Flames of Darkness (Started- Still accepting)

Shady · 2012-11-25T21:18:27Z

A mighty warrior assembled behind him a massive, skilled army. He led his army across the countryside, devouring small villages, crushing rebellion- until none remained but he and his followers. He declared himself King and few were living to dispute his claim. He wasn’t faithful, and soon found himself with many infant sons. Advised to name an heir, but uncertain which of his sons would be most suited to the crown, he split his kingdom into eight parts, and named each son heir to a throne, with intentions to amend his decision once his boys’ personalities were fully formed- to restore his kingdom to a single fortress. He died before that day came, and his kingdom was broken. Four short decades later only three kingdoms remained- the others conquered, crushed, forgotten: Neko, Atra, and Genor. Genor had withdrawn all contacts from the neighbouring nations, and shut itself deep within the protection of its mountainous ranges. Neko and Atra, both aggressive nations, reached an agreement- that the Prince of Neko and the Princess of Atra would wed, and that the nations would become allies. The Princess of Atra had no desire to marry her cousin, nor did the Prince want to marry her- and fresh, civil battles were waged. Messengers carried forged letters. Spies reported false information. Atra and Neko’s leaders were killed in the battles. The newly assumed thrones, their pride injured by the other’s refusal of marriage, declared war on each other. Who will you side with? The Queen of Fire? The King of Shadows? The Lord of the Mountains? When nothing is certain but fear and death, and no one is what they seem... Atra- Kingdom of Fire Roles in society: Women- Women are to birth and raise warriors. A prized woman will be silent and observant, respected by her children (though not often her husband), and possess ample strength to run her household and give her sons basic training. Women are to be seen and not heard. If a woman ventures to speak out against a man- or against a man’s abilities- she had better be able to defend herself and be prepared for a Test, because other men won’t come to her rescue. A woman who can defeat a man in battle, or simply requests one, will be given a Test, and, if she passes, she will be placed in the Fire Queen’s ranks- to be treated, in all respects, as a man of equal rank. A woman, once she has proven herself, is given an equal opportunity for advancement, though is not given a handicap because she’s a woman- if she can’t earn something, she can’t have it. Girls- Girls are given only the most basic training in arms, typically in whatever Craft their mother learned—they only learn enough to be able to train the sons that they are expected to bear one day. The age of their training varies, depending on the capabilities of the girl, but is typically completed by the time they’re nine. Girls learn their basic figures, reading, and writing- and then begin mastering the things women commonly do, cooking, cleaning, caring for children, etc. Men- Men are prideful and possessive, often brawling if they feel they’ve been done wrong, or that their woman has been slighted (outside the mild condescension to be expected). From an early age (commonly four winters) they cease to be babied by their mothers, who eventually become their first tutors. From age 4 to 7 they are Stage One, from 8 to 10 is Stage Two, when they are 11 and 12 they are Starters, and ages 13 and 14 are Apprentices. Stage One- The boy will begin to learn independence. He will master dressing and bathing himself, as well as begin to keep his Father’s or older brother(s)’ weapons cleaned. He will begin to learn a Craft- typically the one his mother learned. He will learn to read, write, and perform basic math computations. He will begin to learn horsemanship. Stage Two- He will know how to fully groom himself, and how to maintain weapons. He will be proficient in the Craft his mother decided to teach him, and will begin learning the other Crafts- usually from an older brother or older friend, but sometimes his mother. His reading will be fluent, his writing legible, and an older man will teach him more advanced mathematics. His father will observe him as he trains, and will discourage any weakness he displays. His father continue to teach him horsemanship. Starter- His education will be fully taken over by his Father, who will now be familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of his son. His time with his mother will be significantly restricted, and all sympathies lost. He will practice his Craft- his shortcomings punished more severely- and practice the Crafts that he’s unskilled in, though the majority of his time will be spent honing his skills in his Craft, and the Craft of his father. Apprentice- The boy will take up residence with a Master of the Craft he wishes to pursue. His Master will hone his skills in the Craft, and teach him things beyond the common knowledge (see the list of Crafts). In return, the boy will care for h is Master’s arms, cook meals, keep his Master’s house and stable, and accompany his Master wherever he goes. Test- When a boy is 15 years old, or whenever his Master deems him ready, he will be tested in the Craft of his choice. The Test is intense- taxing mentally, as well as physically- and different, depending on the Craft. All Crafts require the Apprentice to survive for a fortnight in the wilderness, with nothing but their weapon, a knife, a flint, and some steel. Neko- Kingdom of Shadows Roles in society: Women- Women have two options- become a Yulaki or a Citizen. Yulaki are women the mild type, treated gently- in word and deed- behaving as perfect ladies. They are ever available to keep a man company, and only speak when they’re spoken to- excluding talking to other Yulaki. Often if a man finds a Yulaki who he is particularly fond of, he will take her into his dwelling, providing her with food and shelter, in return for her services. Women who decide to become Citizens are decidedly more opinionated and express their opinions more freely. Women who pass the Citizenship Test are treated as a man, being allowed to freely converse with them, and, if she feels she’s been slighted, she can brawl with men without bringing any disgrace on her or her household. Men- Men are raised to be warriors. Every man is a Citizen, and therefore a soldier in the King’s army, which is his first profession. Men often prefer swords to any other weapon, leaving archery for women- not out of disrespect, but because women tend to have better aim, and seem to prefer long-distance fighting over hand-to-hand combat, though all weapons are welded by both genders. Men tend to be arrogant and prideful, but usually keep their opinions private, unless they have a score they wish to settle. Few men speak empty threats- and fewer still live long enough to speak them twice. Any insult is taken on a highly personal level, and typically settled before the night is through. Children- Children are raised from birth to be warriors. From the time they can walk, boys begin to spar with their fathers, who aren’t gentle in their lessons- backhanding, punching, and slapping boys, sometimes no taller than your belt, when they err in their form. Girls receive somewhat gentler lessons until they’re five years old, when they choose whether they’re going to become a Citizen or a Yulaki. A girl can change her decision to be a Citizen until she takes her Citizenship Test, a Yulaki may apply for Citizenship at any time, though it’s far harder for a girl who didn’t receive the training as a child. Children training to become Citizens receive a crude education, reading, writing, their primary figures- and intense training with swords. Every Citizen must be somewhat capable with a spear and a bow, but only those who choose those as a primary weapon receive extensive training. Yulaki, having more time for leisure, learn to read more fluently, and more advanced mathematics. Yulaki study poems and practice their elocution, learn to sew and embroider, and learn to play an instrument- usually a harp, lyre, or piano. Yulaki that are talented masseuses tend to be the most popular, as do Yulaki who are skilled in the kitchen. Citizenship Test- Every winter, a faction of young Nekoites, typically in their twelfth year, apply for Citizenship through an Audition, in which they must prove themselves stronger than their peers. They are taken to the bottom of a steep mountain, and put in one end of an arena- in the other end, there are several Nekoite Citizens. The Citizens are armed with clubs, as are the initiates. The initiates must fight their way out of the arena, and up the mountain- battling against each other, for the honour and ranks that come with being in the first ten to arrive back at the town, and against the conditions. Genor- Kingdom in the Mountains Little is known about the people of Genor. They typically keep to themselves- allowing few people to enter their country, and fewer still to leave it. They’re considered Rebels, resentful of both the ruler of Neko and the ruler of Atra, but neutral in the war- rumoured to be waiting for the two to exhaust their resources, and thus be easier to defeat once the other throne falls. Crafts Archery- Soldiers who choose a different Craft recieve minimal training, making them accurate at only a very short distance. Soldiers and Citizens who chose this as thier Craft, however, recieve detailed instruction. They will learn to shoot different types of bows, different types of arrows, learn how to make their own weapons, learn to make arrows and re-fletch them, and learn tricks to make them lethal at a further distance-- such as a countering cross-winds and tweaking arrows. Magic- Magic comes in many different forms. Wizards have the furthest range- at least they rumor themselves to. They have tendancies of making interesting things happen when they come around, and are generally a better thing to have as an ally than an enemy. Enchanters can charm nearly anyone into spilling thier secrets or helping them out of a pinch. Magicians come in many different facets- from magicians who can control the Elements- Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, to magicians who can only control smaller things, such as items or situations around them. Swordsmanship The Craft favored by Nekoite Citizens, and an art practiced by all, swordsmanship requires a good deal of strength and discipline, speed, and finesse. You have to be observant, as to see the weaknesses in your opponent's guard, and quick enough to use the opening. Staffsman Few people use staffs, finding them harder to wield and even harder to maim someone. It takes a great deal of strenght and endurance for this Craft. Spearman A more popular choice than a staff, few people use spears either. They're useless in hand-to-hand combat, and, being projectile, are usually only good for one enemy at a time. Hand-To-Hand A somewhat popular choice, people who pursue thier crafts in Hand-To-Hand combat will be trained extensively with thier hands, and a few other select weapons, depending on the Master that teaches them. Someone who choses this as his Craft will learn the pressure points and lethal areas of a human body, and no longer be under the socially accepted rule that a Challenge must be answered. Few people are willing to fight with someone of this Craft, and for good reason. Other If your character wants a different Craft, let me know, and I'll add it. :) Character Profile: Name: (First and last names required) Nickname: (A personal title, if you have one, or what people call you) Age: (Age range is from 15-45 *Kings should be in their teens or twenties*) Gender: Class: (wizard, enchanter, warrior, ranger, rogue, peasant) Race: (human, dwarf, elf, shape-shifter *specify which shapes you can take*, other commonly known creature) Rank: (Apprentice, Graduate, Citizen, Lieutenant, Captain, other- see below) Skills: (choose three: speed, strength, endurance, intelligence, dexterity, magic, accuracy, camouflage, stealth) Weakness: (choose one: speed, strength, endurance, intelligence, dexterity, magic, accuracy, camouflage, stealth) Allegiance: (Nekoites or Atraians) Appearance: (Pics are optional. Try to avoid Anime) Personality: (Minimum 50 words. Be descriptive.) History: (Be descriptive. At least two paragraphs in length, and none of this "don't remember" nonsense. Even if they don't, explain why, and besides, each character has a story.) Up for love: (Yes, no, and what orientation.) Other: (Anything forgotten.) Character Slots Queen of Fire- ShadowVyper Fire Advisor-Trinity9001 Fire War Chief- Megsug Fire Master of Spies-DudeMcGuy Fire soldiers- -Payne -Thelios Apprentice- - Graduate- -ShadowVyper King of Darkness-Impaired Dark Advisor-thestorygirl Dark War Chief- Dark Master of Spies-Dawnpath1 Dark soldiers/Citizens- -SidereaAquila -Trinity9001 King of Genor-Megsug Rebel Advisor- Alvarin Rebel Master of Spies- Rebels- - - - - - Rules (Gotta have 'em) Don't kill off another character without the creator's permission. Keep romance to kissing and holding hands. Fade out if it goes much further than that. Try to post fairly regularly, please. Have fun! :)

megsug

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Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:22 am

megsug says... · Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:22 am

Balik
...

What do we do?

