Fantasy Shake Your Chains [Always Open, Easy to Join]

[Awakening AKIRA]

[OPEN]

Reminders:
♛ Always tag people to whose character(s) your post is relevant
♛ Remember to use the appropriate heading in your post to whatever location your character is in so that people can keep a track of who is 'in their area' (just like tinder, only with more murder)
♛ Only GMs may use the 'Narrator' heading. Because hubris.
♛ If you wish to join, check out the 'Interest Check' thread starter post first.
♛ Any questions, PM A Awakening AKIRA or head over to OOC / Discord.

N A V I G A T I O N

Lore / OOC / Sign-Ups / Interest Check / Discord
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✿ Spring Isle
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[RIGHT][FONT=Eagle Lake][SIZE=6][COLOR=#59b300]✿ Spring Isle[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B]tagging[/B]:
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☼ Summer Lands
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[RIGHT][FONT=Eagle Lake][SIZE=6][COLOR=#ff8000]☼ Summer Lands[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B]tagging[/B]:
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☁ Midlands
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[RIGHT][FONT=Eagle Lake][SIZE=6][COLOR=#b30000]☁ Midlands[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B]tagging[/B]:
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❅ Winter Court
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[RIGHT][FONT=Eagle Lake][SIZE=6][COLOR=#00b3b3]❅ Winter Court[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B]tagging[/B]:
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☠ Dragon's Rock
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[RIGHT][FONT=Eagle Lake][SIZE=6][COLOR=#b35900]☠ Dragon's Rock[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B]tagging[/B]:
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[Awakening AKIRA]

♚ Narrator
tagging: elextrified SirDerpingtonIV MedievalFanatic2023 Rusty of Shackleford LesDom Dover MagicPenguin Panzer Dalamus Ulom MysticSweaterHog Bone2pick TheMADQ capMARVELOUS S Sornow If I've forgotten anyone lemme know b/c I'm sick and thus useless
ooc: tl;dr shit is threatening to hit the fan. P.S. let me know if I've forgotten to add something in that you think needs to go into our intro.
​

21st of Artemis, Spring, of the year 316 AT,

As Winter is relieved of the worst of its snowstorms, and Summer's rare night frosts thaw, the two are once more set to meet among the trappings of luxury and decorum. With this evening set aside for small talk and scathing gossip at the Equinox Dance, tomorrow is to be the day the treaty is reconfirmed and renegotiated, as it is once every decade.

However, what should be a time of peace and celebration is strung through with reminders of the recent past. More and more often, squabbles have broken out over Midlands territory, and Summer's monopoly of Port Neptus and the Dragon trade has left Winter keenly feeling the pressure; Not to mention the recent reports Emperor Varakos has received from his network of spies that someone plans to make an attempt on his life this very eve, before both courts' nobility. With the Empress's children attending - who, it is rumored, are planning to stage a coup - it shall be vital that he does not betray weakness. It is especially important to appear strong, now more so than ever, when back home in Vidask, the people have grown near hysterical with fear at the growing tales - and body count - of the 'Butcher of Vidask' who prowls the street, undetected and seemingly unchallenged.

And then there is the question of Summer. With recent rumors that they have been consorting with the Goblin gangs of Sunset Canyon, who knows what they are planning. And just who is it that plans to make an attempt on the Emperor's life?

To the South, even those known for their peace seem to be unsettled, with reports flooding in that the isolated, sedentary Giants of the Nyx Mountains are on the move. With their history as toys of war for Winter, it is news that will do little to settle the tensions of the treaty. Worse, in the Eastern Libavrekk Mountain Range, the Orcs grow restless. Though their population may have dwindled from Summer and Winter's combined efforts, their location poses a threat if war were to break out.

At least to the West, it is a time for joy and celebration in the Spring Isle. D'aah has come once more, and the peoples of all tribes journey to the encampment at the foot of the Na'juul mountains to join in worship, and to elect their leaders for the coming year. Though fear of the threat posed by outsiders persists, there is perhaps a more troubling concern spreading through tales of something other, something wrong, sinking its teeth into the forest. But being a people of tales and oral traditions, it would not be D'aah without a few ghost stories and legends persisting.

Finally, up North, Dragon's Rock has long been changed from what it was. Once home to the reclusive and wise Dragons, centuries of poaching and hunting has battered the Dragons down into a shadow of their former selves, now primitive, primal, little more than beasts. Those of the Dragon's Way struggle to resist the onslaught of economic exploitation that is rapidly sapping the islands dry, and all whilst an ancient cursed spirit stirs, perhaps to defend, perhaps to destroy.

It is a time ripe for change, or consolidation. All that can be done now is for the commoners of Solus to wait and see what those in power bring down upon them.

 

[MedievalFanatic2023]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: no one at the moment
ooc:​

Alinas was getting ready for tonight she was being fitted into a red dress and tight corset. She then put her hair and a nice fancy up do and put on her crown as she started to walk out of her chambers down the hall to the more non vacant room filled with nobility, maids and castle attendants. she notices her father and her new stepmom. She looks seeing preparations on the way. She knew today was important because it would now be gathering of kingdoms more as though a peace gathering.

