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May 13, 2022 at 3:43 pm #110920
Hesh
His head pounded as if all the forces of Merscwarn had waged battle in his skull. Ow. He sat up, leaned against a cold damp wall, and breathed. Slowly his head-fog began to clear. Feather and Rinzler had already regained consciousness and were fiddling with the lock of the chamber’s door.
Since someone had gone through all the trouble of drugging them, he would have expected to be put in a dungeon cell, and he was right. Probably. Anyways, the room was dark except for Rinzler’s weird clothes and a stick that Feather had. The stick had light coming from one end, but not the warm glow of fire, something harsher. Glancing about, Hesh spotted a torch in a bracket a few feet away. Dead, of course, but he could fix that. He stood up and found his jerkin’s hidden pocket—at least he hadn’t been searched—relieved to find his tinderbox. He lit the torch.
The flame’s flickering red glow danced along the walls. Hesh watched Rinzler fiddle with the lock. He didn’t seem to be making any progress. Hesh smiled. “Have you forgotten that I am a master thief? Here, let me.” He pulled his lockpicking kit from his boot and Rinzler moved aside. Hesh set to work. Soon a satisfying click signalled that the job was done. They were free.
We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good on, eh?
-The DoctorMay 13, 2022 at 4:00 pm #110922@elishavet-pidyon I think its ur turn btw (:
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMay 13, 2022 at 7:57 pm #110924Ooo, maybe they should meet each other. XD Of course, my charies have absolutely no idea what a shape shifter is, so that could be awkward.
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkMay 13, 2022 at 8:06 pm #110925……..and I’m back!!! (Sorry, my phone was hijacked by a sibling, which is fine ’cause I’ll probably do the same to hers some time. The problem with having books on one’s phone. XD)
Alyona
An eternity passed before someone spoke up. Well, maybe not quite an eternity, but to Alyona’s anxious mind, it was undeniably long.
It was Arabella who spoke first. Her voice was tender with memory.
“I… We, November and I, are from A’Grend.”
A’Grend? Where in the world was that?
Alyona looked up. Arabella was serious, there was no mistaking that, not with tears swimming in the girl’s eyes.
“I…I don’t think we’re from here.” She looked away, as if the truth was difficult to face. “Your world, I mean.”
My world? Alyona knew what that meant. This girl and her friend were from a land far away, maybe a different continent. A place so different that it belonged to a different world all it’s own. Some people said the Brother-Nations used to be like that, when compared to the countries around them.
Alyona sighed inwardly.
And one look at Arabella told a tale in itself. Her eyes her misted over, forgotten while the mind wandered in sweet memory. The tale’s title filled her face.
Home.
A tear spilled down Arabella’s cheek causing Alyona to turn away before she too began to cry.
Home was far away for both of them, perhaps lost forever.
“I’m from Cirque!” Jocelyn interrupted the nostalgia with a glowing grin. Alyona felt her spirits lift slightly, as the bubbly lass leapt from her seat with a laugh. The foxy creature scrambled to perch on Jocelyn’s shoulder as if also weary of idleness. Jocelyn scratched him behind his ears. “I met Ara and November a while back.”
Cirque? She’d never heard of that place either. If these places were real, they must be very far away indeed.
Yet, these people spoke her tongue.
How strange.
She turned to the VoyageFolk. Maybe they could explain where these places were.
In fact, everyone else was looking to them as well. Did anyone understand where they were from?
“Ah, domoi.” Zlatan sighed. “I and my brot’er are from the Zemvulkn, of ze tribe Nadež. My father’s name is Vratislav, a Sotnik in his own right. I know not how ve came to be ‘ere, only zat ze owner of zees castle has much to explain.”
She knew she was just a poor farm girl, but she’d never heard of any of these places. At least the group was friendly.
The tall Voyager, Vulkasin she believed his name was, sudenly lifted his head and laughed.
“Ah, for the land of ice and stone, where the wild live in whole and free.”
Alyona dropped her rag. Ice and Stone? What about the water?
As she bent to get it, she heard a low tap at the door.
Viktor!
Terror clutched at her heart. She forgot her rag and flew to the door before someone else might think to look.
She hesitated, hand on latch. Everyone was staring at her.
Great.
What could she say?
“I hope it’s not a guard.” She offered a weak smile. That wasn’t a lie, she did hope it wasn’t a gaurd.
