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frivery · 2 months
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These are my two favorites, Brigan and Alistair! They were, I suppose, gift dragons that I received from the friends who got me into the game so they have a lot of sentimental value. I have had these two for almost all of their 8 years in existence and you can really tell how much older I am now from my art, to how I dress them, to their several-times re-written bios... most of which I still have archived. These two don't have the most modern of dragon looks, but they hold a special place in my heart.
It's Appreciate a Dragon Day
And every day is Appreciate a Dragon Day on Flight Rising!
Which dragon is your favorite? How do you gene them? Do you style them? How do you style them? Apparel, skins, accents? Do they have a matching familiar?
edit: Title and hashtags updated based on your feedback, thank you!
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frivery · 3 months
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Zeus; he's a young bounty hunter that reminds Virgil of himself, Vier, and makes Virgil reconsider things.
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frivery · 4 months
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eyyyyyyyyyy i just realized... I don't have a fae equivalent yet. Anyway, ancient gijinka ideas I've been thinking about, because moderns aren't the only one who need an equivalent.
Aberrations, these aren't any species in particular. Aberrations are the result of magic or science gone awry, practiced on the living or the dead, which changes the dragon/s involved fundamentally.
Aethers, being dragons from space I was going to make them githzerai to mirror the githyanki but the moth-look was just too cute so I'm going to make them Moth-lit. Moderns will often lump them in with beastfolk, Tundra, but some have taken to calling them 'mothfolk', 'mothkin', or even 'moth-lit'. Once treasured by their God, and then cast away when they did not go as planed, the Moth-lit are not a group that typically hurts at the silence of the Eleven. Most comfortable when among their crew, groups of Moth-lit are led by an immortal queen. While each Moth-lit is independent, and capable of making their own choices, many will follow the sway of the Queen as if they were still the crew of her ship. Some moth-lit have two arms in humanoid form, some still have four, it is unclear if the difference is perhaps subspecies of moth-lit or if it is the shifting capability of the individual.
Auraboas are dryads, often mistaken by the modern breeds to be gensai, elemental, or sometimes even beastfolk. Keepers of nature, shy, mischievous; while there have always been stories of the dryads they were believed to be only myth until recent times. Young dryads, now being disconnected from the loop that connects all of the ancients of their people, are culturally separate from their ancestors. Unable to connect in the same method as the dryads of past, these saplings have made an encounter with a dryad much more common than it once was.
Banescale are elementals, often perceived as a dangerous, more powerful, version of gensai... which is closer to the truth than moderns often get when facing an ancient. While gensai are born of, and connected to, an element they are not made of it. Banescale, the elementals, on the other hand are the physical being of a strong concentration of spirited element. While both are subject to be effected by the environment around them, the gensai are a more physically stable people. Both are incredibly rare with little of their own culture remaining. The concentration of element required to create an elemental seems to be so great that air around one seems to warp, as if its very existence shifts the world around it.
Gaoler are beastfolk, the same as tundra, they are just a much older version of the same people. Being a people frozen in time, from a place much bigger, wilder, and more demanding, the Gaoler are a larger people who often exist in a state in between fully humanoid and fully draconian. It is notable that the gaoler are one of the people that were accepted the easiest by the modern breeds, though their methods may seem a little strange their culture is not so alien.
Sandsurge, in a similar vein as the gaoler, are a earlier version of the Goliath, ridgeback, people. Even more fearsome, even more isolationist, they are known for keeping their scales even when otherwise fully shifted, as if to ensure they are always armored when dealing with outsiders.... a task they seem to loathe. Goliath may live in forgotten corners of the world, but the sandsurge live deep beneath the bones of forgotten civilizations. Vanished into the sands, like a mirage.
Undertides can be Laneshi, people of long-lost myth that are said to live in the tides in a way that even those blessed by the Tidelord himself could only dream of. The have a two-caste system with people being split into either the mystic or warrior caste. Tight-knit in culture, they prefer to spend their time in groups and can often struggle to acclimate to other lairs due to their higher social needs. Covered in small, toxin-laced, spines- they are dangerous to interaction too closely with.
Veilspun are changelings, capable of shifting their appearance entirely to fit wherever they end up. While the way they look can change entirely in an instant, Veilspun will almost always keep their hair at a length that is extraordinarily long for other species. Always capable of spotting another of their kind, with life spans several times of that of the average modern, decade long grudges between individuals of their species is not uncommon. Veilspun are a people who mirror their environment back and who have spreed through all of the land without notice. Like other ancients, the changelings often have trouble shifting entirely between forms and they will often keep a set of wings, horns, a tail, or claws.
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frivery · 1 year
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Miguel!
Got around to finally doing Miguel's design on the base, his clothes are chaos and his hair is a mess but he does his best! Everyday! All the time!... won't someone please appreciate that he's trying :'<
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frivery · 1 year
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POV Vier
The Royal Guards, we have Vier, Hydrangea, Brigan, Kinning, Jurek, and Atney in that order left to right. This piece is on the longer side.
First part is here, last part is here, if you want to read those. The Next part is TBC.
Careful with his pace, with his wound, the King slowly made his way up the many stairs to the Palace doors. Brigan had, long since, disappeared from his sight and Vier was left to ponder what happens now. Thier closest neighboring Kingdom, the Tiefling Kingdom, had been burned to nothing but ash. Were they next? What would Valenin have done in his shoes... what would Vinren have done?
The doors opened before he could reach them, reminscent of when he had been plodding up the stairs after the attempted raid by the Bandit Kingdom.
"Your Majesty!" That was a familiar, and welcome voice, the dark-skinned elf rushing down the stairs at a breakneck pace to meet him.
"Ser Hydrangea, good to see you are still in one piece after the news I've heard."
"I believe that is my line, Your Highness." the knight returned, voice sounding stressed and high-strung.
"That is the question, though, what have you heard?"
"What do you mean?"
"What did the High Priest tell everyone was happening?"
"I... he didn't tell anyone anything, except for me, I think. He told me you had gotten attacked and walked out into the woods... by yourself, ordering him not to follow."
"That is accurate to how I remember things."
"Why did you do that!? Did you not think about what would happen if you got killed out there?" Vier bristled at the tone, scolding, that the Knight was using. No, it wasn't just that he was being scolded, Hydrangea had taken this personally and was hurt? Upset? He was something and he was certainly out of line.
"I'll make sure to ask for permission next time I get poisoned then, Guardsman." he shot back, the darkness of the trees outside seeping out of his voice like blood. They began the ascent up the rest of the stairs, Veir focused on just acting normal despite the flashes of pain going off behind his eyelids with every step.
"I just, you are the King now, you aren't a squire that can just be beholden to yourself anymore. The Kingdom relies on you, it needs you, you can't just go missing like that."
"Brigan would have handled it."
"Brigan was in denial. He did nothing except appoint more Royal Guards while you were gone, if you die and he gets put in charge... we will not survive that."
"He did plenty while he was an advisor."
"With all due respect to his Grace, he makes an amazing advisor, he would be a very poor King. He's flighty, that would be too much." The King shook his head, sometimes when he and Ser Hydrangea spoke of Brigan he wondered if they were truly talking about the same person. Flighty? If he was flighty then why didn't he leave when the rest of the council did? Why had he let himself be put in such a place of power if he was afraid to take it?
"You have an interesting way of seeing the High Priest."
"He is a very strange elf." the guard agreed, pausing at the top of the stairs to wait for Vier to enter the Palace first.
The halls were cool, familiar, and made Veir feel more comfortable. Blue colors greeted him across most surfaces.
"Where are the others?"
"The others?"
"The other Royal Guards that Brigan told me about."
"...I do not know, I will admit to having left as soon as he said you had returned." the King hummed quietly in response, briefly considering where the High Priest would think was the best place to meet, before his thought process stopped in its tracks.
"Wait, you left so quick you didn't even hear what he said to the other Guards?"
"That is correct."
"...you left before he even finished speaking?"
"Yes, of course. You say that like its weird, but I thought you were dead." Huh.
"I see, thank you for the concern?" he didn't know what to say to this. It tasted bitter, like guilt, for the repeated attempts he had made to be rid of the elf... if only temporarily.
"I have known you since you were a child." That was true, though it often didn't feel like it anymore. He was not the same person he had been back then, for better and worse.
The King shook his head, letting out a long breath before beginning down the center hallway of the Kingdom. This was the largest of the halls, grand and decorated in lavish blue velvet with golden accents. The Knight picked up the pace, briefly passing the King, in order to open the large, heavy, door into the throne room. A guess, that this would be where Brigan saw best to wait, and a good one.
Vier didn't immediately react to the line of guards, merely crossing the room and standing in front of the throne. There had been two here once, that had been changed some time ago to just the one. Vinren's throne, her's having been designed to invoke a cool, calculating, air instead of the intimidating and hostile design of Valenin's. The imperial dully noted that the tattooed knight that had been walking with him had chosen to stand at the side of the throne instead of with his fellow guardsmen.
"Good evening, you will all have to forgive my absence during your initial appointment, but I do hope the promotion has been treating you all well while I was away." was how the King decided to address the gathered knights, the dragons in new blue-armor kneeled before him much like Ser Hydrangea had when he had first been crowned. "I would like to thank you all for your exemplary service to the Kingdom, I know all of you more than deserve to be here, so, welcome to the palace. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months."