She was honestly not fond or didn't spend much time with her new stepmom well not very new. She wasn't sure what it was like to have a mom since her birth mom the late queen Nevah died from poisoning and the curse that was put on Alinas. The only person though that was convicted of Queen Nevah's death was a pagan witch. The witch was hanged for treason and no one else was tried after that mainly so the peace would not break.

She was not sure about what her father was like before her birth mothers death but people knew he was a pacifist. they say he was the one who helped keep the peace. she paused and looked around with a smile as she sat down elegantly on a chair and folded her hands over her lap. she had a lot on her mind the distancing of her father, her benevolent Half brother and her reserved step mother. She felt all alone at the moment no one to talk to the life of Nobility at its finest.

She sighed and took out her diary and her feather pen as she dipped the feather into ink. She started to write about her non exciting life and her thoughts and feelings. even though it wasn't in the best grammar and format mainly because of her upbringing. She groaned as the tip of her feather pen broke and she clench her fist as her eyes shifted red and she immediately took a deep breath counting in her head. She looked around as she closed her journal leaving the broken feather pen on the table and stood up going to take a nice stroll around the kingdom summer gardens.

 

[Awakening AKIRA]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: MedievalFanatic2023 TheMADQ Rusty of Shackleford MagicPenguin Dover elextrified Dalamus Ulom capMARVELOUS
ooc: Tagged those to whom the #PartyAesthetic may be relevant.​

Adrius VI of Romas, Tsar of Summer

With servants and slaves to do everything, from cooking the food and organising the furnishing, to enchanting the honeysuckle indoors and polishing the cutlery, Adrius need not lift a finger in preparation for the Equinox celebrations. Of course, he had never been that kind of ruler.

With the Head Chef and Royal Tailor yapping at his heels, he checked everything down to the angles of the placement of the goblets. Each flaw he found - and there were plenty for the finding - send another servant running. The emblem-emblazoned drapery was wrong? Remake it. Summerweed gone stale? Replace the lot. Riches were not something he came in short supply of, and if there was ever a time to use them, it was now.

It was with this same unyielding attitude that he ignored his wife.

Ignored was perhaps the wrong word; To those observing, he might appear to be bracing her with a cold shoulder, but only a fool would not keep careful watch of her every movement. Capturing a Kitsune to make his wife had brought in not only the curiosity of the nobility, but the fear of opposition for what she could do were her true form to be unleashed. That they did not know the true nature of their relationship was irrelevant.

She was to be his final playing card if all other plans fell by the wayside these coming days. He was set on this passing ending peacefully, but if the threat of releasing a monster had to be the hand that guaranteed the outcome? So be it. He was beyond such morality by now.

Mid-lecture to the waiting staff about their sloppy dress, Adrius caught out of the corner of his eye a glimpse of one of his offspring. As a breed, they were all looking more and more despondent these days. He supposed he ought not to expect the young to appreciate the value of peace - especially those who had never tasted the true consequences of its absence - but it rendered him distanced from them. He’d never expected to be able to confide in his present wife, a woman he had in all honesty enslaved, but perhaps he’d held hopes for his children. That or the twisting sensation in his chest was morning indigestion.

Perperations passed away from those of the grand hall to tending to the body. A dozen collared pixies scrubbed and shaved him whilst he ordered perfumes from the three fae boys he rather doted on. The tailor fitted him by close instruction, whilst Nara and Cesare of his harem curled and pinned his hair, combed through with floral oils. Scrubbed and rubbed to luminescence, he looked the part of the economic powerhouse.

If Winter thought it overboard, all the better. He saw no disadvantage to parading the wealth and splendor his court boasted. The craggy bastards did so love to scowl at something; Let him give them something to remind them they scowled at pleasure, at luxuries they could not afford.

Not only would Emperor Varakos be at the civilities tonight, but the eyes of the nobility of both their courts. He held every intention of highlighting the gulf between them, in culture and in wealth. Let the nobles of that frozen hellscape reconsider their allegiance when they saw that life did not have to be of toil and breaking men down to blood and bones.

Tonight would be a celebration of peace. But more importantly, it would be a showcase of their splendor. Come early evening, as dusk settled across Romas and turned the sprawling constructions of white stone to a sultry amber-gold, Adrius emerged clad in gold and crisp white finery. Gold laurel twigs entwined his greying hair, whilst the entire Domus glowed from within by candlelight and Solar Celestial slaves. They’d released a dozen hundred solflies to kindle light and dance among honeysuckle. No expense had been spared.

Except, perhaps, on security.