I stared at Hunter for a long moment, nausea rising up at the question. "We-we..." I straightened my shoulders and shook myself. "I'm going to go tell the two out there what's really going on. This is bigger than me or you." I picked up my slightly wrinkled robe and studied it for a long moment before throwing it on the floor again. "And I'm going to do it on my terms."

I gave him a long look as I thought, more calm than I ever expected. "You need to find out who the hell is in my castle and how he's getting in here. I don't like it." I looked at my reflection in the mirror, straightened my shirt to make sure it was presentable enough and looked back at Hunter. "What are you still doing here?"

He nodded and left, closing the door behind him. I waited for a few moments, giving myself a bit of a pep talk before following. I studied the two, now seething, monarchs and gave them a grin smile. "Let's go to the Armory, shall we? I have a few things to discuss with you."

Eira
I was wandering toward the stables, looking for a bit of company more than anything else. Naki was out like a light before we had been in the room for more than a few moments, and I knew I should probably be resting too, but I was uneasy, too uneasy to sleep.

I made my way slowly, taking a moment to relax in the cool night. It was nice to be quiet and unharried for a few moments... though it would get boring, I supposed.

I was just opening the door to the stable when the kid, Quick, ran out, into me. He staggered back, eyes guilty- and maybe a little scared- in the flickering torch light.

I lifted my hands and smiled, glancing around to make sure there was no one to see me going easy on the kid. "Whoa. Calm down. I was just coming to..." I trailed off at the strange silence. "Where are the horses?"

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Alvarin

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Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:13 am

Alvarin says... · Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:13 am

Spoiler

Longest post that I have ever posted from my iPhone. Sorry for any typos and stuff.

Hunter
I left the king's room and found myself wandering towards my garden. I needed to think for a moment. I had no idea how the Orc had gotten into the castle, and much less how to find him. Maybe I could try to track him with a.. No, to perform that spell I needed a part of the Orc, and I didn't have that.

Suddenly I found myself being slammed into a wall. Luna looked just a surprised as I did. "Hunter? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," I said with a slight smile. There was a slight scent of flower coming from her, flowers I knew all too well.

Instead of backing of she kept me pinned to the wall, studying me with her silvery eyes. After a while she looked me in the eyes and lets me go. "Where are you heading to?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but then the whole castle was shook by the boom of thunder. Damn that Quick. I had told him to make an ordinary rain cloud, not a full out lightning storm. The citizen would only be more alarmed than they already were, and panic wouldn't help anyone.

"Wanna fill me in on what's going on?" I looked back at Luna.

"You have no idea," I said and shook my head. I wasn't really sure whether I should be telling her or not, but decided that it was probably okay. The king would have to tell the others now anyway. She followed me towards the courtyard, and I spoke while we walked.

When we finally stepped outside I spotted Quick, in the middle of the courtyard, and he must've seen me too, cause there was another, louder, boom of thunder and then he suddenly turned and walked away. I was going to follow, when he suddenly ran of. I knew I couldn't possibly catch him without turning to my canine form, and I didn't want to do that in front of Luna.

"You want me to catch him for you?" she asked, and I was relieved to hear that she wasn't pitying me.

I sighed. "No, I'll yell at him later. For now I just have to.." My voice trailed of as I looked up at the almost black sky and made the cloud disappear. The sky returned to its normal dark blue color. "Before I forget it, what were you doing in my garden?" I smiled, just to show that I wasn't mad or anything, just curious.

Quick
Hunter had told me to go out to the courtyard and conjure up a rain cloud over the castle, so I did. It was boring. I had already mastered the spell, I wanted to learn something else, something new and exiting, but Hunter didn't have the time, nor the skill, to teach me something like that. I wanted to make it rain fire, become invincible, conjure up a familiar.. Anything really. Anything, except for boring weather and nature spells. But Hunter couldn't teach me that, 'cause he couldn't do it himself.

Since I had nothing to do I tried to turn the raincloud into a thundercloud, and succeeded on my first attempt. Then I wanted it to rain fire, but instead I got lightning. I grinned when I tried to imagine Hunter's face if I destroyed his precious little flowers. One bolt of lightning was all it took to destroy years of labour? And why shouldn't I? It was his fault that I had been sent down to this city in the first place. I was an outsider here, a nobody. It was all Hunter's fault

"Quick. I know who you are, and I think you know who I am." I jumped when I heard the voice in my head, and accidentally made a bolt of lightning strike a tree nearby. The boom was so loud that it shook the ground. It had to be the creature, Orc, from tonight's dinner. At first I intended to call for the guards, but the voice returned. "Make a move, and I'll turn you to dust. Besides, you won't get to hear my proposition. Come to the stables, where the dust of the horses still lay unmoved. We can speak in person there."

I looked around to see if anyone else had heard the voice, but spotted Hunter coming towards me, he had a woman from Neko by his side, and he did not look happy. In a split second I made my choice. This Orc knew the magic that I wanted to learn, and Hunter didn't. Easy choice.

I turned towards the stables and started walking quickly, but Hunter was apparently trying to follow me, so I started running knowing full well that he couldn't possibly catch me with that limp of his.

I walked into the stables, noticing that there were no horses there. Not a single one. How odd. But I didn't really have time to think about that now. I was doing something that I shouldn't, something ~~potentially~~ definitely dangerous. "Where are you?" I asked, looking around.

"Here I am, boy, no need to worry," said the Orc, as it appeared from the shadows. I just barely managed to swallow a scream. I had never seen an Orc before, and it definitely wasn't attractive. "I offer you my teachings boy. I need not persuade you. You've seen my power, and you've seen Hunter's. He bores you, I know it. I can see it in your eyes; you want to learn real magic. I can teach you. But you have to do exactly as I say. So, what say you?"

I wished he had spoke a bit slower. I went over what he had said several times in my head, until I was sure what he had said and meant. I still hadn't mastered their language, but I knew far more that Hunter thought.

Should I accept? By doing so I would betray all three countries, not that it mattered. But it also meant that I would betray own tribe, and I wasn't sure if that was what I really wanted. My parents, my brother.. I frowned at the thought of him. The one who had been chosen to take over the role of shaman, just because he was older. I could come back later and prove that I was the stronger one. I would prove to them all that I was the most skilled magician in Genor. Maybe in the whole world.

"I... I want to be powerful," I said slowly, to ensure that my accent wouldn't be too obvious. "Can you... Can you make me stronger than Hunter?"

"Stronger than Hunter?" the Orc said. "I can see your mind, and you have a certain flexibility about you that makes you dangerous. You are already that powerful, boy. You are like a great and mighty blade, that has only to be sharpenned. I can hone you! I can teach you ways to bend magic that you have never encountered before!"

I did my best to hold back a smile. I had known it all along. I was a quick learner, and it wasn't a skill meant to be used in Hunter's service, it was meant to make me far more powerful than him. "I... accept you offer. I won't disappoint you. What do you want me to do?"

"Wait untill tomorrow. Then come back here, midnight tomorrow night. Your training begins then. Goodbye, Quick. You made a wise decision," the Orc said before disappearing. He had to teach me how to do that.

I left he stables quickly, since I didn't want to be discovered alone in a stable without horses. Unfortunately I walked right into the woman who had humiliated Hunter earlier. I almost panicked, thinking that she'd be able to feel the orc's scent on me, but instead she put up her hands and smiled. "Whoa. Calm down. I was just coming to..." Her voice trailed of when she noticed that the horses were gone. "Where are the horses?"

I swallowed, looking around in hope that a lie would just suddenly come to me, then I realized that I didn't have to lie at all. Or we'll, just a little bit. "I nåt understand."

My words did not have the desired effect. She frowned and tried to grab hold of my arm, but I quickly moved away. "Listen, you. I know that you understand me, so you better stop pretending and tell me what you did to our horses."

I might as well stop pretending then. "I didn't do anything with the horses. I was hiding from Hunter in there. The horses were already gone when I came." I frowned at my own heavy accent. I'd have to work on that. "Don't tell Hunter that I've already learned your language."

She smiled. "Your secret is safe with me, kid." At least we shared the same feelings for Hunter, which was a nice change. All the others I had met adored him, especially the members of my tribe.

“Are you looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis”
― Thomas Harris

megsug

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Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:52 am

megsug says... · Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:52 am

Eira
I felt sorry for him. Being in a strange place was hard enough. Not being able to communicate with anyone would be maddening. "Your secret is safe with me, kid." I let the door close behind him and walked with him back the way I had come. "Does Hunter know you're so smart?"

He gave me a sly grin, and I nodded in approval though I knew he probably didn't give a damn.

"Always keep a piece of yourself to surprise everyone with when you need to most." I nudged him gently. "You're wise for your age. It's taken me a while to gather the patience to not show all of cards at once." I made a face at the expression on his face that hinted at disbelief and chuckled. "I never said I mastered it."

"You have power without it," he pointed out in that odd accent he had.

I shrugged. "Until I meet someone stronger than I am, I guess." I laughed. "Or looser of tongue. What would I do if someone actually replied to what I say in kind?" I shook my head at the thought, grinning. "I might just stare at them."

I sighed softly, wrinkling my nose as a wind carried the scent of whatever beast had interrupted the dinner party. The entire castle reeked of it, I decided as I glanced down at Quick and rubbed at my nose before I sneezed.

I looked up at the steps and offered my hand. "Well met, Quick. It's nice to hear your voice." I winked. "And keep being sly. It'll keep you on top, though, as smart as you are, I'm sure you already knew that." I had the urge to ruffle his hair as I had my son's in another life, but I didn't. I patted his shoulder instead. "And talking is like your magic. Practice makes perfect. I had a dau- Er... I knew someone who had a lisp once, and I made 'em talk all the time, to me, to their imaginary friend, to their reflection. She doesn't have that lisp today though I'll be damned if she won't shut up." I offered him a friendly smile. "If you ever need help, assuming I can help you..."

Something seemed to loosen in his face. "You'll help me if I need it?"

I shrugged. "I'll try." I gave him a mock-serious look. "I don't give that offer to just anybody. Don't go ruining my nasty reputation by saying I'm willing to give you a hand." I smirked. "If you're gonna say anything." I began up the steps and yawned. "Good night, Quick."

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Shady

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Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:02 am

Shady says... · Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:02 am

Anaki Shadowflame (Queen of Atra)

Balik's hand hovered inches from mine. "I will not partner with only one of you."

He looked at Korhel rigidly, who hesitated. Finally Korhel took Balik's hand, and Balik took mine.

"Partners."

"Partners," I murmur.

Balik looked down, seemingly ashamed, as his grip loosened.

"Ah...Genor's soil isn't good. We have trouble growing crops, grazing livestock." Balik finally met my gaze. "My people will be no help to our... cause if I- they... we do not get some-" He grimaced. "Assistance."

I bit my lip. The cold truth of the matter was coming out. Balik's people were starving, and mine weren't much better off. Atra had enough for herself, but not much to spare. If Korhel knew...

"Neko has the produce...for everyone," Korhel added rather pointedly, glaring at me.

"Atra is fine," I straightened my shoulders.

"This year."

"Next year I'll be sitting on your throne.”

