Take Back the Crown

Valeiah looked at Oceana, her eyes stinging slightly. She wanted to cry, throw up, and scream all at once but instead was silent and nodded her head.
Every step she walked and every breath she took in with the false title of "wise" made her neck sore and her head throb.
She wasn't wise, no matter how much hair she had. She was a stupid little girl who regretted thinking that she hated her brother. Especially not over as stupid of an argument as their mom.

"Alo, give it back! That's mine, I earned it!" Valeiah squealed at her older brother, jumping and grasping for the blue sash she'd been gifted that told everyone she was a teacher.
Alo just held it higher above his head. "C'mon, Guppy! Just jump higher!" He teased and started to run with it.
Sadly, her short legs were no match for him, since he was older and taller.
Before she knew it, though, here came her mother, dragging Alo along by the ear and holding the blue sash in another hand.
"I want you two to stop arguing. Or I'm going to make you both watch Nuka. And you know how sick he is right now." Mairara said, releasing her firstborn's ear.
He grumpily rubbed it and looked at his mom, then Valeiah.
"Fine..." The two siblings mumbled.

Her mom wouldn't have wanted her to fight with Alo. She would've expected more from her.
"If it's not any trouble..." She blinked and finally managed to croak.
OlKaJa77

Kacel'la decided to volunteer to start answering Agitha's question, as it seemed that no-one else would do that.
"Well I appeared in front of the caravan and almost got ran over. Fun times." The elf joked. "I was searching for Sera, and then kind of stayed behind because it looked like something interesting enough to do." Now that she had said that, she realized just how stupid that sounded, but she was basically going wherever her feet carried her since she left her clan, and it often paid off one way or another, so Kacel'la wasn't really worried.

Vys

Bo piped in to answer Aggie's open question as well, since he had been there since the beginning. "The thing that brought us all together was a rumor - or, a truth, that spread like one, that Lucasta was gathering up people to go with her on this quest for the crown. We all met at a tavern. It was easy to spot Lucasta and Lucas by their white hair, haha. I think they gathered inside to discuss the nature of their mission and plans and such before I got there. I came just as they were headed out - into the rain, or maybe it was out of it. I don't really remember, but it was wet one way or another. I hopped in last minute and we headed out as a pretty small crew. Amazingly, a lot of the people with us now hopped on along the way. You, of course being one of them. Along the way we've all kind of learned a little bit here and there about the crown, the royal family, and such. But it all started with the goal of getting the crown. That was always the goal from the beginning - but it got complicated. When we found the crown, all of the magical stones it should've had were missing. So what would've been maybe a month's journey to get the crown, has evolved into the long quest it is now. We have to find all of the stones before Lucasta can even harness it's power to reclaim Algoran."

He stopped a bit abruptly, realizing his long-winded explanation may or may not have answered every part of her question. Nonetheless, it would've at least filled in some gaps for her.

"I'm glad you hopped on when you did, Aggie. I'm glad to have you with us."

Vys L1d1ja

Foxrun took the opportunity to pipe in as well "and the place they found the crown was the old ruins of their home! And that's when I popped up. And I was threatened by several of the party; Nameen, Valeiah, and Oceana, all had me at the end of their blades." He chuckled at recalling it all "I have terrible timing. And of course, Oceana persisted when they others no longer did." He glanced at the elf who had gone with Valeiah elsewhere. What are they up to? His curiosity spiked, causing him to trail off momentarily before returning his gaze to the dark elf with a large grin. "Ah, she even tried attacking me but I was too fast. Luckily the dark magic was causing a sensory overload for her, otherwise she may have actually gutted me!"

Vys L1d1ja soundofmind

Resting her chin on her knees she listened closely to their tales on how they all met up, her eyes wide and bright towards them all. / All have such interesting stories. All unique.../
Turning her gaze to Bo as he spoke his liking of her joining. Smiling she nodded and sat up a little bit,"I'm glad to have joined as well. " looking towards Ashlar she smiled softly and tipped her head,"Glad this one found me in the deserts and brought me along on his adventures." her face was full of admiration as she reached out and tapped a knuckle on Ashlar's shoulder.

Looking down she pulled her hands into a cup and played with the water briefly,"It's...nice being with the caravan. Like a small dysfunctional family, you know?"

Going quiet again she cleared her throat and glanced up,"Pardon for my prying again, but..you said reclaim Algoran. What are we reclaiming from exactly? Those Daemon things we fought?"

