The events in this post are still before the Realta invasion
Yara marries Gadar
'It's so beautiful,' Hirana stared wide-eyed at the solitary red rose sitting on the small dressing table in Yara's room. The little girl - now eight years old - had seen the wilted rose more times than she could count. But she had been stunned, over the last few years, at how with every passing day life seemed to seep into the plant until it was now in full bloom, trembling with barely restrained life and beauty. 'You say that every time you come in here, Hirana,' Chjekaya chuckled. The girl turned around and beamed at her mother, who was brushing Yara's silken onyx hair. Sat beside them on the bed was little Xoka, Hirana's six-year-old brother. The other two, Kaga and Harosh, were both at home with the girl's grandmother and great-grandmother. 'Auntie, why did that happen?' Hirana rushed to Yara and leapt into the woman's lap - to a reprimand from her mother. The Witch-Priestess wrapped her arms around the little girl and rained kisses on her. 'It is the way of things. Life emerges from death, and death from life.' She said simply. 'But you always said that it was not dead - you always said that it had melted and burst.' The little girl said accusingly. 'Yes, it had. And now it has been brought together again.' Yara looked at the rose in full-bloom and smiled slightly. 'It has been brought together again by love, is that what you're saying,' Chjekaya said teasingly. Yara blushed and looked down. 'Well, maybe...' came her response. Hirana looked at her wide-eyed, her pretty brown eyes shining with curiosity. Yara chuckled and squeezed the little girl's cheeks, causing her to cry out in protest and jump off. 'Not long before you have ones of your own scurrying all over the place. I've been told the quiet ones pack more than meets the eye,' Chjekaya was saying conspiratorially. 'Oh stop it!' Yara snapped, though she could not help the slight grin that played around her lips, or her increasingly red and flustered face. 'I mean, you two have hardly been able to keep your hands off each other. I bet when no one's look-' 'Chjekaya!' Yara cried disapprovingly. 'What, I'm only being honest,' the younger woman laughed, 'I'd be surprised if you two have actually managed not to jump eac-' 'By all things holy, talk about something else - please. The sun. The trees.' 'Yes yes, and the birds and the bees. I think it's beautiful that he's agreed to remain on the temple's grounds. Mind you it's probably the closest thing to home for him, isn't it? Though take this from me, you tell him to make it bigger - in a few years you'll be tripping over your own feet in a one-room hovel like that.' 'It's not a hovel,' Yara said defensively, but she considered Chjekaya's words seriously. 'Though that might be a good idea. I mean we need to make sure we're as comfortable as possible and everything is ready for...well. Yeah.' 'Yes, tell him to make it four rooms, not one. And more spacious. And tell him to build a staircase to the roof - but put a good door at the top so no little ones can get up there on their own.' 'Four rooms is a bit much isn't it?' 'No, it's not - and it's better to have too many than not to have enough.' Chjekaya was saying matter of factly as she continued brushing her mentor's hair. 'I guess that makes sense. I'll have them put it in the contract.' She glanced at Xoka and Hirana, who were now sat on the floor talking loudly to one another, a little doll in each of their hands. 'No no, then the big djinni ated up all the bad horses people, so you're dead,' Xoka was saying, taking the doll from Hirana's hand and placing it on the ground, where he proceeded to bash it with his own. Naturally, an argument ensued and Chjekaya went tutting over to them.
The Witch-Priestess allowed her gaze to wander to the blooming rose, and there was a small smile on her lips, a certain distance in her eyes. There had been a certain tension between her and Gadar for a long time. Indeed, she had not even noticed it much at first, but they had for a long time been as two Firewind Wolves circling one another, testing the other for weakness or doubt. Gadar's overtures - the staff he had made her, his strange ability to appear anywhere and take her by surprise, his casual confidence, the way he saw through her as no one else could - had both alarmed and intrigued her. But most of all, it was his loyalty, the utter certainty of the fact that he would always be there for her when she needed him. He would not abandon her, and he would not forget. And so here they were.
