Citadel - A Tale of Ara [1x1 IC]

[Emperor Nat]

Protagonist and RP Partner - Carantathraiel

Name: Aera
Age: Twenties, by appearance
Race: Elf
Bio: Aera is quiet and contemplative. She listens and observes before she acts or speaks. ...Most of the time. She is cautious around other elves and cold toward humans, not because of disinterest but because of a lack of trust. She favors the bow for a weapon.
She wears bland dresses and hoods, seeking to hide her identity, although she's traveled so far that no one would possibly recognize her. She is always wearing long gloves that go up her arms and tie by string behind her neck.

Aera was once the heir to a court of nocturnal elves in a land far away. She was taken from her home and thrown into the world of the humans, whom she was raised to fear. Living among them taught her different. She had once fallen in love with a human prince and married him. His cities people rebelled against their union, unwilling to have an elf on the throne or to follow the half-blood heir that would follow. During a feast celebrating the announcement of her pregnancy, the palace was attacked and Aera poisoned. She lost her child and later learned her beloved had been slain. She left the city, once again having lost faith in humanity, and wanders the earth with an empty heart.
Character Picture:

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Until the early decades of the Seventh Era, the majority of the mainland was taken over by the Empire of Man; a huge nation over two millennia old, which had through warfare and diplomacy managed to secure the entirety of the mainland barring a few small tribal holdings, the Eastern Kingdom and Talisadra. These two remaining nations were in a relatively stable relationship with each other until the Necromantic Wars of the late Sixth Era destabilised the Empire and provided enough political fuel to spark a war between the Empire and Eastern Kingdom (as well as causing a great deal of land to the south to be lost to the creation of a new Kingdom for the Culled). After the destruction of the Imperial Capital in 6009, the Empire continued to lose land and eventually broke into a series of independent states.
One such independent state was that of Citadel, a huge city in the Southern Empire close to the geographic centre of Ara originally conceived as a safe haven for wraith who had managed to escape their enslavement. Although Citadel was founded whilst the Empire still stood, a fierce war fought by its forces eventually saw that the fragmentation of the Empire would come quickly. Citadel quickly captured enough land to transcend its small roots and became known as the ‘Holy Kingdom of the Wraith’. The Holy Kingdom soon managed to reclaim the majority of the Empire’s lost land, allowing its borders to stretch from the southern edges of Talisadra and the Culled-Kingdom right to the northern coast.
Since the early days of the Empire's fall, Citadel has been ruled by a single woman - an elf, young at her accession but now with over a century of experience behind her. Her name is Lady Nyx, and those who know nothing else of her know that they ought to fear her. She and the Blackguard, the elite fighting force of warriors sworn to her service, ruled Citadel with an iron grip. No army has ever been able to stand against them and win. And so, Lady Nyx has become a figure of great hatred for many and great hope for others... but through all trials and all troubles, her will has endured.

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The great gates of citadel rise up before you, many long merchant caravans making their way in between the almighty wooden doors. Beyond the gates you could see only the vast urban sprawl of the place, and at your direct front you have only the huge walls towering hundreds of feet above your head. You move with the crowds, in between the gates; stopped briefly by a man wearing sleek black armour and a red cloak. He sees that you look intimidated, as many do coming to the city for the first time.

He gives you a few words of faint encourangement, before sending you on your way.

The mainstreet of the market quarter streches out before you - a huge, wide cobbled road working its way slowly uphill. There are numerous shops lining its edges, selling all manner of wares - both for the adventurous and the mundane. Traders have set up stalls all down the road, each shouting about how good their deals are.

And so you find yourself in Citadel.

[Carantathraiel]

She stood still amongst the sea of moving people, her hooded head turning side to side as she took in the near home-like bustle of the city. This feels familiar, she thought to herself. She tilted her head back and glanced at the tall walls that seemed to give off a cold, unwelcoming vibe, much unlike the warmth of where she stood. Well, almost familiar. With a twist in her stomach she turned and chose a random direction to set her feet to, heading toward a rather large woman calling out names of sweet treats beside a cart.

