Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a royal family lived in a shining castle. Although they had everything their hearts desired, they were spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered the King a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the King and his children sneered at the gift and the family turned the old woman away.
But she warned them not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. When they dismissed her again, ignoring her warning, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful Enchantress. The King tried to apologize for himself and his children- but it was too late for she had seen that there was no love in their hearts. As punishment, she transformed the children into monstrous beasts. Ashamed of their monstrous forms, the beasts concealed themselves inside their castle, with a magic mirror as their only window to the outside world.
The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom after three years. If they could learn to love another and earn her/his love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, they would be doomed to remain beasts for all time. As the years passed, the family fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a Beast?
...Song as old as rhyme
Just a little change...
The three royal 'children' are cursed to take the form of beasts unless they can fall truly in love and be loved in return. It is the final year and they only have seven months left to break the curse. Meanwhile the kingdom has fallen into a dark age and the neighboring kingdom threatens to start a war...
Also the King and Queen are deceased, the Queen died when the children were at a very young age and the King committed suicide months after the curse.
Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:49 am
Ⓡules:
Ⅰ.Follow Gaia TOS and Guild Rules.
Ⅱ.PM me if you wish to reserve a spot and submit a character. Also be creative with both the beasts and beauty characters. The beasts' "reason for their curse" can be anything from extreme selfishness, vain, cruelty, and the list goes on. As for the beauties, they don't have to be sons/daughters of merchants or inventors that are from a small quite village and loves to read. They could be anything from gypsy, thief, knight or spy from the enemy kingdom, farmer, and the list of possibilities is endless.
Ⅲ.Be active, I understand real life can get in the way in getting around to posting. Especially, if you are in college like me. Just try to post once a week at least, if you can't PM me.
Ⅳ.This RP is PG-13. Naturally, romance is allow but don't cross the line. Same with violence , it's aloud but we don't need to see overly graphic descriptions.
ⅤDoubling on characters is fine, even encouraged, but don't take on more than you can handle.
ⅥIf you have any questions, feel free to ask me ^^
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:27 am
ⒷeastⓈkeleton :
[imgright]*URL*[/imgright]
*¤*I may be a beast but I'm also the[b][color=*Your Color*](Eldest/Youngest Son/Daughter)[/color][/b]of the Windsor royal family.
⋩❂⋩Female Beauty Name: Aysel Trade: Thief Age: 20 User: A i s l i n _ w y v e r n
⋩❂⋩Male Beauty Open
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:34 am
ⓌeatherⒸonditions:
Cloudy and Chilly with possibility of Rain
Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 8:48 pm
"Run away bunnies," a silver haired woman swore that happened to be soaring in the air. Dressed in her bizarre attire along with her ever faithful top hat rested on her head and mysterious mask counselling part of her face, Zahara was debating to make an unannounced visit to Castle Auburn, where the overly proud Windsors lived. The enchantress chanted a spell...... Nothing happened. Cursing again, she decided to give it a rest for now. After placing the spell those damn Windsors,she just seemed that she couldn't simply go into the brief future like she used did. It was very bizarre and even more troubling since she had no troubling going back or up the time stream. It was almost like the time stream was rejecting her from seeing any of the possible outcomes of her little half baked plan to save the kingdom of Ruthen. Granted before a few years ago, she never done anything in the present in hope to change the future. Ruthen was a special case since every version of the future was hell. The few hundred citizens that survived various tragedies were the most miserable people she ever saw. She had to do something! So, Zahara did by placing a curse on the royal beasts. Now it seems like she can't 'cheat' fate and take peeks into the future and forced to see how her plan pans out.