The icy-eyed imperial dipped his head, really the closest thing to a sign of respect he could offer someone that wasn't royalty, before he gestured for the kneeling guards to stand.
"I will look into getting a schedule set up, but for now you are all free to do as you wish." Essentially, 'dismissed'. Some of those in the room took the hint, the dark-furred tundra and two of the gathered imperials namely. Remaining, was Jurek, Ser Kinning, and... the last imperial of the group who looked, honestly, a lot like himself.
He didn't get to ask if they needed anything before the tiefling quickly stepped forward, pale-brown eyes bright despite the horrors he had experienced not even a full week before.
"Your majesty, I just really want to express my gratitude for all that you have done for me." the words were polite but the tone was excitable, almost giddy.
"You are welcome, Ser Kinning, I am only sorry there was not more we could have done for your people." a flicker of intense grief twinged across the sunset-colored man's face, loss, but the newly-garbed knight shook his head and attempted to put back on a bright face.
"Such as they are, your majesty, but anything less than the hand of the Shadowbinder Herself could not have changed that."
"Even so, I hope that you come to find peace here, with us. We will never replace your old Kingdom, but I hope it helps."
"You have already done more for me than you will ever know." there was a genuine tone on his voice, underlined by something that Vier did not know, but he trusted that Ser Kinning meant what he said.
"Well, let me know if you need anything while you get settled here."
"Jerimiah has already been more than accommodating, but I thank you for offer, your Majesty." 'Jerimiah', the King glanced over at his main guard, the elf wore a warm smile as he regarded the tiefling. Seemed like they had done some bonding while he was gone, which would hopefully mean they would work together well.
Vier turned his eyes onto the somewhat familiar gith now, Jurek having patiently watched the interaction.
"Guardsman Jurek." he greeted, the burn-scarred gith dipping into a short, functional, bow in response. He was dressed a little differently, a thick matching blue-and-cream aviator coat going in between the layers of his royal-guard armor.
"Your Majesty, I just want to say that it is an honor serving you."
"You honor the Kingdom with your devotion, it only made sense to ask you." he responded quickly, but the arcane-eyed gith seemed to pause as he thought about something for a long moment.
"I hope I am not out of line for saying this, but your father would have been so proud of all you've accomplished these past few years."
Ice, Vier felt like he had just had ice waters dumped all over him, he hadn't been expecting it so the shock was almost painful.
"I-I, well-" he had to stop himself from trying to give an immediate response, to stop the stuttering, he had to give his brain a moment to catch up and for the surprise to dissipate.
"Thank you, Jurek, I hope so." he wasn't so sure, would Valenin even recognize him if they met now? "I am doing what I can, anyway."
"And doing a mighty fine job of it, considering you were just a squire four years ago." it hadn't even been 4 years yet? It felt like decades.
"I just wanted to tell you that, and that I appreciate being considered despite still being of the Arcanist. I know that my being here is going to be controversial, and I will do my best to be an exemplary royal guard." Jurek bowed again, nodding his head shortly once he had stood, and with that the gith took his leave. Leaving Vier with the last of the royal guards, an imperial like himself.
This one was strikingly similar to himself, skin and hair only slightly deeper in hue, features only a touch sharper, the main difference being the saturated dark-purple of his eyes and that the man was a few inches taller than Vier was.
"Your Highness." the man greeted, hands behind his back and posture immaculate. There was something about this man that put the King on edge, maybe it was the sharpness of his gaze, the coldness in his eyes.
"I do not believe we have met before?"
"Never officially, I am Ser Atney, I just wanted to introduce myself since we will be spending so much time together, your Highness." Only now did the imperial bow, slow and intentional in his movements. "I am at your disposal."
"Thank you, Ser Atney, I look forward to working with you." he said these words but he did not mean them.
"And I you, your Highness." the shadow-dragon responded, nodding briefly at Brigan before he, also, took his leave. A relief, there was something dangerous about that one.
"When was it decided that Atney was going to be a royal guard?" Ser Hydrangea piped up, Vier following his gaze to land on the High priest who had been staying out of the way.
"The other guards spoke well of him, and he defended Jurek with no intent of helping himself, do you disapprove?" Brigan aimed this at the tattooed elf, who frowned and shifted on his feet anxiously.
"Ser Atney is a named Knight, and he seems an alright sort to me." Vier had not realized that Ser Kinning was still in the room, the winged-man standing a few paces away from his fellow guard.
Ser Hydrangea was many things, a leader he was not. Pressed to defend his question by the other elf, in front of others, he seemed hesitant to say anything further.
"What is it?" the King prompted, not unkindly, when the elf said nothing to explain himself. The silence lasting longer than it should.
"I just... I'll keep an eye on him, that's all." Self-doubt? He wasn't sure what the expression Jerimiah was wearing was about but he wouldn't press the man now. Whatever the elf was feeling, there was obviously something that made him disturst Ser Atney in particular.
"Well, now that I am back we have a lot of catching up to do." And by 'we' he meant himself. "Ser Hydrangea, I have heard that Virgil is in the Kingdom so please bring me the response letter he has."
"Of course, right away, your Majesty." the elf glanced at the other knight, bowed quickly, and went to do as he had been asked.
"And Ser Kinning?"
"Yes, how can I help?" the tiefling perked up, responding instantly.
"You aren't opposed to sparring, are you?"
"Sparring, your Majesty?"
"Yes, a useful way to use that time while we wait for Ser Hydrangea to return." Ser Kinning seemed to understand what he was saying now, the sunset-colored tiefling smiling a goofy grin.
"I would be delighted."
"Good, you really do need to see the Royal training yard anyway."
"Lead the way and I will follow, without question." This felt like a general statement, an oath almost, but the King decided againist overthinking it. Maybe someone with a bit more energy would be able to make him feel like a person again, like Virgil had once.
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frivery · 1 year
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Miguel, another one of my eternal youth cursed dragons! 'Migs' or 'Miggy' was originally Amiel's assistant... or maybe 'test subject' is a more accurate description. Amiel believed that Miguel was not particularly bright, simply very willing. Even so, despite being left mostly in the dark as to how his previous Mentor had re-created the curse, Miguel managed to make enough educated guesses to help Amiel's long-time rival, Ollie, copy the same feat a few decades later.
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frivery · 1 year
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POV vier; Return of the King.
First part is here, last part is here, if you want to read those. The Next part is Here.
Well, that could have went better... could have gone worse too. The imperial kept his hand pressed to the bandage in his side as he looked around the familiar and bustling streets of his Kingdom. Seems that Brigan had managed to hold things together in his absence, however long it had been. In an attempt to appear casual, rather than pained, Vier rested his hands on the pommel of his sword as he prepared for the journey up to the palace.
"Are you feeling alright, your Majesty?" the familiar, muffled, voice of Guardsman Fell drew his eyes over to the shorter man.
"I am fine, has anything happened while I was away?" the gatekeeper's eyes turned confused at these words, the imperial shifted on his feet as his similarly colored ice-blue eyes glanced toward the Palace.
"I, well, that depends on... how long you were gone for?" ahhh, Brigan had kept what happened a secret, hence the calm and even air within the Kingdom walls, he would go along with the lie for now. It suited him better, anyway.
"About a week, give or take a day."
"Oh." Fell responded, the guard staring through him while he seemed to stop thinking for a moment. "Uh, as far as I know not much has changed. Is there anything, in particular, that you were waiting for?"
"Did the sellsword known as 'Virgil' return from his outing, yet?" Vier questioned, eager to get to the end of this contract agreement with the Littlewing merchant family. The sooner the papers were finalized, the sooner they would be signed and he could rest easy on the 'getting caught' part.
The heavily layered guard pulled the logbook from his hip, opening the thick tome and glancing over the pages, turning them clumsily when the parchment refused to co-operate with his gloved hands.
"I... yes, looks like he signed the logbook a few days ago." Good, Vier had been expecting that response considering that he had already been waiting for Virgil the day he was attacked, but it was still a small relief to hear.
"Anything else you can think of, Ser Fell?" the King prompted, to which the other imperial hesitated before nodding.
"I am... unsure of what you discussed with his Grace before you left, but he appointed more Royal Guardsmen while you were away."
Oh, did he now? Vier didn't offer any outward reaction, simply taking this information in. He had never took the High Priest for the type who was interested in being in charge, perhaps he had been mistaken? Was this some weird form of coup he was walking into? Why else would Brigan appoint more Royal Guardsmen when he didn't even have any proof that he was alive?
Maybe Blackmagic let him know, somehow?
"I am aware." now. "Thank you for the update though, Guardsman."
"Of course, Your Majesty, whatever you need."
"Walk with me, then."
"Pardon?"
"You said 'whatever I need', didn't you? Walk with me, I have a few more things I would like to go over."
"Oh, um..." the imperial trailed off, glancing towards the gate with an anxious energy. He didn't want to abandon his post.
"This won't take long." Vier assured, though his tone was short, Fell nodding sheepishly and falling into step beside him when the King started on the path towards the heart of the Kingdom.
"What else did you want to know, your Majesty?"
"The Royal Guards that were chosen, what do you think of them?"
"You mean, do I think they were good choices for the new post, your Majesty?"
"Yes, that's right."
Fell seemed to mull over that, the pale-toned man hummed quietly before seeming to decide on what to say.
