1 User and 1 Guest viewing this page
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Prosaic
Raw
Avatar of Prosaic

Prosaic Local Ghost

Member Seen 12 mos ago


Interactions: @princess, @Conscripts


Charlotte was quick to embrace him, sweeping him into the second hug he'd experienced that day. It was not a bad thing, not really. It was embarrassing, for sure, but not bad. He exhaled in mock-defeat and returned the hug, if only for the breath of a moment. He had almost forgotten how nice it was to be cared for, these moments of kindness were few and far between with his parents.

"A'right, a'right," he says, waving her off playfully. "It's good to see you, Charlotte. It's been awhile." The smile he offers her when he says this is a vast improvement from the near-constant scowl he has long-since perfected. However, this smile lasts about as long as the hug did. "You're going to be seeing a lot of me, my parents have decided to dump me here."

He's very quickly distracted by the sound of Lorenzo shouting to Mayet. It's not exactly proper, not really that he's ever been one for propriety. There's a certain way that one must carry themselves when dealing with nobility, he's had a long time to put some type of effort into that.

Astonishingly, it seemed that Lorenzo had not.

Moreso, he's bothered by the fact that the Lady seemed to be accompanied by a tiger who looked as if it took even less kindly to Lorenzo's boldness. Devan was not one to be deterred by animals but he was willing to make an exception for especially large cats. He averted his gaze politely so it did not seem as if he was openly gawking at her and instead focused on the sound of Charlotte trying to direct the group away from the chaos. He nodded to her and fell in step behind her, eager to be as far away from any more of that as he could possibly get.

It wasn't that he couldn't appreciate a train wreck for what it was, but it was for the best that he didn't spend his first day here participating in said train wreck. Wouldn't my parents love that?

"Seems like it's been a chaotic day," he notes, "S'it always this bad? Or did I just shoot for a bad arrival time?"

There's a note of humor to his tone that nearly masks his concern entirely. Nearly. If Charlotte was dealing with this on the daily, he wasn't certain he envied her.
6x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Helo
Raw
Avatar of Helo

Helo Wonderlust King

Member Seen 0-24 hrs ago



Time: Morning, 10am
Location: Shooting Range
Interactions: Nahir @Rodiak
Mentions: Verrick @Aerandir, Thea @Tae


Leo briefly noticed Nahir’s gaze upon his hands and panic briefly rose. I missed a spot. Sitting here with a Shehzadi with peasant filth somewhere on my hands. One day into the summer and we’ve all already gone and offended her entire family on every occasion and I can’t even wash my hands right. The last thing he wanted was to add any further insult to Nahir or her family and here he was, sitting with royalty without having managed even wash his hands correctly. Mistakes like that reflected poorly not just on him, but more importantly on his family, his home, and his country. Leo knew he had to do better.

"I thought that mysteries and surprises were the national sports of Sorian. It almost feels like home."

“Well as a child I would’ve sworn the national sport was finding the best tree to climb but I think you're right, Caesonia does love her mysteries.” Leo agreed, thankful that her attention had left his hands. Perhaps the infraction had simply been forgiven.

As Thea’s name was announced Leo let out riotous applause, the very princess of Caesonia and Lady Zarai were both making such a scene for those they cheered for that Leo only felt it right to ensure his sister received the same support. He gave Sir Mathias quieter applause, the respectable knight was certainly a shining example of Varian values, but he was understandably biased as to who he wished to see victorious in this match.

“That’s my sister.” Leo said with a proud smile as the match between Thea and Mathias began. He considered Nahir’s suggestion of a bet for a moment before answering. “I’d never bet against family, so my choice is clear.” He added.

Had Leo wanted to choose who thought had the best odds of winning, Verrick likely the best choice, but he hardly wanted to bet on a man he couldn’t stand. Loyalty was more important than winning a bet anyway and he did believe Thea stood a good chance. “Could always wager something more interesting than coin, like a favor?” He offered.
5x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by Aerandir
Raw
Avatar of Aerandir

Aerandir The old guy

Member Seen 1 yr ago




Time: 11AM
Location: Inside Caesonia Castle then outside
Interaction: @PotterEzra,@Rodiak Mattias
Mention:
Attire:’nice clothing’





Verrick sighed as he walked off, passing Mathias as he did, All he did was grunt appreciation when he patted his good shoulder. He then added in passing. ”Goodluck against Thea.” He knew Thea was a talented shot. Having taught her a few things during his time serving in her family's land.

He walked over to the main table and looked at the other bows, deciding to grab one that didn’t look as warped as his previous one. He looked over to Princess sadie, noticing the first contestant saying something. Despite being able to read lips, he didn’t catch what he said as he walked away. His eyes flicked towards the princess to catch her frowning, though he didn’t see the tears.But he could tell that ezra had said something rude to her.

His eyes narrowed as they turned back to Ezra. His knuckles cracking simply by tightening on the bow he gripped. Too bad there were so many people here…he might have shot the man in the knee right there. He would have to talk to the guards to remind them to not let anyone simply walk up to her, at least be close enough to hear the conversation.

He spent the rest of the time rotating his arm to loosen it up while dulling his senses to the constant pain. Noting but mostly ignoring the flashy archer while he did his bit. When it turned to Mathia’s and Thea’s turn. He could tell Mathias was nervous, was it because of that girl who called out to him? Sadly did not win the match, Lukas would be sad for sure. He simply clapped his hands a few times for the both of them before walking onto the range once more, switching back the bow to his left hand. He would deal with the pain if it meant more consistent shots.

Again he pulled four arrows from his quiver, each end of the shaft between one of his fingers. This time he took a moment or so longer with each shot, his first three in a tight grouping despite two in the bullseye, and one in the 7 point ring they were within still a fist sized area. The fourth shot got away from him and hit the five point ring.

If Ezra attempted to speak to him, he was completely ignored. When it became his second turn, he Quickly fired all his arrows again, his grouping again smaller than a fist, though slightly off centered to get two in the bullseye, and two in the 7 point ring.

Lowering his bow once more he waited for Ezra to finish before saying softly enough that no one would hear them, while still looking at the targets. “If you ever disrespect or even speak to Princess Sadie again…” He looked towards him and away from the crowd, with a glare that showed his murderous intent. Leaning closer to him. “I can make it so even dogs won't be able to find your body.” He said with a stone expression before clapping him on the shoulder with his left hand, as if congratulating him on a fair attempt before walking off the field.

6x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Mole
Raw
Avatar of Mole

Mole ♡

Member Seen 5 days ago



L O C A T I O N : Shooting Range
I N T E R A C T I O N S : Lord Roman Ravewood @ReusableSword, Princess Anastasia @princess
M E N T I O N S : Lady Thea Smithwood @Tae, Lord Leo Smithwood @Helo, Sir Matthias & Lukas @Rodiak




A nod was granted to Lord Roman with a gracious acceptance of the offer before he gave Princess Anastasia a handsome smile, "Of course, I am here to support Lady Thea," He glanced towards the range, taking his chances of seeing her disposition, again. His smile faded, as he turned away from her. The jewel dangling from his ear jingled with the motion. He had little else to say to Princess Anastasia. He had not been too terribly impressed with her at the banquet. However, he felt it was necessary to keep some sort of camaraderie with her for the sake of his relationship with Lady Thea. His eyes studied her contempt smile before he continued. "That is not to say it's the sole reason I am here. Archery competitions are rarely dull. And, look, Sir Matthias is also competing." The tail end of his statement ended with enthusiasm and another smile. To see Lady Thea and Sir Matthias compete against each other would be a delight, hopefully.

Sir Matthias looked awfully nervous, and Lady Thea was dreadfully tired looking. Albeit, despite her current state, she still looked beautiful, to say the least. For that, the prince was thankful. He chanced not betting on either. Both were good archers, but he found it hard for him to make a decision on who he wished to win. Sir Matthias was a good friend and confidant. They dueled together often and enjoyed many long talks. He glanced at Lukas. He thought to say something but remained silent.

Part of him thought it would be a great lift for Lady Thea if she won. Sir Matthias could handle a good sportsmanship loss to the Lady. After what she went through last night and how her brother performed earlier in the competition, he thought it might be something to help alleviate the stress. It went without saying that it would also be an honor for her to win as his betrothed. Of course, something still held him back from placing too heavy of an investment in either of the two.

