Azriel's words were familiar. Perhaps it was what her words meant.

"Most if not all will have their heads filled with lies of his inability to do so. They will flee, fight, and even attempt to kill you."

"...every day you fail to separate your kind from these desperate rebels, the less likely they are to leave."

"Those that choose to stay… I'll leave that up to you, but they will continue to fight if there is a rebellion to fight for."

Kol, Malgormuun, and now Azriel. There was no need for them to go into detail of what they meant, but maybe it was because of that, he mentally pushed it aside. He was attempting to be optimistic so he wouldn't have to think about it, but it was a fantasy he tried to sell to himself. That every single person has a life they want to go back to. Malgormuun stated himself that this world was enticing and that the life on Earth Darius knew might not be anywhere near as pleasant as someone else's life.

"Well that's why I'm here, Azriel." His smile returned. "You said I was the charming one right? Or did you actually admit that you found me handsome?" He joked before his smile started to die. He was going to speak seriously again. "I think they'll hear me out… I don't even know if I'm prepared to do what I'd need to if they don't. Am I supposed to actually… Azriel, I've never even done that before. To anyone… If I'm being honest, I hope I don't ever have to cross that line. But it's also foolish to believe it's impossible."

---

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interaction with: @Tae Torvi

---

Umber was a bit surprised by the human he now danced. She was a great actress, or perhaps just a master of hiding herself. Unlike her companion, she kept herself cool… most of the time. Torvi did not wear her nervousness, but it squeezed its way out at the front and end of her attempts at deceiving him.

"Powerful? Oh, Vaeril is an elf of wealth, influence, and sure he's passionate, but he's… He's more of a scholar." Umber chuckled seemingly in jest at making fun of Vaeril. In reality, he was having quite a bit of fun speaking so freely about Aklenroth. He enjoyed the Lich King's rule, but he would also enjoy the rule of a blind crippled troll if he was permitted to indulge in his hobbies.

Torvi's response to Umber's line on fear bore interest. For one, she was being completely honest. No nervousness, no deceit. Her beliefs fell in line with the orcs, which made him wonder how these humans were so randomly packaged. So many different beliefs and temperaments, and there were more to discover.

"Death? As precious as you may be, I have to disagree. Everyone fears death. You could see it coming and even make the best guess as to how it will feel. You could be confident in your belief that things will turn out more prosperous after facing it…. But you will fear it all the same. And sure, you can say that you don't fear your own demise, but death is not limited to just yourself. You could love someone with all of your being, and death can snatch them away with no limits to its reach or cruelty… I believe it's natural to fear it and we should be aware of those that fear it so much they seek to escape it. It is not the power over death that makes a Lich King… It's the fear of it."

Umber had gotten more intense than he sought to. The talk of death pulled him in too much. If only his face could display regret.

"Anyway, that is the kind of thinking Vaeril is interested in. Those that seek to make one's fears a reality."

Three days had passed since the small group crossed the channel. Two goblins drowned but made for decent food for the rest once retrieved when their bodies washed up on a muddy bank. Goblin Boss Dari had also cemented his role by beating down another goblin that night. Skar expected nothing less of her band of creatures when they managed to raid a few small tribes of goblins and subjugate their survivors. Skar needed the goblins to be numerous and luckily for her, they were creatures that thrived by increasing their numbers through rapid breeding and assimilating smaller tribes. The weak would perish as quickly as the defiant under Skar's leadership.

The powerful orc sat perched upon a high rock in a clearing within the woods as she watched the sunset with a cold and hardened expression. Her band of barely a dozen had multiplied at least four times in these few days, but vast numbers would not assure continuous victory. Her minions needed better weapons. Branches fashioned into spears and arrows would only take them so far. Tonight, Skar and her band of creatures would hit a convoy of traders returning to Lora from Chesm.

"Skar!" Dari scampered to the rock where Skar sat and kneeled before it. "Scouts return and ambush is ready. We are ready." The goblin informed as he looked up at Skar with his crooked smile. Skar grunted and looked around at the rest of her minions that had been enjoying their time of leisure.

"WARPACT!" Her bellow grabbed the attention of the troll, ogre, and all of the goblins around her. If they weren't standing before, they were now. The troll and ogre towered over the goblins, now having their own very interesting names. Myre the Troll, and Ra the Ogre… both named due to their large appetites that reminded Skar of a certain someone. "We move! WE ARE READY!!! Goblins! Move to spots! Myre! Ra! Come with me! We raid! We take! WE CONQUER!" Skar roared before she hopped off of the rock, landing on the dirt ground as the last of the sun's light made its departure.

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interaction: @Eviledd1984 O’Ner

---

One interesting and useful thing that came with the career path Kenia had chosen in life was learning how to read body language. While it wouldn’t tell you absolutely everything about a person, it was easier to notice when something was off and something was definitely off with this man. She watched as his eyes kept scanning the crowd around them, looking for something. While he could have been looking for anything, it still caused Kenia to decide this man wasn’t a candidate to inform of their plan. So instead she would just finish out her dance with him and keep up her facade.

