MacabreFox

The Scrolls of Aerusya - The Throne of Evil

I never mentioned anything about Sid having magical abilities ;) ssshhh. Barking during a chaotic situation like this, why that's just his way of helping.

The Scrolls of Aerusya - The Throne of Evil

Rtron, it was really heartwarming to read something about Zal and Sid. Since the site went down, I thought that we would lose this RP, and now that you've posted, and so has everyone else, it feels like things are getting back to normal (:

By the way, I really love Sid's support system.

The Reathfables (MacabreFox and Mercenary Lord)

"Ah, but a name of infamy." A sad smile graced her lips at Asher's reply. As he moved to join her by the fire she turned her face towards him and patted the floor beside her. He spoke with bitterness in his voice as he compared their differences again. She could feel the irritation in his words but she brushed them away, it was best not to trouble herself with petty issues.

"Ah, so that was your doing then? When I arrived here, I sensed the tension. I wasn't certain as to what events I had missed." She smiled at his mention of possessing morals and standards. As if that would bother her. Proceeding on, Johanna began to explain to Asher what she planned in Enrimor.

"For now, I seek refuge there. My life has been threatened, and I'm trying to leave here before someone puts a knife in me during my sleep. As for when I get there...I cannot say. I would hope that the circumstances would allow me to continue plying my trade as an artisan." Now that she had answered his question, Johanna wanted to ask him about something he had earlier mentioned.

"By good humor, I simply meant for you to keep my company. However, that is not important. Tell me, what is it you seek? Why is it that the influx of people makes your job more difficult? Are you a bounty hunter? Why would you even bother coming to Sevitel at a time likes this?" She hoped that one of the questions would inspire a conversation between them.

The Reathfables (MacabreFox and Mercenary Lord)

His words dug into her like poison. She felt as if she had over stepped her boundaries. Attempting to correct her bad humor, she apologized sincerely. "Forgive me Asher, I am weary from travel. I have come a long way from Ciola. If you are not aware, Ciola is our capital city. That is where I resided a mere fortnight ago. I flee to Enrimor in search of relief from this dreaded war. I have lost everything, my home, my brothers and my trade."

She paused, turning to look into the fire as she did so. Moments passed before she blinked, bringing herself back to reality. "I merely wish to warm myself by this fire without trouble nor harassment, lest you desire to share the warmth of this fire as well, I would hope that you could provide me with good humors, for a night like this." Her manners towards Asher were unnecessary, any woman of noble birth would reconcile the situation. Besides, she enjoyed conversating with new people. It provided her with a sense of knowing which then made her feel full of the desire to adventure. The trait she possessed was a common one amongst the Valerivicus.

His sarcasm had caught her attention earlier when he implied their upbringings were different. She smiled at the recollection of his words and mumbled quietly, "My family seems to brought it upon themselves through their poor guidance with their finances. You do not carry the shame that the Valerivicus surname carries here in Sevitel."

The Reathfables (MacabreFox and Mercenary Lord)

A long silence ensued as they sat observing each other. The man had introduced himself as Asher Thyne after he shook her hand. She rose up from her position on the bed, but he posed a question to her that caught her attention. Johanna's hazel eyes looked directly at him, unashamed of such boldness. Slowly, her right eyebrow began to arch as the other one sank. She crossed her arms about her chest and gave him a hard stare.

"My family lost their money a century ago." She bitterly answered Asher. To be truthful, Johanna was particularly grumpy. Her body ached from the chill of the night air, and her hips were especially sore. The saddle that Serwyn wore was constructed for Thalien, not Johanna. It was broader and stiffer in build, a saddle meant for a man. She moved towards the fireplace and knelt beside it. The room came stocked with a small supply of firewood that would keep them warm for the rest of the night. Placing three of the logs in the fire pit, Johanna drew out her dagger from within another fold of cloth. Hanging beside the fireplace on a hook was a fire striker, or known as a flint-block. Dry twigs, and dead moss were already present in the pit as fresh tinder, as well as large coals left over from the previous fire.