When Lady Thea won, Prince Felix smiled and clapped his hands. It was an exciting and close round. The banjo music only added to the effect. He tilted his head slightly, contemplating Lady Thea. She was a strong woman -- in many different ways. Although, she miss managed them quite heavily. It was like walking into a room, readily furnished but subtle things were out of place. The room itself was still of use albeit in dramatic need of rearranging. He could not say he had the ability to stand in the room for too long of a time, but at this distance, the view of the window curtains was decent enough.

"Your father did well against Lady Thea, Lukas. It was close," the prince looked at the younger boy with a personable smile, and then resumed back to watching the range.
6x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Lava Alckon
Raw
Avatar of Lava Alckon

Lava Alckon

Member Seen 10 hrs ago


Farim

Location: Layla's Bedroom
Time: Morning (approx. 1030am)
Mentions: Layla @Potter





Farim had been smelling the delightful scents that he only assume would be a fine culinary experience for the past thirty minutes. His stomach slightly grumbled at the anticipation as he picked up a beef kebab and slowly worked on the juicy and tender meat pierced with a wooden stick that was firm and unyielding against any pressure his hands may give. He took several bites along the first kebab and took in the tastes. While not overly impressed, he found the gesture that another nation would seek to re-create his homelands dishes rather humble and flattering. Admittedly, there were improvements to be made. He could almost taste how quickly the meat had been prepared in an effort to impress him and the other nobles he told the owner he would be bringing this food to.

It was then he heard his cousin speak to him, almost as if to hiss her words ever so slightly at him. He had a feeling the only thing stopping her from chewing him out and kicking him out the door was the fact he brought some remotely delicious food. He did not care however, as he had been used to this kind of air about the room for quite some time. In fact, he became quite adept at displaying the best of poker faces in times like these. He smiled and gave a slight shrug as he moved the bowl of curry closer to him.

"Well, you aren't inherently wrong, Layla. There are some areas for improvement but it's nice to see our country's influence spread across the borders. But it isn't quite like the way the staff would make it back home." He took a moment to take a spoonful of curry into his mouth and with a smile taste the delectable sauce that was drizzled over the surprisingly well-cooked chicken. He smiled and took in a few more generous spoonfuls into his eager gullet. He takes one more spoonful and brings it to the beak of his bird, Thara, and lets her peck slightly at the food until she's had her fill, wiping her beak of any remnants shortly after. "I was meaning to ask...How have things been around here since your arrival? I have heard some words and rumors but I would like to hear it from a more trustworthy source if possible?" He turned to her and slowly ate as he awaited a response.
4x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by princess
Raw
coGM
Avatar of princess

princess

Member Online



Banjo Music
Location:
Shooting Range

Audience:
@Rodiak Zarai&Nahir&Matthias, @ReusableSword Roman @Heartfillia Crystal @PapaOso Cassius, @mantou Wystan @Alivefalling Tsuki @Aerandir Verrick @Silverpaw Wulfric @Mole Felix



Music for Readers


"It's Verrick versus Cassius for the final round! Varian VS Caesonia! Who will it be?"


@Aerandir Verrick @PapaOso Cassius
6x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by princess
Raw
coGM
Avatar of princess

princess

Member Online



Time: 10:40am --> 11am
Location: The Park of Sorian --> Vikena Estate
Interactions:@FunnyGuy Lorenzo @Prosaic Devan @Conscripts John
Attire:Dress, Booties, Hair ribbon



Charlotte had smiled at John, though the image of him with a knife was clearly etched in her mind, " Oh, well I suppose I am as okay as I can be. How are you?" She politely waved off the handkerchief, "I am alright, but thank you kindly. A huge yes for some tea though." She was going to need more caffeine to get through this day. With a sigh, her gaze returned to her cousin, who had informed her he had been dumped there.

"The last two days have been the worst it's been."She quietly said to him, "If you think this is bad, wait until you've heard about the ball. Anyhow, let's hurry back home. I reckon your parents wanted you to join in the summer courting?" Once Lorenzo had also seemed in agreement, she had begun to walk them all back to the Vikena Estate. Once at the door, Delilah was ever so kind to lead them into the Drawing Room for tea.


7x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by JJ Doe
Raw
Avatar of JJ Doe

JJ Doe

Member Seen 5 days ago

RĂ­oghnach "Riona"

If someone declared that Riona finally went off the rails, she wouldn’t be able to refute the claim. Within a single hour, she violated at least five of the cardinal rules for house servants. She skirted around the rules for years (breaking minor ones once in a while and being cautious enough to breach the major ones in secret), but she never consecutively broke as many rules as she did in such a short time frame. It empowered her as much as it worried her. How long would it take her to lose her grip on… well, herself?

“You had 12 f**king years to try and I’m still here. What’s wrong? Losing your touch?”
“Hmm…” manicured hands with a peaches-and-cream complexion lifted Riona’s chin. The other woman’s violet gaze traveled the lines of the maid’s body, taking her time to appreciate every mark she made. “I don’t know about that.” Her heart-shaped lips formed a coy smile when their eyes finally met each other. “You put up a brave front, but the cracks are showing… it won't be long…” she purred. “Kitten.”


The sadistic bloodhound had a keen sense of smell for detecting weakness, so Riona didn’t doubt the bitch was wrong. Part of her wished she had more time. The rest of her couldn't wait.


Location: Danrose Castle
Time: Morning

To say that the other workers freaked out when they saw Riona strolling indoors in stablehand’s garb was an understatement, but the alarm that swept through them like a hive mind when she mentioned Anastasia’s breakfast was palpable. A flurry of activity exploded from the room in an instant. The cooking staff scrambled in the kitchen, making quite the ruckus as they prepared the food trolley. Maidservants jumped Riona, stripping her down and scrubbing every part of her body that wasn’t covered by her undergarments or bandages with damp towels with the same ferocity they used to clean sooty pots. Once they got Riona into presentable attire, they hurled her out with the trolley.

Efficiency wise, everyone knew it would’ve been faster to send someone else to deliver the food (Riona was banking on it too). With the incident with Darryn still fresh in their minds, however, the servants avoided the princess as much as possible. No one wanted to be executed for trivial reasons, especially not for something like serving breakfast late, because a certain maid decided not to inform the cooks as soon as possible. If someone was going to be in trouble for that, then it should be the maid and the maid alone. Fair enough, Riona conceded.

She’d soon find out that the servants were pulling their hair out for no reason and, for the umpteenth time, Riona remembered how terrible communication between staff could be in the castle.


Location: Palace Corridor
Time: Morning

Riona knew she’d find no one inside Anastasia’s room when she didn’t see guards posted at the door. A passing manservant informed her that the princess had left the castle with friends to enjoy the archery tournament. Well, that didn’t last long, did it? Apparently, Riona gave the princess too much credit by thinking her guilt would last at least a day. It didn’t even last till noon. She went off to have fun with her friends after a solid hour (if that) in time out while Darryn remained caged in a cell, waiting for death. In the dark, alone and afraid. Riona stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.

The laughter and chatter of women greeted Riona in the corridor. The heads of a few servants cleaning turned for a moment before they returned to their work when they registered who the women were. King Edin’s courtesans might’ve lived like royalty, but it didn’t mean the staff regarded them as such. At best, they were the highest-paid female employees; at worst, they were “just whores.” To Riona, they were the unsung protectors of the young women working in the castle. Riona shuddered to think how many more girls would’ve been preyed upon by the king if the courtesans weren’t there to curb the worst of his infamous appetite. If he ever put his hands on Mathilda…

Riona stroked her stomach to untie the knot inside. She did her best to hide her unease when she nodded at the courtesans. Each one returned the greeting in their own way. One gave Riona a particularly dazzling smile. As they resumed their conversation, they abruptly froze, their attention fixed on something on the opposite side of the hall. The servants, curious as to why it got quiet, followed the women’s gaze and found their answer. On cue, everybody in the hallway chose a side to stand on and inclined their heads.

The light footfalls, followed by heavier ones, got louder with each step until the edge of a dress came into view. The figure halted in front of Riona, making the chiffon sway forward and gently back. “Kitten, is that you?” a sweet voice asked. A rhetorical question asked only to tell Riona the woman had business with her. Soft hands grabbed Riona’s face and forced her to look at Lady Morrigan.

