Eidolon's Chains

Refina continued to follow Claren as she lead them through another hall until they reached a room that had a staircase leading down into a basement underneath the castle. Two guards stood in the room, their boots scudding against the floor as they approached the group. One of the guards recognized them before they spoke.

“The portal is downstairs. They’ve been waiting for you.” Claren nodded at the guard while Refina shot a glare at Jason for causing them to be late. They continued on, Maya taking the lead instead as they went down the two sets of stairs. The walls were painted with blue and red, with small lanterns and lights keeping it somewhat light. One guard stood outside the door in case someone made it past the other guards, but he paid little attention to the group as they walked into the room, seeing the others waiting for them, including the final member of their team, Captain Aurelio Delrey. Aurelio pulled out a small pocket watch – gold by the looks of it, and spoke to the group.

“You’re late.” He said simply, not even looking at the group as they entered the room.

“It was his fault.” Refina replied nodding her head at Jason before Claren spoke up also.

“He finds flirting more important than this mission.” There was a pause before Aurelio spoke once more.

“I’m not surprised, however, out unit is judged by its weakest member.” He looked at Jason before continuing.

“We’ll discuss this at a…” Aurelio paused. “more appropriate time.” There was a moment of silence before Refina spoke.

“I think we are all ready.”

Lorcan

A coffee shop. Of all the dull and useless locations to search and for what? Did they even have an idea of who they were looking for? Lorcan did not but then, Lorcan was not in control. That seemed a common pattern of late. He'd barely sobered up, cleared his head and then suddenly he was flung into a mission by his new alliance. What did they hope to gain from such a use of their new recruit? They were testing him, watching him. He could feel their eyes on his back gouging crevices, peeling back flesh. This was only his third mission with them, his third chance.

As they made their way across the alley they drew a few glances. Lorcan supposed it was odd to find four people striding away from a dead end. It didn't matter. They would blend in, they would find a way.

"We'll order coffee," Amanda decided. Lorcan agreed with a grunt and followed the others inside. They sat at a small, insignificant table with their backs to a wall.

"Can I take your order?" a young waitress asked. Lorcan eyed her warily. Could this be her, she, that thing? He found his suspicions rising. What a perfect guise to take, as a waitress, as- someone kicked him under the table.

"Don't keep her waiting," Danya hissed. It seemed the others had already ordered.

"Black. One sugar," Lorcan said.

Claren

The basement of the castle where the portal was located was perhaps the most neglected part of the castle since there weren’t many missions which involved the Royal Guards having to travel into the human world. There were boxes containing replacement parts which were dumped here and forgotten about by the caretakers, brimstone walls breeding with ecosystems of moss and fungi, cobwebs hanging across the wooden beams on the ceiling, and the smell of toilet water that made Claren fanning the air with her hands when she got there.

At the center of the basement was a circular arc with cryptic symbols and jewels donning the metal surface. The engineers were frantically shoveling a sort of purple powder into the furnace while a magus checked the reading on the gauge, his glasses covered with the steam that the machine was silently emitting through a hole.

Captain Aurelio was standing by the portal arc with his big arms folded across his chest and frowning as though he was disappointed with the recruits that he was working with for the mission. A large imposing man, he seemed like someone that could wrestle a dragon into submission.

Is that really him?

Claren often overhears the cadets talking about the captain with bright happy smiles as she strolled her way through the packed corridors with her head low, wayward strands of hair covering her stern eyes. The last time she saw him was when he was playing a game of soccer with the cadets out on the castle ground. Seldom is she confronted with the Captain though. When she does though, there would be this ominous feeling that lingered the air when they passed one another without exchanging a word.

But for the first time, Claren had the interest of the Captain. He was studying her closely, her athletic build, her oily blond hair that suggested to him that she hasn’t showered in a week due to her involvement in the last mission and her attitude to cleanliness, and most importantly, her face. He only managed to study it for a moment before Claren looked away from him out of embarrassment. He smirked.

Like the Captain however, Claren was relieved to know that her party didn’t fully consist of weaklings.

“Attention!” Shouted the Captain. “Assemble!”

The portal was opening at last.

