Zealous Blade

Dragon Dance : The Frozen North (Hi-Casual) (Action-Adventure and Survival Horror in a Dark Shared Fantasy World) (Always Open)

While winters in the Imperium were notably cold, the frost that Baleno currently faced was a new demon altogether. When he had been told that they would be heading far north, Baleno expected a tragic shift in temperature but not anything such as this. He could feel ice crystallizing on the tails of his cloak as he trudged through the deep snow spread across Wolftown. It seemed like it was only yesterday that he was in the Olympus Imperium begging for work. Now here he was in the service of the prestigious House Charming. He was by no means a high ranking soldier. As a matter of fact, his status within the house's army was questionable. As a sellsword he mostly worked for his employers temporarily before being on his way. However, he had the feeling that this time around would be different. Given all the rumors he heard, he would be sticking around for quite awhile. An abnormality was afoot and it seemed to be spreading rapidly. It was supposed to be spring but it felt as if winter's grasp still latched onto the world. Perfect for a man of half-Alkhebulan descent.

Having only been in the service of House Charming for a short stent, Baleno had yet to secure a relationship with his would be comrades. He wasn't the most sociable man on the planet. Given that he encountered very few who were like him throughout his life, it was fair to say that Baleno himself was an oddity. He could feel the stares of those who passed by him on the white Wolftown streets as he went on his way. An individual of brown complexion wasn't native to these cold parts. One of Baleno's biological parents - as he concluded - had to be from the far southern land where giant reptiles reigned supreme. He only knew of his supposed homeland through mere tall tales and they certainly did not paint an elaborate image. All Baleno could piece together about Alkhebulan was that it more than likely wasn't suffering from an extended winter like the one plaguing the far north. He didn't mind going there at the moment but duty called. Distracting his mind from the bitter cold, Baleno imagined himself walking freely through a warm grassland as he made his way towards the inn were his squad was set to regroup.

Given the ongoing events, the town was exceeding its capacity and its streets were crowded. Baleno couldn't ignore the constant chattering that piled his ears even if he wanted to. He eavesdropped on countless conversations both blatantly and accidentally. Ergo, it was only destiny that he would find out about the outcome of the meeting and what was to come next. He was undoubtedly interested for he was in need of another chance to prove his worth. It appeared that a procession would be gathering at the edge of the town and anyone was permitted to join. Having not attended the meeting in person, Baleno judged that the resulting expedition was related to it. He didn't care at all about the politics involved. He was good at only one thing which was fighting and that was all he came there for. He settled down at the inn and took a brief respite from the cold. After awaking from a nap which he was reluctant to end, he got dressed and departed.

He arrived where the procession was gathering outside of the city not much later. He was amazed by the sheer diversity of those who amassed. It seemed as if there was a representative from every major group plus more that was going along on the mission. Being the silent type, Baleno resolved to hang in the rear in order to get a feel of exactly what kinds of people he was going to be around. He felt that it would be unwise to trust them all. Just because their respective factions had all been gathered for the same cause did not mean they were necessarily on the friendliest of terms. Maybe it was just him, but Baleno could feel the early indications of tension brewing. He kept his hand rested on his sword's hilt even though they had yet to depart. When the march started, he failed to resist the temptation of scowling at those around him. He didn't want to be labeled as a small fish in the giant pond.

Dragon Dance : The Frozen North (Hi-Casual) (Action-Adventure and Survival Horror in a Dark Shared Fantasy World) (Always Open)

Sorry about falling behind. I've had a busy week. My post will definitely be up in the morning. I've already got it drafted.

Dragon Dance : The Frozen North (Hi-Casual) (Action-Adventure and Survival Horror in a Dark Shared Fantasy World) (Always Open)

I'm posting today. Its most convenient for me on the weekends also.

Lantern

The heat of the flames blistered Kituo's skin, causing him to cringe. His gut churned as his apprehension soared to higher elevations. It was happening again. A fire engulfed their surroundings, devouring all that dared to stand in its path. Kituo figured that the lantern would not be able to help him out of this predicament. Where was another stream of healing water when he needed it? At the rate which the flames spread, they'd need gallons to save themselves from being cooked alive. Well, on the literally bright side, at least the fire granted them a broader view of the forest. Unfortunately, how far they could see wouldn't matter when they were reduced to ash.

