Stone Crest, as it always has been, was an extremely large area of Ebonfort. The village of Stone Crest was mostly embedded within the mountain ranges. The patrol radius felt even larger than the mountain itself. One such patrol consisted of a a small squad of 3 knights. "Ugh, I'm so tired of this. I kind of wish something would happen." sighed one of the knights, scratching his thick brown hair as he yawned. One of the knights, a drow, slapped the human on the back of the head, making their helmet shift forward over their vision. "Don't wish for such silly things. You'll start wishing to go home like a crybaby, should something arise. He hissed in response, his hand holding onto the pommel of his longsword. "Oh come now, boys. No need to fret so much. It's far too cold for anyone to want to walk about like we have to.", the female Katzheer chuckled.
All three of the knights wanted to just go home and have a hot mug of coffee or a good pint of ale to warm themselves, but they had no such luxuries out on patrol nor were they allowed to come back until around sunset, whenever that was. It was indeed quite cold. It had just snowed again recently, the meadows and fields covered in enough snow to leave a solid footprint in.
Their patrol route lead them to a point in Stone Crest where it was known for foreigners to travel through. The path in was treacherous, but it was still possible to pass through with the right equipment or skill. The three knights stopped at this point, as per their instructions. They were to apprehend and question any foreigners that were to come through this point, however the odds of seeing anyone here at this time of year was very rare due to the cold and harsh weather.
The human shivered a little as he yawned again, "Nobody's gonna come through here, can we just cut the routine a little shorter?" he whined. He'd been at this point at least 5 times in the past few days and had seen no one. "We are to remain here for 1 stretch. It's not that long if you don't complain about it.", the drow replied sternly. Meanwhile, the Katzheer had already started to make miniature snowmen near the road as to distract herself.
She found some solace in the Moon Fey's embrace, she hadn't been held like this in a long time, and it reminded her of her childhood, feeling almost the same as when her mother used to hold her to calm her down. Her fine tuned hearing could sense hints of distress in her friend's voice as she had heard whilst writing.
She nodded slightly as Rilana reassured her and told her that she was braver than most. She didn't believe those words, but she felt her spirit being lifted, if only a little. The Moon Fey's offer of help seemed a little off-handed, but Alya felt that she could confide in her friend. She wasn't sure what Rilana could do to help, but there was no shame in asking at this point.
She dipped her quill back into the half frozen ink bottle as she took the hot cup of honey tea. She took a careful sip so that she wouldn't burn herself. She felt her body relax as the warmth and sweetness entered her. It reminded her of home. As much as she wanted to go home, she also wanted to see Rilana's birthplace. She wondered how anyone could live in such a cold place, but she figured it was just something that people got used to over time.
Alya glanced down at her now slightly smudged writing. She had ended at "I could feel the Fey's energy fading-". She was going to continue when she realized that she hadn't actually answered any of Rilana's questions. She didn't know much about her people's purpose, but it seemed magical, especially since she saw the other White elf disappear to a different plane.
She slowly put her cup aside before she continued writing, but before she could, the Moon Fey distracted her by showing her a mirror. The fancy braid that Rilana had made with her hair looked gorgeous, she didn't think her hair could be done up like that. She smiled genuinely at the Moon Fey, looking at the reflection.
The two-headed beast was successful in grabbing the wolf pup's tail, but only for the brief moment before he turned around, giving the creature a low growl. Alya glanced over to the two animals, she snapped her fingers sharply causing Echo's ears to perk up. He looked at his mother and then back at the assailant. He did this a few time before grabbing the remainder of his jerky and walking a little further away from the two-headed thing.
Rilana suddenly mentioned that it was her birthday yesterday. Alya turned to look at her friend, some of the braids coming undone from the movement. She felt guilty for not knowing about her friend's birthday, but she hadn't been told before, so she didn't really know what to do. Sva..rak? She thought. Her mind went blank for a moment before she realized, The cat man with the big blue thing..? She didn't know that he was a Lord, she just thought he was a Knight. She felt a little awkward about it now, she didn't give any proper respect to the big cat.
She noticed her friend's pained smile, giving her own kind of rueful smile in response as the Fey commented on them both changing quite a bit after this journey. Something caught her attention. The Death of Magic? She picked up her quill and some paper, a different sheet from the previous. A clean one. She wrote down a simple question. "Can you tell me about the Death of Magic?" Perhaps what she'd learn from Rilana could help her with her Purpose.
Alya gave Rilana a very helpless shrug. There was nothing she could do about Lyle, not before and not now. It dawned on her that whether or not Lyle was alive didn't actually make much of a difference to her. Even though that man had helped her in the beginning, he hadn't done much other than that for the remainder of them knowing each other. He'd only ever given her snide, drunken remarks and silly insults every time they had met up. She was thankful to him, but also not at the same time.