Frowning, she pointed to the first one she thought looked good and handed the smiling woman a few coins, ignoring her irritable chatter. First place I've seen in a while. Her thoughts went on. Of course with the exception of the small towns and collection of huts she'd passed here and there. Aera preferred a city, where she can get lost and remain a shadow if she wanted.

She went to an almost empty spot behind a cart and sat on the ground, nibbling at her treat. May as well check it out.

[Emperor Nat]

From her small nook behind the cart, Aera could sit undetected and watch the city go about its normal business. The traders traded, the guards guarded and the people lived their lives as normal. A young couple nearby were having an argument, the young man having apparently having said something stupid - as young men tend to do. It was pleasant, really. Even in a city as large and lively as this, there were places where one could go to find some peace.

However, from the corner of her eye, Aera could see something not nearly as peaceful. Down a small alleyway nearby, three men were struggling over a bag; two of them apparently attempting to take it from the third. The third man quickly lost grip of it as he was shoved away, hitting his head on the stone building behind him and falling limply to the cold stony ground. None of the guards seem to have noticed the scuffle, as none of them moves from their post.

[Carantathraiel]

Her dark eyes watched the struggle and the man fall and lie still. Thieves. She thought to herself, finishing her little meal. She couldn't judge. No, not after living in the den for so long, raising young orphans to steal from the higher society who rejected them. Still, none of them had ever been so blatant in their theft. They at least had the decency to steal at night and with the speed and skill of ... well, an elf. To go after a target in broad daylight!

With a glance around, she stood, dusting off her skirt. Even more, the guards seemed to not care. They hardly even seemed to notice. Making careful steps, the elf made her way toward the poor man, tugging at her hood to make sure her ears were hidden. Stopping before him, she turned and looked around the market, looking for anyone who was spying on her. But no one cared. They were all too busy shouting about their wares or yelling after sprinting offspring. Confident no one was watching, she bent before the man and gently prodded, feeling for a pulse.

[Emperor Nat]

The man was alive, but out cold. Aera could immediately see blood on the stone behind him, as well as on the back of his head - it was likely that he'd need medical attention lest he wake up dead or with permanent damage. He was fairly young, probably in his mid-thirties, and wore the blue-and-yellow robes of an apprentice mage within one of the better known magic academies. What he was doing in Citadel was anyone's guess, though most probably he was on an errand of some sort for one of his masters. He must have looked an easy target - magical study not always building the strongest physiques in its practitioners.

The thieves were long gone by this point and, shadowed as they were by the high buildings around them, none looking in from the outside street would be able to see Aera or the man in front of her. The man's breathing was quite shallow; it was clear he was quite badly hurt, even if he himself didn't know it.

[Carantathraiel]

Alive, the poor fellow. Aera thought bitterly to herself. She lifted her hand to feel the back of his head, where hitting the stone wall had left him bleeding. Never being the nurse of her group, Aera was uncertain of what to do. Almost.

She reached down her leg and unsheathed a small blade hidden in her boot and raised it to the unconscious lad, eying the fine fabric of his robes and the odd symbol upon his breast. Whoever had the money to give these out had the money for repairs. And with that she daintily sliced a sleeve off. Carefully, she wadded the sleeve and placed it carefully behind his head. Then with sly fingers put her hands on his waist and began to untie the sash that held his robes. "If you're awake and can hear me, don't get excited." she said blankly, pulling off the sash and using it to hold the torn sleeve to his head.

Aera sat beside him and lifted one of his eyelids with a gloved thumb. A concussion, no doubt. "Can you hear me?" she asked, softly, brushing his cheek. With her other hand she brought out her flask of water. Tilting the man's head back she held it to his lips and eased a small amount of water into his mouth.

