Fantasy Before the Storm... [Main]

[Lazaro1505]

Black Prior/Vortiger​

Interaction: Zariel
Mentions: none
@ Open for Interaction​

It seems that what he just said should have been already answered, for the General accepted the sword from him and spoke more. Until the part where he wanted to know his name, to which the Black Prior responded without missing a beat, “Vortiger, Black Prior of the Wings of Valor forces.... anything else would just be a waste of time...” he said as he saluted the General for a few seconds, his face still showing no emotion. He then went back to rest, as.... a thunderstorm seemed to appear out of the blue. What’s worse, was that it seemed to directly only target their own forces, except, none of them, so why was a storm targeting mostly Galarians. He paid no mind, as he decided to wait by the side of the General for the rest of the battle, since the others clearly show much more better skill, and already dealing with the last of the Orcs.


A few days..... to him, it was the most peaceful few hours, especially since the constant rain didn’t bother him much throughout the journey. It was a good thing most of his equipment and clothing were rain-proof, though, he couldn’t say the same for his makeup, which was starting to drip down his eyes much more than normal. Still, he marched along with the forces, saying a sentence to himself in Latin “Ut avertam faciem meam a nobis deos, qui nos Fortians .... sed est ultima in fine risu ..” (English: The gods may frown upon us Fortians, but it is us who laugh last in the end) as he continued marching, until seeing the city he will forever hate to his heart’s desire..... Heidel. No matter how many times he may have been here, it won’t change the sudden boiling of his blood, and the pumping of his heart quickening with each step into what was once enemy territory.

Still, he won’t be like this for long, but it will take a while before he reach calm levels once more. The General needs to go to the Grand Plaza for something, to which he simply scoffed and went to a nearby wall. Resting his bones by sitting against the wall, he would wait until the go sign to begin marching again, or his ‘teammates’ going up to him and trying to start a conversation, to which he may either ignore or talk depending on the situation. Talking ain’t his mainpoint, and it will probably not be improved until the end of his life in a battle, because that is the only place he can feel truly at home. Still, he has allies to protect, and he is a man of his word, but sometimes.....

“Desinat infernum utinam ....”​

 

[Zariel]

• Elesis Crownguard

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  ​

  
  
  Amid the midday ruckus of the marketplace, Astora's voice raised above the cacophony.
  
  "Are we supposed to go with you? I don't exactly see how him needing to see someone in the Grand Plaza has anything to do with our debrief. The least you could do is say who we're going to see on this errand and stop being such a sulking cryptic. It's admittedly annoying." the blond-haired Fortian said.
  
  "How about us? Are we supposed to follow the General?” Aenvhir chimed.
  
  The general whipped his head back, narrowing his eyes at Astora in particular.
  
  "Huh? I'm not obliged to disclose anything to you," the General rebuked.
  
  Elesis could see the general was in an irritable mood, so she turned to her comrades before the situation got too heated. "Astora, Aenvhir, I promise you that we will recuperate at my family's mansion soon. But for the time being I, and hence the rest of the Wings of Valor, are the General's allies and subordinates. Until we are dismissed from his command, we must follow his orders."
  
  "As powerful as this bunch of ragtag misfits of your's may be, they appear to lack discipline," the General remarked with disdain, directing his speech at Elesis. "That is a value we Galarians hold dearly, you of all people should know that, Elesis. Your brother would've been so disappointed."
  
  Elesis remained silent, watching the General continue walking before glancing at the two members of her team with dejected eyes. Shaking her head, she followed after the man in front. For some reason, she felt a pang in her chest at the General's mention of Dragoz.
  
  Soon enough, they all arrived at the Grand Plaza. On either side, innumerous pillars were enclosing the people in a large open space. At the far end of the courtyard, the pillars curved around forming a circular section, and in the centre was a monument to commemorate the founding king of Galar. Behind the statue, a gargantuan magicite spire that pricked the sky had been erected.
  
  "Stay here, I won't be too long," the General told Elesis before melting into the crowd.
  
  The Paladin nodded and crossed her arms. Pursing her lips, she looked towards those she was in charge of and started counting heads. To her surprise, someone was missing. She was quick to identify the missing person to be Vortiger.
  