"I wasn't expecting Ser Kinning to be chosen, he is an outsider after all, but he is also a named Knight so I suppose I can understand that."
Ser Kinning, the Tiefling Knight who had asked for help in defending his home... had he returned to them out of gratitude or because there was no Tiefling Kingdom left?
"Zulily deserves it, us in the Barracks have been waiting for her to get promoted since before you became King. Leovan had been talking about nothing else ever since, he's real proud of his brother and I have to admit that Ramsay is very skilled. A little... self-absorbed, though. Brittney wasn't who I was expecting either, but they are plenty patient, so they are very suited to the post."
Zulily was a name that Vier knew, a paladin with an oath to the Shadowbinder to protect, she was also something like the Garrison mom. Brittney.... he didn't think he knew and the twins had moved into the Kingdom after he had taken the throne.
"Jurek and Atney were a surprise too, more so because they were appointed after everyone else was. Jurek may be an Arcanist but he's loyal, principled, he's perfect. And Atney? Well, he always did admire King Valenin, and there is no question about how skilled he is. Not to mention there are few who stand up for those who won't defend themselves in the way he does."
Jurek was a scarred, burned, gith from the Arcane Domain that had been close with his father once. Atney, on the other hand, was an imperial that was raised in the guard barracks much like Fell had been. Unlike Fell, however, Vier couldn't recall ever speaking or sparring with the other Squire.
"So, while not quite what I expected, I think the garrison you've pulled is solid."
"Who were you expecting?"
"I.... am not sure. Jurek, Zulily, definitely... maybe Ken? Ya'know, the ones that would work best with Ser Hydrangea and his Grace."
"Do you think the current ones will clash with Jerimiah?" he could feel the shock more than he could see it, Fell stumbling over his feet for a moment at the casual use of the Knight's first name.
"I... uh, well.." he fumbled, the guardsman taking a moment to regain his composure before trying again. "I think Ser Kinning will get along just fine, Atney can be a little... rebellious but he always has the best interests of us in mind, and Ramsay... I'm not sure. It might be fine, I don't know."
Hm, interesting. He would have to question Brigan on his reasoning behind who he picked.
"I see, thank you for your viewpoint, that was all I needed you may return to your post. Dismissed."
The shorter imperial dipped his head in a brief bow before quickly scampering back down the path they had been down, eager to return to his gate.
Now, it was just him, walking the long paved road that went straight through the Kingdom. He was near the plaza, the heart of where most of the residents here spent their time, but still a way off from the steps up to the Palace. His side was burning with every breath, but weakness is an ugly thing.
His mind had begun to drift off, to ignore the pain, to the experience of the past few days. To Blackmagic.
He had promised, on their first meeting, that if he had need that Vier would be able to find him. A strange thing to say, but one that had turned out to be true. Off of the beaten path, built into the side of a cliff with ancient trees shading it with heavy leaves, had been a moss-covered door. The scholar must have been expecting him, somehow, because Blackmagic met him as soon as he stepped into the clearing, and had helped him into the cavern. A much nicer, more expensive, looking place than he had expected based on the old door but a nice surprise nonetheless.
He had blacked out after that, his blood leading a trail of maroon behind him in thick, blotchy, puddles throughout the dark woods. Vier had been in and out of conscious for... some amount of time after, feverish and pained from the poison that had been left in his blood for too long. When he had finally come to, earlier this morning, Blackmagic had been there.
Reading, he had been reading next to a small window that was letting in an absurd amount of light, almost unthinkably so for the Shadow Domain. The darker-skinned man having been sipping on a bitter-smelling hot liquid, draped comfortably in a chair that was covered in thick furs and red blankets. Aglow. Blackmagic had been lit just perfectly, almost like it was planned, when he had woke up...
"Vier!" the familiar voice broke through the thought, his name called out in shock.
"High Priest, you heard of my arrival very quickly, didn't you?" he asked after the elf had slowed from his sprint to stop in front of him.
"I did, I had one of my priestess' keep an eye on out for your return since I did not know... when you would be back." The King stared down at the blond, his expression kept blank, not offering the priest a response before he started walking once more.
"I heard that Ser Kinning has become a Royal Knight."
"Yes, among others, Your Highness. I have been reminding you to pick more Royal Guardsman for... a few years now."
"Am I to believe that Ser Kinning returns to us out of gratitude, or necessity?" this was more important, what had become of the Tiefling Kingdom.
"...He is... grateful to us, but if he had a people to return to I do not think he would have come back to us."
"So the entire city was burned down?"
"Yes, I understand that those we sent tried to find survivors... they didn't return with any, though. The Bandit Empire was very thorough in their attack, it seems." The king remained silent in response to this news, that could be them. Soon, if he wasn't careful. How was he going to fix that? He had the agreement with Nimue, her family, but they were really just in the beginning. What they had set up now would protect no one.
'What do I do to fix this?' he wanted to ask, he almost did, but the hiss of the barely contained fire in his gut kept him quiet. Why would he bother asking Brigan, of all people? He would have nothing to say, nothing to add, it would be a waste of breath to even ask.
"What can I do?" the elf offered, almost like he could tell what Vier was thinking.
"Get my new Royal Guards together, I want to see the people that will be watching me." the High priest frowned slightly at the words, seeming to catch the note of distrust in his voice, but the man nodded and picked up his pace. Leaving Vier alone, once more.
Well, not really alone, his people were all around him walking the streets and living their lives. People he had once known very well, back when he was just a squire. Still, enough had changed between now and back then that he might as well be alone.
Now his mind was too burdened with what was happening for him to just, revel, in the memory from just this morning. It felt like a lifetime away, like he had been a different person, but it had only been a few hours. Maybe getting hurt more often... wouldn't be a bad thing, Blackmagic was a healer and would appear when needed, and he could finally get some sleep...
But, no, that wasn't an option. He had so much that he needed to do...
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frivery · 1 year
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POV Brigan
Looking for a believer of the Arcanist.
First part is here, last part is here, if you want to read those. The Next part is Here.
What now? He knew he was looking for one specific guardsman, Jurek, a devout of the Arcanist who had been part of the Kingdom since, almost, the beginning. That was his current goal, but what would happen after? The King was missing, likely dead as he had made the idiotic decision to enter the dangers of the tangled grove alone, whilst already bloodied and weakened. He was the successor, so Vier had said when the Bandit Kingdom had attacked them within their own walls many months ago.
Where did that leave him now? He was trapped, no option to leave and thoroughly in the dark about what needed to be done to move forward from here. It was not as if the King had kept him in the loop about what he was planning, what he was doing, he had no context to start with. No where to turn. All he could do was this, finding the Royal Guard that the King had refused to create.
The wind was cool, biting, sheering through his silken garb as if it was made of paper. It didn't usually bother him, he was used to many things, but now it just seemed another sensation to add to the many.
"Oh, priest!"
a voice shouted, somewhat familiar but certainly not worth his time at the moment, not that the comment seemed to be directed at him anyway. Who would say something like that to the Head of the Temple?
"You seem to be on a mission." the induvial said, seeming to fall into step beside him, this prompted Brigan to look up from the path at to identify the other man.
"What-?" Alistair, the plague diplomat here on a mission, stared back at him with an excited, if bashful, expression. "Yes, you could say that I am." the high priest responded simply, he didn't want to play this game right now. He wasn't in the mood for toying and testing the other elf in an attempt to get something they could use out of him. He just wanted to find Jurek. He wanted to stop thinking about the fact that 'they' could just be 'him' soon.
"Can I come along?" the diplomat pretending at being a scholar continued, trying to be close to him. No.
'No' is what he wanted to say.
"Yes, of course." is what came out. "Is there something you need of me, Alistair?"
"Well, I uh.." the other blond laughed, the sound embarrassed, he seemed to be trying to ease his own nerves. "Is there something I strictly 'need'?...well, I suppose, uh, no. But, I would like to- spend some time with you, maybe? If you have a moment?"
Brigan stopped in his path, turning to look at Alistair who reddened at the attention. He wanted to lash out, scream, to tell the diplomat to get lost and stop talking. That was not, however, what he was going to say. No matter how much he wanted to, no matter how much he ached to throw his emotions somewhere else, he would remain calm. The Goddess would expect nothing less of him.
"What do you mean?" he prompted, deliberately obtuse to what Alistair was implying, at least he would get some joy out of watching the intruder squirm.
"I, uh, I-.. well-" the other stammered awkwardly over his words, Brigan merely watching and waiting for him to choke the thought out. "I just thought, what with how nice you've been and all, that it might be, uh, nice-? Nice, for us to maybe hangout... get to know each other? Maybe?"
"Is that not what we are doing right now?" the golden skydancer continued, the plague dragon only flushing a deeper color.
"Well, I suppose it is but the streets aren't the easiest place to talk and all."
"Oh, you are wanting to stop and go somewhere else, then?"
"Yes! Talk over some lunch or maybe you could show me those ruins you do in the temple or something." He really was trying, for what that was worth, but he was still here with bad intentions for their Kingdom.
Brigan placed a hand to the side of his face, humming softly, as he pretended to think about what Alistair had said.
"That does sound like it would be nice-" "Yes!" "-but" the other dragon immediately deflated, his eyes resembling that of a kicked puppy. "it will have to be at some other time, Alistair, the King asked me to find guardsman Jurek for him and I can not keep him waiting."
