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 Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:45 pm
The rest of the heroes long gone, and no where in sight, Charles was held responsible for his companion's ruckus and fees. Being that he rose from the ground, everything in tatters and no money, he politely worked off the wage in the kitchen, washing dishes with no pay, being yelled at. He was too kind and proper to just leave, anyway.
After that, he was left to wander and wonder where all the action had led, and where his beloved had gone to as well. "Just where in the world are they?" He spoke to himself. "Steady as she goes, I suppose..."
He wandered around with an aim to find them, but with no luck. There was a pine tree he came across, and chose to rest against.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:53 pm
"Open the gate!" came the cry, and the castle gates swung open.
Watch Knights and Archers marched in, Knights in front and back, Archers in the middle of the double-file formation. They weren't numerous--the Watch had only recently begun to refill its ranks, after all. The total number of reinforcements was two dozen at best. It was hardly suitable if Vaida was concerned about a castle siege.
At the head of this double-file line was another Knight, this one in light-blue armor. Once they were well within the gate, she stopped, holding up a hand to bring the rest of the line in order.
As she removed her helmet, sweaty strawberry blonde hair fell down the back of her head and around her shoulders. Long, but not so long that it would spill out. She ought to get it shortened, but she was still getting accustomed to this whole "Eyris Watch" business.
"Constable Miriam, Eyris Watch," she said, shaking hands with one of the gate crew. She had a very FIRM grip, and the man at the gate winced--yes, "Petite" was probably not one of the words to describe this girl.
"We're here by order of Captain Ghis, and we've been told to man the defenses wherever needed. Is this acceptable to whoever is in charge?"
--------
When Charice was told that the Watch had finally picked sides, she was all too eager to fly out to the gate right there. Now perhaps these rumors could be laid to rest and people could stop being stupid.
Since she was the only flier in the group, the Falcoknight was sent ahead to meet with Vaida's scout. Much faster this way, and everyone could be organized by the time they moved out.
Not as many went with Ghis as he liked. As a last conciliatory gesture to those with doubts, they could stay behind and assist with the barricades. Trades were made, and Ghis found himself with about the same number of troops as he had before the switch.
It didn't take her long at all to reach the main entrance, spotting a lone female wyvern rider below. "Hello!" she called out as her Pegasus soared close to the scout, neatly landing adjacent to her. "I am Charice of the Eyris Watch. You're the scout, right? I've been sent ahead to learn what's going on so we don't have to waste time standing around at the gate. You said there was a battle taking place somewhere out there?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:20 pm
Neros dipped into the scene. He had taken notice of some sort of gathering and followed a moving mass toward the castle. His heart had dropped at the sight of them, for if he was caught performing the activity he meant to carry out, more than likely he would land in a lot of trouble. And the lot of these people were more than likely do-gooders of the city. With this many around (not to mention there was a flying unit he thought he'd spotted) he would have to make his work quick and inconspicuous.
Neros perched on the roof of a building and observed with the utmost curiosity, which was tinged with a dash of bitter contempt. He folded his wings behind him and glanced over the sort of soldiers there. Now, civil skirmishes such as robberies and such would not concern such a large group, for their concerns often lay with state matters, border conflicts. But Neros was, well, an unnatural threat to the citizenry. There was no doubt some unit would be dispatched to take care of him if he was caught.
But he was curious. These people were assembled for some reason, and he had to find out what. He was in a good mood today after all. He figured he could spend a little time sightseeing and catching up with the current times. Deciding this could take a while, Neros stretched out on the rooftop and peered down, content with merely watching the activity below.
As his sights followed their march through the castle gates, he decided he had to get a closer look. He wouldn't learn anything from being outside the castle walls! Keeping certain he was out of sight, Neros leapt from that rooftop to another, trying to get close to the wall. The freedom of flight coupled with wind magic was a thrilling experience. If he wanted to, he could hop buildings and walls all day, but he only had enough time for a little eavesdropping and a little kidnapping.
Such is life, I suppose.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:01 am
Melethia was outside where the biggest crowd of people were. They were ripe for the picking. She looked and saw one that was a good one to grab. No one could really tell it but she was almost in half-dragon form. Almost, her wings weren't out, but she got what she needed, the speed needed to grab a person and almost no one could tell where she came from or where she went.