@all

Oceana's face softened as regret twisted the human girl's expression.
"Of course. I understand, after all..." She murmured softly.
Rising out of the crowded bath, the huntress felt uncomfortable with all those potentially judging gazes but she braved it all the same. The scars on her abdomen and the dark swirls of her tattoos played an interesting contrast.
She stepped over to the corner where she had left her clothes on a rough wooden table. Her hunting knife was nestled in the folds of her leather underarmor.
It slid from its wooden sheath as smooth as always with a gliding hiss of metal.
Finding a chair nearby she stood behind it expectantly, trying her best to face away from her comrades while still beckoning to Valeiah with her eyes.
Danika

"Yes!" A voice called from the hallway in reply to Aggie's question. Svetlana entered as Luca trailed closely behind her, her hands bloodied from tending to her grandson. At least he was clean and hopefully sleeping as well as he could with the wound. She removed her garments and slid into the bath hastily- but the poor prince was not. He grimaced at the idea of bathing with others. Despite this, he followed suit and hurried into the bath but more to cover his nakedness than to enjoy the warm water. The witch chuckled at him and then put her arms back and sighed in relaxation. After taking a moment to soak it all in, she opened her eyes to look at Aggie, "More than over a century ago, the daemon lord Kvacht returned to our world and killed King Agmund and Queen Edda- Lucasta and Lucas' parents. Their children managed to escape and went into hiding, eventually called for aid. We answered the call," she gestured to each of them, "whether it be at the tavern meeting, or on the road. I don't believe in coincidences, you all were meant to take this journey. Of that, I am sure, and I am glad to call you my companions and friends."
She smiled, but then continued the topic of the daemons, "No one is sure why Kvacht returned to Algoran. He was once my friend in the ancient days, he helped reclaim our world from invaders when Algoran had no king. It would seem that he has become the very thing he sought to help us destroy."
Ashlar looked at her with peeked interest, "Perhaps betrayal?" He piped up, "Or what he perceived as betrayal? That can drive people to do unthinkable things."
"Perhaps." Svetlana replied, "I should like to find out. But the truth of his intentions will never be more important than protecting this world." She continued.
Lucas hugged his knees in discomfort, but also spoke, "I have always wondered what could have driven Kvacht to invade our world and kill my family..." he started thoughtfully, "No one takes over a world because they're bored. There's always some kind of motive... I remember you speaking of him in your past, Svetlana. He never sought power did he? So it can't be power he seeks... right?"
The witch smiled softly, "No, he was never interested in power. But people can change, Lucas. Remember that. Not everyone is who they appear to be." She warned.

Hjalmar listened quietly. He had already washed himself, and the crowded bath made him feel more suffocated than relaxed. With a grunt, he pulled himself out.
"Awe, does my prune-like body disgust you that much, Hjalmar?" The old witch poked fun.
"Pff, of course not." Hjalmar replied, flicking water at her face with his fingers, "Ashlar farted."
"Ooh, you noticed that?" The man said with a smirk, "Darn, I thought I'd get away with it."
"Not with that smell, you won't. What on earth did you eat?" Hjalmar dried himself off with a towel.
"Hey, don't look at me! Svetlana cooked this morning." He pointed at the old woman defensively. She splashed at him in response, going on about how next time she could just let him starve instead. But Hjalmar had successfully left both the bath and the conversation. After putting on a new pair of tattered but stil wearable clothes, he headed towards the room he had tossed his things. He wrapped his arm to hide the mark again, internally thanking the Dayar that no one asked him questions. So much bad had happened that morning, and so many questions presented that he didn't have answers for. It was better not of think about it, so he grabbed his short sword and took a seat on an opened window, sharpening it and letting his mind be lost in the steady thrum of the whetstone against his steel and the chatter in the streets not to far below. The breeze was cool from outside, drying his shaggy hair faster. Now, he was finally relaxed.

When Lucas said something about about taking over a world out of boredom, Kacel’la was ready to poke fun at Dorian about what the familiar had done when bored, mostly consisting of breaking into places said to be impossible to sneak into. But when she opened her mouth to speak, she saw that the man had already long left as silently as he had come in, evading even her notice. She then had to content to grumble under her breath something about pushing Dorian off the rafters or roof he most likely was lounging about on.
"Betrayal is sure something which pushes people to do terrible things to others." Kacel’la said at Ashlar's remark. "And to themselves too." She added a bit more quietly.

Kacel’la had actually been quite right about Dorian being somewhere high up. Armed with a gaze-diverting spell, the familiar was scaling the outside of the building, to make sure that he could do so if the need arose. Climbing routes were always nice to know. However when he saw a familiar figure sitting next to an open window, he decided to abandon his goal, the roof.
"Surprise." He stated as he dropped the illusion the second that he was perching on the window ledge Hjalmar was at.