Ignoring the alarm behind her, she creaked the door open a crack.
A dark headed boy stood huddled outside, his face pale in the moonlight. Was someone standing behind him
“Alya, it’s…” His whisper faded to nothing at the look on her face.
She slid outside, closing the door tight behind her. “Viktor, you’re back! But I don’t have the food ready. Who’s with you?”
“It’s just…uh, a friend of mine. They’re watching the gaurd for me. Can I come in?”
“I don’t know. Someone’s with me too, though. I think they’re Smugglers, but they talked about stone, and the others are from somewhere else. I don’t know it they’re all friends.”
“Alya, are you all right?”
She stood there, frozen in indecision. Viktor touched her hand.
“We can’t stay out here for long, or the guards will wake up. What are these people like?”
Before she could answer, the door cracked open behind her.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
May 13, 2022 at 8:29 pm #110927@koshka can u go next? I’m in a service so can’t RP rn
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMay 13, 2022 at 10:58 pm #110928Kent sat up. His head felt like someone had hit it a couple time with a iron pan then gave it a good kick for good luck. He’d been dreaming about something? Birds making a garden. . . on a roof? A blinding light flashed in his eyes “Ow! What is that?” Kent covered his face.
“Sorry” Came Feathers voice, and the light moved to shine on an open door and a grinning Hesh.
Kent crawled to his feet. “Do any of y’all have some water? I’m parched.” He tried licking his lips. “My tongue feels like sandpaper.”
You will love what you spend time with.
May 14, 2022 at 12:17 pm #110936@godlyfantasy12 @elishavet-pidyon
Eeeeps! Sorry… I’ll try to get something up.
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkMay 14, 2022 at 10:12 pm #110937@koshka I can go next if u need me to (:
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMay 14, 2022 at 10:26 pm #110938That would probably be a good idea. I’m sorry, I’ll try to get back on later today!!
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkMay 14, 2022 at 10:43 pm #110939@koshka it’s ok!
Jocelyn
Alyona had stepped out and appeared to be speaking to someone. Everyone seemed on edge now.
Could it be a guard? Lyn was sure that if it was, their group could quickly tie them up using…something.
Or Zlatan and Vulkasin could knock them out if need be. Though, hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
Alyona seemed to be talking in quick, hushed whispers, but, from what Nyx could hear, it didn’t sound like a guard.
”It’s someone she knows.”
”You’re sure?” November asked. The little fox nodded, frowning to let November know the question wasn’t even necessary.
”Who?” Ara asked no one in particular.
”Mind filling us in?” Vulkasin asked, eyebrows raised as he glanced at the little fox, who shrugged and preened himself.
”Nyx said whoever Alyona’s talking to, it’s someone she knows.” Lyn repeated her companion’s words.
Zlatan narrowed his eyes at the closed door. “Then vy is she not bring zis person inside?”
”My thoughts exactly.”
Lyn shrugged, “Maybe she just needs some encouragement!” Lyn smiled sweetly, making her way to the door.
“Jocelyn!” Zlatan said sternly, his hand on his sword hilt. Ara was also reaching for her friend, but Lyn was already opening the door.
Alyona turned as the light from inside shined out into the dark, cold night. It highlighted the young girl and…
A young boy, a bit older then her, around the same age as Lyn herself. Her had dark hair, darker then Ara’s, but not quite like Zlatan’s.
He looked surprised and a bit concerned at Jocelyn’s approach, but he made no threatening moves. It looked like someone was behind him, but, when Lyn saw that Alyona was tenderly touching the boy’s hand, she figured he was a friend.
In fact….they looked a bit similar. Not exactly alike, but not all that different either….
Lyn greeted him in her usual manner, “Hi there!” She shook his hand exuberantly. “What are you standing out here for?” She glanced at Alyona, who looked at the boy. “My name’s Lyn! Jocelyn, to be exact!”
Nyx came bounding over the threshold and onto her shoulder, his ears twitching and nose buzzing as cold night air hit him.
“Ugh…it’s gotten chillier.”
“This is Nyx! These are my friends! Apparently you know Alyona….” She turned to the girl. “Who’s your friend?”
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMay 15, 2022 at 12:55 am #110940*Wriggle of excitement*
Viktor
There in the doorway stood a girl around his age, a wide smile illuminating her face.
