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 Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:35 am
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:37 am
-broken post- Today was a big day for the Shield siblings. After several months of remodeling and finalizing changes in their business plan, The Wooden Shield Tavern was ready to be re-opened to the public. Placed in the outskirts of the city, it had been well-known for quite a time as a great welcoming place for new, bright-eyed adventurers from far down south. The owners and founders of the place had run it for over five hundred years, so it came as a surprise to many when they seemed to suddenly decide to place the ownership of the tavern in the hands of their daughter, a stern and young-in-appearance woman with far less charisma than her parents. It also came to a surprise to the locals when she made the decision to close the tavern for three months for re-modeling. It was a bustling drinking place with cheap prices and a place for those who had yet to make their way into The Dragon Castle. Closing the place down for the first time in its 500 years of being an establishment brought a huge blow to the activities of many local drunks.
In Lacie's eyes, it was worth it. Having not slept a wink throughout the night, she placed final touches throughout the entire tavern from the cellar to the roof. Her hard work and dedication to the upkeep of the tavern was noticeable to many of the tavern's neighbors. Early into the dawn of the day, quiet thumping could be heard atop the roof, last minute fixes to various broken shingles being made by the girl. After sweeping the floor of the main tavern floor, the sun had begun to shine through the windows, creating an ambient aesthetic as it hit the matte wooden floorboards. Small particles of dust caught up in the air from Lacie's consistent sweeping can be seen gently floating in the light, giving the tavern keep a more calm sensation as she paused in her work.
In the meantime, the eldest Shield child Markus had yet to rise out of bed. Unlike his sister, he was not given any particular amount of responsibility concerning the place. It was not as though he was irresponsible. It was simply that he was less responsible than his sister. Not to mention he had little to no ambitions on running such a place. While the bright haired man has shared quite a bit of time in his fair share of far off taverns, he preferred having no strings of liabilities holding him from fleeing off again into the next adventure life takes him. It was due to this that Lacie only placed small chores in Markus' hands. Restocking the food shelves, buying the best local ale their inheritance could buy, picking out the perfect new comforter and pillow sets fit for their tavern. Anything concerning frivolous fashion and tastes, Markus could do with a dedication his sister never could.
Without so much as a knock on the door, Lacie opened Markus' bedroom and opened the window blinds. With both of their rooms being in the cellar, the light mostly came from a small window embedded in the higher part of the walls. What little light shone through was enough to strike Markus' face, causing him to stir slowly awake. Lacie had no time for slow, however, and gently shook the larger man. "Markus, today's the opening day. You need to help me out here," She said, sounding vaguely distressed. It was enough to cause the man to slowly open his vibrant red eyes, only to wince from the light and close them again, covering his face with his arm before sitting up and re-opening his eyes in the shadow where the beams of light can't reach them."What...yaaawn...what is it?" Markus asked softly, his deep voice sounding even lower with the groggy tone he presented. He didn't seem too bothered by the wake up call, having been used to having a sister for as long as he had existed. Lacie seemed to show a hint of nervousness under her generally calm composure as she looked at her brother."As...the new owner, I might have to...give a speech perhaps. However, I have been told that I can seem a bit...brutish to some people.""And by some people, you mean all people.""Oh quiet!" Lacie huffed, obviously offended by the small joke. "Anyways...I was hoping on spending more time today practicing my lines for the re-opening tonight. In the meantime, could you go and get fresh produce from the market after you do your performance?" She asked, a small plead hinted in her wide, deep blue eyes. Markus smirked and shuffled her head of hair before nodding.
"No problem. You need all the practice you can get," He teased as he pushed himself out of bed, having only worn a pair of shorts in his sleep last night. Lacie gave a small thank you before dipping quickly out of his room and into her own right next door to practice. Markus was quick to get dressed, having already picked out his outfit the night before. Regarding himself as a man of good fashion tastes, his clothes came from a highly regarded tailor from Carrion Hill, his last adventure which ended with only vague success. The ancient beast disturbing the city had been defeated, but not until after it killed three of Markus' companions for the mission. The city thanked him by giving boons, gold, and anything money can buy. He accepted, of course, allowing his vanity to often get the best of him; however he decided it was time for him to return to a simpler life for now. It was the main reason why he had no issue helping his sister with something as small as picking up groceries and planning a performance in whatever he can configure is the town square.
Markus almost stepped out of the tavern, but quickly stopped beforehand and grabbed a bracelet from the countertop. It was a highly decorate pure silver bracelet (which looked more like a small arm bracer) with a cross-variant sigil embedded into it with what seemed to be "blessed opal". It was the only thing which would keep the constant sensation of death looming over him. It was a blessed bracelet, with two sister bracelets, made by a family friend who realized only recently that holy items were the only way to help the Shields family with their plight of bad impressions due to their demon blood. In return for the aura of death to not follow them around, however, their powers are sealed for as long as they wear it. It was a compromise Markus was more than willing to make as he left the tavern--locking it behind him--with a grin on his face.