Melethia jumped up to a tree. She looked at her target once more. Then she jumped from the tree grabbed her target and jumped into another tree. She covered the mouth of the target with her clawed hand so they wouldn't scream. She had a grin on her face. She was going to help Renault stay alive. She jumpped into more trees and left the area...for now.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:51 am
Aran was going to comfort Leena, after all she looked pretty worried and sad. But just as he was about to tell her everything would be okay (Or at least he hoped..) He heard loud noises coming from one of the gates.
"Do you hear that? Sounds like someones coming in.. A lot of someones" He guessed by the clinking of armor and numerous chattering. "Lets go check it out, I don't think it's anyone trying to invade." He said walking towards the noises
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:23 am
"No, it's the call to arms. They're heading out." Leena replied to Aran, looking on at many of the watchmen scrambling to get their weapons. She knew the call well, as usually, she'd meet up with the others of Dan's squad here and that call would interrupt their meeting. Always.
"I don't know... if Captain Dan will ask you to move out too. I have no idea where they're headed. I only hope... only that they're not going to finish off the exiles." Leena muttered, her thoughts going into sheer terror especially upon the last parts of her speech.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:14 pm
(Gone until Thursday/Friday ish. Aran is now NPC for anyone in the castle guard area)
"Ohh, I see." Was Aran's response as he saw some of the troops march out, but only to be replaced by knights and archers.
"Well, if you, Dan, or anyone needs me then I'll be over near the beds and resting areas. Nice meeting you Leena" He said while nodding his head, and walking away
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:07 pm
Morning had come and Vika was restless. There was too much negative energy in the air. Blossom was actually rather poor conversation, and Vika was getting rather antsy. Upon the toll of the recent events, Vika had just decided to head back towards town. Avoiding the way she'd come that'd gotten her arrowed, that is.
She flew covertly so she wouldn't attract attention. She saw an odd assortment of people stationed through the city, and she landed upon a rooftop to remain unseen. The castle was just ahead. Rumors abound about what was actually going on in there, and natural raven curiosity kicked in. She crept among the rooftops, spreading her wings and coasting from roof to roof.
And that's when she saw him.
Ravens had a penchant for stealth. She quickly slipped over in his general direction. He looked so different...fangs, claws, wings, tattered robes...but it was him.
"You..." she whispered. "I remember you...you fought with me alongside the Dark Mistress many months ago...didn't you?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:01 am
Neros bounded over the rooftops with total liberation. He felt the air through the fingers of his wings, cascading down the membrane, kicking his hair about as it trailed behind, puffing through his disheveled robes and surging along the bareness of his thin body. He thudded heavily yet elegantly against every roof he landed upon before confidently launching to the next, carving great arcs with each leap, fueled by the gusts that he willed into existence and lifted by spirits he once thought he never had. Never mind that the sun was up and about. His own shadow flew and danced beside him! His constant despair and denial soon slipped away from the basin of his heart, usurped by the indomitable exhilaration of unattainable heights to be attained, the thrill of adventure that stretched and expanded forevermore.
He jeered and cackled at the shadows of doubt and skepticism. He had surpassed all expectations! He had achieved what he had never dared of dream of achieving! He had become more than he was, ascended beyond his pitiful being. He was high, unfathomably high, almost crackling with power, with potential, beyond the norm, above the dreamer’s dreams! He spat on those who had crushed him, shoved him ceaselessly into that rut of a lifestyle, that husk of a shriveled mindscape. He cast aside and abandoned the person he once was and his spirits laughed exuberantly. He was unstoppable!
But the feeling was extremely shortlived.
You have only proven yourself to be self-centered and self-absorbed. Would you have the nerve, the conceit to throw away your true self? Have you forgotten that you are a half-breed, reviled abomination of society’s creed, twisted and pricked by the goddess herself in her weakness, condemned by your own former self? Have you forgotten that your wings only brand you further as an infringement on the balance of nature?
But he’d known how to fly. He’d been flying for months. That was more than he ever could have hoped for.
And more than you should be meant for.
