Time: Evening Location: Masquerade Ball: Damien Estate Interactions: Charlotte @Princess, Fritz/Riona @JJ Doe, Mr.V @samreaper, Cassius @PapaOso, Nahir @Rodiak Daily Misfortune: An annoyingly high-pitched voice and random fits of laughter. Predictable Costume: Leo the Lion
The bastard was a grating presence, entirely unfocused on the task at hand - his missing watch! Instead, Cassius was flirting with Charlotte, and it seemed Lottie couldn’t get away from the spawn of the dreadful count fast enough. Leo wasn’t the least bit surprised; Lottie had wits enough to see through the game house Damien was clearly playing at.
“Lord Damien, I feel left out. Will you not tell us how beautiful and strong we are too?”
And now Hendrix was teasing Cassius. As amusing as this mismatched love triangle might be on a different night, Leo currently found it infuriating.
“Surely you’ve noticed how this distinguished gentleman would be the heart of any pride?”
Leo’s eyes focused on Frtiz, a look of deep annoyance as the lid of his left eye twitched. For a brief moment, Leo was content that at least one other person here took the matter seriously as Lottie took her leave to focus on the case of the missing watch. Leo too, was more than ready to leave and continue the search so that Hendrix and Cassius could entertain each other without him.
Only to catch a glimpse of Charlotte speaking with a woman in an owl mask who wore not a hint of orange. Sure, Leo understood the desire to get as far away from Cassius as one could, but surely his having been recently robbed should matter a hair more than a social call. It seemed Sorian was no different than Stravy in that Leo’s problems would be his own to solve.
“What lovely shoes,”
Another grating voice joined in to further steer the conversation towards frivolity. Did he look like he wanted to chat about his, admittedly glorious, slippers right now!
“Lord Leo Smithwood! I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Do I-” He stopped as soon as he saw the brilliant flash of orange. His tone relaxed. Not only due to the possibility that this orange woman may have his watch but she was also accompanied by Shehzadi Nahir. Now was not the time to be so overtly agitated. He returned her cursty with a full and proper bow to her and Nahir.
“Shehzadi, a pleasure as always." He greeted the royal first while forcing a smile beneath the mask, making his tone sound far friendlier than it had been.
“Good Evening, Lady, are you maybe missing this bracelet?” With a calm hand he picked the item back up off the table and gingerly held it out for the woman to inspect. “Someone stole my pocketwatch and left this in its place. I’m not accusing you, of course, but I would be deeply grateful if you wouldn’t mind checking to see if the same tom-foolery was not done to you.”
Time: Evening Location: Sailing aboard The Righteous Tern Interactions: Rue@Potter Equipment:Sword, hunting knife, a backpack with supplies, and a stoat named Raze who naps in the pocket of his vest.
“One of who?” Bowyn matched the hush tone Rue had used, wondering who Rue worried Bridget might be, or might be aligned with. A distant and haunted look quickly consumed her once peaceful expression. “Whatever Bridget is, and her alliances, barely matter. We are skilled hunters, Bardulf too, and she is just a deer. No one will take us again. On my life, Rue.” There was no need for the darkness of the past to drag Rue down as she soared.
Soon his attention was drawn to the ship’s deck and machine that Rue had spotted. Warforged, the artificial life. Not like fairies, elves, or anyother creature that roamed Avalia. They were not born, did not grow, simply machines built by others. Bowyn struggled to see any difference between such a thing and a cart or a ship or a tool.
“Doesn’t look like much of a warforged, can’t see anything that looks like a proper weapon. Unless it’s one of those real advanced ones. Probably cannon fodder. You think it’s Luum’s? He wondered. An advanced warforged with hidden weapons would be a real nice addition, something that didn’t look so dangerous but could blast it’s way through an small army. Did Luum even have that kind of amas? Doubtful. Probably a cannon fodder model, still useful. Always nice to have a machine to send towards destruction over a life.