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:39 am
-broken post- Just as soon as Markus had locked the tavern front door and turned around, a seemingly buzzed woman in armor had stopped to peer at the establishment. "Oh, is the tavern closed then?" She asked. She was definitely beautiful, but he was quick to decipher her armor as a symbol of her status as a soldier. While he admired soldiers, generally he would avoid with flirting in an overbearing amount towards them. Not only do the females remind him far too much with his sister, but many of them keep their disciplined personality alongside them in more than one aspect of their lives. Being a courteous man who enjoys aesthetic pleasure, however, he still kept his intentions of causally flirting with such an attractive individual. Markus ruffled his untied, flowing hair, smiling softly at the woman in an act of innocence.
"My apologies, Miss. our grand re-opening isn't until tonight," He started, however the sudden glint in his eyes caused the tone of his deep voice to change altogether. "However, I assure you that the wait in the meantime will be worth it. Us here at the Wood Shield have been working tirelessly to make the tavern more modern-esque, so women as ethereal as yourself can feel more comfortable." The idea of Markus helping remodel was a blatant bluff. Lacie was the only person to dedicate any time to the place in recent months, with their parents out of the city to "visit relatives". Had Markus actually assisted, the tavern would have been reopened at least an entire month early, but alas the woes of his sensitive nature kept him from doing so. However, that wouldn't stop Markus from using the concept as a way of making him seem like a hard-working man. He bowed in front of the woman."I would normally offer to entertain you regardless of our status as a tavern; I am the performer here, after all. However, I do have other matters to unfortunately attend to. My apologies, Miss...perhaps you would know where the marketplace is?" He asked gently, slowly rising his body from his impeccably graceful movement of a bow.
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:41 am
-broken post- Markus kept his composure as a mild-mannered gentleman, paying undivided attention to the woman before him. Her disappointment, was clearly visible across her face. "I see..." she started off. Her face continued to shift as the conversation had continued. When Markus had discussed their hard work for re-modeling the tavern, the young woman's squeak from the word "Us?" brought Markus to a gentle grin. She seemed easy to read, with her face an open book. It was comforting for Markus, knowing that there was very little beyond the surface that he should worry about."My parents had founded this place, but my sister has recently become the new owner," He casually explained, though he suddenly realized it might confuse the mortal if she bothered to pay attention to the tavern sign to see that the establishment date was over five centuries ago. It seemed for the meantime she didn't bring it up. "I'm sure when you open, it'll be lovely, and a performer no less." He grinned ear from ear."You flatter a simple bard, Miss," He said softly with a smile as he had remained bowed. "Aliyah Hearthorn..." She eventually introduced herself."Aliyah...ah, the name of one who is of high social status. It suits one such as yourself," He admitted. Now that he observed her further, she did seem to have manners more eloquent than those of a disciplined soldier. In addition to this, the surname Hearthorn seemed to ring a bell. Perhaps it was that of a local noble family. Being away from the land for so long, he wouldn't be surprised that nobility had develop in the area, as well. "I am Markus Kida Shields, Miss Hearthorn. A pleasure to make your acquaintance," He introduced himself. When he had asked her where the marketplace was, she responded "Well, it would be along this road, and since I'll be heading that way anyway, I could show you the way?""M'lady, so long as it is no imposition on your behalf, I would love to keep you company," He spoke enthusiastically.
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:42 am
-broken post- Despite initial reactions, Markus found himself intrigued as he had observed the nature of the woman. While initially seeming to be a simple soldier of high status, he has been able to decipher that she may also come from nobility. Her behavior was also that which seemed troublesome, as though a great amount of stress led to her attempting to drown herself in spirits so early in the morning. Perhaps he was willing to make an exception for the time on his rule against trying to court soldiers. She truly was beautiful, distraught, and seemingly smitten by him enough to keep him company. "It's no trouble at all, Sir Shields, I'd welcome the company" accompanied by a flustered face was all Markus needed to encourage the idea of pursuing her. Immediately, a conniving plan began to form in Markus' brain on how to woo the mortal woman as creatively as possible.
As a small sigh escaped her lips and she attempted to recover from a sudden drop in her stern appearance, Markus remained formal and charismatically collected as ever, wanting to keep his thoroughly practiced balance in order despite her own faint distress. "Shall we?" she gently proposed as she began to walk.
"Of course, My Lady," Markus spoke in an articulate fashion, making sure each word he spoke had its purpose and importance. He followed alongside Aliyah with a soft grin on his face, showing his currently enthusiastic mood. He is not a man particularly known for ever being in a foul mood. Even when he had lost comrades in the past, the half-breed never once gave into despair and bitterness. His constant optimistic expression has a tendency to come off as a part of his charismatic charm, but it had much to do with his more narcissistic outlook."I don't mean to come off as bold good sir, but I wonder on something. Since you're new here, that means you must have been on the roads frequently, yes? If so, what is it like traveling, and seeing the sights?" Markus looked down at the woman walking beside him, the smile on his face becoming more enthusiastic. Nothing made Markus happier than being able to talk about himself, an while he is generally able to balance out his conversational skills when flirting with someone, the moment deep personal questions come up, he can't help but revert to his innate instinct to speak of his adventures.