Alyona had instinctively clutched at his hand when the door had opened, and he couldn’t help but notice how clammy her own hand was. What had frightened her this badly? The stranger seemed friendly enough.
Of course, looks often were deceiving.
Was she some sort of spy?
“High there!” the girl shook his free hand in greeting, which made him suppose the strange words were also a greeting of some sort. “What are you standing out here for?” Neither of them had an answer for that. “My name’s Lyn! Jocelyn, to be exact!”
Just then, a fox like creature came leaping up onto Jocelyn’s shoulder, three tails spinning in the firelight. It shivered and huddled closer to the girl.
“This is Nyx!” Lynn introduced the fox, then waved her hand to the figures behind her. “These are my friends! Apparently you know Alyona….” She spun on Alya. “Who’s your friend?”
Alyona smiled the smile that meant she had forgotten her name and and the identity of every person living. She spoke through clenched teeth.
“This is….”
It looked like he’d have to talk. Slipping one hand safely under the edge of his mantle, he offered a slight bow.
“Peace to you. I’m Viktor Mynclais, and I hope I’m a friend of Alyona’s, since I can’t help being her brother.” He grinned at his sister and had the satisfaction of seeing a little humor creep into her smile. She freed his hand.
Brave Alya was returning.
Jocelyn clapped her hands in excitement, “You’re her brother? How nice! Do…”
A soft whistle sent his head snapping around. His tall friend had retreated further into the shadows. The guards had… returned.
Jocelyn was still talking. “…work here too?”
He hissed under his breath. “Alya, the guards…”
She interruped Jocelyn midsentence, which she hadn’t done since that day at the Harvest Fest…was that only a week ago? “Pardon, but it’s a bit cold out here, why don’t we continue this conversation inside?”
Jocelyn wasn’t in the least bothered. The fox on the other hand seemed a bit affronted.
“Of course! I was wondering why you were standing out here anyway.”
They hurried in, Viktor bolting the door behind them.
Then he turned and found himself looking right into the eyes of a dark headed Voyager.
“E’s every’zing all right?”
“Aye.”
‘Actually, that would be a lie. Not everything is all right, and it will be that way till this world ends.’
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
May 15, 2022 at 1:24 am #110941@koshka, OK now it’s ur turn 😂 I think XD
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMay 17, 2022 at 2:58 pm #110946@godlyfantasy12 @elishavet-pidyon
Vulkasin and Zlatan
She had closed the door behind her, not exactly how someone would react to a guard. Unless she was trying to cover for them.
Why would she do that?Vulkasin frowned. He didn’t need anyone to cover for him.
November suddenly spoke. “You’re sure?” he appeared to have been addressing the fox, who looked a tad miffed.
“Who?” Ara was also looking to the fox.
Vulkasin realized Nyx must be talking again. “Mind filling us in?”
It almost looked like the fox had shrugged; he certainly looked self appreciative.
“Nyx said whoever Alyona’s talking to, it’s someone she knows.” Lyn translated.
Zlatan was staring down the door. “Then vy is she not bringing zis person inside?”
“Maybe she just needs some encouragement!” Lyn smiled sweetly, making her way to the door.
The concern in his brother’s eyes flared to his voice. “Jocelyn!” his hand had gripped his sword hilt. Arabella reached for Lyn- to late. The lass had already swept over the threshold.
She stood outside taking, a few of her words drifting inside. A moment later she sailed back in, Nyx looking frustrated.
Behind her came Alyona with a dark curly headed lad only a bit shorter than Zlatan.
His brother’s hand had left blade. “E’s every’zing all right?”
“Aye.” The lad replied, his dark eyes denying him.
Vulkasin unfolded himself from the table, stepped over a dough trough, and offered his hand. “I’m Vulkasin, and zees is my brot’er.” His grin was bright and firmly in place.
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkMay 17, 2022 at 3:38 pm #110947Arabella
Lyn, Nyx and Alyona were now accompanied by a boy around Ara’s age with brown hair, much darker then her own, that curled at the tips. His eyes were dark, as if he were…concerned, but something about his face seemed kind.
”This is Viktor!” Lyn introduced him, not giving him time to speak. She wasn’t being rude, she was just excited, Ara could tell.
All of this was one big adventure in her eyes. And…perhaps she needed a distraction after their last adventure.
Though Ara wondered how she was able to bounce back so quickly…
Nyx made his way to Lyn’s other shoulder, the one closest to Viktor. He kept a narrow eye on the boy, his nose twitching.