Lo Alyssa

Lacing her fingers together as she listened to the elder woman's words, her face fell as she looked towards the small prince. She felt bad for prying for such answers; poor lad was probably already so stressed today with the casualty of their friend. Lowering her head she nodded,"I understand a bit more now. Thank you for sharin-" turning her head at the word 'fart', she broke a smile and instinctively brought her hand up to her nose and mouth,"You didn't... Oh gross this is not a jacuzzi." she smirked and tossed her shoulder at his in play.

After a few more chuckles she exhaled and stood up herself before exiting the bath and grabbing her towel, draping it over her head and turning her back as to not get akward,"Im going to do a quick stock of my things and start on chores before the nights end. If I lay down I wont want to get back up for days." she chuckled. Wrapping the towel around herself she dried quickly before slipping on the black short dress and a pair of leather leggings underneath. Sitting down on a dry ledge, she pulled on her boots she had prepped as well and pulled her hair up into a high pony, adjusting her earrings as such.
Bowing her head she raised a hand and smiled,"Gnight guys see you tomorrow then, yes?"
Glancing towards Ashlar for a moment her face heated slightly before she looked down and out as she walked out.

/ Shoulders. His shoulders are nice./


Pippa watched Aggie leave the bath, as he was waiting just outside the door. When she was a bit away he trotted into the bath as well and right towards Bo, where he licked the back of the man's head. / Ew soap. /. With disgust he sneezed angrily into Bo's hair before jumping into the bath, paddling around with his tiny little nub legs.

@all Lo Alyssa

Valeiah solemnly walked to the chair, almost feeling as if she wasn't inside her own body anymore, like she was watching herself walk there. She blinked away the feeling, rubbing her face. She needed to wash off all the blood... but this was much more important to her.
"Just cut it off... I don't care how long it is, but not too short. My dad would get disappointed in me..." She said as she sat and began to unbraid her hair, the strands separating into bloody sections.
"I just want it off."
OlKaJa77

Oceana took a deep breath and tried to fade into the soft repose she existed in when playing her flute or tending flowers.
Shoulders back and chin up and proud. The fact that she was nude no longer mattered. It was an honor to do this task.
This wasn't just a haircut.
This was a ritual for Valeiah and for herself, who volunteered to help. So the huntress would treat it as a sacrifice to the Beatha that swirled about their world. An expenditure of time and energy into a kinetic action that sent ripples into the web of the world.
For better or for worse, a part of the young healer would be forever changed.
It already was.
The demise of her naïveté and innocence, sacrificed upon the alter of sober maturity.
Yes they were all set afire in the flames of change since the moment Alo died. Perhaps even since the moment they all met.
So in true elven manner, Oceana gracefully pulled her hair taught, leaned in towards the human's ear and...
"Sìth..."
A soft chime rang from the keen knife as it glided through the young woman's hair.
The cut was true and straight.
The elf figured in her current state, the girl wished for simple efficiency rather than something sophisticated.
She remained silent as she gently came around and handed Valeiah her own braid, now loose and looking at it brought a twinge that made the huntress think of a cat she had once seen with a missing limb.
A awkward beat of silence.
Despite that she caught the girl's gaze and smiled softly.
"It...suits you."
Danika

Bo's nostrils flared in disgust as he felt the dog's snot hit the back of his neck. Ew. Boogers. He had finally fully cleaned himself and now he had dog snot in his hair. He brushed his hand on his neck, wiping the snot off now onto his hand, and then he reached out quickly to grab the dog before Pippa swam away. He pulled Pippa over and wiped his hand off on Pippa's head.

"You dropped something, Pip." He smiled, his eyes laughing. A part of him felt like Pippa deserved that, anyway, even though Bo was only meaning to tease (a dog of all things).

Vys

Kacel'la couldn't suppress a chuckle when she watched the little corgi paddle around in the water.
"Adorable little ball of shadow demon and murder." She cooed under her breath after remembering what Dorian had told her about the aura he saw around the dog.
The elf laughed as she watched Bo exact his petty revenge by wiping his hands on Pippa's head. "I think now your hand is covered in even more gunk and dog fur." She pointed out.

soundofmind Vys

"Fortunately, there's soap for that." He was about to say something about them probably not wanting that in the water, but after thinking about all of the other substances that could be floating in the water, he figured, well, it's not like it would do much more harm. He really couldn't afford to be picky about how he cleaned himself. He was just happy to be clean.

