STATUS:
Slight bit of depression setting in... I apologize if things are taking longer than usual. Just trying to assure the same level of quality in my posts to you guys.
6 yrs ago
Current
Slight bit of depression setting in... I apologize if things are taking longer than usual. Just trying to assure the same level of quality in my posts to you guys.
3
likes
6 yrs ago
*Has the sudden urge to come back to the Guild*.... *Guild is down*.... WHYYYYYYYY?!?!?! *Literally the story of my life lol*
2
likes
7 yrs ago
One of these days I will learn to not input my opinions where they are not wanted on social media.... TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY. >.<
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7 yrs ago
2 1/2 hours in and I'm already done with the new year. T.T
Working on the post for you guys now, so that should be up within the next hour or so... Not sure how long it will be, but hopefully it will do the trick in sparking some inspiration.
Husband of Rya @Ellion and Lienna [@ObsceneSymphony] Interacting with Rya and Lienna
Events from earlier in the day played and replayed through Azilon’s head as he glanced off into empty space, perhaps one of the calmest men in the entirety of the hall. He had stormed out after having dueled his father, breathing heavily and walking quite fast in an attempt to put as much distance between him and the arena as possible. The man had not been able to make it all that far before a surprising force threw off his momentum from behind, the thin chain snapping from its position around his wrist as an indignant Rya yanked to a halt. Azilon wasn’t all that sure what impressed him more, the strength displayed in damaging the tether or the fact that she then had the guts to follow up with a lecture. Having had a few moments to calm himself and clear his head, the pair had made their way back to the arena, Azilon choosing not to spend much time around the rest of the family for the remainder of the duels.
It seemed, however, that the festivities were not without their hitches. Watching from above, Azilon smirked through the princess’ taunting speech, her words successful in riling up quite a few men eager to prove their worth in combat. All for show of course, after all, no Drakkan worth his horns was going to sit by and allow themselves to be upstaged by fights deemed boring by a member of the royal family. Yet the tone was quick to change as warriors, Azilon included, rose from their seats with their weapons drawn. Three men had stepped out of line, taking what Azilon could only describe as a pitiful attempt on the woman’s life. To some the fight might have appeared scripted, but he doubted as much by her display following. True anger tainted her voice, a thirst for blood burning bright within her eyes… Azilon had no doubts the attack was for real.
The bodies were quickly disposed of so that the fighting might continue, but the air retained a certain stiffness to it long after. Azilon had chosen not to stay much longer, instead carting Rya around at a much slower pace so that she could take in the sights and smells of the city. He figured the day would be a rather easy one, but it seemed the day had other such plans. A messenger sent from the royals had instructed those receiving brides to gather in the royal hall later that evening and from the sounds of it, they would be receiving their prizes that night. While he found it surprising and more than a bit of a drag to have to attend, Azilon found the silver lining that he would now be allowed to return home sooner rather than later due to this change in schedule.
Still, he couldn’t help but space out as the room buzzed with its predatory excitement, each victor chomping at the bit to grab their girls in go. It wasn’t until Evienne herself walked toward him that he snapped back to attention, lazily acknowledging her presence. The headpiece she wore was rather over the top in his opinion as neither of the other royals seemed to don such attire, but he deemed it fair due to the overwhelming numbers in the room and the nature of the event. Women of her caliber, while respected, were still heavily sought after. By wearing what was about as close to a crown as he had seen any of her family wear, she assured that even the youngest man from the furthest reaches of Drakka would know his place when interacting with her.
The pair spoke briefly before she dropped off her charge and returned to whatever work she had, a small voice ringing out behind him as the woman left earshot.
“She’s a self righteous-slagger eating munter.” Azilon raised an eyebrow, turning to glance at the young Gem. He wondered what interactions with the princess Rya might have had before being handed over to her previous husband to warrant such a reaction. The thought didn’t interest him nearly enough as he focused his attention on the newcomer. She was pretty enough, not that such things were important to him, but it meant the royals weren’t completely messing with him. Rya seemed to latch on to the girl quickly enough, a good sign as it would give her somebody to annoy instead of just him. Azilon’s misfortune might just have worked out to be fortune in the end, a silver lining he had not been expecting.
The man remained rather quiet while Rya made the introductions, first of herself and then of him like he were the afterthought. It didn’t bother him in the least, though if he had to gauge from the look in the new girl’s eyes, such an entrance confused her. Still, she maintained her composure quite well and introduced herself in return revealing a name of Lienna. What did surprise him was her immediate reaction to fall to her knees, dropping her gaze to the floor while uttering something that resembled a pledge of loyalty… Almost.
“My oh my. Seems you scored an alright girl after all, I was half expecting them to hand you the leftovers. A bit uptight for my tastes, but she’ll suit you just fine dear brother.” Morganna purred, appearing from behind Azilon unannounced sending a shiver down his spine. He was no slouch when it came to detecting hidden foes but Morganna had a gift of entering and exiting rooms unseen, not to mention sneaking up on people even when they were most expecting her.
Azilon shook his head with an internal sigh. Personally, he thought the girl was rather smart, choosing to display all that she knew to be signs of respect when uncertain. Self-preservation was an important trait to have when living out in the wilderness, something he wasn’t yet sure Rya possessed.
“I suspect you’ll do just fine. Rya, help your new friend back up to her feet and see to it that neither of you get lost.” He said after a moment, waiting for Lienna to rise before he gingerly took her arm up in his hand. Carefully he tied the end of the chain he had been holding to her wrist, linking the two girls together. After Rya’s stunt earlier in the day, it was no longer possible for him to wear it around his own wrist and he was growing ever more tired of holding the thing. He would have to trust that the two girls could keep up on their own. Perhaps Lienna’s presence would help keep Rya out of trouble.
Turning his eyes back to the room, Azilon sweeped the area for a glimpse of his father whom he spotted standing off to the side conversing with some of the elder lords. His younger brother was glued to his side, nodding along with whatever was being said, and puffing out his chest every so often. Azilon’s elder brother, on the other hand, was busy inspecting his new bride, his circled pacing making her visibly uncomfortable despite her proud stance. Finally the man grinned, gripped her by the arm and took his leave with his new bride in tow.