 

[MagicPenguin]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: A Awakening AKIRA MedievalFanatic2023 capMARVELOUS Dover elextrified Dalamus Ulom NorthOfOrdinary
ooc:I did not know which Winter authors intended for their characters to be at this ball, so I just tagged anyone with a character somehow related to the Winter court that might be in the same procession as Rudolf.
​

The Imperial Winter procession lumbered ponderously across the sun-baked cobblestones that comprised the main street of the Summer capital of Romas. It was a long parade of sparse, grey, utilitarian carriages, as sturdy and unglamorous as the Winter nobles they carried. They made their way to the colorful and decorative--some might even say garish--Summer palace, looming over the rest of the city like a luxuriously wealthy sentinel. Most of the carriages were covered to protect their occupants from the oppressive heat of the midday sun, unaccustomed to such hot weather as the Winter natives were. The solemn parade was surrounded by a nervous crowd of Romas City's citizens. Some seemed excited to see such a rare sight as a gigantic royal court marching through their streets. Most, however, wore looks of either frightened anxiety or outright hostility at the presence of their ancient Winter foes lingering so closely to their defensless homes. At the center of the procession was one particularly large carriage with a seat elevated above all the others. Here sat, uncovered and seemingly unperturbed by Summer's unwelcoming climate, the Emperor of the Winter Court, the man known to most of his people as a living God, Varakos Vidask, or, as he still thought of himself even after 22 years on the throne, Rudolf von Vidask. Despite the heat, he wore the same armor and layers of protective leather and heavy cloth that he always wore, yet he somehow seemed perfectly comfortable nonetheless.

​

Rudolf observed the Summer crowds gawking at his court's procession with equal parts interest and disgust. On the way here, he'd noted how unsuitable the city's defenses were, no better than the last time he was forced to make a diplomatic appearance here. The walls were too low and too poorly maintained, the soldiers ill-trained and the patrols too few. They'd never last in a prolonged siege against a determined foe. What he saw inside the walls was even worse. Beggars on nearly every street corner, cutpurses and pickpockets roaming undetected and unpunished through the complacent crowds, and city guards who looked as uninterested in their jobs as they were hungover from whatever they'd done the night before. These Summer nobles had several story mansions and flaunted their wealth with over the top clothing and garish decoration while their city rotted and starved beneath them. It was a travesty; the people of this nation deserved law and order from their leaders, not indolence, arrogance, and corruption.

​

You would never find such deplorable conditions in a city of Winter, not even relaxed Tovabinsk, a fact Rudolf was proud of as its Emperor. His people were harsh and austere, but they were well-fed, could make a decent living for themselves, unburdened by excessive crime, and mostly happy. As long as he ruled them, they would never know the misery of the wretches he looked down upon now, forced to live in poverty and squalor while their indifferent and incompetent king turned a blind eye to their obvious suffering to frolic with his exorbitant wealth and his lavish harem.

​

Were the citizens of other Summer territories similarly mistreated under their pitiful rule, Rudolf wondered?

​

The Emperor was broken from his reverie by a messenger approaching his carriage on horseback. He was stopped from approaching by the imperial guard until Rudolf waved him through. "Your Grace," the man exclaimed, "I beg your pardon. We're approaching the Summer Palace's front gates. The escort soldiers and our scouts detect no imminent threats to our party in the vicinity. How shall we proceed?"

​

Rudolf stared intensely at the palace ahead, weighing his options and finally deciding on something he'd been thinking about since before the journey North.

​

Abruptly, he turned to the messenger. "I will be entering first with my personal guard. The others will follow only after I have entered the palace." The soldier's face scrunched into a worried frown at this, as if the Emperor had just told him he would be the first to wade into a pool of hungry sharks. Rudolf paid it no mind.

​

"We are deep in enemy territory, soldier, no matter what the treaty says. Make sure everyone here understands that. Tell them to take every precaution against potential aggression as they prepare for this frivolous ball the Summer Court is determined to foist upon me." There were occasionally balls in Winter too, events where nobles and merchants could scheme and gossip and play their subtle games, but Rudolf suspected this one would be more opulent and gaudy than anything he was forced to endure at home, as everything always was in this backward country.

​

"Yes, Emperor! Your will be done!" The messenger waited reverently for his God to dismiss him so he could pass along the divine commandment. There was a time when being treated as an object of such pious zeal had disturbed Rudolf profoundly, but many long years of similar treatment had desensitized him to it now.

​

"One other thing. Tell Prince Neve he will come to my chambers one hour before the ball. I must have words with him. He will bring only his guard, Grel, with him."

​

"As you command."

​

"That is all. You are dismissed."

​

The man rode off to the carriages ahead, leaving Rudolf alone once more with his imperial guards and his thoughts. One by one the carriages stopped as they received the message that Varakos would be going ahead first. As his own carriage passed them by, he took the opportunity to study the various members of the Winter Court throughout the procession. There were lords and ladies from all corners of the Winter Realms accompanied by their own attendants and household guards. There were advisors and council members. Esteemed members of the Escort Corps, some of the most elite soldiers in the Empire, marched and rode throughout the lines. He saw his illegitimate son, Neve's, party, followed closely and silently as ever by the loyal Grel. Influential merchants and businessmen were also in attendance, no doubt excited by the prospect of new business opportunities in Summer. Yes, it seemed everyone who had even a little bit of influence within Rudolf's court had someone to represent them on this trip, he reflected as he entered the palace's front gate.

​

Rudolf liked some of them, even considered a select few good friends and family. He laughed with them, accepted council from them and expected them to carry out his commands promptly and without complaint. A nontrivial number of them, he knew, considered him an enemy, a threat to their own lands or power, but they smiled and bowed and worshiped at him just the same as the others, their ill intentions hidden beneath the surface like poison daggers in the dark.

