PrinceAlexus

Empire of the Clouds

Hamerlins time aboard was defined by general duty, he had spent many months at sea and the routine helped especially as the shocks and impact on people would show itself once the short term rush of survival ended. This was normal for him at least, he clung to that one normal fact of life as he manned the bridge, checking the course and helping out with small tasks such as taking over the wheel when the helmsman needed to go to the head, fetching coffee or checking the maps and routine checks on their progress..

He had spent his down hours waiting teaching a few basics of chart reading and how to check that they had not drifted when he needed to sleep, he needed rest as any man, more than he used to as well. He could not teach anyone to be able to do anything too advanced so soon but making sure they least in the direction they meant to be going was progress. it made him feel for once, useful in a way he had not felt since he had to leave the service due to war injuries.

He took his meals in the dining area, its simple metal tables, polished smooth steel, where so very military and far unlike what this airship was planned for. It's history was visible where you could see where they would have hung fine art works, niches for plants and statues, or pottery. Instead they had a simple collection of generic posters, a niche housed a brewing vessel and a second used to store the basic and functional mugs.

“History. Look up not down” He remembered, people were lazy and this was refitted in hurry most likely so he saw a element of decorative trim that hung on, the drab military paint where the bright and cheerful Civilian colours shone through just in a corner where a soldier had left it to likely go to the bar instead of doing a perfect job.

He took a coffee like he had chosen to do several times and sat on an ammo crate outside, he needed the air, the open space and time to think. He felt the weight of his weapon, he saw his stained sea knife when he went to bed.

He had found an unused space, this airship had many, a few boxes of what turned out to be heavy yet surplus to use for now, engraved metal items probably for the crew in detailed font the airships number. He lifted it, he used it as a gym, his muscles burned, his fingers hurt, his artificial fingers dug into his flesh but he needed this. He worked, he least had to try to regain some of his strength, to be better able to serve. Even a small advantage as narrow as a razor was something.

On that thought as he felt his stubble as he watched, he had no shaving kit.. maybe there be one he could scavenge aboard or he would be like the crews of old Favain Navy, beards as water was luxurious, shaving was a waste unless close to shore.

Maybe he had it right, his ancestors would approve, he hoped, even if his father would have said he looked like his Grandfather's portrait over the fire. Navy might be in a ship of the air, but he would honour his name, his Oath and do his best in hard times.

And.. that scarily. Felt like he was living again.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Daphne

Crime scene

Amazon Action time.

Daphne held her nerve and held down her desire to stab the man with something sharp and pointy as she walked with a sword in one hand and keeping her second free for now, she shook her head and moved with the group resisting the urge to grind her teeth as Ayel talked…or just existed in her vicinity.

He talked, much as she agreed this was also a mixed settlement of nations, living, blight and people from many backgrounds. Could he stop causing potential civil wars and conflict for all the guards to keep the peace. It was enough work without more trouble and there barely really was enough of them with having to guard 3 gates, royals, town and more.

“We have enough work Right now, One problem at a time, we don't need you turning everyone against us and each other.” Daphne said as she stalked away to make the most distance she could from the over zealous and arrogant lord. Daphne kept her voice low enough to hear but did not want to give everything away to the potential attacker out in the dark.

“He gonna cause me more work. Be careful, he's gonna alert everyone in half a mile.” Daphne grumbled quietly to Nathanial as they walked to the site, glancing from side to side carefully as she tried to keep a eye where she was, what going on and how best to survive the situation. Much as he was annoyed he was right about it being dangerous that lord peacock.

They moved freely though, little was in their path, people and others until they reached the site where the priestess of the Temple was there, Daphne noted the dagger that bore her master's sigil and sign of his office.

She approached the Prince, her eyes about and keeping more of her attention away from his face but their surroundings though not out of any disrespect but simple prudent survival. She could not trust the threat was gone. Daphne was quick, quiet, and "M'lord. Much as this looks bad, She is a priestess of Selene, she is not bloody like she would be, this man's wounds are not human caused. I respect that he is your… friend. but i was raised by the sisters of selene, they are not the warmest orphanage but no monsters.” Daphne Cadian accent thickened and her eyes almost began to glow if you believed that at the insult a light of violet hidden behind in her eyes. Daphne was not in a good mood and the short sword at her side twitched.

Daphne gave a shudder at the bite marks and vicious damage to the poor guards head, whatever it was did severe damage. No human could do that… even a raving mad woman, she was no witch, that was Lunarian magic, cold yes but not evil.

“How is Lord Coswain? Where did he go Priestess, does he have the trail of the Princess or our foe, he left you his token I see Priestess. I am his squire, Daphne. I hope Lady Persephone is safe, we might have need of her skills.” Daphne warmed to the woman and blocked lord Ayel of whatever and her so he could not hurt the priestess. She was no zelot or the best and most devoted of the followers of Selene but Daphne did have a deep respect for the church that raised an Orphan, fed her and kept her alive till she could set out on her own.