“Looks like he approves of her. She’ll be in for a rather long and rough night for sure. Hopefully she’ll be able to survive, didn’t sound like she was being kept for reproduction this time around, not when the one at home is faring so well. ” Morganna piped up, having picked up on Azilon’s gaze. He felt a little bad for the poor soul, but such was the life of many of the brides here. No doubt Lienna had already prepared herself for such an outcome, luckily for her it wasn’t quite his style. He wasn’t all that interested in such matters, and seeing as the family had plenty of sons to continue breeding, his contribution wasn’t strictly necessary. It was likely she would serve as more of a servant than an actual bride, but he didn’t think she would mind being granted the option to take such a easy path.
“Seems like such a waste, not that it’s any of my business.” Morganna shrugged her shoulders and walked away, disappearing back into what was left of the crowd without another word to her relative. Shaking his head, the man turned to look at his own girls.
“We should be going as well. It’s a hefty journey back to my home and we’ll be leaving first thing in the mo-” Azilon’s voice was cut off by a commotion at the doors, the sounds of guards shouting and bodies dropping.
It didn’t take long for the cause of such a commotion to appear and announce himself, shouting into the room and all but demanding a girl for himself. Those with Gems still lingering about the hall stepped close to their prizes, possessively hovering to ensure the safety of their hard earned brides. It was clear none of them were going to go down without a serious fight, though some were more cautious than others due to the guards that had been dropped so swiftly on his way in. Azilon himself did not move but he did maintain a wary eye on the newcomer to see what he would do, ready to move if needed.
Summary stuffs of before he got here. Meets Lienna. Has smol convo with a hot assassin that @Pupperr totally wants to talk to. *nudge nudge*. Glares at angry Rynek entrance.
Finally found a close enough representation of the kind of room y’all have been in:
The princess could feel eyes on her at all times throughout the evening, every step she took shadowed by another’s. Even after assuring her father that she was fine and could more than handle herself, he had deemed it important that a guard maintain visual contact with her at all times during the evening. With so many strangers invited into the royal palace it was a concern that the crowd might be used to cover more individuals intent on doing the royal family harm.
Such a concern seemed increasingly unnecessary as the room began to clear, plenty of recipients taking off to enjoy their spoils as soon as possible. A few elected to stay, or at the very least had not yet felt the need to depart, but the crowd was beginning to thin enough that Evienne was certain she could move freely without need of a babysitter. Alas, the guard would not disappear until ordered by her father, who was constantly busy conversing with Lords of great importance. Heaving an irritated sigh, the princess all but gave up on the thought of a relaxing Reaping.
It seemed her night would not end a complete dud, as a commotion from outside caught their attentions. Forcing his way in through several guards, a man she did not recognize burst into the room without a single worry of what he had done. Immediately the guard assigned to her closed in, placing himself between the man and his charge with a spear pointed in his direction. Several other guards about the room drew their weapons but maintained a distance, awaiting an order to proceed before they made any sort of move. Evienne glanced over to her father who took in the sight calmly, his own sword still sheathed at his side
Clearing her throat to get her father’s attention, the pair shared a few looks before he eventually conceded. Evienne stepped around her guard quickly, snatching his spear from his hands to keep with her in case its use was necessary but not bothering to take any stance with it.
“A bold move on your part, storming into the royal palace uninvited not to mention your butchery of our employed citizens on your way in. I’m sorry to say that you’ve missed your opportunity to brawl, however, today’s tournament forbade the killing of opponents anyhow. Perhaps we’ll see you in the Pits tomorrow?” She mused, lips curled into a snide smirk, eyes a fiery challenge to the man standing before her.
“If it were not such a festive occasion, your current actions would be considered that of a hostile threat. I’m sure we can overlook this mishap in judgement and excuse it as overzealous excitement though. Tell me, warrior, what name are you known by? And what business do you have interrupting a mostly concluded Reaping?” Evienne spoke with strength and authority, standing fearlessly before a man that could be either friend or foe. She would fight him if that’s what it took, after all, he seemed like he might be a worthy enough opponent. Evienne stood before him watching, waiting for his response, curious if he would be the first to strike, determined to be the last.
She might not have looked like much, but Evienne was fairly skilled. Her display in the Pit had been nowhere near her top performance, an unfortunate situation to be certain and one far different than what she faced now. While her strength and battle prowess were not yet comparable to her father’s, or even some of the elder War Lords, she was not a force to be taken lightly in any situation. A dull throb in her abdomen reminded her of her earlier exploits causing a rush of adrenaline to pump through her veins. If the stranger was going to make a move, she hoped he would do so soon.
Evienne is a salty horn, itching to pick a fight. NAME THYSELF HEATHEN!
Sorrin hugged her friend back tightly, actually somewhat relieved to have found her. She hadn’t realized how anxious she had become without her by her side. Following her back closer to the others, Sorrin settled in with a shy smile as Adorabella introduced herself to the group. She was prepared to introduce herself as well, however it seemed the one of the girls knew of her already. For a moment she felt bad, panicking at the thought that she had forgotten an acquaintance of some kind from back home, or from their journey to this place.
“We sat next to each other during that delightful presentation on how not to let the drakkan baby rip you to shreds on the way out.” Sorrin had to think back, not recalling much from the day prior. Sifting through what memories she did have, she was surprised to find that she did in fact remember this girl… if only slightly.
“It’s Aubree, isn’t it? I’m sorry for not recognizing you right away, my memories from yesterday are still a little fuzzy.” She smiled apologetically before regaining her usual cheerful expression.
“And yes, my name is Sorrin. It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.” The blonde waved her hand in greeting, She spent a little more time with the small group, keeping close to Adorabella most of the time out of fear of losing her once again. After a little while, however, their attentions were grabbed by the entrance of a Drakkan guard ordering them up and out of the pool. One girl ventured to question the man as to why they were being pulled so early, but it seemed they were not to get a straight answer. All they were told is that they were suddenly being handed over to their new husbands, regardless of whether or not they had actually completed their ‘training’.
