private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[Sekel 692]

Helena didn't even flinch when the flames flared up. She was too busy staring at them and thinking about what else she could have done in that fight. In all the excitement, she wasn't sure if she actually could have done anything. She took a bolt out of her quiver and set about sharpening it up. That's the next best thing to a bolt head and she wasn't in the mood to go about and steal some from the nearest settlement. 'I'm not useless so why do I think I am? Probably because I'm a thief and a thief has no place in a traveling group of bodyguards.' Helena thought grimly as she sharpened her bolt, dagger glinting in the firelight as she did.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

"You don't say?" Snorted the Hunter. "You shouldn't speak badly of royalty, Miss Tulla!"

 

He chuckled slightly under his breath at his own little joke - it hadn't exactly been the response he was expecting. For one thing, she hadn't gone berserk at him. Of course he held nothing against the princess personally, but she was both a Witch and a spoiled brat by his eyes. Protect her as he would, he didn't have to go out of his way to hold his younger like the others... though he would have expected Tulla to have done so.

 

"Ugh, if only she could fight - though I suppose that's why we're here I suppose. When we aren't caught... ahem, unprepared, that is. How are you feeling, by the way?"

 

He trudged on - skill speaking relatively quietly despite no longer making an effort to keep his movement quiet. If there were any other assassins lurking here then they needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later: and he would rather deal with them personally. Idle small talk seemed a little easier now: at least they had something to talk about to break the awkward silence. It was a nice change of pace to travel with company again, once the overwhelming pressure inside his skull eased when putting some distance between himself and the mages and even though he knew it couldn't last, he felt better for it.

[Torrent505 370]

The fall into the princess's lap jolted Clarke back awake for moment, he stared blurry eyed and confused up at her. Some small part of his mind screamed at him to get up but it was a small part and her voice soothed even that. He did manage to mumble, "I just need more coffee to wake, Tinkerer's only need four hours and caffeine." He didn't struggle to rise though instead he closed his eyes his mind returning to that old child's tale before he's been sent away to join the order. It was a good memory when he still had a home. He's voice was just a whispered mumble about the story, "but in it he asked the princess to join him by the fire and home was most important." It made him melancholy, and he shifted a little an eyes cracking open to stare at the aptly name dragon, thinking of what it had done so far maybe that beastie was a bit smarter than it seemed.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"I...I chose to make a home somewhere in the middle. No one could take my Serrafinno away. I love him and he loves me. That's all that matters..." she found herself unconciously stroking his hair; she found it amusing how her fingers pulled back with soot.

-----

 

"Ah, Whisper is more of a little sister than a princess. She isn't able to fight, never learned how. Hopefully, I can get some of the party to teach her. Swordplay and magick besides healing everybody."

 

She followed him, making less noise then he was but not as quiet when she was on the hunt. She was pleasantly surprised by his concerned inquiry; even it had been for the sake of small talk. It was something at least.

 

"Yeah, it'll take more than a measly dart to kill me. Its just a bit sore."

 

Tugg raised his heavy head towards the tree line, he could smell them coming back. Using the Finns fire blast as an distraction, he reached out a claw and speared one of the fish in the pot with it.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, 

 

Robert didn't actually see the Tugg taking anything, but he had his suspicions. He cast a glare at the beast that was only half serious. "That's just one less fish you'll get when it's done, you impatient beast. You're lucky I give you any food at all. If you still lived out in the wild you'd have to hunt for yourself, you know."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I moved away from the fire and instead messed around with my shadow magick trying to keep myself sharp as I entered slow diliberate forms using a mix of my blade my magick mostly relying on my blade. I noticed this, concluding I needed to expand my magick more then my blade and archery.

 

So with what I knew I practiced throwing some bolts of shadow magick while making it seem I was over a mile away doing this I did not need the attention after all from the ones stalking us or the others.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Alex Kennedy,

"Man, I want a pet so bad now!" Dresden said at Whisper's love for Finn, "but  Ms. Leila wouldn't allow pets for us she thought her pet pig named Scuffle was a nice enough pet." Dresden said tossing his arms in the air. When Robert nagged at Tugg about the fish Dresden slapped Robert on the back. "I think he's outsmarted you Robert." Dresden said with a smirk deciding to mess with the bard.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Flying Ace

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

"I'd offer myself - my own apprentice is about her age but..." He shook his head solemnly. "It probably isn't a good idea, for a number of reasons. She is a mage, for one. Even overlooking that though, I'm afraid our methods are rather unforgiving - I can only imagine the consequences should she be harmed during practise."