"Not bold at all, Miss. In truth, I grew up here in Maldria. It's just perhaps been so long since I've lived here that everyone and everything seems to have changed without my knowledge," he admitted whole-heartedly. While he appeared to be no older than his mid-30's, the truth was he likely was old enough to have known Aliyah's ancestors before they had inherited land in the area. "However, I have spent a long time exploring lands even beyond the seas. For as extravagant and unrealistically flawless the sights of nature have been, I believe that the most invigorating experience of traveling by far will always be the people and their cultures. It's amazing how differently people develop their own cultural customs and hierarchies around the world based on their environment. Have you ever travelled, Miss Hearthorn?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:44 am
-broken post- "My travels?" with such a tone in her voice, Markus prepared for what he knew was going to be her own sorrowful tale. "I'm sorry to say that my travels are not as....entertaining as yours. I merely go by the behest of my Bishop, or the grand elders of the court. I head where they point, do as demanded of me, and return to report. Nothing more...." While remaining unfazed, the lines eventually connected in the man's mind, realizing she was not of nobility but of royalty turned militaristic. Indeed the turmoils Aliyah had suffered through were rare, Markus having only seen a prince in a similar situation long ago. "It is quite unfortunate that it is this way for you, my lady. A woman of your graces should be able to see more of what the world has to offer. While Maldria is plentiful, it is simply a drop in the bucket when it comes to the beauties this realm has to offer," Markus' distaste towards staying in one place came from the heart, and yet his heart had been beating for centuries now. He even stayed in Maldria until he was well into his 50's before visiting the outside world for the first time."It's sad how things had changed so drastically......I-I mean from what you said earlier.....It's sad." Markus' eyes lit up from the sympathy she had presented regardless of her own position. While he felt confused for a moment, thinking of how to respond, she continued. "I may not be able to relate, since I have been here all my life........only rarely do I go see the world.....even in the smallest of portions.....I envy you." "My lady, you have no need to envy me. It can be adventurous, but the life of a travelling bard is dangerous and thankless," He interjected. For someone of her status to say such a thing, he felt as though perhaps she was far too unguarded. "We near arrive.......A shame it's such a short distance." Having forgotten to focus on his surroundings, Markus looked around to see the familiar appearance of the marketplace.'Truly a shame,' he thought to himself, but his mood quickly lifted, turning in front of Aliyah and reaching his hand out to hers in a gentle bow. A smile was upon his lips as he gazed at the beautiful woman before him.
"I thank you, Lady Aliyah, for your company. What would have been perhaps just an ordinary trip to the market had been turned into an extraordinary conversation with an extraordinary woman," He eloquently raised his body from the perfectly practiced bow and kept his intense gaze onto her. "Perhaps, you have a life that does not permit far-off journeys, but if perhaps you are willing to experience a different kind of adventure closer to home, simply look for me, miss, at The Wood Shield Tavern, and I can assure you that I can provide some entertainment for you. I am a bard after all."Feeling as though her words were perfectly executed, Markus reached behind Aliyah's ear and did what he does best--attempt to woo her with his ability to make illusions by providing her a rose from thin air.
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:45 am
 ✿ X L I F E X D E A T H X L O V E X B I R T H X ✿ X L I F E X D E A T H X L O V E X B I R T H X ✿ X L I F E X D E A T H X L O V E X B I R T H X ✿ X X X X ✿ X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace
X X X ✿ X C O M P A N Y X : : X Aliyah↦Eli↦Alone
X X X ✿ X M O O D X : : X Curious
 ─────────────── 🍎 ─────────────── ✿ xxxMarkus kept his smile intact, though a art of him felt like chuckling at how sweet Aliyah had been in her state of timidness. "You mean it?" She whispered, before moving back as she attempted to regain her composure.
"Ah! No...ah...I-I mean!" Markus continued to smile, almost beaming an aura of faux perfection all while despicably enjoying Aliyah's behavior. "Thank you for the invite to your tavern. I graciously accept," she finally mustered.
"I look forward to it," Markus admitted.
"Until we meet again Sir Shield. Fare the well."
"Until then, my Lady Hearthorn..." Markus slowly slid into the small crowd that consisted of the marketplace, his eyes gazing into Aliyah's until the last moment before he finally faded away from her vision, not even his vibrant pink hair visible.
With a small sigh, Markus looked in the Marketplace with purpose. Whatever produce he bought today he would most likely eat, and while his mind should be focused on the interest of the customers, he was much more selfish when it came to food. He automatically went to a fruit produce stand that he was familiar with.