When she stepped out of the temple and descended the temple steps later that afternoon, it was to see the gathered crowds - many of them priestesses, many of them her students and former-students, their families and those who had come to her over the years. And they had all come to eat and make merry and celebrate the marriage of the Witch-Priestess. There were cheers and there was laughter, and there in the middle of it all, standing by Sister Malikhet and a small round table in a clearing, was Gadar. His one good eye visibly lit up on seeing her in all her beauty and embroidered wedding dress. She lowered her gaze and smiled shyly as she descended the steps and was led to the table by Chjekaya. She did not dare look at Gadar, fearing that the strange heat pulsing through her chest would annihilate her completely if their eyes met again. She felt his strong, calloused hand take hers, and she instinctively squeezed it tightly and moved closer to him. Seats were brought and the couple were seated round the table, and Malikhet sat before them.
'Yara, daughter of the Master,' Malikhet said as she wrote Yara's name on a large piece of parchment. Her parents being unknown, she was simply the daughter of the Master in the eyes of the Temple, 'and Gadar, son of the Master. You are come before the hearth of the Master today to pledge a pledge, to make an oath, to sign a contract with one another, a contract unbreakable and firm, blessed by the Master and accepted by all who dwell beneath the stars.
'Say this, and repeat after me,' Malikhet turned to Yara, 'I pledge myself completely and absolutely, without reservation or condition, to Gadar son of the Master, as his loyal wife, his support; to care for him always and forever be true. To be pious and call him to piety, to be faithful and call him to faith, to be modest and call him to modesty, to be dutiful and call him to duty, to be humble and call him to humility, to endure all difficulty and call him to endure, to be gracious and call him to graciousness, to be kind and call him to kindness, to be charitable and call him to charity, to be diligent and call him to diligence, to be compassionate and call him to compassion, to be steadfast and call him to steadfastness, to be courageous and call him to courage, to be dignified and call him to dignity, to be generous and call him to generosity, to be honest and call him to honesty, to be honourable and call him to honour, to be patient and call him to patience, to be selfless and call him to selflessness, to be ever warm and call him to warmth, to be rest for his heart and peace for his soul and joy where it can be had. Before thee, Master, do I pledge this pledge, so aid me and make it ease for me not difficulty, joy for me not misery.' And Yara repeated after her and gave her pledge even as Malikhet wrote it all down. The priestess then turned to Gadar.
'Say this, and repeat after me: I pledge myself completely and absolutely, without reservation or condition, solely without any other partner, to Yara daughter of the Master, as her loyal husband, her protector and support, to care for her always and shield her from all harm, and to forever be true. To be pious and call her to piety, to be faithful and call her to faith, to be modest and call her to modesty, to be dutiful and call her to duty, to be humble and call her to humility, to endure all difficulty and call her to endure, to be gracious and call her to graciousness, to be kind and call her to kindness, to be charitable and call her to charity, to be diligent and call her to diligence, to be compassionate and call her to compassion, to be steadfast and call her to steadfastness, to be courageous and call her to courage, to be dignified and call her to dignity, to be generous and call her to generosity, to be honest and call her to honesty, to be honourable and call her to honour, to be patient and call her to patience, to be selfless and call her to selflessness, to be ever warm and call her to warmth, to be ever strong and call her to strength, to be rest and safety and shelter for her heart and peace and security for her soul, and to make her ever loved. To be joy where it is to be had, and to protect from all evil where it is certain. Before thee, Master, do I pledge this pledge, so aid me and strengthen me and make it ease for me not difficulty, joy for me not misery.' And Gadar also repeated even as Malikhet wrote it all down. With that she looked up at Gadar and spoke. 'I remind you, Gadar son of the Master, that you enter into this contract bringing with you all that you own, and after today all that you own will be owned also by Yara daughter of the Master. All that you earn, you earn for yourself and for her and for your progeny. You are reminded, and if you remain then it is.' And Gadar did not move, and so it was. 'And I remind you also,' she said, 'that Yara daughter of the Master enters into this contract with all that she owns, and after today all that she owns she will own alone, other than that whose ownership she willingly shares. And that all she earns she earns for herself alone and none have a right in it but herself. You are reminded, and if you remain then it is.' Malikhet looked at the two for a few moments. The two remained and she wrote it all down.
'I now turn to you, Yara daughter of the Master, and invite you to add any terms if you have any to add.' Malikhet looked at a small open scroll to her right before continuing, 'First, do you have any terms regarding your physical relationship with Gadar son of the Master?' Malikhet turned to Yara. The Witch-Priestess shook her head. 'To what the nature of this contract permits and obligates, I have nothing to add.' Yara said. Then Malikhet turned to Gadar and asked him also, and his response was the same. 'Then it is written: We do permit for ourselves all the customary physical freedoms permitted husband and wife, and consign ourselves to all the customary physical obligations of a husband and wife.' Then Malikhet turned once more to Yara. 'Yara daughter of the Master: do you have any terms to add regarding the home in which both you and Gadar son of the Master shall dwell?'
