Darkwood Valley

[Abel Tesmihr]

Abel had arrived in the small town by Crystalstorm lake, and many of the buildings were still lit, yet most of the people whom he had seen wandering around had apparently been travelers from outside of Darkwood valley. They had most likely either traveled to the valley as tourists, or were passing through, seeking refuge. For a valley that had been known in the outside as 'The Valley of Demons', it seemed many human travelers had seen fit to explore this area. He had hoped that soon, its nickname would finally be put to rest if enough word had spread about the truth, that the valley wasn't a cursed place filled with bloodthirsty demons.

It didn't take him very long to reach the small shop that he had believed belonged to Eve, and the lighting coming from the windows and the moving shadows inside had evidenced that someone was indeed moving about inside. He had taken a small breath before entering the building, as it had been quite awhile since he had seen or spoken to her. As he opened the door, a small bell hanging just above it had been rung, alerting any inside that someone had entered.

[Eve Aensland]

Eve heard the bell and slightly looked up from her book. She was about to welcome the customer when she realized who had just entered unexpectedly.
"Abel"?! Eve stood up from her seat and set the book down on the counter so she wouldn't loose her reading spot. It had been quite some time since she last seen the lone human of Darkwood. To long in fact since she couldn't recall when he last left let alone, told her he was doing son.
"It's been some time now, I see you returned! Where on Trilune did you go? You should have told me you were heading out for another one of your outings"!
Eve crossed her arms as she came around the counter so she was in front of Abel and shaking her head at him. He left again without saying anything and it always made Eve feel better if when someone was leaving for whatever the reason, she was told and could be updated on what was going on.
"Well at least you are home, safe and sound. But please do tell me when you decide to take your leave"!
She smiled but kept her arms crossed letting Abel know she was happy that he was back home and yet a bit put off with his neglecting to say he was heading out.

[Abel Tesmihr]

He had only taken a few steps into the shop when he was suddenly approached by a rather cross-looking Eve. Even in her anger, she was amazingly easy on the eyes, and for a split second, his eyes had been lured to the generous bosoms that had risen from the crossing of her arms. He had little time to stare though as he was now under her scorn. He hadn't realized she would be worried about him in his absence, as he felt her workings within the valley would do enough to keep her mind away from thoughts of one of her guests. Then again, it wasn't the first time he had left without notice.

"Eve, I apologize for leaving so suddenly...there were matters at hand that I could not risk spilling into the attention of anyone else, especially you. I did not mean to upset you with my absence...I shall do better next time to keep you informed of my whereabouts. I am glad you are safe and sound as well...have things been well here in the valley?"

He asked her, hoping to draw the topic away from that which had upset her. Though he assured her he would keep her informed of where he went on his travels, he knew he would still have to be cautious of what she knew, as luring her into danger was the last thing he wanted to think about. He already knew he had enemies, and all it would take is a wrong move on his part to suddenly put someone he cared about, especially Eve, into the sights of those who wished to do him harm.

[Eve Aensland]

"Well I suppose I cannot stay cross with you. You did return safely and without harm done to yourself. As for things here in the valley, all is well. There has been no incidents or anything. Plus with Gen and her gang patrolling the valley at night and day, things are pretty safe around here. They keep me up to date on everything going on and what has happened through out the day if any incidents did occur. Not since that strange woman that caused a fire upon her arrival has anything happened in these parts".

Eve unfolded her arms and walked back to the other side of the counter. She pushed a box of overstock inventory out of the way. Leftover bottles and such that she just stocked which had no space to hold them. She picked up her book and put it into a small satchel while Abel began to check out the goods in the store.

Eve recently restocked everything for alchemy and even had some "how to" alchemy books near a large inventory of items of things mostly found throughout the valley. Crystals, rocks, metals, minerals, various kinds of dried plants, insects and a world of other items as well. Most of the girls that bring in the items, sell them when they come to the store to make their own gold so they can make a nice profit off them. Eve put the satchel on the counter and walked with Abel, showing him the things in the store that were on sale. He seemed particularly interested in the new empty, glass bottles, flasks and vials she just stocked up on.