Running it was a small boy, seemingly no older than 15, with ice blue hair and golden eyes. He seemed chipper, but his smile became more enthusiastic at the sight of Markus. The normal looking boy phased through his fruit stand, body floating above the ground as he reached over to pat Markus on the back.
"Man, I haven't seen you in so long, I thought for sure you just wouldn't come back," He joked. Markus chuckled and shrugged his shoulders while giving a smug grin.
"What can I say? I just can't keep myself away from this place...It's good to see you, Eli. Are you coming to the opening tonight for the tavern?" Markus asked curiously as he grabbed an apple from the stand and took a bite.
"For sure! I may not work there anymore, but I love you Shields. Your folks took good care of me in that tavern, and I can't wait to see how Baby Lacie has taken care of it now." Making small cute remarks, Markus couldn't help but shake his head, a smile still on his face.
"Lacie definitely won't like if you call her that anymore. The girl's all grown up,
Eli. She was a war general. If you're lucky, she'll just send you to the underworld. Heavens forbid she tries more on your poor soul," the bard joked. Eli gave a small laugh before averting his eyes.
"Yeah...actually...about the underworld..." The ghost trailed off for a moment, biting his lip before continuing. "You see, I regularly visit the dragon castle, usually just for the kicks of being a supposed 'residual haunt', but I was looking at their job board."
"Come on, Eli. You know I don't fight anymore. Lacie is also retired."
"I know, I know...but this is something you guys might want to be a part of. Apparently a portal to the underworld is active in the Land of Distal. Demons have been escaping it, and they're not exactly friendly lie you and your pops." Markus bit into the apple with slight disdain.
"Well...I guess I can discuss it with Lacie..." Markus' voice drifted off as he began to pack the fruit into a bag, tossing a small coin purse onto Eli's stand. "I'll see you tonight, Eli. And I better see you throwing this money back onto the stage when I dance."
Markus didn't turn around as he continued, but he could hear the ghost laughing. The bard looked up, gazing at the tall castle which was the center of all Maldria. He remembered many good heroes who came and went from the place in his youth, always admiring them. He became an adventurer because of the brave men and women he outlived by now. While curiosity had certainly been egging him, he had yet to step foot in the castle, afraid the childhood nostalgia of seeing the castle in the distance as a magical place would wear off the moment he did so. However, with such an opportunity falling onto his lap, he couldn't help but consider letting his curiosity get the best of him.xxx ✿
x
〔 OOC: n/a 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:46 am
✿ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X West Maldria - Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X No One ↦ Amara X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Contemplative X X X✿ ☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X South Maldria - Tavern ↦ Outside X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X No One X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Frustrated X X X☁   Looking up to the sky with a heavy sigh of defeat, Markus turned away from the castle. He couldn't bother with such curious thoughts at the moment. He had to remain focused on more tangible tasks, such as buying vegetables before the day comes into full swing. With only him and Lacie running the tavern without hired help, they would need more time to focus on the simple tasks of cooking. Markus had been attempting to persuade Lacie tirelessly to hire at least a chef or bartender, but the girl had yet to budge, leaving him in charge of a menu tonight.
"Buttermilk squash soup perhaps," Markus whispered to himself, his face downcast in his thoughts of food. With his head moreso in the clouds than before, he turned his eyes towards a basic squash stand, grabbing enough buttermilk squash and zucchini to last for tonight's expected outpouring of customers. After buying a dozen pounds of red potatoes, Markus effortlessly lifted all of the produce towards the tavern, but not before almost losing all of his newly purchased produce. Buttermilk squash and red potatoes comedically flew into the air. With impeccable reflexes, Markus caught each into his bag as they descended back towards himself and the female who had bumped into him.
'The blessed reflexes of a dancer,' Markus thought to himself, sighing in relief as he had managed to spare each precious commodity. He turned to the woman, gazing into her similarly vibrant red eyes with his charismatic prowess, only to be caught off guard by a familiar sensation. 'The presence of another who has demon blood...'
The generally calm man had been caught off-guard. After all, half demons had not been common in Maldria as far as he was aware. Not to mention that even in his travels, he had come across far and few. While he had felt vaguely enthused, his own demonic presence had been entirely hidden by the holy silver bracelet around his arm. While many would stare at him due to his ethereal beauty alone, the bracelet kept them from also staring at him with an intense sensation of dread and fear.
Not generally one to lose his calm demeanor, Markus quickly managed to compose his face, smiling charmingly at the woman. "Forgive me, miss. I should have been watching my step. I hope I didn't harm you," He spoke softly in a deep, husky tone; his free hand extended towards her's as an apology greeting.In the meantime, Lacie paced rigidly in her quarters, repeating the same lines to herself over and over. "Welcome to the newly renovated Wood Shield Tavern...Welcome all to the newly renovated Wood Shield Tavern...I welcome you all to the return of the historic Wood Shield Tavern...Thank you all for your patronage tonight...I...I..." With a sigh of defeat, Lacie stormed out of her own room and climbed the ladder out of the cellar, quickly opening a window and sticking her face out.