​

Despite all this sterling support, however, he knew his position as Emperor demanded that he could never completely trust any of them. Friend or enemy, they all had ulterior motives and he always had to play their insufferable games to figure out who was lying and how they were tricking him and why. Being a ruler was a lonely calling. Such thoughts always made him yearn for the simplistic battlefields of his youth, where the enemies and allies were always clear and defined. The people needed an Emperor to give them peace and prosperity, though, and for some reason the previous Varakos had given the unenviable position to him.

​

In truth, Rudolf didn't like it one bit, then or now, but for the sake of his country he would do his duty regardless, just as he always had.

 

[MedievalFanatic2023]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging:
ooc:​

:

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Frosine sat in her carriage reading the novel war and peace which she was half way done with. She then got distracted and looked out the window with a small smile seeing the troop of carriages was nearing the summer kingdom.she closed her book with ease sliding the book mark inside of it and set it beside her. She looked out the window seeing people poor beggars and such it made her feel sad people had to live that way. she knew the emperor loved his people enough to provide for them.
She felt her carriage stop as all of the winter royals neared the summer gate. She jolted forward not expected it the sudden stop but she balanced with ease and she grabbed the bar holding herself up. She quickly looked out the window and saw the emperor speaking to the messenger. must be important she thought as she then saw the messenger leave him and start addressing each carriage quickly.
The messenger than approached her carriage and told her what the emperor said for them to do. the emperor was going in first? It seemed risky to her in her opinion but she agreed with the plan because if summer attacked that would probably break there treaty. She let to messenger go and she stepped out of her carriage looking to see if the emperor was ready as well. She hoped nothing bad would happen that would make all hell break loose.

 

[Awakening AKIRA]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: MagicPenguin elextrified
ooc: protec and attac (an OOC poem for Lex)​

Grel

Grel held no interest in Summer. Visits there had been frequent and unpleasant, not so much due to the nature of the business - they held no issue with cutting throats for the Emperor, nor making threats to do so - but rather thanks to the locale. Not only was it insufferably baking all the time, but the people and their possessions turned their stomach. Such material wealth was nowhere more flaunted than in Romas, clothes and jewelry so bright it was blinding to look at.

There were shadows here though, if you knew where to look. But for the sake of the procession and the bastard princeling, they'd face the glare of Summer's unrelenting sun. Unlike them, the Prince rather suited the glamour and the light, the radiance bringing out his features. Parted from the Emperor, there was comfort in his son's presence, though in a manner silent and unnameable. The pair of royals were hardly similar in nature, yet the Prince had a pleasing kind of demeanor and manner that made Grel grateful to be stationed there, rather than beside half of the insipid nobility currently alive with whispers.

They stayed by the Prince Neve's side as well as any shadow, for Varakos had ordered it. It seemed he had something in mind, though what, Grel did not care to guess. Let it be what it may be, for they had no business prying into the machinations of their master.

Besides, it wasn't as if they could ask.

Like the Emperor, Grel was dressed much the same as always, enshrouded by the heavy folds of their black cloak, an anomaly among the bright splendor of Romas. The itch to disappear grew stronger the further they journeyed towards that opulent palace, beggars and invalids lining the streets and alleys in droves. Grel would much rather join them there than ride among the nobility, to watch over the procession from their safety, but exposure was necessary this one time. Let Summer see that Varakos Vidask was protected.

More importantly, let those who'd made requests of Grel see that they had shown to make the meeting.

When the procession arrived at the Domus, they were greeted with dire pomp and circumstance: a parade of exotic animals and blaring musicians that nearly broke Grel's resolve to remain among the procession. Those who had made 'requests' did at least do Grel the kindness of offering distraction during the dance, having sent descriptions of the dress and decorative broaches they'd wear. They were to make contact between all the dancing and endless gossip— a welcome diversion.

Once they'd been checked over for weapons, and having ensured the Emperor was safely escorted, Grel dissolved. Holding human form in Winter was not so intolerable, the Castle more shadows and freezing than Summer's coldest months, so the effects of binding flesh were less noticeable. Here? Here, it'd be a struggle just to survive the ball.

However, just because they no longer remained in sight of watchful eyes, did not mean they abandoned their ruler or their charge. Between mapping out the corridors, the passages, the winding staircases and servants quarters, Grel ensured from the cracks in the stone and the corners of door frames that both remained unharmed.

It was far trickier to travel in this form in the Domus though, with such open architecture and unclouded skies present rendering shadows rare and fragmented. Too often Grel had to resume flesh and walk on foot, narrowly avoiding detection at several junctures in places they ought not to be. Only once were they caught— a servant, flustered and reddened in the cheeks. Mercifully, it was whilst drifting the upper corridors in search of more interesting secrets.

'Where have you been, Dog?' The man demanded hotly, before shaking his head and tugging at their arm, dragging them off towards the stairs like a sack of flour. 'Nevermind that, the Emperor has requested you in his chambers now. Prince Neve should be there already - aren't you supposed to be guarding him?' Late. How had Grel allowed themselves to be late on what could be one of the most important days of the decade? With not even a smile of recognition, they vanished back to shadow.