Not wishing to be punished for anything else during her stay, Sorrin was immediately up and on her feet, awaiting Adorabella before making their way back up into the main part of the building. Having tasted warmth once again, the cold hit poor little Sorrin harder than it did upon her arrival, the girl shivering the farther they got from the springs. They had been allowed a short amount of time to gather what belongings they had brought with them before they were rounded back up and loaded into carriages for transport. Luckily she was able to load into the same wagon as Adorabella, though it was tough to say whose effort this was the result of. Both girls had maintained a rather tight grip on the other in fear of being separated.
~~~
Neither girl let go of the other’s hand, huddled together as the ventured further and further away from home. At some point Sorrin had nodded off, the rocking of the wagon enough to lull her to sleep with her head leaned against her friend’s shoulder. By the time she awoke, the carriages were pulling into the capital city, the sound of thunder startling her awake. Slightly panicked, Sorrin tried to stand as if to flee before Adorabella pulled her back down and held her close. The girl’s presence was comforting, so much so that Sorrin had no idea what she would do without her.
Once they were unloaded from the carriages and shuffled into the building, the girls were ordered to change clothes and freshen up for their new husbands to be. Adorabella had already changed before leaving the place known as Shadow Worth, Sorrin on the other hand was still wearing the rough garbs they had been provided. Ushered into a room, Sorrin was certain to pull Adorabella in after her so that they could stay together without fear of the other disappearing. This earned them a scowl or two, but there wasn’t much the guard was willing to do when it came to contradicting them. The brides had made it to their destination, there was no escape for them now thus there was no harm in allowing these two to remain together for just a few moments longer.
Having not really owned anything acceptable for such an occasion, Sorrin stressed over picking something to wear. Luckily, garbs had been provided for those of the girls like her who did not own acceptable clothing, or for some of the others that might not have had any time to gather belongings before being taken from their homes. Either way, Sorrin was relieved that she didn’t have to go into this event looking so far out of place. The dress she donned was nothing in comparison to the one Adorabella had chosen, but it suited her physic rather well.
The fabric was tealish in color and pretty loose, allowing for unrestricted movement. Leather arm bands and sandals that snaked up her calf were paired with the garment giving her a relaxed, yet regal look. She enlisted the help of her friend to tie her hair up using some of the supplies that had been provided, watching with awe as her look was completely transformed. Sorrin almost didn’t recognize her own reflection, but she didn’t mind as it was a rather good look for her. She only hoped that whatever man they were to be handed off too wouldn’t mind it.
Linking hands with Adorabella, the pair made their way into line as they were paraded out towards a room full of Drakkan. It was certainly a daunting sight for the young blonde, but as long as she was with Adorabella she felt like she would be alright. Unfortunately, such a sentiment was not to last. A tall man, whom Sorrin assumed to be Drakkan despite his lack of horns, approached the line and snatched her friend away. She held fast to the girl’s hand, almost being ripped from the line as well before she was forced to let go, held back by another girl who was witnessing the event. Stifling a cry, Sorrin was ushered on while Adorabella was whisked away without time to say a proper goodbye. She didn’t know why she hadn’t expected this… The girl had believed that if they could just stick together, they would make it. All they had to do was stand side by side and they would get to remain together. Now she was left standing all alone in line, eyes watering as realization and terror began weighing in on her.
Somewhere in the room words were said, pumping up an crowd that needed no help in psyching itself up. It wasn’t until the voice was finished speaking that a guard came for her, another girl she recognized in his other hand. She mustered a small smile to show that she did remember the girl before having her attention pulled to the man escorting them.
He had very little in the way of confidence, Sorrin able to feel the man’s hand shaking on her arm as he guided them forward. The man cautioned them to be on their best behavior, an ominous warning that did nothing for the poor girl’s nerves. Beginning to shake herself, Sorrin glanced wide eyed up at the terrifying man that was labeled as their new husband. She couldn’t see his face as it was hidden behind a mask, but it was more than just not having a face that put her off. The man had some kind of smoke or mist hanging around him, making him appear as some kind of phantom. And is none of that was scary enough, all around his body were chains that rustled every time he made a motion. Clearly it was enough to scare off the guard who essentially dumped the girls and ran, leaving her to face the terror on her own… Or well, nearly on her own.
Sorrin jumped a little as she felt something grab her hand looking over to find that the girl, whose name she remembered to be Arden, was attempting to comfort her. It worked a bit, enough that Sorrin was able to stop trembling for the most part. That wasn’t to last very long either, as the man began his inspection of the pair. Around them he circled, eyeing them up and down as if they were not but livestock. She shivered under his gaze, feeling as if she had somehow failed or disappointed the man. Difficult to tell when he wouldn’t show his face to either of them.
“Fine additions yes… Harand Kor has yet to house Gems… Empty cells and empty graves for the taking…” The sound of his voice sent another chill down Sorrin’s spine, eyes now fully wide in panic.
G-graves?! What does he mean by that? Is he going to kill us? Is this some kind of Drakkan saying, or joke, or...
Her thoughts were interrupted as her hand was torn from Arden’s, the pair of them shackled like some kind of prisoners. She couldn’t understand their purpose as it was clear she wasn’t capable of hurting anyone, and as her companion had pointed out, there was nowhere for them to run to either. Neither question was answered as the man decided to ignore them, demanding their names before he had even provided his own. Fear froze her, trapping her tongue within her throat as she fought not to cry.
Arden was first to answer, giving nothing but her first name. Sorrin wasn’t sure what impressed her more, the gut she was displaying with her attitude, or that she was able to stand in such a situation without breaking down like Sorrin felt like doing. Taking a shaky breath, Sorrin swallowed nervously before speaking up.
“M-my name i-is… My name is Sorrin, sir.” She said, doing her best not to crack under the stress. Glancing to her side, she could tell that Arden was worried about something, realizing she hadn’t seen the other girl she had been hanging with anywhere. She prayed silently for the girl to find herself in a situation better than theirs, not that such a task was all that difficult. Looking back up, Sorrin gathered the strength to speak once again.