'I need fresh air,' she thought to herself, feeling nauseous as she realized that every passing second brings her closer to the expected opening. She laid her body limply over the window pane slowly lifting her face up to see the Dragon Castle proudly stand in the close distance. With a quick glance into the tavern and then back to the castle, she bit her lip before hesitantly making a rash decision. Lacie scribbled a small note for her brother and left it on the bar counter before begrudgingly putting on the holy bracelet and walking out of the tavern, locking it tight and marching towards the castle. [x]〔 Out Of Character: n/a 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:47 am
☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Imps, Tahlia, and Illyndrathyl X X X X X X M O O D X : : XFocused X X X☁  Nervously, Lacie marched to the castle entrance, stopping as an all too familiar smell quickly filled her sensitive nostrils. The smell of blood, and lots of it, being shed--and it wasn't too far. An inkling of her old self kicked into gear, tearing off her restraining holy bracelet. The moment Lacie was free from her self-placed shackles, the overbearing sensation of death loomed the area she presented herself. If the commotion not too far away didn't send people running, the look of determination on a woman as she summoned a sword and armor from her very own shadow was more than enough to make them move out of her way.
It didn't take long for her to find the situation that had caused the mayhem. In the marketplace, imps ran rampant, terrorizing the innocent citizens of Maldria. As a pair of imps went to go attack a young child and their parent, Lacie swung the flat end of her claymore against the imps' bodies, slamming them away from the now screaming civilians as they made their way towards safety. The look on Lacie's face was cold and calculating as she faced the imps as they got back up. Had they been here of their own volition, the intimidating presence of a descendant of a royal demon would be enough to ward them from attacking further. And yet, they continued their murderous pursuit, attempting to claw at her. She was quick to slice them apart, shaking her head.
'A summoner is here,' she thought to herself, biting the inside of her cheek as she acted fast, slaughtering as many demons that came into her path. It didn't take long for her to appear blood-soaked. The imps were weak to her, nothing but target practice compared to her century in the underworld. They seemed immature and weak, something only a beginning summoner would bother to summon. She felt bitter about the current situation she found herself in. Fighting demons wasn't on her to-do list any longer, in a city that is supposed to be protected by grand warriors nonetheless. The streets were stained with the blood of innocent civilians she couldn't protect in time. Men, women, children of all species lay limply on the floor, some still grasping onto what little life is inside them. All of the pointless bloodshed she was sure would thrill some of her more sinister kin from her father's side, but the girl who fought time and time again against those natural instincts stood today over the corpses of imps she would have perhaps allied with if she were any different.
Shaking her head at such thoughts, Lacie made her way through the torn-down marketplace, searching for whoever or whatever has allowed these imps to be free and terrorize the Maldrians,
seeing in the center of the imps a man cutting through them and a girl with a strong demonic presence surrounding her, appearing to neither be harmed nor causing any physical harm. As she attacked the demons, she kept her gaze steadily on what few citizens remained. Her aura darkened with each imp she killed, her gaze unfazed by the screams of her newfound enemies.
〔 OOC: n/a 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:49 am
✿ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Amara X X X X X X M O O D X : : XFocused X X X✿ The girl before him seemed confused by his mannerisms. “What?” Her confusion was heard through her voice, as well. “I’m the one who practically ran into you.”
"Nonsense, miss," He spoke calmly. "A lady should never have to apologize to a man such as myself."
She was enchanting in an almost inhuman way such as himself. Her pretty white locks of hair, perfectly peachy pale skin, vibrant red eyes, and the attire of someone who has a taste for fashion. She was a truly mesmerizing beauty. When she took his hand, it seemed gentle, perhaps he would even describe it as graceful.
“Uhh. Do you by chance need any help with those?” When she peered at his groceries, he couldn't help but smile at the offer.
"By all means, my lady, I would never ask for you to worry yourself with a task so undermining," He spoke in truthfully sweet words. Asking someone to assist him in such a chore would be a low act on his behalf. He strives to be independent, unless his desires deem himself in an otherwise situation.
The smell of blood hit Markus' nose long before he could hear the screams. Quickly, his focus went from his groceries and the girl to the direction of the later screams. "Elbrus?" The girl beside him seemed occupied in her own thoughts as she pulled a dagger from under her dress.
"Someone's gonna get a stabbing."
More and more, a part of Markus felt more enchanted by this woman. However, now was not the time for that. He looked at the bracelet on his arm, contemplating removing it. “Excuse me,” The girl left with more than obvious intentions.