Captain Aurelio Delrey

This is the group they gave me? Aurelio shrugged his broad shoulders, adjusting the slightly-too-small longcoat that had been provided for him. What a ragtag group. He wondered if he'd done something to piss off the powers that be.

"All right everyone; let's do this tight, and by the book. I don't want to see any shenanigans here. Refina, Ridley, you're in first. Scout the area and give the all clear. We'll follow."

Refina saluted sharply while Jason casually touched his fingers to his temple, and both stepped into the portal, hands near concealed weapons. As they disappeared through the faintly glowing vortex, Aurelio dropped his chin into one of his hands and scratched at his beard. This part was always interesting, since you never really knew what to expect, going through.

There was a moment of tension in the room. Claren shifted her weight from one foot to the other, Maya cleared her throat, and Aurelio stared intently at the portal.

Then Refina's hand poked through the portal, flashing a quick thumbs up before disappearing back into the vortex. Aurelio nodded.

"Good. Let's get in here," he said, stepping forward.

The transition from the magical world to the world of man was a startling one, no matter how many times one made it. While the magical world verily pulsed with living energy, the human world seemed almost...dead. Sure, people walked around and animals frolicked in the woods, but the air didn't hum with mystical auras, as did the magical world. Instead, the humans had found ways around magic; electricity, a sort of synthetic lightning, and oil, man-made fuel for their fire-based engines, were central to their lives.

Aurelio's thoughts were broken up by his exit into the human world, his boot heel clicking loudly against the tiled floor he'd stepped onto.

"Glad you could make it, Cap'n." Jason, of course.

"Stow that. Anything to report?" Aurelio looked over his shoulder as Claren and Maya stepped in behind him.

"Not a whole lot, Captain. There's some footsteps and voices upstairs, but we haven't checked it out yet. We might need to get creative in getting out of here."

Aurelio nodded and looked around the room, trying to get a feel for the location he'd stepped into.

Jason Ridley

Jason felt somewhat uncomfortable with Captain Delrey staring at him as they edged through the territory. On top of that, he was just bored. He remembered the girl he had been flirting with earlier-Jason would much rather be there, in his native land, where he knew there would be an abundance of pretty girls and a chance to show off his skills. In addition, there was something about this new place that gave Jason the creeps.

"How long will we walking?" He complained to the captain.

"Until we find something," said Captain Delrey impatiently. "Remember that you were chosen for this assignment, Mr. Ridley. If you cannot complete it, you're aware what of what I am capable of doing."

Jason gulped and nodded his head. "Yes." He moved forward and began flirting with Claren and Refina. They weren't prettiest girls ever, but they were still cute, and they were the only girls around.

Refina; Royal Guards

Refina nodded at the captain before following Jason through the portal. They stepped into a room that was mostly lit by table lamps. The room was somewhat dusty, not used much. There were shelves in random places, covered completely by books. She could hear footsteps and voices coming up above.

“Looks fine to me.” Refina mumbled turning and poking her head through the portal. She saw the other members of the team, and reached her hands through, giving them thumbs up before pulling back into the room. After a few moments, they had partially spread out in the room, looking around. She could hear Jason and the captain talking from behind a shelf before Jason silenced, skirting around the shelves to walk with Claren and Refina. Refina felt the light tug on her hair as Jason twirled a piece around his fingers.

“Your hair smells like lilies.” He commented, smiling slightly.

“Really? I haven’t washed it in a week.” She lied, tugging her hair free and away from his hand. Jason took a step to the left, now finding interest in Claren.

“Hey Babe.” Jason said, resting his hand on Claren’s waist. Refina rolled her eyes.

Out of all the people to put on this mission, we got him?

She thought, glancing around briefly to see where the Captain and Maya were.

Maya

Stepping through the portal was a huge thing for her. As she walked around the musty room, she touched the spines of a few books. They felt nothing like the books back at home which pulsed with energy.
She felt strange to be in the human world. She tried to reach for the comforting magic spark between her fingers but it didn't work here. It tired her to try something. She rubbed her fingers painfully.

