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The Islands of Talgaria (Accepting Characters/Started)



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Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:02 pm
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Auxiira says...



Anaith Quatr

- Day One

___I had found a corner whee I had thought Savino couldn't find me, but in the end, he did. Curled up in a nook in the hold, clutching the file with two hands, forcing ever last word of the information into my head until I couldn't think any more. I heard him pace towards me, recognised his footsteps. It had been years since I had learnt them, but I would never forget them. I scrambled to my feet, pressing my back against the rough wood of the hold. You're a grown woman and you're still afraid of him. Isn't it time you grew up? Even though I told myself that, it was impossible. I couldn't forget, so I couldn't get rid of my fear. Unless I lost my memory one day, or if he died, I would always be afraid of him. The shadows concealed his face, the only slivers of light which touched his face were from the few candles littering the hold, and the one I had been using to read. He loomed over me, leaning an arm against the wall so I was trapped.
___"Who am I?" He asked curtly. I knew this game of his, knew how to escaped it unscathed. I didn't think he would draw his dagger on me only a few hours before a mission started, but there were other ways of causing pain that didn't leave any marks at all.
___"Savino, my uncle on my mother's side who lives near the castle. I know where you live, but also that you're a drunkard who is more often than not in the taverns. I have only met you a few times, and the last was... eight years ago. I was 17. I barely remember what you look like, but you remember me. I will visit you from time to time, because you're my only family who lives close now. Of course, that's just a front for giving a report."
___"And who are you?"
___"Anaith Quatr, a 25 year old from the very edge of the city. My father, Zelit, runs a tavern. My mother, Elia died when I was a child. I have two friends... Kanel, and Falice. They're both happily married to men who I hardly ever meet. I'm bored with living there, and I've moved to the center to find work and live a more exciting life." I was tense, waiting for his reaction.
___"Passable." I relaxed very slightly, then tensed as he reached down. The pressure point on my calf was the one that gave the most pain, and he knew it. I whimpered, trying to squirm away from his grasp, though I knew better. "You hesitate too much, and you don't know enough details. It's all in the details. Rectify it." He suddenly let go and left, leaving me nursing my leg.

***

I hurried around the corner, looking out for the door the woman had told me to find. It wasn't as if I didn't know the floorplans of this place by heart by now, but seeming lost at first was authentic. As I rounded the corner, I walked straight into someone and took a few hurried steps back, bowing my head.
___"I'm very sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." I sounded sufficiently apologetic and embarrassed for it to accompany the blush I made creep up my cheeks.
___He looked down at me, frowning slightly. "Evidently." His fingers creeped up to the collar of his shirt as he narrowed his eyes a bit. "I don't remember seeing you before."
___Assuming he was probably important around the castle, I curtsied, putting on an awkward smile that fitted with the newcomer act. "I started working here today, sir. My name is Anaith."
___He didn't drop the frown, observing me for a while as if trying to read something from my face. "I see. Are you lost? The castle can be quite confusing when one's not used to it."
___I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, looking up at him. "I'm not sure... I'm meant to find the storeroom, sir, but I'm not entirely certain of where it is..." I chewed the edge of my lip as I spoke. "The most important is in the details." Savino's voice flashed through my mind, but I hid the shiver.
___"It's over.." He smiled a bit. "In fact, I'm going in the same direction. Would you mind a guide?"
___"That would be very kind of you, sir," I replied with a smile, all the while wondering who he was. "Would it be presumptuous of me to ask your name, sir?"
___"Somewhat," he muttered. "Ezreal Vesperi. I'm the King's..advisor, even though you haven't asked about that yet." He smirked. "Have you worked anywhere before coming to work here?"
___"I worked in an inn on the outskirts of the city, sir." I dredged up the information from my backstory. "But it was drab. I'm sure the castle will be more interesting." Or rather, I'll find more information here.
___He nodded slowly, turning to glance at some man who passed us by before looking back at me. "More interesting.. I imagine you won't be disappointed. Life here is rather... colourful."
___I didn't drop the smile. Becoming acquaintances with the King's advisor wasn't something that I could pass over, and I knew that if I missed the chance, Savino would have a lot to say about it. That was to avoid at all costs. "I imagine that being the King's advisor must be very time consuming. You must meet all sorts of people."
___"It's what I do...if it wasn't time consuming, I'd say it'd mean I'm not very good at it." He played with one of his necklaces. "I do meet all sorts of people. And if by that you only mean humans, then not just people. I'm pretty sure you'll see soon enough what I mean too."
___"I hope so!" I also hope I can learn about your military. That would be a lot more interesting than your mutant elves. Unless they're in the army... "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you worked here?" I hesitated a second, not long enough for him to reply, then gushed, "I'm sorry... My friends always say I ask too many questions... You don't have to reply."
___He was silent for a while. "I've been in and around the castle for most of my life," he said then. "Assuming you're asking about my current position, it's been a few years. Are those friends of yours somewhere around as well?"
___"Oh, no. They prefer the lifeless outskirts and the forest. Though nature's nice, there isn't much adventure." My words grated on my ears. I thought exactly the opposite of what I just said, and would rather live in the trees than surrounded by stone. Animals couldn't hurt you the way humans did.
___"Mm.. well if you wanted a life of adventure, perhaps you should've gone traveling instead of settling down in the castle," he said casually. "Your job seems more suiting for a spy, buzzing around and seeing everything, yet never being seen.. no? What's so adventurous about working in the castle?"
___I counted off my fingers as I spoke, ignoring the twinge of panic at his words. "I'd thought of traveling, but it costs money. The castle pays better than an inn. I may also be able to meet people who have travelled and make friends who are interested in more than just getting married and having children. There are a lot of much more interesting things at the castle. And interest often leads to adventure."
___"Oh, interesting things?" He seemed curious. "Like what?" He smiled a bit apologetically. "I'm afraid my life in here might have made me ignorant of many little interesting things."
___"The pace of life is faster here, so you pay attention a lot more. It makes everything interesting." I smiled back. "But I've only been here for a short while. I'll be able to tell you a lot more of what's interesting after a little more time."
___"I'll be looking forward to hear those things, then." He stopped and pointed at a door. "Here you are, your storeroom is right through there." He didn't seem particularly eager to leave.
___I blinked slightly at him. "Thank you... I won't keep you any longer." The door opened easily as I pushed it, opening to shelves of cloth and belts and brushes, and everything that could be needed to clothe staff and keep a castle working. I turned back to thank him, and wasn't at all surprised to see that he had disappeared. Picking up what I needed, I hurried back to find the room I had been given.