Johanna went about starting the fire in silence, and only until a flame caught the dry tinder did she speak again to Asher. "What of you?" She said as she dusted off her hands on the front of her dress, glancing at him over her shoulder. Remaining in a kneeling position by the fire, Johanna followed up with another question, "What of your family? I've not heard of any Thyne's living in Sevitel." While speaking, Johanna's harsh voice softened, not out of comfort or any particular gentle feelings, but rather out of tiredness.

The Reathfables (MacabreFox and Mercenary Lord)

A long silence ensued as they sat observing each other. The man had introduced himself as Asher Thyne after he shook her hand. She rose up from her position on the bed, but he posed a question to her that caught her attention. Johanna's hazel eyes looked directly at him, unashamed of such boldness. Slowly, her right eyebrow began to arch as the other one sank. She crossed her arms about her chest and gave him a hard stare.

"My family lost their money a century ago." She bitterly answered Asher. To be truthful, Johanna was particularly grumpy. Her body ached from the chill of the night air, and her hips were especially sore. The saddle that Serwyn wore was constructed for Thalien, not Johanna. It was broader and stiffer in build, a saddle meant for a man. She moved towards the fireplace and knelt beside it. The room came stocked with a small supply of firewood that would keep them warm for the rest of the night. Placing three of the logs in the fire pit, Johanna drew out her dagger from within another fold of cloth. Hanging beside the fireplace on a hook was a fire striker, or known as a flint-block. Dry twigs, and dead moss were already present in the pit as fresh tinder, as well as large coals left over from the previous fire.

Johanna went about starting the fire in silence, and only until a flame caught the dry tinder did she speak again to Asher. "What of you?" She said as she dusted off her hands on the front of her dress, glancing at him over her shoulder. Remaining in a kneeling position by the fire, Johanna followed up with another question, "What of your family? I've not heard of any Thyne's living in Sevitel." While speaking, Johanna's harsh voice softened, not out of comfort or any particular gentle feelings, but rather out of tiredness.

The Reathfables (MacabreFox and Mercenary Lord)

Three years ago, Johanna worked without much confliction in her shop, The Red Palace in Ciola, the capital city of Sevitel. That was three years ago. Crowne Princess Athelia Talone-Asici ascended the throne after her late father, King Altyr. She became Queen after his passing, and that is when the civil war began.

Thomas Prevot served under Altyr as his High Chancellor while Altyr ruled Sevitel. Both Altyr and Thomas cooperated with one another, Thomas felt that he could help the King and the people of Sevitel, and he did. Many laws, laws that were fair and promoted equality were passed under Altyr's rule. However, one law had not passed. Athelia had proposed the law, it allowed women to exit marriages without consequences or fear of persecution. The law would allow them to inherit their husband's land, as long as she had children, could she inherit the land. The law currently in place bans women from inheriting the land on which their husband owned, and would be passed onto to the next male in the husband's family.

Upon hearing Athelia's request at the proposal of the law, Altyr believed his daughter to be too young to understand politics. Women's interests should focus on the domestic life, not the political. Thomas agreed readily with his king, if women were granted such power, they wouldn't even know how to handle it. Before Athelia's proposal, Thomas viewed Athelia as a beautiful woman, educated and even charismatic. He respected her, and carried on polite conversations, or even debates about domestic situations with the younger Athelia. Yet when she made the proposal for her father to pass the edict, Thomas began to view her as a threat. If she could think of something as liberal at that, surely other thoughts like that would grow within her mind. Athelia was capable of upsetting the balance in Sevitel.

And she did.

Fourteen months into her reign, Thomas began to speak out against Athelia. He did it quietly though. By paying young men, early in their youths, large amounts of coin to spread the word of Athelia destroying Sevitian traditions and society. These youths brought large crowds, and they targeted the poorer areas of Sevitel, in the slums where the commoners lived and work. It began to spread like an infectious disease, the people were moved by suggestion alone. Ten months later, a riot took place in the capital city. Hired thugs from other provinces hired by Thomas and angry townspeople filled the White-stone district in Ciola. Buildings were razed and vandalized. Two-hundred and sixty-four people were slaughtered. The White-stone district housed the wealthier merchants and traders.