“He’s Alyona’s brother!” Lyn said. Alyona’s brows furrowed at the loud exclamation, but she smiled.
Zlatan and Vulkasin seemed more relaxed now, knowing the boy was, indeed, just that; a boy. And Alyona’s brother as well.
Ara, however, was still a bit curious as to why Alyona hadn’t mentioned him and had…kept their conversation outside.
Though, in Alyona’s mind, they were the strangers here.
How would Ara feel if she were in this situation? If the roles were reversed?
No, she had no siblings, but she had her friends…
And trusting them with strangers…
Vulkasin and Zlatan had so far proven themselves trustworthy but….
Ara swalllowed and it felt like a hand squeezed her throat, closing off the air for a moment.
She knew from experience that people weren’t always what they seemed. She now understood Nyx’s wariness….
”Ara?” A voice whispered. She turned to find a pair of blue eyes looking at her, concerned.
November.
She hadn’t realized she’d been lost in thought. Alyona and Viktor were talking to the brothers about…something. What, she wasn’t sure. She’d lost track of time for a moment.
November’s eyes furrowed and he frowned. ”Everything okay?”
She nodded and looked away. “It’s…fine.”
”Doesn’t look fine,” he gave a half-smile.
She returned it. “Just…thinking.”
“Yea…” He turned to look ahead and the two tried to focus their attention on the conversation before them.
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMay 17, 2022 at 8:21 pm #110954Alyona
This wasn’t going right. Hopefully it wouldn’t go wrong either.
They had been forced to follow Jocelyn inside, from one threat to another. If only she could know for certain if the two VoyageFolk were Smugglers or not, then she wouldn’t be so uncertain.
At least Viktor was safely with her, however safe that may be.
Zlatan looked worried, and rightly so, considering her slightly deceitful comment before opening the door.
“E’s every’zing all right?” he looked Viktor over.
“Aye.” her brother responded lightly, but his thoughts were obviously dwelling in so.e dark corner.
Maybe near where her own wandered.
If only they could get free, away from suspicion its bitter tyranny.
Alyona dragged her thoughts back to the present as Jocelyn stepped forward. “This is Viktor!” she waved a hand at him, jubilance unhindered by the fox lurking on her shoulder. It was cute, but it must get heavy after a while.
“He’s Alyona’s brother!” Jocelyn declared to the room. Alyona reminded herself that Lyn didn’t mean any harm. Perhaps it was better this way.
Nobody seemed too shocked by the announcement, although the rest of the group didn’t take it as easily as Jocelyn had.
Vulkasin was surprised, but probably the most pleased beside BubblyNoiseGirl. Zlatan, well he was hard to guess, but he looked relieved, or was it protective? Ara was worried, which meant November was too, but not about them.
Vulkasin pried himself out from the table and stepping over the bread kneading trough as easily as if it were a where Alyona would have preferred it: flat on the ground. He held out his hand to Viktor
“I’m Vulkasin, and zees is my brot’er.”
Viktor returned the Voyager’s grin, although in a smaller version, and shook the offered hand.
“Peace to you. As Jocelyn said, I’m Viktor, Alyona’s older brother.”
Alyona noticed Ara’s mouth quirk for a moment, as if something were strange. Then it dawned on her: she hadn’t heard any of these people use the time-honored greeting of wishing the Shepherd’s peace to another. In fact, Lyn had used a cryptic phrase about the height of their share or something similar.
Viktor
There was bread on the counter, and soup bowls were laid across a table. Apparently, Alyona had managed to feed these people, hungry travelers by look of it.
And the bread looked amazing. He supposed there wouldn’t be much soup left, but that would all right. Alyona was probably be feeling bad about depleting their traveling stores, but bread kept better anyway.
His attention was snapped back by the tallest young man stepping over and holding out his hand. “I’m Vulkasin, and zees is my brot’er.”
They don’t appear dangerous. In fact, these two look like VoyageFolk. Understanding dawned as he realized who Alyona had called Smugglers, or wanted to.
He gripped Vulkasin’s hand. “Peace to you. As Jocelyn said, I’m Viktor, Alyona’s older brother.”
Vulkasin slapped his brother’s shoulder. “This is my older brother. His name is Zlatan.”
Jocelyn joined in, walking to the table. “This is Arabella, and this is November. They’re friends of mine.”
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
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