"Broken wands! It's been almost been three years and no progress WHAT SO EVER!!! Don't those spoiled brats have any idea that the curse shall end soon!" A tiny swarm of doves that decided to accompany her suddenly broken their pretty formation and headed down the trees from fright of the silver haired woman's enraged shouting. Zahara's purple eyes gave them a apologetic look as she continued her air travel. Still who would ever thought the four would be so stubborn! All they had to do is open their hearts and cross their fingers! Even one of them is disturbingly taking a liking to her new form. What made Zahara think it was a good idea to turn the Crimson Princess into a jaguar or anything with claws for that matter? A slug or goat would force that warmonger a lesson. Though it's too late now and it wasn't like the other three were doing any better. She already know they would be a royal pain in her butt if she wanted to change them into the ideal rulers that would save Ruthen from ruin. If only she could use her magic to.... No, no. That would absolutely won't do. If she used her magic to steal the free will of another, Zahara would lose her magic. Yes, the Windsors are a pain but not much so that she would be willingly to give up her magic.
"Well, it's no use getting mad all by myself. It's uncouth for a stage magician to lose their dazzling smile and keeping their audience on their feet. Speaking of keeping audience on their feet- Hm?" Something was moving around in her bottomless coat pocket. Zahara's hand dug around, dropping more than a few items from it as they crashed into the forest floor under the sea of leaves. It took a few moments, and some now missing objects, to pull out a hand sized pearl. The pearl stopped rolling back and forth in her hands as a pale pink mist swirled from inside it. The mysterious mist stopped moving to reveal four different faces. Two beautiful young ladies and two dashing looking men. The pearl did not show anything else to the young enchantress and became an average large pearl in her hands after showing her the last face.
While other magic users had their crystal balls, Zahara used this pearl as a substitute for her mirror that she loaned to the Windsors. It has the same function as the magic mirror, but the mirror was more travel friendly and didn't weight ten pounds. Both show images from things from the present and will show what you ask it to, but at times both will act on their own and reveal what much be seen. It never makes any sense, but you can be sure it's always important. Zahara could only guess, giving that she ranted about the beasts before the pearl awakened, that just maybe these four might be the pieces she was desperately missing in her plan. After giving a minute of thought, she snapped her fingers with an idea. Pulling a wand from her sleeve, the enchantress chanted a spell as she flew above the forest in a past pace and purple beams of light were bathing the leaves of the countless trees. There! Now anyone that happens to set foot in the forest will get lost and lead towards the castle! It was a stroke of genius if she said so herself! Why didn't she think of that before? Well, maybe now those beasts will make some progress with some new visitors.
Until the four strangers make it to the castle and get decently settled in, there was no rush to do a Windsor checkup. Meaning Zahara could just fly back to her cottage and have a decent sleep for once! The enchantress wasted no time turning herself away from the direction to the castle and back towards the mountains.
“Thomas! Come here! I need you to do me a favor!” Thomas's mother called to him from the front desk of the Pendel Inn. He turned his pot of tomato basil soup down to low heat, hooked his ladle into his apron strings and went to her.
“What is it?”
“Ezra in room 12 hasn't paid his rent in three days. I gave him a warning yesterday and he still hasn't,” she frowned, the lines around her mouth deepening. “I need you to go up there and tell him to cough it up or hit the road.”
“M..me?”
“Yes. Clara's busy- she has four rooms to clean. And I have to get these orders sent today or we won't have flour for two weeks. You can do it.”
Thomas gulped.
“B-but the garlic bread still needs a little more salt, and it has to come out in 5 minutes or it'll burn. Plus someone needs to stir the soup to keep it from sticking!” He said.
“I'll take care of it,” his mother waved him away, “now quit stalling. I need to fill that room with a paying customer. One that isn't such a sleazebag, preferably. I'm trying to run a business here.”
“Oh. Ok. I guess I can try...” Thomas resigned himself to the fact that he was going to have to confront someone.
He trudged up the stairs, dread building in the pit of his stomach. Standing of room 12, he rehearsed what he was going to say. He puffed up his collar and straightened his apron because he thought it made him look more intimidating.
Then he knocked. Once. Very quietly.
Nothing.
Oh well, I guess he's not there. Back to the kitchen for me!
Then the door opened, slowly.
“Yes?” A booming voice came from within. Thomas nearly jumped out of his trousers. Ezra, the man behind the door, was almost seven feet tall and as big as an ox, and every last inch of him was covered with hair.