While he wasn't exactly the biggest fan of the old man, Kituo didn't think to kill him. He winced as the girl confiscated his sword and took a step back. Besides the intense heat, there was a different feeling looming in the air - the feeling of tension. He looked at the girl and felt a fear greater than what he felt of the old man, the monkey-bats, and the darned rat that chewed off his ear. He looked to Simon, hoping that his familiar face would soothe his nerves. It didn't. To Kituo something seemed off about Simon as well. Distrust swelled within the boy forcing him to hug the lantern. As the girl and Simon squabbled about the rabbit guy, Kituo analyzed them both and came to the conclusion that they were only going to get him killed. With the forest blazing around him, Kituo knew that it was either now or never if he was going to make his escape.

He wouldn't get the chance for he waited too late. He cursed his concious. If it weren't for it convincing him to stop earlier, he wouldn't be stuck with these lunatics or the pests that swarmed over the old man's carcass. The forest was taunting him once more as the rats - the brethern of the vermin that bit his ear - lasped up the blood of the dead old man. Although they were mostly ignoring him, Kituo imagined that it was his blood being licked up by the rats. Unable to further torture himself with their presence, he turned his back on the old man's carcass and groaned. The forest loved throwing bundles onto his plate at once and it would continue to pile on without consideration for Kituo's capacity to digest its horrors. He wished it were possible for him to regurgitate the barbaric memories that had been etched into his mind by the forest. It was official, he despised the place.

When the rabbit boy aimed his words to Kiuto, he didn't even bother to glance back. They all bothered him. As far as he was concerned, he was the last sane person remaining. That was certainly problematic as he was prone to snapping at any moment. Kituo sawed his teeth together upon hearing the rabbit boy's proposition about freeing the egg from the lantern. While Kituo believed that the lantern's contents both had special properties, he was reluctant to release it without knowing its capabilities for sure. If the rabbit boy was right about the motives for the Sparrow King's attack, then Kituo would vehemently deny freeing the egg to satisfy them. There was no excuse to resort to such an extreme just to see the sunlight. Growing up in the desert, Kituo didn't think the sunlight to be special anyway. Having been acquainted with it for the entirety of his life, he was liable to tell the rabbit boy that he wasn't missing out on a lot.

"Let's just getting going before those things attack again," Kituo grumbled, his back still facing the group.

The rabbit boy's stare singed Kituo worse than the fire. He didn't trust him a smidgen and from what he noticed neither did Simon. That made him feel slightly at ease. Of course he would never find solace as long as he was trapped in the dungeon that was the forest. For now he intended on tagging alone with the group. Escaping was still his preferred plan but it had lost its value. With the rabbit boy's focus locked on him, Kituo was stranded. Thankfully he still held onto his biggest asset and was perfectly fine with using it to bargain if needed.

Dragon Dance : The Frozen North (Hi-Casual) (Action-Adventure and Survival Horror in a Dark Shared Fantasy World) (Always Open)

Name: Baleno

Titles: The Boy Who Cried Wolf _{(Hometown Nickname)}

Affiliation: Currently servicing House Charming.

Age: 26

Birthplace: Olympus Imperium

Origin: Othello

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance: Standing an inch above six feet, Baleno is an impressively tall man with a compact build. Of half Alkhebulan and Imperium heritage, he is significantly darker than his mother's fair complexion and is only a couple shades lighter than his swarthy father. His skin is a smooth ochre, a medium brown pigmentation that edges only a smidgen closer to the light variety. The genetics of his father are clearly prevalent over those of his mother. From Othello he also inherited curly black hair. Because he spends most of his time traveling, Baleno tends to neglect it and has grown it into a rough mid-length afro. Perhaps the only noticeable trait his mother gave him was her eye shape. While his father's were small and close set, supporting his stern gaze, his mother's were large and upturned. He did not inherit their green color and his irises are instead dark brown like his fathers. Baleno has a square shaped face lined with a thinly trimmed goatee.