His mood already befouled by his own complex, Neros continued in somber silence, the freedom of his flight suppressed and muffled by embittering thoughts. He paused on a roof to regard (rather distantly) the castle wall he hoped to perch upon. There was no doubt that guardsmen were stationed atop that wall. Vaguely troubled by this fact (although more troubled by his own existence) he allowed his eyes to creep up the features of the wall, his heart thudding profusely in his chest, his head throbbing as he attempted to think. Neros bristled in frustration. He couldn’t think with all the pulsing his body was going through! And why didn’t he come out earlier? That damned sun was already getting too bright for his poor, wretched eyes. He glanced down at the marching soldiers with obvious contempt before observing the wall again. Perhaps it was better to ignore this eavesdropping task and return to his initial objective. He was annoyed enough as it was, and this segment of his tour wasn’t all that important anyway.
It soon occurred to Neros that there was another concern on his mind. He had not been entirely aware of it and was uncertain of how long the concern was about, but something slowly surfaced to the forefront of his worries, having gradually pushed past his inner conflict and his frustrations with the current situation to a thin realization. Neros furrowed his brow, perplexed, and cocked his head. The concept was faint at first. Soon he managed to get a grasp on it: it was an energy signature. Neros had been pelted by energy signatures from his first flight into Eyris, so the fact that he noticed a particular aura was unusual. He allowed himself to be distracted by this concern for a while, unaware of the raven fast approaching, unable to detect any beating of wings against the air until it was suddenly alarmingly close.
Just as he understood what the problem was, a presence had descended behind him, and his heart leapt into his throat and he whirled around, wings flaring dangerously as a low growl hissed from his open fangs. Nobody, nobody was to sneak up on him like that. Someone could very well have gotten hurt that way. But his hostility clattered to the roof he stood upon when he realized who was speaking to him.
“You…I remember you...you fought with me alongside the Dark Mistress many months ago...didn't you?"
A sharp intake of breath was followed by a relaxation in his stance. Neros’s expression slowly melted from fury to something like apology as he beheld the figure before him. Yes, she was unmistakable, and at that struck a chord that incited only agony. Images coalesced before his eyes. So many branched off in every other direction while many others swerved to meet at this figure, a figure of the past streaked with blood, an image that mirrored his own crimson-stained soul. And as he peered at the raven, he came to realize that she too had changed. When he glanced himself in the shattered mirror back home, he saw an impregnable blackness in his depraved eyes. When he glanced at her, he saw the remains of a broken vessel that once contained something forbidden yet beautiful, much like what he once held.
”Ah,” he softly murmured, ”the raven who flew the coop with a morph…” He had yet to sense any hostility in her tone. For now, he would play off of his sympathies and see what resulted from it. ”Although I’m in no position to accuse you of anything and don’t intend to. I’m guilty of enough as it is.”
His wings quivered. Neros spread his arms a bit, looked himself over, and offered the woman a fanged grin. ”Surprise, surprise. Guess I’m a looker now, aren’t I?” He let his arms fall, noting another detail with some solemnity. ”Yes, we once fought on the same side. We both abandoned the Mistress for our own interests as well.” A pang of guilt struck him in the gut at that. Madriana’s image faded into his mind’s eye: an impeccable woman with astounding power, a woman whose sorrow held a deep beauty, whose unfortunate end kept him up many nights after her passing. He tried to root himself to the present, but she continued to haunt him there. ”The woman you ran off with… Where is she? Why do you fly to me, alone with such broken eyes?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:09 pm
He froze. For a split second, Vika thought he might attack her...he had seemed rather vicious back when they fought alongside each other. But his facial expression melted to docility quickly when he'd recognized her.
"Ah... the raven who flew the coop with a morph..."
Vika cringed. He still remembered that...
"Surprise, surprise. Guess I'm a looker now, aren't I?"
She'd tried not to focus on that. He was so different than he used to be, but Vika was in no position to judge. Flashbacks echoed across her mind. The lone girl who needed saving. Looking up through bloodied vision twice to find that her mission had failed. Fingering her own intestines, and then being healed just enough to keep her in agony but to keep her alive...
She hated Madriana now for what she'd done to her. She hated that little punk-a** shaman who'd taken her love away. Now that the memories were coming back to her, she realized that she really had no fond memories of anything that had happened to her.