“E....Ezra?”
“That's me. Who wants to know?”
“Uh...uh...um. I'm Thomas. Thomas Pendel.” Everything he had rehearsed flew out of his head. He cleared his throat bravely. “You owe us three days' rent.”
“....So? What are you gonna do about it?” The man glared down at the boy.
Well, Thomas didn't have an answer for that. Nothing. He would do absolutely nothing. He couldn't do anything; this man was four times as big as him! He stood in the door, dumbfounded.
Then, the man smiled.
“Hey, kid, I was just messing with you! Hey, I got your money!”
“Oh! You do?” Thomas smiled brightly at him. How relieving!
“Yeah, except...it's not with me at the moment?”
“Where is it?” Thomas's big brown eyes went wide.
“Hey, see here. I have a chest stashed in the forest. I keep it there during my travels, in case I get robbed. It's full of gold and it's buried under....Under a giant oak, about three miles east from here. I put a big, mossy rock over the spot so I could find it again. I just haven't been able to get to it lately, because I hurt my leg.” Ezra walked around the room a little, limping very convincingly.
The poor man! No wonder he hasn't paid!
“Oh no! I'm so sorry! That's terrible!” Thomas said, “what if I went and got it for you?” He wasn't a fighter, but he was strong enough from helping around the inn. He could carry a heavy chest for a few miles without a problem.
“Oh, I couldn't ask such a thing...”
“Nonsense! I'll definitely bring you your chest, sir. It would be my pleasure.”
“You..you will? You will! Oh thank you, it'd help me ever so much.”
“Of course. I'll be back as soon as I can. Don't worry about Mrs. Pauline, I'll take care of her for you.”
See, his mom was wrong! Ezra was a good man who just needed some help. Most people were. Although, as Thomas turned to go back downstairs, he swore he could hear loud guffawing coming from Ezra's room. Maybe he had just remembered a funny joke! Maybe he'll tell it to me when I get back.
--------------------------------------
After making sure dinner had been served, Thomas gathered some supplies into a leather sack: some apples, bread, cheese, matches, a lantern, and a few coins for emergency. He threw his traveling cloak around his neck. It wouldn't be a long trip-- an hour or two at most-- but he liked to be prepared. Also, it looked like it might rain.
He grabbed his spare rolling pin and stowed it in the cloak pocket, in case there were brigands or raccoons or something.
His mother was tidying up the dining room, and his sister was counting the day's earnings. No need to worry them, he'd be right back. Still, he scrawled a quick note and left it on the counter:
Dear Mom and Clara, Went into the forest to get Ezra's money. He keeps it in a chest there. Will be back in time for breakfast shift, don't wait up.
Love you both, Thomas.
He left through the back door, and walked out into the chilly night air. He shuddered, pulled his cloak around his shoulders, and plunged into the dark forest ahead.
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:04 am
Travel, it was the sole purpose of Crystella and her group. She had traveled near and far with a band of gypsies. They had come to a little inn and set up camp outside that morning. Somehow a few of them had been able to talk with the inn owner and purchased a little bit of food to eat. After all, they didn't need beds.
Ocean colored eyes watched the activity of the inn for quite some time before performing a little bit in the streets. A gruff voice called out from one of the inn windows. "Hey there! How about you bring some of that up here!" It was a scary and hairy man from the looks of it. Stella continued to dance with the music her fellow gypsies played, and ignored the man. Unfortunately he didn't get the memo. "C'mon you gypsies. I can even pay you for i--" the man stopped in mid sentence and vanished from the window. Thank goodness. Other than that rude behavior, things were becoming a little dull and the sky grew cloudy.
A few of the group members drew straw and it just so happened, Stella, got the short end. She stuck her tongue out and laughed. Well, it looked like she would be going out and about to get some firewood for the evening. With a small wave and the tug of her red, hooded cloak, Stella headed off into the woods.