Not a fan of spending his hard earned money on trivial objects such as flashy clothes, Baleno frequently dresses in modest attire. His usual outfit comprises of brown trousers, black boots, and a blue long-sleeved shirt. Occasionally he wears a black cloak, particularly when the temperatures are cold. He keeps his sword equipped to his right hip. Covering his arms are a pair of metal gauntlets which serve as his armor of choice.

Occupation: Sellsword

Resources:

• Sword: Besides the clothes on his back and the few coin he has managed to procure, Baleno's sword is his only true possession as well as his lifeline. His current one, an old gladius with a withered blade, is not his first. While fighting at the Colosseum as a novice he went through plenty that he broke during combat. He was allowed to keep his last sword as a reward for surviving.

Skills:

• Swordsmanship Practitioner: While he attempted to teach himself how to wield a weapon as a teen, that training ultimately amounted to nothing. It wasn't until he was forced to fight at the Colosseum that he truly attained any apitude for the sword. Baleno was given his first blade along with some light armor and told to wing it. Faced with a new threat on a daily basis, he at first swung his sword around mindlessly with very little success. He began to obtain meaningful experience after sparring against other gladiators. Taking a few minor wounds in the process, he memorized some of their techniques through repetition and interwove them into his own fighting style. Presently, Baleno is not strong enough to be considered neither an expert nor a master. He is talented enough to hold his own against another capable swordsman and can handle weak opponents such as bandit grunts with ease. If he were to engage a higher tier opponent he would undoubtedly struggle. At best his skill level can be described as intermediate and at worst average. He has never had any professional training which is evidenced by his erratic movement during battle. He is very aggressive and quick with his strikes and they can be improperly coordinated, leaving him open for attack if he isn't careful.

Personality: Baleno is a man whose heart has been hardened by his experiences. As a child he was like any other. His innocent outlook put a veil over him and prevented him from seeing the truth surrounding his own being. He paid very little attention to the physical differences between himself and the man and woman he believed were his parents. The raised eyebrows of his neighbors did not bother him until they started blatantly asking questions about his origin. It was only when he realized that not everyone was favorable of presence did Baleno become aware that he was a pariah even to his own family. He manifested a complex about himself and determined that he was the problem and not those who thought ill of him. Fortunately, the adoration of his adoptive parents withdrew him from his sorrows before it was too late. But, he was branded with negative impressions that would seep cynicism into him. He became withdrawn from his village's community and lost trust for them. In response, the people of the village increased their disdain for him which he accepted as a means of justifying his coldness.

A life of mercenary work has made Baleno less honorable than most. Money has ascended to a core priority of his and he will gladly slay almost anyone he is hired to if he is to be paid enough. His loyalty can also be brought or sold. If he can get a sufficient amount of gain out of lending his services to someone, he will do so without inquiring about specifics. He will work with anyone to survive and no one to fall. Also, he will appease anyone who he could gain from and disregard those who have nothing to offer. That isn't to say he won't help a person in dire need. He might if he assesses the risk to his own safety as minimal. For the sake of profit he doesn't like to mix business with pleasure nor does he prefer to befriend his clients. Whatever honor that still remains within Baleno restricts him from committing outright betrayal to those who he has formed a personal connection with. Although he may take actions that may not be morally correct, his conscious is alive and well. He is able to come to terms with his wrongs and carries the weight of his guilt as punishment. Because he is willing to hold onto his guilt, he isn't likely to make any apologies for his offenses.

Socially Baleno is a soft spoken man who tries to pick his words wisely. He isn't very expressive, preferring to keep his internal thoughts closed off but will communicate as needed. He prefers his conversations to be terse and straight to the point. He is impatient, especially when it comes to payments, and greatly values his time. This behavior stems back to his childhood during which he felt that he could seldom trust others. In constant fear that whatever information he does release may be used against him, he carefully inspects his associates before sharing anything personal. He likes to keep a small circle of people whom he can consider close. Even he who is not the friendliest person knows that one cannot prosper without any allies. When selecting his comrades, he tends to prefer those who are weaker. This is so he can issue a degree of control and put them back in place if they get out of line. While initially he only looks at his acquired subordinates as tools for his own benefit, he is prone to develop value towards them if they prove worthy.

