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Post by blossom on Mar 3, 2007 14:52:59 GMT -5
**Please post profiles in the profiles thread, but you don't have to wait for approval, just join in. Just make sure everything's appropriate And feel free to make three or four characters - that's what this RP's for!
Now, for setting: The country of Islen, more specfiically the populated Kingdom of Ellone, run by a mage council, although there is the figurehead Prince Lukas. There are three main cities - Eren, a port city, where merchants, traders, pirates and travellers of all kinds gather. Arin - the captial, a magical city where the Mage Council meets regularly. And Serin - a fortress city.
There are numerous other towns, villages and hamlets around the kingdom, but the three cities are the biggest and most populated settlements.
Twilight, if you want to go ahead and start this (and make more characters) then do! **
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 6, 2007 11:43:15 GMT -5
Demanvar rose out of his bunk and stretched, his hands brushing the low ceiling of the room. Being on furlough wasn't always worth the time off, and at least this time the General had picked him to get a message through to Arin and the mages. ... Even if the man had told him to take the long way around through Eren to get there. Sometimes orders made no sense. At least he had gotten to Eren on time.
He shook his head, then shrugged into his clothing and armor before strapping the sword belt around himself, letting it settle on his hips. He hitched it around, then headed for the common room. Breakfast sounded like a good prospect, and Eren had a reputation for good food...and good wine.
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Post by blossom on Mar 6, 2007 12:22:35 GMT -5
Shafts of sunlight breaking through the shuttered windows spilled over Edward's face, waking him from a peaceful slumber. With a yawn, he sat up in his bed and swung his legs over the side. Travelling had never really suited Edward, as he was nervous around horses and carriages made him ill, but he had found his sejourn in Eren to be rather pleasant.
He stood, and pulled on his shirt, breeches and surcoat before running a comb through his tangle of dark hair. Finally he slipped his spectacles onto his nose, and left the room. He was staying in a popular inn in Eren, The Dark Horse, and he saw as he made his way down the stairs that it was crowded even in the early morning.
"Mornin' Ed," called a voice, and Edward turned to see Sofie, one of the serving girls, at the foot of the stairs. She was a lively girl, just twenty, with a buxom and curvacious figure that made her a favourite at The Dark Horse. Copper coloured hair hung in a mass of shimmering curls around a beautiful face dominated by large green eyes.
"You'll be wantin' a table, yeah?" she asked Edward now. He felt himself blushing, as he did around any pretty girl, and nodded.
"Y-yes, p-please ..." he mumbled, awkward and stuttering. Sofie grinned and winked at him, making him blush deeper.
"This way, Ed," she pointed to a spare table in the corner.
"Hey ... why are you botherin' with that pasty-faced boy? You're clearly not his type, love," a large, muscled man called from the bar with a wink, "But you're just mine!"
"Ahh, but Ed's a gentleman!" Sofie called back, clearly delighted. Ed blushed even more, and followed Sofie to his table wishing he was still asleep.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 6, 2007 14:27:30 GMT -5
As Demanvar walked into the common room, he added another item to his list of good things to be found in Eren. Pretty women. Well, at least, the serving girl was pretty. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, looking around at the patrons, none quite as large as he...especially in half-armor. He found an empty table to one side, with a chair that had its back to the wall. He would have prefered a corner, so as to be protected on both sides, but a wall would do for now.
He took a seat, glancing toward where the serving girl was chatting with a bespectacled young man who was blushing furiously. He chuckled to himself, then looked out the window at the nearly empty street in front of The Dark Horse.
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Post by blossom on Mar 7, 2007 9:55:00 GMT -5
"So, what'd you like fer breakfast?" Sofie asked as Ed slid into a seat at the table. He kept his eyes focused on the wood grain of the table as he answered, and fiddled with the buttons of his surcoat.
"Oh ... um, well, I suppose a cooked breakfast would be nice."
"Fry up? Eggs, sausages, bacon, fried bread, yeah?"
"Yes, please." Ed confirmed with a nod. Sofie's eyes sparkled with amusement. For such a slim man, Ed had a hearty appetite.