***
She wasn't sure how long she had wandered into the woods, but she knew one thing- she had an armful of firewood and nowhere to put it. Her arms poked out from the cloak that covered her from head to toe. Only a portion of her dark hair could be seen beneath the hood. With her free hand the gypsy lit a small glow in her hand that flashed a little. Was it her or were the woods getting a little darker?
"Great," Stella sighed. Carefully she bent down and made a makeshift torch out of some of the firewood. After a few moments a fire sparked against the bark and created a small glow around it. "There..." she said to herself. Now then...all she had to do was get back to the inn. At least she could see a little better in this dingy forest.
As she tried to focus on her surroundings she could have sworn she had already been in that same area. If only she knew she had been walking in circles, despite marking her way through the woods. This was...odd. Perhaps this was some type of enchanted forest?
At least two hours had passed since Thomas entered the forest, and there was no sign of a large oak tree with a rock under it.
He held the lantern out in front of him, squinting into the distance. Surely, he hadn't traveled that far from the village? He swore he could still see lights from the inn. At least, just a moment ago...? Plus he was pretty sure he had passed the same rotting tree stump for the eighth time now. Was he still heading east?
I guess I'll head back. The chest will probably be easier to find in the daylight anyway.
He sighed heavily and sat down on the stump. Thomas hated giving up, especially when he was trying to help someone. Pulling an apple out of his bag, he chewed on it forlornly.
No! I'll keep going. Maybe I'll run into someone and ask for directions!
Unwilling to accept that he was hopelessly lost, Thomas jumped up from his seat and stomped deeper into the forest with a renewed vigor.
“HALLOOOO???? HELLO??” He called out, “IS ANYONE OUT HERE?”
Waving his lantern around a bit to signal any passersby, the young cook was having no luck. He couldn't find the chest, didn't know where he was, and couldn't find his way back home.
Still, he pressed on. And just when he thought all hope was lost... he saw it. A tiny, flickering flame between the trees up ahead. Someone was there! And carrying a torch!
Oh, thank heavens!
Thomas charged towards the light.
“HELLO! WHO'S THERE? WAIT UP!” He bumbled over thickets and bushes until he caught up. He was nearly out of breath when he reached the torchbearer--a lovely gypsy girl in a red cloak.
“Eh-excuse me miss,” he huffed, “I'm terribly sorry to be such a bother, but do you know where the largest oak in the forest is? I'm doing a favor for a friend. And if not, could you possibly point me in the direction of the Pendel Inn? I'm afraid I have no idea where I am.”
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:59 am
"Where are we going, Aysel? I thought you were planning to go to the castle!" The twin boys, who had been working up to her last nerve over the past two hours, were getting bored and restless. On her bad days, she only referred to them as Thing One and Thing Two; their names, however, were Cody and Darrell. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips, and she stopped in her tracks so she could kneel beside the boys.
"I will be going to the castle. Alone. It's too dangerous for the two of you to come with me. For one, I don't know if it's abandoned. You could get hurt. And two -"
"But -" The two boys frowned at the young thief, their role model, but listened regardless as she glared at them. "I need to do this alone. A... test of sorts, you could say. And I'm sorry, but you would be dragging me down." Aysel gave each of them a gentle squeeze on the shoulder before she stood up and dusted herself off again. They had just arrived at a small inn; she barely paid mind as a young man brusquely passed them by and into the woods. The trio approached the place just as a wind began to pick up, and the woman at the desk greeted them warmly.
------------
Sure, she felt guilty, but what could she do? Aysel wanted to be alone. She liked having the boys around - they made good companions - but at the same time... She would have rather been alone. At least this time around.
Pulling her dark cloak further around her slender form, Aysel pushed on into the forest. She hadn't bothered to pay attention to her surroundings until she tripped over a fallen tree trunk - one she had already tripped over almost an hour ago.
Hadn't she?
Pulling the hood away from her face, she took a moment to look at where she was in the forest. Fallen trunks. Trees hanging low to the ground. She had been there before. It was the same place! Aysel had to have been walking around in circles for what could have been at least an hour - and the worst part was she hadn't even noticed.