“Ah—” Balik cleared his throat. “If we could focus on the year at hand…?”

“Fine,” I crossed my arms and glanced behind me, “Eira?”

No response. I turn around, but Eira’s gone. Where’d Eira go? I raise my eyebrows and look at Balik, unwilling to point out her absence with Korhel so near. He raised a shoulder.

I cleared my throat and bowed to Balik slightly. “If you would be so kind as to excuse me…”

“But of course.”

I turned and pushed my way through a throng of soldiers, only to find Eira, Hunter, and that girl all talking. I stiffened. This can’t be good.
"They're here to do our peoples harm, as we've said." Eira shrugged. "I'll admit, I'm a bit... aggressive."

I smirked. Hunter scoffed. Eira’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Okay! I'm antagonistic and am looking for a fight, but I'm willing to forget you're a..."

Her nose twitched. "Sheep dog." She looked to the girl. "And I'll try not to hate you...I figure each of us protect our own monarch in our own way. We may need to be able to communicate... easier if we each want to do our jobs."

"I guess you're right. We need to be able to communicate at all times." Hunter agreed.

The girl just nodded, and then shrugged.

Hunter asked, approaching the girl. "How is your shoulder?"

Luna took a step back, about to say something, when her dad stomped up and stood between them. "Take a step back."

The girl and her dad had some sort of a silent argument.

"Something the matter?" I interrupted.

The girl stared at me for a long moment, then glanced at the king.

"Everything's fine." Her dad assured us.

"I think I will return to my quarters." Korhel stated. "There's been enough for tonight."

"I do believe I'll return to mine too." I agreed, nodding to Eira, who followed me from the room.

I sighed as we walked into my chambers, and I flopped across the bed, closing my eyes. "Eira?"

"Mmm?"

"Thank you."

I could feel her get tense. I cracked an eye open. She was flopped across a chair, her legs thrown over the arm, looking at me. I shrugged, stretching. "It must've been hard for you to forgive the fact that he's...a sheep dog." I laughed.

Eira chuckled too. "You heard that, eh?"

"I did." I rubbed my face, grinning. "...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--"

"We both said things we shouldn't have." She interupted.

I nodded, wallowing up to a sitting position, fighting with my dresses. Eira laughed. "You look like a silk-covered animal, squirming and grunting like you are."

I managed to sit up despite my corset, breathing heavily but grinning. "Shut up."

I stood and offered her a hand, which she took. I heaved her to a sitting position, saving her the battle with her corset. I turned and moved my hair out of the way as she began unbuttoning my dress.

"You know what the awful thing is?" I yawned, as I stepped out of the dress and left it crumpled on the floor.

"What's that?" She asked, as I began freeing her.

"I sent Ulric after my swords, and then left before he could get back...the poor lad's probably pissed with me."

"Better pissed off than pissed on," Eira smirked.

I laughed, harder than I should've, overly tired. "God Eira, I'm tired."

"Me too. Is there a cot in-"

"Nah, Eira, it's good. Korhel's on our side now, and I'll have my guard," I yawned, pulling a gown over my head. "You get a good night's sleep in your own room."

I buried beneath the blankets and fell asleep before I heard her answer.

~~~
I woke to someone beating on my door. My eyes snapped open. “What?” I bellowed, rolling onto my back.

“Anaki! Get your ass out here!”

Korhel. I sighed, rolling out of bed. “What do you want, you bastard?”

“Get out of bed, you bitch.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my swords, which were tossed on my dresser carelessly. I bet Ulric’s still pissed with me. I yawned, belting my swords on, and pulled the door open.

“What?” I asked, crossing my arms and leaning against the doorframe.

“How long have you known about this shit?” He bellowed, pushing his way into my room.

“What are you talking about?” I asked wearily.

“The fucking letter!” He bellowed.

“I’m bloody tired. Either explain yourself or get the fuck out, so I can sleep.”

“The letter!” He waved something in front of my face, peered into the darkness, and then stomped to my bed. “Right here, your—oh…”

He stopped when he saw the letter’s seal was unbroken. I snatched the letter he brandished, and broke it open.

To the Atraian and Nekoite Royalties.
The Orc assailant was confirmed dead earlier today, shot through the brain.
No need to worry anymore about the Orc.

“Bloody hell.”

“So how fucking long were you planning on waiting before you-”

“How fucking long do you think?” I snapped, pushing Korhel back. “I was asleep until thirty fucking seconds ago.”

“Well what the fuck does it mean?”

“How should I know?” I bellowed.

“You’re the fucking princess, I figured you’d have it figured out,” He sneered.

“I’m the fucking Queen,” I snarled. “And if you’ll notice, this is addressed to you and I…who isn’t getting the memo? Who do you think already knows?”

“…Balik…” Korhel said darkly.

“Precisely.”

I grabbed my robe, threw it around my shoulders, and stormed from the room, Korhel on my heels.
~~~
"Balik! I know you're in there. I've torn this castle apart looking for you." I bellowed, pounding on his door.
I heard him curse. A moment later the door flew open. "What?"

I waved the letter in his face. "When did you find out about this? How did you get it in my room without waking me? Why wasn't I informed immediately?"

He snatched the paper and began to read. "What the hell..."

He glanced up as Korhel finally caught up and began restating my questions.

“What does that fucking mean?” I demanded, raising my voice to talk over Korhel. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know. Why didn’t you fucking tell me sooner? Who was able to sneak it into my room without waking me? Why didn’t they wake me, so I’d know before I just woke up by my own accord? Balik, don’t ignore me! Who snuck this into my fucking room? I want to meet the soft-toed bastard.”

"Hold on!" Balik shouted, glaring at both of us.
We glared at him silently, waiting for an explanation.
"The...Orc was killed by my guards almost..." He took a nervous step backwards. "Ah... Four hours ago."

I glared silently. That’s right...you’d better get out of my arm’s reach.

"You mean to tell me, I have gone four hours without knowing vital information that you have?" Korhel hissed softly.

I cracked my knuckles and stepped forward. I’d team with Korhel this once...

"Well, you see..." Balik narrowed his eyes at me. "I'm in charge of this... clusterfluck, and I wanted to..."
Balik spotted Hunter, who was running to his rescue, and bared his teeth. "Here he is! I was just making sure the facts were all straight before I really bothered you. I- ah... I told my messengers not to bother you if you were resting... I see they did that to the extreme. I will punish them...At some point."

Balik waved Hunter into his chambers, and then frowned as I started in after him. "No."

"Are you going to hide more from us?" I spat.

"What are you saying?" He hissed softly, "In my own house?"

"I think you're dirty," I answered, meeting his gaze evenly.

Balik raised his eyebrows coolly. "I suggest you watch your tongue here, Your Highness. My men outnumber yours." He looked over me at Korhel. "That goes the same for you. I am honest, and I don't take kindly to being questioned."

He slammed the door in our faces. “Did he just...slam the fucking door in MY FACE?” I bellowed, flushing, as I glanced at Korhel for affirmation.

“Shh.” Korhel moved nearer the door.

Of course... I pressed my ear against the keyhole.

"You're not going to get involved in an ill-conceived war of pride?" Hunter asked.

An...Ill-conceived...war...of...pride, I ran my tongue along my teeth, my eyes narrowed.

“How did this come to be, Hunter?" Balik demanded.

Hunter muttered something in that damnable language his lad used, and their voices suddenly became further away.

"He'll set up a spell against eaves...”

“Damn it to hell!” I spat, kicking at the ground and spinning around. “Fucking magic bearing , wizard asshole, son-of-a-bitching sheepdog bastard!”

“My, my, how very Queenly of you,” Korhel sneered.

I whirled around, eyes flashing. “My most humble apologies, Your Majesty. I never could quite master the fineries of the job. It’s no secret that you’re a better Queen than I am. King, on the other hand, is debatable. You’re too cowardly to fit that job well, you-”

“I’ll not stand by and be insulted-”

“You’ll take it if I say you’ll fucking take it!”

“Naki-”

My fist was in motion before my mind could catch up. It stopped mere inches in front of Korhel’s face, wrapped in his large hand, his fingers squeezing tightly, hurting my hand. I slammed my left forearm into his chest, making him stumble backward, and brought my right knee up into his gut.

He staggered backward, releasing my hand, but recovered before I could make another move. He threw his weight into my middle, sending us both tumbling backwards, his weight rolling over me, and then under, and over again.

His fist found a place to land on my jaw several times before my vision cleared and I could see him again. I slammed my right fist into his cheek and brought my left forearm down across his neck, making him lost his balance. In a flash I was on top of him, fists flying.

He tackled me over backwards, his body landing on mine heavily, making me grunt. He grabbed my throat. Eyes watering, I wrapped my arm around his neck and squeezed as tightly as I could until his grip loosened enough for me to wiggle free of his chokehold, and slip to the side, still holding onto his neck.

I threw my left leg over his back, trying to pull myself on top of him, but his arm quickly wrapped around my lower chest, holding me down, so that I was hanging off of him, my left arm around his neck, my left foot over his back, his arm over my back, squeezing. My right hand working furiously at his grasp, trying to pry his fingernails free of my skin, hoping he wouldn’t sit back on his heels, thus freeing his other hand.

Grunting, sweating, we each worked furiously at gaining the upper hand.

“Ah...” At a startled gasp, our heads snapped up. Seeing a soldier standing before us, our grasps went lax, and I scrambled to my feet, not being immature enough to trip Korhel as he tried to stand...well...I might’ve been.

We watched as the soldier looked between us bewilderedly and rapped on the door. The door opened.

"Panic is start..." The soldier started.

"Come in and close the door!" Balik snapped.

The door closed once more. Glaring at it, panting and sweating, I glanced at Korhel and took a step towards him, ready to resume the fight where we left off...or possibly from a slightly better position, when the door opened and Quick sprinted down the hall.

“Hey! Boy!”

He muttered something unintelligible and ran off. I glanced at Korhel, blood still boiling, but looked after Quick. It was hard to tell how long he’d be gone, and the last thing I needed was the lad to tell Hunter about our brawl, even if my bloody lip would be telltale enough. I ran my fingers through my hair and spat out a mouthful of blood, wiping my bloody lip on a corner of my gown.

I straightened my gown as a stable boy came running up, his fear turning to panic when he saw Korhel and I. We stared at him silently after he rapped on the door, me not trusting my lip not to start dribbling blood if I started to talk.

The door jerked open and Balik glared at us, then down at the boy. "What?"

Still glaring he yanked the lad inside and slammed the door once more. I glowered at the door for a long moment, desperately longing for a bed, and a warm bed, and my gardens, and my horse, and a long swim, and a fight, and a warm, non-explosive steak, all at once.

“I didn’t know there were so many secrets Balik could keep.”

“I didn’t know my cousins were both dickheads.”

Korhel wheeled and started towards me, but the stable boy came out of the room, looking a bit bewildered, but panicked to find us still standing there. I spat out another mouthful of blood.

“What do you say we interrogate him? Find out what’s going on?” Korhel asked, starting towards the boy.

“I say I ain’t ever siding with you again, you dirty little prick, and you’d be hard pressed to do anything physical without my help.”