"Guardsman Jurek?" Alistair repeated, like the name meant nothing to him.
"Yes, he is a gith of arcane descent, perhaps you have seen him around?"
"No, I can't say I have. Not many of the City guard seem to frequent the places that I do." So Alistair was not useful to him in the slightest, he was just getting in the way and slowing Brigan down from his current mission. He could come back to figuring out how to disarm the poorly intentioned diplomat some other time... hopefully as nothing more than an advisor.
"I see, that is a shame, many of our guards are very honorable individuals, maybe you will get the chance to remedy that and spend some more time with them soon." a veiled threat towards the other elf, but Alistair's eyes remained bright and open, the words having no alternate meaning in his mind. "At any rate, however, I am afraid this is where I will have to part with you. I really must find Jurek as soon as possible."
"Oh, well, it was really nice talking to you. Just, uh, thought I would offer." Brigan allowed himself to bask in the defeat of the diplomat for just a moment, closing his eyes briefly, before continuing with the end of this little dance that he was, so eager, to be done with.
"And I would be remiss if I did not take you up on your... offer. Just some other day, perhaps when we both have a little more free time to offer."
Alistair immediately brightened at his words, eyes of red shimmering in response.
"That sounds perfect, I can't wait!" he had never said it was a date but the plague dragon certainly seemed to be taking it as one. It made sense, really, considering that Brigan had been flirting with the other elf previously. Fake flirting but it was not like Alistair could get a read on him to know the difference.
"Until then, Alistair." a dip of his head, a gesture that the plague diplomat responded to with a perfectly executed bow, before the golden skydancer was released from his obligation to playing a part and allowed to return to his current task. Guardsman Jurek. He would have preferred to offer him the post of Royal Guard among the others, a sign of support for the often ostracized arcane, but things had not worked out that way.
Once again, the priest set a breakneck pace as he attempted to track down the busy gith... and once again he was interrupted.
"Your Grace, a moment of your time?" a deep, smooth voice. Brigan turned on his heal in a whirl, ready to snap at the continued annoyance, when he was faced with a ghost.
Vier?
No, the armor wasn't right... nor were the eyes... this wasn't the missing King, it was one of the guard.
"What?" he still felt strange, like he was talking with the dead.
"Apologies for bothering you." the shadow-imperial offered, Brigan staring at the man awkwardly for a moment before catching up to the conversation at hand.
"Its not an issue, what do you need Guardsman?"
"Ser Atney actually, but it's not for me... really, I just wanted to ask why guardsman Jurek wasn't considered to be promoted?" Ah, now this made sense. Knight Atney, raised in the barracks the same as Ken and Fell had been, knighted by the founding King himself as a young man. He had heard of this one, heard of his habit of sticking up for his fellow guardsman, of his skill.
"Why do you ask?" Brigan prompted, the imperial quick to explain himself.
"I mean no offense, Your Grace. Your judgement is, of course, sound I was just... confused. Guardsman Jurek may worship the Arcanist, true, but he is a loyal member of the Kingdom and he is a skilled fighter. If you gave him the chance to prove himself, just one, I think he would show exactly how worthy he is."
"Worthy enough to protect the King?" there was something in the Knight's eyes that changed at these words, something that Brigan couldn't put his finger on.
"I think there are few who are more deserving, who would be more willing to forfeit all to protect. Jurek may not be a landed knight, but he holds himself to the same standards as any named knight does."
A glowing recommendation, but he had already planned on making Jurek a Royal Guard.
"I will consider it, Ser Atney, was there anything else you required?"
The human shook his head, dipping into a quick bow as was polite.
"No, I just hope that you will think about it and maybe see the potential in Jurek, as I do. Thank you for your time, Your Grace.
"Dismissed, then." With this, Brigan was once again allowed to continue his search for the arcane-eyed gith.
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frivery · 1 year
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I think it was in 2018 or 2019 when I decided I wanted a to do a massive lair purge. I went from having around 210~ dragons to less than 40 in 1 day. I just thought I had let the story world get too big and I wanted to real it back in to being something manageable. Only the characters directly related to the ongoing main-story got to stay.
In the end, this is a choice I kind of regret because a lot of the dragons that were essential for the story I want to tell ended up getting snapped in that purge, because I wasn't writing my story down at that point and I thought I was done with them.
The in-lore reason for the lair purge remains, though, and I am very excited to get there. >:3c
Have you ever decided to scrap all/most of your dragons and start over? What happened to spur the change?
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frivery · 1 year
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I've had Roland for 3 years and just now realized his name is actually 'Rolad' not Roland.
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frivery · 1 year
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Durant's Birthday piece, he turned 2 years old on the 1st.
POV Durant, with Judson as supporting cast.
The crackle of fire was all that the young ridgeback was trying to think about, he could hear the quiet whispering of the older raiders in the background, talking about something to do with the General Decimus. Durant was just trying to stay out of it, in that moment, the young man still a little more shell-shocked than he would like to admit at the betrayal of Somber.
He had been the 'ideal raider', how could someone who was the very epitome of what they were still decided to leave like that? But, then again, even the woman who had founded the Bandit Empire had eventually left, hadn't she?
The goliath huffed, leaning further forward onto his knees and resting his face on his arms, pale shadow eyes glazing over as he tuned out from the quiet of the dessert.
"Durant, come here a minute." sitting up, the youth turned to look at the man who was addressing him. Judson, the King of the Bandit Empire after Layek had left him in charge, the same man who had been talking with Esphorite about Decimus before. Usually, the youth was full of determined energy, of fire, of the desire to cause trouble on purpose, but now he was full of the uncomfortable sense of trepidation.
So, carefully, slowly, and with a notable amount of hesitation, Durant shifted, getting up to his feet, and approached the dark-toned orc.
"And what is it that you want?" he asked, some amount of teenage attitude slipping into his voice despite his nerves. Judson raised an eyebrow at his tone, the older raider seeming to find some amount of amusement in something about him... which really just frustrated Durant. He wasn't a child, meant to be mocked and picked at, he was a full member of the empire that was just as useful as any other!
"I just need to get your side of the story really quick." his side to what story, exactly?
"And this is about?" Durant continued in much the same tone as before.
"Decimus, he claims that two of our more senior raiders left of their own violation. You were there when that happened, so what did you see?" Ah, so this was what Judson had been talking to Esphorite about, he knew it had something to do with the general but he had been trying to keep out of the specifics.
"Oh, yes, I was there for that, I guess. General put me in the off-team with Ryln, boring but whatever, along with Somber. We were to step in should our prey try to make a run for it. Which he did, like a bitch, so we stepped up to help run him down." Durant shifted from one foot to the other, the sand beneath his feet sinking around his shoes.
"I think the general threw something at him? Couldn't see from that far away though... and right when I did catch up Somber stepped in to defend our mark. Ryln did right after, told us to back off, and the general did for some reason."
"Is that is?" Judson prompted, causing Durant to nod absentmindedly.
"If I had been in the general's place I don't think I would have let them go so easy, there is no room for traitors." the guardian's silence lasted for some time, long enough for the ridgeback to both 'wake up' from his dazed daydreaming, and for him to notice, shadow eyes falling on the light-eyed man to see if he had said something out of line.
"And... if I told you that you could, very well, be in Decimus' place now?"
"Is that a joke or-?" it wouldn't be a very funny one.
"No, provided that I find no proof of Decimus lying to me about this matter, I will be removing him as general from your group. They will need a new leader and I was intending on it being you."
"You were? I mean, of course you were... are. I am one of the best in the group, after all."
"I am sure you will be, you are still young yet, that was all I required of you Durant."
"When will I be put in charge? Will there be an announcement?" Judson rolled his eyes.
"Alright, thank you Durant, I will speak with you later."
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frivery · 1 year
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Happy 3rd Birthday to Sun! This one is short.
POV Sun with a supporting cast of Nuvola, though Sun only uses names for the people he respects so Nuvola is called variations of 'Sleep' or 'Trickster' in this one. Roland is called 'Nature God' and Ement is called 'Night God' in this.
Where was the Nature God?
The Sun God frowned further, dousing the heated metal that he was working on in the quenching waters at his side, the sky was cloudy once again but the water refused to fall. A problem, as they had been without rain for a little over a full moon phase. The once vibrant, rich, shades of green from the surrounding forest had turned into a yellowed color.
God of the Sun he may be but there was only so much he could do with the clouds in the way, it was likely the climate around their little home would only get worse the longer it took for the God of Nature to return to them. Ement, the God of Night, of Stars, of the others Gods themselves, was doing what he could to keep everything going but there was a reasons the Gods had been born separate. They were not born to hold the power of two, or three, Gods at a time, they had only been crafted with the power they were fit to hold, and they were toying with the balance by placing so much on the one individual.
"Sun."
"We do not have time for your pranks, Trickster God." he cautioned, turning towards the much smaller, and bioluminescent creature. The usual good-natured air was missing, replaced with something akin to melancholy. The indivuals they would usually shadow were also missing, the God of Nature missing on another hunt for another missing piece of their group, and the God of Night spending most of his time inside of the small temple in the midst of town.
"No tricks... not right now." the sleepy gensai agreed with a fake and faded smile, but Sun was under no impression that the sea-foam cloaked individual would keep to their word.
"Then what is it you require of my smithy, Sleep?"