Biography: Unbeknownst to Baleno, he was conceived as the illegitimate child of Moorish general Othello and his lover Desdemona. To conceal their relationship, Desdemona made arrangements to be rid of him shortly after his birth. It was then decided that she and Othello would marry to compensate for the procreation that resulted in the child. Desdemona gave Baleno to a common man and his wife who could not bare children. They raised him as their own and his early days were spent residing in the Olympian Imperium countryside. He realized that he was not the couples biological son by age eight, his darker complexion being a dead give away. He was a rare sight within village and was often ostracized by his peers. Although he loved his adoptive parents, Baleno harbored a desire to learn about his biological parents and why they weren't raising him instead. No matter how hard he tried to ignore the facts, it was obvious that his village would never accept him. He figured it best to set out on his own when he grew older and discover his roots.

Social conflicts put aside, Baleno's upbringing was otherwise quaint. He received a sufficient role model in the form of his foster father and his mother was kind to him. Their impression of Baleno was that of a blessing. While he was in their household he was well behaved and got into minimal trouble when under their supervision. However, he was known for getting into rumbles with the other boys within the village who picked on him. There was one in particular with whom he had a fierce rivalry. Kaeso, because of a girl who they both allegedly liked, was very competitive with Baleno and frequently challenged him. They fought a lot and that was how Baleno discovered his innate combat potential. Wanting to be better than his rival, he began solo training in swordsmanship using wood as a substitute for an actual blade. Fearing that he would fall behind to Baleno, Kaeso concocted a scheme to get him out of the village so he wouldn't surpass him.

The plan was simple but it was enough of an excuse for the village to drive away Baleno who they considered an aberrant among them. Kaeso disguised himself as a wolf by draping fur over his body and crept towards the village livestock on all fours. As Baleno and his family were shepherds trusted with safeguarding livestock, he managed to deceive Baleno into believing that a wolf was attempting to feast upon the herd. This resulted in Baleno "crying wolf" on multiple occasions and losing the trust of the villagers. To finish his scheme, Kaeso led a real wolf towards the livestock and allowed it to feast. When the villagers discovered the wolf, Baleno was blamed for his negligence and ousted despite his parents pleas on his behalf.

After being exiled, Baleno traveled around performing odd jobs to survive. Not yet a skilled fighter, he found himself taking menial tasks in neighboring villages. The work he found was temporary and scarce. Starvation was plenty a problem during periods when he could not find employment. Becoming desperate, he resorted to petty theft. Using his job search as a farce, he would enter shops just to case them before later returning to make his plunder. It wouldn't be long before he was caught. His skills at thievery were mediocre and his heists poorly executed. One faithful day, in a bustling coastal city, Baleno made the dreadful mistake of attempting a pickpocket. His potential victim was a wealthy aristocrat who swiftly had him arrested. However, instead of a death sentence for his crime, Baleno was subjected to an equally horrific fate. He was sent to the Colosseum to partake in gladiator games.

Marked for death should he lose a match, Baleno quickly learned how to at least endure the onslaught of beasts he was pit against. He became infamous for surviving out of sheer luck, his impulsive use of deception allowing him to win numerous battles of attrition. Crowds flocked just to see how long it would take for him to be slain and were sorely disappointed. He gradually adapted to the hostility of the Colosseum and his swordsmanship proficiency increased. Eventually, he earned a pardon for his theft and was released from life as a gladiator. Any fame he acquired subsided well before that, the Colosseum's patrons having lost interest in him when he became capable of fighting properly. Having picked up a skill that was much desired in a turbulent land such as the Europa continent, he took to mercenary work. While in some regards it wasn't anymore honest than stealing, at least he was finally earning a consistent income.

Regardless of how far he traveled there was one concern that never stopped nagging Baleno. Having never known his real parents, he always felt as if there was a piece of him missing. It didn't help that he was forbidden from returning home and visiting the man and woman who raised him - the only people he knew capable of answering his questions. In the past whenever he brought up the matter of his biological parents he was brushed aside and written off as paranoid. Now free as a vagabond, he resumed his quest to solve the mystery once and for all. Derailed from his objective by the need to fight for money, he ended up sidetracked into the Empire of Europa in hopes of finding better opportunities. He ended up attracting the attention of a House Charming recruiter at a fighting tournament and was invited into their ranks as a mercenary.