“I kicked your ass.” Korhel snarled. “I’d kick his in half a second.”

“You couldn’t kick my granny’s ass, if she was blindfolded and tied to a pole.”

“Of course, because the women on your side of the family know so much about poles...”

“You arrogant, cocksure, fucking bastard,” I started towards him, fists raised, when the door opened again.

Hunter emerged, looking perplexed. He glanced at us, but continued without a word.

“Well maybe that cowardly bastard will grace us with his presence in a moment,” I growled, spitting out another mouthful of blood. “He’s the only one left.”

“I’ll force the door if he doesn’t come out soon.”

“You’ll try.” I sneered.

“And I’ll kill you if you don’t shut your fucking mouth.”

“This I want to see,” I growled, starting towards him. “Try it.”

The door opened, and we both whirled around, rather guiltily, as Balik finally emerged and studied us. He smirked. “Let's go to the Armory, shall we? I have a few things to discuss with you."

"Sounds good. The Armory. What, exactly, do you have there? Swords, I hope?" I asked, glaring at Korhel, wishing that my attendants hadn't relieved me of them before I left, twittering about how inappropriate they were.

"Arm her, that's a good fucking idea," Korhel spat, even as the two of us followed after a very nervous-looking Balik, who kept glancing at us.

"I'm going to state the obvious and say you're scared," I sneered, glaring at him.

"Right," Balik coughed, grabbing hold of the shoulder of my gown and pushing me in front of him. "Well...let's...not touch anything when we..."

"Don't fucking touch me!" I snapped, jerking free of his grasp, which wasn't trying to hold me.

"I thought you and your Mama liked to be touched," Korhel sneered.

I started towards him, only to be stopped by Balik, who was surprisingly strong. I jerked on my arms, accidentally elbowing him, as I tried to pull free. "Let me go!"

"Let her go!" Korhel agreed. "I'm going to kill the bitch this time."

"You've got it to do," I spat, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

"You don't think I can?"

"It'd surprise the hell out of me if you could."

"I'll show you then," Korhel spat, starting forward, slamming into poor Balik, who was trying to calm us down.

"You'd better pack a lunch."

I clawed at his face around Balik, who was trapped between us. I felt an hand yank me back, free of both Balik and Korhel's grasp.

"If you want to kick his ass, don't get Balik trapped in the middle."

Eira was there at last.

"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus
"From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf
"A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni
[they/he]

megsug

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Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:20 pm

megsug says... · Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:20 pm

Balik
"Sounds good. The Armory. What, exactly, do you have there? Swords, I hope?"

I frowned. Oh dear. I had left the babies alone by themselves a bit too long.

"Arm her, that's a good fucking idea."

Way too long

I glanced back at them, walking fast to try and get to the Armory as soon as possible. Perhaps I should have chosen a closer room though I suppose that wouldn't have helped any.

"I'm going to state the obvious and say you're scared."

"Right," I muttered, pulling the first one I could get my hands on in front of me. Any authority I may have had was gone. "Well...let's...not touch anything when we..."

"Don't fucking touch me!"

I pulled my hand away from Naki as she shoved it away.

"I thought you and your Mama liked to be touched."

Oh, throw it all to hell. Why did he have to go there?

I stopped Naki, gritting my teeth as her elbows flew, hitting me in the side.

"Let me go!"

"Let her go!" Korhel agreed. "I'm going to kill the bitch this time."

"You've got it to do."

"You don't think I can?"

"It'd surprise the hell out of me if you could."

"Now, come on," I began to murmur, obviously not loud enough for anyone to hear as my mind screamed at the top of its lungs that I had no time, no time, no time.

I grunted as Korhel slammed into me, biting out a curse.

I was the one that was going to get killed!

"I'll show you then."

"Let's just hold-"

"You'd better pack a lunch."

I winced when her hand darted just by my face to claw at Korhel's, and then she was gone.

I looked around crazily, my pulse pounding in my ears.

"If you want to kick his ass, don't get Balik trapped in the middle."

Eira looked at us all in contempt, and I contained the urge to worship her.

"This is about the horses?" she murmured softly to Naki, and my heart plummeted.

No, not worship her. Rip her throat out.

Naki frowned. "The horses?" She whirled around on me as Korhel did the same.

"Ours too?" he growled, and I spread my hands out slowly.

"Yeah," Eira supplied, oh so helpful.

I shot her a glare over the monarchs' shoulders. She smirked.

"What's wrong with our horses?" Naki demanded, taking a threatening step closer.

"Keep in mind," I stammered, "I didn't know about this until after you guys came."

"Great!" Korhel cried in a cheery tone that sounded like death to me. "You're hiding more than one thing from us."

I forced a chuckle. "Ah... T-t-t-" I broke off, trying to gather myself to control my tongue. "T-they're gone."

They stared at me. "...Gone?" Korhel asked incrediously. "Have you whipped your stable boy yet or is that going to happen... at some point?"

I gritted my teeth. "I-i-i-it's no-ot his f-f-fault." They needed to take a step back, maybe three. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think enough to- to-

"Then I suppose the horse fairies whisked them all away."

I glared at Naki and broke free of them, shoving them aside. I hurried to a door, not of the Armory, but a door all the same and flung it open. I glowered at the maid and footman who flew apart suddenly. "G-get out," I growled and pointed Naki in Korhel in. I had control again, focus regathered. "I'm so glad you two could hold your tongues while my back was turned," I snarled, finished with trying to be diplomatic. I glared at Eira as she followed them in, smirking at me again.

I slammed the door shut and frowned at them in the dimness, the only light sneaking in from the torch flickering outside.

Korhel was looking around, eyebrow raised. "Your Armory... is a broom closet?"

Naki smothered a chuckle, turning to glare at him.

I stared at them, temper steadying a bit. "The orc isn't dead," I said flatly, trying to keep my face as emotionless as possible. I should have been more concerned with plowing on ahead.

They jumped in:
"But the note-"

"You said-"

I held up a weary hand. "My guards did finish off... something earlier this evening, but it was not what ruined our dinner." I rushed on before they could interject, "I did not tell you when I found out. I offer no explanation. This beast has taken to..." I pressed two fingers against my temple, taking a deep breath. "Disintegrating people."

They all looked at me in disbelief.

"The dust..." Eira began and made a face. "Horse dust."

I nodded. "That's what happened to your horses."

There was a blessed moment of silence.

Which then stretched on.

And on.

I cleared my throat nervously.

And the flood came.

"You mean to say-"

"-a disintegrating monster-"

"-ready to poof my men away-"

"-didn't inform me?"

This time I was ready. I glanced from Naki to Korhel, waiting for them to blow themselves out. "I thought he was dead," I pointed out calmly. "I came to understand the full extent of this in my chambers when you two were bickering outside. We would have already been planning if it wasn't for the pointless insults and threats!"

Chaos broke out except this time I was one of the ones yelling.

Eira
I was sauntering back to my room, humming some tune I must've heard.

"Let me go!"

I started at Naki's voice and turned down a hall, running.

"Let her go! I'm going to kill the bitch this time."

I stopped. Oh.

I listened to the last bit of the argument, making my way to the fight. I stared at the three monarchs in a cluster for a long moment.

These are the people ruling our countries...

No wonder we're at war.

I dragged Naki away. "If you want to kick his ass, don't get Balik trapped in the middle." I gave the gasping king a dull stare. What was he really worth anyway? "Is this about the horses?" I asked softly, glancing at all of them.

Naki's brow wrinkled. "The horses?"

Guess not.

She broke from my grasp to look at Balik, and I let her.

"Ours too?" Korhel growled, and Balik spread his hands out slowly.

"Yeah," I said, evening the playing field, grinning at them. This should be fun.

"What's wrong with our horses?" Naki demanded, taking a threatening step closer.

"Keep in mind, I didn't know about this until after you guys came."

"Great!" Korhel cried, "You're hiding more than one thing from us."

Poor King Balik paled. "Ah... T-t-t-t-they're gone."

I almost pitied the stuttering fool.

"...Gone?" Korhel asked incrediously. "Have you whipped your stable boy yet or is that going to happen... at some point?"

"I-i-i-it's no-ot his f-f-fault."

"Then I suppose the horse fairies whisked them all away."

His head jerked around to Naki, a temper snapping in his eyes. Who knew our peaceful peace talker could look so angry. He shoved my them suddenly and yanked a door open. "G-get out," he growled to those inside and two blushing servants exited. He pointed Naki in Korhel in. "I'm so glad you two could hold your tongues while my back was turned."

I followed Naki, blinking at the hot insult

I squinted into the dark, a bad feeling overcoming my amusement.

Korhel was looking around, eyebrow raised. "Your Armory... is a broom closet?"

Naki smothered a chuckle, turning to glare at him.

"The orc isn't dead."

I frowned, suddenly realizing I had missed much more than I had originally thought.

"But the note-"

"You said-"

"My guards did finish off... something earlier this evening, but it was not what ruined our dinner. I did not tell you when I found out. I offer no explanation. This beast has taken to... Disintegrating people."

I blinked at him. What a yarn-

An image of the empty stables flashed in my mind's eye.

"The dust..." I murmured and grimaced when I realized exactly what I had gotten on my boots. "Horse dust."

"That's what happened to your horses."

An entire stable of horses. Gone.

How much power did that take?

Balik cleared his throat nervously, and Naki and Korhel began.

"You mean to say-"

"-a disintegrating monster-"

"-ready to poof my men away-"

"-didn't inform me?"

"I thought he was dead. I came to understand the full extent of this in my chambers when you two were bickering outside. We would have already been planning if it wasn't for the pointless insults and threats!"

All three of them were suddenly at each other's throats, screaming at each other.

And I was the one that needed to play nice. I rolled my eyes and banged my staff against the wall.

When that did nothing, I pushed Naki away because I knew I could get away with it and took her place, brandishing my staff at the two kings who had yet to stop screaming their damned heads off.

"Shut up!" I shouted above them and gave them both a glare. "So help me, I will conk both of you upside the head!" I gave them a blood thirsty grin. "And I think I might enjoy it."

It was silent.

"Now," I murmured, "Let's try to be civilized, and know that I'm only talking of you guys. I'll use this if I have to." I shook my staff at all three of them and shook my head.