“P-please sir… If you don’t mind my asking, may we learn the name of our… keeper?” She wasn’t entirely sure of how to address the man. Certainly they were brought and given out as brides. All they had been taught leading up to this moment was about bearing the children of these monsters as well as various other tasks, however this man gave them no indication that he thought of them as such. To her, it felt more as if they were captives, pets almost. Would it be appropriate to refer to him as husband in such a situation? Or would that just anger him more? She hoped her choice in the word ‘keeper’ would suffice, and that her question would not lead to any trouble.
Sorrin introduces herself to the group, hangs out for a little while. Sticks close to Adorabella until she’s ripped away from the line, leaving little Sorrin all by her lonesome. Never fear though, Arden is there to take care of her… oops, well they are in chains… Oh well, so much for that. She gives her name and asks for one in return.
Not for this Arc, however, if spots do open up we can put you on the list for applicants and let you know then.
In the meantime, you are more than welcome to stick around to read along, and chat even. That way if a spot does open up for an additional player, you'll know pretty quickly. ^.^
Bride of Zakroti @darkwolf687; Sister-Bride to Aymiria @Amethyst Interacting with Zakroti and Aymiria
Aurora knew that whatever time they would be allowed to soak in the hot springs would be limited, but what she had not been expecting was for them to go back on their word so quickly. When they had been released into the depths, they had been promised the luxury until lunchtime… Yet only a couple of hours into their relaxation did a flustered looking guard make his way down to address the group. While she had no way of knowing what the cause was, Aurora knew that something must have happened to cause such a disruption among the Drakkan. After all, they weren’t just being pulled from the springs early, the girls were being shipped off immediately.
She didn’t put up any sort of resistance as she stood from her seat along the edge of the water, pulling her towel close to her body as she observed the guards that were present. The two that had been guarding the door were whispering to one another, though whether out of agitation or confusion was beyond her simple observations. Keeping her thoughts to herself, Aurora changed back into the wool clothing they were provided and awaited further instructions.
One by one, each of the girls loaded up into the wagons, huddling together to keep some semblance of warmth in the freezing environment. Once all the girls had been packed up they began moving, heading to what many were acting would be their deaths. Aurora couldn’t blame them, there was no telling what would happen between this point and their arrival. Even she was beginning to feel nervous, but she wasn’t about to show it. Not yet anyways. The real danger wasn’t until they were handed over to their so-called husbands. It would be then, and only then that the true game of survival would begin. Some would live to see another day, perhaps even a few more years…. Others would succumb and be tossed aside or sent home to be buried by the family that had just said their goodbyes. She pushed aside the image of her sister’s funeral before her anger could get the better of her, instead focusing on radiating enough heat to keep herself and her travel companions warm along their journey.
~~~
The capital seemed like such a difference from the prison they had been training in for the past couple of days. Instead of snow, the land was surrounded by a sea of sand. A desert unlike anything Aurora had ever seen in her life. By this point the skies had grown dark, the occasional tendril of lightning cracking open the heavens, cracks of thunder quick to follow. The smell of rain was thick in the air alerting those outside of shelter to the oncoming storm. Luckily they had all made it inside before the rain came pouring down, certainly a rarity in these parts if she had to guess.
Before being delivered to their new husbands, the girls had been instructed to change their clothes and freshen up from their journey. Just like before, the Drakkan had provided clothing for them to change into, however, such a word was used lightly. Before they had been forced into drab, and frankly, uncomfortable wool to keep warm and assumedly keep the guards from temptation. This time they were being displayed in a way that called for brighter colors, most likely to make up for the lack of actual cloth.
Aurora rolled her eyes as she sat down in front of a mirror, taking the opportunity to brush a few knots out of her hair before she went to changing her clothing. The outfit that had been laid out for her was a bright crimson, and much to her surprise… A rather familiar shape. Donning the garb, she found herself reminiscing over past shows she had participated in having worn similar attire for each.
Her top fit tightly so as not to allow any extra movement underneath, but this was made up for by the various jewels and metallic ornaments designed to catch and reflect light. The bottom was a free flowing skirt that hugged low on her hips but allowed for a wide variety of motions. Attached to the waist piece were jewels and ornaments similar to the top, however there were a few additions of bells that would make sound every time she took a step.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about it at first, torn between hating its intended purpose, and loving it for its familiar feel. Taking a deep breath, Aurora came to the decision that she would wear it proudly and prove their schemes wouldn’t get to her. The first impression had to be good, otherwise she ran the risk of ending up like her sister… She refused to allow her family to re-live such a moment, she would be better… She was going to make it.
It didn’t take long for the Drakkan guards to return for the girls, rushing the final touches on her outfit before she had to head out the door. Due to the burns on her feet, the fire Gem left the shoes behind, instead shifting the weight forward and continuing onward in her bare feet. She wondered if any of the others had chosen similarly or if they were too far lost in the shock of it all to feel the pain. Shaking her head, Aurora lined up and took another deep breath to steady her nerves. This would be it, she could no longer worry about any of the others… though admittedly she had kept them at a distance since the beginning to make this moment easier on herself. She couldn’t care for those she didn’t know. Once again, they were lined up one by one before being marched out into a room that nearly stopped Aurora’s heart.
The place was huge, not to mention filled to the brim with Drakkan. She was surprised to spot more than a couple of females in the crowd, one seeming to keep rather close to the man that had been identified as the high prince of the nation. A couple of others she spotted over with the men that she assumed they were being handed off to, her chest tightening at the entire scene before her. She jumped slightly as the prince began speaking having come to the realization that she had never once heard the man speak before. Aurora found herself silently wishing that he would speak longer as once he had finished they would be given away, but alas her wish was shattered as she realized it was less of a speech and more of an announcement. In all but a few sentences the prince had called her people weak, made themselves out to be selfless heroes, and referred to her and every one of her sisters present as ‘spoils’.