As she left and more people poured into his direction, Markus shook his head. It seemed like the man had no other choice other than to remove it. Upon doing so, his aura began to darken. Unlike his sister or father, it felt much less intimidating, perhaps only causing fear in humans. After all,
his body count was much smaller than theirs. He escorted the bystanders out of the way, making sure as many as possible were gone before creating a wall illusion to prevent the oncoming imps from moving forward in the marketplace. Not being one to carry his weapon on himself at all time,
he bit into his hand, drawing blood and using it to form a sharp scythe and destroying them with as much restraint in himself as he could allow. A part of him desired the bloodshed, but another part of him knew he should know better.
The pink-haired half demon made his way throughout the market, catching up with the now injured mysterious woman. By now, his true presence had become apparent. From a istance he saw her get hit by an imp, pushing her to the ground and igniting enough motivation for him to move forward in attack.
"Forgive me, miss," he said one last time before stepping in front of her, attacking the imps. Unlike his sister he saw in the distance, he struggled to defeat the monsters in large droves. Once three had jumped over him, causing him to fall on the floor as well, Markus spiked the blood to surround himself, unfortunately staining his white coat. He growled in a low, harsh tone as he attacked more, staggering from the blood loss already as he stared at the little girl in the middle of the chaos with a strong demonic presence.
[x]
〔 OOC: N/A 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:50 am
✿ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Illya, Jodan, Lacie, Amara, Tahlia, Aliyah, Xago, Klonus X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Surprised, Embarrassed X X X✿ ☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Illya, Jodan, Markus, Amara, Tahlia, Aliyah, Xago, Klonus X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Intrigued, Cautious X X X☁ Lacie's eyes showed hints of life again as her brother became present in the sight of fighting, alongside many other colorful characters.Once Markus was being yelled at by a pale-haired man, she witnessed a small look of disappointment on her brother's face. As the imps had been defeated by the oncoming assembly of soldiers, a familiar red-head came into sight, though she paid the female half-demon who reeked of death no mind. She seemed more focused on simply lecturing the small child, the obvious summoner.
'So young, and yet she already intended to kill so many...' Lacie eyed the child before slowly moving towards her brother's side. Markus looked up, giving a weak smile towards his sister before taking her hand and retracting his blood back into his body. He smiled at her with slight fatigue in his eyes. Fighting was not his forte. It never was, and he never desired it to be.
"So how would you rate my combat skills, General Shields?" He asked in an attempt to be humorous. Lacie sighed--ignoring her brother's poor excuses of humor--and kept her eye warily on the child.
"You?" Markus perked up from the familiar voice, quickly placing the bracelet which restrains his inner demon back on before turning to see Aliyah gaze at him in surprise.
"My lady Hearthorn," He spoke just as eloquently as earlier, if not with a hint of exhaustion. Lacie ignored the familiar tone of Markus getting awkwardly caught by a woman doing something surprising yet again, instead keeping her gaze on the child as it seemed to listen to the rabbit it was holding. The smirk she held was all too familiar in the eyes of a seasoned tactician, quickly moving in front of the tall man destined to become a target, creating a shield from the earth. Once the flame had hit the rocky shield, Lacie lowered it and kept her gaze steady on the girl.
"You're strong, but unnecessarily volatile...why are you causing such a bloody scene?" She asked, blood soaking her as is. The sensation of death that enshrouded anywhere she went, along with the look of blood splatter across her face made the 5'5" woman appear unnaturally intimidating in spite of her fae-originated beauty. [x]〔 Out Of Character: n/a 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:51 am
✿ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : XIllya, Jodan, Lacie, Amara X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Confused X X X✿ ☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Xago, Klonus X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Contemplative X X X☁ Markus couldn't help but smile as Aliyah walked past, bowing and addressing him. He followed the same mannerisms, though he stayed in position for a moment to mask the soreness that was already growing. While he was certainly being entertained at the moment by how interesting Aliyah turned out to be, Markus was still one for avoiding ever seeing a mortal romantically ever again. Better yet, a soldier in command. Markus rose from his bow and looked at his sister and ruffled her long, silky hair. He shook his head at the bloody sight she appeared to be, taking out a napkin and cleaning the blood from her face.
Lacie would have acknowledged his behavior and smacked him senseless had it not been for the fact that she was focused on the young girl's rage before she had been sent off. Lacie kept quiet, walking away from Markus when he was done and approaching the body of the baker with delicate grace, removing her armor and casting it away into her shadow along with her claymore.
'She slashed his throat...' Lacie's gaze wandered in thought. She has seen her fair share of evil children, many of which were demons in disguise or had parents guiding their every step. "Perhaps I'm thinking into this situation more than I should be..."
"You are," Markus spoke in a harsh tone, meaning well but coming off as uncaring. He placed Lacie's bracelet back onto her before turning back to the others who helped, Lacie begrudgingly following. The man put on a well-rehearsed smile, looking at the frustrating situation before him. A taller man with a halberd chasing after what few imps remained, the stubborn refusal of help from the girl with white hair and her presumed boyfriend remaining concerned. He was almost certain he wouldn't be allowed near the injured girl, and it seems like there was already enough tension concerning prior engagements. Markus shook his head and cast the fresh produce out of his shadow, handing it to his sister. Lacie looked through it all, nodding as she was content with his selection. She was hoping to buy bread later in the day for bread bowls, but one of the best bakers in town had met an unexpected demise.