'I do,' Yara responded, remembering Chjekaya's words, 'my first term is that our home be on the grounds of the Temple of the Bond, until such a time when we of our own will choose to live elsewhere, or unless our situation changes so drastically as to make it impossible. My second term is that our home have, at the least, four rooms, and that there be a staircase to the roof.' Malikhet turned to Gadar when Yara's terms were spoken. 'Gadar son of the Master, do you accept these terms?' She asked him. 'I do,' he said. And Malikhet wrote it down. 'And do you, Gadar son of the Master, have any terms regarding the home in which both you and Yara daughter of the Master shall dwell?' 'I do: that she shall carry out the customary duties of a mistress of any household with regards to any place we come to call home.' Malikhet turned to Yara who nodded, accepting the term. And the priestess wrote it down. 'Yara daughter of the Master, do you have any terms with regards to the right to terminate this contract?' Yara was silent for a few seconds. 'I...would like to place a term giving us both a right to terminate this contract at will.' Malikhet looked somewhat surprised, and looked to Gadar. Yara did not see his reaction, but Malikhet soon wrote the term down. The usual state of affairs was that neither husband nor wife had a right to terminate the marriage at will - such could only be done if there had been a serious breach of the contract. That was exceedingly rare however, almost taboo, and it was death that terminated nearly all Vetruvian marriages. But Yara was well-aware that things fell apart - no amount of trust she had in Gadar would blind her to that truth. People change, and sometimes you need a way out. And sometimes people just...abandon you. There would be no reason, sometimes not even a warning. And you would be alone again. 'Yara daughter of the Master, do you have any terms to add regarding inheritance of your property?' Malikhet then asked. 'I do: should I die, all my property shall go to my husband. If we have children, half shall go to my husband and half shall be split evenly between our children. If my husband is dead, all my property is to be split evenly between my children. If my husband is dead and we had no children, my property is to be handed over to the Temple of the Bond,' Malikhet turned to Gadar, who accepted and put in a similar term. 'Are there any further terms you would like to add?' Malikhet asked the both of them. Yara shook her head, and Gadar seemed to have done likewise for Malikhet then turned the piece of parchment to them and told them to place their mark. A small pin was given Yara, and she pricked her thumb slightly to allow blood to flow out, and she smeared her blood beside her name at the top. Gadar did the same and the parchment was taken and rolled up by Malikhet. The Taal-e Aqd was done.
@Vec No, our hiatus was from around April-June of this year. Though the hiatus saw more activity from me than since it ended XDD we should from this day forth call it: 'The "Hiatus" Coughcough'.
I've only gotten to episode 21 of the first season, so it's currently not entirely complimentary.
*Having just told Dawnscroll that he's a psycho who wants to open our brains and take our superpowers for himself, who can hear a watch is 1 second out of time from five miles; backs away slowly and hides inside a wall*
@Frettzo If you're a British citizen then you should have no issues at all, book your flight and get away. If that's not possible, get to any consulate/embassy of an EU member-state and they should be able to help you if you feel endangered. As the UK is still in the EU, any member-state consulate/embassy is a British consulate/embassy as far as you're concerned.
In other news, I had a bloody hectic week last week and couldn't get any reading done. I just posted in one of my other RPs and will now do my all to continue reading so I can get to posting.
London is generally the go-to place for newcomers. It is, quite possibly, the most cosmopolitan city in the world. The atmosphere isn't great anywhere for immigrants, refugees, and minorities at the moment though. It'll be hard getting in, and it'll be hard to stay, as the government is really cracking down on the numbers who are allowed in. And you've got right-wingers doing their thing.
As my only real experience is here in London, I can only tell you what it's like here. If you have any specific questions about London, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer.
As for how long it would take to find a job like what you say, it's hard to say. I can't really help you there. I know the cleaners at my uni are outsourced and pretty much all of them are foreigners. The cleaners at my school when I was yet at school were also foreign, though I don't know if they were outsourced or not - I don't think they were.
As for groups of people known to be dangerous...I wouldn't say there are any dangerous 'groups' per se. There are areas with higher crime rates than others though. This wiki article may be a good starting place if crime rate will dictate where you choose to settle [in London]: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London
Edit: If they take you to Room 101 on arrival, please don't tell them about me. Pls.