Captain Delrey's large frame walked toward her.
"Maya, let's not drain your powers here. You need to find something, somewhere else that has some energy."
"Yes, sir." Maya said, placing her her right hand over her heart.

Captain Delrey nodded and stepped away from her, pacing the area in small steps, his face creased with thoughts and annoyance.

Maya looked around at the the others. I wish Jason would be a little more serious about this.
Captain Delrey stopped pacing and said, "Well, the time has come. We shall have to venture into the human world. I hope everyone knows why we're here and what is expected of us," looking directly into Jason's eyes. Jason looked at his feet, refuing to meet the Captain's eyes.

Name: Jackie Rie

Age: 19

Description of appearance: He's a pretty boy with blonde hair and a side part, green eyes and dark lashes. He's also thin, and loves accessories. He looks like this, except without the attitudic pose.

http://hiritai.deviantart.com/art/I-m-o ... -100875095
http://hiritai.deviantart.com/art/smile ... -133961214

Alliance: Black Mages

Personality: By nature he's calm and gentle and takes joy in simple things, which is the side he shows when he forgets himself. By nurture, he's learned to retreat inside himself, and doesn't really express his emotions, especially not the positive ones. He likes puzzles and unusual things, and secretly likes children, but dislikes strangers, doesn't like being touched by people he's not comfortable with, and hates people touching his stuff.

Job class: Jeweller

Abilities and weaponry:
He can read emotions and memories or particularly vivid thoughts, but only the bad ones. He can hypnotise, cause nightmarish hallucinations, enrage people and turn fickle allies against eachother.
Because of the nature of the spells, having any effect on people who are stronger willed requires a level of skill he is far from reaching yet.

Character background:

He grew up in a split-parent family, with no bitterness between the two. His mother was an artist who went travelling the world. Mostly he lived with his father, in a terraced house in the suburbs where his mother came to visit on holidays.
His home was quiet and calm until he discovered his abilities, and learned to see all the horrific things his father had done in the war.
It took him a while to realise he could only see the negetive things, and for this reason, through his childhood he thought people where only bad. During this time he started to use his abilities for bad things, ignoring his concience completely.
Now he obsesses over small things or meditates to keep him distracted, and avoid seeing things he'd rather not.
He joined the Black Mages because he doesn't believe that justice works, and that the only way to ensure peace is to have one power stronger than the rest.

Song: Desperado - The Eagles

Name: Harley

Age: 15

Description of appearance: Long curly brown hair, green eyes and freckly skin. She resembles a porcelain doll, with delicate child-like features. Likes wearing dresses, as it's the only thing Faust ever allowed her to wear. These are the closest pictures to her I could find...

Spoiler

roleyplay 2.jpg (30.1 KiB) Viewed 385 times

Alliance: Royal Guards

Personality: Harley is amoral and immature. Completely. To her, it does not matter who gets hurt or what gets blown up in the process, so long as the end is the same. With her, good and bad are just two points of view and therefore nothing is set in fact. She's playful, stubborn and does not understand limits. She's prone to playing cruel pranks on strangers and people she doesn't like in the name of fun. However, it's also because of her personality that she doesn't know when to stop. She's very easily tempted away by sweets and shiny new gadgets so she's a flaky member. Has moderate to no loyalty whatsoever.

Job class: Mage, nymph

Abilities and weaponry: Very able with a musical instrument, which entrances the enemy and lulls them into lowering their defense, casts spells, etc. Useless with just about everything else except smaller rocks, which she can and will throw at you. She has good aim but she has no idea how to use a bow and arrow. Her magic has limits - everytime she uses it, she gets drained and blacks out/gets dizzy for a few hours, depending on how much magic she used. She hates the side effects so she avoids using magic. Is good at climbing trees and hiding among the branches.

Character background: Harley had wandered the streets as a little girl. She used to pickpocket, a long with a bunch of other kids. She still remembers her best friend from then, although she can't remember his name. She's hell-bent on finding him and sharing her good fortune with him, which is why she joined this mission. She's begun to think he might be in the human world.