"Comin' right up." She nodded. She gave his order to Alessandro, the chef, then turned and looked around the Inn. At his table in the corner, Ed had produced a small book from his surcoat pocket and appeared to deeply absorbed in reading it. Sofie giggle, then spotted a handsome man in armour sat by himself to one side of the Inn. Her eyes sparkled again as she noticed he wasn't being served.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 7, 2007 11:39:57 GMT -5
Demavar had noticed that the serving girl was surveying the room again, but his attention was on the street outside at the moment. He was sure he'd seen someone from his unit for a moment...talking to the man who'd followed him most of the way here. Something...felt wrong about that. He'd have to be on his guard.
He heard footsteps coming toward him and turned his head.
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Post by blossom on Mar 7, 2007 11:49:38 GMT -5
"Good mornin', sir," Sofie flashed the stranger a dazzling smile, "What can I get for yer?"
Glancing over the top of his book in the corner, Ed saw many of the men in the Inn glaring half fearfully, half murderously at the newcomer that had captured Sofie's attention. Ed swallowed nervously and decided he was safer reading his book.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 7, 2007 11:55:04 GMT -5
"Good morning." Demanvar smiled back wtih a respectful nod, ignoring the looks most of the men in the room were giving him. Even if they all fought him at once, none of them could come close to him if he wished. "Would you please to tell me what are my choices?"
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Post by blossom on Mar 7, 2007 12:19:02 GMT -5
"Well, we have a traditional fry up, fish, salads, prawn cocktails, toast, scones, bread, grilled cheese," Sofie recited, "Any o' them grab yer fancy?"
Ed turned the page in his book as quietly as possible. He hoped his breakfast wouldn't be too long; he wanted to escape this hostile atmosphere and spend as much of today as he could in the library.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 7, 2007 15:12:26 GMT -5
Demanvar nodded. "I believe I'll try some of your tradition, and a bit of fish." He glanced toward the man in the corner as he turned a page, then back to the girl. "I've heard there are different kinds of fish. What would you reccommend?"
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Post by blossom on Mar 8, 2007 11:33:35 GMT -5
"Well the cod's very popular but there's nowt like a nice bit o' smoked haddock in my opinion," Sofie replied cheerily.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 8, 2007 17:17:48 GMT -5
Demavar grinned. "Well then, if you like it that much, it has to be good. A bit of smoked Haddock then!"
He spun two silvers onto the table and added, "Also, whatever's on tap for a drink would be nice."
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Post by jessimyre on Mar 9, 2007 6:56:47 GMT -5
Dreya hurried out of the kitchens bearing a tray of food. Red faced, she hurried to serve the patrons at the far end of the room. As usual Sofie was charming her pick of the customers. Dreya didn't begrudge her luck but she was just a little envious of her - with Sofie around, she was never noticed. Not that she was much in demand anyway with such a boyish figure and the sort of face that blended easily with the background. A waif, a stray, a skinny girl who was lucky to have been taken in and given a job, and a roof over her head.
She set down the plates with a smile and hurried back for another tray to be served. As she went, she barely picked out one face from another, so intent was she on her job. She brushed a stray lock of lacklustre brown hair from her face and huffed a sigh as she entered the kitchens once more. It was a busy morning.
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Post by blossom on Mar 9, 2007 8:26:37 GMT -5
"Comin' right up, sir," Sofie grinned, picking up the silvers and headed for the kitchens. She pushed through the doors just after one of the other serving girls, Dreya.
"Smoked haddock and a house brew," she told the chef, a plump and cheery man named Olaf. "And don't ferget Ed's fry up."
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 9, 2007 13:59:49 GMT -5
Demanvar had noticed the other serving girl as she hurried around the room delivering food. She was unremarkable, which was exactly why he had paid attention to her. Like the man who had followed him here, she had the ability to fade into the background. He had no doubt that with a bit of primping, she'd be as noticable as Sofie in her own way. He glanced out the window again, seeing that while the soldier had gone, the other man had started for the inn. He snorted softly to himself. Something was coming up, and here he was getting everyone in the room in the thick of it. He should have left the moment he'd gotten up, but no...he'd had to come grab a bite. He shrugged his massive shoulders as he thought about it, then watched the slender man open the door and walk in.