 

Indeed, many of his early scars were those from his own kin - after all, what better way to teach an understanding of the dangers of battle than to do battle in true danger? There was no 'safe' sparring at Wrathspire.

 

"And you? You look like you could handle yourself, should the need arise. Couldn't you teach her?" He added. "Aha, that could be them up ahead..."

[Torrent505 370]

There was only the gentlest fluttering of silken bandages as Romeo Richards moved through the castles great halls towards the kings chambers. The bandages covered his entire body, they were not because he was wounded or hiding burns and scars. No, it was to protect others, at least those he judged as innocent, the slightest touch of his bare skin meant death. He was once an assassin so skilled his kills remain only speculation and rumor, but when the moment came he chose justice over killing only for wealth and became the Executioner of Illia killing for the highest courts and at the word of the King. All in the Kingdom feared his punishment, they whispered hushed names for him in the night like he was some boogeyman, commit crimes and The Ragged Man would come for you. However more recently he had become the Kings personal advisor, for some reason his presence eased the King's pain instead of causing suffer like his powers usually would and that had lead the two of them to become close. He didn't even hesitate as he pushed his way through the chambers doors.

 

"Armaund, my king I am here for the nightly treatment of your illness. I apologize for my early arrival but I come from an emergency meeting of the council, I bring urgent news." He had started speaking as he entered the room, he was a blunt mean preferring to get straight to the point, "The Andalasian Princess's caravan has been destroyed, most are dead but there has been no body found to match the Princess and several others. One of their Crown's personal guard was killed as were all their soldiers. The Andalasia Royal family is in an uproar and consumed by grief, they have assumed this was some sort of trick to kill or capture their heiress and the King's message to us even threatens war." He snorted knowing the Andalasian would never do such a thing, nothing could withstand the Illian Army, but the message conveyed the grief and rage griping the other nation. "Our spymasters have no news of the Princess and are frantically looking for answers. I know nothing else of this matter at the moment, but my concern for our plans in monumental, we must find the girl to save you my lord. I pray she is still alive."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"Andalasians are so fickle." Roric replied slowly by the fire. He had been quietly sitting, staring into the flames as he listened to his fathers labored breathing. He glanced up at Romeo with snake-like eyes; his distaste for the man was always apparent and he never tried to hide it. He was the only one, besides the King, that didn't tremble in Romeos presence.

 

"How do we know it's not a sort of ploy? That the princess just decided to run away on her own? It's very probable there was an assassin from another country all together. And yet these fairies blame us?" he held a small smile. Castella had done well, she had been there. But they were still missing and he had heard no word from The Maiden as of yet.

 

King Armand coughed and wheezed "Whatever shall I do Romeo! I need her or I will die!". His face became even paler and gaunt than before.

-----

 

Tulla gave Adrass a look "Have you not been paying attention? She can take anything, and she'll end up stronger fot it. If you could give her some help...well Adrass it would be greatly appreciated. Even if she is a mage, she's still just a young girl. And who knows? Maybe one of these fights, she'll end up saving your life."

 

As they walked into camp; Tulla gave a small shrug "I'm not a warrior. I just like beasties and hunting. Whisper already has the animal part going for her and she couldn't kill anything less than a human. Even that I doubt. Nothing to learn from me. I'm just...normal."

 

"Thanks, by the way. You're not that bad. Still a bit grumpy though." Tulla gave him a small smiled before taking the Jackolope to clean and skin by the lake. Tugg ran over to her happily.

[Sekel 692]

Helena had finished carving out her bolt into a sharpened point and placed it back in her quiver, flat end down. It may be tedious but she's got to have something other than a dagger to defend herself. She looked at the dagger again and then placed it back in it's place. She finally looked around instead of at the fire and blinked rapidly to get rid of the after images. Helena got up, stretched, and walked away from the fire to walk around the lake, just so she could stretch her legs. She moved around Tulla whenever she got near her but other than that, she just walked slowly around the lake.