Note:

• He was seventeen when he left home and was sent to the Colosseum roughly a year later.
• He fought as a gladiator for five years, being freed at the age of twenty-three.
• His long term goal is to discover his true origins.
• He was known as "the Boy Who Cried Wolf" within his village prior to being exiled.

Dragon Dance : The Frozen North (Hi-Casual) (Action-Adventure and Survival Horror in a Dark Shared Fantasy World) (Always Open)

I'm going to be rejoining as Baleno from the original thread. Considering the newer direction of the story line, I don't think it'll be fitting for him to start off as an unaffiliated sell sword like he was before. Since he was just about to join House Charming in the original thread, I was wondering if it would be permissible for me to start him off as a mercenary for that particular house? I have his bio posted below with the adjustments but am willing to change them if they aren't appropriate. Other than a few modifications to his affiliation he is pretty much the same as in the original thread.

Baleno

Name: Baleno

Titles: The Boy Who Cried Wolf _{(Hometown Nickname)}

Affiliation: Currently servicing House Charming.

Age: 26

Birthplace: Olympus Imperium

Origin: Othello

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance: Standing an inch above six feet, Baleno is an impressively tall man with a compact build. Of half Alkhebulan and Imperium heritage, he is significantly darker than his mother's fair complexion and is only a couple shades lighter than his swarthy father. His skin is a smooth ochre, a medium brown pigmentation that edges only a smidgen closer to the light variety. The genetics of his father are clearly prevalent over those of his mother. From Othello he also inherited curly black hair. Because he spends most of his time traveling, Baleno tends to neglect it and has grown it into a rough mid-length afro. Perhaps the only noticeable trait his mother gave him was her eye shape. While his father's were small and close set, supporting his stern gaze, his mother's were large and upturned. He did not inherit their green color and his irises are instead dark brown like his fathers. Baleno has a square shaped face lined with a thinly trimmed goatee.

Not a fan of spending his hard earned money on trivial objects such as flashy clothes, Baleno frequently dresses in modest attire. His usual outfit comprises of brown trousers, black boots, and a blue long-sleeved shirt. Occasionally he wears a black cloak, particularly when the temperatures are cold. He keeps his sword equipped to his right hip. Covering his arms are a pair of metal gauntlets which serve as his armor of choice.

Occupation: Sellsword

Resources:

• Sword: Besides the clothes on his back and the few coin he has managed to procure, Baleno's sword is his only true possession as well as his lifeline. His current one, an old gladius with a withered blade, is not his first. While fighting at the Colosseum as a novice he went through plenty that he broke during combat. He was allowed to keep his last sword as a reward for surviving.

Skills:

• Swordsmanship Practitioner: While he attempted to teach himself how to wield a weapon as a teen, that training ultimately amounted to nothing. It wasn't until he was forced to fight at the Colosseum that he truly attained any apitude for the sword. Baleno was given his first blade along with some light armor and told to wing it. Faced with a new threat on a daily basis, he at first swung his sword around mindlessly with very little success. He began to obtain meaningful experience after sparring against other gladiators. Taking a few minor wounds in the process, he memorized some of their techniques through repetition and interwove them into his own fighting style. Presently, Baleno is not strong enough to be considered neither an expert nor a master. He is talented enough to hold his own against another capable swordsman and can handle weak opponents such as bandit grunts with ease. If he were to engage a higher tier opponent he would undoubtedly struggle. At best his skill level can be described as intermediate and at worst average. He has never had any professional training which is evidenced by his erratic movement during battle. He is very aggressive and quick with his strikes and they can be improperly coordinated, leaving him open for attack if he isn't careful.