  Where's Vort, she mouthed to the first person her eyes locked onto—Minoru. The silver-haired knight knew the shinobi had the intuition to find the Black Prior, and bring him to join the others.
  
  Shortly after, something unprecedented took place. The dark storm clouds that loomed over Heidel started to swirl and expand, creating a rift in the clouds that aligned with the Grand Plaza. Next, a column of pale blue light fell from the gap, but it stopped halfway between its source and the earth. Within the light, a humanoid figure was visible, their appearance being made clear once the light faded.
  
  The nature of the event then dawned on Elesis. "A portal?!"
  
  The woman that hovered in situ was voluptuous and had braided teal hair. She carried a divine Warhammer, adorned with a jewel in her right hand, and she was dressed in a white and gold-rimmed off-shoulder dress that outclassed even Galarian noble attire.
  
  "Misguided citizens of the pretenders, hear me, for I am Izmir, Goddess of Lightning and Storms!" the woman claimed to be a deity, speaking in a loud, clear, and authoritative tone. "Your false gods have failed you, and now they lead you to commit atrocious crimes against the inhabitants of Mount Yadulsk. No more than four dawns ago, a young Galarian of royal blood foolishly consumed a golden apple from a sacred Jormung tree. Such blasphemy cannot go unpunished!"
  
  Izmir outstretched her free palm and an electrified image of a beautiful, young, blond maiden vulnerably shackled in a frigid prison appeared.
  
  "Princess Anastasia?!" Elesis exclaimed. Her surprise was accompanied by the booming bawls of the crowd.
  
  "How ironic; a princess enslaved. In time, Galar will be doomed with the same ill-fate... unless..." Izmir paused, and a menacing smirk curved her lips as she looked down at the mortals below her. "I'm willing to make an exchange..." the hologram faded, and in its place, a scroll materialised. "Inscribed upon this scroll are ten labours which are to be served as penance. I will warn you, it is no easy task and only the most courageous, powerful, and intelligent are fit to be faced with such challenges. You have ninety-nine moons to satisfy my demands. If all ten labours are completed, the princess will be returned safely and the storm plaguing Galar will cease. If not... Galar will burn to the ground!"
  
  Electricity crackled around scroll when it started to gyrate. In a flash, the scroll was transported to the royal castle via a thin bolt of lightning.
  
  Suddenly, several lightning bolts redirected towards Izmir, latching onto her body. Then from Izmir's own body, a single bolt shot in reverse back towards the clouds and the goddess vanished; her exit was as grand as her entrance.
  
  Expectedly, panic and commotion filled every corner of Heidel.
  
  Elesis's eyes flitted about the chaos. A certain figure pushing his way past the crowd caught her attention.
  
  It was the General.
  
  "We're going to the castle, now!" he said.
  
  Elesis nodded.
  
  
  
  

Mentions: Lazaro1505
Interactions: The Prophet Colorless Spectrum Goonfire

 

[Goonfire]

Minoru​

Interactions: Zariel The Prophet Lazaro1505

Minoru trudged through the flooding streets, sticking to the sides of the road for cover; rain was a mixed blessing for stealth. He occasionally drifted closer to the group to hear their conversations. Of course, a few bad apples had to make the general assume the lot was spoiled. “Sometimes, the smartest remark is silence,” he sternly reminded Astora while giving him a piercing sideways glance. The remark was loud enough for all to hear.

Elesis did a headcount and realized Vort was missing. Minoru took her hints. With a nod, he quickly boosted himself to the rooftops to look for their resident tank. He had a bird’s-eye view of the square, but an extraordinary sight soon shocked him. His eyes widened as a literal angry goddess descended upon the Galarians to issue her decree. ‘Dammit, Vortiger, where are you?’ he asked himself, teeth gritting behind his mask. Retracing his steps visually, he waited for Izmir to vanish before darting across the rooftops.

Finally, Minoru made it all the way back to the city gates, where Vort stubbornly waited. “The Galarians insulted a goddess,” he reported with the world’s flattest line delivery. “I know our next mission.” The shinobi was not in the least bit enthused, but he knew the Wings of Valor were the first ones the royal family would seek for help.