Time: Evening Location: Gaurav Village Interactions: Phia@princess Equipment: A pack with some supplies, seeds (in his pockets), a small knife, a mask that hangs from his belt, a weapon with a shifting charm that is either a sickle or a glaive, and a shield/drum with an unbreakable charm.
A bright smile broke across the face of the forest fae at the mention of an orchard and their very own riverfruit slush stand. He would make an excellent orchard-keeper and Phia sounded equally confident in her ability to run a business. “How fun! It would be a fam-” Cyrus stopped. A family business. A near slip. Lying was so much harder than he expected it to be. “A fantastic idea.” He corrected. He wouldn’t mind living here, tucked away from dark elves, the little family he had left kept safe, just tending to an orchard and serving refreshing treats to villagers. He too found himself lost in a daydream broken only by Phia’s next suggestion and her hand smacking against the table.
“Yes, Dante and Darius must be hungry too. We could bring the feast to them!” He suggested, matching Phia’s enthusiasm. “You said this village is wary of outsiders, yet Darius and Dante are not wolves and they seem very welcomed here.” He attempted to tuck a riverfruit into a pocket far too small as spoke. Eventually he decided it was best to eat the rest of the fruit as he continued to talk. “How have they managed to gain such trust? I believe Menzai and I have started off on the wrong foot and I would like to not make that a pattern here.”
Time: Night Location: Edge of Lover’s Lake-Roman Ceremony Interactions: Ari@Tpartywithzombi
Ari’s question caught him off guard, would he be free?. Too many answers flooded his mind, an overwhelming barrage of thoughts that needed time to sift through. So Callum shrugged, “Maybe, won’t know until I try I guess.” But even that answer was heavy with doubt. Thinking about it filled him with unease and he was thankful Ari kept talking, now about her mother forbidding her from seeing him.
“I am very unpopular with parents.” Cal admitted with pride in that statement. He took the bottle from Ari as she asked him to hold it and his eyes lingered on its contents as she walked away. Roman and Mina sang a lovely song, their voices stretched upwards, lifted others upwards, as they sang. He looked toward them, watched the ending of a joyous dance, and felt the comfort in their song even as it faded for a new song to begin.
The rhythm slowed, a somber song rose, and Roman spoke of reflection and remembrance. Cal had no ancestors he wished to remember, none he knew who deserved to be honored.
“You and I are the culmination of all our ancestors’ hopes and dreams. What they worked lived and died for.”
Callum shut his eyes and wished for the antithesis; to be the culmination of his ancestor's worst fears, the thing that would undo all they worked, lived, and died for. He wished to be like fire, destruction in its purest form save for Claedo himself.
Callum watched the fire, transfixed as flowing warm colors took on shapes only he could see. For a brief and beautiful moment, he saw a twisted face within the flames, it’s smug expression slowly transformed to one of agony, flickers of yellow evoking a crown. He didn’t want to blink, knowing that when he did, it would be gone.
And gone it was, the fire still danced and flickered, shapes and imagery as easily picked out as a child watching the clouds. But to see Edin’s face burning, that was gone. Only the hope that it was a sign of things to come, remained.
What about you, will you be free? Cal relented to the bottle he held, a long gulp as if it were only water. Did he even want freedom when shackles brought comfort like a weighted blanket and a cage was just a safe place to hide?
Was that all he wanted; things to hold him back, something to blame his failures on, excuses for why everything he did resulted in nothing.
Dread bubbled up from the foul pit in his core, leaking out of him. Deep frightened breaths, but without an audible sound. He didn’t realize he was crying. Cal only stared into the fire, unaware of time or his surroundings, unaware of anything but the thoughts in his head.
Until the jarring sound of Ana shouting startled him enough to make him wonder if jumping out of his skin was possible. He looked around for his sister but saw Ari returning instead. From beneath her hooded cloak waves of ginger hair escaped, framing her face in familiar warm hues.