[Genesis AyaLune]

Just before the light of the new day would come to shine over the valley for the day, Gen and her daughter were already at the summit of Hidden Mountain which overlooked the valley below. Gen took a deep breath as the clouds wheeled overhead slowly. The cold wind blew against the mountain's peak and the lovely Aurora Borealis danced in between the clouds high upon the heavens. Gen knew it was time to help usher in a new season. She began to concentrate and closed her eyes, her daughter doing the same. In her hands, Gen created a ball of blue energy which swirled and grew and in Echo's hands, a ball of green energy began to form. At the same time, both mother and daughter released the energy balls into the sky. Once high enough the energy balls dispersed and scattered icy winds and snow into the clouds which began to make the clouds thicker and expand across the sky. No snow fell but the air and winds became colder. Soon the change would be noticed in the valley below. Once done, Gen and Echo headed down the mountain side. Echo was excited and happy to have taken part in such an event since it was her first time getting to use her ability. Gen also was very happy for her and noticed how her powers had a green tint to them. She figured it must have been the laharian in her blood due to Kasul being her daddy. Half way down the mountain side, Gen and Echo met up with Nyx and Commandrone, who waited for them. The group of them, along with Echo's pet wolf, an ice fang wolf, all headed back for the comforts of the base. Gen told them about how this winter would be a nice and chilly one. She also made a note to herself about making sure the new greenhouse was ready for operation and checking up on it to see if Raven moved in yet.

[Eve Aensland]

Eve had spent the day at the store down at the town beside the lake. One thing she noticed through out the day was that it was getting cooler not only during the evenings but also cooler during the day as well. The night would be coming soon and the breeze outside began to get a little stronger. Eve got up from her seat behind the counter and closed up the windows to the store. She had Raine light a fire in a small fireplace in the back of the store to keep things warm. The other girls, Autumn and Stara lit some candles in the store for more light and warmth.

There had been a few customers throughout the day and the store was pretty profitable from them. Eve sold plenty of goods such as clothing and and ingredients for potions and elixirs. Eve hoped the sister's store, the bakery and other places like Cerrera's bar had a good profitable day too. Once the store was warm and the windows shut, Eve and her daughters went about re-stocking the shelves with new goods and new items. Many of the residents also sold their own items in the store when they could, especially rare items such as essences and other things they tend to find. Sometimes items are sold to Eve and she would pay the residents for their find and sell those items in time.

For now, Eve went back to her stool and sat down while the three daughters went to the back of the store to play and get comfortable. Eve figured she would stay for a few more hours before heading home for the night.

[Cerrera Sinn]

~Cerrera closed up her tavern for the night. She had a few late customers that left about an hour ago and now it was very late into the evening. She shut the door after taking in the menu board which had her chalk writing on it. Outside it was very cold and snow had fallen since about a week ago. All of Darkwood was once white again with a thick coat of freshly fallen snow. A few clouds hung in the air with some stars and the three moons hung against the backdrop of the heavens. Cer blew some candles out on the tables and headed back behind the bar while her daughter swept the floors clean. The succubus counted her earning for the day and stuck her gold pieces into a bag which she locked away in a safe. Once the safe was stuck into it's hidden area under the floor boards of the tavern, Cer lit a candle and took her daughter's hand. Both mother and daughter headed up the stairs to the taverns 2nd floor which had many rooms and overlooked the tavern below. They headed to their bedroom where they could get some much needed rest. Cer took Asa to her bedroom and got her changed and into some clean clothing to sleep in. Once the child was dressed, Cer helped her into bed and gave her a kiss good night.

The wind blew against the tavern's walls and windows making some trees outside scratch at the glass and coat it with snow. Cer took a peek outside and all she could see was white. The clear sky was soon veiled by clouds as a nightly snow storm blew in from the north. The only lights Cer could see outside was the ones on Genesis's strange home in the distance. Blinking lights some white and some red on her "base" as she called it. Cer moved away from the window and went to her bed. She removed various articles of clothing and got changed into some comfortable sleeping clothing. There was no Kai this evening as she was sure the water elemental had gone out to do more errands again. Cer set her candle upon her nightstand before going to her bed. She blew the candle out and let the sound of the wind lull her into a deep sleep. ~~

[Lumena]

Had it not been for the glow of the fire, she may have been half frozen. Had it not been for the cold comfort of the cave walls, she may have been covered in snow. And truly, had it not been for the naive curiosity of her foolhardy youth, Mirror would not have found herself in the aforementioned predicament.

Her hands cupped up closely to her shuddering breath, the young woman's lungs pumped out warmth onto swollen fingertips. She adjusted her rump on top of the many bundles, normally resting atop her shoulders, and let her back slump.

"Ha, foolhardy indeed." she smiled inwardly. "There's no place for a traveler amongst rocky slopes at night. No way I'm making my way to town now."

Eyes that peered out towards the heavy snowfall outside, the faint flicker of magic across the wide entrance they did adjust to. So the spell was holding, that was a relief. She felt no need to share with winter the closely guarded warmth she was slowly accruing. Taking a stand, she then knelt down and took from one of the bags some gauze and then sat herself down once more. Kindly, carefully she began to wrap it about her injured fingers.

"Now, when one comes to a cliff side one does not determine its durability by walking to the edge." she scolded aloud. Her tempered voice danced along with the shadows before dying away.