Johanna lived in the lower district where the commoners and lower-income traders resided. She chose the location on purpose. When word began to spread in her section about the riot, she begged Thalien and Chezaré to stay with her for the night. They relented after many hours of her prolonged begging. Thalien's shop was raided, the windows were smashed and looted. Thankfully he kept a safe that was too large, and too intricate to move nor pick. The safe contained the most valuable jewels of his merchandise.

Chezaré lived in the elegant Polished Shield Inn, board was granted to him for free due to his royal position. The inn burned down during the riot as villagers took torches to the wooden insides of the structure.

After the riot took place, it took about two months before reports of commoners raiding houses of the noble and slaughtering them without mercy. This was all Thomas' doing, he fed the fire. Johanna became aware that there were people following her home at night from her shop. One night, a man had grabbed her and pulled her into a dark alleyway. She scuffled with him for a short time before slipping out of his grip.

A week after the incident in the alleyway, Johanna asked Thalien to escort her home each night. She didn't feel safe venturing out after dark alone.

A month had passed, and Johanna could feel her nerves calming from the anxiety of the attack in the alley. That lasted until she found a piece of paper tacked to her shopfront door: Feeble Wench, I'll cut thee wide. That was two weeks ago. After receiving the note, Johanna went to Thalien and asked him to loan his steed to her so that she may flee Sevitel for the safety of Enrimor who had welcomed their doors to refugees.

---

'That was two weeks ago...' Thought Johanna as she rode Serwyn in the dark through a large clearing. Farther up the path, she could see the lights of an inn. The thought of resting her weary travelled body appealed to Johanna. As she drew nearer to the inn, Johanna became aware of the swarming group of refugees that slept outside, and from what she could tell, in the stables as well.
'Not again...' Johanna grumbled to herself when she dismounted. A young boy, no older than twelve approached her.

"Miss, may I take your horse?" The boy was covered in dirt with disheveled hair and a worn red tunic.

"Are you the stable boy?" Johanna asked in a flat, and harsh tone. He flinched at her sharp words but nodded readily.

"I'm my father's boy, miss." He pointed a hooked thumb over his shoulder, indictating that his father was either the barkeep or the owner of the inn. It mattered not to her. She handed the leather reins over to him and slipped a copper pence into his palm as she did so. He clenched the piece hard, and looked up at Johanna in astonishment. Winking at the lad, she brushed past him and stepped into the tavern.

The inn was overcrowded, a patron filled every available chair, and some were forced to stand. The smell of tobacco and roasting meat filled the air. She found her way to the bar and took a seat upon the stool. The atmosphere seemed to be swimming with tension. Glancing about her, she could tell that something hostile had occurred moments before her entry. The barkeep had his back to her as he filled mug after mug full of ale. When he turned she grabbed him by the elbow, forcing his attention on her.

"Ay, miss. What do you think you're doin'?" His brow began to knit together in annoyance. With her free hand, Johanna reached into her coin purse that was hidden in a fold of her dress. She slid two gold coins across the hewn tabletop.

"Give me a room." She demanded, and none too politely either. At first, the barkeep stared her down in growing anger before setting down one mug of ale to free his hands. He reached under the counter top and slid her an iron key.

"Here's your room. House is at full capacity, no more complainin' lest I throw thee out." With that, he picked up the mug he had set down and disappeared into the throng of people.

Standing outside the room that was hers for the night, Johanna slid the key into the lock and opened the door. Upon opening the door, Johanna started in surprise. There was a man in her room. Seconds passed before Johanna moved into the room, and set her satchel upon the unoccupied bed. Then, she took a seat on the bed, and stared at the man that sat upon the other bed, as if she were studying him. He had dark hair and a goatee of sorts, along with dark eyes.

Suddenly, Johanna extended her hand towards him and spoke, "Name's Johanna. Touch me, and I'll stick a blade in your throat."