Time: Evening Location: Masquerade Ball: Damien Estate Interactions: Charlotte @Princess, Fritz @JJ Doe, Mr.V : Slipper Appreciator @samreaper, Cassius @PapaOso Daily Misfortune: An annoyingly high-pitched voice and random fits of laughter. Predictable Costume: Leo the Lion
“The same hallowed sanctuary that was recently infiltrated and ransacked by riff-raff? I can only assume security is not a high priority for your father.” Leo snapped at Cassius. The bastard’s sarcastic tone was entirely inappropriate for the severity of the situation, it only added to a festering annoyance with the conduct of the Damien family.
Then there was Fritz, not only smiling like a dolt at Cassius’s interruption but exchanging pleasantries with the bastard while a treasured family heirloom was either missing or in the, likely filthy, hands of a thief. There was no time for nonsense here, when did he last see it - in his pocket - was that not obvious! “Gold, with Varian Pines and a stag adorning its case. A sidewinder, well kept and unscratched. It was last in this pocket,” Leo placed his right hand over his left pocket, as his left hand gestured to a button on his vest, “Chain now, gone as well.’
At least Charlotte understood the gravity of the situation. And why was Cassius leering at her? Had Calbert Damien stooped to using his bastard to harass Charlotte in his stead? And oh what the lessers wouldn’t do to claw their way up.
“Personal? Ill-will?” Leo repeated the claim with evident shock. “I am well liked and would not associate with thieves.” Leo replied genuinely, but it was an unfortunate stroke of luck that following those words he erupted into another giggle fit. The timing could not have been worse, it was ridiculously unhinged, and his sides stung. The lion's mane shook but the mask, thankfully, hid how well his face now matched his vest. Leo cleared his throat and ignored the strange interruption he had caused.
“Security is far too lax, they have allowed the unsavory sort in.” The only person he could think of, with any ill will, was Count Damien himself. An enemy of Charlotte’s was his as well, but the Count certainly did not go around pilfering pockets, he was far more nefarious than that.
What mattered more here, that Cassius left this interaction knowing full well that he held contempt for the Damien family, or that his watch was found and the thief dealt with? The answer was blatantly obvious for Leo.
“Apologies, Cassius, the watch belongs to my father, his before his, for many years, irreplaceable.” He paused, thankful that the mask hid the annoyed look in his eyes before adding, “An excellent showing at the archery contest the other day, by the way.” A small compliment, only marginally better than forcing out an apology to a bastard. The lion mask dipped slightly, a respectful nod, but not a bow.
“I have observed several people seemly searching for missing items as well. Might be wise to not allow anyone to leave until my wat- all missing items, are returned and accounted for and the thief apprehended. I’m sure your family would prefer this not to become an embarrassing scandal if handled poorly. Somewhere here is a scourge in need of a few years in a dungeon.” He suggested and hoped the dungeons of Soren lived up to their terrible reputation.
Leo’s head swiveled to search the crowd for flashes of orange. At least it was an easy color to spot. “I believe we saw Shehzadi Nahir with a woman in orange. One of you should speak with her.” He suggested to Charlotte. Not even for his most valued treasure would he risk a laughter fit directly into the face of royalty.
Time: Evening Location: Gaurav Village Interactions: Phia@princess Equipment: A pack with some supplies, seeds (in his pockets), a small knife, a mask that hangs from his belt, a weapon with a shifting charm that is either a sickle or a glaive, and a shield/drum with an unbreakable charm.
For a moment the possibility dangled in front of him; Viola, Phia, and he all returning to the same frozen dessert stand they’d frequented as children. New memories built in nostalgic places. Except that stand had been burnt to the ground and it’s owner taken away in chains. Such destruction had befallen every know member of Millinia’s Militia, not just his eldest brother Florian. As that possibility burned away, he thought of all the reasons why he could never go home again and how it would never be his home the way it once was.