Her smile never faltered and she never missed a step in the dance. He claimed to have been invited by a friend, which could have been true. He then asked her reason for being there. ”Well isn’t it obvious?” She asked, face lighting up with excitement. ”I’m here for the atmosphere! I live for these parties! The people, the gossip, the music, the food, everything is just so thrilling!” Lying was so easy for her, it should have been alarming, but it wasn’t. Lying sometimes was like a game to her, what kind of fun stories could she fabricate and make others believe? Now that was definitely something thrilling.

Ayita couldn't help but to laugh as she heard Zel greeting her. The boy really did come here just to eat, didn't he? Not that Ayita saw anything wrong with that, the food, even though she ate just a little, was indeed very good. Judging by his words, he didn't like nobles that much though.

"Hm... It's not like I hate all of them but the most stuck up and arrogant surely are very irritating. It's the reason why I was worried about having to dance with one of them. It would be really annoying to deal with an angry noble, wouldn't it?" she asked, with a giggle.

"Oh for that you would have to catch me first, wouldn't you?" Ayita said with a mischievous smirk after Zel said that he might bite her if she stepped on him before grabbing his hand to begin the dance.

"It is my first time dancing so you might have to show me how to do it." Ayita mentioned with a chuckle.

Ayita tried looking at the other people in the ball, imitating their postures as she got closer to Zel to dance. Assuming that Zel wouldn't know much about such formal dances, since he did look very out of place in such a formal ball, she would have to try and mirror other's movements.




When Myra heard the tall man repeating her name, she nodded affirmatively with a smile on her face, happy to know that he understood how she was called. He introduced himself as Tan but for some reason he also said that he was a good man, which made her a bit confused. Just the fact that he wasn't being mean with her already meant he was good, didn't it? It was also pretty obvious that he was a man, like Darius. Maybe he was saying that because of what Darius had said before? That if he wasn't good with her that she could bite and scratch him? Maybe he was a bit worried about that. Maybe it would be a good idea to not show her teeth or claws that much in order to not startle him.

As they began dancing, Myra tried her hardest to follow Tan's steps, staying in the tip of her toes in order to try and lessen the difference in height. It quickly became obvious that, despite her knowing the very basics, she didn't have any experience in dancing. Her movements were a bit awkward and stiff, almost as if she was trying to mimic the instructions someone had given her. Despite all that, she was doing relatively well. So far she had only stepped on Tan's feet twice and stumbled only once on someone else with her tail! The moment Tan tried to spin her around though, he got her by surprise. Not expecting that, Myra, who was already too concentrated trying to remember how to move her feet according to the instructions Adrian had given her, ended up tripping on her own feet and losing her balance for a moment. Moving by pure instinct, Myra's tail moved almost like a whip in order for her to regain her balance as she assumed a lower posture. Unfortunately, Tan did spin her right into the direction of someone else. Even though Myra didn't even touch the elf, her tail did and with full force too, going right to his legs almost like a sweep kick.

O'Ner Faister

TIME: Late Afternoon
LOCATION: The Grand Ball, Roshmi City
INTERACTIONS:@Tae Kenia.

O'Ner stopped scanning the room, he felt he made himself look specious. Now keeping his eyes on the woman in front of him. Trying his best to keep up with the woman, perhaps he could have done practiced more. Listening to her reasoning for being at the ball, he was sure that was not the reason she was here. But he was going to keep her around to see if he could learn any information, "Oh and do you see anyone of interest?" He said smiling showing off his white teeth.

He would faint interest or try to gain her trust, "This place has been boring so far, but i have seen a few folks here i have been wanting to speak to" He said motioning towards a group of people with his head.

“Not at all, I am trying to cheer you up. If you think that’s funny you should have seen me falling out of trees as a cub, no doubt I gave my poor mother quite the headache trying to prevent both broken bones and furniture.” Cade offered to reassure his new friend that he was not at all offended by her joy, quite the opposite as he beamed at having made Artemis laugh. While his feline pride often got him into trouble it was not as if Artemis was mocking him, and seeing his new friend looking so sad moments ago only made him more than comfortable with looking foolish if only brighten her day for a moment. “If the cause of your sadness tonight lies here, do not be afraid to seek me out, should you encounter any further trouble, or find yourself in need of friend.” Cade spoke with absolute sincerity, not wanting to see anyone look so troubled at such an exciting event filled with the grandest of feasts.

He found her response to his question to be delightful as well as his tail flicked with excitement at the mention of food. He hadn’t expected to have so much in common with the average attendee at such an extravagant event. Then again Artemis didn’t exactly seem average either, but he was certainly enjoying the company of the mysterious woman. “Food is an excellent answer. The feast here tonight is easily the most impressive I have seen but even a simple meal shared with the right people is a joy few things can compare to. Food, a grand adventure, and meeting people from all over this land are all things that I find great fulfillment in, but of all things, I treasure my halberd. A beautiful weapon crafted by my brother, I carry it now in his honor. I do feel almost naked to not have it with me tonight. I hope to be a great warrior someday, to use my brother’s weapon to defend the people of Avalia.” Cade said, rather boldly as he did not truly know whether Artemis was loyal to the vile lich or member of the rebellion. He did however, not sense any malice about her, and he trusted her because her honest apology for her laughter indicated that she had a kind heart.

