Blaze Gamma — Roleplayer Guild

Felix continued to ride, not wanting to lose any time. He'd be damned if he was going to let some bandits ravage his home. He was going to get there first, no questions asked.

As he continued to ride, another on horseback started alongside him.

"Felix," the older woman spoke. "You're en route for the bandit forces, I take it? You've an uncharacteristically serious look on your face." She continued.

"Commander," Felix spoke, not giving more than a single word to the woman.

~~~~~

@Grey@AluminumDude

"Quite the respectful behavior for a place of reverence," a young girl's voice spoke. A girl in luxurious red robes stepped from the shadows, approaching Aaron, Cassio, and the aide. "So, I suppose from the looks of you all that little Alphy's premonition has come to pass." Though she sounded young, and indeed, looked no older than twelve, she spoke and carried herself with the air of a noblewoman. "So tell me, what are your names, young ones?" She asked before motioning to a figure in the shadows. "It appears the young lady here has fainted from the trauma of her trip. Please take her to a side room so that she may rest." She said, an old man nodding and taking away the king's attendant.

~~~~~

@Ezmeralda

As Katherine prepared, the bandits continued to encroach upon the farm's boundaries.

"'ell mates," the leader spoke. "Looks like this place is ripe fer a spot o' mischief. Men, kill any men or kids who are stupid enough to stand before us. If 'ere are any lil' beauties 'ere... Well, we consider them a prize for the camp." He said with a hearty laugh. As he descended on the farm, it was clear that he was in charge of about ten men. "Well, 'op to it then! No lollygagging!"

It was the dead of night. Years of strained peace weighted heavily upon the head of King Alphin of Iris. The castle was nearly empty. Very few guards were present, government officials who normally made their residence there were sent off on holiday. Why was this?

The truth was, the King knew that the end of this peace was coming. He'd already spoken with a seer to confirm his suspicions. Yes, Alphin knew that he probably would not live to see the sunrise. Even though the king was only 57 years old, he'd already predicted that his time was at an end. 

While some loyalists still stayed by his side, he'd evacuated the castle to minimize the loss of life when the, rather peculiarly, much better equipped dissident forces stormed the castle. He'd even tried to send away his sons and daughters, only for his requests to fall on deaf ears.

No, the time had come for him, and for his family. He walked over and sat at a desk in his room and poured a glass of brandy, taking a small sip. He prayed for the peace of his countrymen, of his land, and hoped that his fears... That the dissidents were backed by forces that wished to see Iris burn, would not come to pass. As he set down his glass, the first signs of a struggle began. He heard a crash, and the sound of fires burning.

"So the time has come..." Alphin sighed. Within minutes, a loud banging came from the king's door.

"Lord Alphis!" An attendant spoke. "The enemy has arrived at our doorstep! We must hurry and flee."

"... No, that I cannot do." Alphis spoke. The door opened, and a pale faced young woman entered.

"My lord..."

"I have made peace. We cannot force our countrymen to fight among themselves..." The King spoke. "Aaron and Cassio... Have them here with haste. I must make preparations." He explained.

"But."

"There are not to be any objections." Alphin spoke. "Bring those two to my chambers. NOW."

"Y-yes, my liege..." The attendant spoke. She quickly fled, and within minutes, the two were brought before the king, Aaron the mage and Cassio the healer.

"... I apologize for pulling the three of you deeper into the lion's den..." The king told them. "I am sure you are both wondering why you were not sent away when the castle was cleared out in the weeks past... It comes to this night. Men of your talents are what the kingdom needs now. I know, it seems terrible to say, but... I've a task of the utmost importance for the both of you."

Alphin walked over to his bed and pushed the mattress aside, revealing a hidden compartment. He opened it and pulled out a gilded staff. "In my younger days, I was not as clear headed as I am today... I made mistakes. Bedded many women by using my name and influence. I've my regrets over these decisions, but it is my hope now that... Between those of my kin who left when I asked them, and hopefully some unknown child... Just maybe the kingdom may yet be saved..." He pointed the staff at the three. "Aaron... Cassio... I know the two of you may not know me that well... But I also know that neither of you are men who wish harm upon the people of this country. I am sending you away to the Sacred Temple Ignis... I need you to check on an important artifact entombed there. Once you do, I will have you-"

There was a sudden clamoring heard growing closer to the king's chamber, and almost without warning, the door was knocked clean off its hinges.