Lady Morrigan, the personification of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The carefully crafted illusion, catered to King Edin’s tastes, presented her as a youthful innocent whose head was filled with so much air she’d float straight into the sky—it rarely took long for new staff to figure out she was anything but. As far as Riona could tell, Lady Morrigan had never aged in over a decade. During her years as a maid in training, Riona and her peers spooked each other with horror stories of the various ways Lady Morrigan devoured children to extend her youth. Now older and wiser, Riona knew that Lady Morrigan had no problems bathing in the blood of any living creature of any age; pure evil was a kind of innocence; and a wise wolf hid its fangs.

“Me, oh, my! Why, it is you! What are you doing here, darling? I thought you’d be working at the stables today.” Lady Morrigan's eyes darted between the food trolley and the door to Anastasia’s room. “Unless,” she trailed off, releasing Riona, “this is the stables? Is ‘filly’ code for Anya?” Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. “Do you mean to tell me the stableboy was working here this entire time? Oh, no wonder he’s in such big trouble! So naughty.” She giggled, “She really does like her boys in servitude, doesn’t she?” The hall of living statutes gave no answer. Unperturbed, Her Ladyship turned her full attention back to Riona. “What are you doing here? Not… cheating, I hope?”

Riona frowned slightly before remembering the punishment. “Of course not, Your Ladyship.”

“Good!” Lady Morrigan lifted each cloche to check anyway, “I’d be so disappointed if you cheated this early, but….” She placed the last cloche down, “I’ve noticed you didn’t answer my question again, Riona. So… I’ll ask one last time.” Lady Morrigan’s smile and voice lacked malice, but it was there, somewhere hidden below the surface. “What are you doing here?”

Riona considered telling the truth, then decided against it. What did Lady Morrigan want with her? She rarely stopped a servant in the hallway to chit-chat with them and left it at that. She wanted something and wasn’t going to leave Riona alone until she got it. Which threw a wrench in Riona’s plan to visit Callum. She needed to find out if Darryn’s situation changed and, if it hadn’t, find out when the execution would be so that she could bust him out before then. Not a conversation to have in front of other people—especially Lady Morrigan. Not to mention, they needed to avoid giving the impression that Callum and she were on friendly terms, too. Emphasis on the word terms. Good terms. Not friends. Never friends.

She could deliver the food to Prince Auguste and see if that shakes Lady Morrigan off. The second prince was generally nice to servants. He’d cover her lies if she did her best puppy-dog eyes. On second thought, maybe not. The last time Riona pulled off puppy-eyes, she was still a kid. If she tried that today, it’d look like she was giving the stink-eye. Even if she convinced Prince Auguste, it didn’t guarantee that Her Ladyship would leave Riona alone long enough to talk to Callum and get Darryn out. Lady Morrigan tagging along also wasn’t entirely a bad thing. A second longer she was with Riona meant Darryn lived that much longer.

Ah, f*ck it. “I am bringing…” Her eyes shifted slightly from the woman to the window behind her. The sunlight shone brightly, casting shadows at specific angles. It was too late for breakfast, too early for lunch. “Brunch to Prince Callum, milady.”

“Alaric?” The use of the prince’s middle name sounded foreign to Riona. She never understood why Lady Morrigan preferred to call the princes by their middle names. Riona guessed it had to do with sorting all of Queen Alibeth’s children into the “A” category (for some reason with Prince Auguste she flipped-flopped between Auguste and Alden, and Anastasia was just Anya). Not that she exactly cared why Her Ladyship did it.

“Hmm.” the strawberry blonde pouted and began drumming her fingers on her lips, her gaze pinned to the ceiling. The solo percussionist drummed in a silence that stretched long enough to make some of the living statues squirm. Just as Riona was wondering if Lady Morrigan planned to stand here till the food turned cold, the woman finally–finally–turned to her, “I think I’ll join you.” She turned to the knights behind her. “Shall we?”


Location: Callum’s Bedroom
Time: Morning
Interaction: Callum @Halo

Riona hurried into Callum’s room as soon as they were allowed inside. “I have brought the brunch you requested, Your Royal Highness.” Riona blurted out before he could contradict her.

Lady Morrigan popped out from behind the maid and wiggled her fingers in the prince’s direction. “Good morning, Alaric. How are we feeling? Better?” She moved past Riona and gave a cursory glance of the room, then exclaimed. “Alaric! What in the world happened to your wall?”

Some time between borrowing supplies and now, the young prince apparently decided he'd have a go at making art: a provocative, controversial statement piece. Rough words with rough edges, hope in larger letters, carved deep into the purple canvas that once was a wall. It ensnared its viewers’ attention with its boldness.

Riona’s heart rose at the sight of the carvings. The proclamations alone were enough to feel proud of Callum, but he did more than that. The etchings were the most permanent thing he had ever done.

It’ll remain there, as servants receive the order to buy wallpaper. When the new wallpaper inevitably covers it, it’ll still be there. It’ll continue to stay there, even as people act like it never existed in the first place. As words said fade in time and memory, this wall will remain.

Riona bit her cheeks in an attempt to prevent her from smiling, but her facial muscles had other plans. A small battle of wills ensued. Riona’s lips twitched, her jaw opened and closed repeatedly, until she relented. Riona pushed the trolley to the closest table and flashed a grin, teeth and all, at Callum. Once she got that out of her system, Riona sculpted her face back into a bland expression and began setting up the table.

Lady Morrigan assessed the damage to the wall while telling Callum the obvious ramifications of the vandalism. The knights that accompanied the two women peaked into the room on occasion, but stayed outside of the room. Riona beckoned Callum to sit closer to her. “I didn’t know you were into interior design.” Riona whispered, “Very edgy. I like it. Especially the last bit.” She checked on Her Ladyship again. The topic of her one-sided conversation transitioned to something about this being the perfect excuse to redesign Callum’s room. She showed no signs that she heard Riona.

“And you can start being better,” Riona reached over and wrapped her fingers around the neck of the bottle in Callum’s hand, “by being a little kinder to your liver. It’s been working overtime. Give it a break.” She squinted her eyes at the prince’s fingertips when her other hand gently peeled his fingers off the bottle. On his light complexion, the tiny crimson patches around his nails stuck out. Riona rubbed her thumb against one of them, confirming her suspicions. Automatically, Riona took a step in the direction where the medicine was stored and quickly stopped herself.

Flowing waves of white chiffon and strawberry locks tinted with gold fluttered in the corner of Riona’s vision. Lady Morrigan migrated at some point from the wall to the fireplace, poking and prodding ashes with a fire iron. She continued her complaint about the purple color scheme as she knelt down. Again, she showed no signs that she was paying any attention to Riona or Callum. Something that didn’t bring as much comfort as Riona thought it should have brought. Somehow, it didn’t feel right.

Riona’s fingers picked at the bottle’s label. She leaned down closer to Callum, but kept her eyes fixed on the other woman. “Hey, about Darryn,” she ventured, “when—” Lady Morrigan shot up from her crouched position, causing Riona to stiffen at the spot. She dared not move.

“I really don’t see the appeal to it—no offense, Alaric. What’s wrong with having other colors? Why do you boys insist on having such dark color schemes for your rooms? No wonder you’re all so depressed.” Delicate fingers covered in ash danced across the surface of the furniture along the walls, leaving traces of gray behind. They slithered through every nook and cranny. Exploring. Searching. …Searching?

A little chill crept down Riona’s spine. There’s no way. Lady Morrigan’s hand continued weaving its way forward, drawing closer to one of the spots only three people should know about: Riona, Callum, and whoever built the hidden storage; at least one of those people had a signed death certificate. There’s no way that she knows. But the strawberry blonde didn’t stop touching, she didn’t stop advancing, and Riona thought she saw those violets eyeing her.

A bloodhound, Riona reminded herself. The maid straightened her back and let the grip on the bottle loosen. “Thank you for your patience, Lady Morrigan. We may go now.” She turned to the prince and bowed. “Enjoy your meal, Your Highness.”