Back to Harley. One day she tried to steal the wallet of a eerily beautiful man. He caught her trying to steal it and told her to leave or else. She left, but when she sees him again she tries to steal the wallet. Again. This occured about five times more before he finally admits he's amused by her attempts and takes her in. The man, Faust, was a scholar and a mage who dealt in black magic. He was very interested in capturing the Reaper, a vigilante, and passed all sorts of legends down to Harley.

When she turned twelve Faust left on a wild goose hunt for the reaper, whom he believed he finally found. Although he's very fond of her he left her behind, knowing she could very easily become a hostage for death. However, a year passed and he was nowhere in sight. The servants left the estate, which had begun to crumble. Only a skeleton crew remained with their dear master's "daughter". They did their best to keep her ignorant of the situation but Harley wasn't stupid. She knew.

One day she found people oohing over a soldier in the village and decided to play a prank on him after he jokingly insulted her companion, one of her servants. Said prank went perfectly, in her opinion. She switched the inn's massage oils with flammable oils and, while the soldier having a massage, she screamed as loud as she could, knowing he couldn't resist a chance to help people. He came running, smothered in her oils. Matches were lit and the soldier had to have an arm and a leg amputated as a result. He also suffered third degree burns.

One of the king's advisers saw this and took the chance to chat her up. He realized she was a nymph, approved of her and managed to convince the king to let her into the royal guard even though all the other advisers were strongly against it.

Harley refused to live in the royal court after a week and moved back to Faust's estate. She was ignored there and the servants treated her with fear and most equals hated her. The king only calls her in when the job is extremely important, as the other advisers are frightened of her. The king, on the other hand, enjoys her company very much.

This mission is more about searching for Faust and her best friend than it is about looking for the Eidolon. Harley refuses to acknowledge either is dead even though it is very probable both are. She has her doubts, but she won't admit them. Any two people whose relationship triggers thoughts of Faust or her best friend will send her into a quivering fit of jealousy and subsequently earn her ire.

Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-3_id7UbCk&feature=related

Name: Andera Michaels

Age: 28

Description of appearance: Pale brown eyes, Matted ginger hair, he wears the uniform of the Royal Guard, his armour rusted and stiff. His cloak is ripped. With a tangled beard and look of an otherwise starving person.

Alliance: Royal Guard

Personality: At one point a reliable soldier, rising fast through the ranks, but on his last mission over eight months ago, went missing. He's insane to put it lightly, and he often talks to himself.

Job class: Was a knight.

Abilities and weaponry: Rusted bastard sword and a moudy crossbow.

Character background: Andera, was a recruit who had so much potential from an early age he rose through the ranks. And was rumoured to have been heading to replace the old general. His family had always been the city, as he was orphan he had to prove himself more to be taken up. Surviving the gauntlet he was allowed in. Showing astounding keeness he took on the position like a natural. He was very much a loner. Reading books and practising fighting was more what he did.

Tragedy struck when he 27, he was sent to retrieve an important item. He went missing and was declared dead.

Song: House of Fun - Madness

*****

"So many days past, so much has changed. I am Andera, of who I'm speaking to, I don't rightly know. Maybe tis the wind. Since only company be these animal bones and maybe more. The honour I had is gone. And it's missing, my power, my pride is gone. Helpless people walk this hill. This world isn't my own." Why I chose to speak to thin air I didn't know. But on this hill, I found no friend, no solace, my leg bloody, red and bloody. On a mountain to find something. It was important. I know it was important. But now all I remember is blood and screams, or were they animals cries.

Looking to the sky the sun mocks, it begs for me to fry my skin and smoulder, but the Sun lies, as do the sun. I must avoid them. They'll like a billion eyes.

My loyalties, where are they, and that scent my teeth are rotten to the core, because of what I've become. The fur and flesh, animals whimper and beg to live. But I must survive.

The cliff is so high. And one leap would end it all. Sins I've done, my rusty sword should impale me now.

The hills arounds me all are the same. Am I feared by animals? Those climbing up, never climb down. I have sinned I have sinned.

I must go down now, and escape back to my world. If only to be executed for failure. Yes failure. And... killing of animals, yes animals.

At one point I would have never hurt a fly.

It's very lonely up here. With a tree, a burnt out fire, some blankets left by nice people, people I make suffer in return. I have sinned.