 

[Mineczka]

"Now, for some lovely relaxation~ ♥"​

Font Colour: #ffd1dc
Mentions: The Prophet (Mentioned) Zariel (Interact)

The battle had ended, with the bodies of the slain laying along the ground, while the storm raged ahead, it would only accomplish agitating everyone. As the marshlands soon became a small lake, Myung-hwa did not approve of the waters getting to the levels they were, as waters like this were murder on the fur of her tails. Drawing her familiar water sigil, she used her magic once more to glide across the waters. Watching her move was like watching one ice skate, as she danced across the water's surface, keeping a keen eye and ear out for anything willing to strike at her slowed companions. Yet, no such monstrosity came. It was quiet, minus the sloshing, and the sounds of the rain, which, never truly stopped.

It was unnatural, and took the Fox off guard at that. Did the goddess know what damage she was causing not just to the Garlean people, but the nature that called itself home in that area? Does she realize how much of the wildlife she had drowned to further her temper tantrum? It sickened Myung-hwa to her very core. How dare she defile nature's splendor, and destroy the countless lives of animals in that marshland, all to punish the humans, who while wronged her kind, did so unwittingly. As the gates were reaching sight, it was growing ever more difficult for the vulpine woman to hide her scowl, she was furious, and by the time the gates were opened, it was impossible to hide it any further.

Walking through the gates, the usual ruckus of the marketplace was easily heard, along with the General and Elesis talking. They mentioned meeting in the Grand Plaza, Astora had responded quickly, seemingly to call him out, though, the General did not take kindly to it, mentioning he had no reason to explain things to the Blonde. As Elesis intervened, Myung-hwa heard the General on his comments about the Wings,

"As powerful as this bunch of ragtag misfits of your's may be, they appear to lack discipline, That is a value we Galarians hold dearly, you of all people should know that, Elesis. Your brother would've been so disappointed." He remarked, directing his words at the knight that led this ragtag group.

And that, was what set the powder keg that was Myung-hwa's rage. These people were her family, and when you insult one of her family members, you insult all of them.

"Well, General, with all due respect..." She remarked, her words dripping in the venom of an adder, "Were it not for this band of 'ragtag misfits who lack discipline' you likely would have died on that battlefield." Her words paused for but a moment, as she made sure to have eye contact with this insolent man, "Furthermore, I would kindly suggest you keep Lady Elesis' family out of this. She naught brought your failure of a family in, yet you tactlessly strike at hers with impudence and cowardice, as that is what you truly are, General, a fool and a coward. Much more willing to inflate your own ego, than respect the concerns of those who stand and fight beside you." Her words mirrored the fires of the nine hells, Myung-hwa was not taking this from him, not now, "And speaking of discipline, were it not you, who lacked the discipline in a fight, turning your attention from your enemy to see another fall? Might I suggest, and kindly at that, you stay your tongue about discipline until after you learn naught to make that mistake again. As it may be your last blunder."

With those words lingering in the air, Myung-hwa turned, flicking her tail at the general as she walked away, leading from the front. Her mind was set on the Grand Plaza, even if the general didn't want her there, she was going to join them, if not for Elesis, then to continue to chop the general down to size.

Reaching the Grand Plaza with Elesis and crew, the skies turned dark, with the sights of a storm overhead, "Ah, yes. You. I have a bone to pick with you as well..." The vulpine woman mumbled, as her eyes cast to the skies, and to the diety. Oh how she wanted to give that Goddess a piece of her mind, but this was not the place, if she wanted to pick a fight with a god, she'd do it where there aren't so many people around. A short conversation was made, a very one-sided one at that, before a scroll descended, and then, panic.

Myung-hwa was not the best with crowds, and especially not with a crowd the size of a country, instinctively, her form changed. As she was bounced around in human form, her fox shape was the best for this, hearing the clacking of armour, Myung-hwa would trot over to the familiar armour and scent, before leaping over to her commander, who would see a nine-tailed fox leaping into her chest, hoping that she would be caught.