Lady Morrigan twirled around, her face brimming with delight. She bounced over to Callum and did what “that one overly affectionate relative” did to younger members of the family. She pinched his cheek with her clean hand and planted a wet kiss on his forehead. “There’re plenty of ladies who find brooding men irresistible. Go get them, stud.” After the comment about “filly” being code for Anastasia, Riona couldn’t help but feel like Lady Morrigan was taking a jab at someone, though she had no idea exactly at whom.

“Oh, and, Riona darling?” Lady Morrigan circled around the prince and plucked the bottle from Riona’s hands. “Don’t be so cruel. There are people in this world who can’t function without liquid courage.” Her Ladyship placed it on the closest surface. There, the bottle sparkled in the sunbeam, like a showpiece. It wasn’t nearly as captivating as Callum’s work on the wall for Riona, but she worried it wouldn’t be the case for the budding artist.

“Come, kitten. Let’s not take more of Alaric’s time.” An ash-covered hand grabbed Riona’s waist and led her to the door. Lady Morrigan looked over her shoulder, “Ta-ta!” she said before the knights closed the door.

Riona sighed, Plan B it is.
4x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Rodiak
Raw
Avatar of Rodiak

Rodiak 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔞

Member Seen 0-24 hrs ago

▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
______________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
S I R M A T H I A S L A R S E N
S I R M A T H I A S L A R S E N

S H O O T I N G R A N G E , 10 : 0 0 A M

I N T E R A C T I O N S :

M E N T I O N S :


Mathias had retreated to join Lord Ravewood's table with Mary and his son shortly after. He had bowed to the princesses and prince there, greeting them with a smile. There was some relief seeing Prince Felix there, supporting Lady Smithwood. He had taken a seat next to Mary as she tried to strike up a conversation with Roman while Lukas sat on his shoulders.

A part of him was glad that he had lost so early in the competition. Mathias was able to sit and relax, enjoy the archery and watch Lukas have fun. It had been years since he could take time off without worrying about work or having Lord Larsen pressure him to find a wife. Although that duty had been passed on to Mary during the summer, luckily, she was too distracted by Roman and the pretty title attached to his name. He only hoped that she would stay distracted for the rest of the summer.


▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
______________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
S H E H Z A D I N A H I R K A D I R
S H E H Z A D I N A H I R K A D I R

S H O O T I N G R A N G E , 10 : 0 0

I N T E R A C T I O N S :
@Helo

M E N T I O N S :


There was a shift, small and almost overlooked, but she briefly saw the tension of muscles in his hands. Nahir siled, considering his offer for a second before giving him a slight nod. "Lord Smithwood, you certainly know how to keep a girl intrigued. A favor it is." She approved. The chance of winning a favor from him was exciting. She was already thinking of what she would ask from him or if she would wait for an opportunity later in the season.

"I'll bet on the stranger from House Damien." She finally said after a short pause. From the previous match, it looked like the man knew what he was doing, and she did not wish to bet for the Woodsman. Who knew if another squirrel would appear again and distract the man.

The next few rounds went by slower than she thought they would. She had asked Ece to bring them snacks while they watched. Nahir ate her fruit tart slowly, keeping her hands and mouth busy while she watched arrow after arrow being shot. The sugar kept her calm for now, but she knew she would have to dip into her cigars soon.

It wasn't long before Lady Smithwood and Lord? Vael went up next.

She shifted in her chair and wrapped the shawl tighter around her as they watched. She tried not to make a sound or move when Lord Vael finally won. Still, she looked at Lady Smithwood with a smile as she clapped for her. "Your sister is a skillful archer," she turned back to Leo.

In the end, the Woodsman won, unfortunately. Still, she clapped for his victory.
6x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by CitrusArms
Raw
Avatar of CitrusArms

CitrusArms Space Crystals

Member Seen 14 hrs ago

Ladies in Uniform


@Blizz

Stratya Durmand had been following her nose, after hearing a rumor of a decorated military veteran's arrival to town. She didn't have anything specific to go on, just a hunch and a few quick questions here or there. The first place to investigate were the outer stables, and sure enough, a horse there was obviously the steed of someone important, for all the heraldry.

For all the heraldry, she didn't recognize it. Strange. She would have to research the coat of arms and colors to see if she could figure it out, short of asking the owner of the horse directly. It wasn't too hard to figure out where the woman went. The stablehands recalled her clearly, as did a number of people on the streets, so she followed a loose trail through the city until she spotted the woman who must have been the one. The colors matched, and her garb was of the same calibur.

"Greetings, and welcome to our fair city." Stratya would try to approach openly from the front, a soft smile and amiability at the front of her presentation. It wasn't hard, as it was her natural inclination to be welcoming and kind. It was the thing that told her when she should stay her hand. Something else told her when she could. "Do you despise the usual pageantry? A guest of your clear status would normally have an accompaniment of some kind."

The General ran her eyes up and down this armored woman, who walked with purpose and authority, just like her. Everything from the sword to the way her eyes looked right into Lyra’s made her clearly of high status. ”My accompaniment is being taken care of at the stables, currently, though I wouldn’t be opposed to some striking company such as yourself.” The notion of intrigue overtook the General. “Intrigue,” of course, meaning a pretty face in a foreign land.

”Genetal Lyra Carris of Baltyria. A pleasure to meet you.” As the word "General" left the lips of the woman in front of her, the Captain's mind snapped into a higher gear. The response to her presence has been entirely underwhelming, but perhaps… Lyra wanted it that way.

This general was not one for pageantry, no. Or protocol, but who could blame you when you were... probably on vacation? She was waving around status when it made things convenient and forgoing all the inconveniences. It sang of the tactical decisions made to protect precious vacation time. "You've vastly outpaced your entourage. You had breakfast and they're still not ready? If you're not opposed to a working tour, I could show you around the city."

”My… entourage consists solely of a horse. Though, if you are offering, a tour of the city sounds lovely. I’ve heard it’s beautiful this time of year. You seem to be of high status yourself, miss. Who might you be?”

"You came with only your horse?" She must not be an active general, then. To allow your general to wander around, so vulnerable as this? Of course, officially, they would be relying on Caesonian defenses to ensure her safety, but without any sort of personal detail? Interesting. "Well then, I suppose I will be your detail. Stratya Durmand, Knight Captain. I've got to stop by the warehouses, so shall we?"

"It must have been a long journey. Is your horse good conversation? How far is it, to Baltyria?" Without someone to talk to, it must have been lonesome. But, some folk are like that.

The General fell in step with the Captain. ”Baltyria is far enough away that a month has passed since the start of this journey. My horse and I have been on such journeys before, and this is not new to either of us. He will be taken care of. Lead the way, Captain Durmand.”

On to the matter of nobility appearing late at night by the warehouses. She'd heard an interesting rumor, but she needed someone willing to talk to her. She shouldn't have changed into her armor yet. It made it more difficult to find someone to inform her. Luckily, she did know a guy who heard a lot of things. She'd probably have to pay him, though.

The guy ran a little concession and news stand that he liked to move around a lot. It wasn't terribly hard to find him, if you knew how to track him down. His news was varied and usually very up-to-date, though she wasn't sure he'd have this bit of information on paper already or at all.

The cart was easy enough to spot. "Ah, let me get a drink, quickly." There was a menu of drinks on the bulletin board, along with various news headlines. "I'll get you something, too." The woman would pop around to the front of the cart for just a minute or two, to exchange with the manager and ascertain more details before returning with two glass bottles. "It's just something sweet. As for the warehouse… seems there was a party." Maybe a party with drugs, but that was something for the guard to handle. The nobles probably just wanted to have a good time, so they went to the party. The princess had appeared as well, apparently, which was… great. But that was all the information he had for her. The princess's appearance was alarming, but did not warrant investigation. "Not the kind of thing I'm wont to disrupt - not like there's to be anything to break up at this point, anyway."

”I won’t be alerting any guards either. We have more important matters, after all, don’t we?” Lyra commented as she took a drink from the bottle Stratya handed her. What is it that we are looking for?”

"There is, however, a rumor floating around. A group of nobles, and the princess, were seen at" the captain searched for the word, "an… unbecoming party." That was perhaps the best way to say it. "I only managed to happen upon the rumor because I was out of uniform. Certainly, not the kind of talk to be had in front of a knight. I have ascertained the location of such a party that occurred last night. If it is not something that would bore you, I suppose we could see what the party has left behind."