Daphne knew well as anyone, Lord Coswain could handle himself and manage alone but that was not ideal and I'd she could get to him, to know he was safe, that would be good. If she knew him well as she did he would be headed right to the Princess or foe, whoever came first.

She would not start a fight but she would end one if need be. She looked about the scene and made a quick gesture of Selene with her free hand for the fallen guard, and the representative of the church. She did not look too closely at the body or its bloody wounds, her stomach was not weak but the ferocity, and so of the attack was not for faint hearted. “Your Duty is done, rest easy Soldier of the guard of the Lords of the Moon” She said solely and respectfully.

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Realms of Sun & Shadow

Syraeia Leela “Sy-a” Inn Keeper

Dawn Haven _ Town Square edge

Escorting the Snakeness to her tower lair and ADHD adventures.

Now with 50% more blood alcohol content.
Sloshed snakes can slither too

Sya let herself be escorted away from the post Office where things got busier reaching the centre of the town, a few looked at the pair in surprise but most had got well used to Blightborn who called the town home. Maybe it was the blightborn being escorted by Orion like a lady of a noble house as they walked to the eye of the Beholder.

She giggled at the comment about having to draw straws to share time with her, that certainly would be a rather strange and fun turn of events to have such desire for her affections. “A snakness In her tower as a noble Knight and a dark and mysterious woman cloaked and hooded both desire her hand.” Sya said oh so dramatically though the mirth and humour ever present on her features, something Sya could never easily hide. “Where's the dragon? My tower needs a dragon.” Sya asked with a look and a fresh giggle and mirthful flick of her ever present tail.

They moved through, Sya felt snow rest on the previously mentioned serpentine limb and glanced over her shoulder to see how deep blue and snow combined into a glittery star light effect. It really was quite beautiful. “M'Lord Onion, how kind of you to escort me to thy lair” Sya said with evident tone of flirtation and a flash of the woman who cuddled in front a cottage, drawing on her partner's lap and playfully exchanged kisses at sunset after hard afternoons work.

They made their way quietly in an companaible mood, Sya felt comfortable as they walked, slithered in her case across the town and it did not feel forced. Sya would definitely consider Orion a friend after this, he did not have to escort her home or play alone with her broken nature but he did and he seemed at ease with her. If life was not so crazy, the snow, the eternal night and being both considered monsters by many, it would all be rather romantic.

She pulled him softly to a halt with a small tug on his arm from her small frame, she looked at him with a thought of concentration and unable to match complex thought and movement at same time due to her sheer inhibitions by alcohol. Sya looked steady but she was fully and definitely not sober. People sometimes thought Sya was just the woman who served ales and stew but she was a very attentive host, intelligent and was a woman who rarely missed events about her. The gossip she got was pretty juice too, she, Vala, Becky and so where rather well informed.

“Mookay” Sya said as she garbled words, definitely drunk but she would give him her understanding. “So… Kira, for a kiss from a handsome prince Onion” She giggled, swayed and steadied herself as they were on the edge of the town square watching the gathering people about fires for warmth. “Kira, I was too much… she not used to people's kindness, she a egg, but the egg must be cooked slowly to ssssoften the sasshell” Sya said with a drunken honesty and no thong held back. “She had to be a lone egg, to make her shell hard to protect her Yolk from bad spoons, she needs time to heal her yolk” Sya said without thinking too hard running on her intuitive thoughts.

“She needs time, space to heal, it's scary for her.it was for me when i first came here.” She said caringly and with a look she paused and reached to hold Orion's other hand to get his full attention sliding her small fingers into his larger grip and looked at him with that strangely blue eye of hers, that seemed to see through into people rather than just at them when she tried.

“Orion, we all had to heal.” She ruined her flow with a hic and a giggle but carried on regardless. “I never was alone, I always had a box, a partner, 10 summers, a family, so my egg fitted better, my … was the loneliest time of my life, I lost everything, my heart arched, my feet hurt, I was a monster in a gutter.. under a stolen ruin. I do not know how long Kira spent under such spoons, But her shell and yolk will heal at her pace, like your rather handsome shell and kind yolk.” Sya said with all the quirks of Sya but no shame, Sya was Sya deep to her Yolk.

Her look turned almost to scan Orion and squeezed his hand a little. “You. Curious.” Sya said softly with a gentle hiss and mulled her words. “You seem like me. In a way, something hurt us, we trying to find our place, Your Your yolk…is blurred… I cannot read it… Yet anyway. Give me more time to peel your onion layers.” Sya said like it was entirely normal thing and swayed naturally, cheeky and poking his foot with a gentle tail nudge.