[Raven Avalon Evermore]

Raven was living inside the greenhouse tending to the plants that had been transplanted there and was keeping herself busy as well as she could not venturing into the cold unless its absolutely necessary. "It's so cold here during the winter..." she muttered as she scrapped the frost from a window on the greenhouse to look outside. She wondered if she would have a visit from anyone anytime soon because she was starting to get lonely inside of her home.

[Cerrera Sinn]

~Cerrera left the tavern for a little bit to head to Shadowfang forest. She locked it down and took her daughter along with her. She was getting older and showing an interest in all things literature related as she spent much of her free time at the library. Cer and Asa left the locked tavern and a small "Will be back soon" sign hung on the main doors. The two made their way for the dark forest. Though it was daylight and cold, the forest was thick and blocked out most of the sun. Cer had a secret in the forest, a new home which she discovered. It was an abandoned home that looked like a small mansion that time forgot. Outside it was bordered by a knee high stone wall and metal fencing that was showing signs of age, a large metal gate was unlocked as the two strolled up the small path to the main doors of the home. Leaf-less trees with twisted branches surrounded the home, standing tall and over it's roof. Mother and daughter went inside and began cleaning things up a little bit more. Small ghostly flames followed Cer inside. She commanded them to the tips of the wicks on candles to create some needed light. Cobwebs and dust could be found everywhere, on the walls, the floor and clinging to the dusty furniture that decorated the lovely home. Asa cleaned off some old books in a large study room. Some of the books floated to her hands to be put away. Like mother like daughter, the younger succubi seemed to have control over the ghostly flames that possessed the books. She dusted and cleared some cobwebs away from the shelves so more books could be put away. Cer kept herself busy by dusting down other rooms and moving some small tables and chairs around. Every now and then the flames would play and stack the chairs on top of the tables in a strange manner and cause some chairs to slide across the floor away from Cer's reach. Before they left the home, Cer and Asa changed some light bulbs outside of the home so at night's beginning they would come on and give the area a lovely yet eerie purple glow. Though the mother and daughter left, many flames and spirits remained at the home. Instead of staying at the tavern all the time, Cer and Asa had a lovely home to now call their own. ~~

[Lumena]

The sun's very last flickering rays were all that remained ahead as the cloaked figure made her way down the narrow path. Bits of snowflake clung about her hood while blackened ice nipped at her shoe-covered heels. Still, it was a most enjoyable venture compared to the previous night in the mountain range. Her mind raced back in time along the many sloping hills and sharp stones. No, there was no warmth there, nothing save for heinous creatures with no other purpose, but to chew at her hot flesh and gnaw away the remaining bones.

"I'll have none of that..." her breath met with the chilled wind and floated off into the distance. The echo of her footsteps was discomforting, her green eyes darted back and forth. It... was as twilight hued eyes flickered in the distance, greeting her with a most unsavory welcome. "The town must be ahead soon...I should make it there before..."

Her voice died away as did the remaining glimmers of sunlight and the map lines seemed to fade before her as the shadows moved in.

"Well...there goes that." she shifted the weight off her sagging shoulders and the bulk of her bags fell off. Sitting them beside her Mirror then put the map away and breathed in deep.

[Cerrera Sinn]

~Night had finally come to the valley and the succubus was quite busy serving up drinks to those that dared travel the valley after sundown. The few remaining travelers kept warm by sitting and drinking by a nice roaring fireplace in the middle of the tavern. The ale kept flowing and Cer made her lovely coin while Asa kept a tab on the amount made each night. Fresh bowls of peanuts and other nut types were severed for free at the bar top, each table in the warm tavern had a single candle inside a decorative glass jar. Some smoke from various cigars filled the tavern and hung lightly in the air against hanging wooden lights fitted with candles. Cer looked around at the strange faces and not one was familiar this night. She figured most of the regular residents were going about their business this fine evening.
"Oh well" she thought and went back to serving ales and brews to awaiting and generous customers. The town seemed to be a bit busy lately with people coming not only to her lovely tavern but to the sister's blacksmith shop to buy various weapons and armors, the scent of the bakery also filled the air from time to time seeing as many travelers would enjoy various sweets and to the town hall which also served as a library. Cer figured Eve might have her hands full lending out the rooms of the mansion to various travelers. Perhaps word spread of Darkwood to places far beyond familiar borders. Either way it was nice to receive some well earned coin. Cer handed another bag full of gold coins to Asa who kept them in a large safe for later counting. ~~

[Abel Tesmihr]