***

- Day Two

___I stepped out of the hovel where Savino had elected residence, my heart in my throat. I could feel it thumping in my fingertips, and when I looked down my fists were shaking. I breathed deeply like Stavina had taught me, shoving back down the fear that he managed to stir up inside me every time. It wasn't allowed. I couldn't give in to it. A few more deep breaths had me moving down the street back to the castle, untrembling. As I approached, I was swept along amongst a group of people, happily chatting to each other and not paying attention to the fact that they had dragged me along.

___As they stopped, they deposited me in front of a temple-like building. The courtyard in front was milling with people. Wondering what was going on, I walked a few steps, then purposefully sprawled to the floor, acting like the clumsy person my brief said I was.
___"Can I help?"

This can be anyone in Codo, seriously, I don't mind who it is.
You read faster than Usaine Bolt sprints xD - Deanie 2014

I wanted all to sparkle and dance in a glorious jubilee. - Cathy, Wuthering Heights





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Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:59 pm
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Ventomology says...



Ferria Noir|Day 2

The festival was well underway, filling the temple vicinity with a cheery hustle and bustle that Ferri wished she could see more often. As she strummed absentmindedly on her lute, singing broken lyrics to one of the children's songs, she searched the crowd for Sio. The smaller girl didn't seem to be anywhere really, and Ferri needed to talk to her friend.

Watching a crowd of people push their way into the heart of the festival, Ferri noticed a comparatively small, black-haired woman- granted, everyone was small to Ferri -crash to the cobblestones. Gripping her lute by the handle, she rushed over to make sure the woman was all right.

"Can I help?" Ferri asked, holding out her free hand. "I mean, you know, may I?"

"Oh, no, no," the woman said, pushing herself off the ground. She stood up, pigeon-toed and smiling openly. "I'm fine, really. Oh, is that a lute? It must be to nice to be able to play it. Would you mind playing something for me?"

It took a moment for Ferri to register the lady's actions. When she did, she broke into a grin. "Oh, sure. Anything in particular?"

"No. Go ahead and play whatever you want."

"Righty then." Ferri strummed a few opening chords, attracting the attention of a few nearby people before belting out the lyrics of a hymn. The ground jumped beneath her feet as she drew in the crowd. People stomped and clapped, sang and danced. It was all so jolly.

When the song closed, and people began hollering for her to pick another one, Ferri looked around for the black-haired woman. She seemed to have vanished. How odd. Well, it wasn't that big a deal. Shrugging it off, Ferri plucked and tuned her lute before starting on a soulful praise ballad.