Personality: Baleno is a man whose heart has been hardened by his experiences. As a child he was like any other. His innocent outlook put a veil over him and prevented him from seeing the truth surrounding his own being. He paid very little attention to the physical differences between himself and the man and woman he believed were his parents. The raised eyebrows of his neighbors did not bother him until they started blatantly asking questions about his origin. It was only when he realized that not everyone was favorable of presence did Baleno become aware that he was a pariah even to his own family. He manifested a complex about himself and determined that he was the problem and not those who thought ill of him. Fortunately, the adoration of his adoptive parents withdrew him from his sorrows before it was too late. But, he was branded with negative impressions that would seep cynicism into him. He became withdrawn from his village's community and lost trust for them. In response, the people of the village increased their disdain for him which he accepted as a means of justifying his coldness.

A life of mercenary work has made Baleno less honorable than most. Money has ascended to a core priority of his and he will gladly slay almost anyone he is hired to if he is to be paid enough. His loyalty can also be brought or sold. If he can get a sufficient amount of gain out of lending his services to someone, he will do so without inquiring about specifics. He will work with anyone to survive and no one to fall. Also, he will appease anyone who he could gain from and disregard those who have nothing to offer. That isn't to say he won't help a person in dire need. He might if he assesses the risk to his own safety as minimal. For the sake of profit he doesn't like to mix business with pleasure nor does he prefer to befriend his clients. Whatever honor that still remains within Baleno restricts him from committing outright betrayal to those who he has formed a personal connection with. Although he may take actions that may not be morally correct, his conscious is alive and well. He is able to come to terms with his wrongs and carries the weight of his guilt as punishment. Because he is willing to hold onto his guilt, he isn't likely to make any apologies for his offenses.

Socially Baleno is a soft spoken man who tries to pick his words wisely. He isn't very expressive, preferring to keep his internal thoughts closed off but will communicate as needed. He prefers his conversations to be terse and straight to the point. He is impatient, especially when it comes to payments, and greatly values his time. This behavior stems back to his childhood during which he felt that he could seldom trust others. In constant fear that whatever information he does release may be used against him, he carefully inspects his associates before sharing anything personal. He likes to keep a small circle of people whom he can consider close. Even he who is not the friendliest person knows that one cannot prosper without any allies. When selecting his comrades, he tends to prefer those who are weaker. This is so he can issue a degree of control and put them back in place if they get out of line. While initially he only looks at his acquired subordinates as tools for his own benefit, he is prone to develop value towards them if they prove worthy.

Biography: Unbeknownst to Baleno, he was conceived as the illegitimate child of Moorish general Othello and his lover Desdemona. To conceal their relationship, Desdemona made arrangements to be rid of him shortly after his birth. It was then decided that she and Othello would marry to compensate for the procreation that resulted in the child. Desdemona gave Baleno to a common man and his wife who could not bare children. They raised him as their own and his early days were spent residing in the Olympian Imperium countryside. He realized that he was not the couples biological son by age eight, his darker complexion being a dead give away. He was a rare sight within village and was often ostracized by his peers. Although he loved his adoptive parents, Baleno harbored a desire to learn about his biological parents and why they weren't raising him instead. No matter how hard he tried to ignore the facts, it was obvious that his village would never accept him. He figured it best to set out on his own when he grew older and discover his roots.

Social conflicts put aside, Baleno's upbringing was otherwise quaint. He received a sufficient role model in the form of his foster father and his mother was kind to him. Their impression of Baleno was that of a blessing. While he was in their household he was well behaved and got into minimal trouble when under their supervision. However, he was known for getting into rumbles with the other boys within the village who picked on him. There was one in particular with whom he had a fierce rivalry. Kaeso, because of a girl who they both allegedly liked, was very competitive with Baleno and frequently challenged him. They fought a lot and that was how Baleno discovered his innate combat potential. Wanting to be better than his rival, he began solo training in swordsmanship using wood as a substitute for an actual blade. Fearing that he would fall behind to Baleno, Kaeso concocted a scheme to get him out of the village so he wouldn't surpass him.

The plan was simple but it was enough of an excuse for the village to drive away Baleno who they considered an aberrant among them. Kaeso disguised himself as a wolf by draping fur over his body and crept towards the village livestock on all fours. As Baleno and his family were shepherds trusted with safeguarding livestock, he managed to deceive Baleno into believing that a wolf was attempting to feast upon the herd. This resulted in Baleno "crying wolf" on multiple occasions and losing the trust of the villagers. To finish his scheme, Kaeso led a real wolf towards the livestock and allowed it to feast. When the villagers discovered the wolf, Baleno was blamed for his negligence and ousted despite his parents pleas on his behalf.