A glare overtaking her features, Aurora was given very little time to gather herself before a guard was stepping forward and pulling her toward her fate. Not once on the journey over did she falter, and neither did her expression. In fact, it seemed only to grow more hostile as she was presented to a rather short Drakkan. She stood silently as the guard addressed the man, somewhat in shock that someone as short as him had been able to earn a bride such as herself… After all, it had been her understanding only the best of their citizens received such prizes. To the Gemmenites this usually came with a description of a hulking monster whose only reason for existence was to shed the blood of others. If it weren’t for the horns and his skin tone, he might have been able to fit into the background of her own country. Something about this though terrified her causing her to look behind the man where another Gemmenite stood staring at her. She assumed the girl to be a bride that he had earned previously, seeing as she wasn’t a face Aurora recognized from the days leading up to this moment.
There was something about her expression that worried her though, almost as if she too was frightened. Perhaps she was being forced to re-live her own Reaping and it was causing her stress, or maybe it was just the fact that she was familiar with how this man was and she was scared for the well-being of the newcomer. This caused Aurora to laugh silently to herself, she didn’t need some weakling to be looking out for her. Exhaling slowly, the fire Gem tuned back into what the guard was saying. She caught the tail end of the address where the guard mentioned something about an incident the year prior, making her out to be some kind of replacement?
Seriously? What did he do? Aurora thought to herself, starting to become truly angered yet still finding herself increasingly apprehensive. The other girl’s fear was starting to make more and more sense, causing the brunette to wonder what exactly it was that she had gotten herself into. Or, that was until she finally looked at the Drakkan referred to as Zakroti to see a similar expression on his face. The man had gone rather pale and was hesitant to approach her, reaching out as if making sure she was really there and sharing glances with the girl behind him as if they shared some mutual secret.
Growing ever more impatient, Aurora opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by the man speaking first. Introducing himself fully and twenty times more polite than Aurora had ever assumed a Drakkan could be. Still though, his attention continued to wander to the woman behind him rather than maintaining a gaze with her. The longer this went on, the more freaked out Aurora became bringing her to the point of lashing out demanding answers. Once again, however, she was cut off by the man’s voice, asking her a question that caused her blood to run ice cold.
“Am I right to take it that you are of the Liesma family? What is your name?” He said, as if having this knowledge were anything but terrifying to her. Had their names been sent ahead to the men that were going to receive them? She thought this unlikely due to how swiftly they had been ushered out, meaning whatever plans they had made had been accelerated so how would they have gathered this information in the first place? Thinking back on it, such an idea made even less sense as she had never actually been asked what her name was by any of the guards. Eyes widened with mixed horror and rage, Aurora ventured to take a shaky step away from the man.
“Pyrus strike you down where you stand. How is that you know that name?” Aurora hissed, though an inner voice told her that she already knew the answer to her question. The shared glances, pale expressions… Neither were terrified for her, they were terrified of her. In their eyes they were seeing a ghost, the ghost of someone she had been told her whole life she resembled quite closely. The ghost of the reason Aurora kept her hair short and did her best, of why she was even here in the first place.
“You’re the reason my sister is dead, aren’t you? Or was it the snivelling child behind you? Difficult to tell which one of you looks guiltier.” She realized that the air around her had begun heating up considerably, something she was certain might be seen as an act of real aggression around these types. Closing her eyes, Aurora balled her hands into tight fists before exhaling anxiously. Attempting to regain whatever composure she could muster, she slowly re-opened her eyes and bowed to her new ‘master’.
“Yes, I am of the Liesma family. Aurora Liesma to be precise. And I would like to get one thing straight with you. I am not, and will not be, a replacement for the sister that you murdered. So much as speak her name and you will feel the consequences of your crime come crashing down upon your short little head faster than you can draw your sword.” Her face remained neutral but her eyes screamed with rage, fire burning brighter than she ever would have thought possible. If she had to be perfectly honest, the way that she felt at that moment was enough to drive her mad. Grief, anger, and fear all wrapped up into one… If she wasn’t careful, she might actually strike out at the man. She would have to find a way to keep herself in check on the off chance her most recent words had not already sealed her fate.
Aurora starts getting nervous for once… Upon delivery she is met with the Drakkan that was her elder sister’s husband from the previous year. She better be a little more careful if she wants to achieve her ultimate goal of survival, or have her priorities shifted? Hmm, we’ll see. ;)
That's ok. I wasn't quite expecting the pings to work considering how many there were. It's really more to remind everyone who their IRL partners are so they can add the proper tags moving forward.
I also realized in my slightly lagged brain from expanding so much on that post that I had misspelled some of the tags soooooo... Yeah, my bad. Haha
The sun had long since vanished behind a shield of clouds, even before dipping below the horizon. The arena was filled with the scent of roasting meat as the long awaited feast drew nearer. The fighting in the pits had stopped as the sky grew darker and the anticipation of the prizes to come drew close. The drakken who had managed entrance before, but now served no purpose, had been weeded out by the royal guard.
Yet, the room still was crowded with the towering figures of the drakken who stood waiting. The only spot of color coming from the two gems whose husbands had been proud enough, or foolish enough, to bring along. The royal gems having slowly vanished, to make the arrival of the prizes that much sweeter.
The Prince and Princess stood looming by the door, Ehkota flocked by his guard and the princess by a single younger brother. There was a sudden commotion from out beyond the gated doors. A figure loomed in the frame as the doors were pulled open. An cool gust of air bringing the distinct smell of rain.
Moments after the high prince entered, a line of terrified girls trickled in--nearly a hundred in number. Shimmering in the torch light, they cast a halo around themselves, cutting through the dullness of the rest of the room.
Nearly all the girls had entered when the Ehkota reached out and caught a single one by the arm. Sensing a disturbance in his pack, the high prince snapped around, giving his younger brother a deadly look.
The prince gave a half hearted shrug has he pulled the bright haired gem girl away. After all, what was the point of being royalty if there weren’t any perks? @eclecticwitch (Adorabella)
With the younger prince gone, that left Gaelnesh to face the rest of the room.
