar to make his attempts at mingling. It took some awkward walks around the room before he found a group he felt comfortable enough to approach. [color=E99D0F]“...so there I was right, out on fishing by the stream, when I see the biggest Owlbear I’ve ever seen lunging on towards me. Teeth all snapping and sharper than any I’ve seen.”[/color] At a table two fairies sat, one, a lanky looking with a boyish face, telling a story. [color=0EBFA6]“No way you fought an Owlbear, you’re full of shit.”[/color] The other fae said. This man was more muscular with harsher features. [color=E99D0F]“Let me finish. On my life, this happened just the other day. So there I was, deep in the forest, and it’s getting late and I can barely see enough to fly off without hitting a tree or something. I’m thinking, how do I get out of here, I’m a fast one but no way am I outrunning this thing and I can’t risk hitting some big ol’ branch and knocking myself out.”[/color] [color=0EBFA6]“Now look whatcha done, drawin’ in a crowd with them damn fishin’ stories.”[/color] The brawny fairy shook his head as he looked at Orias. [color=0EBFA6]“You look like you’ve seen an owlbear or two in your day tell this twiggy bastard he’s full of it.”[/color] [color=1BC617]“I kind of want to hear the story.”[/color] Orias said. [color=E99D0F]“Hey now, that’s the attitude I wanna see. Sit down bud.”[/color] The skinny kid slapped the table and scooted over to make room for Orias. [color=E99D0F]“So as I was sayin’, I see this owlbear lunging straight at me, and hand to Xylia I heard this owlbear scream a single word at me,”[/color] The skinny kid paused for dramatic effect. [color=E99D0F]“Leave.”[/color] The fairy screamed the word with a guttural voice, imitating the sound he had heard from the alleged owlbear. [color=0EBFA6]“You can’t talk to owlbears, you can’t barely talk to that cat o’ yours.”[/color] The second fairy interjected again. [color=E99D0F]“Swear on my life. No more interruptions, you’re disturbing the guest. He likes my story.”[/color] Orias just nodded and so the fairy continued his tale. [color=E99D0F]“Anyways, I hear that and somehow I just know what this creature’s all about, and boy am I in trouble. So summon up every branch, root, and vine I can muster to hold this big o’ beastie back, and it’s braking through them like it’s all nothing. But it bought me time, so while that owlbear’s all tangled up I turn to run outta there and damn near trip over another owlbear right near me. A little ol’ baby cub, cute as a button it was, and damn sure I was right about the first one, just an angry mama. Lucky for me I’m quick with the ol’ wings and I hop right over the little guy and use that boost to get my ass outta sight just as I hear the last bunch of vines, roots, and branches snapping like crazy. Pissed myself I was so scared.”[/color] The first fairy finally got to the end of his story. [color=0EBFA6]“Now that last part I’d believe.”[/color] The second one said with a chuckle. [color=E99D0F]“Now you shut your big gob, I know what I saw and I’m tellin’ you something out there’s got the critters acting all sorts of crazy. I ain’t never seen nothing like that so close to the kingdom. World’s gone all topsy turvy.”[/color] [color=1BC617]“That is most certainly true.”[/color] Orias voiced his agreement. [color=E99D0F]“This guy gets it. You come down from the Sun Elf lands pal?”[/color] The first fairy asked. [color=0EBFA6]“Got a name?”[/color] The second fairy added. [color=E99D0F]“Course he’s got a name, everybody’s got one. Silly question. Name’s Gil.”[/color] [color=0EBFA6]“Alvaro.” [/color] [color=1BC617]“Orias. Came over from Roshmi.”[/color] [color=0EBFA6]“Roshmi, now that place’s gone to shit. They just handed right over to those dark elf bastards, not a bit of fight in that damn king.”[/color] Gil’s eyes widened at the mention of Roshmi, and he spoke with the same excitement as he had when he told his owlbear story. [color=1BC617]“That they did.”[/color] Alvaro agreed, clearly more troubled by the subject than Gil. [color=E99D0F]“A real shame, but your sort’s got a handle on it huh?”[/color] Gil asked. [color=1BC617]“We hope so, can’t do it alone though.”[/color] Orias admitted. [color=0EBFA6]“Right, makes sense. I’d like to see those bastards get what's coming, after what they did.”[/color] Alvaro spoke with fire in his words. Orias nodded, [color=1BC617][i]A good sign, there were at least a few fairies more than ready to go to war.[/i][/color] [color=E99D0F]“Aye, poor Echo.”[/color] Gil said speaking softly for the first time since Orias had sat down. A sad smile crossed the face of the youthful fae. [color=0EBFA6]“To a fine prince.”[/color] Alvaro said raising his glass, the other two did the same before drinking. [color=E99D0F]“The finest. You know, I went fishin’ with that lad once, let me tell you he reeled him in a fish bigger than I ever seen.”[/color] Gil moved his hands as far apart from one another indicating that this alleged fish was much larger than even the average dwarf. [color=0EBFA6]“You ain’t never went fishin' with Prince Echo.”[/color] Alvaro said with a grin and shake of his head. [color=E99D0F]“On my life I did. Anyway, he was a real good kid.”[/color] Gil took another drink and tried to lift the sad smile back up. [color=0EBFA6]“I’m just waiting for the orders, nothin’ would bring me more joy than to join up with your lot and make them bastards pay.”[/color] Alvaro said with a stern nod. [color=E99D0F]“Don’t know what’s taking so long, we shoulda be marching right after we saw that damn broadcast.”[/color] Gil muttered. [color=0EBFA6]“They’re just grieving is all. One son gone, one gone rotten.”[/color] Alvaro replied, and Gil flinched slightly at the mention of the one gone wrong. [color=E99D0F]“So what brings you to River Kingdom?”[/color] Gil asked. [color=1BC617]“Hoping to convince your King that now is the time to act.”[/color] Orias saw no reason to lie. [color=E99D0F]“No shit? You one of them important elves?”[/color] Gil asked and they both seemed interested in his answer. [color=1BC617]“Not really. Just got something important I’ve got to do.”[/color] Orias continued to talk to the two fairies who he learned were cousins and who were more than willing to share their thoughts on the war. Alvaro was a seasoned soldier of the River Kingdom and Gil was a musician who, after the broadcasted murder of Prince Echo, was planning to enlist. [/color]