After being exiled, Baleno traveled around performing odd jobs to survive. Not yet a skilled fighter, he found himself taking menial tasks in neighboring villages. The work he found was temporary and scarce. Starvation was plenty a problem during periods when he could not find employment. Becoming desperate, he resorted to petty theft. Using his job search as a farce, he would enter shops just to case them before later returning to make his plunder. It wouldn't be long before he was caught. His skills at thievery were mediocre and his heists poorly executed. One faithful day, in a bustling coastal city, Baleno made the dreadful mistake of attempting a pickpocket. His potential victim was a wealthy aristocrat who swiftly had him arrested. However, instead of a death sentence for his crime, Baleno was subjected to an equally horrific fate. He was sent to the Colosseum to partake in gladiator games.

Marked for death should he lose a match, Baleno quickly learned how to at least endure the onslaught of beasts he was pit against. He became infamous for surviving out of sheer luck, his impulsive use of deception allowing him to win numerous battles of attrition. Crowds flocked just to see how long it would take for him to be slain and were sorely disappointed. He gradually adapted to the hostility of the Colosseum and his swordsmanship proficiency increased. Eventually, he earned a pardon for his theft and was released from life as a gladiator. Any fame he acquired subsided well before that, the Colosseum's patrons having lost interest in him when he became capable of fighting properly. Having picked up a skill that was much desired in a turbulent land such as the Europa continent, he took to mercenary work. While in some regards it wasn't anymore honest than stealing, at least he was finally earning a consistent income.

Regardless of how far he traveled there was one concern that never stopped nagging Baleno. Having never known his real parents, he always felt as if there was a piece of him missing. It didn't help that he was forbidden from returning home and visiting the man and woman who raised him - the only people he knew capable of answering his questions. In the past whenever he brought up the matter of his biological parents he was brushed aside and written off as paranoid. Now free as a vagabond, he resumed his quest to solve the mystery once and for all. Derailed from his objective by the need to fight for money, he ended up sidetracked into the Empire of Europa in hopes of finding better opportunities. He ended up attracting the attention of a House Charming recruiter at a fighting tournament and was invited into their ranks as a mercenary.

Note:

• He was seventeen when he left home and was sent to the Colosseum roughly a year later.
• He fought as a gladiator for five years, being freed at the age of twenty-three.
• His long term goal is to discover his true origins.
• He was known as "the Boy Who Cried Wolf" within his village prior to being exiled.

Lantern

Kituo twitched as he watched the accumulation of monkey-bats grow larger. It seemed that they had yet to notice him. Nevertheless, their presence was enough to keep him at bay. He remained as still as a mountain, his eyes fixated on the crowd of chimeric fiends nestled around the bell. How long would it be before they descended down on them again and wreaked havoc? Kituo shuddered to think but he knew it wouldn't be long. He wanted to run away but doubted that such a futile plan would suffice again. There were so many of the monkey-bats. He speculated they would only manage to corner him with little difficulty if he made a sudden break. Besides, scurrying away so abruptly could potentially put everyone else in danger.

Then again...what did he care about them anyway? He had never seen any of them before a day in his life before arriving to the forest. He owed them nothing. However, Kituo owed himself the duty of making it home alive. The duty of proving himself. He glanced up at the monkey-bat gathering to further assess it. If he moved quietly then perhaps he could pass by without drawing their attention. If they were from the earlier swarm, then Kituo knew they would be more than happy to resume their feast. He pushed the lantern against his chest, its warmth soothing his nerves and he proceeded to tiptoe into the undergrowth, the monkey-bats looming over his head like storm clouds about to downpour rain.

Then something wrapped around his leg and pulled him back. Only, it wasn't an actual object. It was a thought or rather a sentiment. It was guilt. Kituo had already left them behind once to deal with the monkey-bats on their own. For him to do so again was questionable. It was a miracle they all survived the first onslaught. Another swarming so soon might be too much for them. Curse his consciousness. Kituo was just about to make it away free with his lantern when it pulled him back. Forcing his body to turn around, Kituo looked at the other three people and, overlooking the fact that the old man had been knocked down, ripped his lips apart to speak coldly.