An unbecoming party. Alright, now the General was somewhat curious. ”To think nobles would be in such a position that their dealings would be heard. What do you know about this incident? You have my curiosity now, Captain.” She had heard rumors of terrible things brewing in the kingdom, and this could be what she was looking for. Best not to let this woman know just yet, however.

"Nothing terribly concrete. I only have some hearsay to go on, but I do have the likely location. Whether it is the one in question is uncertain, but I suppose we can poke our noses in. It is this way." Captain Durmand led the way through the streets, toward the warehouses by the coast. "In just the kind of place you want to be when you're wealthy and important, of course." At night. Secretly. Without a single guard or knight.

"Curious, though. A warehouse party isn't exactly a high-class event. How do you suppose a classy lady like the princess comes to interact with such a party? It isn't like the dock hands get around that much inside the walls, and I can't imagine the servants would be caught speaking of such things in front of anyone.. of class. So how did she come to be here?"

”She would have planned to come in secret, I assume. Someone of royalty’s stature would be noticed moving about through her own city, so she would have hidden herself from plain sight, either by concealment or traveling through areas where few people go. Someone so important wouldn't be missed. I believe she’d take great care to plan such an event. Though, I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be easier to hold such a meeting in the castle. Commoners are not free to roam a castle.” Lyra mused out loud.

”How would you have gotten here, if you were her?”

"Oh, probably some secret passage behind the bookcase or something like that. Straight out of a story book because story books often have some measure of truth to them, when you look in the right places." They took a turn, heading among the rows of warehouses. "That's not what I'm interested in, not quite what I meant by 'how'. How she got there specifically, the vehicle and course, isn't important, but why. What events led her there, that kind of how. First, we shall see what traces we can find."

Lyra followed the Captain, her eyes flicking from one warehouse to the next quicker than they should have. Royalty often do things that they shouldn’t. In politics, in war. In their daily lives. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to assume the princess thought her title would give her a layer of insulation from the consequences of attending this event, whatever happened, that is. It could be that she thought she simply could, more than anything.”

"Yes, but I would like to think she wouldn't simply follow someone out from the castle on that person's whim. If the princess would like to go to a party, that's fine, but the careless manner in which she came troubles me. That I haven't heard of this would tell me she was unguarded. Someone drew her out." Stratya approached one of the warehouses. Her informant said this was the one. "Alas, this is just speculation. I need more information."

If she was lead here, it would have to have been someone she trusts. However, there is also the possibility that she learned of the party and decided to come on her own... but who informed her?

At any rate, she had to get in to the warehouse. Would the guard try and argue with her, or let them in?
5x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Helo
Raw
Avatar of Helo

Helo Wonderlust King

Member Seen 0-24 hrs ago


Time: 10:40 am
Location: Callum’s Room
Interactions: Riona and Morrigan @JJ Doe



It was easier for Callum to think about and understand what he didn't want and what he hated than it was to know what he did want for himself. So that was where he started. He took a deep breath in as he thought about the surname Danrose and all that it had come to mean for him.

A parasitic lineage that had ruled for too long, only ever taking and never giving back anything more than scraps. He would not allow himself to be part of that, the family name was far too tainted ever be anything he wanted for himself.

Then he breathed out, a deep exhale, as he imagined that name, and all the poison that went with it, leaving him. And who exactly was Callum without titles or his surname? He knew what he didn’t want to be; a coward or a parasite and certainly never a monster. It was harder to nail down exactly what he did want to be. He focused in on his breathing, on the words he’d carved into his wall, and what he had to change about himself first.

The first thing that came to mind was cowardly. He couldn’t worry about provoking the wrath of parents he had decided weren’t even worth calling family. Useless also came to mind, he needed to do more than irritate Edin, he needed to crawl his way beneath the surface and tear down everything that mattered to the rotted monarch; his legacy, his image, and his power. Then there was his weakness, another thing to rid himself of, Callum could not relent, he couldn’t stop focusing on this until he made real progress. Sorian and her people would have to come before anything else in his life.

It had to be all Callum, no Danrose. He had to find ways to make the rest of the world see just how vile the Danrose legacy was, bring every dark secret they kept hidden into the harsh light; expose everything that was rotten in his family tree. He’d have to hope it could be enough, that he could find enough people to care and then turn outrage into action. And he couldn’t do it alone, he’d have to find the right allies, and at least there he had an idea of where to start.

His thoughts were interrupted as the doors of his room opened. A brief moment of dread as he first assumed it was guards sent to escort him to the prince’s court which gave way to relief as he saw Riona.

“I have brought the brunch you requested, Your Royal Highness.”

“Brunch? Wonderful, thanks.” He answered, polite but detached. Relief had vanished at the use of the title; she was clearly not alone. Gods please don’t let it mother, Cal thought. No, Alibeth. Not mother, he reminded himself. Even though it was not Alibeth he was no more pleased to see Lady Morrigan pop out from behind Riona. If there were one word he’d use to describe Morrigan, cloying, would be it. Everything about her was crafted in excess and it left an unpleasant taste in the air around her.

“Good morning, Alaric. How are we feeling? Better?” She asked.

“Better? No, unconscious was certainly better.” Callum muttered, unsure if she didn’t hear him or chose to ignore his comment. Either way, she began ranting about the wall. His wall. In his room. Vandalism? Ridiculous. This was his room.

Riona’s reaction was different, a brief spark of a smile, a real one not the forced ones the palace staff always wore, and most importantly one that approved of the wall. Strange, he had expected to only hear how stupid of a move it was from anyone who saw it. That was all he’d come to expect from those around him, to only ever hear how poor his actions and choices were. Even from the people who offered the most support, he still found encouragement or approval a surprise.

“Art project, still in progress.” He whispered, and there was a sense of pride in his work. He kept most of his attention on Morrigan; confused as to why she was here, what she was doing, and why was she so fixated on his room. Re-decorate? Absolutely not.

“No I like it the way it is. Why-” She just kept talking, and touching things which kept him distracted even as he heard Riona add something about his liver needing a break. “Then I’d have a lazy liver, who wants that?” He joked as she gently removed his hand from the bottle without any hint of a fight from him. He wished she didn’t worry about him, there were better uses of her time. Like worrying about herself.

His attention snapped back to Morrigan who had continued to poke and prod her way around his room. He didn’t like it, someone just breaching his space like this. But she didn’t stop at just that, now she was rummaging through the fireplace as she continued to point out everything she didn’t like in his room.

Now, what is she doing? There was no way she knew. Maybe, maybe she could smell that he’d burnt something in here, but he wasn’t going to get paranoid. The evidence was gone, all burnt to ash, nothing to worry about. But what if she asked what he’d burnt? I tried my hand at writing poetry and it turned out so embarrassingly awful I had to burn it immediately. That sounded believable. He’d go with that.

She didn’t ask. Morrigan continued poking about at his things, now leaving traces of soot on everything she touched. It wasn’t so much that he hated people touching his stuff, he hated the invasion, by someone he didn’t trust, into someplace that was meant to be his sanctuary.

“Can I help you find something?” He asked, but again his words were either not heard or ignored outright. She had clearly either entirely lost her mind or was actively looking for something. How could she know? Had Edin or Alibeth sent her here for this? Surely if either of them had any suspicion they wouldn’t send Morrigan to obviously rifle around in front of me? Would they? Was it some bizarre mind game? This was brewing a far worse headache than any attempts to recall last night had.

Riona mentioned Darryn and his attention turned back to her. She’d asked when, he was guessing she meant the execution but Morrigan had shifted her attention from spreading soot around to harping on the color scheme of the room.

“It’s not,” He glanced at Riona, hoping she knew what he meant, then back towards Morrigan, “too dark, the curtain are just closed.” If she wants brighter colors she should snoop around Ana’s room. He thought. Morrigan, who seemed utterly entranced by the sound of her own voice, was certainly making a show of being distracted but he wasn’t letting his guard down. No one in this family could be trusted. Except maybe Ana. And Auguste. But that was it for now. Wulfric was still too much of an unknown to try and trust him.