So, where was she going?
She'd begun to move again when she heard voices nearby, stopping her in her tracks. But instead of turning on her heel to slip away, she instead crouched behind a tree, where she was able to spot two figures.
They didn't know each other, or so it appeared... Perhaps they, too, were lost. But did she dare approach them? Before she could decide, it seemed Aysel's feet had made the decision for her; she cautiously approached the pair so she wouldn't startle them. "Are you lost as well?" Upon closer inspection she could observe the two more carefully: one a young gypsy girl, the other a young man, probably from a nearby village. And of the three of them, Aysel had an inkling as to where there was shelter nearby.
"I believe there is a castle near to where we are in the woods, and it also looks like a storm is approaching." The wind had certainly picked up, whipping her cloak around her body as if to respond to her suggestion. "And it would be best to find shelter, quickly, before it begins to storm." She didn't know too much about weather conditions, but she had lived outdoors her entire life, and could feel a storm brewing in the sky. "It's your choice as to whether or not you will follow, but I'm heading for the castle, and would be willing to show the way." Aysel simply shrugged and passed by the two of them to continue on through the woods, tugging the hood back over her eyes and wrapping the cloak more tightly around herself against the fierce winds.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:18 pm
Loud clanks of metal against metal echoed through deserted training grounds. A jaguar that stood like a human and dressed in lightweight armor was busy hacking away seven other armored bodies. One of the armored men took a swing at Nyla with a battle ax. A blur of yellow and metallic grey swiftly dodged the attack. When the ax made contact with the stone ground, a sword blade swung at the man's head.
Clank The helmet fell onto the ground and its wearer headless. Not only headless, but the whole body was missing from inside the suite of armor. Ever since the curse was placed on her, her siblings, and the castle the servants and soldiers not only turned invisible but seemed to turned into something wind-like. For they had no solid forms. After Nyla spent the first miserable months to learn how to walk like a person all over again, she welcomed the change of having unlimited sparring partners. Not to mention not hearing any snuffling about a dislocation shoulder, missing ear, and 'minor' stab wounds. It didn't take her long it miss the sensation of having her weapons tear at flesh. If there was one thing this curse that would cause her annoyance, other than her siblings' whiny depression over their beast forms, it would that it reduced her glorious army into a symphony of breezes.
Now if there was thing that the curse didn't bother Nyla, it was her new form. Even if she would have a hundred years to train, she wouldn't dream of being this flexible and quick. Her razor sharp inch and a half claw nails, that were retractable but only to a fourth of an inch, were a nice bonus. As the other six empty armored suits advanced onto her, Nyla leaped backwards over one's head and stabbed it where a human neck would have been. Once she landed, she quickly spun towards her left and took out another suit. It didn't take long for her to finish the other four off. As the last suit crushed onto the ground, Nyla gave the rumble of tin cans a glare. "Pathetic. That hardly even served as a warm-up," She spatted in an icy tone before her feline eyes glanced up at the sky.
A tiny drop of water fell in between her eyes from grey clouds. Great, now it was going to rain. She always found it irritating but since the curse Nyla hates rain. Being soaked weighs you down too much in battle. Besides, it just feels plain gross to be went even a little bit. Nyla turned her back on what remained of her spar mates and hurried back inside before more raindrops landed on her. Leaving the armor suits to assemble themselves and placed in their original spots.
Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:02 am
A brown eyebrow rose. Did she hear right? Yes, she did. Stella could hear the sound of a male's voice yelling in the woods. What in the world was he thinking? There were wild animals in this forest. Granted...there was a chance he would scare off any critters. Even though she heard the echo she couldn't pinpoint him. At least not until he came up to her.
Crystella glanced at the young man as he panted before her. She blinked a few times and then looked at him a little disappointed. "Oh, so you're lost too? I'm sorry, I don't think can help you with any of that," she replied to his questions. Then something hit her. "Wait...the Pendel Inn? Hey! Don't you work there? I think I saw a glimpse of you when we got some food," Stella recalled. She gave him a warmer smile, now that she felt a little more comfortable. At least he was somewhat familiar. It was nice to have another face in this dreary place.