Materializing below in the guest quarters, a nod to the chamber guards had them knocking once before opening. No words could follow, no apology nor greeting. Grel merely entered and took a knee as they ought to, eyes lowered, head bowed. As always, they were entirely at the mercy of Winter's ruler.

 

[Bone2pick]

☼ Summer Lands
Sunset Canyon​

Soaring through the day's cloudless sky, propelled by enormous dark wings, were the canyon's executioners. Monstrous birds steered by the scent of blood, the sounds of illness, and the sights of frailty—the giant vultures of Sunset Canyon. A flock of seven hunted high over the dusty scrubland, each one with a goblin on their back. Their riders were the champions of the region's fiercest mercenary warband, the dreaded swoops of Clan Mudspray.

They flew with a purpose for this was no routine patrol. Men from Mercy Rock, a nearby village who payed "tribute" to the clan, alerted the goblins that four of their villagers had been slaughtered. They were on their way back with a supply wagon when they were ambushed; another day's travel and the men would have made it home. To complicate the crime none of the supplies were taken. Every trade good; the candles, soaps, and tools were left scattered around the campsite. Stranger still was the lack of bodies—only bloodstains and signs of violence. Even the pair of burros driving the wagon were nowhere to be found.

This was not a mission of justice. Clan Mudspray were a pitiless lot but they made efforts to protect their revenue streams. Chief Painpather assured the worried and heavy-hearted men of Mercy Rock that the Clan's swiftest and most cunning warriors would investigate the murders. And so the swoops were in the air within the hour.

A slight tug of the reigns pulled Cometcat's mount into a shallow dive. The Scourge of Swoops rode a smallish but fearless bird named Blect; she was her first and only animal since the goblin earned her wings three years ago. Other swoops quickly followed suit and fell into formation behind their commander. They were close.

"There!"

A swoop named Tricktiger hollered as he leveled a clawed finger towards a forward covey of scrub trees. With shade being a premium around the canyon the covey was a popular rest spot with locals. More importantly it was where the villagers told the Mudsprays they'd lost their men. Cometcat spotted a toppled wagon at the foot of the trees and then nodded back to Tricktiger. A moment later she plunged her thumb and index finger into her mouth and delivered a piercing whistle. After all eyes were on her she lifted a gloved fist overhead and swirled it around.

It was practice to hold and circle over a drop site for several minutes. Doing so afforded the air cavalry more time to survey their environment, locate choice landing spots, and most importantly scan for threats. And on reconnaissance drops a few goblins always stayed in the air. Keeping a couple of eyes in the sky had proved its worth time and time again.

Eventually, after minutes of circling, Cometcat brought Blect down beside the camp for a bumpy landing. Vultures were graceless landers even without the extra weight of an armed goblin. She deftly vaulted off her bird and snatched an arrow from her quiver, and as she did so an ethereal shortbow revealed itself into her opposite glove. Her fingerless gloves, taken off a slain assassin from Port Neptus, were enchanted to summon a ghostly bow for its wearer. They were priceless treasures for someone in her line of work. She didn't have to wait long for backup. Three other swoops were soon grounded and off their birds. The rest of the clan continued to fly and spy.

A glance around the campsite confirmed everything the villagers from Mercy Rock had reported. There were no corpses. No burros. Just a few crumpled tents, a smattering of tent stakes, some busted strings of twine, and a pair of sandals. The supplies were no longer there because the party who discovered the ravaged camp hauled them back to their village. There were also no relevant tracks to follow. The only visible footprints were from the Mercy Rock group who recently sifted through the crime scene. Wind gusts and loose canyon sand had likely erased the ones they had hoped to find.

Cometcat returned her arrow to its quiver and then fished a mangled tent out of the dirt. After she noted the grievous lacerations and punctures across its canvas, she pulled it under her bluish goblin nose. The bloodstains were several days old, perhaps more than a week.

"Long swords and spears?" A swoop named Fangfoom asked as he snatched a second tent off a clump of scrub grass to inspect it. It was in similar condition to hers.

"I don't think a sword could do this." Tricktiger answered. He was squatted across the camp and peering through a rupture in the upturned wagon's floorboards. It was a gnarly breach, roughly the size of a man's head. "Maybe an axe, or a halberd..."

"This was an ambush." Cometcat cut in as she paced through the camp. "Some of them never made it out of their tents." She didn't need to say any more, her clansmen understood. Fangfoom eventually finished her thought.

"It's not easy to pull off that kinda sneak out here. There's almost no cover."

"And it would take a bunch of them to haul away all those bodies," Tricktiger followed up. Cometcat frowned as she scanned the canyon land around the camp, then she asked the obvious question.

"Tell me how a group that size, toting axes, spears and whatever else, could get the drop on these fools while they're still sleeping? How could they do that?"

Birdieboots, the other swoop at camp, answered her Scourge's question with a question of her own.

"You think the moon howlers could have done this?"

The goblins stayed silent for a spell and considered the suggestion. Tricktiger finally shrugged and then spoke.

"They're probably the best angle we've got. I know they haven't done anything like this in a long time, but they're the only ones I can think of who wouldn't loot the wagon. Canyon gangs will jerk the false teeth out of their dead mother's mouths to make some coin, but moon howlers... They might just take the meat."