Riona announced that they could leave and, finally, Morrigan stopped touching everything in his room. It was a small relief, to know he’d soon be rid of the intrusive and uninvited Lady, but he still had no clue why she was here bringing him brunch with Riona. Or why she was snooping around but these weren’t things he could answer now, so he had no choice but to worry about it later.

“There’re plenty of ladies who find brooding men irresistible. Go get them, stud.” She pinched his face, then kissed his forehead, internally he cringed. Callum faked a smile and nodded just glad she was finally leaving. Then Morrigan turned to Riona. “Don’t be so cruel. There are people in this world who can’t function without liquid courage.” Can’t function? That was just rude. He didn’t bother to hide that he took offense to that comment.

“No, she’s right, can’t expect to impress the ladies of the court if I can’t even stand up,” Callum spoke as they both left. Morrigan needed a new hobby. And he needed to remember to lock his own door.

Callum looked at the offering of food he had neither asked for nor that he had any desire to eat. He should eat, he wasn’t sure he actually name the last time he’d eaten anything of substance, but everything about the day so far had killed any trace of an appetite far more swiftly than Alibeth had tried to have a stable hand killed.

Callum took one last drink from the bottle before putting it back in its spot on his desk. Then he made his way to the entrance hall and his gait held a drunken sway. He locked the door to his room behind him and placed the key in a pocket close to his chest.
4x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by SilverPaw
Raw
Avatar of SilverPaw

SilverPaw

Member Seen 33 min ago





Attire: No cloak
Time: 10:00 am -> ca. 10:45 am
Location: The Shooting Range -> The Entrance Hall
Mention(s): Briefly, some of the archery competition attendees.
Interaction(s): @Helo Callum

Thea did win her first match, but though it had been exceptionally close, she unfortunately lost to Vael in the next one. Still, it had been exciting enough, and Wulfric clapped for them both, then for the subsequent winner. Verrick O’Hare prevailed against the baker and new Damien both, making for a much better showing than he’d had against Shehzadi Nahir. The semi-finals and finals had been invigorating to watch, and the prince was more or less satisfied with the proceedings. He left after the finalist was announced, and the first and second prizes were being handed out. Two guards were left behind to accompany Anastasia, while the rest returned to the castle with him.
***

Wulfric hadn't expected to see Callum any sooner than 11 am, though all things considered, it was a good thing he met his younger brother nearly a quarter of an hour earlier than that. The sight of that drunkenly swaying figure put a stop to his swift, purposeful stride, and he slowed down as he looked his younger sibling up and down. Callum had dressed into proper attire, and made an appearance – which was more than he’d have done before their agreement – but that was where the positives ended.

When his brother had indicated he would make himself presentable, Wulfric hadn’t considered he might give up half-way through. Had he somehow thought his subpar efforts would be sufficient – if he had indeed thought anything at all? Had he changed his mind, and decided he couldn’t bother complying, no matter that he had proposed to do so of his own initiative? Or was the allure of alcohol truly so powerful for him, that he’d gone and got himself blindingly drunk as soon as he was left alone to do so?

Either way, it was clearly also his mistake to have relied on Callum to do what should be done with no oversight or guidance. While Wulfric had been keeping an eye on Anastasia, the unwatched half of the troublemaking pair had been up to no good. But of course, he had. Sometimes, it surprised him that he still managed to be disappointed at all when it came to his two youngest siblings.

He paced up to Callum, displeasure etched on his face in the form of a frown, angry tension lining his whole body. Annoyance transformed his gait into a stalk as he neared his sibling. When he was close enough to note the stale stench that still clung to his brother, his nose wrinkled in distaste. “Really, brother, alcohol in the morning?” he couldn’t help snarking. He was acting like some slum-bound bum; drinking throughout the night, then continuing on from where he’d left off (and after being drugged or poisoned, even!) whenever he regained coherency the following day…God. An alcoholic at twenty.

If his sibling had anything to say to that, Wulfric wasn’t much interested. He clicked his fingers, and a servant promptly approached to answer his call. “Get him sobered up – I don’t care if you have to throw cold water on him to do so. And do what you can to make him presentable.” His gaze pointedly tracked the bags under Callum’s eyes, his (more so than usual) sickly pallor, the damp and uncombed hair, and even his picked-at fingernails. The first prince wasn't expecting miracles, as he knew they had less than fifteen minutes remaining. But at the very least, it should be time enough to get his brother washed up, and correct his appearance until he no longer looked like some half-dead creature.

In case it wasn’t clear from the stern stare he’d kept on him throughout, Wulfric said, “Callum,” demanding his attention. “It is your task to ensure this goes as smoothly as possible,” he sneered as he paraphrased his brother’s own words, reminding him of their deal. “Do take care to be on time.” His tone of voice let his sibling know he considered that a part of his cooperative responsibilities as well.

Finally, he directed his gaze to the attendant who had been mutely standing next to the pair since he’d summoned her, some maid he wasn’t too familiar with. “Quickly now,” he urged her to take Callum away and get him taken care of, assuming she’d fetch her coworkers if she needed to. Then, Wulfric strode past without another word; he had his own preparations to handle, after all, though at least his servants had been informed beforehand that they’d be needed.
4x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Inertia
Raw
Avatar of Inertia

Inertia Pretty Lackadaisical

Member Seen 6 mos ago






Attire: Tunic
Interaction(s):
Mention(s): Callum Danrose @Helo, Wulfric Danrose @SilverPaw

The maid woke Auguste from his nap, 30 minutes before the promised meet-and-greet with noblewomen. The prince greeted her with a thanks, and then instructing her to draw up a quick bath and a fresh tunic. She left the room with a curt bow. Auguste draped his arm over his eyes and sighed, the grogginess still nestled into his bones. Was this truly just physical exhaustion? Deep down he knew it wasn't the case. Recent events have set the young man's mind with worry... and fear.

Auguste hoisted himself upwards, willing the sleepiness away. How had he felt worse than before he had taken the nap. He stretched his limbs and spine, activity had always been a certified method of skirting exhaustion. A few minutes passed, the same maid knocked on the door.

The bath was quick and prompt, not much to enjoy given his limited time. Auguste fit himself into the same but freshly cleaned tunic. It was about 10:50 am, but it was best to arrive early. Auguste had freshened himself up as best he could, the keen-eyed may be able to ascertain tiredness from his countenance.

Auguste he had expected his brothers to have been there already... although knowing Callum, and Wulfric's disposition for perfection, he could hazard a guess for their relative tardiness. As always, he smiled and greeted those who made eye contact or passed him by as he waited in the room. He sequesters himself into a corner so as to not bother those entering and leaving.
5x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by princess
Raw
coGM
Avatar of princess

princess

Member Online


Good morning Sorian!
It's now 11am.

Time: Morning - 11am
Location: Sorian

Mentions: @Helo Leo & Callum @Tae Thea, Saiya, Mina @Mole Felix & Matilda @ReusableSword Roman @Rodiak Nahir, Matthias, Zarai @JJ Doe Ryn & Riona @Aerandir Verrick @Conscripts John @Infinite Cosmos Munir @Potter Sadie & Persephone @13org Mayet @Heartfillia Crystal @Timemaster Ashe @samreaper Kazumin @Silverpaw Wulfric @Inertia Auguste @mantou Wystan @Terrance420 Alden @Lava Alckon Farim @mellowdy Priscilla @PapaOso Cassius @Prosaic Devan & Kieran @Apex Sunburn Wasun


11am Events


- The Execution of Cameron Nesworth at the Athletic Arena.
Curious to his crimes or how he'll be executed? Then come on down!

- "The Pathetic Duke and His Rat" is showing at the Edin Theater.
Come see a play with wonderful actors!

- Festival at the Park
Food and Game stalls are now open all throughout the park as the Summer Festival begins!

- The Prince's Court
Come line up at the Danrose castle to have a quick speed date with all three princes. Who knows if you might end up the next queen of Caesonia!

- Hunting in the Forest
Come meet at the entrance to the forest to join a hunting party!
3x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by princess
Raw
coGM
Avatar of princess

princess

Member Online



Location:The Athletic Arena
Time: 11am







The stands in the arena were not filled to the brim but were adequately occupied. The flags waved with the breeze, the flapping an ironically peaceful background noise to what would soon be a violent spectacle. The sandy arena would act as a stage for the play that was to come. Usually, the King and Queen had attended executions, but today it seemed they had other plans.