By the time the crowds dispersed, it was much too late to go looking for Sio. The sky was nearly dark, lighted only by the festival torches, and Sio was probably plotting something somewhere. Figuring that she could always ask about joining the Soldiers tomorrow, Ferri set off for the shop.

At home, much to Ferri's surprise, she found the head smith squinting over a piece of paper, and Sio at the table with him.

"Sio!" Ferri said, rushing forward. She lay her lute on the table and kept talking. "The King-"

"Stop." Sio held up a hand, looking very stern. "I overheard your conversation. And yes, I'm going. But why in the world would you just haphazardly sign up for a field job?"

Scratching her head, Ferri looked away guiltily. "Well, you know, it's hard to say 'no' when the king himself asks you to join the army. Besides, I'm going to be with the blacksmiths, not in the fray."

Sio jumped to her feet. "That's exactly it! You never think these things through, Ferri! Blacksmiths are in the field. They work both the forges and the artillery. Can't you at least ask about these things before you agree to them?" Running her hands through her hair, the smaller girl stormed out the door to go home.

"I'm just going to go to bed," Ferri said, rising slowly from her chair. She had just laid a hand on her lute when the head smith handed her the piece of paper. It was a draft notice; all the apprentices sixteen and older would be joining the Soldiers.

"You would have gone anyway," he said gruffly, "and Siofra is just concerned about you. Don't hold a grudge because she got mad at you."

"You know I don't hold grudges," Ferri laughed, swooping up her lute and leaving for her room.
"I've got dreams like you--no really!--just much less, touchy-feeley.
They mainly happen somewhere warm and sunny
on an island that I own, tanned and rested and alone
surrounded by enormous piles of money." -Flynn Rider, Tangled





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Tue Apr 22, 2014 12:49 am
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AlmondEyes says...



Luna


Spoiler! :
I decided to show you guys a more personal side to Luna and Ragnar.


When we finally made it home, everyone looked like they'd been weighed down by lead, including myself. I told my men to leave everything as is and head home to their families and get some rest They wished me a good night and took their life. Ragnar came back to my room with me where we... Made up. Several times. Laying in his arms with the soft crackling of the fire burning behind us, I played with a lock of his dark chestnut hair as his fingertips skimmed along my skin leisurely, one arm propping his head up.

"Are you enjoying my hair?" I could hear the smile in his voice.

"I most certainly am, as you well know," I answer. "I've always had a weakness for it, if you hadn't notice by now."

"Most definitely. You can't seem to keep your hands off of it." I felt his smirk against my head.

All I did was nod, and we fell into a comfortable lull of silence before he spoke again. "Do you remember when you first came here?"

I laughed. "How could I forget it? I was completely terrified and pissed off at the same time."

I wouldn't let men within a foot from me. Living my entire life with an unloving and abusive father had made me wary of most men. So much so, that the king had to send for female guards instead of male ones to bring me through the gates.

"You wouldn't let any of the male guards touch you. You put up quite a fight when they tried to escort you to the King." he shook his head.

"I told them not to touch me," I shrugged. "They learned their lessons."

Ragnar laughed again. "Do you remember your reaction to me?"

Oh yes. "When I saw you for the first time, I almost started crying in pure rage. You weren't in your human form. You had the meanest look on your face, and when you shifted, you were completely naked."

"And like the untried maiden you were, your face turned completely red." he nodded, recalling the memory. "I had been sent to see what was taking so long. I'd lost a bet with Anton earlier and wasn't in the best of moods, so when I went to check everything out and found the guards flat on their asses, that did nothing to help."

"You walked right up to me, and threw me over your shoulder, with me screaming the entire way," I poked him in the chest.

"I thought you'd deafened me for a moment." he kissed my ear.

"I was so mad." I moved to sit on top of him. "Having a giant man beast walk up to me, and toss me over his shoulder like some cave man didn't sit well with me."

"You certainly let me know," he pulled me closer. "in a very colorfully worded way."

I'd called him every foul name I could think of, and even made up a few new new ones too. I'd also told him what he could do with those hands he'd use to pick me up with. The things I said would have made a sailor blush.

"Do you remember what happened once we'd made it to Anton?" he wrapped his hands around my waist.

"You dropped me on my ass and turned around to tackle you to the ground, then tried to choke you" I smiled fondly at the memory.

"Imagine everyone's surprise when I hit the ground," he chuckled. "No one thought you could be so violent."

"That was there mistake," I waved a hand dismissively.