He grabbed what was left of his bar of soap and scrubbing his hands and neck again, twice over just to be sure.

L1d1ja

Valeiah stared at the large chunk of hair that wasn't attached to her anymore. She could feel the ends brushing against her shoulders. This caused her to let out a large sigh of relief. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the hair that had been cut off.
"Thank you." She gulped, glancing up at Oceana, then setting her gaze back down at the ground when she realized the elf was still nude.
Valeiah stood up from the chair, walking over to the baths now so she could finally wash off the blood. Her bag fell to the ground next to the edge of the water, and she quickly stripped and lowered herself in.
That's when she started rigorously scrubbing.
Scrubbing away all the dark red that kept reminding her that her older sibling was dead. Scrubbing away the dirt and anything else that stained her skin.
The only thing she couldn't scrub away, though, was the regret.
OlKaJa77

Oceana mumbled a quiet dismissal of the girl's thanks. It was her honor after all.
The elf quickly stalked to the corner and pulled on her leather leggings and green linen shirt. Padding softly across the bath she came to the door and was about to pull it open when she heard a click. She darted out of the way before the solid oak slab slammed her in the face.
"Hey!" She grunted.
Jauquilinne stood in the doorway, her unflinching gaze focused on the elf and then turned to the rest of the room.
She was plainly dressed in a whited starched shirt and black breeches.
"All of you need to finish up. Valerie's waiting for you all in the sitting room." Her lips twisted in disgust at her now filthy bath.
"And I need to get this mess cleaned."
With that the stoic knight pivoted on a heel and strode back down the hallway.
@ everyone

"Well, I guess that means I'll be going." Bo turned and hopped out of the bath quickly, grabbing his towel and drying himself off before putting his clothes back on again. He was fully dressed (apart from his belt that the little wyvern took, but he could do without) and made a quick run to his room to slip on his shoes before finding the sitting room.

He trotted in, the first one there, and silently took a seat, waiting for everyone else to arrive.

Nameen sat back and relaxed, thoroughly enjoying ridding herself of all the grime brought by their travels. She listened quietly to some of the others recount their experiences, smirking when Foxrun recounted her pulling her blade on him during their first meeting. It was certainly funny to think that she had gone from threatening him to now sharing a bath.

When their hostess announced that they were ready for them in the sitting room, Nameen decided to take her leave. After enjoying some final seconds in the warm water she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself as she stepped out of the bath.

After slipping on some extra clothes, Nameen once again found her way to her room. She dumped her filthy clothes with the rest of her belongings - she would deal with them later- and then set out to find the sitting room.

Nameen peeked in when she found it, knowing it was the right room after spotting Bo. She sat herself down, doing a scope of the room before asking, "What do you think they want to talk to us about?"

soundofmind

Bo looked over to Valerie, sitting across the room, then over to Nameen. Valerie might've been within earshot. He gave Nameen a little shrug, and then gave Valerie - or at least, who he assumed to be Valerie, a little wave. If she was in the room he might as well ask her. Anything else would be a bit awkward. Although, to be fair, he didn't really introduce himself when he came in, so no matter what, things were already awkward. Oh well.

"Hey! I guess you're Valerie, right? I'm Bo. And this is my friend Nameen," he gestured to his fellow facial scar friend. "What did you want to talk to all of us about? Or would you rather wait 'til we all get here... I mean, that would make sense. But we're just curious."

Rydellius OlKaJa77

Valerie strode over to the two from browsing the bookshelf in the corner. It was all for show of course. She was the one who furnished this entire sitting room after all. Everything piece of furniture was a shade of grey or violet or green.
The rugs and wall hangings depicted scenes of knights and large, winged cats charging into battle against the undead. Another depicted a woman with a silver halo of hair, clad in furs and leather, astride a snowy tiger atop a jet black cliff. The cloth revealed a proudly tilted chin and the ever-telling long, pointed ears.
The alchemist gestured towards the later tapestry.
"Jauquilinne's mother was half snow elf. I wonder if that relates her to the royal line, if distantly."
She smirked, obviously in irony.
"Legend states that the children of King Algoran were born of a snow elf mother as well."
The woman with crimson hair shrugged nonchalantly.
"All baseless speculation of course. Theories simply invented to tease the mind."
Red eyes took in Nameen's pale and scarred countenance with nary a blink and after an appropriate amount of time her eyes moved on. A glance at Bo seemed enough to satisfy Valerie's curiosity for now.
" My business can wait until you're all in attendance" she chortled
"You all deserve a rest after all." Despite her smile the tone was slightly heavy. She knew they had had much more than just a meddlesome skirmish on the plains. She could see it in their eyes. Just like how Jax and herself looked after Lucien came back as a husk in a wooden box.
After the world started crumbling.
"Anyway I'm more curious about your little group. It's quite... diverse, in race as well as bearing. Can you tell me anything interesting about you lot? You see, my main goal in life is to learn new things. Always. Knowledge is power after all. Well anyway... anything?" She asked
soundofmind Rydellius