*****
Anaz was tired of dodging the soldier's eyes. The man had watched him without seeming to watch him for the past week and a half...all the way from Serin. Fine. Enough was enough. Whatever the man thought, he wanted to get him off his back. A thief who was noticed was not a successful thief. Or a good spy. He shoved open the door of the Dark Horse and stalked straight to the soldiers table and took a seat across from him, daring him with his whole demeanor to say something, anything about it.
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Post by jessimyre on Mar 9, 2007 21:56:43 GMT -5
BTW Blossom, do they have 2 chefs in the Dark Horse? Both Olaf and Alessandro?
"More customers comin' in." Kym, the third of the serving girls spoke up as Dreya picked up a new tray to take out. Although not as pretty as Sofie, she was a pleasant faced, wholesome lass with a merry smile and twinkling eyes. "Whew will be glad once they're done, I'm lookin' forward to breaktime today - me poor feet are killin' me." she added conversationally as she too took up a tray, checking to see where it had to go.
"Dreya, we need some more Baysmead up, can you go down and fetch some?" Olaf asked, not even looking up from his work. Dreya nodded assent, deposited her tray with Kym and hurried over to the back door, leading to the small stable-yard at the back of the tavern. She hurried outside, turned a sharp right and decended down the cellar stairs with a clatter.
Bringing the Baysmead up was a different story. The heavy casket was awkward and offered little in the way of handholds. Adjusting her slight frame Dreya squared up and hoisted the casket onto her shoulder, balancing its weight as best she could. She stepped carefully to the bottom of the stairs and placed her foot on the first step back to the yard, it would be a slow journey up the stairs if she didn't want to risk slipping or losing her balance.
A loud, sharp retort rang out above her, echoing around the buildings. Dreya froze. What was that? She heard shod hooves rattle on the cobbles as horses spooked, dogs began barking and the distant sounds of conversation which were loud in the Tavern's Common Room had stopped. She held her breath, not daring to move.
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Post by blossom on Mar 10, 2007 6:23:42 GMT -5
LOL! I completely forgot I'd posted that!!!! Okay, now they have two Ed turned another page in his book as he waited. The serving girls rushed in and out of the kitches, bring orders, chatting with the customers and flirting with some of the more handsome ones. He would miss the hustle and bustle of The Dark Horse when he returned to Arin, he thought. The quiet of his home would be strange by comparison. As he read, Ed almost thought he heard a noise from outside, but over the rabble of the inn it was hard to be sure. Soon he had forgotten all about it. Sofie pushed out of the kitched with the eggs and bacon ordered by a young couple in the back. She placed their meals in front of them and accepted their thanks with a gracious smiled. "Oi, Sofie! Where's my Baysmead?" she turned around and saw one of the regulars, a fisher named Ern, sat at the bar. "Dreya's jus' bringin' some more up, Erin," she called back, "Won't be long." She then surveyed the range of customers and noted a newcomer sat across from the soldier. Reaching for her notepad and a pencil, Sofie ambled across to them. "Yer meal won't be long, sir," she told the soldier with a smiled, then turned to the other man, "Can I get you anything?"
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 12, 2007 14:29:44 GMT -5
Demanvar only watched as the man who had followed him to Eren stalked to the table and sat across from him, eyes glinting. This was a man on the edge, dangerous. Very well, let him open the conversation. He lost nothing by not speaking.
The serving girl came over, and he nodded to her as she told him his meal would be out soon. "Thank you." He returned his gaze to his unwelcome guest. ***** Anaz shook his head, giving the serving girl a quick glance. "No. Thank you." He locked eyes with the soldier again.
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Post by blossom on Mar 12, 2007 15:18:38 GMT -5
"If yer sure," Sofie nodded and moved away to another table to take their order.
"Sofie! My brew ain't 'ere yet!" The red-headed serving girl turned around and glared at the man, hands on hips.