[Sanctified Absence 126]

After checking the crystals in his flesh for the third time, Zaddion was relieved that using it had only caused a little tenderness rather than damage to his skin. The Mark had always been capricious in the intensity of its effects, but perhaps he just didn't know enough to understand fully yet. He managed to smile as he took another look at the bird that assisted in the attempted assassination of the Princess, it was simply a larger bird with no really dangerous Magickal properties on its own but perhaps even more comforting was its seemingly docile behaviour.

 

Closing his eyes and lying back against anything that was enough to support him comfortably, the Mage began to rest. Sleep would not take him yet, but it was sometimes necessary to just let the world around you go for a few minutes. Of course he never let his Magickal senses slip, the forest and recent assassination attempt would leave almost anyone paranoid to at least keep some form of sense open and alert.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Sanctified Absence

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@,

 

Robert nodded to Adrass and Tulla when they showed up. "About time you two got back. The stew's been ready for a while now. I had to fend off Tugg from stealing all the fish, and I'm still pretty sure he got one of them." He chuckled a bit and began pouring the stew into bowls for everyone.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I tired myself enough for today, so I decided to go back to the fire. I found the stew finished, I simply grabbed a bowl filled with soup and ate in silence letting the light cast shadows on my face. After finishing the stew, an iorny dawned on me. I the assassin have become a field medic of a sorts during this journey.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

Watching Tulla take off ahead for the short distance that remained, Adrass smirked at her last comment and shook his head once more: this time in good humour though - now that she wouldn't see him - before upping his pace to follow her back to camp.

 

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"Excellent, you have me thanks." He said simply - taking the fish stew from the bard. There wasn't much more to say: the princess was alive and the ministerial had once more proved reliable, which was good. The stew was... well, as good as 'fish boiled in water' could really manage to be. The stench of magic ruined the atmosphere, and the pressure in his head returned with the dull pulse of his heartbeat in such close proximity to all of the Witches. He had known the peace would have to end: it always did, though the respite had actually been hugely refreshing.

 

"When you are finished eating, master bard... perhaps you would play for us? I feel we could all use something to ease our souls tonight."

Edited August 16, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Robert found himself smirking slightly. "I'd expect you least of all to be the one who'd ask me. But I don't suppose I'd mind it overmuch. Something soothing, yes? I can do that, certainly. Soon as I finish eating I'll play." It was nice to be appreciated for once. Maybe Adrass wasn't so bad.

[Sekel 692]

On her walk, Helena looked over to the campsite and saw that some of them had started eating the stew. "Stew must be ready." She said quietly to herself. She walked over to Tulla and watched her skin the animal for a bit before heading back to the campsite and getting a bowl for herself. She wordlessly sat a bit away from the others and began to quietly eat.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

"There is a purity in music. It doesn't reek of corruption and destruction like the more foul magics." The hunter shrugged. "Anyone can feel the magic of song - can wield it to some degree. We consider it more akin to a force of nature than a magic... A force which some are blessed with command of."

 

He looked up and raised a brow. What the hunters knew of such professions was... pitifully little. They rarely persecuted bards like they did Sorcerers and Witches, and stories were passed between the hunters that told of their powers being far more considerable than might be apparent... but the old books weren't always reliable, especially in this day and age. They didn't feel wrong to be around though - that was a fact.

 

"But what do we know? It doesn't make me feel sick and doesn't feel like the other magics... and so personally, I'm willing to believe what I am told of it. That, and I have a special place in my soul for music: it is an art that too many overlook."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Whisper brushed her fingers against Clarkes cheek softly. In the small time he was taking a nap, she had taken to drawing doodles on his face with soot "Clarke, it's time to eat."

 

Tulla and Tugg came over and sat with the others "Yeah, play something nice. I think we all need a bit of soothing." Tulla craned her neck looking back at Zaddions new pet "That's a bird from Ka'taan. Hatched in the Assassins Guild I bet. I think they train them in shadow magick or something."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I looked at the crow, "They are used to send messages back and forth between the person they bind with and any shadow magick users that you want the message taken to. Its how we are able to get contracts with our going all the way back to our respective guild masters."