"Not for me... I was hoping.. that you would help me with a project." the other slowly stated, the drowsy God fidgeting like a youngling as they spoke. Unable to meet his eyes.
"A project? Speak plainly, Trickster."
"For Ement." there was a small moment, where the glimmering gensai looked directly at Sun, where he could see the honesty in the Trickster God's eyes. A rare sight for someone so prone to trickery, to lies, to falsehood. "He always thought your work was breathtaking."
"You say that as if he is dead, the Night God is more powerful than you give him credit for, Trickerster." the other gensai shrugged noncommittally in response."You said something, did you have something in mind for such an undertaking, Sleep?"
"Uh.... yes, I have my own... plans, I was wanting you to make something for him... too. Something from... both of us." Sun did not really understand why the other God was asking him this, but he also wasn't opposed to the idea of creating something for the mana exhausted Night God. The Night God... Ement deserved more than just respect for the sacrifice he was making.
"No trickery with this or there will be consequences." The Sun God warned, something that the God of Trickery seemed to have no problem with agreeing to.
"No trickery... not this time,... I promise."
"Keep your word, Sleep."
"I will."
"...I do not see why Ement would even desire something made by my hand."
The Trickster leaned back onto their heals, glancing away with a small frown, the Sun God watching the other with intensity.
"I... do not think he would be... opposed. He really does think your work is... good. I just... wanted Ement to know... that we think of him." It seemed to be the Tricker's genuine attempt to do something kind for the God that they were the closest to. A quest that Sun could no turn down or discourage, it was a good thing to do.
"I understand."
"Will you... help me, then?"
"Yes, was there a doubt?" a real, though small, smile escaped the shorter gensai at this.
"See, I knew... you could find it in yourself... to work with... a trouble maker like me."
"Do not push your luck, Trickster God."
"I wouldn't even... dream of it."
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frivery · 1 year
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POV Hydrangea
Royal Guardsmen. This one is long and has a lot of characters in it, I want to note that Ser Jerimiah Hydrangea is an elf with a strong skydancer's ability, while Brigan seems to be using a shielding device to keep other elves from knowing what he is feeling.
First part is here, last part is here, if you want to read those. The Next part is Here!
"Your Grace, is there something we can do for you?" the smooth, wise, and soothing voice of Zulily eased on Hydrangea's frazzled nerves, it was hard to just stand here with the High Priest and pretend that nothing was going on. That everything was fine and that he was doing this on behalf of the King.
"Ask the other guards to line up, please." she seemed a little confused as the reasoning, something that would usually be asked by the Guard Captain, but the imperial turned on her heel, bowed, and quickly left to gather the requested guardsmen.
"What about the Guard Captain?" he offered in the awkward silence that followed, glancing briefly at the emotionally shielded golden skydancer.
"What about her?" Brigan responded, lifting his head slightly as they waited.
"Shouldn't she be here for this? So she knows who is-"
"So, I hear from one of my guards that you are calling for a line up." Speak of the devil? The High Priest didn't look surprised any by her appearance, the Shadowbinder's chosen merely dipping his head in acknowledgement of the ex-bandit queen.
"That I am, Ser Hydrangea has been forced to keep up with the responsibilities of being the only Royal Guard for too long, so a few of your guardsmen will be promoted." the explanation was simple, but didn't really leave any room for debate from the guardian.
"I see." Jerimiah turned to watch the ex-bandit approach the High Priest, the dark-toned orc simply taking a place beside the golden elf. "Good, many of them deserve it."
No argument from her, she didn't sound the slightest bit displeased by the situation. in fact it almost seemed like she had expected this to happen sooner or later. Maybe she did, what was one royal guard supposed to do by himself anyway?
Zulily returned shortly after the conversation between the two had ended, the paladin standing off to the side as the other senior guards filed into the room to stand side-by-side before the High Priest, Zulily filing in last.
The garrison bowed in unison, proof of how well they were all trained, before standing at attention.
"Thank you for responding so quickly." Brigan noted, eyes on the imperial as he spoke, Zulily was quick to respond.
"It is my duty to serve, and my honor." another bow from the paladin. "I regret to inform you that four of our senior guard are currently out on active rotation." that they were not here because they were working.
"That is no matter, this will do, thank you Guard Zulily."
Hydrangea shifted on his feet, putting his hands behind his back as he observed the lineup. Unsurprisingly, Fell, Odette, and Jurek, were missing from the group, out doing their jobs, but the group in front of him was very familiar. There was Zulily, obviously. The twins Ramsay and Leoven were there, Ken was off on the opposite side of the lineup then their mother was, Shatter standing next to them with the usual lack-luster attitude, Galley, Atney, the tiefling Knight who had came to them for help only a few days before, and Rawlins... who was trying to tie his hair out of his face and just succeeding at smearing his face paint with the headband he was using.
"You all recognize the good Knight Hydrangea?" Brigan started, getting a chorus of agreements from the guardsmen assembled.
"He has been acting as the King's only Royal Guard for some time, but his majesty believes that there are more of our Kingdom's hardworking guards that deserve such a posting." A lot of mixed feelings filled the room at these words, some were those of anxiety like what Ken and one of the twins was feeling, others were excitement, or anticipation, but among them was a dangerously strong ambition from Guardsman Atney.
"Zulily would you be willing to become a Royal Guard? Your skill and strong sense of morals would be a boone." Jerimah agreed with that sentiment, she was a woman of honor and skill both. The garrison had expected she would become the next Guard Captain when the word had originally come out that Alusair had betrayed them.
"It would be my divine honor." she responded, pride in her tone, the tall imperial stepping out of the guards line in order to stand at Hydrangea's side.
"Guardsman Ramsay, your skill and experience is unyielding-"
"Yes!" the un-masked twin exclaimed before Brigan could even finish his sentence, the dark-toned beastfolk practically glowing.
"I am sure the King will appreciate your enthusiasm." the elf took a deep breath at these words, they sat poorly with him. To say this knowing that the King may be... well, deceased. It made him feel ill for all of the lying.
"Britney" Brigan continued, glancing only briefly at Ramsay as the beastfolk happily took his place next to Zulily. Britney-? Jerimiah squinted at the group, only noticing the dark imperial after the tall but poorly postured being stepped out from behind Ramsay's twin, Leovan. The guard adjusting the mask on their face nervously.
"Me?" the voice was soft, like wind through riverbed reeds.
"Britney, you are an induvial of great patience and tolerance; I think your presence among the Royal guard would be invaluable."
"I am not sure I understand, your grace."
"You do not have to agree if you do not want to, Britney, you do plenty as a City Guard." Zulily broke into the conversation, ever the one to reach out and sooth the nerves of the younger or more antsy guardsmen. Hydrangea remembered that she had done this fairly often with Guardsman Fell before, she saw the garrison as her family. Something that he was glad hadn't seemed to change since he had left the City Guard to serve as the King's Knight.
"No... I would like to, I just... was not expecting it." they responded, pausing for a long moment as they stared at their hands before nodding to themself. "It would be my honor to be a Royal Guard, your Grace."
Britney didn't look at Brigan when they talked but the High Priest didn't seem to care. Hydrangea thought this is where this would end, who else among these could be added to their number? Maybe Ken would be a good fit? The half-elf tended to be almost as in-tune with the intentions of others of he was... but the air coming off of Ken said that, if asked, they would refuse such a posting. A fear of... the King, it seemed. Of being near him... and of being forced to leave Leovan.
"Ser Kinning, was it?" the tiefling looked up in surprise at being addressed, the young knight's un-hidden wings perking slightly in attention. Brigan stepped away from the small line of Royal guards he had created, approaching the out-of-place man who had, probably, only appeared out of politeness.
"I am to understand that you do not have a Kingdom of your own to return to, anylonger." the elf said carefully, Ser Kinning's posture dampening considerably at the words. Hydrangea could tell that the young soldier was trying not to think about it. The wounds flooding back to the tiefling's mind as if brand new.
"I... yes, that does seem to be the case now that the Tiefling Kingdom has... fell in Shadow."
"Then, in honor of your bravery coming to an unknown Kingdom and asking for our help to save your own, and in deference to your title of honor, I, personally, would like to extend the offer of you joining us. Officially. The King seemed to like you when you met and I think he would agree with me when I say you proved your worth as a Knight."
Ser Kinning blinked blankly at the man, pale, pupilless eyes seeming focused for the first time since Jerimiah had seen him.
"I am not sure I understand what you mean, your grace."
"Let me speak plainly, then. Ser Kinning, I offer you a place in the Kingdom for as long as you should desire it, as well as an official posting as one of our Royal Knights should you wish to take it."
"Me? A Royal Knight?" the tiefling repeated back incredulously, but this shock didn't last for long. Washed away by joy that lit up the young Knight's face like a star.
"I... I don't know what to say." he managed, somewhat awkwardly, a small laugh escaping him as the surprise continued to linger but now underlined with an almost giddy feeling.
"I think its quite simple, you either say yes or-"
"Yes! I mean, it would be my privilege to serve- I mean... thank you!" the earlier woes were easier forgotten in the face of another chance at life. Of certainty offered when there once been none. The tiefling knight dipped into a flourished bow, likely what he was used to doing in the presence of other tieflings, an eager smile on his face as he straightened to his full height once more.