The gypsy introduced herself as Stella and in return the young man did the same. So, he was Thomas, the Pendel Inn cook. Very nice. Essentially it was determined that the two would look for a way out together.
After the quick introduction the two had just begun to press forward when...
"There's something in the bushes!" Stella said out of nowhere. And she was right. A young woman came from the bushes and spoke to the pair. The female looked the stranger up and down as she spoke. Without noticing her expression a skeptical gaze surfaced. Mhm...help them? Sure.
Stella spoke up to the stranger. "And how do you know if there is a castle nearby or how to get there? Judging from how you look and carry yourself I wouldn't trust you. How do we know you're not going to rob us blind?" She was definitely not about to trust this woman. She didn't even introduce herself! How rude! But that wasn't the end of the gypsy asserting herself. "Oh, and if you didn't notice we aren't children. It is obviously best to find shelter before it rains," she finished.
There wasn't really any reason for her to be so rude, but who the heck did this stranger think she was? She just showed up and started treating them like babies. DUH it was going to rain. It was also weird. She knew about a castle, but didn't say it was her castle? Red flag. Now, if she had come up and offered that she had a home in the woods and could aid them before the storm that would have been different. THAT would have been appreciated.
"Come on Thomas...we can-" she began to say to the cook when she was interrupted by a horrifying screech.
CAW!
~~~~~~~~ Ah the smell of rain. It was the best smell ever! Beady eyes peered out the window as the dark clouds rolled in. Perfect. Shira smiled to herself. During storms was the perfect time to go out for some air. Shira couldn't wait. If there was one plus side of this transformation it was that she could fly. Because her arms had essentially turned into wings she could support all of her weight like a real bird. It was fabulous! It was also great since most people would be indoors during a storm. Sometimes they also left their precious belongings out in the rain. It was her duty to pick them up...and take them home.
Shira unlatched her bedroom window and stood on the edge of the windowsill. At last a few drops of rain drizzled down from the gray sky. Talons gripped the sill and then pushed off in full force. Wings spread as the wind hit. Shira glided through the air with a tiny smile. It was so nice to fly!
She soared through the air for a few minutes until her vision picked up on something in the woods. Were those...people? Her joyful flight soon turned sour. A frown appeared as she got huffy. How dare they be so close to her home! How dare they!
With her talons flared Shira let out a screech that sounded like a cross between a hawk and pterodactyl (even though they didn't know about dinosaurs.) The bird monster swooped down at the thief, missing the woman. She screeched again and readied herself to attack. Then...someone caught her eye. There was a young man with both of the females. Hmm...he would be perfect. What a nice new play thing! Shira charged without warning and caught Thomas in her talons underneath the arms. She hoisted him into the air. Well, he was a little lighter than expected. Weren't guys supposed to be super muscular and heavy? Oh well! She would certainly be sharing her new shiny to her brothers and sister.
"Thomas!"
OOC: I did have Harx's permission to have the mini introduction not super focused on annnd to kidnap Thomas. XD I also won't be posting characters together like this on a normal basis. :3 But for this I thought it would be appropriate.
Aysel smirked at the girl's reaction to her sudden appearance, listening as she was insulted. The young woman didn't flinch, and instead offered a simple shrug. "As you wish. I might not look," she paused, trying to think of the correct term, "trustworthy, but I at least have a semblance of direction in the wild," she stated simply, crossing her arms over her chest as she stopped in her tracks to face the pair. Before she had the chance to speak again, however, a loud screech stopped her dead in her words, and she quickly spun around to see a large bird-like creature swooping down at her.
"Shi -" Her dark eyes widened in fear, and she barely maanged to avoid the creature's talons as it dove for her. "The hell is that?!" Aysel had little time to ready herself for another attack, but was unable to even draw her blades when the creature instead decided to attack the poor boy that accompanied the gypsy. "Wait! Come -"
It was too late. He was gone. Aysel glanced over at Stella, eyeing her to see if the girl had been hurt. She had been unscathed, though she herself had stumbled against a tree trunk as a searing pain lanced up her left arm. Cursing under her breath, she pushed away from the tree and approached Stella carefully. "If we don't want to lose him, we have to keep going. Wherever that... that thing was headed, there's a chance that we'll be able to catch up..."