A cold night had set upon the eastern forest region, two days walking distance from one of the royal capital cities that sat upon the coastline. Deep within the forest, a lone sign of light could be seen from within the curtain of trees which belonged to a brightly burning campfire. Sitting near the fire were two men, unwinding and relaxing after a long day of traveling. Within one of the three tents nearby, a lone woman slept soundly as she held a small talisman in her hands. The three travelers were on their way to the capital city where they would be able to catch a ship that would take them back to the mainland to the west of the great sea. One of the two men, a dark-haired young man, gave a nod to the other and made his way to one of the empty tents to turn in for the night. The remaining man by the campfire, a silver-haired middle aged man, reached into the satchel bag at his side and pulled out a tome and a quill pen. After dipping the tip of the quill into a small ink vial he had with him, he took a glance at the spanning night sky above before writing his first entry for the night into the old book, the grimoire that held all of his experiences and memories to that day. At his side, opposite of the one where the satchel bag hung, a cross-shaped weapon sat against the soft soil, glowing ever so faintly.



[New ARMS and PEOPLE entries added to the Grimoire: Echo Talisman/Kaden, Isolde]

[Cerrera Sinn]

~Twilight reached the quiet valley of Darkwood but many of those that enjoy the company of darkness were already out and getting ready for the cold chill of nightfall. Cer closed her tavern early and headed home with her lovely daughter. The two headed for the border of Shadowfang forest where the trees gathered and grew tall. The cold snow bothered neither mother or daughter as the shadows of the trees blocked out what little light from sunset was left. The daughter was growing up quickly like her brother. She wore a pair of glasses over alluring red eyes and clutched a couple of books in her arms as she followed her mother. She soon noticed the gray/bluish flames that followed them as they made their way to the lovely new home Cer found and opened. Cer held out her hand and a ghostly flame came to her palm and rested. The laughter of children could be heard as the flame left her hand and gathered with others like it.
"Mother, according to my books, I too, should gain full control over such flames once I learn more ways of the arcane". The daughter was a curious little bookworm and always asking questions to which Cerrera was happy to answer.
"Yes, that is quite correct. However, as a child born from two demons you already have those powers, they just need to be perfected as you learn more into our dark craft".
Asmodeus liked that idea and skipped up to her mother's side. The two continued to walk through the dark forest, watching the flames following them as they played under the canopy of leaves and branches. More night creatures began to show up. A pack of red eyed wolves being lead by a single ghostly looking white wolf ran into the deep forest. Night Elk with their winter coats appeared. They had horns which were as white as the snow that gathered on the ground and white fur which grew thick. Cerrera pointed out various creatures along the ways while Asa took notes in her books and listened to her mother's words closely. Before long the two made it home. With a creak, the main gates to their lovely little mansion were unlocked and shut behind them. A small path between the gate and the courtyard stretched before them. On either side the path was bordered by various graves with fancy cross shaped headstones, tombstones and some that had weeping statures above the grave. Tall, leafless tress swayed in the wind while small ghostly flames played by the tree trunks and around the graves.
"Well here we are, now let's get out of the cold and get into our nightly attire". The door unlocked as Cer turned the skeleton key and opened the door to let Asa in first followed by her mother. Once inside, both mother and daughter went up stairs to take warm baths and spend a night in the mansion's library with some books and fresh tea. ~~

[Lumena]

(I'll apologize now for my lack of understanding the town's visage, I haven't been around for a while^^;; )

Through the misty plane the lone figure walked, a hallowed grunt issuing from under sodden cloak. Mirror's fingers trembled in both the chill of the air and the ecstasy of a potential place to warm themselves while their owner gazed on ahead. Those clever, narrowed eyes searching again and once more for nothing, but still streets. Of course, Mirror knew better than to believe her sight and continued to breathe in deep, tasting in the aromas and threads of energy alike.

It was exciting here, her mind tingled with the sparks that seemed to burst through the air...

And yet everything was still. She shuffled her feet and began to close in on the nearest building to the outskirts. The lass tilted her head and touched the wood of the building, pressing her palm into its curve. Her eyes bowed and then raised up to the endless, darkened sky. Licking parched lips she continued on.

"Odds are...at this time of night.." her voice muffled by the fog, Mirror dropped down at the side of the building and began ruffling through her pockets. After a few moments of thoughtful searching she pulled from the confines of her left pocket a little watch and took to staring at it dutifully.

"Well...I suppose the hour is not so bad. Perhaps someone is open...?" Her eyes once again wandered into the abyss of night only to be welcomed by the dancing mist. She frowned and put the watch away. Leaning her head onto the side of the building Mirror let out a long sigh and shook herself gently. Her shoulders felt heavy, raw from the weight of the bags rubbing against her skin.

"It will be nice to get some hot water..." she crooned, listening to the screeches of a winged beast from above.