Then all anger and hatred that he tried to rid himself of sprouted forth, it grew beneath a glow of a white hot rage. Sprouting first in the gut as that twisted feeling grew and constriced around his heart, slowly stealing the light from his spirit. A wave of nausea at having let it take root so easily cut it back down. A stump that festered but never died away. This was not the place for it, this was a family table.
He then noticed the squished piece of fruit he’d grasped too tightly in that moment. He smeared it’s remnants across a piece of bread as if he meant to do such a thing all along.
“The place I went to, it is gone now, but they sell Riverfruit Shushs just about anywhere you can find Riverfruits, and the world has many rivers. We could travel someplace to find one.” Cyrus paused, he pulled a small knife from his pocket and used it to carefully carve a piece of Riverfruit away until he found a seed. He placed the seed on the table between him and Phia and smiled.
“Or, we can find a nice river nearby, grow a Riverfruit Tree, and then I can teach you how to make Riverfruit Slushs. You could have them anytime you’d like, even enough to share with the whole village here.” He offered. This was the better option; any major city or port would hold the dangers of dark elf presence, the potential to be recognized, and it was better that officially, Cypress Millinia stayed dead and Cyrus remained unnoted and unimportant.
Time: Evening Location: Flying above The Righteous Tern Interactions: Rue@Potter Equipment:Sword, hunting knife, a backpack with supplies, and a stoat named Raze who naps in the pocket of his vest.
“And I you, not sure I could say the same for Raze but that critter’s more suited for sneakary and thievin’ anyways.” Bowyn replied and patted the pegasus as she flew, a signal that Starfire too would be protected.
Bowyn looked a Rue as he thought about what she’d said about Zeva. If she has a family, I then feel bad. She should be back with them and not with us. It was like they were on the same page but reading from two different books. Rue held earnest concern for Zeva and those she held dear, but Bowyn could only see a young elf with family ties as a liability. Even if Zeva didn’t want to betray them, and he had doubts about that, he couldn’t see her holding up if the dark elves went after her family.
“Bardulf is not Avalian, our problems don’t have to be his, but he chooses to carry the burden. He is a good man, worth trusting anyway.” He commented on Bardulf, whose lack of family or any close ties that weren’t fellow rebels certainly eased trusting him.
“You think Luum and Bridget are a thing? They have an odd dynamic.” He asked the mostly rhetorical question aloud but hearing it spoken made it sound even more farfetched than it did in his head. “Do all secrets come to light when you’re power includes manipulating the light?”
Time: Night Location: Edge of Lover’s Lake-Roman Ceremony Interactions: Ari@Tpartywithzombi Mentions: Ana & Farim
“We won’t let your mother take freedom from you.” Callum made a bold declaration as he stood up, because right now, all of his impossible goals seemed within reach. Maybe it was the tea, it probably was the tea, but he could see it. He was Callum, ruinier of things, a force of distruction, and he was seeing how to use exactly what he was to get what he wanted.
“Know what Edin really hates? Being slighted. How mad you think he’ll get when I tell him, Dutchess Edwards doesn’t think one of his sons isn’t good enough for one of her daughters? Edin might take that personally.” There was a glint of malice in his smirk, after all wasn’t this more or less exactly what Edin told him to do? Ari was a proper noblewoman, it was courting season, he could paint this whole scenario as something that would turn Edin’s ire towards Victoria.
“I got plans, Ari, real plans and when I’m done, you’ll be free to pick whatever life you want, not stuck with what they pick. Step one, burning bridges. Bridges between houses. House Danrose, House Edwards, we can make that bridge burn.” Cal kept his voice low as he headed towards where the shaman was, a noticeable stumble to his steps. He couldn’t tell Ari all of it, not yet, but he was confident he had found another ally.
“You can see it right? How beautiful the fire is.” He asked stopping suddenly as the fire caught his attention. The way it danced and flickered as it consumed everything beneath into ash. He looked around again, spotting both the shaman with the tea and Ana and Farim as well. Cal immediately turned his back to them but kept a view of the fire and the ritual Roman and Mina preformed.