A blonde haired man wearing black armor, holding a tome whose cover was just as dark as his armor, stepped through the doorway. Obscuring the top half of his face was an ornate mask, blocking out many features, leaving only his stubbled chin. The man was almost frighteningly tall and had an imposing presence.

"Your majesty..." The man spoke in a polite, yet mocking tone. "So I guess this is your elite guard? A shame. It seems they will have to die." He raised a hand, opening his tome.

"You will not harm them." Alphin spoke, holding the staff up. "I am sorry, you three... But hopefully you will be able to figure what to do." He said. As the light of the staff circled Aaron, Cassio, and the attendant. a crimson bolt flew from the armored stranger, straight at the three. With a blinding flash, though, the three vanished.

Aaron and Cassio would find themselves in an old marble chamber when they came to, with the attendant lying there as well.

~~~~~

Almost a year. It had been almost a year since Felix had joined the militia, and things had become only painfully routine. The horse on whose back he rode made a rough neigh and shifted. He was in the middle of a patrol of the town of Prima. There normally weren't issues, of course. The occasional ruffian needing a scolding, and then it would be back to the barracks to... Something? Hell if he knew. Of course, as he was heading back to the outskirts, he heard the telltale sounds of people about to start a fight. Shouting and angry voices.

Coming from a tavern.

"... Going to bet 50 gold pieces that Sareena's behind this..." Felix sighed as he dismounted and grabbed his sword, knowing he couldn't very well bring a spear into a tavern. Sure enough, as he stepped in, people were rowdy over something, likely the girl at the bar. "Man... Now I owe myself 50..." Felix sighed again, scratching the back of his head.

~~~~~

'Four, five, aaaaaaand six perfect bullseyes' the lavender-haired young woman thought as she the last three daggers deftly left her hand, the pleasant *Thunk* *Thunk* *Thunk* of steel hitting board drifting into her ears as she finished chugging her ale and opened her eyes for the first time since she took the knives up.

Only to see one perfect bullseye, one dagger north of the board, two in the wall to each side, one embedded on the floor, and bizzarely, one in the wall opposite the board. 'Shit. Maybe I drank too much. Still, the bet was for just one, sooooo...' "There you go. One perfect bullseye, while chugging a brew, eyes closed, no time to aim, thrown sideways. Now, everyone pay up!" she called out. Half the tavern groaned while the other half cheered as varing amounts of money changed hands. All execpt the guy who challenged her in the first place. Some two-time nobody, probably a bandit or something. "Oy! Let's go. Pay up. You said double or nothing if I got just one. I'd say that qualifies as one" she said, standing on... partially unstable legs, and getting right up in his face "Don't be a sore loser". Growling, the man dropped a pouch of gold into her open palm. Flashing him a cheeky grin, she turned on heel and counted her newly acquired assets 'Five hundred! Ha!' "Thank you for your business! Oh, and you might wanna get that popping vein checked out!" she called behind her, laughing her way to the door when she spotted a familiar face "Felix! Hey buddy!"...

"You're causing trouble again," Felix sighed as he led Sareena out of the tavern with an exasperated look on his face. He was going to have to take her down to the barracks for some lecture she almost certainly wouldn't listen to. Of course, that wasn't his only reason. He had to keep his friend safe, even if she was a bit of a shady customer, especially considering the thuggish looking man who appeared to be ready to knife her.

"What were you even doing this time?" Felix asked. He decided to walk along with his horse this time, not wanting to leave the young woman behind him, lest she scamper off.

He made some idle talk as they strolled down the path. Still, as they did, he noticed red smoke flying from the roof of the barracks. "What... Red smoke... Bandits?" Felix groaned. "Just great... Hey, Sareena... I think we should go see what's up." He said, getting on his horse. From the look of the signals, the bandits were coming from...

The east.

"Oh no..."

They were headed right for Felix's childhood home. Without giving his friend time to react, he spurred on his horse, urging it in the direction of his farm.

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Lovelorn Romantic

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