...And as she remembered it, she realized one more thing.
She hated Synra.
She hated Synra.
Oh, yes. She utterly abhorred Synra. That pathetic, useless morph who'd wandered off to get herself killed so many times. Each of those times, Vika risked her life to save her. For nothing. Nothing but to suffer torture, torment, atrocity at the hands of the divine power. Vika had professed time and time and time again that she would be the one to save Synra. What a waste of time. What a waste of life.
But, as much as these newfound feelings for her once-true love came crashing down upon her, she realized that she hated Mika even more. It was a bottomless, unending loathing. She was the one who'd let all of this happen. Not Madriana, not that mysterious granny figure. Mika was the one responsible. And waltzing back through that door with Synra...with that smile that Vika just wanted to rip off of her face and bludgeon her with...it filled her with rage. And Vika would gladly give her life once again, as she'd promised Synra so many times... She would give her life to see that Mika's was ended.
Her sorrow...her torment...her rage...it must have all been shown on her face, because the voice of the one she used to know as Soren brought her back to reality.
"The woman you ran off with… Where is she? Why do you fly to me, alone with such broken eyes?"
Vika, whose eyes had turned towards the ground, slowly made their way back up to the slits of his own.
"Don't you dare mention that woman's existence to me," she hissed. "She is dead to me."
She turned away from him and gazed down at the streets below. "I wasn't looking for you, but...maybe you can help me..." She glanced at him before turning her gaze to the castle. "I've been having many premonitions lately...they...they're familiar. Like that of the Dark Mistress's... Something's going on inside of that castle. And if you'd like to help me find out..."
An unusually uncharacteristic giggle escaped from her lips. It was a vile giggle, amusement formed of pure malice.
"I would love to have you join me."
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:59 am
"Don't you dare mention that woman's existence to me. She is dead to me."
He could feel the hatred radiating from her form. It took him by such surprise that his eyes widened and his face slowly split into a grin. He couldn't say why, but he found the sensation delectable. As she turned away and continued to speak, he let his expression melt into one of cunning and admiration, and Madriana's presence blew away in a matter of seconds as it was replaced by the madness unfolding.
As the raven burst out with a giggle, Neros suppressed his own. Laughter was supposedly contagious after all. He shifted his weight onto one leg and rested a claw against his hip, savoring the moment as her words and laughter sank in.
Beautiful.
"I would love to have you join me."
Even more beautiful!
Neros threw his head back and let loose a hearty laugh. This was most unexpected and a most interesting turn of events. This Vika woman had truly changed, perhaps almost as much as himself. He needed to hang around her. He wanted to see more.
When his laughter had exhausted itself (it was hard not to exhaust it, flying took the breath right out of someone), Neros attempted to recollect himself and took a deep breath. Renault could wait. Melethia had already taken care of that anyway, he trusted. The citizens of Eyris could wait. No, he wanted to take full advantage of this opportunity. He could rip dear Mika apart, limb from limb, loin from loin, and maybe he'd get to know this new Vika better.
Well this is amusing! They rhyme!
"I'd be honored, miss raven," he responded with a small but elegant bow. "Premonitions, you say? The castle, you say?" He stood tall, casting his eyes out toward the foundation beyond the impeding castle walls. They would have to bypass the guards somehow. "You may be right. After all, the Dark Mistress's precious sister kidnapped one of our guildmembers, dispatched a battalion of morphs to demolish and slaughter all in sight, took over the guild's headquarters and destroyed its guardian spirit..." His voice dripped with a lust for vengeance. He could hardly care for any of those details except that it was Mika who destroyed Fefga... And for mostly unexplained reasons, he merely wanted dear Mika to suffer.
"The castle then, Miss Vika?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:21 pm
Vika listened as his boisterous laughter filled the air.
Careful now...we don't want to let them below know we're here...
After he had calmed himself, he continued.
"After all, the Dark Mistress's precious sister kidnapped one of our guildmembers, dispatched a battalion of morphs to demolish and slaughter all in sight, took over the guild's headquarters and destroyed its guardian spirit..." His voice lilted with a want for vengeance.