Bo nodded as she talked. What she was saying reminded him of some folks he'd met before - all having a sort of desire and reverence for knowledge. "Well, I mean, I guess it depends on what you want to know. Is there anything specific you're curious about that you want to know about us?"

OlKaJa77 Rydellius

Having heard that they were needed in the sitting room, Aggie had picked up her notebook and a charcoal stick she used to write with. Clutching it to her chest she made her way to the sitting room, her now clean hair bouncing against her neck in a high ponytail.
Entering the sitting room she nodded in acknowledgment and sat down, sweeping her dress under her so she sat nice and proper. Opening her book she started to write some things down, looking quiet content

"Well, I would say that most would prefer if you questioned them directly." Kacel'la joked as she strode into the sitting room, in a happy mood because of finally getting to change out of her leather armor and into more comfortable, and way more colorful, clothes.
"What are you writing about?" She asked as she sat down next to Aggie and had to hold back Sera, the little wyvern which had curled around her neck, from leaping at the night elf. The little beast had a bad habit of trying to sit on every notebook possible, like a cat. Fortunately enough, the wyvern was soon disinterested in Aggie's scribblings and leapt away to go sniff at Valerie's feet.

OlKaJa77 Vys

Valerie looked unimpressed by Kacel'la but smiled at Sera.
"Hello little one." She murmured. "You remind me of a dear friend. I'm sure if he were here you'd have a playmate but alas he's quite far away."
Finally acknowledging Kacel'la herself, Valerie turned her crimson eyes to scrutinize the elf.
"But the best, truest impressions of oneself are made by others, no? After all, anyone could lie and say they are something they're not."
Her piercing eyes narrowed a fraction, seemingly looking through the elf.
"I'm beginning to think quite a few people in your group have that issue."
A heavy blink of time passed.
Then the intense moment was gone as if it never happened at all.
"Anyway I wasn't asking after anything in particular. What one is willing to share is telling enough. Suspicious lot, aren't you?"
The quirk of lips spoke volumes of the alchemist's smug amusement.
"That's good though. Your journey has just begun after all. Forethought and instinct are the sharpest weapons one can wield."
A tickled chuckle sounded from the doorway.
There stood Jauquilinne, as stern faced as ever if not for the mirth in her eyes.
"Lecturing them already, my Thane." She said with heavy irony.
Walking forward to lean against the back of Valerie's chair, Jauquilinne revealed a shy Galiana behind her.
The girl's hair was so vermillion it looked like it had been painted so.
Oceana noted this as she strode into the room and sat right on the floor, legs and arms crossed.
Aquamarine eyes glanced between them.
"The lot of you with your strange hair colors." She turned an accusing gaze on Valerie.
"I know your hair is dyed. I can smell it."
The Alchemist shrugged helplessly.
Jauquilinne turned to Nameen and tilted her head.
"Another white dove huh? Thats better then. Now Valerie can have more company than just her mountains of dull books on chemistry."
The alchemist frowned heavily.
"My books take offense to that and so do I."
"If you need a fence it's worse than I thought." The knight grumbled.
Valerie's mouth fell open.
"Did you just..."
Oceana was in the same boat.
"Was that... a pun?" She accused.
Jax simply blinked owlishly, as if she had no clue what they were talking about.
Rydellius
L1d1ja
@ other peeps in the room

"I was simply thinking that some of us here are quite prickly about gossip, and I'm a believer at making friends, not enemies." Kacel'la rolled her eyes at Valerie's scrutiny. "I have nothing to hide. Want to know anything about me or my travels, ask away." She said, her smirk almost challenging.

The elf stayed quiet during the quick exchange between the knight and the thane, but couldn't keep back a chuckle at the absolutely stupid pun.
"That was horrible." She stated, though it still sounded like a compliment.
Meanwhile Sera just wound around the feet of the new arrivals before she decided to scale Galiana like a tree, making Kacy look dissapointedly at the little beast. And here the elf had thought that she had taught the wyvern to stop annoying people.

OlKaJa77