It wasn't like Cameron Nesworth was anyone important. They trusted their guards to carry out the execution efficiently. Never had a Sorian execution failed after all.

A hush grew over the spectators as the figure began to emerge from the gateway, flanked on each side by a guard. They had a hold of each of his arms, but they had not needed to drag him. His countenance was something to behold as the sun illuminated his appearance. The man had messy tawny hair and was obviously at least into his thirties. He had one blue eye while the other was obviously struck blind. A scar ran through the blind eye. Even the facial hair could not hide the frown on his lips. The brows were furrowed. He was angry.

Whispers could be heard from various parts of the crowd. No one quite recognized him.

"Is he even from Sorian?"

"Who is that?"

"How are they going to execute him?"
7x Like Like 1x Thank Thank
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Potter
Raw
Avatar of Potter

Potter

Member Seen 1 day ago



Location: Entrance to the forest near the shooting range
Time: 11am




The Sorian forest was a hidden gem tucked away from the bustling kingdom. The noise of the shooting range was drowned out from the lively forest. Crickets chirped in harmony together like a symphony. Birds chattered to one another while scouring the forest floor for worms and other insects. Squirrels ran from tree to tree, picking up acorns and finding broken twigs to continue building their nests. Bees buzzed nearby in search of flowers to pollinate. Deer tread through the forest proudly as if they owned the woods. To them, it was their safe haven for the time being.

Unfortunately, their peacefulness would soon be disturbed by an exuberant crowd lining up at the forest’s edge. Armed with bows and arrows, guns and knives, stood a group of hunters eagerly eying their potential prey. The captain of the group, a muscular and stocky woman named Hanna stood waiting. There was a silver bow on her back with an enormous amount of arrows. There was a backpack on her other side as well, with a first aid kit and plenty of water and other tools. She examined the group and smiled pleasantly.

”We’ll wait for a few more to join us. We’ll be splitting into groups of three. You can decide how you’d like to split up. A couple of rules: I don’t want any foolishness or child’s play out here. Start making a ruckus and you’re out and won’t be allowed back. Am I clear?" She paused for effect then continued. If anyone is injured or in need of help, shoot your gun into the air three times and help will be on the way. I’ll be keeping an eye on all of you.” Her instructions ended ominously, not detailing how she might find out.

4x Like Like 1x Thank Thank
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by Potter
Raw
Avatar of Potter

Potter

Member Seen 1 day ago



Location: The Edin Theater
Time: 11am




The Edin Theater was a sight to behold. Three levels of seats were adorned by black and gold chandeliers with iridescent jewels hanging proudly from it. The way the light hit the chandelier made it seem as if the theater had eternal rays of sunlight. The architecture was decorated with gold and black, mirroring King Edin’s castle. There was not a speck of dust nor mess anywhere and the floors shined proudly. Noblemen and noblewomen were given the higher floors to allow for the best viewing. Near each door was a butler waiting for their beck and call. Dressed neatly in suits or dresses with the men’s hair slicked back, or the woman’s hair pulled into a tight bun, they greeted each person cheerfully. Fresh drinks and food had been neatly arranged for the nobles while the poorer crowd had less delicious looking food.

Due to the earliness, there was not a big crowd. One by one, people trickled in as a mixed bag of rich and the poor. Outside were peddlers, trying to sing love songs or poems in hopes of earning extra coin. As if they were bugs, they were ignored. Behind the curtain waited the actors and actresses. They had prepared the story over the past few weeks and rehearsed it so frequently they could repeat it in their sleep. Rumor had it that Duke Lorenzo Vikena might show up and had them giggling fervently with glee.

After being shut inside for so long and his mishap yesterday, the storyline of the play reflected similarly to him and his strange step-daughter, Charlotte. However, the actors weren’t foolish enough to name the characters after them; in fact, they went as far as renaming and recasting people who did not resemble them in the slightest. To further avoid issues, the director also announced the play would be “fictional” and any “instances of real-life” were pure “coincidence.” This allowed them to embarrass and harass anyone without suffering repercussions. This didn’t stop people from whispering to one another about who they considered it to be. Waiting like wolves circling an injured deer stood the actors, actresses, and directors with uncontainable excitement.
4x Like Like 1x Thank Thank
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by Potter
Raw
Avatar of Potter

Potter

Member Seen 1 day ago


Location: The Park of Sorian
Time: 11am



Set along the other side of the park stood a wondrous delight: The Festival. A long standing Sorian tradition, it always attracted large crowds as it was an all-day event lasting through the evening with fireworks as the grand finale. The festival stretched over the park with stalls in various areas. Once people walked in, they were immediately assaulted by various, delicious smells. Some of the woodland animals were having a hard time resisting it! Birds, especially pigeons and seagulls, were eagerly pecking away at food that people had dropped. Vendors and stands were set up rows across from one another and competing desperately for the public’s attention.

”Nutty Delights.”
The owner of the first stall was a proud and boisterous man named Jean. There were chestnuts roasted and available in various dipping sauces: cheese, butter, salt and more. Some had vegetables with them while others did not. He also had mixed bags, with peanuts, cashews, almonds and walnuts, which could be handmade. For non-dairy consumers, there was an option for it without butter. Curious onlookers eyed the stall and sampled a few prior to buying a bag. His smirk lifted as he made eye contact with the vendor across the street.

”Sugary Delights.”
Across from his stall stood a competitive woman and also his sister
Belladonna. There was candy floss in almost every flavor imaginable: mint, bubble gum, watermelon, raspberry, and chocolate and vanilla. Some of them had been mixed together. The sweet smells wafted through the air, luring children from all over along with their parents who quickly realized their money would be gone quickly.

”Turkey Hut.”
For the meat enthusiasts, there was a third stall with a spry young man named Julius. Despite his wiry appearance, his smooth and alluring aura pulled people in. There were turkey legs drizzled with sauce. Julius, undisturbed by the success of the “Nutty and Sugary Delights,” had begun to advertise his stall with balloon animals in the shapes of turkeys.

“Caramel Dreams,”
Selling popcorn was a no brainer, which is why Willow had stepped it up a notch. Not only was her popcorn fresh and oozing with butter and salt, she had added another ingredient: caramel. She knew people were unable to resist popcorn, especially with caramel, so she’d also began to add other flavors including cheese, toffee, vegan, and kettle and also peanut butter caramel. In return for buying from her stall, she would add extra sauce if you were nice enough! She smiled at the onlookers and graciously accepted their tips.

”Apple A Day.”
Despite the rough appearance of Milo, the fifth stall owner was an absolute sweetheart. The sweet allure of candy apples on sticks were attracting both youth and adults. The apples came in various flavors, such as chocolate, toffee, cinnamon, and also strawberry. For 25 cents more, they could be mixed too. A few of the apples were designed with various symbols of the kingdom for extra fun. If you were lucky enough to buy one randomly, you were given a second free candy apple!

”Corny Treats.”
Finally, the last stall stood a woman named Isla who waited with confidence. A regular and loving dish for the Sorian Kingdom was Corn on the Cob and was never missed. They were dipped in butter and also had vegan options. Salt was an option too, and many people were taking advantage of it. There were a few other options too; for the adventurous type, she also had cheese and other flavors. For an extra dollar, she would skim the corn off the cheese and put it in a cup for people. Izubelle’s stall may not have been first, but it was definitely not the least!



It was never a festival without games! There were a variety of options for all ages and skill levels. Eager vendors, a mix of women and men, were explaining rules of the game while onlookers cheered the players on.

The first game was a classic - a ring toss. The prizes came in small, medium or large stuffed animals, depending on the winner’s accuracy. The animals included a tiger, snake, hawk, dolphin, and more! Kids were pleading with their parents to play the game, despite the inexpensive entry fee. The kids were able to win their parents over as a few of them won large stuffed animals!

The second game stall was a wheel spin game that came with a few prizes: a free ticket to any of the vendors! Many people were lined up for this one, all watching and talking strategy with one another in hopes they might win. The stall owner was encouraging to everyone and allowed people an extra try if they failed to win anything the first time.