Ramfrey and Aulus meet outside the inn and get to know each other some They're both suspicious of one another at first, but eventually, Aulus invites Ramfrey for a drink - paying with the two bronze coins Alicja had given him out of pity They introduce themselves and talk a bit After some time, Ramfrey offers Aulus some work with his 'friends' Aulus accepts and is told to meet Ramfrey the following day They then get into a 'fight' and Aulus us kicked out of the tavern. Quite literally.
Nyhem, 503 A.R
'So who's your lady friend?' Aulus asked, shifting his position slightly as he spoke. It could get rather uncomfortable sitting on cold, hard stone for extended periods of time - and he had found that the life of a tramp involved much of that. The giant man had frozen in place at Aulus' words, but now turned around ever so slowly, his hand on the hilt of his sword. The giant's steel blue eyes met Aulus' dark green ones. For a few moments, both were silent as strangers passed by - some brushing past the giant to get into the inn. 'What's it to you?' The man finally responded, his steel blue eyes still eating at Aulus' features as though attempting to carve them into his memory. Aulus raised the coin that the woman had thrown to him earlier to his eyes and looked at it again. 'A bronze coin. Two of them,' he revealed another in his other hand, 'she's either very generous or she's so rich that money is of no...uh, that money ain't nothing to her.' The giant's eyes narrowed, and Aulus knew immediately that he had noticed the quick change in his dialect. Even for a rampant tavern-goer like himself, it was not always easy to maintain low-born speech.
'Too generous, I'd say. Can't be giving away what little mo-' he stopped himself from saying any more. 'You're not from around here are you?' The giant said. Aulus eyed him suspiciously. 'In days like these, there are plenty here or ain't from here, mate.' Aulus threw one of the coins to the giant, 'give it back to your lady, I don't want her coin.' The big man caught it and threw it back. 'It was a gift. Bad manners to give a gift back,' Aulus caught it and held it up to his eyes again as the man spoke, 'what's your name boy? You're not fooling me, I can see you're no tramp.' Aulus scoffed and got up. 'See better then, innit?' He looked around before glancing at the big man, 'you in a hurry?' Aulus asked. The man shook his head. 'Not really, no.' 'Come, lets 'ave a drink you an' I. Your lady's paying,' and he shook one of the coins in his hand before walking into the inn. 'I don't think they'll like your types in there,' the big man warned as he followed. Aulus scoffed. 'The kind what can pay? I think they'll like me quite a lot!' Bad as a tavern could smell, Aulus' presence made it only worse and he did not get any kind looks for that. When both men were seated at a table, each nursing a flagon between his hands, the big man saw it fit to ask his question again. 'So, you never told me your name.' Aulus gave him another suspicious look. 'Big man like you, walking around with important people with coins to give away, swingin' that sword about. You lot are plottin' something ain'tcha? I think I should be asking who you are, not the other way round. I'm nobody, after all, just a tramp on the side o' the road. But you...you're somebody, ain't that right?' The big man's blue eyes narrowed once again. 'So you admit you're a spy. Who sent you?' Aulus chuckled and shook his head. 'Me? A spy? I mean, I could. I'd be a good spy I think. I'd be a great spy actually,' he took a sip of ale, 'but nah, I'm no spy. You have my word on that.' 'A word is worth nothing here.' The big man said coldly. Aulus cocked his head and a thoughtful look entered his eyes. 'It...it's worth a lot where am from.' The two looked at each other for a while, as though trying to read what was going on behind the other's eyes. 'The name's Aulus. Aulus Hu-' he looked at the big man again, 'Aulus Eskandar'. He extended his grubby and calloused hand to the other man. After a few moment's thought, the man did the same. 'The name's Ramfrey Hansard,' he said as he shook smiling Aulus' hand. 'And I take it you are a knight.' Aulus said knowingly. Ramfrey smiled. 'Aye, and I take it you're more than just a tramp. What gave me away eh?' 'Aye, I am far more than a tramp. I am a king of tramps, feasting on ale in the finest tavern in Nyhem with a knight.' Ramfrey raised an eyebrow but noted that the younger man had once more avoided giving much about himself away. 'Eskandar huh? Not a name I've heard before.' Ramfrey took a small drink. 'I'm not surprised, there's nothing much to tell about us.' Aulus responded with a shrug, 'dad was once a little lord with a little keep. Lorded it over a few miserable peasants, and then he died. The story's always the same - no matter how high or low a lord you are,' there was the hint of bitterness in his voice. 'Aye, can't argue with that,' Ramfrey said with a sigh. After a few moments he leaned in and whispered, 'I'm guessing you took the wrong side in this war, eh?' Aulus looked at him carefully before taking another drink. 'Aye, I did. I took no side, and there is no worse place to be.' Ramfrey smiled and shook his head. This one was a slippery weasel when he wanted to be it seemed. But he did not seem like a liar. 'It's rare that one has the luxury of a choice in these things.' Ramfrey noted. Aulus shook his head slightly. 'No, Sir Ramfrey. There's always a choice. But some people are too honourable, too loyal, too proud, too stubborn...too brave to even consider it.' He drank again, 'I wasn't tied down by such things.' 'Well, you don't seem like the bad so-' 'I think...' Aulus suddenly said, 'I think I might have betrayed him. A little.' 'Betrayed who?' Ramfrey asked. Aulus looked at the big man before shaking his head. 'Nah, it's nothin', big guy.' The two sat and drank in silence for some time, Aulus lost in thought and Ramfrey watching him.