Her voice trailed off when she spotted an odd-looking object hiding amongst a pile of hidden leaves; she kneeled to pick it up, holding it in the palm of her hand. What was it? A key, or an orb? Turning it over in her fingers, Aysel held it out and placed a hand on the gypsy girl's shoulder. "Maybe this will help us locate them...?" She knew better than to get her hopes up, but either way, they needed to keep moving. She left the object in Stella's possession, and re-wrapped the cloak around herself as she beckoned for her to follow. "Come on."
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:43 pm
..: Introduction :..
The skies were dark and damp. A shade of gray and darkness spread across the stars above. Thunder began to roar, gradually the forces of nature showing its dominance of the land. The night was cold as the clouds dissipated into a shower. The walls of the castle were being washed by the rainfall as a black demonic winged figure stood at the highest point of the castle overlooking the landscape and forest that surrounded the royal structure. Thoughts of unsatisfying memories poured into the beast's mind. Flashbacks of his father's words scathing his empty soul.
**FLASHBACK**
"Draco raise your sword valiantly!" The king called out to his young son. Draco was on the verge of being defeated by one of the royal knights. The prince was clearly outmatched and overpowered. He was 13 and his opponent was well older and had a reach as well as weight advantage. The steel of the knight's sword clanked violently, pushing the young prince back as he grunted. Sweat was trailing down his forehead as he struggled with all his might, yet he was still forced back. Turning his attention to his father who had a glare of embarrassment toward his eldest son.
Upon looking at his father's displeased face a boost of emotions overwhelmed the boy. 'I can't give up' Draco thought, 'My father's counting on me!' The weight of pressure to do well was a constant test. His royal name depended on him. Then, in an instant Draco stepped back and rotated his body into a spin as his opponent swung his blade forth madly, losing his balance as Draco struck his broadsword toward the knight's vulnerable neck. Victoriously standing his ground, panting lightly as he was the declared winner.
"That's my boy!" The king cheered joyously as Draco bowed honourably. After the duel the king patted his son's back proudly. "Draco, you are on your path to great things, I am proud to call you my son!" The king smiled, revealing his white teeth in the process. Draco with a half grin was pleased to make his father proud.
It was memories like that that made Draco miss his father, his depression worsened with every passing moment. Although the king's last days on earth were something Draco wasn't used to. He could remember his father's last words to him like it was yesterday before he committed suicide.
"Draco your narcissism will cause the end of you." The king stared blankly at the prince in a drunk mess. Draco shrugged the comment away. After all, the king wasn't himself and the alcohol was consuming his judgement even if there was a small truth to it.
**END OF FLASHBACK**
The rain drops were now soaking the Dragon Prince. Water dripped down his massive wings. Careless, that he was becoming drenched by the rainfall.
Meanwhile, a white horse sprinted toward the path to the castle. An armoured figure rode on the animal. A look of focus on the man's face as his green dazzling hair danced in the rain. Upon approaching the castles gate entrance he called out for all to hear him. "Dragon Prince show yourself! Entering the main gate as the head chamberlain Thomas opened the castle door. "You servant, tell your prince I have come for his head! The man on the white horse pointed his blade at the elderly man.
"Please wait.." Thomas replied.
Moments later the well-dressed royal head of staff appeared at the castle's top addressing the soon to be king. He stood elegantly in his formal attire, with his left eye covered with a black patch.
"Hello master, there is a gentleman downstairs who wishes to see you." he told Draco calmly.
"And who is this gentleman?" Draco questioned.
"I don't know sire but I assume he must be aligned with another kingdom." The gray-haired servant suggested.
"Very well Thomas bring him here and fetch me my spear." Draco ordered. "Your shield as well sire?" Thomas asked his lord.