"Perfect, I have a few other things I must complete but I welcome all of our new Royal Guards and offer you the gratitude of both the Palace, and the Goddess, for your loyalty to the Crown." The newly appointed Royal Guards bowed at the High Priest, something the golden Skydancer dipped his head in response to.
"Thank you, all of our city Guards as well for protecting our Kingdom and keeping all of our loved ones safe. May the Shadowbinder see your selflessness and guide you through dark times." With that, Brigan left the garrison to continue with... whatever else he had planned. The other elf hadn't said it but Ser Hydrangea got the distinct impression that he was supposed to be the one helping the new guards to get settled.
"Alright men, make sure to see your friends off with a good show of congratulations." Layek spoke, the 'line' that had previously been quickly dissolving as those who were closest quickly moved to speak with eachother.
"I, uh, I really can't believe you are becoming a Royal Guard so quickly- I mean so soon, Ray." Leovan said to his brother, voice awkward and unconfident but intended to be encouraging. Leovan was happy for his twin brother, excited that Ramsay got such an opportunity, but a little upset that he had never been an option.
"I can, my skills are second to none afterall, but wow. Fast, huh?" Ramsay was more thrilled that it acknowledged his skill than anything, he didn't really love his job he was just... good at it. This was just proof of that.
Zulily was hugging her half-blood child, Ken, who didn't seem to feel any kind of way about this, the young imperial Atney off to her side and offering congratulations to the older human before the paladin pulled him into the hug as well. His words were proud for her, his expression happy, but there was a deep anger at having not been chosen burning inside of the young imperial... an imperial who looked strikingly like the King. That dangerous ambition he had felt earlier still remained, turning bitter in the quiet rejection. Atney's ambition was dangerously strong, but Brigan had not chosen him so... it was okay.
Shatter, Galley, and Rawlins were all scattered around Britney, the three all genuinely happy for the dark-toned imperial who was sheepishly offering repeated, bashful, thanks to the other guards.
"So, I guess you'll be seeing a lot more of me from now on, huh?" Hydrangea turned his attention to the tiefling to his right, the younger Knight beaming at him. The air of the other knight was open, easy to read, he had never been considered for such a high posting in his old kingdom. He couldn't believe that he had been here of all places... honestly, neither could he really.
"I suppose so, would this be a good time to offer both my congratulations and my welcome as an 'official' civilian of our Kingdom?"
"I didn't think... I really didn't think I would get an answer to my question so soon." the words 'what happens now?' rang out in Hydrangea's ears, but they went unsaid, just a memory in Kinning's head.
"I am Ser Jerimiah Hydrangea, by the way. Don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves."
"Ah, forgive me, we met under some...strange times." the tiefling agreed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly before bowing briefly. A gesture the elf was quick to return. "I am Ser Kinning... uh, Ser Erik Kinning, I guess, though no one calls me 'Erik'."
"No one calls me 'Jerimiah', either. As far as anyone else is considered 'Ser' is my name."
"Guess you'll have to share it then." the youth chirped, to some extent it made Ser Hydrangea feel better to speak with the tiefling. For a moment he was able to put aside what was going on and just banter with his fellow knight. Kinning felt the same, his energy almost glowing, the almost familiar comradery making him feel more at ease.
The elf closed his eyes, letting out a soft breath, before returning his attention to the room around him. A few of the guardsmen had departed already; Atney and Rawlins specifically, but he more noted that the new Royal Guards seemed ready to move. He could feel the expectation as much as he could see it, in the way they idly moved... continuing to entertain conversation with their old comrades but eyes flickering to him frequently. Waiting for the order to leave.
He may be a knight but... Ser Hydrangea wasn't exactly a leader, he crossed his arms over his chest, the sound loud againist his arm, and this alone seemed to still the group.
"Guardsmen." he offered, dipping his head briefly to the City guard still in the room, shockingly they didn't need anything further to take this as a hint to leave. Quick fairwell and last congratulations flowed from them as they quickly left. Leaving Jerimiah to figure out how to continue from here.
The new Royal Guards approached him in a small semi-circle, with the exception of Britney who stayed where they were. He knew these people, maybe not the best but he had lived in the garrison with many of them not too long ago, yet he still couldn't help but be nervous at having been left 'in charge'. He hated being the center of attention, and he hated giving orders, the pressure making him antsy in a way unbefitting a knight.
"What happens now?" Ramsay prompted first, always the most impatient person in the room.
"Give him a moment." Zulily responded in a soothing but somewhat chastising voice, coming to his aid in a similar way as she might for Ken or Fell.
"The first thing I would recommend is going to the palace, assigning rooms and assigning armor." he started, suppressing his uncertainty the best he could. "I know you all might prefer to gather your things first, but I will inform some of... some of the palace servants to transfer everyone's belongings to their new residence."
"What about our family?" the beastfolk piped up again, Ser Hydrangea turning his attention to the dog-like man.
"What about them?" he responded back.
"I believe that Ramsay is asking if our families can be moved into the palace with us." the paladin clarified, Ramsay nodding in agreement. The elf didn't respond immediately, trying to think of the best way to word his response.
"If they would like to move to the palace, I am sure something could be arranged but those of you with family in the City Guard should consider whether the rooms would see use by a guardsman. They would still be spending most of their time, even when sleeping, here in the garrison so they can be close on hand if something happens. Just like you all are moving into the palace so you can be close to the King should... should he need protection." he was lying by omission now.
Ramsay frowned but seemed to understand what he was trying to say, this didn't even apply to Zulily since she and her child Ken had their own home outside of the garrison already. She already knew that home outside of the barracks is often left empty.
"What, uh..." Britney's soft voice broke through the silence, the dark imperial biting their lip briefly before continuing. "What about my daughter?"
He hadn't even known that Britney had a daughter, but Jerimiah cleared his throat to try to prevent the shock from showing. He probably hadn't done a very good job based on the sheepish look that Britney was now wearing.
"How old is she?" he asked.
"She is eleven years old." the imperial responded, fondness beginning to seep into the air around them.
"So... she needs her own room; I will look into arranging having her room next to yours."
"Thank you." they were genuinely thankful, rather than just saying it, Hydrangea got a memory impression that it had been difficult for Britney to balance being a parent and city guard... especially since Britney had not allowed their daughter to live in the barracks or be trained as a squire like Zulily had done for her children.
"Anything else?" he prompted, a small feeling of relief when nothing was offered. "Then let's get started."
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frivery · 1 year
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POV Hydrangea
Where is the King?
First part is here, last part is here, if you want to read those. The Next part is Here.
It had been a harsh trek, but things had only become worse when they saw the results of the sieged city. The fleeing wildclaw had said his home had been set on fire but... now it was nothing but burned out husks and ash. The journey home was solemn, mournful, and afraid. No survivors among the ruins. The tieflings could not stand the Bandit Kingdom's attack, how could they do any better?
Ser Hydrangrea was doing his best not to fall into the same pit as a lot of the other soldiers were in, staring ahead and trying to keep his mind elsewhere. It worked... mostly. They returned to the Kingdom much in the same way as they had arrived, the people who had gathered to try to help the Tiefling Kingdom scattering once more as they entered the walls of home. Only one remained aimless, lost and uncertain of what would happen now, the young tiefling knight who had asked for their help in the beginning. Once a man with a promising future ahead, now a boy with nothing.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked the primal-eyed man, carefully, watching as he turned his gaze to look in the Skydancer's direction.
"I... I am not sure what is supposed to happen from here." the tiefling admitted, a lost and empty look in his pupilless eyes.
"What do you want to happen?" Hydrangea offered, he could feel the confusion and despair rolling off of the other knight in waves and he could not find it in him to offer any words to ease it. What could he possibly do to fill that kind of empty? What could anyone do?
"I don't know." was the response, the present-wings of the other man drooping as he seemed to come to some kind of realization. The one that had been waiting to happen for days. That his home was just... gone. That he could never go back because there was nothing to return to. That he was alone.
"Well, for what its worth, you can stay here for as long as you want. We could always do with more knights and I am sure his Majesty wouldn't mind." the tiefling seemed to be staring through him now, the empty feeling like a blackhole that was beginning to drain at him.
"I...I... suppose I will take you up on that offer."
"Do you remember where the barracks are?"
"...Yes."
"If you approach the Guard Captian, Keyal, she will help you." the other knight nodded numbly, before he turned on his heals and began down the road like many of the other soldiers had before. Freeing him of his obligation to his fellow knight and allowing him to begin his way back towards the Palace.
The streets were not 'quiet', per say, but they were damper in spirit than usual. People welcoming home their returned soldiers and talking among themselves in soft tones as the news of what happened began to travel through the city. The news that a neighboring Kingdom, one from the previous golden age, had been burned to the ground by the Bandit Empire... and that there was no proof of any survivors.
Jerimiah tried not to let this bother him too much, he had his own things to worry about, but the air was heavy with the worries of the people. The King would have to find some way to... fix this. If he even could.
Up the steps the elven knight went, helm held against his side as he ascended the tall staircase. He only felt like he could really breath again when the palace doors closed behind him, the cool of air easing into his skin.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Ser Jerimiah Hydrangea." the familiar voice was even more inviting, the Knight turning to look down on the purple-garbed guard.
"Guardsman Fell, to what do I owe the pleasure?" the words were polite, but he couldn't keep the warm tone out of his voice. He didn't have to see the heavily clothed man's face in order to know he was smiling; his aura was displaying his mood with bold colors. Despite how distant he had been recently, Fell had still missed him.