“700 hundred years ago,”he started, his voice echoing around the chamber. “Our neighboring country faced an enemy they were too weak to handle,” At this, a few of the drakken let out noise of disgust.
The prince waited, his face grim. “And we, in our glory, offered the aid they so desperately needed,” He paused again, as more called out. “It is on this day, so many years later that we remember our greatness and that of the King! It is today that we reap our reward and it is today that next great generation of drakken starts,”
At this, he grab one of the nearby gems, his massive hands easily able to wrap around her upper arm.
Due to the rather large harvest, the royal family had picked out several guards who had accompanied the caravan from Shadow Worth to assist in helping hand out the prizes. Several, if not all, of the girls had been chosen for particular people so it had been made incredibly clear that no mixups or mistakes would be tolerated in handing them out. To help keep clarity, each one of the guards had been assigned anywhere from two to five girls that they were in charge of handling, having memorized each of their destinations beforehand.
Being the first guard in the line, a man stepped forward and wrapped his hand around the arm of a brunette who wore the nastiest of glares. Usually such an expression would grant her punishment of some sort, or at the very least a stern talking to. This particular girl, however, seemed to wear the look well. It could be argued that it made her stand out, more attractive even as it was in stark contrast to some of her softer facial features. Such things were none of his business and completely out of his hands as he was just the delivery boy in this instance. He was just happy that she chose not to put up any real fight as he led her away from the line.
Luckily for the guard, his charge was being delivered to an unmistakable name. Zakroti of house Unalim, a member of a rather influential family and rather skilled tactician if the rumors rang true. He had been told ahead of time of the man’s shorter stature, but he had not quite prepared enough for witnessing it in person. Maintaining a professional front, the guard approached Zakroti and his entourage with the Gem in his grip, stopping slightly short to bow his head respectfully.
“Welcome back Lord Zakroti. On behalf of the royal family please allow me to extend our most sincere congratulations. By the glory of the King, may she serve you well.” The guard raised his head from its bowed position, moving his arm in a way that forced the girl forward a few more steps toward her new master before letting her go. From this point on, her life would be in the hands of the man she had just been handed over to, she was no longer his concern.
“His majesty Gaelnesh also sends a message. He was saddened to hear about the events that transpired last year and regrets the outcome. It is his hope that this girl will suffice as a replacement for what was lost. That is all.” There wasn’t much of the message that the guard understood, but it was assumed that Zakroti would as no explanations were given to supplement the delivery. Bowing his head once more, the guard made his way back to the line in order to continue delivering the brides to their new homes.
Evienne approached the pair with a single Gem in her clutches, all indications of injuries hidden by cloth and posture. The girl she held in her hands was a beautiful creature with silvery hair and lilac eyes, bearing a posture of confidence Azilon had not been expecting. Eyes flashing briefly over Rya, the princess turned her gaze back up to Azilon before speaking.
“We’ve been expecting you for some time now, Azilon Dantanath. We were beginning to worry that we had offended you in some way, glad to see you’ve finally come around. It seems you’ve been pretty busy on your own though, tell me little Gem… Are there any new additions to the Dantanath name on the way?” The woman smirked, eyes reflecting a cruel sense of mischief as she laughed.
Seemingly unamused, Azilon shook his head and gritted his teeth against the displeasure he felt at being forced into such a situation.
“You have my apologies, I did not know my absence would be so apparent. As for this one here, she still has a little ways to go before she’s to my liking for such an endeavour. I’m sure you will be well informed should that change.” Azilon was starting to get antsy, not quite used to being around so many people for such an extended period of time. Sensing his unease, Evienne nodded her head and accepted his response without further inquiries.
“Glad to see that your brother will not be stealing all the spotlight this year. For you, may she bear you many strong heirs.” Just about pushing the young woman forward, Evienne waved her hand before making her retreat back towards the line to retrieve her next charge.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gaelnesh kept tabs on the room to ensure nothing was out of place. Between the brides being handed out by those other than his own hands, and the attack that had summoned him home early, the high prince was a little on edge. He was certain not to let it show, however, maintaining a poise that spoke of only power and absolute certainty in his place.
While his daughter delivered a bride to Azilon, and another guard made his way toward Zakroti, Gaelnesh motioned for two of the girls in line to follow him. He didn’t bother grabbing them to escort them, somewhat confident that their experiences at Shadow Worth were enough to ensure their obedience. Just to be certain, a single guard trailed behind the girls as a reminder to keep moving forward.
Approaching the man that was to be their husband, Gaelnesh grinned and greeted the Drakkan with a great deal of respect. The high prince was rather familiar with some of the man’s exploits as a youth, having famously marched into the Gem lands to take his brides as he saw fit before the laws had been put in place, and the reaping put under the control of the royal family. Keregar was only a few years younger than the prince, and just about as tall too, truly an impressive sight to those around him. Despite being younger, however, it seemed the events of his life had weighed him down, giving him a jaded air that aged him considerably.
“Ah, Keregar. It’s been some time, you’ve been well I hope? Word of your sons’ accomplishments have reached us and we are quite proud, I expect to be hosting them here sometime soon. Your family has more than earned these two, may they bring you many fine additions to the bloodline.” The prince snapped his fingers, prompting the girls to either step forward on their own or to be pushed by the guard hovering behind them.
Either way, the girls were exchanged from the prince’s side to Keregar’s where they would remain for the rest of their lives. Whether he kept them for himself or gifted them to his sons was up to him, Gaelnesh only hoped that they were satisfactory as he really did appreciate the man and his efforts for the royal family.
“I have to say though, it’s getting difficult to tell whether Krenta is displaying wisdom for keeping you among us… Or if you are so accomplished as a warrior that he cannot defeat you in battle. I look forward to many more years of fighting alongside you.” Gaelnesh allowed a hearty laugh at the joke, poking fun at the man’s rising age before taking his leave.
Following the lead of his fellow comrades, a rather young looking guard stood with a Gem in either hand. He would have liked to think that the girls feared their destination more than he did, however, they only had to fear the unknown… The guard had heard the rumors about the man that was to receive the two prizes he was delivering, and none painted the man in a kind light.