 

[AI10100]

M A L ' I L K A R I
Interacting with:
Location: Grand Plaza, Heidel ​

Mal had nearly wandered off from the group after noticing a small open shop. He hadn't eaten anything in quite a while, and while he didn't mind the soggy rations that they all had, he still wanted to get a proper hot meal after being soaked through for hours on end. He wondered if praying to his gods here would have any effect - for it was another goddess who was making a mark against Galar. He was already halfway to the shop, halfway to maybe getting a hot soup when his head snapped back towards the group as the general snapped at Aenvhir and Astora. Mal tilted his head in confusion - had something happened? He wandered back just as Myung-Hwa began.

The pure venom in her chosen words was enough for Mal to feel embarrassed for the general. His shoulders hunched and his head lowered as the kumiho continued her tirade. But Myung-Hwa didn't even allow the general to respond to her, quickly walking off towards their location. He looked between the members of the group and the air was tense. As the group began to move again, Mal once more put some distance between him and the group. He took out his communication device and rubbed his thumb against it. It responded weakly, the distance making it difficult for the magic to make it work.

As they reached the Grand Plaza, the general left and something... happened. Mal couldn't take his eyes off of the lightning that crackled as a figure appeared. A goddess. In the flesh. Mal, in all of his time praying to the various gods and goddesses of his pantheon, had never met a single deity in the flesh. Understandably so, due to their tendency to merely watch over their people. All of the consequences for their actions were sent through their control over nature. Mal did not understand what this Princess Anastasia had done wrong - calling the Galarians out for praising false gods and the princess eating some kind of apple from the Jormung Tree... whatever that is. He should ask a Galarian about that and why it was such a serious offense against the gods.

He placed his device back into his pack. Apparently, the princess could be forgiven and Galar would continue to exist if the Galarians can finish ten labors inscribed on a scroll that was sent to the royal palace. And just like that, she disappeared in a flash of lightning one again. "Those gods and goddesses always care about the weirdest things!" He could hear the voice in his head complain. And just like that, his senses began to come back to him and he could hear the screaming and the sobbing of the people around him. Many had dwindled down into a panic and Mal's own panic was rising. The energy being created around him pouding against him, amplified by his curse.

Run.

Before the general could even tell them where they were supposed to go, Mal had already left the vicinity. Any place that there were fewer people. Any place. It only took him a few seconds to find a road that there weren't any people in. He pressed his two hands against his ears. The screams of the outside had faded, only to be exchanged by whispers from within. He wandered into an alley and crouched down, desperately trying to calm himself down. He didn't know where the others were. He didn't know anyone else here. He needed to get out of Galar or- or-

 

[Colorless Spectrum]

Aenvhir

The General looked their way, and Aenvhir stood still. She hated that Elesis had to try and de-escalate the situation all because of this General, but she wasn't sorry for speaking her mind. Never, because if anything the insolent man should be thankful that they were there. Not noticing that her friend had looked over to Astora and her.

She was gonna oblige to her long friend's request but the General decided to insult them when they were the ones that did all the hard work. Her opinion of the man only worsened when he mentioned Elesis's late brother. Aenvhir gritted her teeth in frustration, she was about to bark at him when Myung-Hwa had spoken. While the words the Kumiho used weren't the same that the tribeswoman would, it sufficed.

Aenvhir let out an angry huff and proceeded to follow, the lingering idea of beating up the man in a duel in her mind once everything was settled. The ginger-haired woman restlessly stood with a sour look on her face. Tapping her feet to give herself something to do while they wait. "I hate this." She murmured to herself, but Dovahl was able to hear her muttering. The massive white bear gave her a worried look that always made her smile weakly at him when she wasn't feeling too cheery, just to say that it was okay.

She noticed the dark clouds looming from above, an uneasy feeling at the pit of her stomach as the sky rumbled. Then came a deity. One that she knew, Izmir, the Sveljordan Goddess of Lightning and Storms. The immortal woman conjured an imagery of the Galarian Princess. "Anastasia?" Aenvhir said in shock, looking at Elesis with perplexed eyes and in the back of her mind, a hammering feeling of when the incident had happened.

The General had come back, demanding Elesis to the castle with him. Aenvhir was quick to turn back to the group, to gauge their reaction to the whole ordeal until she noticed one thing... Mal was nowhere to be found. She caught up to Elesis, stopping the silver-haired knight by the arm. Her face was painted with worry as she spoke, "Elesis, Mal isn't here."

mention: Astora, Myung-Hwa, Mal|| interaction: Zariel