She was no nurse, not like Sefke had been, long ago. But she remember Sefke giving her lots of water. Beyond this, she was certain that yelling at him, like Sefke had often shouted and hollered at her, would do the man any good.

[Emperor Nat]

The man's eyes fluttered open, roused by Aera's voice. He spluttered a little as the water trickled down his throat unexpectedly. He tried to stand, but quickly found himself unable to do so - he was too weak, too shaken. As he slowly regained more of his higher faculties, the man peered at Aera.

"You don't look like the men who were just here..." he said, his words slurring slightly. "...And my head hurts. Which... I think I've been hurt."

He groaned, clutching his head and trying to order his thoughts in some useful manner. He was quite pale; he looked sickeningly nauseous.

"Who..." he paused for a moment, trying to form coherent sentences with all his might. "...Who are you? And why, exactly, does my head feel like a dragon has gone and sat on it? I have something important I need to deliver, and..."

He slumped against the wall, again putting a hand to his head. He felt the cloth at his back, running a hand along it; just enough to know that he was bleeding quite profusely.

"Dear me." he said. "That isn't good."

[Carantathraiel]

With a firm hand on his shoulder she kept him against the wall. "Sit." She demanded shortly. Her dark eyes observed him. Beads of sweat covered his head and his eyes looked a bit glossy. I know that feeling well enough. She back into her pockets, bringing out a small leather packet, unwrapping it to reveal a strange, greasy, bread like thing. She picked off a corner and held it out. "Eat. It helps with nausea. You look like you're about to vomit." Her voice was soft but had a light demanding tone to it.

Aera, still holding her flask of water, tucked her legs against her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "You were mugged." She stated simply, watching him. "Two men jumped you and made off with your bag. I hope nothing too irreplaceable was in there. You're in no state to go jogging after them."

She watched him. Despite her distaste, she felt herself pitying him.

[Emperor Nat]

"They took my bag...?" he said, a little panicked. "...That's... I'll need to deal with that."

He gratefully accepted Aera's offer of bread, taking a few small bites from it. It seemed to be pleasant enough, and so he quickly popped the rest in his mouth and finished it - colour slowly returning to his face. He let out a long sigh, wincing a little as he laid his head back on the stone behind him.

"Listen, I... I need to get after those two. So please don't tell anyone about what I'm about to do, because there's a high chance it'll kill me outright and I don't want my masters knowing that I tried it. I mean, it's not dangerous normally. But... magic is tricksy, and it's not always a great idea to do it with a head injury."

He took a deep breath, taking the cloth off his head and closing his eyes. He placed his hands together and began to whisper. Seconds later, something happened - his muscles bulged and contracted, his face turning an unpleasant shade of purple. It was over almost as quickly as it had begun however, and moments later he was standing up and stretching. Whatever he'd done, it seemed to have healed him.

"Has it worked...?" he murmurs, looking around. "...Looks like it. Thank God for that."

[Carantathraiel]

She stared. She was unfamiliar with magic, and the little amount she had seen she hadn't liked. Her eyes flashed suddenly as she remembered the one time magic had been used on her. It had saved her life, but...

With a deep breathe, she collected herself and stood up, bringing herself almost to his height. She frowned. I had to be the short elf. She grumbled.

Packing her things away, she looked into the eyes of the magic user. "Well, as much as I'd like you to skip off and possibly lower the population by one, I feel obligated to offer my help." Privately, she wondered what he'd think. Outwardly, she looked just some petite woman, hardly old enough to marry. And obviously hardly able to care for a wounded man. She knew he had no idea she was an elf, that she had spent years living in shadows and knew how to move about unseen. "I'm good with a bow." she offered with a shrug.

What are you doing? she heard her thoughts hiss. Years wandering without a care and you stumble upon this poor fool and offer to help him kill himself?
She pushed the voice back. If she followed that way of thinking ... if Sefke had ... Aera would have been dead that first night, years ago. Sometimes good things follow the first step.