"No, I don't think I'll be needing it." Thomas nodded and went on his way.
Afterwards, Thomas returned with Draco's spear and the challenger followed close behind him. "You are the Dragon Prince!?" The newcomer explained in complete shock.
"Yes and who might you be challenging me on this dreadful night?"
"Impossible but you are a beast not a man!" The swordsman stated in awe.
"Nevertheless, I challenge your throne! I am a nobleman from a kingdom far away in Dernier Ventcour. I am Elliot, the mightiest knight the world has ever known!"
Draco scoffed at the man and stared at the nobleman with a stern look.
"Your head will scorch in the rain." Draco scolded bluntly as he reached for his spear from Thomas. Elliot the nobleman only smirked and went on guard. The knight wore a white heavy suit of armour with a gold outline, along with some crimson red garments. His azure shaded eyes fixed on the Dragon Prince as he held his two-handed great sword near.
Swinging his blade diagonally in an up motion Draco flung back holding his spear forward to block the knight's attack, the metal clashing causing a loud clank as the blades grinded together in the rain. Draco pivoted his cross spear so that the handle edge would hit hid adversary in the temple. To his success the strike bludgeoned the knight's head hard knocking him back a couple feet before gaining his composure.
The nobleman was outclassed, he stood 6'2" with Draco standing a foot taller and perhaps double the weight. "Foul beast!" The knight cried as he charged forth, his feet splashing on the puddles of the rain. Draco launched forward as well using his wings to propel himself as they expanded tremendously.
Once again their blades crashed in a forceful impact. If Draco had been in his mortal state, Elliot would prove to be a fair enough match. However, in this form Draco was much stronger. Not in a million years would Draco have imagined himself wielding such power. It was as if his new form was half man and half dragon.
Unlike the previous clashing Draco was done fooling around he flapped his obsidian wings to create momentum as the foolhardy knight scrubbed back against the puddles. In a act of desperation Elliot waved his sword horizontally, slashing his massive sword directly toward Draco's neck and torso.
To the Dragon Prince defence he slammed down his spear to parry the attack. Elliot absorbed the blow and crouched down to attempt a spinning slash towards the beast's legs. In the heat of battle Draco leaped upwards as hovered in the air with support of his black wings completely avoiding the blow.
"Your efforts are futile!" Draco growled, baring his sharp teeth at his opponent.
This only made the knight more stubborn as he dashed up high to swing his sword vertically straight up with both hands aiming at the prince's groin area. Draco snarled in agitation of his reckless challenger. Draco simply flapped his wings to catapult himself into the air, taking to the cloudy rainy skies as he circled the nobleman. Draco roared in a battle cry as he soared downwards in a dive as Elliot readied himself to counter the aerial assault, bringing his blade up to his face in a defensive maneuver.
Draco locked his spear's blade on the tip of Elliot's sword as both warriors grunted. Suddenly, Draco waved his speared downward to jerk Elliots sword to the side leaving the nobleman's head vulnerable and without a moment's notice Draco reached his free right arm out to claw the knight's face painfully.
"Ahh!" Elliot shouted as blood dripped from his scratch marks and disappear in the puddle below. The rain washing the blood away as Draco took the time to finish the combatant. Pulling his speared back then thrusting it into Elliot's skull to pierce his brain tissue in a gory mess. Blood gushed out of Elliots forehead and hair as Draco removed his bloody spear from the dead man. Draco roared in victory as thunder roared loudly. "Thomas! Rid the body as I torch his head!" Draco demanded in a maniacal blood-lust.
"Very well, master." The elderly man nodded as Draco held Elliot's bloody battered head and raised it victoriously. Draco proceeded to torch his head and pitched it away for the rain to soak it dry in a rotting burnt mess. Twas a while since the Dragon Prince had killed. The rush to extirpate was a thrill that sent a chill down Draco's spine. Why he finished the nobleman in such a cruel and gruesome way he wasn't sure it came natural to him and perhaps matched his uncouth appearance.