Aimee

Aimee pulled out the hotel pamphlets that she had so graciously helped herself to at some travel agency when she first arrived in the human world and laid them on the table. She bit on her lipstick covered lips as she shuffled through the pamphlets, skimming to find the hotel that would best suit her. Most of them were either located on the outskirts of the city, too expensive, or too budget for the eidolon’s liking. There was one hotel in particular that made her tilt her shades down to have a better look at the fine print.

It was a hotel with ten apartment floors fitted with balcony and bathroom windows, a white exterior bathed in the rays of the sun and a glass room that housed a large indoor swimming pool at the very top floor. Interior shots of the hotel showed that it also had a casino, lounge room, a bar and a theatre.

This will have to do I guess. She swept all of the pamphlets back into her purse as though they were piles of notes on the table, only invaluable and worthless to her.

Before she left, she checked her appearance in a small hand-held mirror. There was still the slight scar by the side of her smooth, pale white skin that was dealt by the sword of a bastard Royal Guard knight as she fought her way out of the King’s castle. The rest of her injuries were beneath her clothes. She would have to undress herself completely in the bathroom of the hotel room to check and mend all of the bruises that were caused by the knights firing their pistols on her soft body. She wasn’t sure how well the cream that she had purchased at the pharmacy store would do in healing her injuries.

“Lorcan, go approach the counter now. We’ll take her from behind. Go!”

Too busy to notice till now, the people behind her were actually Black Mages whispering to each other instead of a group of gossiping school girls. She felt her heart throbbing harder than usual, circulating the newly realized fear of being ambushed throughout her body.

“Hurry up and get the girl!”

At once, she rushed out of the door without looking back at the Black Mages behind her, concealing both her face and panic that were in her blue eyes, normally a mad glint of madness and seduction.

Inside, the Black Mages were closing in onto the coffee girl.

Jackie - Black Mages

He had followed them in to the coffee shop, and had been listening in on their conversations since they had arrived. So these where the Black Mages he was supposed to be joining? They didn't seem half bad.

Despite listening closely, he didn't fully understand what 'we'll take her from behind' meant until the four Mages stood up and started to make their move.

He focused on their target, trying to pick up on anything he could. If the higher ranks couldn't give more information about their target, he would have to do the searching himself. The trouble was, it seemed despite how hard he tried all he managed to acquire was a headache, and the brief knowledge that this girl was anticipating and preparing for an argument with her boyfriend later that day.

Then it entered his mind that all four of them where wrong, and that the person they where about to pounce on, was, in fact, a simple coffee girl.

'Looking for someone?' He said quietly. They didn't hear the first time, so he walked straight to the coffee girl and stood in front of her. He looked at the others and one by one they realised he was addressing them. 'Looking for someone?' He said a little louder. 'Because it's not her.'

'You're one of us?' Lorcan asked. Jackie nodded and moved out of their way.

Harley, Royal Guards

Harley wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and frowned. A drop of her sweat had already marred the creamy paper of the king's card, blurring the message. But she didn't need to read it again. She'd already memorized it.

An eidolon with sticky fingers had made off with the king's treasure, huh? She bit back a snort. What kind of guards did the king employ? Surely this wasn't a real eidolon. The guards probably fell asleep on the job, allowing a petty thief to slip inside and hit the jackpot. But they can't tell the king that now, can they? So let the gullible king believe an eidolon would actually go after one of his little treasures.

Harley squinted up at the sun. If Faust was here, he'd make a fuss over her squatting on the grass like this.

But he wasn't here and she admittedly missed his lectures. Where could that reckless fool have gone? The Reaper had been silent for the past few years. Maybe Faust had already caught him. Or maybe the reaper was lying low for the meantime, in order to avoid Faust. Either way, that idiot better come home soon. The servants were a lot more gossipy when he wasn't around and Harley didn't appreciate the constant buzz that surrounded the servant's quarters.

She toyed with the card. The human world. She'd heard the rumors around town. Faust had gone to the human world to chase after the reaper, who was now wreaking havoc as a serial killer with ten victims under his belt. With any luck, the other guards the king sent to the human world would be able to prove - or disprove - the rumor.