Test

methrirr123

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Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:22 am

methrirr123 says... · Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:22 am

Glitch
He was making his rounds over the city, unseen, undetected, when he noticed that the royal cousins were fighting again. Maybe there will be war. he thought, before getting an amazing idea. He swooped down, undetected, just as one of the Wolves were making some comment about being civilized. The hypocrite; she said so while menacingly brandishing a quarterstaff, ready to take off some heads. It was petty, but it had to get worse if he was going to make war. They knew he existed. There was no way around it. So, he cursed them. All of them, a bitter curse of hatred, a Chaos curse. This curse would have them bickering, and taking offense at everything said by another person cursed. It was a curse, of course, of Glitch's own design. It would only get worse, if it couldn't be removed. And the longer it was in effect, the harder it would be to shake. In a week, they would be hearing voices. Maybe Anaki would think that Eira had called her a bitch, or maybe that Berrik had said some other insult. It mattered not. What mattered was that they be as delayed as possible. He was surprised that they had offered up no threat as of yet. As he wove his chaos, locking the final spell in place, he saw, or rather felt the boy Quick nearby, skulking around being bored. He no doubt awaited his call. I'm coming for you, my new apprentice, Glitch sent, and Quick heard him. He could tell by the sudden spike in the boys energy. Finaly, the spell was cast. They began to "negotiate" for a while more. But they would be at eachothers throats, literally, in a matter of days, maybe hours even. He had to focus on getting more energy. This time he went for the guards. Poke. Poke. Who was going to guard the gates to the castle? Poke. Who was guarding the Throne room? Poke, Poke, Poke, Poke, Poke, Poke, Poke. Who was going to cook dinner? pokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepokepoke.
Where did the guards patrolling the walls go? Dust on the wind, now. It was only about a thirtieth of the total staff at the disposal of the humans, but still. One thirtieth in one day is pretty devestating. He took another skull of power, and ran it back to the cave, stowing it away with the other. Then he went, and brought the boy Quick to his cave. Quick staggered under the sudden knowledge that he was somewhere else.

"Wha--"

"Don't worry too much, boy, it'll break your concentration." said Glitch. Humans are stupid. "I'll quick teach you basic magic, and then I'll teach you your first technique."

"What will that be?" He asked anxiously, almost enthusiastically.

"I don't know." Glitch grinned. "What indeed?"

The boy thought for a moment, before saying slowly, "Teach me how to blow things up, like at dinner..."

"Oh, that? Easy." said glitch, blowing a nearby boulder to shards of stone shrapnel. The boy ducked, but Glitch was faste enough to put a stop spell around them both. As Quick looked, a shard of stone hovered an inch from his face. He marveled at the stone, and paled. "Now, boy. Close your eyes. Magic is like wind, the breeze that you must feel with your mind before you can begin to guide and bend it. Do you see it? Do you feel it?" said Glitch, softly, and seriously. No... no way. He really is quick. He can already see it.

"I... I think I see it!"

"Good! Great!" said Glitch. "Now, push it with your hands. Wrap it around the stone. Use it to control the stone." This boy is a natural... I dare not teach him everything.

Before his eyes, the stone began to float through the air. "this... This is easy. I feel the winds, they are clear to me. I don't know how I didn't see it..."

"Nobody really told you to look, boy!" said Glitch, as the boy made a gesture with his hand, which flung the stone at a nearby tree. It bounced away, cracking on the ground. "Well, boy, I'm almost afraid to teach you how to blow things up, seeing as how you're already better than I was when I began. And I thought I was a natural. If you're good at anything, it's magic. It is definitely your calling. But magic takes time to ripen. Without it..." Glitch shuddered. He remembered his brother, who could learn things in seconds. "It will turn you to nil but an animated vessel of power, and it will rip you appart. So don't be too keen on learning too fast."

"Didn't you say to wait untill tomorrow?" asked Quick suddenly. His confidence was clearly growing.

"Shut up, boy. I grew impatient myself. I have... plans, boy, that require me to be always occupied. Now, blowing things up. You can practice on the chickens, or perhaps in the fields where they grow their crops. In fact, if you practice, do it there. That's an order." said Glitch sternly. The boys smirk quickly turned almost frightened. "If you don't, I will know. I can teach you to blow craters in the ground. Just focus as much of the Winds to one point as you can. Store within it as much energy as you can. As you get better, this becomes a fast process, but generally the longer you take in doing this, the bigger the explosion. try it on... That tree ALL the way over there. Safe distance." said Glitch.

Quick blew a reasonable hole in the tree, and it fell over. With a mask of pride on his face, he turned to do it again, but Glitch stopped him. "You're at the boiling point, boy, don't push it. Your body isn't tempered in the ways of the winds, yet, and the power may destroy you. Or worse..."

"Worse?"

"Don't talk to me about it. In fact, go back to the city and... sleep or whatever you humans do at night." and with a wave of his hand, Quick stood back in the square. It had better have been empty thought Glitch. With that, he took a nice sleep himself, storing power for the portals.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

AlmondEyes

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Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:04 am

AlmondEyes says... · Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:04 am

Luna

"You have no idea," he said and shook his head.

I followed him out to the courtyard while he filled me in.Hunter sure did have a lot to tell. Eh. Can't really say i'm surprised about anything. Orcs would do something like this. I just didn't know they were actually smart enough to do it. Quick came into sight as we stepped outside, and took off running. I looked at Hunter. He looked like he wanted to go after him, but something must be holding him back.

"You want me to catch him for you?" I asked.

He sighed. "No, I'll yell at him later. For now I just have to.."

He looked up at the now black sky, and the clouds dispersed, returning to its normal dark blue color. He looks at me with a smile. "Before I forget it, what were you doing in my garden?"

Whoops. Are you fucking kidding me? It's his garden!? I looked around, trying to stall for time, then started heading in the opposite direction, feigning a yawn. "Wow, i'm really tired all of a sudden. God night!"

I shot off back inside and knew there was no way in hell he would be able to catch me. I was too fast for him. A commotion caught my attention as I slowed down. Like someone was having a shouting match. When I realized it was the royals bickering, I shook my head. And these are the royals. No wonder we're at war. I headed over and saw heard Eira as I rounded a corner. The royals got loud again and she yelled. "Shut up! So help me, I will conk both of you upside the head! And I might enjoy it."

Like hell. I quickened my pace as she continued. Everything went quiet. I slowed as I neared where they were and waited to see what she'd say.

"Now," she began. "Let's try to be civilized, and know that I'm only talking of you guys. I'll use this if I have to."

I stepped into view and leaned against the door frame, crossing my arms over my chest. "Not my king, you're not."

Eira turned to look at me. I looked at her. She just looked over me curiously, as if contemplating. She didn't look angry, or annoyed. Just....thoughtful. I'd take her out in heartbeat I had to. She may be a war chief, but I've mastered more things than most people in this place knew of. My nostrils flared in anticipation, and she caught it. I hope my eyes weren't glowing. I still hadn't gotten a chance to shift and it was making me a little antsy. She was calmer than most people would give her credit for. Without breaking eye contact, her head turned slightly towards the Queen. "Come on, Naki, Let's go."

She looked like she wanted to argue, but her eyes came into my line, and my gaze shifted from Eira to her. I wasn't in the mood for this. These three bickering ruined my light mood. I looked her dead in the eye and didn't blink. her eyes shifted to Eira, then to Balik with a glare and grimaced. "This isn't over."

She gave King Neko the same look as she walked by. I stepped out of her way as she passed. She looked at me again.

I nodded slightly. "Good night, Queen Anaki."

With her face neutral, she nodded back. Eira gave me a quick glance but said nothing, and they were gone. I looked at my king. "Ready to go?"

"I suppose so." he looked at Balik before turning and heading out.

We walked back to his room in silence. I saw him inside and looked over his room before heading to my own room and flopping down in bed with a smile. The Queen wasn't fooling me with that neutral look. I hadn't missed the slight smile on her face as she'd shown me her back. I stretched out on my back with a purr and waited for sleep to come.

"What is dead my never die, but rises again, larger and stronger..."

*Ride like Lightening, crash like Thunder*

"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies..."

megsug

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Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:09 pm

megsug says... · Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:09 pm

Balik
I rested my head in the crook of my arms, gritty eyes heavy with exhaustion. I let them drift close which was when my mind jumped to life once more.

It jumped to that horrific scene with my cousins, pointing out every wrong. Replaying my stuttering. Over.

And over.

And over.

My weakness, my terror. Bared for all to see.

I forced my mind from that, and it leapt to my conduct in the broomcloset. If only I could say what came over me, that hasn't left, this heavy anger. If not for you, that voice taunted, This beast could be hanging from your gallows now.

I moaned. Why couldn't I have just kept my mouth shut?

Eira had to break us up for God's sake!

I shoved my mind from that as well.

I jumped up suddenly, paced wildly for a few moments, and grabbed at a rough cloak, more fit for a shepherd. That in hand, I stood, trembling at the door, hand closing and releasing the knob spasmodically.

Slowly, I turned away, chest heaving, and put the cloak back on its peg. I returned to my chair.

For the sixth time that night.

I had gone from my chambers with all every intent on leaving, stopped in my study. I had been going on this endless loop since.

I wondered how many times it would take before I finally broke it and fled.

Knowing me, I never would.

I sighed and picked up a yellowing scroll again, reading it once more. I had replaced my etiquette books with any literature on magic and was slowly scouring them for any spells, curses, or charms that would turn a person to dust.

But...

I glanced around at my study. I could barely see the floor.

Magic was much more popular that etiquette. I had barely made my way through any of the literature through my bouts of self-hatred, half-hearted escape attempts and cat naps.

I shook my head and threw this scroll on a growing pile of useless text. It seemed both of my cousins were in the clear. Neither of their cultures used this kind of magic, and no, I wasn't ashamed in doubting them.

I picked up a thick tome, grimacing at the weight, and sighed heavily. My eyes stung, open for too long. I rested my head in my arms again, starting when someone knocked at the door.

I ignored it.

They knocked again. Again. Again.

"Yer Highness, I unnerstand youse not wantin' to be disturbed, but this be impertent."

I stood. That voice was friendly. It was my... my... Hell, it was one of my people. "Come in," I murmured, running a hand through my disheveled hair.

My butler, I realized when he tried to open the door. He had to squeeze through the opening my books allowed. "Ah... The cook's gone and disappeared."

I blinked.

"Lemme through!"

I recognized that voice right away. That was the head of maids. She had a complaint every other day. I could see her head sticking into the room.

"Ten maids is gone from their beds!"

I stared and slowly sat down before my knees gave way at a familiar clanging. "Your Highness!" I looked up dazedly as a guard with a sword at his side shoved his way in. "The men on duty have all vanished."

Three pairs of eyes watched me, waiting.

I rested my head in my hands and mumbled, "How many?"

The three conferred together. "Er... It looks to be about twenty-five, over all."

I wanted to weep. Twenty-five lives. Poof. Gone.

Weeping wasn't kingly, was it? I straightened slowly, feeling old, and nodded. "Thank you all." I stood and gave them a smile that was significantly less bright than normal. "Go... Ah..." I sighed heavily. "Check with the Atrians and Nekoites. Don't bother the monarchs. That is their people's job. I want a full body count in the next hour. Dismissed."

They closed the door, and I looked out the window to see the sun break from the horizon.

I wandered out of my study, out of my castle, and walked blindly, thinking. How was I to fight against an unknown opponent? How could I possibly defend against an invisible force?

I didn't pass many in the early morning, not that I truly saw those I did pass.

I started at an explosion and looked around wildly.

In the castle- No. Walls breached- No.

I turned in a circle before running toward the gates.

Ugly images flashed before my mind. Collapsed buildings, mangled corpses.

Dust.

A town of dust.

At the gates I saw a figure dashing towards me. I squinted and frowned. I caught them as they tried to dodge me and shook him crazily without truly seeing who he was. "What did you do?" My vision cleared slowly and I stared down at Quick. I let go of him in disgust at his opening and closing mouth, making him stumble back. "Nevermind," I spat and ran on.