'You know, I know people here. I'm sure you have skills that some would pay a pretty penny for.' Aulus looked up at Ramfrey, his eyes slightly unfocused. 'What? You mean work?' Ramfrey nodded. Aulus scoffed. 'I've not worked a day in me life. Not gonna start now, good sir knight!' Ramfrey shrugged and got up. 'Well, if ya change your mind you can find me at-' 'Woah woah, keep your breeches on. Sit down and tell me what this work is. Plus, you still haven't told me about that beautiful lady of yours,' Ramfrey chuckled and shook his before sitting back down and leaning in. His face very suddenly became serious. 'Don't you mock my lady, do you understand me?' there was a rather dangerous glint in his steel blue eyes that took Aulus off guard. 'I'm not moc-' 'Don't do it,' Ramfrey repeated. Aulus raised his hands in surrender. 'I won't. I didn't. I mean, I didn't see much with that cloak o' hers up, but what I saw was beautiful - I am not mocking.' Ramfrey nodded slowly in understanding. 'Ah, I apologise if I came across as terse. I forgot that she had her hood up.' Aulus frowned slightly. 'Is...is she alright under there?' Ramfrey looked at Aulus with slight suspicion. 'You will understand if I refuse to speak anymore about my lady. You will do well to ask no questions.' Aulus nodded quickly and took another drink from his flagon. 'Tha's alright. We all have our secrets. What kind of work is it you're talking about?'
'One of my...colleagues is looking for a quick lad. Needs to know how to hide some. Needs to know how to run away.' Aulus smirked and looked around the tavern before looking back at Ramfrey. 'If you want a man who knows how to run away, then you've got your man.' Ramfrey leaned in close. 'Needs to to know how to keep his mouth shut too.' Aulus fumbled for words at this, a slightly guilty look in his eyes. 'Uh, well. Maybe not so great at that. But always a first time.' Ramfrey gave him a cold look, 'alright alright, I'll keep me mouth shut. Won't talk a word about anything to anyone.' 'Good. Tomorrow I'll pass by the docks just after midday. When you see me, follow me real. Make sure no one sees you following me. Make sure no one follows you, got it?' Aulus nodded. 'Well you're a bloody oaf if I ever saw one!' Ramfrey suddenly said, rather loudly, 'you promished me three drinks dammit!' Aulus hesitated but quickly got the gist of what was happening. 'Shaddup ya big oaf, ah beatcha fair an' square is yous should be gettin me drinks!'
Seeing a clear tavern fight in the making, one of the inn's guards grabbed Aulus by the scruff of the neck and roughly escorted Aulus - shouting about his promised ale - out of the inn. Throwing him into a nearby alley, the guard gave the tramp a kick for good luck before getting back indoors. 'Didn' have ta kick me dammit,' Aulus groaned as he rubbed his sore butt.
@Antarctic Termite Gah, I was only reading over the page where you told us all about your misadventures a few days ago. I remember something about you getting stranded...getting chased by ostriches...alien invasion...kangaroos...a few emus...and a koala bear
BBeast
Lord Zee
DracoLunaris
Frettzo
Cyclone
Vec
Torack