The King himself had to pull me off to Ragnar, though he was laughing his ass off the entire time. He also had one hell of a time trying to pry me off of Ragnar.

"Anton got a kick out of watching you try to strangle me before lifting a finger to get you away from me." he grumble.

"Imagine his surprise when I pulled him into a choke hold," I raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Ragnar laughed so hard the bed shook. He pulled me down on top of him and kissed my head. I wouldn't let go of him because I was still too pissed off to care she was choking to death, so when they'd finally been able to get me off of him, I spent the night behind bars. They actually had to put shackles on me at one point, though I got out of them.

When morning came, I felt kind of bad for beating up so many people. The King had come to find me after being released, and when I saw the bruise on his neck, I felt so bad I couldn't even look at him. Of course he kept his distance for a while after that until I could get my bearings and not beat anyone up when they touched me.
As time went by, everything got easier to deal with.

I leaned down to kiss Ragnar. "We couldn't stand each other for the longest time."

"Yea," we began to nuzzle. "I was always glaring at you, and you couldn't keep your hateful gaze off of me."

"We butted heads on everything." I murmured against his lips.

But after a while, we decided to call a truce and stop making each other miserable since the wedding was growing closer. After Anton died on our wedding night, we only had each other.

Ragnar rolled on top of me. "Do you remember our first night together."

I nodded, running my hands over his chest and down his stomach. His body had always been like an inferno. He was covered in scars from head to toe, but the spots left unblemished were smooth. Who would think underneath his skin would be muscle that felt like it'd been carved from marble? I certainly had wanted to find out.

We grew so close, it was only natural that I gave myself to him that night so long ago. I remember looking up at his magnificent body like I was now. The only difference was that he had more scars.

"I remember thinking you were the most breath taking creature i'd ever seen with out your clothes on," I smiled up at him warmly. "Kind of like I do right now."

He pulled back on his haunches, taking me with him. "I remember how responsive you were to my touch. I also remember how loud you were."

I smacked him upside his head, and he smiled as I rolled my eyes. "Of course you would."

He laid me down on bed and crawled on top of me. "I'd sure like to hear that again."

And he did. For while. If people haven't realized what we're doing by now, then they never will. After a bit more fun, we fell asleep to the still going strong behind us. The rest we would sort out later.
"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..."





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Tue May 06, 2014 8:03 pm
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Omni says...



Sir Exelus Brothguard


The boat stunk of the pungent manhand stench, with their "mastery of the sea" disrupting the water. A foul thing, land creatures trying to control the sea. As if they had any idea of what they were doing. As if they could control the sea!

"Exelus, your mind is too close. Please, I am trying to concentrate." Ezreal's thoughts wondered into my mind. He seemed off today, and his mind reflected it. Remnants of past conversations and memories fluttered into my mind, and Ezreal took a half-aimed attempt to chase after them.

Pushing the thoughts back into his mind gently, I swam to the side of the boat and howled. The screeching took the water with it and the current shuddered at my usherings. "We should be there and back to the island before night falls, Ezreal."

"Good, I'll pass this on to the king."

"I'm still not finished with that conversation of ours."

"Well, he is." I could feel his mind retracting a bit for him to collect his thoughts, "Look, Exelus. I know that we share something unique, and it has made us form quite a close bond. But, you must understand that there are boundaries to every relationship. things you mustn't cross. You are a kraken. Your power is certainly frightening."

"What are you getting at, Ezreal?"

"Exelus, you nearly took my mind with you that day. I remember it quite strongly. You hold a power you don't quite understand, and I suppose no one does. You control the power of the mind, as do I. But you are much stronger than I am at it."

The boat rocked softly in the crest of the water. It was a small thing compared to myself, but it stood out in the pearly clearness of the water it sat in. I brought myself deeper into the sea, "Get on with it, Ezreal. If you have something to say, say it now."

I could feel his mental sigh coming my way, "Look, Exelus. Your power is a river, its current always flowing and never holding back. It can be a little harming to others, as I have experienced before. I'm finding this power in other creatures, other animals, but none of them possess the power you do. Do not, whatever the cost, let this power out completely. We are connected, you and I, and it will kill me, and most likely you as well. Whatever you do, don't let this power control you." He left my mind, as he does frequently lately, but this time, I felt nothing. He was getting stronger at this "magic," as he calls it.

I felt lonely. For the first time in my long life, I felt like my mind was made up of absence, and nothing else.

The two ships reared up next to each other, preparing their future, as I laid watch for the time to come. I had a lot to think about.

To be continued.
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