"Look up."

While normally his heart fluttered when his nervous, its beat was slow and dragging like the footsteps of a tortoise. There was no way of knowing what was going to come next with this forest. And it was absolutely horrid that it insisted on dropping onto him the same terrors repeatedly. If Kituo were to muster another flicker of hope, it would likely be diminished by the realization that he had yet to truly overcome a single adversity. The lantern had done all of his work for him so far. But just how long could it fight off his fears before its light blinked out?

Lantern

I meant to post earlier but I've got an exam tomorrow plus I've got a little writer's block about what to do with Kituo for now. Sorry.

Dragon Dance : Frozen North (Action-Adventure and Survival) (Always Open) (Fantasy Shared World)

I'll be returning.

Lantern

The electric shock jolted Kituo, causing him to pause before resuming his tirade. The old man was no one to be trusted. Just what did he intend to do with the lantern? In his mind Kituo pictured him taking it away and leaving him alone to perish in the forest. There was nothing stopping him from doing so. He had weapons and armor - a bizarre armor at that. His fear intensified as it never ceased to do. Kituo let out another exaggerated and bloodcurdling scream. Either he was hallucinating or the lantern was responding to him with a brighter glow. Wait a minute. It wasn't. A feint purple intruded upon the shower of green light that dared to obscure Kituo's vision completely. Kituo sat up, the heat of the lantern warming his stomach. He didn't mind the heat of its touch for it seemed more soothing than ever. Observing the battle of flashes between the purple light in the distance and the lantern's green glow, Kituo became so fascinated that he almost forgotten about the old man who was antagonizing him. He was snapped back into the moment by his voice which sounded rasping and scratchy - at least to his perception. With the exchange finished, Kituo whirled around to face the old man. Poking his bottom lip out in a passive protest, he wanted him to get the message. "No," Kituo hissed. He didn't feel the need to say more. Further justifying his stance, the old man revealed that the egg had taken a liken to Kituo and quite frankly he reciprocated that sentiment for what was now a multitude of reasons. There was something inside of the lantern and Kituo had little doubts that it would emerge into a wondrous sight. Glaring up at the old man, Kituo received a greedy vibe. While it was possible that he was prejudging him, the stress that accompanied their encounter so far had given him all but a negative notion of the veteran warrior. If Kituo wanted to get out ahead in the confrontation he would have to do what he did best - flee. He was stopped by a voice. The voice...of a girl? It surprised him, making him jump. His mind went to work as a swarm of questions swept through it. When Anise appeared he felt eased. He recalled catching a glimpse of her back at the clearing before dashing out. Remembering that made him feel worried. If she were there then Simon and the spear craftsman would undoubtedly be far behind. The must have survived the monkey-bat assault. Hopefully they would understand Kituo's decision to take off with the lantern and save his own skin. He was sure any other sane person would take the same protocols. Then again, given all of the duress, the status of Kituo's sanity was currently up for debate. Kituo remained silent as an ensuing conflict erupted between the old man, Anise, and some strange rabbit guy - the last of the trio giving him the chills. The rabbit guy seemed to be in Anise's companionship but that didn't make him feel any less weary. After all, he was still unaware of who exactly was friend or foe. He had the feeling that a reunion with Simon and the spear craftsman was unavoidable if the girl had come. He couldn't bare to face them again. Not after what he tried to get away with. I'll slip away while they're all killing each other, Kituo thought, grief pulling him back. It was a very reprehensible idea and while it wasn't the best, it was the easiest to execute. Running had yet to fail as his most effective solutions to his problems. Sorry guys, but me and the egg are getting out of here. Kituo rolled over, his eyes passing over Simon, and he started to crawl away. He only cleared a few inches before an accumulating of familiar adversaries petrified him. The monkey bats had definitely followed them but they didn't seem to be worried about the humans squabbling among themselves. They were instead captivated by the bell. Still their presence was enough to keep Kituo from moving. He didn't dare to utter a single breath, the earlier attack replaying as if no time progressed since his escape.