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- Multiple posts per day
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- Primarily Prefer Female
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THEME
Marcellus;Quicksand;LB;
THE
RIDERS
of VERLENDIA
RIDERS
of VERLENDIA
DRIVING FORWARD
The sun rose like a jewel over the rolling crest of Mount Curoet. Golds and reds and brilliant magenta danced along the shimmering grey of Mist Catcher's scaly hide, lending the dragon its light as he and his rider soared high overhead. With a sweeping arc downward, Milo clutched at the makeshift reins a little tighter with one paw, the other held overhead as a triumphant cry rose and died in his throat, Melindre's warning playing in his head with calming resonance.
"You aren't seen as the heroes you ought to be. Not yet, Milo. Someday, soon, but for now, we must remain cautious and hidden…"
"Okay, Misty…" Milo called gently, instead, "Let's head back."
With a wide curve, beast and rider circled about and with a great pump of leather wings, Mist Catcher surrendered to the air currents, gliding in a steady stream back to the camp. A few minutes later, they landed with a sturdy whump and Milo slipped down off the dragon's back, giving him a pat on his long, slender neck.
"See anything of interest?" Melindre's voice echoed cool and soft in the darkness of the valley, but Milo still leapt with a squeal, as if she had shouted. With a quiet chuckle, the Oracle shook her head, "Peace, Little One. You're not in trouble."
"I know y-you said w-w-we had to hide, b-but I j-just couldn't help it. He w-wanted to–"
"I trust it will grow harder and harder to ignore the draw, not just for you, Milo… but for all the Riders. It is your destiny, after all. And it is their nature." Gingerly, Melindre extended a hand, and with a flicker of a nod from Milo, Mist Catcher curved his head into her palm, "Besides, it's nearly time for us to return, anyway. You've all learned so much over these past few weeks, and we've a lot of work to do out there."
"Tiriok m-mentioned a m-mission?" Milo asked, a furry brow raised.
"Yes. Down into Atheno. But you needn't worry yourself over that. He won't need everyone. Now then, haven't you got your training with Leander this morning?"
Milo's nose wrinkled, his ears drooping, "I'd rather go w-with Tiriok."
"Now, Milo…" With a sympathetic smile, Melindre shook her head, "It's not all that bad. And I heard you're improving quite nicely."
"If you c-call learning to d-d-dodge w-when he throws things at m-me improving…" Giving his ears a tug, he cracked a smile, tongue peeking through his missing canine.
With a light chuckle, Melindre reached towards him, hand finding his shoulder, "I've learned, in the short time we've had together, Dear One… that Leander shows he cares in very different ways from the rest of us. Trust me, if he wasn't at least a little invested, he'd have no concern whether or not you were catching on. Now then, best get Misty back to camp, the hunting party brought back some stags. Then move along to your lesson."
"C'mon, Misty…" Tail slumped, Milo trudged off, and with a snort that filtered a plume of vapor into the air, Mist Catcher followed along.
~~§~~
With the map unrolled in front of him, Tiriok heaved a sigh, a hand raising absentmindedly to pinch the bridge of his nose. Frustration curled like a lazy cat around his shoulders, scrunched and tight, and a twinge of pain began to lick the length of his spine. They had no choice. He told himself again, yet the words he was hoping might bear some spell-like ability to sooth had thus far done little more than aggravate him further. If they didn't find out answers, there would be no telling what they were up against, and the best source for information happened to be in Atheno… but even without the city overrun by the unknown enemy they faced, Kam'brisa was a danger all on her own. Tiriok knew all too well what his adopted sister required of him, even if it would undoubtedly bring more struggles down the line, but their options were worn thin, and they couldn't stay hidden forever, especially knowing they would have several fully grown dragons on their hands, soon.
Marking another pathway off on the parchment, he finally rolled it back up and slipped it into his pack. The others would be arriving shortly. He asked Leander and Natalia to accompany him, their expertise of the city not the least of their usefulness. In the end, he'd also asked Casimir to tag along. He was young and impulsive, but his innocent appearance lent a certain protective air of presumption to their group, and if they could maintain some degree of stealth throughout the city there was a chance they might just survive.
Their journey into the once pristine city, however, was not the sole source of his unease. Hexar had approached the group the night prior with information regarding Kyensi's lost villagers and it was decided, in the end, that a small group would transport to Maglin to attempt a rescue. It was an enormous risk, but one Hexar was confident they could accomplish, and Tiriok had no doubt Kyensi wouldn't rest until they had at least tried.
Two missions, unfathomably dangerous, and all he could do was pray they survived… But at least Leander and Rashan couldn't kill each other if they were in separate parties.
~~§~~
The fire crackled as Melindre threw another twig into the heat. The two teams would be leaving soon, their separate missions planned, and in a few hours they would depart. There wasn't much the Oracle could do, now, but ensure they had something to eat along the way… It was difficult, the weight she carried, the burden of knowing her role was coming to an end, made all the more heavy knowing she had come to care for the people she was tasked with guiding. Soon enough, they wouldn't need her, and for the first time in a long time, Melindre was facing true blindness… A life lacking purpose.