Sya was overly bold, she had the desire to thank him, but she did not know how, Sya brain demanded she thank him and her impulse control right now was… badly compromised to say the least. Sya mind ran through a few interesting areas and least one that ended up in her tower and ripping his shirt off with tail. That would not end well.

She leaned up shakily and kissed his cheek, closing her big blue eye and wrapping her tail partly about his legs as a form of balance. She gave him a cute blush and so and backed down with a little smirk of mischief spotting the lipstick mark she left that she tried to hide.

Her new found status and confidence she had started to wear makeup again, dress nicely and be more proactively confident again.

She was reluctant to let go, Sya dropped her tail back behind her but her fingers lingered, she had joyed and found the little human touch addictive, it had been a thing she never realised how much she had valued until she lost it.

would it be soooo bad to not let go.. Syas little thought ran through her brain's quiet corner was having its own whole internal debate.

“Not sorry” She said with a very Sya moment though her body implied there was a lot more going on in the Lamias brain.

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Realms of Sun & Shadow

Lord and lady Coswain

The Moon Temple & Attack site

Adonis Coswain stalked forward away from the body and kept his guard up, the Paladins blade rare metal glittering in the light with faded gold gilding as darkness grew deeper on the side streets. He moved with purpose but carefully alert every sound as he advanced following the signs. There were marks in snow and signs of panic but that could be another running Civilian, or the party ..he had to just hope he chose the right path. Selene guide him, he needed to locate the Princess now… quickly.

A feeling prickled the back of his neck as he felt, he felt something but had no idea why he felt so doubled his alertness. Keeping the wide blade in a defensive posture, hunting alone went against all his training but he had no choice, no backup and Persephone would not be up to much for the rest of the day for the most likely, someone had To watch the body and younger guard was unsure if he was for for duty due to his mental effects of the attack.

“Lance Command. Dagmars Bane. Anyone out there” He resorted to an old call out, maybe it worked. Maybe it not, they would least respond. He had no real plan, Daphne had been at the inn and Hector was off enjoying some down time at the main camp as well as trading his skills for ale and coins.

“Call out” he said, unwilling to be surprised and accidentally attack a Civilian who was sneaking about or hiding. This was far from first time he had persuaded Blightborn thought ruined towns, a thing that crawled up walls on spider limbs and jumped over gaps, A Feral beast in a valley saving an over confident guardsman from self, and particularly challenging and almost lethal battle to himself matching blades alone with 4 sets of arms, multiple weapons and 3 eyes. That has been close as the blade of a razor as he chose to deflect, dodge or turn lesser strikes against his armour plates for several minutes. That fiend had stalked and killed for over a month till they came to take it down and cornered it in the empty streets of a former caravan stop that had not seen use in decades and hunted it inside its own lair but not without losses. It has been a rather crude method that won his survival, smashing it's head with a metal helmet till it stopped twitching.

His mind flashed back to Events it might find useful and none of those really helped bar remind him how dangerous the situation was. Selene protect me, this is fraked… I have to protect her. He thought as he hoped the Temple would protect his wife as guide him.

Pausing and closing his eyes for a short second he made a tiny prayer, he had no time for a formal such version. A soldier's prayer, and onwards.

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Realms of Sun & Shadow

Syraeia Leela “Sy-a” Inn Keeper

Dawn Haven _ Post Office

Escorting the Snakeness to her tower lair and ADHD adventures.

Now with 50% more blood alcohol content.
Sloshed snakes can slither too

Sya slithered through the snowy streets on orion's arm with an surprisingly high level of comfort as the other blightborn walked at her pace. She was a little slower and made a concentrating look as she tried to keep her balance centered. Sya was quiet as she thought and was lost in her own wandering mind for a few minutes as they left the baths towards the town.

She spoke up looking thoughtful and smiled, Becky was a gold egg and the woman had taken over the bakery with a force and made it her own, Sya was not upset and happy as long as they moved in the same direction with the buxom brunette. “Becky will forgive me, I'm giving her my good boots and long skirts… not fit me, alterations, but she needs a good pair to keep warm with snow coming. warm feet, healthy people.” Sya said having taken her changes in a way only the somewhat unable in keeper could manage to carry on and face her challenges.

Drunk Sya rambled more than normal as she had taken her time to process Orions words, and his support. The Eye had become a small community of sorts among the Staff and she never realised it before, it kind of was like being hit by a breeze as you walked out the door. “That. Makes ssssene…” Sya said with a curious thoughtful look as she made her way past houses and the quiet noise of the town built up. She mentally tried to control her more snake instinct as her tails tip left playful marks on the snow behind her as she moved. “None of them quit you know, even with me… they stayed, I was… it was nice.” Sya admitted to being a little shy but touched by their choice. “Becky and Vala are light sent, I'm not sure how I'd manage without them." Sya feelings where… she was not sure but it did not feel bad.