"I already told yer Ern, Dreya's bringin' some up!"
Come to think of it, where was Dreya? It shouldn't have taken that long to fetch the Baysmead. Sofie wondered if she could go and look for her ... maybe something had happened.
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Post by jessimyre on Mar 12, 2007 16:24:08 GMT -5
Dreya set the Baysmead down carefully and crept up the steps. It had sounded almost like a whip-crack, but much louder. She could not think of what may have created the sound. She heard voices, stable boys calming the horses, people hushing their dogs. A babble of conversation from outside the stable yard, out on the street.
Peeping over the top of the cellar doorway, Dreya surveyed the yard. A tall woman, much taller than any she'd ever seen stood in the centre of the yard, listening intently to what, Dreya didn't know. She wore long robes of the deepest blue, perhaps of silk and velvet. Her hair was raven black, tumbling down her back. Her skin was pale and clear. Her eyes - her eyes were so very dark. Violet in colour.
Dreya watched a moment as the woman strode forward to the Dark Horse's rear doors. She vanished through them, into the Tavern itself. Dreya stood frozen for a moment. What to do? Who was this woman and how did she get there? Hitching up her skirt she scurried up the steps, the mead forgotten.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 14, 2007 14:25:22 GMT -5
Demanvar and Anaz both looked up as someone else came into the Dark Horse. A very...interesting someone. Probably a mage. They glanced at each other, their eyes agreeing to a momentary truce, then back at the woman in the deep blue robes. Things were looking up.
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Post by blossom on Mar 15, 2007 12:07:42 GMT -5
Ed caught the shift in atmosphere as the door to the Dark Horse opened. He looked up and saw a woman in deep blue robes sweep into the room and look around. Ed had to consciously stop himself from gaping. What on earth was Mage Anjala doing here?
She was one of the highest ranking members of the Mage Council, second only to Mage Jircef and the head of the council, Mage Saehenine. She looked to be in her late thirties, or early forties, though her face was oddly ageless. Dark hair fell in ringlets and curls to her shoulders, and sharp eyes looked around the room out of a square, handsome face.
Ed stared at her, the book in his hands completely forgotten.
- - - -
Sofie didn't see Anjala as she had stolled through the kitchen to the back steps. As she started down them she saw Dreya scurried upwards. The redhead planted herself in the middle of the stairs and placed her hands on her hips.
"Dreya!" she called, green eyes flashing, "There you are! What took you so long?" Then Sofie noticed the other girl's empty hands. "Where's the Baysmead?"
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 15, 2007 12:23:31 GMT -5
Demanvar looked back at the man who had followed him again only to find him staring back. He sighed. He really, really should have just left early this morning. First this man, then the mage. And he was supposed to get through to Arin without any fuss. Being a Courier was turning out to be harder than he'd thought it would. And who knew whether or not this mage was on his side? She might be there to try and take the message.
***** Anaz was getting angrier. First this soldier was blowing his cover, now there was a mage who might remember him. He swore silently. NOT his idea of a good start to his morning. Maybe he should just pick up and go. Cut his losses. His eyes narrowed. Forget that! He was going to have it out with the soldier first thing when that mage left.
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Post by jessimyre on Mar 15, 2007 17:42:13 GMT -5
"Didn't you see?" Dreya panted to Sofie, "A mage, one of the mages in the council! She's right here!" she tried to push past Sofie to hurry into the Tavern to see what was happening.
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Post by blossom on Mar 16, 2007 5:33:18 GMT -5
"What!?" Sofie ran with Dreya into the inn, where everyone was silent, staring at the mage. Sofie looked at the woman's square, handsome face with a stunned awe.
- - - - -
Ed watched as Anjala's gaze swept around the room, taking in every person there. The librarian had the feeling she knew more about all of them than they would wish.
Finally, the woman's gaze settled on the man at the soldier's table. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and her lips twitched up into a slight smile.
"Anaz," she greeted him in a deep, musical voice, "I didn't expect to see you here."
BTW, Anjala is an NPC, so anyone can control her.
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