Personality: Arda is a very cool headed person and often looks at things with a very observant eye. She is mostly a quiet soul, but she will speak up when she needs to. More often than not she’s quite cynical and distrusting, often believing that her way of doing things is a better way. She will sometimes take other’s thoughts into consideration if they are rational enough. When it comes to fighting, she’s extremely emotionless and merciless, not giving anyone a second chance. However, she isn’t the type to go looking for fights.
Looks:
Her ears are slightly pointed and her irises are a golden colour. Her skin is rather pale despite living in a Desert climate, however that it just due to her being a minor race of pale skinned Cauhri.
Affinity: Nyxis
Nullomancer: Yes, uses Magnetic, Iron and Electric crystals
Special ability (if any): Arda has exceptional balance, being able to run, jump and climb nearly anything and anywhere that has the tiniest of footholds. This balance comes from her training with Kron and her personal thief activities.
Background: Arda was born in Alros, a sizeable desert city, south of Sayrn. Arda’s childhood was one that people would view as unfortunate and terrible, however Arda doesn’t view it that way. She views it as the best days she’s ever lived. She was born to a prostitute and raised in the poorer district of the city. She survived by either using her mother’s limited money to buy meager food or by outright stealing it.
It wasn’t until she was around 10 when she started stealing Null crystals from merchants. She’d almost always do it during festivals and night markets as it was difficult to notice her within the crowds and the darkness. She was mostly successful, more often than not, she’d end up stealing iron and magnetic null crystals as they were the easiest to steal.
One night, she was noticed by a guardsman, who chased her through the alleyways of Alros. Cornered, she wished someone or something would save her, for the man was about to maim or kill her. She shut her eyes, awaiting a killing blow, but it didn’t happen. The iron and magnetic crystals in her hands had lost it’s charge. She slowly opened her eyes, only to see a sharp piece of iron sticking out of the guardsman’s neck.
It wasn't until she was about 19 when she bumped into someone.. strange. They immediately grabbed her and took her into an alleyway. The man identified her as a Nullomancer, which she did not understand. The man merely grinned and took her under his wing, training her in Nullomancy among other things. She had quite an affinity with the Iron and Magnetic crystals already, but she had't embedded them at all since she didn't know what that meant. Thus for the past 9 years she had been using the charges from the crystals she had stolen.
During the 9 years before meeting Kron, she had created quite a name for herself. Soon there was a bounty on her head for a considerable price. However nobody really knew what she looked like. The few who found out would try to hunt her down. But they never lived very long. After a few conflicts and dead bodies, she was nicknamed “The Iron Maiden” as she often left the bodies with multiple stab wounds and lacerations, leaving behind a few iron needles that she never bothered to remove, which became a kind of ‘trade mark’ for her.
Rumors and stories of ‘The Iron Maiden’ began to spread around Alros and further. However they were incredible and over exaggerated when they reached the ears of the City of Sayrn.
Kron had often mentioned Arbos during her training, speaking of him in a very negative attitude, however still described the man's Nullomancy skills as quite formidable, if not ridiculous. Kron had also mentioned his reason for being in Alros, something about a troublemaker claiming that Arbos is no longer ‘King of thieves’. Kron sent her to seek out Arbos for guidance and she promised Kron that she would return to assist him with the troublemaker, once she had confirmed the existence of such an incredible man. The path that Kron had shown her, lead her to the City of Sayrn.
For the most part, Alya didn't really take much notice in what Rilana was saying. Something about frozen honey and how she didn't know it would happen. She knows Trix? Alya wondered when hearing the name. Such a small world they lived in. Such a terrible one too. She frowned at the thought, only to be distracted again by the Moon Fey's talking. She gave the Moon Fey a slight nod as she suggested that she just write and allow her hair to be braided. To tell Rilana what was bothering her was to tell her everything about her vision and her purpose. She didn't know if she should disclose it at all.
Meanwhile, Echo was busy chewing and pulling at the piece of jerky that the wonderfully generous Fey lady gave to him. Oh what a treat!
Alya didn't make any move to resist Rilana's actions, obediently sitting in the taller woman's lap. She had leaned back slightly when she had moved onto Rilana's lap, feeling the Moon Fey's enviable cleavage touch her back, along with the feeling of a.. jar of what may be the honey. She leaned forward slightly as she began to write, her writing was slow at the start, but soon pick up pace. She started to write about the Elf woman and how she told Alya that it was their purpose to help her, find her purpose. She explained what a White Elf's purpose was, in rather simplistic terms. "It is a mission given to us that we must complete. Some of us have greater purposes. Like me." She paused, her hand visibly trembling slightly before continuing. This most likely wasn't the kind of 'conversation' that Rilana was looking for, but Alya didn't know what else to talk about. It was all she could think of.
She began to describe her vision to Rilana. It started to sound like a fairy tale. A land filled with Fey and beautiful plants and animals. A mountain island with winged beings upon it. A colourful world. It soon started to sound like a nightmare as she explained the death and destruction that took place in her vision. She could feel the emotions flowing back to her as she tried to write about the anguish and the darkness. She stopped writing mid-sentence, her whole body trembling as tears began to spill from her eyes once more. A few tears dripped onto the parchment, smudging some of the words, however the story would still be quite evident despite that.