But it would be months before they'd be able to get back, and even then it would take time for the news to reach her. She couldn't wait that long. This was a free pass into the human world. Then again, she'd have to obey the orders of whichever captain the king appointed. That didn't sound too fun. She was already late for the meeting by a good two hours. If she added in the time it would take to make the journey to the castle, she'd be late by four hours. Not good. The team would have left her far behind by then. However, if she conjured a portal here and now, the king wouldn't raise an eyebrow or make a fuss. She had a good reason, didn't she?

She'll just catch up to the rest in the human world. Harley got up and hurried back to the house. She'll take a quick bath before heading there. Who knew when she could take one again?

Twenty minutes later she stumbled out of her flaky portal and onto a sidewalk. The sea of people surged around her, avoiding her. A few people threw her odd looks. One in particular, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds, crashed into her.

"Watch it!" screeched the other girl. "Move! I have to go, now!"

Harley held her head. A migraine. Expected. Stupid side effects. She glared at the girl's blue eyes and saw madness, panic. Fear. This girl was magical. She wasn't human. Not like the rest of them. Harley used the girl's shoulders for support only for the girl to push her aside.

Harley fell on a bench, dazed and a little confused. Thank God she still had some of her senses. She'd managed to pilfer a few things from the girl's handbag. A wallet, a make-up kit and a few pamphlets. Magical people in the human world were few and far between; maybe this girl could help her find the rest of those stupid guards. Harley took a deep breath. Coffee and magic. Strong magic. Where was that scent coming from? The blue-eyed girl's things held some magical residue, but there was something else. Stronger, nearer. A whole bunch of magical beings.

The guards, maybe?

Maria:

I got home late and slammed the door behind me. No body looked towards me as I stormed off upstairs and into my room.

I dumped my bag on the floor and flung myself onto my bed. The weird chick was getting weirder. Thermite? Honestly... She was crazy.

I sighed and stared up at my ceiling. It was dirty and cracked, and I was thinking that my Father should get it fixed if he had so much money...

Someone was yelling at my sisters again. I groaned and got up to close my door. As it clicked shut, my phone started ringing. I dug it out of my pocket and answered it..

"Hello?"

"Maria!" That was Arianna. "Hurry up. We've got to plan, remember?"

"Oh, hell," I muttered. "Alright. Where are you?"

I listened as she told me the address. If I wasn't careful someone would ground me again... Not that I cared. I Wrote down the address and hung up.

Time for some fun, I thought, grinning.

Lorcan

"You're one of us?" Lorcan asked feeling somewhat unsure. The fair haired youth nodded and moved slowly out of the way. He was slim and pretty, easily mistaken for a female. It was fortunate for him that Lorcan didn't like flat chested girls.

"But she said-" Chashina hesitated. They were making a scene. They were making a scene and had probably alerted the girl to their presence had she been there at all. Lorcan felt cheated, for just a moment he had believed the mission could be that easy. Turning to the coffee girl he eased her fears with a smile.

"My apologies, it seems I am mistaken. When you said- well. It was just that you seemed to know me and I expected to meet someone here." Lorcan could be quite appealing when he wanted to be and the human was suitably charmed. She smiled and tilted her head to one side. Black? Yes, I thought you'd want it black. Those had been her words, how odd they were. Lorcan could not think what had prompted her to say such a thing. "Might I ask what made you think I drink my coffee black?" Danya was frowning at him but it seemed to Lorcan more a look of deep thought than annoyance. He thought she might be trying to puzzle him out. Well. Good luck to her, even Lorcan didn't know his own mind half the time.

"You have a heavy look to your eyes, trouble sleeping? There's better remedies for that than coffee." The girl gave him a wry smile and then set off about her duties again. Lorcan watched her go with regret. Not so long ago he'd have taken her up on that unspoken offer. That was the sort of girl Lorcan had hit a hundred times and she was right, it was better than coffee but not much. Nothing helped.

Amanda drew the black mages out of the coffee shop. It was clear that they had unsettled many of the customers and best not to draw trouble. "Another recruit? Well. What tipped you off to he, have they finally sent me someone of use?"