Cometcat nodded and snatched up Blect's reigns.

"That's good enough reasoning for me; let's go have a word with the watchmen of Khnum Keep."

 

[capMARVELOUS]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: MagicPenguin A Awakening AKIRA MedievalFanatic2023 Dover elextrified Dalamus Ulom NorthOfOrdinary
ooc: doing whatever snow does in summer​

Heinrich Volfang stood vigilantly at the door of the great Emperor Vidask's guest quarters, arms crossed, feet planted wide. His eyes, two specks of flint in a craggy face, scanned the hallway and surrounding area for any signs of anyone or anything that could threaten the Emperor's safety. Opposite him, on the other side of the door, stood his bastard brother, Genard, who scanned the area in a similar manner. To all outsiders, Heinrich exuded an air of confidence and determination. It was only his hands, tightly balled into fists, that revealed his true feelings to those who knew him.

He, Heinrich Volfang the Mighty, Heinrich Volfang the Immovable, Heinrich Volfang the Giver of Titles to Himself, was slightly terrified.

There were many factors that contributed to his feeling of fear. First of all was the fact that he was deep in unfamiliar Summer Court territory. Having lived his entire life in the Winter Court, he had only learned about Romas through the geography classes in Warrior School. Due to that, he had come into this city expecting one thing, but instead got something else that completely blew his expectations, and thus confidence, out of the water.

For example, the geography classes told that Romas' commoners lived in poor conditions. Now, he knew that "poor conditions" didn't do the peasants the slightest bit of justice. It had saddened Heinrich to see the utterly deplorable-beyond-words conditions that the commonfolk of Romas were forced to live in, and in pity, he had tossed some of them a few coins, telling them to buy something nice. Whereupon the peasants began to tear each other apart over who would get the money; whoever ended up with it would have to buy a doctor. Clearly, it wouldn't do to be as open-pursed here as he was in taverns back home.

What other sorts of underestimations of this place had his geography classes spoon-fed him? He'd have to find that out for himself.

Perhaps the main reason Heinrich was afraid was because this was his first real assignment. Granted, any freshly-minted Escort Soldier would be a bit nervous on his/her/its first assignment, but not every freshly-minted Escort Soldier immediately got assigned to guard the fucking Emperor of the entire Winter Court. Failure in this assignment was not an option. That was true for any assignment, but especially true for this one. If he failed in guarding the Emperor's life, the Winter Court would be thrown into chaos, he'd lose his own life, and the upstanding reputation of the Escort Corps would be tarnished beyond repair. No pressure, right?

From the outside, however, all of these thoughts were not evident in the Escort Soldier's posture and expression. He remained steadfast, breaking his vigil every now and then to tug on his collar- it was pretty damn hot.

 

[Dover]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: MagicPenguin A Awakening AKIRA capMARVELOUS elextrified
ooc: Ayyy I wrote a post. Only took me a million years.​

Deirdre Cimmeris​

If there was one reason that Deirdre was thankful not to be a member of the nobility, it was that some ill-conceived notion of propriety did not force her into a carriage. Instead of bumping along the dirt road up to the Summer lands, she took a horse: a dapple grey mare that suited her quite nicely. Travelling in such a manner still displeased her, but every time she saw a carriage hit a particularly large bump, it was silent confirmation that she’d made the correct choice. The only issue was the sun. It intensified as they travelled further North, forcing her to don a cowl when its glare became too much. The wisps of darkness that normally trailed around her form were entirely absently until they finally entered the city, and the buildings provided some cover from the unrelenting sun.

Romas was gaudy, as usual. They seemed to grow more garish every time renewing the treaty forced her here. All the structures were either elaborate towers or run-down slums. Nothing strong. Nothing fortified. They disgusted her.

The people themselves were a mixed bag. Some looked frightened as they saw the Winter procession pass. Others hostile—their teeth grit, fists clenched, and looking like they might consider a fight if it weren’t for the soldiers marching along near the Emperor. Peace, as always, was a fragile thing.

The carriages finally stopped as they neared the palace, and Deidre dismounted from her horse. She dusted horse hair off her riding breeches, and left her horse in the care of one of Winter’s stablehands. She watched the Emperor’s nearby carriage intently as messages were traded back and forth. Eventually, it lumbered forward again with the Emperor’s guard in tow. The rest of the procession gradually followed to be checked over by security. There were no issues and they were permitted to pass.

From the corner of her eye, Deirdre saw as the Prince’s bodyguard vanished into the nearby shadows. Even the Summer Court couldn’t keep beings such as them pinned down for long. The sun was always a problem, but without it, there were no shadows to be had.

Though she was no noble, Deirdre’s position granted her a guest room to herself near the Emperor’s own. She had no need for an escort, having done this song and dance many times before, and as soon as she was free of the Summer Court’s guard, she took her things to freshen up in her usual room.

The halls were already filled with members of the procession and the ever-vigilant Escort Corp. She saw one of the newest members of the Escort Corp standing at the door of Emperor Vidask’s quarters. Heinrich Volfang was… an interesting choice of a personal guard for the event. He was a skilled swordsman, certainly, but his tendency towards distraction was a potential problem. Still, he could be an asset.