There was smoke. I followed the signal, my heart clenching as I realized what was burning.

Food. I stopped at the edge of the fields and stared at blackened stalks, an entire quarter of a field.

Gone.

And I couldn't be grateful for no lives lost.

I could only think that if it had been in town... there would have been less mouths to feed.

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methrirr123

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Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:43 pm

methrirr123 says... · Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:43 pm

Glitch
He watch from above as the king broke. If Glitch kept this up, he would have little to no army. Alone, he could starve the humans to death. And that Quick... He had already learned how to channel fire into his explosive spells. Nothing, of course was going as according to plan. But this was working. The humans couldn't handle it. This city was as good as taken. All he had to do was get the army here. For that he needed ten more power vessels. Human skulls can hold power frightfully well. Each skull could be fuled by twenty human souls. That's two hundred dead people. The standing military of Genor was over ten thousand. It would be bigger if not for the lack of food going around. He made a mental note to teach quick how to light things on fire. He could practice on houses. Seeing as he had no problem practicing on the food supply, he could probably kill if he had to. Then Glitch thought of something funny. If Hunter is such a powerful plant wizard, he thought. Why don't the crops grow? At this he laughed. What's the matter Hunter? Not hungry enough? When this city was taken, Glitch reminded himself, it had to support the Orc troops. They didn't eat to many vegetables anyway. Besides, they had a fine amount of hogs to transport with them, which they could do through the portals once the battle was one. But he was planning too far ahead. Right now, he had to kill more people. He had two skulls, and he needed twelve. He took to the ground. He noticed the king. Kill him? he thought. No. He would kill everyone around him. As he raced back up to his room, he passed his butler. Glitch killed him, so that the king was showered in dust. His fear was delicious. He stopped for a second and staggered, bracing himself against the wall. Glitch began to laugh gleefully. It was then that he realized that he forgot to make himself unheard. It echoed down the halls. Balik fled, screaming despite himself. He was no coward in doing so. Glitch surely would have. He decided to play with the king as he ran. "You will lose, king Balik!" said Glitch. And then he got a fantastic, wonderful idea. "My master may be slain, but we twelve are more powerful then he! His death has only made us angry! Very, VERY ANGRY!" he said, adding a daunting volume to his voice. A wave of guards met the king as he sped down the steps. With a flick of the wrist, Glitch turned them to dust. "GENOR WILL BURN, AND THE HUMAN RACE WITH IT!" Glitch cried. That should scare him sufficiently. Now, back to buisness. Balik, however, strode into the middle of the hallway, eyes ablaze with rage.

"COME OUT THE TWELVE OF YOU!" he bellowed, a ceremonial looking blade his hand, and a torch in the other. Seems he's found his spine. After Glitch didn't answer, the king bellowed again. "Cowards! You will not win! I will not allow you to win here! GENOR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO WIN, DAMN YOU!" he said. Truly an inspiring display of courage. Pitty.

"We shall see..." Glitch hissed. And as a maid hurried down the hall, Glitch turned her to dust before him, taking her skull and teleporting back to the cave to fill the Vessel. Not long now...

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

Alvarin

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Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:44 pm

Alvarin says... · Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:44 pm

Quick
I went back to my room.. Or well, it wasn't really my room, it was Hunter's, but since he was barely ever there it didn't really matter. I flopped down in a chair and looked around. Flowers, maps, scrolls, boxes filled with god knows what and different ingredients for spells. It was more like a storage than a bedroom. The flower I had been experimenting on earlier had grown huge, every pedal a different color. I had done everything I could think of with it, and the result wasn't very pretty.

I got up and paced around the room. I was bored, but exited at the same time. That Orc was going to teach me some proper magic, but he would want something in return, wouldn't he? I shook my head. What did it matter if the three countries fought? My tribe would remain in the mountains, untouched by their war.

"I'm coming for you, my new apprentice."

I nearly tripped over my own feet. I looked around wildly. Of course, it was only me in the room. I hated how he could just march into my head as he wanted. Seriously, what if I..

Suddenly I was in a cave. "Wha--"

"Don't worry too much, boy, it'll break your concentration," said the orc. "I'll quick teach you basic magic, and then I'll teach you your first technique."

"What will that be?" All my doubts disappeared for a moment. I couldn't wait. But what did he mean by basic magic? I already knew basic music.

"I don't know." He grinned. "What indeed?"

He was asking me? I had no idea what I wanted to learn. Or well, something powerful, but what? I looked around, hoping that something might remind me of some spell. Then I remembered what had happened during the dinner. "Teach me how to blow things up, like at dinner."

"Oh, that? Easy," he said and blew up a nearby boulder. I ducked instinctively, but when I looked up I saw a shard of stone hovering an inch from my face. That could have killed me. "Now, boy. Close your eyes. Magic is like wind, the breeze that you must feel with your mind before you can begin to guide and bend it. Do you see it? Do you feel it?"

Feeling the magic? I remembered how Hunter had taught me to feel nutrients in the air and pull them down into the earth. The magic was what I used to pull the nutrients with, wasn't it? Like tiny strings of power flowing through everything. "I... I think I see it!"

"Good! Great! Now, push it with your hands. Wrap it around the stone. Use it to control the stone."

I did as I was told, wrapping it around the stone and lifting it up. It barely took any power at all. "This... This is easy. I feel the winds, they are clear to me. I don't know how I didn't see it."

"Nobody really told you to look, boy!" I was barely listening. With a move of my hand I tossed the stone at a nearby tree and watched the result with a smile. "Well, boy, I'm almost afraid to teach you how to blow things up, seeing as how you're already better than I was when I began. And I thought I was a natural. If you're good at anything, it's magic. It is definitely your calling. But magic takes time to ripen. Without it..." I looked up at the orc and saw him shudder. I had never heard of any side effects of using magic. Except for tiredness, that was. "It will turn you to nil but an animated vessel of power, and it will rip you apart. So don't be too keen on learning too fast." I scowled. Why this constant wait? I hated it. I wanted to learn more, now.

"Didn't you say to wait untill tomorrow?"

"Shut up, boy. I have... plans, boy, that require me to be always occupied. Now, blowing things up. You can practice on the chickens, or perhaps in the fields where they grow their crops. In fact, if you practice, do it there. That's an order." What the..? Why did I have to ruin the farmers' work? I swallowed. That was probably what he wanted in return, but at least it wouldn't effect my tribe. "If you don't, I will know. I can teach you to blow craters in the ground. Just focus as much of the Winds to one point as you can. Store within it as much energy as you can. As you get better, this becomes a fast process, but generally the longer you take in doing this, the bigger the explosion. Try it on... That tree ALL the way over there. Safe distance."

I sensed the threads of power going through the tree, and pushed even more of them in there. When I thought it was enough I let go, and the result was.. Exiting, to say the least. As I prepared to do it again, the orc held out a hand to stop me. "You're at the boiling point, boy, don't push it. Your body isn't tempered in the ways of the winds, yet, and the power may destroy you. Or worse..."

"Worse?"

"Don't talk to me about it. In fact, go back to the city and... sleep or whatever you humans do at night."

Suddenly I was back in the courtyard. As I turned towards the castle, I saw a maid, staring at me with her mouth open. Crap. Oh well, no one would believe her anyway.

I passed her without a second glance, and walked back to Hunter's room. My room. I wanted to practice, but the orc had told me that it would be dangerous. I just couldn't help it. I picked up a small stone, used to hold down the corner of a map, and placed it on the floor. I almost laughed as it exploded into minute pieces of shrapnel. I was going to have so much fun with this.

A little stone wasn't enough. I wanted to make bigger explosions, and I wanted them to contain fire, lightning, wind. Everything.

It didn't take me long to find a field, there were quite a few of them surrounding the city. I pushed as many threads of power as I could down into the ground beneath the field, and then I shaped some of them into thin burning flames. I backed away, until I thought I was at a safe distance, the effect was devastating. A dog barked, not far from where I was, so I ran back towards the castle.

When I reached the courtyard again I ran straight into the king. I tried to swerve around him, but to my surprise he managed to catch me, and then he shook me until my head was spinning.

"What did you do?!" he shouted. No.. No, he couldn't have known that it was me, no one had seen me. Before I could even think of a lie he let go of me. "Nevermind," he spat before running towards the field.

I ran back to my room, and went to bed. Had I really just blown up a field?

Hunter
"COME OUT THE TWELVE OF YOU! Cowards! You will not win! I will not allow you to win here! GENOR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO WIN, DAMN YOU!"

I heard the King shout from further down the hall. I didn't have time to limp over there, so I turned into my canine form and ran as fast as I could, barking just to let him know I was on my way.

When I arrived the place was filled with dust, and the King was covered by it. He stared at me as I approached, not even bothering to look surprised when I turned back to my human form. He looked.. Deflated.

"I was just on my way to tell you that the orc has started killing your servants and soldiers, but you obviously know about that already." The King just stared at me, his sword still in his hand. With a wave of my hand I blew the dust of him and the floor, and out through a broken window. "I was searching for a way to locate him with magic, but I don't think I can. On the other hand, if I could find a recent scent track, I could follow it." The King didn't really look like he was listening, so I stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "Balik." It didn't feel right to use his first name, but at least his head snapped up and he looked me in the eye. "We need to get the armies, and especially the magicians, of Atra and Neko here, or we won't last much longer. Their archives could probably be useful too. I have looked through most of our books, but there is nothing about orcs or their magic, and I really need to know what we're dealing with in order to put up defensive spells."

I heard quick steps coming towards us. Probably the other king and queen. The King nodded and seemed to gather himself. "Yes, you're right. We're not the only ones fighting."

"What the hell is goin.."

I cut the queen of. "We need your armies."

They stared, unbelieving. "Huh?"

"You need to send your armies, wizards and archives here, or we're all screwed," I said bluntly. "The orc is killing of our soldiers and servant, and blowing up our fields. It's just a question of time before he goes after one of you."

Balik finally straightened up, so I let go of his shoulder. "There's twelve of them, not just one."

“Are you looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis”
― Thomas Harris

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Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:13 am

megsug says... · Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:13 am

Balik
I walked back slowly. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I looked around nervously.

If there was anyone around me, I would swear that there was...

Magic.

I hunched my shoulders and began to walk faster until I was flying to my castle, up the stairs, down the hallway. Don't look at the butler. No eye contact. No-

Dust.

Oh my god.

Look around for the butler. What was his name again? Dust. Dust. He's not here. Dust. Dust. Dust.

I stagger away, pressing a hand against the wall.

Gone. Just go-

Is that... Laughter, in the hall. The butler's? It continues.

I swear it's getting closer.

God! I'm breathing in butler dust.

I cried out, continued to flee.

"You will lose, king Balik! My master may be slain, but we twelve are more powerful then he! His death has only made us angry! Very, VERY ANGRY!" the disembodied voice yelled.

Guards. Thank go- No!

My mind claws, jumping from one random thought to the other, ordering my mouth to move, to scream, but it won't. I'm panicked, too panicked.