So Mika was here? How fateful! Vika couldn't hide her pleasure at this little turn of events. A smile broke out across her face, and she giggled once again. How coincidental, that two who used to work together for a darker force and then deserted her would once again join hands to attack the remaining family! Oh, this was just too good!
"The castle then, Miss Vika?"
She nodded, a curt grin on her face. "I think that sounds like the perfect plan. I hope you have some idea of what we'll do once we make it there."
Oh, yes. This man would prove to be an excellent ally~
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:42 pm
Neros assumed that meant he would be taking the lead. Throwing a most unpleasant glance in the sun's general direction, he let loose a low but quiet growl, pointing his will until the wind heard him and a tunnel of a soft breeze began blowing parallel to the castle wall. He lifted his wicked wings, flapped once, and he was in the air carried on magic. Vika would also be open to taking this current he manipulated.
He began to circle the castle walls, wondering however they could get in, if there would be any opening for them to slip through the defenses. He licked his fangs as he dwelt on just what he was doing. Vika was a vicious, vicious lady, he'd heard, and from his meeting with her she seemed even more vicious than before. Now normally Neros didn't want help from anyone. He hated most people for some reason or other. But Vika was just as unfortunate as him, just as loathing, just as despicable. He liked her already.
"So, what's first on the agenda?" he leisurely inquired, falling back to close the distance a bit. "Just some reconnaissance? I know something's going on here, I just don't know what. I've been hanging around back at headquarters and I know it's been taken over by Mika and a particularly powerful company. I don't know who they are, but I can sense their strength... Though their numbers have dwindled considerably, and I doubt any of them are here..."
Neros flipped around so that, for a coy moment, he was flying upside down. "All I've seen so far at the castle gates are the generic soldier and citizen... Humble pickings, if you ask me. I know there's been chaos throughout the city, but I haven't seen anything morph-related. Or Mika-related." He flipped rightside-up once more, his cape billowing oddly over his wings.
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:18 pm
xxxxx"If you're worried about surviving, xxxxxxxyou can worry about it after you're dead!"
"The wyvern riders of Bern sit atop the heap of all other forces on the continent!" xxxxx "You will see our power soon!"
Mihira had been deployed the instant Vaida returned to the castle. Some people could have sworn she was issuing orders before she had even landed. Her voice rose above her mighty wyvern's wings. Mihira though maybe everone was going out, but to her surprise only she was ordered out, to rendezvous with a group from the watch. She wasn't satisfied, but she knew her captain did what she could and had plans. Orders were orders, so she took off, already prepared to go.
She had been waiting for a couple minutes, and many things were running through her head. She dared not land, because of the citizens, and kept her distance, in the sky. Then, suddenly, a voice came from out of the blue, and startled her. Jumping a little, to see who it was, Mihira saw a peg knight riding towards her. She introduced herself as part of the watc, and Mihira's heart settled. Finally, they had arrived.
"Y-yes, that's me. I'm Mihira, part of the castle guard, under the new Captain Vaida. Anyway, um, I was out on orders to locate the FEF members, when I came upon several of the members fighting against one who could control beasts. I-it was just north-west of here. The members came down from the north, to help back each other up. B-but... then suddenly a horrid creature was summoned from the earth. A giant undead dragon or sorts... it was horrible. I don't know what is happening now, but... they still need our help." Mihira looked down, and held one of her wrists. "We need to hurry..."
----------------------------------------
Meanwhile, back at Castle Learania
----------------------------------------
"WHERE THE HELL IS ALL THE BLOODY CREEEEEEEW?!"
 W y v e r n L o r d V a i d a*
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:47 pm
Vika's wings spread and she leapt into the air after Neros. The lithe raven wings sliced silently through the air as she trailed him around. Both sets of eyes scoured the castle walls for vulnerabilities, but none could be seen to her eyes. She hoped Neros was having more luck.
"So, what's first on the agenda?" he questioned, breaking the silence. He went on, and Vika listened in silence. So that's what was going on, why those mysterious figures were running rampant and attacking the others... If this was the case, Mika wouldn't be easy to get to.
"I was shot at the first time I passed through here," she added to the conversation. "The activity in town seems to have died a bit..." She pondered for a second, contemplating ideas. "Did you have any pressing matters, or are we going to go for Mika herself?" The expression on her face barely hid her glee.
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