The Grave Warden they called him. A terrifying man with a reputation for violence far beyond what was called for. It didn’t seem to matter to him who it was, as long as blood could be spilled, Heccarim was likely to be at the center of it. The guard did his best to seem like he was in complete control if for no one other than the two girls he was escorting from the line to their doom.
“I would suggest that you two be on your best behavior.” He said softly, attempting to warn the pair for what was to come. It seemed like such a shame to the young man, a waste even to hand over such prizes to a man that was more likely to kill them in the first night than breed with them. One of the two girls looked like she had a stronger personality, so he felt like she might be able to survive for a little before succumbing… maybe even long enough to impress the man, who could tell? It was the other one he worried for, a small blonde girl whose body he could feel trembling in his hand already. There didn’t seem to be much hope for her, he only prayed that Krenta would take her quickly.
Finally nearing his destination, the guard was quick to bow his head, stammering his way through his predetermined speech.
“H-hello, S-s-sir... ” He started, doing his best to look anywhere but the man’s eyes. It was his hope that if he avoided eye contact, he would be allowed to make it back without injury.
“B-by the glory of the King… M-may they bring y-you many strong ones, er… sons.” The guard gave one final look before simply releasing the girls and hightailing it back into the crowd out of the sight of the beast.
Another more seasoned guard watched with a fair bit of amusement as one of their rookies was charged with delivering brides to a more infamous fellow. He had to stifle his laughter as he watched the poor sap shake his way over to the mysterious man, clearly flustered as he had to address him, and quickly make his retreat with a tail tucked between his legs. If the guard had to be honest he couldn’t blame the kid for abandoning the girls as quickly as possible, the man was truly frightening. He was just glad it wasn’t him who had to deliver the two. Instead he was in charge of a single Gem, a cute little thing that was to be delivered to a married couple who, if what he had been told was accurate, conceived a drakkan-born child on their own. Quite a rarity they were if that was the case.
“I’d say luck is on your side Gem. You could be one of those two unfortunate souls. Such a pity.” He mused out loud, not really speaking to the girl in particular but making sure she was paying attention. Moving her forward, the guard approached the couple, bowing his head to each one in turn as was customary for a pair of their stature.
“By the glory of the King.” The guard spoke, gently guiding the girl forward to present for the couple’s inspection.
“His majesty regrets being unable to greet you in person, however, he has instructed to me to extend his deepest apologies. His majesty Gaelnesh has also heard about the birth of your child, he extends his congratulations along with the hope that this Gem might bear you many more strong children. Good evening to you both.” With a final bow, the guard left the girl in their care giving her not even a second thought as he returned to his usual duties.
Ehkota wasn’t one to let all the others have the fun, as this was one of the greatest opportunities to gather support to his side. Easily swayed was a mind when being showered with compliments and gifts, and if he was going to compete with his brother he was going to have to step up his game just a bit. Having tucked away the Gem he had pulled aside before for safe keeping, the younger prince plucked another Gem from the line and sauntered over to one of the more youthful faces in the lineup.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the famed weapons maker.” The prince looked over the man with an appraising look, eyebrow raised curiously before he broke out into a grin. It seemed that the Reaping had summoned more than a few attractive individuals to the capital, and this man was definitely among them. He looked to be a little younger than the prince himself was, but that wasn’t much of a bother, he just hoped that his nuisance of a niece wasn’t around to interfere this time around.
“I do hope that you’ll be sticking around the capital for a little while longer. I should like to see some of your… wares before long.” Ehkota maintained his smile as he twirled the small Gem around, sending her off in the direction of the youth.
“On behalf of the King, your prize. If you need anything of me feel free to let one of my guards know, they’ll bring you through. See you around.” His words were just shy of a wink as he retreated, feeling as if he had sufficiently gotten his point across and eager to continue handing out the bribes… Or brides rather. Next up would have been an acquaintance of the youth, perhaps even more so, as he waved his guard onward.
Following not too far behind the younger prince was another nameless face in the crowd, one of Ehkota’s personal guards accompanying him with a Gem for another Drakkan. Before he was able to make it to his destination, the guard was held up by the prince as he spoke to the young man. A personal invitation had been extended to the man from the royal, something that he was going to have to commit to memory in case the man really did come calling. He wouldn’t have been surprised, as he was by no means the first, but it was still rather annoying to have to remember so many faces so that they may be seen through in discretion. Nodding his acknowledgements, the guard bowed his head to the young man he recalled to be named Zevi.
The encounter did not last all that long, however, before Ehkota was beckoning him forth to the new owner of the Gem he had been in charge of escorting. This particular man stood in contrast to the other they had spoken too, the first being rather pretty and quite Gem like in certain appearances, the second rather hulking and imposing in his posture. Pure strength seemed to radiate from the man as if he bore too much, his body unable to contain it all. If anyone at the event looked like they belonged, this man certainly qualified.
Ehkota stepped up to do most of the talking for this one, saving the guard from having to expend any extra effort, something he didn’t mind in the least.
“And you must be Vonnath Mors, am I right?” The younger prince feigned slight ignorance, knowing full well who it was who stood before him.
“You’re quite impressive yourself, you know? Rumor has it that you’ve turned Zevi here into a fine young Drakkan worthy of the bride he was just handed. May you bring the power of Drakka into this creature as well.” He cooed, the guard stepping forward on cue to present the Gem bride with a bowed head of his own.
“By the glory of the King.” The guard spoke, relinquishing the girl before returning to Ehkota’s side, following closely behind the prince as he made his way back up to the front of the room.
After having finished delivering a couple of other brides, Gaelnesh returned to the line of Gem brides to pick up a beauty whose very skin appeared to carry the scent of the sea with her. The guard that had accompanied him previously tapped the shoulder of the Gem, a silent order to start moving while the prince led the way. This particular beauty was chosen for a particularly difficult situation that Gaelnesh was hoping to address in good faith.