All I can do is run, run, run. I'm almost at them. I'm going to run into them.

Gone! Poof. A wall of dust.

The voice follows me, "GENOR WILL BURN, AND THE HUMAN RACE WITH IT!"

I had to stop, have to stop. Can't breathe. Dust. Oh my god, I'm breathing in their dust.

Suddenly the meaning of the being's words sunk through the panic.

No. Hell no. Fuck no.

This was my country. These were my people. What did this invisible bastard think he was screaming? Who the hell did he think he was screaming at?

I looked around wildly. I was going to do more than kill him, I would destroy, disintegrate him.

I wrenched a sword off the wall, ignoring the fact that it had sat there for years, unsharpened, uncared for. I charged back up the hall, bellowing the entire time, "COME OUT THE TWELVE OF YOU!" I snatched a torch with the other hand, not stopping. "Cowards! You will not win! I will not allow you to win here! GENOR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO WIN, DAMN YOU!" I stopped in the stairwell and brandished my sword.

I knew the magic was gone. The the back of my neck stopped tingling, but I continued to stand there, a really heavy sword and a torch.

I turned at the rough padding of paws and stared blankly at Hunter a moment later.

I looked down at myself. Covered in dust.

Lives.

He was talking. His voice was leagues away.

My hands started to shake.

A hand on my shoulder.

"Balik."

I looked up suddenly, meeting Hunter's eyes. Hunter was talking.

"We need to get the armies, and especially the magicians, of Atra and Neko here, or we won't last much longer. Their archives could probably be useful too. I have looked through most of our books."

He'd looked in the books. Why didn't he tell me that before? I had spent all night looking in those books.

"But there is nothing about orcs or their magic, and I really need to know what we're dealing with in order to put up defensive spells."

Magicians. Armies. Orcs.

The words whirled around in my brain. I looked down at my hands again. No more dust.

Dust gone. Lives gone. Voice gone.

Would people believe there had really been a voice? A disembodied voice threatening the fall of Genor.

Was I crazy?

More people.

"What the hell is goin..."

Hunter's talking again, "We need your armies."

And suddenly I'm really there. I'm not looking through a tunnel. I'm meeting Naki's and Korhel's confused gazes. I'm understanding the words Hunter was saying.

"You need to send your armies, wizards and archives here, or we're all screwed. The orc is killing of our soldiers and servant, and blowing up our fields. It's just a question of time before he goes after one of you."

They were still staring, and I was staring at them, but I had no time. Suddenly they were talking to people, those were running away.

I turned away.

"Balik?" Naki called softly.

I turned to face her, still walking. "We're going to have a real talk this time." I gave her a grim smirk. "I'm calling it a war council." I continued to walk fast, Korel and Naki just behind. I threw open a door and revealed a dark room with a huge oval table in it with chairs around the entire thing. I looked down to see I still had the torch and sword in my hands. I put the torch in a sconce and sat down at the head of the table, placing the sword on the table with a bang.

We needed a plan. What were we going to do with the troops and magicians once they came?

"Those bastards think they're going to take my fucking country. What are we going to do about it?"

*EDITED*

Spoiler

a bit. Forgive me. I wrote this late last night.

Last edited by megsug on Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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methrirr123

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Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:04 am

methrirr123 says... · Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:04 am

Rovaalian
It was morning when Rovaalian woke. Early morning. Dawn. Aelicine had him fetch water, which wasn't to grueling. They had fallen asleep not far from a thin stream. From his vagabond travels, he knew that this stream would lead right past Genor. He gathered up two waterskins full of the water, and knelt to take a drink himself. After that, the day was very uneventful. Everytime they stopped, Aelicine would make Rovaalian do something. Climb a tree with no arms. Climb a tree using only your arms. Punch a tree. By the time the signs for Genor were in sight, Rovaalian almost felt obligated to apologise to the trees, and his fists bled from scrapes. He was ok with the pain, no problems there. But still, the whole purpose of stopping should have been to rest. Shouldn't it? Some field trip. Finally, after hours of little talk, and alot of excersises, Genor's gates came into view. Two couriers ran past them as they neared the gates. Where were their horses? Before he could care enough to ask, they were already past he and Aelicine.

"We are here." Said Aelicine. "Getting in should be a bit tricky... Oh, wait. The gates are open." She said, confusion lacing her voice as she spoke. They were, the portcullis raised. No guards stood there. In their place were small piles of what looked like flour, a white dust that blew away on the light wind. They literally walked right in on their horses.

The first thing Rovaalian noticed was the monumental amount of dust everywhere. It was as though someone had been pooring it everywhere. It was choking him as he breathed. Three people were arguing in a square, towards whom Aelicine bid they approach. Respect time, thought Rovaalian.

Glitch
He was all powerful. Nothing could stop him, surely. He had enough for a portal already. He could do anything at this point. He should just kill the humans one by one. He could feel the bloodlust surging through the gauntlet; Soulsucker was effecting him. He noticed two messengers racing away from the city. Oh, no you don't! He made to teleport, but as soon as he did, an agony in his arm stopped him. He doubled over, and realized that the web of spells had collapsed. He had burst his own limit for power. His skin sizzled around the gauntlet, as his veins turned black. He could no longer feel it. He tried with no avail to heal it. He couldn't even fly anymore. He couldn't turn invisible. He pointed expectantly at a tree. To his relief, and amazement, it exploded with such ferocity that there was no way that it went unnoticed. I can use magic, still, as long as it's for destruction. But this was bad. Very, Very bad. He couldn't even shield himself now. He couldn't fly. He couldn't turn invisible. He had no way of contacting his master or... wait... the Boy! He could use Quick to run his errands. There was still the task of getting to him. He couldn't send any messenger, or telepathy. In order to do that, he would have to destroy the gauntlet... and his arm with it. Aga'Rauko, he knew, was going to be most displeased with this news. Wait. No he won't. Thought Glitch. I can't even contact him. Oh, well. If he wants to talk, he'll call.

Last edited by methrirr123 on Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

Shady

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Points 3330

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Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:46 am

Shady says... · Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:46 am

Anaki Shadowflame (Queen of Atra)

Eira looked between us disapprovingly. "This is about the horses?"

I frowned. "The horses?"

"Ours too?" Korhel asked.

"Yeah.”

Balik glared at Eira. I didn’t care if Balik was once my favourite cousin—he was quickly going higher and higher on my shit list.

"What's wrong with our horses?" I took a step towards him.
"Keep in mind," he stammered. "I didn't know about this until after you guys came."

"Great!" Korhel said sarcastically. "You're hiding more than one thing from us."

"Ah... T-t-t-" Balik chuckled nervously. "T-they're gone."

I stared at him a long moment. Surely I’d heard him wrong.

"...Gone?" Korhel asked incrediously. "Have you whipped your stable boy yet or is that going to happen... at some point?"

"I-i-i-it's no-ot his f-f-fault." He stammered.

"Then I suppose the horse fairies whisked them all away." I said sarcastically.

He glared at me and pushed me, hurring between Korhel and I as he ripped open a door. He glared at the people within. "G-get out.” He turned towards us and gestured us in. I went. "I'm so glad you two could hold your tongues while my back was turned."

He slammed the door shut. I was too startled at his outburst to come up with something witty to say.

"Your Armory... is a broom closet?"

I giggled, but stopped myself. No, I can’t be teaming up with Korhel. I forced my face to sober as I glared at Korhel.

Balik stared at us both. "The orc isn't dead.”

“But the note-"

"You said-" I started.

"My guards did finish off... something earlier this evening, but it was not what ruined our dinner." Balik held up his hands and rushed on quickly. "I did not tell you when I found out. I offer no explanation. This beast has taken to...disintegrating people."

I gaped.

"The dust..." Eira began and made a face. "Horse dust."

Balik nodded. "That's what happened to your horses."

I continued to gape, long after I should’ve exploded.

Balik cleared his throat nervously. Korhel recovered first, but I was doing my best to talk over him.

"You mean to say-"

"-a disintegrating monster-" I started.

"-ready to poof my men away-"

"-didn't inform me?"

"I thought he was dead," Balik said calmly. "I came to understand the full extent of this in my chambers when you two were bickering outside. We would have already been planning if it wasn't for the pointless insults and threats!"

I shouted curses at Balik, at Korhel, directed at Genor, at Neko, and everything and nothing at all. Suddenly there was a loud noise, and I whirled around on Eira. She had her staff raised. She pushed me to the side and stepped forward to address the kings.
I crossed my arms, my throat sore, content to allow her to deal with the idiots.

"Shut up!" She silenced them. "So help me, I will conk both of you upside the head...And I think I might enjoy it."

They were silent.

"Now," She murmured. "Let's try to be civilized, and know that I'm only talking of you guys. I'll use this if I have to."

She brandished her staff, grinning cruelly

"Not my king, you're not." Luna was there.

Eira turned on her and looked at her assessingly. Luna’s nostril’s flared slightly, and Eira raised her eyebrows coolly. "Come on, Naki, Let's go."

"This isn't over."

I followed her, glaring at Luna as we passed. I didn’t understand the ways of these blasted shape-shifters, but I understood her posture. Aggression wasn’t something I was prepared to tolerate. I’d been in a brawl with Korhel that night. I’d be damned if his advisor would get away with anything.

"Good night, Queen Anaki."

I made my face perfectly passive and nodded to her. I turned away from her and continued onwards, smiling slightly, prepared for any attack she might launch. None came.

I hurried to my chambers and slumped into a chair. I was...angry, and tired, and confused...and sore.

"You look like hell."

I realized my eyes were closed, and I opened them. "Thanks."

"You should sleep." Eira said gently.

I rubbed my face. "N-no...no time for sleep. I need to figure out who is behind all these attacks...and I need....I need Halt."

"Halt?"

"The wizard." I quickly shed my clothing and dressed in trousers and a tunic.

"I knew that."

"Right, well...if there's magic going on...I want a magician I trust. I...we should ride. First thing tomorrow. If there's an invisible army on the loose-- and I know there's an army. They're like rats. Where there's one, there's ten...I need to be in my country."

"That sounds--"

Balik's screaming cut her off. My head shot in the air. I jerked the cloak on and grabbed my swords, belting them on. Eira suddenly stopped and sniffed, grabbing handful of my cloak and stopping me.

"Damn it Eira, what are you doing now? Are you sniffing me?"

"Where'd you get this cloak?"

"What are you talking about? I've had it--"

"Rather, where have you been?"

"I-I haven't been anywhere. I woke to that note on my pillow and Korhel beating on my door, and--"

"The note. Who left it?"

"I-I don't know. What's going on Eira?"

"It reeks of that bastard. Take it off."

"Which bastard?" I asked, immediately obeying. I trusted her judgement.

"The invisible one."

"Damn it. You mean he was in my room? While I was sleeping?" I shuddered.

"Yep..."

I figured she didn't intend on leaving me alone anytime soon.

"Let's find Balik." I jerked the door open and quickly started down the hallway, finding Balik and Hunter.

"What the hell is going--?"

"We need your armies." Hunter interrupted me.

"Huh?" I asked, unable to think of something smarter to say.