Stretching forward, hands held out to test the radiating heat, she sighed, "Knowing Mistress… Guide my troubled mind. Show me where I--"
Steps crunched through the overgrowth and Melindre's hand went to the blade at her side, relaxing a moment later at the familiar tread, "Morning Leander."
"Talking nonsense to fires again, are you?" Leander asked as he came into the clearing and looked at Melindre hunched by the warmth of the fire. He noticed her hand relax at her side and smirked, knowing she couldn't see it but likely could feel it in the air. "Were you going to try and attack me? That's cute."
Leander approached and sat a few paces away from the Oracle. He seemed more relaxed than he should be given the current situation in Atheno. His home had been overrun… and for most, that would be devastating. He wondered how Natalia was taking it. But for Leander, he didn't want to return with the news that he had not become a Dragon Rider. He could hear the disappointment and anger in his father's voice now. He could almost feel the lashings. If the Eirblins were right, there was a likelihood that his father was dead. Maybe he should be celebrating?
"What are you doing out here, Oracle. You know you shouldn't be alone."
"I'm hardly lost in the woods, Leander. Camp is just around the bend." Reaching to her other side, she plucked up a long, thick branch and prodded at the flames, the light flaring briefly before the embers relaxed against their stone floor, "Cooking up some of the stag for you all to take with you. You shouldn't expect Atheno to be the same as you remember it, and it would be wise to avoid merchant stalls, just in case you're recognized."
Looking up, an unfocused gaze falling near his face, she shrugged and smiled faintly, "Best use I can be, at the moment."
"...hard not to be lost when you're blind.." Leander said under his breath as he watched her poke at the fire. The smell of the stag cooking was welcoming but Melindre's nagging soured that for him. Like he didn't know to keep from merchant stalls when he went to Atheno. She treated him like a child and he hated it.
"I'm no fool, Melindre. I know it will be different and I know to keep away from places with prying eyes. But that could be almost the whole damn city, which begs the question... Why am I going? I understand wanting someone who knows the city but it almost seems reckless to take Natalia and I. Would have been easier to just draw that blasted knight a map…" he stopped, thinking for a moment. "..I guess I should do my hair differently at least."
"It's not just your knowledge of the city, Leander. You and Natalia have influence. More than that, you've reason to be there. Obviously staying out of sight is ideal, but if you are caught, you'll have a better hand at talking your way out of it than Tiriok might. And contrary to whatever you might think, I know you're not a fool. Tiriok needs someone with the mind for the delicacy of this mission. And having someone who can fight if need be… well, it doesn't hurt."
"What reason do I have being there?" he asked, looking back at the Oracle with irritation. He hoped she didn't mean his father, otherwise she truly was blind. "What the hell are we looking for anyway? That might help things along rather than wandering in aimlessly."
"You're from Atheno. A simple explanation of why you've been away will certainly be less suspicious than an outsider's presence there." Straightening up slightly, her eyes shifted back to the fire, "Tiriok has a contact there… Someone who may have information on what we're up against. On who we're up against. Lord Direstrine made mention of her having been paid to procure the Book of Calling. And it can't hurt to gather the state of the city. How bad things have gotten."
A light smile curved at the edge of her lips and she shrugged, "I would have thought you'd want something else to do besides watching me tend the fire…"
"It's my job to watch you." Leander replied as a matter of a factly. He then picked up a stick and started prodding at the fire as well. His stomach grumbled lightly but he ignored it. "The Book of Calling… and Lord Direstrine. Do you think we can actually trust what he has to say?"
Leander looked over to her. He was asking because of what Lord Direstrine had instructed him to do.. to bring Melindre back to him. It was an order but it didn't sit well with him. There was something wrong but he didn't know what it was just yet. Maybe Melindre did? He was fishing for her thoughts.
"I don't trust the man as far as I could throw him, Leander." Her gaze drove into the flames, the nature of her words reflected in the gray depths, "Fact is, he scares me. The Direstrine family has always been… troublesome. But Lord Direstrine, himself? He's driven. Too driven. His intent to maintain his rule rises above the needs of everyone around him, of his own kingdom's safety. His lust for control is little different than the likes of Omesh Kar, and there is very little, I imagine, that he will not do to meet his goals..."
Looking up again, eyes misty, she shrugged, "But that makes this mission all the more important. Our enemy is not singular, nor are they foolish. And we need answers. I am one woman, Leander… and I am not so important that I should risk this mission. But you should ask yourself why Direstrine would concern himself with my protection… when the Riders' lives are so at stake."
Leander watched her as she confirmed what he thought to be true; Lord Direstrine could not be trusted. There was something about the man that bothered him but what would he do now? A Lord had given him an order… but for what reason? Melindre was right. Why would Lord Direstrine care about her when the Riders of Verlandia should be the most important thing. It didn't add up.
He looked back at the fire and sighed. "You should hurry up and finish cooking this. We're hungry and we have to leave soon." Leander stood, brushed off his pants and started to make his way back to the rest of the group but he stopped, looking back over at Melindre. What did that lord want with her?