Kaivor, a man who had displayed incredible strength on and off the battlefield. Even his father was a name that Gaelnesh knew, having been told about the exploits of the war from his father. If he wasn’t mistaken, the man had died during the war with the Anathos but he had left behind quite the legacy. It seemed, however, that the seizing of power by the now King hadn’t sat very well with that said legacy, something they were not so silent about.
Approaching the man, Gaelnesh decided it was best if he bowed his own head rather than waiting for the man across from him to do so. Additionally, he restrained his smile to a less familiar but still friendly expression, tone as neutral as possible.
“I was quite surprised to hear that you would be accepting our invitation to the capital this year, but I am glad that you did so. Now I can properly express my gratitude for all the hard work you’ve put into maintaining Drakka’s borders. It is my hope that you will accept this bride as a token of such gratitude, an everlasting tie between country and crown.” The high prince motioned to the girl to come forth, presenting the bride himself before bowing his head and leaving the man with his toy.
Grabbing two Gem brides from the line rather quickly, and perhaps a little more roughly than intended, one of the guards was quick to usher them forward. Impatient with their lack of speed he resorted to nearly dragging the pair, lifting them up enough so that he was mostly in control of their movements until he made his way to stand before the Drakkan that would be receiving them.
“Beastmaster.” The guard’s voice cut clearly through the ever growing chaos of the room, expression nor tone particularly kind.
“Your father speaks most highly of your accomplishments, says your creatures are the beasts of legends. The royal family is delighted to have you back.” His face twisted into what could only be described as a sneer as he delved into a mock bow. While his words were true enough, the guard just couldn’t wrap his head around how such a man was eligible to show up and hog not one, but two brides. After all, it was to his knowledge that the man had to have his father petition for him, using someone else’s prestige and standing with the royal family in order to reap the benefits. It was a disgrace in his opinion, but he wasn’t a prince and thus had no say in the matter. All he had to do was deliver the brides and be done with it.
“May these creatures bend and behave to your will just as your beasts do.” Without another word the guard shoved the two girls forward with enough force to cause them to stumble, turning on his heel and returning to work he deemed far more important.
“Wilhelm!” Bellowed the voice of one of the more veteran guards as he shuffled a pair of girls from their places in line over to the Drakkan in question. While he could not confidently say they were friends, the guard was more than a little familiar with the man’s antics, having been witness to his fair share of the youth’s duels.
“I see the royals have finally decided to recognize your prowess, a joyous day indeed. The crown has asked if I would extend their gratitude at your continued support and provide to you these beauties as thanks for your service to the crown.” The man grinned as he all but pushed the girls forward toward their new lord and master.
“May these Gems allow you to sire many powerful children to carry on with your impressive legacy. Should you require anything else, you need only ask m’lord.” With a courteous bow, the guard took his leave from the man so that he may become more acquainted the with the two girls that had just been dropped off into his care. What was to become of them was anyone’s guess as none knew how Wilhelm handled his private matters, once they left the capital it wasn’t all that likely that they would ever be seen again but who knew? Perhaps the brides would get to venture father than his regular servants?
Ehkota swept across the room, gathering and leading on the last of the girls through the crowd. Already the ranks of the Drakkan were thinning. A few had chosen to stay behind and indulge in the feast that was prepared for every Reaping, and that had appeared at some point during all of the commotion. It was, however, difficult to ignore how empty the room had become in such a short time. There had been hope that a few more would have stayed, but at the very least it seemed that this year’s harvest had created quite a stir of excitement, plenty of men chomping at the bit to play with their new toys.
The prince came to a stop just a few feet away from the Kinner he had spoken to at the small little shop, just a day or so prior. Stooping down to whisper into the ear of one of the Gems, he watched with a small amount of amusement as her face twisted with confusion before he led her the rest of the way.
“My friend! I trust the tournament was to your liking? I won’t keep you too long as I’m sure you are eager to inspect your prize. It is my hope that you enjoy her and if not, well, you know where to find me.” He waved with a smile before sauntering off once again, taking the remainder of the girls onward, handing one over to a guard before disappearing with the rest.
Having spent the last few minutes staring at Ordic from afar, the particularly short guard finally composed himself enough to guide his charge over to the man. It really was strange to see someone like him at a ceremony such as this, as each of the girls were being handed over as brides. While he had to admit that he didn’t know a whole lot about the order that Ordic hailed from, the guard was fairly certain that it was against their beliefs to take Gems as such. Stepping forward, the man bowed graciously, holding the girl that was to be his prize out in front of him.
“If you’ll pardon my brashness, it is more than a little surprising to have someone from your order requesting a bride. While you deserve nothing less, it does make one wonder what it is that has inspired such a change. Perhaps it is the wisdom that your order cannot regenerate itself as well as it once has?” He stated, giving the man a final look before passing along the brown haired Gem.
“All reasons aside, the crown recognises your importance to Drakka. May this reward help replenish and inspire the rest of your order.” Nodding his head, the guard took his leave having delivered the last of his charges. For his work he would be compensated with a feast, separate from the main one, set up just for the guards who had travelled from Shadow Worth with the brides and their prince.
“By the glory of the King and the true gods, we take what is rightly ours. Take tonight to enjoy your rewards. We will meet again tomorrow to continue the celebrations!”
Well, that is all folks. If you see a big red flag (like I forgot your character) lemme (or a more responsible GM) know as soon as possible! Okay. A few things to note:
[1] You MUST post for all of your character within ONE WEEK from today. This is a really exciting update and we want to allow everyone a chance to really dig in. This is also a weedout week. If you cannot post in this time period, we need to know and sadly this might be your drop point. If you have many characters and don’t post for all of them, the characters that haven’t been posted for will be dropped. Thank you for understanding.
[2] We are allowing drakken to steal/trade brides. Just PLEASE keep a GM in the loop. Also, all parties (minus maybe the gem) must agree to the trade/switch/stealing. This can happen at any point during the rest of the tournament.
[3] Go frick frack ya nasties or enjoy the feast or go for a rainy walk around Drakka, I dunno. Newly Wed Stuff
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