 

I pointed to the crow. "They are extremely picky when they chose who to bind with, it is considered a big privilege to be chosen and bound with one. He will be by your side until the day you die."

 

With that I went quiet my statement finished. I just wanted to tell the mage that the Crow was not just another pet.

[Torrent505 370]

"No master you won't die, do not trouble yourself so. The girl's power protects her it would take a great deal of effort and damage to end her life." Romeo's bandages seems to take on a life of there own, rising up and swaying like vipers ready to strike. Instead them flowed outward toward the King wrapping around his limbs, torso and caressing his face. They gave off a hint of Romeo's power, any other person would experience exquisite agony but they soothed the Kings pains and illness.

 

He ignored the Prince completely, Roric might not have liked Romeo but Romeo felt nothing towards the Prince; to him Roric was a disappointing worthless man, the slightest shadow of his father the King. "There you'll feel better and think clearer during the treatment my lord. The girl is still alive. Mobilize the guard and even the military, patrol all roads for her. She must be in Illia lands if Andalasia has not found her. Offer a bounty tittle and land to any that finds her. Rouse the country in search, it will also show the Andalasians that we had nothing to do with the assault."

 

********************

 

Clarke woke slowly but the sleep had been enough to regain some of his senses and realize he was laying in the Princess's lap! He jerked away to sit up blushing furiously, which only made the soot drawings on his face stick out more against the bright red background. "Miss Whisp! Uh my apologies, I didn't mean to fall asleep, much less to fall asleep on to you!" He looked around still a bit disorientated as he composed himself, "how long was I asleep? Thank you for waking me." He of course still had no idea about the doodles on his face.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Torrent505

[Flying Ace 142]

@@Torrent505,

Dresden patted Clarke on the shoulder while his best to not laugh thogh an occasional chuckle broke though, "don't worry about it Whisper sure seemed like she didn't mind." Dresden said getting back to his stew his face red from containing his laughter.

[Torrent505 370]

@@Flying Ace, 

 

Clarke's blush only returned and intensified at Dresden's comment and snickering, he assumed that the laughter was still because he had fallen asleep so easily and perhaps the connotations in implying that Whisper didn't mind him sleeping on her lap; he wasn't sure which implication embarrassed him more.  He spoke to both Dresden and Whisper as well as anyone else "I assure you Tinkerers are very adept at working with out sleep!  My lapse is only a result of my previous employment and over 39 hours without sleep and a lack of Order approved stimulants.  Also I'm sure Miss Whisp was only graciously tolerating an uncomfortable situation, I thank her for her putting up with such.  I highly doubt it was something she found amusing or was fond of."  There that might save him from getting an earful from a noble about a commoner like himself behaving so poorly and such.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Torrent505

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Torrent505,

 

Robert, having just finished his stew, decided to chime in. "Ah, relax, gearhead. The boy's just having some fun with you. Speaking of which, you might want to check a mirror. Miss Whisp has a funny way of- what did you call it, tolerating? Just thought I ought to tell you."

 

@@Flying Ace, @@Shadow Dancer,@@RunsWithSquirlz,@,@@Dji,@@Sanctified Absence,

 

 

He sat down with his back against a large rock and took up his lute. "Anyway, all of you ought to quiet down now. You asked me to play for you, so the least you could do is listen. And for the record, you've never really heard me play before. Having to use my magic doesn't count, and beyond that it's only been practice or me humming a tune. Normally I don't do this for free, so you'd best appreciate it." He slowly began strumming his lute, playing a gentle, soothing piece. There was little if any magic present, simply the skill and passion of the performer. As he played on, eventually he began to sing- soft words in an ancient language he barely even knew himself.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Whisper leaned forward and drew a mustache over his lips "There you go, Clarke. And I really didn't mind." She got up and got some stew for them both before sitting down. She settled in, listening to the music.

 

Tulla leaned against the rock, preparing the meat for travel, relaxed in the soothing sounds of his music.