For the adventurous and bold stood a sausage-eating contest. Many men and a few women had signed up for the contest. The sausages came in turkey, pork, beef, chicken, or vegetarian and vegan options. The contestant’s stomachs rumbled with anticipation and hunger. The prize was an unknown amount of money to allow the winners to spend and give back to the community. The hopes were they’d spend it on the stalls, though some of the winners in the past had used it for other means…..

Cup under the coin was an unpredictable and elusive game that most participants could not use strategy to win. The coins were in various amounts and had people becoming cross-eyed from trying to keep the cups in their sights. A few people had won and yelled out excitedly, causing people to turn and look. The stall owner was smirking with amusement as they watched people trying to win.

The last and most fun stall was a dunk tank. The owner of the stall, Killian, loved entertaining kids and thus, had committed themselves annually to the game. Attendees were given three tries to throw a ball at the wall connected to the dunk tank from ten feet [?] away. For a nonathletic kid named Dexter, the game had scorned him for years. Today though would be the day he’d win!
2x Like Like 1x Thank Thank
Hidden 1 yr ago 1 yr ago Post by Potter
Raw
Avatar of Potter

Potter

Member Seen 1 day ago



Location: Entrance Hall of Sorian Castle
Time: 11am
Interactions: @Helo Callum, @Inertia Auguste, @Silverpaw Wulfric



By the time the clock struck eleven, there was a very long line of women and even a few men outside the castle doors. The women giggled in groups, while some nervously twirled parasols and others fanned themselves. As expected, the girls were all quite excited: many imagined that they had a fair chance to win the heart of a prince. Though most were already quite wealthy, some were starry-eyed in the hopes of obtaining more riches and power while others were hopelessly romantic. They were all well-dressed in large gowns with bows and lace while some wore matching hats and bonnets.

At eleven, the gates to the castle were opened and the front of the line was able to move inside the glittering gold entrance hall. They were halted at the stairs as a man explained that ten women would be brought into the ballroom at a time for the princes to look upon. Three tables were set up for the princes to sit. Each table was separated enough from the other so that they could have private conversations. Gasps and whispers echoed through the entrance hall at the sight of the princes but no one was allowed to approach them yet.

Some of the staff then directed the three princes into the ballroom and to each of their seats. Once the King would also arrive, then they’d begin.
5x Like Like
Hidden 1 yr ago Post by Helo
Raw
Avatar of Helo

Helo Wonderlust King

Member Seen 0-24 hrs ago


Time: 11:05 am
Location: Headed to the Entrance Hall
Interactions: Wulfric @SilverPaw


“Really, brother, alcohol in the morning?”

Wulfric seemed to come out of nowhere, or Callum just hadn’t noticed him, he wasn’t paying close attention to anything besides his own thoughts. Wulfric looked entirely displeased, entirely unimpressed with the closest Callum really came to his best efforts and poked at the same flaw that had already been recently picked at by Morrigan.

...can’t function without liquid courage.

And what was so wrong with wanting a little help getting through an already difficult day?

Really, brother, alcohol in the morning?

Didn’t they all have their own ways of getting through the days? Ana got by on naivety, ignorance was her bliss and she could still find enough joy in small things to get by. Auguste had swordsmanship, he’d seen his brother dissolve into a warrior when he fought, and his brother had found a place where he could exist in only the moment. But Callum would never trust himself enough to go there; to let violence become an instinct, a part of him, not with his family’s history. Then there was Wulfric, so tightly wound with secrets and repression that Callum wasn’t even sure who he was. Was their parents' approval really worth that?

They all had something they leaned a little too much into, his was just easier to notice.

“I believe I was instructed, by you, to ‘try and find whatever joy I can in this'?” Callum casually tossed Wulfric’s words back at him. Why should he feel bad about it? Wulfric had started it.

“And surely the fine noblewomen would prefer drunken and jolly to sober and sullen?” He added, but it seemed ignoring Callum was the theme of the day. Wulfric didn’t seem to care what he had to say so Callum didn’t see a reason to take any care with his words.

“Presentable? I think I’m more than presentable for attending this joke of an event. Properly dressed and more than willing to be polite as we are gawked at by bored noblewomen. I hardly think the Alidashti guests sit riddled with anxiety wondering how our dating lives are going this morning. ” Callum continued talking as Wulfric ordered those nearby to make him presentable, and ordered Callum to be on time. “Thought you were the smart one Wulfy, fifteen minutes isn’t going to sober me up any. But sure, make me late, spin it like it’s my fault.” Callum added, but Wulfric was already leaving. Callum was then left alone with a servant charged with the impossible task of sobering him up and making him presentable by Wulfric’s standards. He was led to the nearest washroom.

“Apologies, my brother is extremely unpleasant. If I could trouble you to maybe grab me a cup of coffee, I can try and fix this unfortunate mess.” Callum grinned and gestured to his face, hoping to make the poor servant charged with making him look presentable, feel more at ease. He imagined it had to be nerve-wracking to work for someone so obsessed with perfection as Wulfric.

Callum had hoped for maybe a slight easing of the tension but the servant still looked unsure of how to proceed. Accosting a prince with cold water likely seemed as dangerous as failing to complete Wulfric’s demands.

So Callum filled the sink with cold water and plunged his face in willingly. It provided a temporary shock to the system, enough to wake him up a bit more. He glanced at the servant, ”see, working on it.” He assured her, and she left, likely to grab him the requested cup of coffee.

Callum spent the rest of his time attempting to fix his hair in a way that Wulfric would find passable. He wasn’t sure what else to do, he looked how he felt; exhausted, half dead, miserable, there wasn’t much about that he could fix.

Eventually, the servant returned with a cup of coffee which Callum accepted and he mostly stared into the cup while breathing in its scent.

“It works better if you drink it, your highness.” The servant spoke up, and Cal nodded and drank the warm liquid.

“So it does.” He answered with a nod. The servant then handed him a bottle of cologne and which Cal also accepted. He sprayed himself, perhaps a bit excessively, with a scent of bergamot and oak. “Smart thinking, thank you.” He handed the bottle of cologne back to her.

“How do I look now? Sober as a churchmouse?” He asked leaving the washroom still swaying as he walked.

“Better.” But not great, far from perfect. Callum filled in the rest. He knew it and appreciated the honesty of the simple answer.

“If you have time maybe you could help me out with a small favor?” He asked, and the servant nodded. Callum led her back to his room where she waited by the door as he dragged the trolly of food Riona had brought up. “I don’t have time to eat all this but I’d hate for food to go to waste. Maybe you, or someone you know, can make sure this is all properly enjoyed?” He asked leaving the trolley outside as he relocked the door to his room. “If anyone gives you any trouble for it, let me know, and I’ll handle it, personally.” He offered before leaving the servant with the trolley of food and heading towards the entrance hall.

He arrived a couple of minutes past eleven but Edin was not around yet so that was just as good as being on time. Time in Sorian revolved around Edin, whenever his old man happened to show up was exactly right on time no matter how late it seemed to everyone else. So Callum and his half-drunk cup of coffee were ushered to his seat as the youngest of the royal line scanned the crowd that had already formed.

The sight of the crowd made him feel nauseous and uneasy. Too many unfamiliar faces, eyes shining with dreams of ambitious social climbing, so many people who desired everything he hated about his own life without even an inkling of everything that’d be giving up to have it. He sat in his assigned seat near his brothers without any idea of how long this would take, how long he’d be forced into fake, polite, small talk with no sure sign of relief in sight. He looked around, hoping to spot a familiar face, at least one person he could look forward to talking to, but saw only the sea of the unfamiliar.

Callum brought the coffee near his face, not drinking it, just breathing in the smell until it was the only thing he focused on. He was pretty sure he’d overdone it with the cologne and now it was giving him a headache. Or maybe it was the stress, or lack of food, or last night. He should’ve left his head in the sink, and breathed in icy water until he merged with the abyss. Not a helpful thought. He reminded himself. After this he’d be in the clear, he could find whatever activity was happening as far away from the palace as he could, get some fresh air, feel normal for a bit. Soon, he just had to be patient. Deep breaths, the smell of coffee, and a bit of freedom in an hour or two.
4x Like Like
↑ Top
1 User and 1 Guest viewing this page
© 2007-2024
BBCode Cheatsheet