Sya smiled genuinely, she did think thr Prince tried and imagined his stress was quite excessive for him to be under, running the Inn was enough yet alone a town. “He should have taken some of my Sssshine, it is rather Good, you should try some onion….Orion, onion? Orion. Not much like it at all.” Sya said, seeing the post Office and pulling him over to it with a light tug of her and a flick of her tail, timed to a rather impressive level of synchronicity.

“Sssso I tell her, where is a gentleman taking me on a date, and defending my honour from a foul curr? Or Kira too, i can share… if i get my cuddle time.” Sya teased and her expression turned entirely to mischief but it had broken her darker funk and she was more like the woman who had managed to get townspeople to trust one they viewed before as a monster. Maybe she teased….maybe she did not, Sya was a mental ADHD mystery of a Lamia.

Sya had already pushed a door open and without a pause or chance to pause gone straight to the counter with a degree of confidence and with no chance of not getting her outcome. “Good day post masterI need paper, ink, and a local Runner, charge to the Eye of Beholder, Business Account 01.” Sya said with skipping a beat and and wrote.

Sya composed the letter in her head, her thoughts rapidly flowing and random jumble of a mess. Though she began to place them in order as she lay luxuriating in the hot water earlier.

Letter

“Dear Eris.

I hope you are safe and well, I am a little drunk so forgive my writing. I am still getting used to my changes that I have been forced to face, but my staff have npt quit even if a tripped becky over with my tail, I owe her my boots.

I hope you are still my friend and a good egg, your always welcome at the Eye. I have completed the renovations and have a lovely 2 story snug in my quarters perfect for a comfortable Tea and light meal. Dawn Haven would be a darker place without your presence in my roof and friendship.

You're welcome to drop by, please let Vala or Becky know to find me if I'm not about! You must try our sweet treats! Tell them what …tea? You like tea right? I have tea somewhere…

We have started our bakery with Becky helping us and brewing my own distillery, Shine of Selene, my own recipe from home. The Opening day seems to be going well, we were busy today. It's rather potent and I'm being escorted home by Onni…Orion, he is quite muscular. Steak that one! Kira is nice, though she is more reserved. Lord thingy pain in my tail tried, but they sent him away and they good eggs now and protected me.

Stay warm.

Your slithery friend.
Sya. “

….

Her letter was signed with a wavy signature and had the odd blot and blob from her wet coat and her emotions she poured into the letter and folded it neatly taking a small wax stamp sealing with “Eris Hightower, Lady Sage.” in her somewhat messy yet readable hand.

The letter was random as Sya was and true to her nature, her somewhat strange yet endearing nature. She handed the letter to the tray marked post local outgoing. She reached out an arm for Orion to take and head to the Eye of the Beholder with the confidence of a noble lady asking a gentleman to dance at a ball. "Send it today please if possible, a reliabe runner, il pay the fee for courier on my account. " She said to the post master politely.

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585

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Realms of Sun & Shadow

Lord and lady Coswain

The Moon Temple & Attack site

Adonis Coswain mind ran forming a attentive plan as everything seemed to change around him, multiple challenges and several conflicting plans. He ran a few quick plans through his head rapidly as he watched the two. He looked to the Priestess and the guard, the dead body. They all had good points and things that made sense. Someone was needed on guard but the Princess could not fail her protection.

He nodded, she was Lunarian so no wonder she was prepared and armed, even discreetly. The world was harsh and you had to be prepared, even a priestess. She likely was perfectly skilled and Able to handle herself far more than anyone else imagined. “You Both have solid points. take this, it should show my support for you. Just give it to me later.” Adonis said with a nod of understanding, Lord Ayel could be an utter nightmare. He Handed her his dagger, engaged with his own name, and sigil that marker the bearer as being part of the Royal Guard under the Lord Marshals Command. “If they challenge that, I'll get you out myself. You have my trust.”

“You can stay if you're not in a state to head off, I'm going to try and locate the Princess. Lord Ayel is a…. Utter pain, Try to not kill him… it would be messy for me to bail you out. I entrust the priestess, to your protection if you so choose and by extension my wife Persephone. You matter more than that peacock.” Coswain decided, if he was not up to everything , make the man feel useful and give himma duty, something to keep his pride.

He found that the best middle ground to everything that could work, as far as plans go, was the best quick plan he would assemble in the heat of the moment. If he failed to locate Princess quickly he would seek more aid. That sounded like a working idea.

He gave them a look as he turned, if anyone wanted to disagree now was the time, he was not their direct commander, nore a high priest.

He just was the elder, he bit down his thoughts to leave the dead behind, he had left plenty of dead behind in bloody siege assaults climbing over his own dead and dying. Leaving a dead body behind was not a major concern for Lord Coswain.

He began to search.

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