“Heinrich,” Deidre greeted as she passed. She glanced at his brother next to him. It was a miracle she knew the names of Karolus Volfang’s various bastards, really. It was frankly astounding that he was still siring more. “Genard. Keeping your brother’s gaze at eye-level while we’re here, I hope.” She flashed Heinrich a knowing smile. “Carry on, gentlemen. There are too many rumors afoot for slacking from any of us.” With a polite incline of her head, Deidre continued down the hall to her room.

 

[Dover]

☠ Dragon's Rock
tagging: LesDom
ooc: -​

Alastair MacLianain​

“You assholes!” Alastair yelled.

The ship he arrived on, the one he was currently yelling at, had taken him all the way from Port Neptus to Dragon’s Rock. He’d paid a hefty sum for the transport, but not all his savings. Prior to a few minutes ago, he still had those savings. Had them.

Alastair grabbed a stone off the craggy shore of Dragon’s Rock and chucked it with all the force he could muster at the ship. With a disappointing splash, it landed a few hundred feet short of the retreating ship. A figure on board the ship waved at him. He could hear distant laughter. Furious, he grabbed another stone and threw it at the ship again, with similar results as the first. Just a pathetic splash in the water and nothing more. With a sigh of defeat, Alastair let his hands drop to his sides.

The crew of the ship had been fine at first. Maybe a little odd, but the thought of pirates never crossed his mind. At least, not until they stopped near some desolate shore of Dragon’s Rock, and they properly upended him to shake out any hidden money on his person. He’d not had much more on him. Apparently frustrated with that development, the pirates dumped both him and the rest of his belongings overboard. Alastair was thankfully a decent swimmer, and he’d retrieved his bag before swimming slowly to the nearby shore.

And now here he was: drenched, robbed, and frustrated. He sat upon the shore to pull off his boots, wringing the leather as much as he could to get the water out. A pitiful amount dribbled on the rust red rocks around him. He set the boots at his side, hoping the heat of the sun would do a better job than he was.

The shore the pirates had left him on was quiet—evidently not one of the shores the Summer Court used to transport their barbaric Dragon Trade goods. On either side of him, the shore of brown rocks stretched until he could no longer see it as it curled around the bend. Behind him was an uneven face of a cliff. A small path cut through the rock that led deeper into the island. He’d grown up somewhere in there—hidden in one of the many caves that littered Dragon’s Rock where he and the rest of his coven hid from the Summer Court, dragons, and their riders. Everything was dangerous on Dragon’s Rock, his mother had told him. That’s why they’d left when he was young, apparently, though the coven had originally arrived here for refuge.

It was strange to return to a home he couldn’t remember well.

After a few hours of pondering and drying on the shore, Alastair put on his still slightly damp boots and picked up his bag, hitching it over one shoulder. Moping on the shore was going to get him nowhere. If he was going to get anywhere, if he was going to learn anything about himself and how to control that unruly magic he always felt bubbling up inside him, he was going to have to work for it. But first things first. He had to find somewhere safe to camp where he could return to as he hunted for more rumors of the sorcerer that supposedly lived upon this rock.

Steeling himself, Alastair strode forth down the path that led deeper into Dragon’s Rock.

 

[MedievalFanatic2023]

Summer Lands
tagging; A Awakening AKIRA
ooc: lol here is my Monday post. had to do some edits. -.-

Alinas had much thought on her mind. she picked a rose snapping the stem and putting it in her hair. She hated the fact she was girl and could not rule but maybe that could all change. Maybe she could force herself up high maybe her stepmom would help if anything she seemed to be more strong and a easy partner to take her position of the throne. She loved her half brother and all but he just seemed unfit to rule in her eyes.

She minded her own business and sat on a bench admiring the Summer Solastice. Once everyone arrived she would go back to the ballroom where she was suppose to be in reality. She hummed bored as she put her hand up into the light to look at her finger nails. They're weren't chipped which was a relief she wanted everything to be perfect.

She decided she should probably go back inside she stood up off the bench and started to walk back inside from the gardens. It was nice to get fresh air but everyone was probably expecting her. The door to the ball room was opened for her and she walked gracefully in. Her father was still on the throne doing his job which was bossing servants around wanting everything perfect before the emperor entered the ballroom.

She didn't know the emperor but she knew he was unmarried with a bastard son. she went to sit in her chair that was beside her father and there was another for her half brother that was beside her step mom. She sat down smoothing her dress down and side glanced at her father with a small smile. She was honestly a bit more close to her father than she was to her stepmom well in her opinion.

She then looked straight forward patiently waiting for the winter court and their emperor. a lot was on her mind she hoped things would go well if the treaty broke who knows what would happen. She heard tales in the summer court that the emperor was quite ruthless not much of a pacifist like people said her father was. She then noticed some winter court she knew it would not be long until the emperor arrived with his bodyguards.

 

[LesDom]

Mir's eyes flashed open, suddenly rising inside his clay hut on the desolate Dragon's Rock.