Lacie looked up at the two men who had been addressed by Aliyah and approached them. "If you desire work, I do need help in running my tavern tonight. While I am looking for full-time assistance, this job can simply be temporary. It seems as though you have found yourselves a ticket to a better job as is. I can offer food, drink, a place to stay the night, and enough money to get you through settling into Dragon Castle comfortably." Unlike her brother, Lacie cared little for charming others with tone or fancy words. She cared about being open and honest, sometimes simply coming off as blunt, even with the melodic voice she partly loathed to have.[x]〔 Out Of Character: n/a 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:52 am
☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace (departing) X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Xago, Klonus X X X X X X M O O D X : : XContent X X X☁ Lacie kept her poise, her arms kept to her side with bags of produce in tow. The intriguing smirk followed by an observant glare from the taller man felt comforting enough as a possible acceptance of the task, followed by the more human man speaking up.
''Thank you for your generosity you offer great compensation if we agree... so I agree.'' Lacie felt relieved for the confirmed help, nodding before looking to his partner for his response.
He also added to the conversation, bringing out coin before responding, "Lead the way."
"By all means, sirs," she interjected, raising a hand. "Worry not about money. All amenities are complimentary benefits of your assistance."
Never in the history of Wood Shield Tavern had a worker or performer needed to pay for their own substances. While it had caused some tight troubles in long histories of economic downfalls, the current era of prosperity has made it all the easier to attend to an employee's needs.
''Do tell fair lady to whom do we serve,'' the smaller man requested. Lacie looked to them both before giving a formal bow as a greeting.
"I am Lacie Aola Shields, former war general of Skylaris and current keeper of Wood Shield Tavern," She introduced herself with no hesitation in her tone. While Skylaris is across the sea and perhaps a journey of over one hundred days on foot alone, she had been sure to introduce her allegiances in case of any obligatory political actions others may need to pursue. First arriving back in Maldria long ago after her promotion as a general, she had to act as a diplomat to form a previously non-existent alliance simply due to an old law the land once held. Whether the law is still enforced to this day, she was uncertain, but the past turmoil was enough to assure transparency in her identity.
Raising herself from a bow the entire Shields family seems to have perfectly mastered, Lacie looked both of the men in their eyes. "The tavern is in South Maldria, not too far off from here," She informed them before turning in the direction of the tavern, only giving a small glance towards Markus and waving farewell to him before setting off.
"May I ask who it is I am employing?" She inquired, taking in both of their appearances with small glances before keeping her focus on the now bloodily stained street. The taller man she could presume to be an orc, and he seemed to be a tall, strong one at that. His clothed hinted that he had become accustomed to urban life, but she was having difficulty determining from his voice or stature if he had been raised in an urban setting or perhaps immigrated from a more tribal lifestyle. As for the other man, he appeared at the very least humanoid--though she was proof enough that humanoid does not necessarily mean human. His attire suggested he was a foreigner who had just recently made his way to Maldria. Lacie herself had been dressed to appear as physically normal as possible, feigning the game of innocent human by appearance alone, though even her fae blood shines through the facade all too easily.
〔 OOC: n/a 〕
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 5:25 pm
✿ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Iless X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Curious X X X✿ ☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Tavern X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Xago, Klonus X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Content X X X☁ The walk between the tavern and the marketplace was not long, making Lacie consider why her brother had taken so long to grab such a small selection of produce. The questions would have to await for later when her brother arrives back from whatever he desired to do at the moment. For now, her attention remained focused on the men who had introduced themselves, unlocking the door to invite them inside.
"Klonus from a faraway land and Xago from Du'ran, welcome to Wood Shield Tavern. My family has been running this tavern for over five centuries to people of all races who dared to join the heroes in Dragon Castle," she introduced her residency with a hint of enthusiasm, though she seemed more focused on discarding the letter she left for her brother in case he returned before her than what tone of voice she used at the moment.
''So what kind of work will you be having us do by the way?'' Klonus asked, causing Lacie to turn her direction back to the two men.
"Right now only my brother and I are working, but tonight is the re-opening of our tavern, so we will need some extra hands for serving," She admitted. It was a begrudging task, but the help was needed, even if just for the night.
"Your rooms are here on this level," She informed them, grabbing a key from her belt that unlocked the two rooms tucked next to the stairs. She opened them to reveal their interior, slightly larger than the guest rooms upstairs, but not quite the large size as allowed in the cellar bedrooms. The bed sets seemed to be lined with the same kind of wood that the rest of the tavern was built with. Lacie was accustomed to people the size of Xago, or even larger, to come into the tavern. And yet, the place remained completely unbroken. The strength of ironwood is the main reason a tavern at the age of over five hundred years old remained firm to the ground, even with the company it used to have. Brawls, fires, floods, and riots have certainly attempted to destroy the very foundation of the place, and yet the blemishes caused from such catastrophes remain unseen. The only true weakness to the wood was a magical spell that would have to be purposefully cast to specifically destroy it. Even then, such an idea would be preposterous, right?