"Just making sure the Kingdom doesn't fall apart while our favorite Knight was away."
"Then am I correct to assume you know where the King is?"
"Oph.... afraid not, I've mostly been doing what the High Priest has been asking of me." Fell winced, his energy turning sheepish.
"Could you take me to him then? He will know where the King is." the guard nodded, before turning and beginning to lead them down the hallway. It didn't take long for them to end up at the door of Brigan's study.
Hydrangea glanced over at his old friend, Fell, trying to guage the strange feeling that was coming off of the human now before he knocking on the door.
"Come in." Brigan responded, granting him the permission he needed to enter. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but the study looking like it had been the victim of a tornado wasn't it. Not from Brigan, the High Priest had always been a man of order.
The golden-haired man looked at him darkly, eyes sharp, like an animal. The ex-spymaster himself was just as messy as the room, his hair looking greasy and unbrushed and deep under-eye bruises speaking to an extreme lack of sleep.
"What happened?" he couldn't help these words falling out of his mouth unceremoniously, Jerimiah put his helm down on the small end-table next to the door before carefully crossing the floor... covered in papers, books, and broken porcelain.
"Nothing." Brigan shot back, sitting down at his desk as if he wasn't surrounded by chaos.
"I... very well, your Lordship, do you know where his Majesty is?"
The elf tossed his head briefly, a distinct lack of chiming following the movement, only one of the golden ornaments still hanging from the golden headdress. Brigan followed up the gesture by waving towards the window dismissively.
"Out among the brambles, dead if I had to make a guess." It took a long moment for him to truly understand what the High Priest had just said. The King had been outside of the walls and was likely dead.
"What?" the disbelief on his voice was strong.
"He was wounded by an assassin, walked into the forest alone when I said I couldn't heal him myself, that was a few days ago now." Brigan's voice was casual, like he had said this before, but Hydrangea didn't know how to act. Or how to feel.
"I.... don't think I understand." is all he could manage to eek out, the High Priest frowning at him briefly before turning to look out the study window.
"I sent some of the guards to find him, the ones we had left who could keep their mouths shut... all they found was some blood leading off of the path. They couldn't track it any further."
"And you didn't... try to find him yourself?" he could hardly believe it. Had the King been right to distrust his advisors?
"No, I did not, I was made his successor if he died. I can't leave." there was something hollow in the way that he said these words, by the Knight didn't have the mental space to think about the implications now. There were more important thoughts, like if the King could still be out there. In need of help, maybe.
"I'm leaving, I need to find him." He turned to carry this out, but Brigan rounded the desk and grabbed hold of his cape... pulling him back just a step and prompting the dark-toned elf to look at the High Priest... the Ex-spymaster.
"Guardsman Fell is on it, but you can not leave. You are the only royal guard that idiot ever had appointed."
"Don't talk about your King like that." Hydrangea responded, voice not as sharp as he would have liked, pulling his cloak from the other elf's hand.
"Like it or not, for now we have to move with the belief that Vier is dead. That I am the new King, which means I need you here with me, the guardsmen will look, but you have to stay. Here. Just like you did for him."
"So I can lend you credibility?" he couldn't help the tone, but who could blame him in this situation?
"Yes, I will appoint more Royal guards first thing tomorrow, but I need you to keep acting as if things are... normal, until then."
"You want me to pretend that the King isn't missing? Like things are fine?"
"Yes, I do. If not for what you owe me, for the people. They are fearful enough now, they don't need to know."
Hydrangea remained silent, trying to process what was happening. Trying to figure out what happened now.
"Swear to me, Ser Hydrangea." Brigan's voice dragged him out of his conflicting thoughts. "Swear to me that you will not tell, our Kingdom will not survive this."
"I.... swear on my honor. I will say nothing, as long as you promise me you will do your best to find him."
"That was never in question." It wasn't a promise, it was nothing, but Ser Hydrangea nodded simply. What else could he do? How had things turned out like this?
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frivery · 1 year
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Introducing the mouse to the New Gods. Well, most of them.
POV Seabreeze, Vordana is mostly other ancient and familiar creature or tiefling. Sun is Golden thing, sun god, fire gensei. Nuvola is the Bioluminescent gensei, or trickster. Ement is starstudded, or starlit gensei, or Night God. Seabreeze does not use names.
This one is on the longer side.
The smaller creature followed close at his heal, seeming to be investigating the village as Seabreeze led them through the center of it to approach where the Night God would be. The civilians of this place looked at him with wide, almost awed, eyes and gave him a wide berth to easily pass. The effect of having even their Head God bow before you, Sun's doing if unintentional.
"Ocean God, it has been some time." Seabreeze closed his eyes, taking a quick breath before turning to look at the tall elemental. The Head God himself seeming to materialize at the thought. Lava-like light marks dripped from the tall gensei, leaving his armor made of metal and heavy leathers burnt and patchy. God of Sun indeed, though his face was completely covered by the visage of his war-helm.
"So it has." he agreed shortly, the awed, almost reverential, way that the glowing man seemed to regard him with had led to Seabreeze avoiding him when possible. The 'some time' had been intentional, and hadn't been difficult to do with how much time the Sun God spent in his forge. The taller individual didn't respond immediately, though a sound came from him that implied that he had been intending on saying something before getting sidetracked, the gensei's attention seeming to be elsewhere.
"Who is this small thing that you bring with you? I do not believe that I have seen this one around before and they do not feel like a follower." The Sun God remarked, causing Seabreeze to drop his own eyes to the ancient at his side. Vordana swept into a dramatic bow as soon as he knew he had everyone's attention.
"A follower? Me? No, you are right I am not anything like one of those. I am Vordana, that is what you may call me, the new God of History and Invention. And who, pray tell, are you?" there was something of a challenge in the other ancient's words, the small creature seeming to be sizing up the much taller one. What Vordana didn't know was that this Lead God was not interested in 'proving' his place. It was merely his and he didn't have to gloat or preen to keep it.
The Sun God tilted his helmed head, a distinct feeling of distrust rolling off of his posture in waves.
"I do not sense that Nature has returned." the glowing gensei countered, though there was no prickle to his voice.
"He has not, the little Night God is still in control of his tasks." Seabreeze confirmed, a flash of blue light in the gensei in response to his words.
"Ement is doing what he must, there is no other who could handle his role. No other who could hold that weight." the only time that he had heard the Sun God refer to someone by name, the smith shook his head before seeming to return his attention to the smaller ancient. "I am God of the Forge, of Fire, of the people, I am Sun."
"Oooo, important guy. Should I assume you are the one in charge around here, then? The King among Gods?" Vordana's voice held no respect, the gensei tilting his head up as if deciding the new character was beneath him.
"Ah, I see, another trickster sent by the whims of fate to test my endless patience." the golden God stepped towards the new one, stooping to easily grab the strange creature that Vordana had become by the arm and pulling him in dangerously close. "I will allow your tainted, pestilent, presence in our hallowed land, shapeshifter, but I will warn you of this law only once and never again; do not attempt to deceive my people. You are only receiving this chance because you have stuck yourself to the Ocean God as surely as a desperate curse, remember this, you have been warned. I am the God of War for a reason." the fire gensei's voice was deeper, threatening, but he released Vordana despite his obvious distaste for him. The other ancient, shamelessly, hiding behind Seabreeze in the aftermath, scampering away from the lead God like a child would the dog that bit them.
"Are you sure this is the type of thing you want to vouch for, Oceon God? An eel that lies and tricks you, that leaches off of you without remorse or shame? The kind that only steals, breaks, and takes, and will leave before they will ever give." Seabreeze couldn't say this was an incorrect assessment of Vordana's character, Vordana had left him for dead when things got hard. Had taken advantage of him, used him, for ages, but Vordana had been the only person who looked for him once, too, an even longer time ago.
"I am sure." I know that Vordana is a snake, its just who he is by nature, one could not expect anything different. "I know well enough what I am signing up for, though your instincts are well placed. If he causes any trouble I will handle it, rest assured of that."
Sun seemed to pause for a moment before nodding in response.
"Very well, I am assured that with your knowledge and power that you have things in hand with that one. If you come to need any assistance you know where to find me." Sun dipped his head into a polite bow before turning on his heal and leaving Seabreeze once more.
"Geez, what a prick, is no one any fun around here?" the whinging of the other ancient caused him to turn his attention to the once familiar individual. "And you didn't even defend me from all of his slander, either, what a great friend you turned out to be."
"He was right, I saw no need to correct him. Come, we are still looking for the Night God."
"'Ement', right? Am I going to like an of these people or are they all like that?"
"You may like the trickster god, we will see." The ancient chose to ignore the sulking of his companion, instead continuing into the heart of the village. There were less people here, most of the civilians likely spending time around the smithy this time of day. Watching the Sun God make his creations. Silence followed their steps until into the high-domed building they entered. It was taller than it was wide, the insides being only a single, elegant, circular room with walls that reached towards the heavens. Both of the other gensei were inside, the Night God kneeled in the center of the room, head bowed, and his shadow laying lazily on the outskirts of it.
The smaller godling was the one who noticed their arrival first, a lethargic energy in their motions as they seemed to examine them.