“The shaman, just over there, has tea, but I’ll wait here.”
Time: Evening Location: Gaurav Village Interactions: Phia@princess, Menzai@samreaper Equipment: A pack with some supplies, seeds (in his pockets), a small knife, a mask that hangs from his belt, a weapon with a shifting charm that is either a sickle or a glaive, and a shield/drum with an unbreakable charm.
“It is an unfortunate necessity that such extreme means of protection is needed, but nontheless, it is needed.” Cyrus replied to Phia’s comment but looked only at Menzai with a somber nod. At Menzai’s departure Cyrus and Viola followed Phia to the dinning area. There was a small pang of disappointment as Viola chose to withdrawal alone for her meal, but he simply smiled throught it. He plied his own plate with a variety of fruits and bread, avoiding the meat upon the table.
He said nothing as Phia immediately dug into her food, stabbing at her food with the handle of a spoon. He bowed his head, closed his eyes, and paused to give thanks for a meal and for the forces that had brought Viola and he to Phia. As Cyrus ate his food with his hands and Phia held her spoon in a strange manner, it was all too easy to picture their mother tutting over poor table manners while wearing an exacerbated smile.
“Riverfruits,” Cyrus spoke as he picked up one of the large purple fruits from his plate, “are my favorite fruit. When I was little, if I ever had a bad day, my older brother would take me to get Riverfruit Slushes, and somehow, somehow a frozen treat used to be all it took to make things better.” He placed the fruit back on the plate. “I also like to save my favorite bite for last. How about you, Phia, a favorite fruit? A favorite food?” He asked before taking a bit from a piece of fresh bread.
Time: Evening Location: Masquerade Ball: Damien Estate Interactions: Charlotte @Princess, Fritz @JJ Doe, Mr.V (aka some rando Leo didn't really notice was there) @samreaper Daily Misfortune: An annoyingly high-pitched voice and random fits of laughter. Predictable Costume: Leo the Lion
Leo checked the time on his pocket watch, he’d wait a bit, long enough for Charlotte to talk to Hendrix about whatever it was, and then join them. He too had things to discuss and now was the perfect opportunity. In the meantime he meandered about the ballroom, occasionally lifting the lion mask to sip from the flute of champagne. He made a game of studying the costumes and trying to guess who was behind each mask. A man in a weasel mask slipped by him, dangerously close to bumping into him. What sort of man would want to be associated with an elongated rat? Certainly not a man of high caliber that was for sure.
His hand reached for the watch only to find it gone. He checked again. Had he dropped it? He looked around, retraced his path through the ballroom eyes scanning the floor. Nothing. Had he lost it? He frantically checked his pockets.
How had he lost track of something that important? His dad’s watch. His grandfather’s watch. A watch that had changed hands for multiple generations only to be lost by him.
Leo made his way to a table covered in food. He left the empty champagne flute there, emptied every pocket, and still no watch. He noticed a handful of other guests had seemingly lost something too, a thief loose in the ballroom. Of course, that made more sense. A brief wave of relief at having not been entirely responsible for the loss was canceled out by the fact that his watch was still missing.
As Leo watched the crowd momentarily, he spotted Charlotte waving him over. Perfect, who better to help him solve this crime than their freshly formed detective club! Calbert and his staff couldn’t be trusted; not only had they already proven themselves incapable of guarding the count’s home but they’d also allowed the thief inside. He grabbed the rest of his things off the table, placing them back into the correct pocket until he was left with a bracelet that wasn’t his. Leo grabbed the bracelet and headed over to where Charlotte and Fritz where and placed the item between the two.
“There is a thief wandering the ballroom, they have stolen my watch and left that in my pocket. We must solve this crime immediatly.” He didn’t bother sitting down nor did he waste time with formal greetings or an exchange of pleasantries. His thoughts now were only of his missing watch.
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