The Villiage of Altheda

[Voltrez]

Social graces! Scoffing to herself, Sayaka let her head fall onto her arms for a moment before raising it back up to look at the group still lingering in the alleyway. Things had proved rather interesting when the one girl, Justice, had stuck her nails in the second, rather literally. She applauded the second, who had attempted to make conversation even after it had happened, though she wondered rather briefly if the smarter thing to do would have been to apologize, take her deer and head off to sell it. It was sure to fetch the maiden a pretty piece of coin. She reached back into her pouch for another nibble of sticky bun then rested her head on the heel of her right hand, chewing absently, enjoying the sweet taste blossoming across her tongue.

As they hadn't yet left the alleyway, she was inclined not to move yet, both women were still at hand and the two men, one still knocked out cold, could still yet prove interesting to her morning. As it was, Justice brought up keys, and keyholes again, and she tilted her head, letting her long ponytail slide from her back to the side, and she used her other hand to twist a lock while she concentrated below her. Her eyes caught on the barrel of water on the rooftop she was on when her eyes turned to scan the area momentarily, and with a grin she couldn't suppress, her eyes danced down to the crowd below her, a plot forming in their depths.  

[Plaguie]

Shrugging and readjusting herself, Eruanna nodded shyly. Why is this so awkward? Why hasn't the girl even said anything to let me know that she understands? She turned to leave, but wanted to make it known that she was only trying to smooth things over. Opening her mouth and turning back toward the two, she noticed that they were deep in conversation. Ah well. Doesn't matter now. What's done is done, she thought.

Stepping out into the crowd, she made her way slowly to the market's center. If she ever met these people again, hopefully things wouldn't be as tense. Or strange for that matter. What made those two seem so odd? Eruanna just couldn't put her finger on it.  

[[ ]Zen[ ]]

Gazing lazily at the people below, a boy sat staring out his bedroom window. He had been waiting for his friends to return for some time now. They always took their time when they could. "Troublemakes..." he thought.

As he watched the people below his eyes picked out a few in the crowd that, well, he'd have had to have been blind not to have noticed them. They stood out alright, but what was more, was that he could feel them. Not the dull life forces that milled about the streets everyday, but powerful spirits with great purpose.

As the people he spotted were beginning a heated conversation, he heard a rustle in a nearby tree branch, and his attention shifted. He heard a few squeaks and chirps before his suspicions were confirmed, as two Eidolons burst forth from the flora. These two creatures could best be described as a combination of part rabbit, squirrel, otter, and magic. The boy called them Urim and Thummim, they were his best friends. His best friends had been successful, and they returned triumphantly with a few shiny red apples. The boy shared and apple with them and returned his attention to the strangers in the street. They were heading their separate ways now, and Aphranir thought he might head out shortly as well.  

[Damien Ember]

Damien ignored Justice's suggestion momentarily as he took the lead walking away into town. He let them get a bit of distance before he came back to addressing her. "It's not quite that kind of key. It doesn't fit any particular keyhole. At least none that I am aware of. It's just particularly ornate. I believe it's gold, if what I've been told is correct, and it has numerous gems inlaid upon it. The key in itself is a treasure, if it fits a keyhole I would shudder to think what is behind the lock that it fits."

Damien paused for a moment, letting his eye wander about the town as they continued to walk. I didn't expect you to have seen it. It was more so a shot in the dark. Though I honestly expected to have gotten some sign of where it was by now. It's a ornate golden key, I expected by now either someone would have used it, which should be obvious if it has been, or they would sell it, which would be the talk about town. So either it's not here, or if it is, someone knows enough about what they posses to make them keep it, but not enough for them to use it. At least that seems to be the most sound theory to me.  

[Hayor]

"Oh." Justice blinked in surprise, wondering what the point of a key was if it didn't even have a keyhole. She hadn't heard anything, but that didn't mean much at all when she only came out to feed. She didn't tell Damien she didn't see the point in it all, but she was sure he knew how she felt about those sorts of things.

Still, she wanted to help him, feeling guilty for making him feel unwelcome earlier when he'd first found her. Talking was okay with him, as well as some of the others in their 'group'. She found that they never required her to speak very much. "Should we ask other people?" She asked, although she didn't think so. She doubted Damien wanted them looking, as well. "Or maybe we should check the tavern. People like to talk there..." She suggested. She usually avoided the place for that same reason.  

[Damien Ember]

Damien shook his head. "No, if it isn't making much of a commotion I'm more inclined to believe my source was wrong about it's location. I doubt anyone in the tavern would have heard any more than you or I have standing in the street." Damien paused and considered what his next move should be. He wasn't entirely sure what to do now since his leads stopped there. He hated to think that waiting was all he could do but that is exactly what he was left with.

"So I take it you haven't heard anything that might hint to the direction of any of the charms?" He assumed Justice would have already said something if she had but he knew if he didn't ask it would be no one's fault but his own if he missed the knowledge. He was curious for reasons other than just finding new charms, but he didn't betray that fact.  

[Hayor]

Justice blinked, surprised that he knew about the charms. Then again, listening around, it seemed that a lot of people knew about them. She was getting very bad at knowing things. "I haven't heard anything." She admitted, and shrugged. "To be fair, I haven't really been listening out for anything." She told him honestly, glancing around her. No one was talking about any keys. Maybe Damien was right. "Have you?" She asked curiously, wondering if he was after them like other people were. She knew, already, that Damien wasn't out to get them for an evil purpose, if he was out to find them.  

[Damien Ember]

Damien shook his head again, "No. Other than the tip I'd gotten that there was one in this town I haven't heard anything. So far even that tip seems to have been off. You'd think objects as rediculous and powerful as they are would draw more attention than they seem to." He chuckled, " I half expected to have someone with one of them march up to the castle in Centra Delaqua demanding to be the new king or queen." He felt a bit defeated. "I guess I'm back to square one, I'll be honest, I've no idea where to go from here."  

[Hayor]

She hummed and watched him carefully, thinking for a moment before she spoke out loud. "Can you feel them?" She asked, curiously, unsure if he had such an ability. She did, although not so much that she could pinpoint them, but she felt a niggling in her stomach, a shift in the earth beneath her feet. A presence, ever calling, ever tempting. She could probably point the direction, but there were so many that she wondered if she might get confused. She hated wasted journeys, and she hated even more wasted journeys on things she didn't want to spend her time on. But, if Damien asked of it, she was sure she would probably comply. Still, she wondered, if she got closer to them, would she change her mind? Would she use them for good, or for evil? She wondered, but did not know.  

[Damien Ember]

Again he shook his head, "No, I cannot sense them." he paused before continuing, "I mean, I'm sure anyone with a good sense for energy could sense power within the item if they were presented with it, but I cannot sense them in a way that would lead me in their direction."

Damien was silent for a moment after he spoke that line, the implication of what he just said making an actual impact. "I suppose I'm really out of my element this time. I don't really have the skills to investigate without relying on energy, and clearly brute force won't help. Unless a charm happens to fall in my lap or someone else finds it and makes themselves apparent, I'm pretty much powerless..."