Either way, Lacie moved out of her way to allow the men to get comfortable if they so desired,
starting up the fire stove built into the bar prep area. The time to cook was coming soon, and she felt behind schedule on preparing the heat for the stove.
More importantly, the man looked familiar, but not as much in a physical sense as it is more of a special encounter by chance. He never met this man before, and yet his presence has been all too familiar. Perhaps even the mere description of the man rang a bell, and yet for whom he could not fathom at the moment. With a smile on his lips and a tint of intrigue in his eyes, Markus did what Markus does best, woo.
"Your persistent stride towards me suggests a greeting. How may I help you, good sir?" he asked, lowering his head and body into a gracious bow.[x]〔 Out Of Character: n/a 〕
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Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:35 am
✿ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Marketplace X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Iless X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Curious X X X✿ ☁ X X X L O C A T I O N X: : X Tavern X X X X X X C O M P A N Y X : : X Xago, Klonus, Zuki X X X X X X M O O D X : : X Cautious X X X☁ Working on the stove was relatively new to Lacie still. Her experience as a homemaker was less than lackluster. Technology across the sea was different, as well, almost making her regret no installing a Skylarian stove. However, Skylaria rarely brings imports to Maldria simply due to the distance not being worth the money back. She would perhaps have to specifically request it via contacts from her old life. Fussing over the stove, Lacie looked up at the sound of Xago approaching, moving aside as he managed to work with the fire with more ease.
"Ah, thank you..." She spoke softly before averting her focus to a different direction. He seemed to be a man of few words, and she was also a person of few words, even with her own family. A conversation was most likely not going to happen, so she simply used the time to learn what she can about keeping the fire by watching Xago, who seemed to have experience with this.
"H-hello?!" The door opened, followed by Xago speaking up, announcing, "You have a guest." Lacie looked at the girl, aware she wasn't a regular customer from the surrounding area. She kept herself in the sunlight, so as to make sure her shadow was still visible in case trouble stirred and her weapons needed to be summoned.
"How may I help you? We are still closed for a few hours longer," Lacie informed the girl. She seemed normal, with no demonic or dark presence to speak of. Human bandits and thieves still exist, but they were generally no match for a person who has the genetics to live for as long as the world rotates around the sun.Ever so curiously, the man had responded to Markus.“You’re such a handsome man that I couldn’t help but notice you and want to introduce myself.” Markus looked up at him from his bow, raising his body until he had to look down. He admired the man's brazen compliment. Finding people like such were far and few.
“I am Iless Athellion…though I am also known as the god of war, or the protector of warriors. And you seem familiar to me…I can’t help but think that I’ve fought alongside you before.” Markus' eyes widened, if just for a moment. The god Iless, a god his fellow companions prayed to in the Civil War of Cavarrone. It was a heathen against heathen war, and he just so happened to be lucky enough to be involved, having won by a pure miracle. It wasn't a glorious war--far from it. Fighting his own cousins from the depths of the underworld, watching those from his side get slaughtered like cattle, being able to do nothing as a non-believer to help the warriors cope with their lack of will. Markus was not fond of the memories he gained from his time, much more preferring the godless war in Lyonvale. Even so, the stories he heard of Iless, God of War, were enough to inspire a few songs and dances. A man shining of gold, his wings reflecting in the sun, all who pray to him safe in his caress. It was all poetic.
“Even if I haven’t, it’s more than a pleasure to meet you.” Markus snapped back to reality, his smile still existent but withered at the mention of such a war. He would have perhaps been more vocal had his mind not drifted off to the recesses of repressed memories. “What is your name?”
"Forgive me, my lord. I seemed to have been tongue-tied for a moment. I am Markus Kida Shields, a former soldier and muse from the Civil War of Cavarrone. I'm humbled by your godly compliments," Markus spoke, back to his usual self within a moment's notice. Being complimented by a god wasn't necessarily new. He had 'relations' with a goddess before. It was not a humbling experience to say the least, and 'relations' with others had not been the same since. had he been honest, the amount of partners he's had increased threefold since the encounter with a specific goddess of love and music.
"Forgive my boldness, my lord, but your beauty as described by mortals seems...pale in comparison to the truth. What brings you to finally grace your presence onto us from this realm?" He asked, his gaze intensely looking into Iless' own bold red eyes. The strings of fate were a tease for sure, but to the extent of emotional stirrings, Markus had no idea.[x]〔 Out Of Character: For clarification, both Klonus and Xago have their own personal rooms for the night ^^" 〕
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