Personality: Arda is a very cool headed person and often looks at things with a very observant eye. She is mostly a quiet soul, but she will speak up when she needs to. More often than not she’s quite cynical and distrusting, often believing that her way of doing things is a better way. She will sometimes take other’s thoughts into consideration if they are rational enough. When it comes to fighting, she’s extremely emotionless and merciless, not giving anyone a second chance. However, she isn’t the type to go looking for fights.
Looks:
Her ears are slightly pointed and her irises are a golden colour. Her skin is rather pale despite living in a Desert climate, however that it just due to her being a minor race of pale skinned Cauhri.
Affinity: Nyxis
Nullomancer: Yes, uses Magnetic, Iron and Electric crystals
Special ability (if any): Arda has exceptional balance, being able to run, jump and climb nearly anything and anywhere that has the tiniest of footholds. This balance comes from her training with Kron and her personal thief activities.
Background: Arda was born in Alros, a sizeable desert city, south of Sayrn. Arda’s childhood was one that people would view as unfortunate and terrible, however Arda doesn’t view it that way. She views it as the best days she’s ever lived. She was born to a prostitute and raised in the poorer district of the city. She survived by either using her mother’s limited money to but meager food or by outright stealing it.
It wasn’t until she was around 10 when she started stealing Null crystals from merchants. She’d almost always do it during festivals and night markets as it was difficult to notice her within the crowds and the darkness. She was mostly successful, more often than not, she’d end up stealing iron and magnetic null crystals as they were the easiest to steal.
One night, she was noticed by a guardsman, who chased her through the alleyways of Alros. Cornered, she wished someone or something would save her, for the man was about to maim or kill her. She shut her eyes, awaiting a killing blow, but it didn’t happen. The iron and magnetic crystals in her hands had lost it’s charge. She slowly opened her eyes, only to see a sharp piece of iron sticking out of the guardsman’s neck.
It wasn't until she was about 19 when she bumped into someone.. strange. They immediately grabbed her and took her into an alleyway. The man identified her as a Nullomancer, which she did not understand. The man merely grinned and took her under his wing, training her in Nullomancy. She had quite an affinity with the Iron and Magnetic crystals already, but she had't embedded them at all since she didn't know what that meant. Thus for the past 9 years she had been using the charges from the crystals she had stolen.
During the 9 years before meeting Kron, she had created quite a name for herself. Soon there was a bounty on her head for a considerable price. However nobody really knew what she looked like. The few who found out would try to hunt her down. But they never lived very long. After a few conflicts and dead bodies, she was nicknamed “The Iron Maiden” as she often left the bodies with multiple stab wounds and lacerations, leaving behind a few iron needles that she never bothered to remove, which became a kind of ‘trade mark’ for her.
Rumors and stories of ‘The Iron Maiden’ began to spread around Alros and further. However they were incredible and over exaggerated when they reached the ears of the City of Sayrn.
Kron had often mentioned Arbos during her training, speaking of him in a very negative attitude, however still described the man's Nullomancy skills as quite formidable, if not ridiculous. Kron had also mentioned his reason for being in Alros, something about a troublemaker claiming that Arbos is no longer ‘King of thieves’. Kron sent her to seek out Arbos for guidance and she promised Kron that she would return to assist him with the troublemaker, once she had confirmed the existence of such an incredible man. The path that Kron had shown her, lead her to the City of Sayrn.
Her whole experience in the cave had left Alya in a constant state of shock, disbelief and pressure. She looked around at the icy environment, looking for someone. Something. Anything to tell her what she needed to do. Her purpose was entirely unclear to her. Was she meant to seek out whatever 'Jaspaiya' was? Was she meant to save those Fey within the shield? Maybe it was already too late. She had felt their power fading already and she didn't know how much time had lapsed in between. Her vision, as far as she knew, was based on what she knew to be the Death of Magic..
Her thoughts were interrupted by a certain Moon Fey. Rilana. Rilana? She tried to speak telepathically to her friend who approached her, but she only felt a slight connection, but nothing else. It didn't work. Perhaps Rilana wasn't a mage. The Fey seemed happy to see her, inviting her to tea in a tent. Alya gave Rilana a small smile and a nod, trying to mask her despair. Echo whined slightly as he arched his neck to look at his mother, sensing her troubled feelings. But she hushed him by patting her head.
As they entered the tent, Alya felt the warmth of the lantern and being 'indoors' after being outside in the snow for the past hour or so. Echo seemed quite excited about the warmth, causing him to jump out of Alya's coat, pulling it open. She slowly sat down on one side of the tent as if that didn't happen, before rummaging through her satchel, producing her usual quill, ink and paper. Her ink had frozen slightly from the cold, but the majority was still usable liquid. However she didn't write anything yet, instead waited for Rilana to say something. She tried as best as she could to keep herself from going back to her thoughts about her purpose, but all she could manage was a slightly pained smile.
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KingofSerpents