The Reathfables (MacabreFox and Mercenary Lord)

Name: Johanna Valerivicus
Age: 24
Gender: Female

Background: The Valerivicus’ once belonged to the higher ranks of Sevitel, they once belonged to the groups of nobles, the inner circles where the wealth of those most noble and royal were set out to be enjoyed. The Valerivicus rode in carriages gilded with silver and gold, and drawn by steeds of pure white. But that was long ago, over a century and a half. Now the Valerivicus are but a poor family of merchants, and Johanna is amongst them.

Johanna’s brothers Chezaré and Thalien are trying to regain their family nobility. Chezaré works under Queen Athelia Talone-Asicci. He makes a meagre living, despite the noble title.

As for Thalien, he is a jeweller. When Johanna turned 14, Thalien asked their mother to send Johanna to him so that he could teach her a trade in which she may support herself in the future if she couldn’t settle with a husband. Although Chezaré is older (34), Thalien (29) makes far more coin than his older brother. He taught Johanna how to identify precious gems and stones, and how to set them for jewellery.

But this is not about her brothers, this background. This about Johanna. So allow me to tell you her life:

Johanna grew up in a cold and dark home. Her family resided in Valerivicus Hall, built four-hundred years ago by Lord Fredrick Valerivicus. The domain which she called home was a two-story stone manor that was hidden away in the backwoods of Sevitel. Valerivicus Hall is located 25 miles south of a small hamlet called, Tyrim. With its large, expansive rooms, Johanna often wandered the halls in her childhood, roaming from one abandoned room to another. Why were the rooms abandoned, you may ask? Over the last two hundred years, the Valerivicus have fallen from their high status in society as nobles. They were prosperous traders, and eventually became respectful merchants. Over the years, the Valerivicus worked their way to the top, which they accomplished in forty years after the hall was built. The family was known for their extravagant and lucrative behaviours. They were the talk of Sevitel in all inner, and private circles.

The women in the family were known for their grace, beauty and knowledge in the arts. The men? They were rambunctious and wild, infamous for those late midnight frolics in the meadow with the farmer’s daughter. Much ale, and spiced wine was consumed during feasts and parties. For a while, the Valerivicus were in charge of the annual Hunt that took place in Tyrim. To be married to a Valerivicus was highly desired amongst both the men and women in Sevitel. Many suitors came to ask for the hands of the Valerivicus offspring.

One could say that over time the Valerivicus became prideful, rude and slovenly in their manners. Money could buy everything right? Wrong. The family itself became corrupt, gambling away their land, their money as if it were infinite. When it did run out, it was too late for them to recover any of their losses. They began to sell off more of their belongings, trying to pull themselves out of debt. They sold their dressers, rugs, mounted trophy heads, even several pieces of the family crest set.

That is why those rooms were empty. By the time Johanna had come into the world, the Valerivicus were nothing more than once-noble people trying to make a living like they had four hundred years earlier. Johanna was brought up like the other Valerivicus women, educated, full of grace and etiquette. However, Johanna despises such necessities. Some would consider her to be rude, or abrasive in the noble life of Sevitel. Johanna chooses to openly debate with men and women, even with her superiors. She is extremely defiant and stubborn.

However there was one person that Johanna respects and refuses to disobey. That person? Her aunt, Esme. She is a refined woman, someone to be revered. Esme lived with Johanna for many years until Thalien was able to purchase her, her own personal abode. But while Esme lived with Johanna and her family, Esme offered the only relief for Johanna. Late at night when the wind howling against the window panes frightened Johanna, Esme would come sing her to sleep. She read to Johanna, and encouraged her always to think. Think opposite of what the sheep do. Johanna had no idea what that saying meant at the time, but as the years wore on, Johanna began to understand. In order to break away from the flock, Johanna had to open her mind and think different, approach situations and ideas from different angles.

It was Esme who instilled in Johanna her talent for crafting. It had started when Johanna asked Esme to teach her how to weave. From there, Johanna expanded her talent. She learned how to make jewellery, sew clothing, embroider. Johanna could even craft a chair, hard labour doesn’t scare her. She embraces it readily.

The Scrolls of Aerusya - The Throne of Evil

Providence, Nightwing is right! That was beautiful (:

The Scrolls of Aerusya - The Throne of Evil

DDD: That is just the worst luck :/ I hope nothing else goes awry.