"Oh... Seabreaze... we don't see much of... you around here... to what do we owe... the pleasure?" the way they spoke reminded him of a sloth, a cat-like grin on their face though it was underlined with tension.
"Merely introducing everyone so there is no confusion."
"Oh?" this seemed to peak the bioluminescent gensei's curiosity, the trickster God stretching like a sunbathing feline before getting to their feet and approaching them. The trickster's eyes dropped to Vordana, their lips parting briefly in surprise.
"A tiefling... out here?"
"Teef-ling?" Seabreeze repeated, but the gensei's attention was not on him.
"What are you doing... so far away from home?"
"I am something of a wanderer, you see, none of the Empires have ever been my home. Indeed, I don't tend to get along very well with a lot of the more... noble-blooded of my kind." Vordana had no hangups about this, flowing easily with his answer like it was just natural.
"Still, what drove you to come all of the way out here? There is nothing in any direction but trees for miles." The meditatin of the Night God seemed to be at an end, the man slowly getting to his feet and turning to look at them. There was an amount of surprise in his lightning eyes when he had to look down to see Vordana.
"Well, I-"
"Not just a tiefling but a youth as well?" Seabreeze felt a strange tension on the air as the star-studded elemental approached them. He could almost see the power radiating off of them in clouds, like the eye of a hurricane. The calm before the storm. "But you aren't actually a tiefling at all are you?"
The ancient placed a hand over his mouth, trying to hide his expression from the 'new gods'. The young one, Ement, had picked up on that shockingly fast. He had to say something before this spiraled. Before Vordana had the chance to challenge him like he had Sun, and find out that the Night God was not as forgiving as his ally had been.
"I am sure you recognize the mana he has, Night god." he mentioned, drawing the overloaded gensei to look at him instead of Vordana.
"You were correct when you pointed his mana out to me, I apologize for doubting your sense." Seabreeze added, dipping his head briefly to the lightning-eyed man. This seemed to flatten down some of the ruffled feathers the 'New God' had.
"What is he?"
"You could just ask me that, ya'know? I can totally speak for myself."
"....well... those are... words. Aren't you a little... young to be out here... alone?" the trickster broke in.
"Young?" the 'tiefling' barked back, sounding offended.
"No, Nuvola, he is not. Whatever that is- he is wearing a very well-crafted guise, some kind of chameleon-like magic, I would be willing to bet that he is closer to Seabreeze's age than he is ours." there was a certain harshness to the starlit creature's voice as he spoke.
"Why thank you, I made it myself." but Vordana merely preened at the unintended compliment. "Infact, I could probably show you have to do it yourself. Mostly, there are, of course, certain things that would make you very ill if you tried it on yourself but I could show you a whole lot of... other things that are just as interesting."
"you can teach.... your... chameleon magic...?"
"It's alchemy, actually, science- though there is a little bit of magic required to make the process work as it should- but yes I very much could teach you how to change your appearance however you like." the trickster seemed intrigued, the night God exceptionally less so.
"And why are you here, exactly?" he cut to the chase before the other gensei could ask more questions.
"Because Seabreeze is." Vordana responded in kind, crossing his arms childishly. "Besides, is this not supposed to be a group of new Gods hoping to take the place of the eleven?"
"I don't see how that is relevant."
"Well, I was already the God of Invention before their intervention, it only makes sense that I should reclaim my title now, doesn't it?"
"Woow... so you are... that old?"
"You couldn't even fathom how ancient we are." said like a gloat, but it wasn't one. To watch the world crumble around you, die, and get rebuilt by things you know will fade again? That could only be a curse.
"I created an entirely new school, supposed to be against the laws of the universe, of alchemy. On my own! Who else but a God of Invention could accomplish such a feat?" the 'tiefling' continued to boast, the Night God frowning in response.
"Roland isn't back yet, is he?" the Sun God had asked something similiar, Seabreeze tilting his head.
"No, the Nature one is still out searching for something."
"Then whoever he is looking for isn't you, creature. You aren't of us."
"Maybe not, but Seabreeze is, and I go where he goes." Vordana challenged.
"...We will see what Roland says when he returns."
"If he returns." a tense silence followed the other ancient's words, something the Night God shuddered at the thought of. Yes, he was still burdened with excessive magic... he needed to believe that the human was coming back. What was the alternative for him?
"I will keep him out of trouble." Seabreeze swore, to break the quiet, the starstudded gensei only nodding and turning away to return to his meditation. Now only the trickster remained.
"Could you..." more of a pause than usual, the bioluminescent creature glancing their companion's way before continuing. "Could you show me... the magic.... alchemy, you mentioned?"
"Oooo, I would be delighted to! Are you coming, Breezy?"
"No, I think I will stay and watch the Night God for a while."
"Weird choice to make but suit yourself I suppose, you always were such a stick in the mud."
"I'll.. be back later... Ement." and with that the Trickster left with the familiar ancient.
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frivery · 1 year
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Llew's answer piece to Chaz's birthday part. Llew may have received bad information...
Llew's birthday piece may be a day late but its Christmas man
"Does he know?" Llew asked the noble woman, casually, crossing his arms and leaning against the battlements as he looked out, vaguely, in the direction of the fortress his brother was currently hired to push for.
"No, he does not. We have been quiet, my people know how to be discreet." she responded, voice regal as always as she spoke. He nodded briefly at her in response, not bothering to look at her as he continued to size up the opposition in his mind. It had been some time since he had went toe to toe with Chaz, lately it had been all near misses where he would hear that his brother had been there recently but they never crossed paths. This was a blessing as much as it was annoying, Llew needed the chance to prove that, despite what had happened to him, he could still keep up just fine. But, on the other hand, he was maybe a little... afraid that this would turn out not to be the case. That, despite his hard work, his proshetics would somehow hold him back from the skill level he had previously had.
If there was going to be a way to prove that he was still the same man as before, to himself if no one else, it would be showing Chaz who the better one between the two of them was.
Chaz, afterall, did hate losing more than almost anything else. It would be the ultimate reward to rub his victory in his twin's face. Llew wouldn't be backing down easy, not this time.
"What happens now?" the armored elf turned his eyes towards the noble woman as she spoke, having forgot she was there.
"For now? Nothing. If I change anything about how your men are working than Chaz will know something is wrong. No, for now we wait for him to make his move. The less reason he has to suspect the better." he dismissed, waving his hands briefly as he continued to eye the field between the fortress he was in and the fortress of the enemy.
"How will we know when he has started? Is he not known for being rather... unorthodox?"
"Trust me, no one understands his thought process better than I do, when he shows up I will know."
"And you will be going in without a plan of your own?"
"I will have the advantage of surprise, that should give me all the upper hand over him that I need." Llew paused, shifting on his feet and looking at the noble lady again. "Anymore questions, or are you going to trust me to do what you paid me to do?"
She frowned, narrowing her eyes at him, but she didn't return the challenge in his words. She merely dipped her head briefly and turned on her heal, her massive dress twirling around her at the action, leaving him to his thoughts.
If he had it his way, when he met Chaz on the battle field again, he wouldn't even realize that anything had changed. That would be the ideal.
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frivery · 1 year
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Chaz is just trying to do his job when he is told something that changes the stakes.
Chaz just turned 1 year old and Lleu will be too tomorrow so here is a little piece from Chaz's pov.
"Are you..." the weasel of a noble man swallowed, eyes darting away from him. "Are you sure that you can handle all of her swordsmen by yourself?"
He shifted in his armor, briefly fixing the lavish coat he was wearing over top of the pale-colored plate before answering, evenly.
"That is of no concern, your Lordship, I have everything well in hand. She wont be prepared for what we have planned, I assure you that, my unconventional strategies are what you hired me for after all."
"That and your reputation." the noble responded nervously, but he seemed to be willing to take the empty assurances for the moment.
The elf glanced over the man coolly, he could feel something bothering his employer even now. Something that was worrying him like a rat chewing at the edges of an old blanket. He almost thought that the nobleman wouldn't say anything about it, leaving this anxious element to surprise, when he turned away to continue prepping and got a quick
"W-wait" for his trouble. So he did, turning on his heal back towards the weaselly man as the noble started over the rolling hills that surrounded his small holding.
"What is it, your Lordship? I have preparation still to make." he prompted when the gnome said nothing.
"What if she has hired swordsmen."
"I have planned for that already." he countered.
"..What if she has hired the Swordsman who calls himself Llew."
"Has she?" Chaz couldn't help but tense at the all too familiar name, it shouldn't surprise him. The warring royals almost always hired them on opposing sides, the feud between the two of them was a well-known factor to those who bought blades so frequently as these types did.
The noble man didn't respond immediately, rubbings his hands together instead. Chaz turned fully towards his employer once more, looking directly down at the gnome who now squirmed under the intensity of his gaze.
"Has she hired Llew?"
"Well, I-"
"To the best of your knowledge, is he contracted through her ladyship now?" he clarified before the noble could weasel his way out of the conversation.
"To the best of my knowledge... yes, she has. One of my guardsmen saw him arriving at her estate yesterday." Fuck, Chaz fixed his gear once more, flattening out the wrinkles in the garb he was wearing as he pulled together an even response.
"This changes things." this time, when he turned away and the gnome asked him to stop he did not. Leaving the weasel to his nerves. He had bigger fish to fry now. Lleu. He was challenging him again and Chaz was not going to tolerate failure.
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