"You need to send your armies, wizards and archives here, or we're all screwed," He answered. "The orc is killing of our soldiers and servant, and blowing up our fields. It's just a question of time before he goes after one of you."

Balik straighted. "There's twelve of them, not just one."

Balik stared us blankly. We stared at him. Suddenly, he turned away.

"Balik?" I asked.

He turned to look at me, still walking. "We're going to have a real talk this time." He smirked grimly. "I'm calling it a war council."

Balik lead us to an actual planning room, with a long, oval table in it. He sat at the end, slamming his sword on the table with a bang.

"Those bastards think they're going to take my fucking country. What are we going to do about it?" Balik snarled.

I thought quickly. Comparing. Contrasting. My lips were moving before I thought it out. "We go to my country, that's what."

"WHAT? ABSOLUTELY-"

"Hear me out, Balik." I turned to him with a calm authority that actually made him shut up.

I still hadn't sat. I preferred pacing back and forth before the highbacked chairs, and Eira and Hunter stayed out of my way. "Look. The invisible fuckers are here. Not in Atra. My force is in Atra. Malbrar's force is in Neko, which is nearer to Atra than here. My wizards, and my archives, and...well my balls are in Atra. I'm going back, and you're...both..." I choked over the word. "Welcome to come too."

Korhel and Balik gaped.

I lifted a shoulder. "I'm not staying where an invisible fucker is turning horses, and people, and god-knows-what-else into dust."

"Why not Neko, then? Neko's as good as Atra-- further away, has food." Korhel added pointedly.

I couldn't--wouldn't rise to his bait. "No. Atra is better."

"Why?"

I hesistated, spine straight. There might've been a law of the land that forbade the use of Black Magic. There might've been an ancient decree that endangered the throne of any monarch who knowingly permitted the use of Black Magic. I might've thrown the rules to the wind, and engaged magicians to put a barrier around Atra anyway.

My cousins stood, seeing through my silence, my reluctance.

"Naki, don't tell me that you--"

"YOU BITCH!" Korhel whirled around on me. "You cheating bitch! You've got a ward around your city, and you've been letting me try to bring your city down anyway!"

"I-uh- well..." I raised my hands defensively. "In my defense, I did warn you."

"YOU DID NOT!"

"I-I- well, I did say t-that you didn't have a prayer of beating me."

"THAT'S NOT THE SAME, YOU CHEATING BITCH!"

"Now, now, you said y-yourself: All's fair in l-love and war."

"That saying does not protect WITCHCRAFT!" Korhel bellowed.

I blinked at him. Suddenly I was acting like Balik, and Korhel was acting like me.

"Don't you DARE START BLINKING LIKE THAT MORON!" Korhel bellowed. He was standing over me, looming threateningly.

I saw Balik blinked, then opened his mouth to protest. But I cut him off. "I...was...oh, give me a fucking rest. I did what I did, and now Atra's safe for it. Now are you two going with me?

"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus
"From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf
"A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni
[they/he]

megsug

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Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:29 am

megsug says... · Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:29 am

Eira
"Not my king, you're not." Luna was there.

Fuck.

I whirled around and studied her, the other wolf, Luna.

I hadn't really been planning to hit a monarch. I wasn't that violent.

Finally, realizing it was probably better to get Naki out of here anyway, I shrugged carelessly. "Come on, Naki, Let's go."

Naki stared at Luna, me, Balik. "This isn't over."

And we left. I didn't look at Luna as I passed her, couldn't trust myself to. The fact that I had held my composure so far was... incredible.

"Good night, Queen Anaki."

I gritted my teeth at the soft farewell. Keep walking. Keep walking.

We went to her chambers, and she collapsed into a chair.

I stared at her for a long moment. "You look like hell."

She opened her eyes. "Thanks."

"You should sleep," I suggested softly.

"N-no...no time for sleep. I need to figure out who is behind all these attacks...and I need....I need Halt."

I hid a grimace. "Halt?"

"The wizard." She quickly changed.

"I knew that."

"Right, well...if there's magic going on...I want a magician I trust. I...we should ride. First thing tomorrow. If there's an invisible army on the loose-- and I know there's an army. They're like rats. Where there's one, there's ten...I need to be in my country."

I grinned, my blood thrumming through me in excitement."That sounds--"

Balik was shouting. I sniffed the air, snarling suddenly.

I grabbed at the cloak she had just thrown around her shoulders and held it up to my nose, inhaling deeply.

"Damn it Eira, what are you doing now? Are you sniffing me?"

I grimaced. "Where'd you get this cloak?"

"What are you talking about? I've had it--"

"Rather, where have you been?"

"I-I haven't been anywhere. I woke to that note on my pillow and Korhel beating on my door, and--"

"The note. Who left it?" My mind was jumping from one idea to the next, putting pieces of the puzzle together.

She gave me a questioning look. "I-I don't know. What's going on Eira?"

"It reeks of that bastard. Take it off." I resisted the urge to tear it off myself.

"Which bastard?"

I felt myself tense, ready for a fight. "The invisible one."

"Damn it. You mean he was in my room? While I was sleeping?"

A cold settled over me. This little shit was sneaky. "Yep..."

"Let's find Balik."

We found Balik and Hunter in the hall.

"What the hell is going--?"

"We need your armies," Hunter interrupted.

"Huh?" Naki asked.

"You need to send your armies, wizards and archives here, or we're all screwed," He answered. "The orc is killing of our soldiers and servant, and blowing up our fields. It's just a question of time before he goes after one of you."

Balik straighted. "There's twelve of them, not just one."

I stared at him.

Twelve. That was a whole heck of a lot more than one, and there could be even more. We couldn't see them.

"Balik?" Naki asked.

He turned to look at me, still walking. "We're going to have a real talk this time." He smirked grimly, looking more sure of himself than I had ever seen him. "I'm calling it a war council."

Balik lead us to an actual planning room, with a long, oval table in it. He sat at the end, slamming his sword on the table with a bang.

"Those bastards think they're going to take my fucking country. What are we going to do about it?" Balik snarled.

I watched Naki carefully, eyes slits. She was going over something pretty hard over there.

"We go to my country, that's what."

Balik rose up out of his chair a bit. "WHAT? ABSOLUTELY-"

"Hear me out, Balik." Her strange calm seemed to make him quiet.

She paced. I stood in a corner, ready for anything.

"Look. The invisible fuckers are here. Not in Atra. My force is in Atra. Malbrar's force is in Neko, which is nearer to Atra than here. My wizards, and my archives, and...well my balls are in Atra. I'm going back, and you're...both..." I choked over the word. "Welcome to come too."

Damn it

It was a logistical nightmare. Not only would I be protecting her against an invisible coward, but her dear cousins too.

Korhel and Balik gaped.

"I'm not staying where an invisible fucker is turning horses, and people, and god-knows-what-else into dust."

"Why not Neko, then? Neko's as good as Atra-- further away, has food." Korhel added pointedly.

I watched the small struggle as she fought for control. "No. Atra is better."

"Why?"

I closed my eyes, seeing where this was going.

Balik sighed heavily. "Naki, don't tell me that you--"

"YOU BITCH!" Korhel whirled around on her. "You cheating bitch! You've got a ward around your city, and you've been letting me try to bring your city down anyway!"

"I-uh- well... In my defense, I did warn you."

I couldn't help but smile.

"YOU DID NOT!"

"I-I- well, I did say t-that you didn't have a prayer of beating me."

"THAT'S NOT THE SAME, YOU CHEATING BITCH!"

"Now, now, you said y-yourself: All's fair in l-love and war."

"That saying does not protect WITCHCRAFT!" Korhel bellowed.

"Don't you DARE START BLINKING LIKE THAT MORON!" Korhel bellowed.

I began to move forward, snarling as he stood too close to her.

"I...was...oh, give me a fucking rest. I did what I did, and now Atra's safe for it. Now are you two going with me?"

The room seemed to still for a moment. Balik glanced at Korhel who glanced at him.

"I... Um..." Balik played with his sword a bit more, worrying his lip. "It's not only me I'm worried about."

Balik
"Naki, don't tell me that you--"

Chaos. Again.

Was there nothing that could make us get along? Was there no circumstance important enough?

But I was beyond worrying of that, of their stupid arguing.

Atra. Go to Atra. I would be safe for a moment. Because she broke laws, she used black magic, but...

Safe.

No worrying about being poofed to dust. No crop rotations to worry about. Nothing. Just...

"Don't you DARE START BLINKING LIKE THAT MORON!"

I shook my head, stared at the two as they seemed to square off for a moment. I stood ever so slightly, ready to call an end to this craziness.

"I...was...oh, give me a fucking rest. I did what I did, and now Atra's safe for it. Now are you two going with me?"

I glanced at Korhel, waiting to see if he would turn the offer down right off. He seemed to be waiting for my answer.

"I... Um..." I traced the hilt of my sword, trying to buy any time at all. Guards, maids, cooks, families, households. Gone. "It's not only me I'm worried about." I looked at Hunter, unsure if I was doing the right thing.

Korhel was slowly backing away from Naki, sitting down once more.

I looked down at the table, wanting so bad to accept with no questions. I was afraid and leaving seemed like the best option. "Can I ask for an evacuation of my countrymen? I don't want to give them up to whatever has decided it's home should be in my mountains." I looked up quickly. "I'm not abandoning Genor. I'm fighting, but I'll have my people behind me all the way."

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Dawnpath1

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Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:50 am

Dawnpath1 says... · Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:50 am

Aelicine Sehinine

She arrived in Genor with Rovalaan in time to see the Kings and Queen of their civilization squabbling again. "Rovalaan, find a stabble. Do not breathe the dust of the dead, the area here is laced with magic," she stated, covering her face with a cloth mask from her pack. She dismounted the horse, straightening the dress, and walked towards the noises of yelling. The castle may have been big, but the echoing did not seem hindered by it. It did not take me long to find my king arguing with- surprise surprise, Anaki Shadowflame.

"YOU BITCH!" Korhel whirled around on her. "You cheating bitch! You've got a ward around your city, and you've been letting me try to bring your city down anyway!"

"I-uh- well..." She raised her hands defensively. "In my defense, I did warn you."

"YOU DID NOT!"

"I-I- well, I did say t-that you didn't have a prayer of beating me."

"THAT'S NOT THE SAME, YOU CHEATING BITCH!"

"Now, now, you said y-yourself: All's fair in l-love and war."

"That saying does not protect WITCHCRAFT!" Korhel bellowed.

She blinked at him.

"Don't you DARE START BLINKING LIKE THAT MORON!" Korhel bellowed. He was standing over her, looming threateningly.

I saw Balik blinked, then opened his mouth to protest. But I cut him off. "I...was...oh, give me a fucking rest. I did what I did, and now Atra's safe for it. Now are you two going with me?"

My king seemed to be waiting for King Balik to reply first. I frowned, having already know a bit about the wards, and written a report. I decided to wait, though it was never wise to startle royalty. I cleared my throat, "Excuse me, King Korhel, I've arrived. My apprentice should be up shortly." Then I stepped back into the corner and waited.

Last edited by Dawnpath1 on Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

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