"There's a presence here. Rune? No, would have felt longer. Item? Animal? Most definitely, vessel. Strong sign. Let's nose around." Without another word Mir vanished, sweeping himself up in a billowing cloak that appeared to shrink at the folds into nothing, inverting on itself as the hermit man traveled through a new plane.

"Not a strong sign, a boy? Interesting."

 

[TheMADQ]

☼ Summer Lands
tagging: MedievalFanatic2023 A Awakening AKIRA
ooc: It may be late and it may have take my first born child, but I give you my post.​

Mila of Romas, Tsaritsa of Summer

Mila, in her human female form, is lying back in her divan, plush, soft, taking the shape of of her body, so that it can support her completely. Surrounded by servants ghat pamper her at all times, she doesn't have to lift a single finger. Being fed the freshest of grapes right off the vine. She didn't even have to lift her own head when she was given a sip of wine, from her ruby encrusted gold chalice. People to rub lotion into her legs and massaging her feet. Placed in front of the open balcony so the gentle breeze can flow right to her. Even if that wasn't enough, there were plenty of people who are fanning her, so she didn't even sweat in this land of heat. The utmost comfort, being given any and everything she could possibly want. The perfect life in the perfect situation, it's heaven.

Or it was for the first few months that she was here. Now they are nothing but a nuisance, nagging her, touching her, invading her personal space. They just want leave her alone no matter what, by the orders of Adrius himself, that paranoid bastard. He won't trust her with a moment's peace, granted his paranoia is very much warranted. If left to her own devices she would do everything in her power to escape. But to no avail, even if she managed to get away from all of the guards, she would still need to find her Kitsuen star. Even though she still has not given in to her lot in life, she knows that he will slip up at some point. If she is patent enough and bides her time, she will be rewarded.

Maybe today will be the moment that she could take advantage of, with everyone so scattered and more concerned with their enemies right at the gate, this might be her chance. But she will have to be careful, for if she is caught or even suspected, then she will just get even more people watching her every moment of her life. She can't handle this she has to do something or she is just going to lose her mind.

"Your Majesty, we should be able to get through three more acquisitions before you have to go to the Ball." A long frustrated sigh leaves her lips, her eye twitches, she is at her limit with all of this. Even as the Tsaritsa, with her power and greater responsibility, she is still stuck listening to every single complaint from every single peasant, even if she isn't going to be directed involved with the solution. She still has to hear them all, it's driving her mand. The King told her that this was to show that they actually cared about there people, which she knew was a lode. He only cared about money and letting everyone know about it. She truly believes that the king just wants to send her so much busy work that she won't have the will left to escape. She rolls her hand for the servant to go on and read them.

She barely even listens to what they have to say, she just let's them go on and on. Before giving it half a thought and naming the person who should actually deal with this issue. This is a considered a light day for her, she normally has to write legislation and deal with the idiotic council. But because of the ball, she gets a break. "Your Majesty...Your Majesty...Your Mag.." But they were cut off.

She sits up in a flash, knocking over the wine and the grapes. "What what what what?!?!?! What could you possibly need now?isn't all of this enough? Listening to my soul fade away as you bash my will and kill everything left of me? What more can you ask for? " She breathes heavily having gotten a fraction of her anger out. She cloths are now stained with the red wine. She simply closes her eyes and punches the bridge of her nose. She is doing everything she can to not kill someone at this very moment.

The servant speaks with caution afraid to set her off. "Th-th-the...council needs you to loo.."

But Mila isn't going to have any of that. "The council can go suck my dick. I'm not going to deal with there bull shit today. I need to leave anyway." The servants tried to stop her, telling her that she needed to change her clothes, that she had a few more documents to go over. But nothing the did stopped her she knew what she was going to do, she had no intentions on being sane in that dress that the king had picked out for her. She had other ideas. "Tell the King I'm on my way." She says before becoming invisible. This was the only way she could ever get a moment to herself.

Even though she hates Winter, and even more the idea that she has to place goody goody with them. She has to out on that happy and subservient wife mask that the public knows. She has to she that she is perfectly happy being here. Even though this is the worst time of the year. After all the torment that Winter put her through. She would be glad if she could just never see any of them ever again. But at least they didn't capture and enslave her. Frankly she is just so tempted to do something, anything to trigger a war. Let the two lands that have hurt her so destroy one another, that would just make her day. But no,she has to go sit and hold back the vomit in her throat all night.

She makes her way to the ballroom unseen anyone, which is just the way she wants it,she wants to make even more of a surprise entrance then her self absorbed husband. This has become a habit of hers, if she can she will outshine him and upstage him in front of the people. She feels that if she can emasculate someone as materialistic as him, even if it just out of appearance, it's a blow to his ego. She knows that she is isn't going to bear the end of this form him but right now it's worth it. Her future self can deal with the consequences. She enters the ballroom still invisible. Goes over and takes her seat. She only then makes herself visible. She is wearing a long elegant white dress covered in rare jules and stitched with only the finest material. gloves that cover her whole arm with expensive rings on each finger. A gorgeous platinum necklace. Her presence stunning and gives off a soft glow. Now all of this is an illusion but as long as it accomplishes her goal is all that matters