~~§~~
The Bridge was nearly complete. Hexar had spent nearly all night working on it, each intricate part of the puzzle laid out with precision befitting an Artisan at his craft. Now, as the sun began to crest the misty mountains, leaving a haze in the air overhead, his fingers delicately wove thread into rope, pristine silk, braided six, now seven, now eight feet in length. When it was at last long enough, he carefully wound it into a loop, the circle completed as both ends were tied into a knot. With the pieces of the material elements in place, the final components to the complicated spell began. Straightening, his eyes falling closed, the Klerion took in a deep, slow breath, releasing it in measure.
His hands clasped palm to palm, and he pressed them to his bare chest, before easing them forward, pushing through air with a languid stretch. At the same time, he moved his feet shifting, sliding in deliberate motions. Slowly, at first, then steadily building speed, the motions poured into a dance, the intensity growing with perfect, unheard rhythm. Shuffling gave way to leaps, to spins, to twisting and turning, as he moved around the circle, finally landing with silent resolution in the center. Beads of sweat glistened off his forehead and back, breathing deep and full. A glowing light enveloped the rope, rising upwards a good distance. Smiling, Hexar raised his arms over his head before thrusting them outward to either side. With a gust of wind, the light bloomed outward, following the curves and arcs of the patterns he carved with his bare feet. Meeting at a central point and driving upwards, the light formed an archway above the ground, brightly glowing, giving off a low humming sound.
Satisfied, Hexar pulled on his robe and tied it before he turned away from the bridge. He took the path that would lead him to camp and there, finding his team by the fire, he cleared his throat, "...It is ready. Time to go."
Tiriok looked up to the Klerion and giving a nod, rose to his feet as well, "Right. Suppose it's best we head out as well, then. With any luck at all, we'll meet back here by sunset tomorrow at the latest, but if not, it's time we moved on from this camp. Melindre…" He looked to the Oracle, who glanced up with an oddly distracted expression, "If anything goes wrong, you and Milo should take Mist Catcher and head for the coast. Team? Gear up… It's time to get some answers."
~~§~~
Roughly two hours brought Tiriok's team to the outskirts of Atheno. The Pale City glistened in the pale light of day, blues and whites of cobalt and limestone a beacon against the grays and greens of the rocky mountains. High above the dome-capped buildings, the Guilded Court rose skyward, the trio of towers a pinnacle of the city's majesty. But even at a distance, the horrors of the siege wrought upon the Pale City could be glimpsed. Charred battle scars marred the walls surrounding the city, and scattered rubble broke the arching skyline. Beneath the scent of the Eternal Pines, lingered the acrid remnants of burning… and worse.
Jaw tensing, fingers curling around the blade at his side, Tiriok breathed in and out, taking a moment to steal himself, before turning to the others, "Hoods up. Once we're through the gate, we need to take the fastest, least public route to the Shade Market. Leander, Natalia… I look to your lead."
~~§~~
As the last of them stepped through the portal, they were instantly met with the sudden rush of dry heat, as Maglin's sun, high overhead, illuminated the alley into which they arrived. The difference in temperature was immediate, the air filled with a dry dustiness, under which lay a current of sweetness, of herbs and florals, and the more pungent aroma of musk.
Voices carried from the streets, but no one seemed to give notice to their arrival, and Hexar seemed to sense the unasked question in the air as he brushed down his robes, "Welcome to Shalmarin. The Bridge is invisible to those who do not walk through it. We will be safe to leave it here. For now, we need to head into the city center. If what I saw when skried was indication, the prisoners were be kept in the Hammer's Keep. Stick close, and try not to draw attention…" His gaze shifted to the colorful group, lingering briefly on Oleander. A small smirk appeared as he shook his head, "As much as you can, anyway."
TAGS || @KatSea, @Owl, @Verran, @ze_kraken, USER=27916]@Pupperr[/USER], @Custodiet Teh, @SilverPaw
Interactive Elements |
The time has come for your separate missions…
The first team will be headed by Tiriok, consisting of Leander, Natalia and Casimir - this team's intent is to find the woman known as the Merchant Queen, Kam'brisa, in the besieged city of Atheno. Getting in will be the first obstacle, and from there, navigating the dangerous grounds without drawing suspicion.
The second team is led by Hexar and consists of Haloke, Roshan, Oleander and Kyensi. This team will head through a newly created Bridge Portal, which will transport the team to Maglin, where they will set out to find and rescue the captured villagers from Kyensi's home.
Interactive Elements |
The time has come for your separate missions…
The first team will be headed by Tiriok, consisting of Leander, Natalia and Casimir - this team's intent is to find the woman known as the Merchant Queen, Kam'brisa, in the besieged city of Atheno. Getting in will be the first obstacle, and from there, navigating the dangerous grounds without drawing suspicion.
The second team is led by Hexar and consists of Haloke, Roshan, Oleander and Kyensi. This team will head through a newly created Bridge Portal, which will transport the team to Maglin, where they will set out to find and rescue the captured villagers from Kyensi's home.
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