---

Boreas watched carefully as the girl leaned in to whisper, but Bowyn kept himself calm so as not to further stress the merlin. He studied the girl for a moment, not sure what to make of what she’d whispered. While the most likely scenario would be that she was a part of the rebellion, and that this was the sort of information that they had sought out here tonight, another possibility nagged at him. It could be a trap, to lure rebels and humans to a slaughter. But the innocence in her eyes as she spoke did not seem fake or forced, and he did believe that she too was involved in rebellion. More concerning was that she had said she learned this from a fairy, and he hoped for his sake and those he considered his friends that the fairy wasn’t Princess Risa. His impression from seeing her here tonight was one of recklessness and he was not about to put his, or their, lives in danger on the whims of a disgraced princess. He had allowed himself to hope that whoever was behind bringing humans here was someone with tact and power, someone who could actually stop Aklenroth. The thought that it might be some indignant member of a practically defunct royal family that brought so many humans here just to die made him more than a bit angry.

“A wise fairy? Not sure I’ve ever encountered one before. I do hope that this fairy doesn’t have pink hair and a certain historic and attention-grabbing dress on tonight.” Bowyn saw no need to put on a façade now, letting his sarcasm and disdain leak into his words as he whispered back. “I hope the fates of so many don’t lie with someone so young and reckless.” He added in a hushed tone as he shook his head with disapproval. He let out a small exasperated sigh, it wasn’t this elf's fault that she was young and hopeful, he had been that way too once. He knew that this was risky information to share with a stranger and didn’t want her to be left with the impression that it was given to their shared enemy.

“Do not worry though, I am not your enemy. For your own sake though, be cautious who allow to lead you, good intentions are not enough to win a war.” He added, his voice softer, without any of the forced charm or jaded sarcasm he’d had before. He couldn’t be sure whether she was yet another human unlucky enough to have been brought here or simply a young elf yet to witness the horrors this world had to provide but either way he choice a more sincere approach rather than to continue with his earlier façade. The bird on his shoulder relaxed as Bowyn did, the stress of pretending to be someone he was not had left. “Truthfully, I’ve lost all taste for such things; the extravagance here is all just a show of power and wealth. I’d rather be in a run down old tavern any day, can’t say I’ve ever been truly comfortable in these sorts of places.” He said, answering her question about the ball with honesty this time.

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interactions: @FunnyGuy Umber

---

Flashes of her husband, her lost babies, all the ones she watched die in battle, and her sister went through Torvi's mind. Did she fear the death of others? Perhaps at one point she truly did and maybe she feared potentially being the one that brought death to Bowyn or Belle, but she'd also become so numb to death. Death had been a part of her entire life, it had become something normal to her. Even at that she knew that she had a chance to see those loved ones again if she could make it to Valhalla. What she did fear, however, was the undeath her sister was now living. Had the Lich King ruined her sister's chance of making it to an afterlife? This thought made her furious and she felt the rage bubble in her chest briefly. She would get her revenge or she would proudly die trying.

Something the man in front of her said snapped her out of her mind, however, and sent alarm bells running through her. The fear of death is what makes a Lich King. Vaeril is looking for like minded ones that fear death. Something about those two statements coming from this man had Torvi on edge. Was he trying to tell her that Vaeril supported the Lich King? Either way she found herself now guarding against this man. He was not one she felt wise revealing anything to. She kept a pleasant smile on her face. "You do make valid points and perhaps everyone does fear death to a degree, but I myself have gone into life realizing that death is natural. You will lose loved ones on death, but I expect that and it always seems like when it happens another person comes along to help fill that void. I know that one day I too will die and that is fine by me. I also hope that those that love me won't mourn my death, but celebrate the life I had lived." She hoped this dance would be over soon as she wanted to get away from this man and warn her friends that there was something a little fishy about Vaeril and his greeter friend here. "Thank you for indulging me with my curiosity. Vaeril sounds like a truly interesting man and you also are quite intriguing. I've truly enjoyed this dance with you."

---

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interactions: @FunnyGuy Darius

---

Yes, Darius may be her new favorite. This is what went through Azriel's mind as she studied his reactions to her questions. They were all valid questions she felt she had to ask of the human and his responses were...entertaining to say the least. He had a playfulness about him which she enjoyed as she could be quite playful herself, albeit her's tended to be a much darker humor. Perhaps it was something that she could twist in him. "I suppose I did call you handsome, didn't I?" She smirked at him, but then listened to his next words.

The poor thing may be a bit too soft, he needed to be hardened to the harsh realities of life. He needed someone to teach him. Could she teach him? What would Umber think if she took on this human as an apprentice? She caught a quick glance at her mentor dancing with the human he'd found, only staring at him briefly. He'd felt the emotions of that Elsea human and desired to twist her. It made Azriel a little jealous and she turned her attention back to Darius as she made a decision. "I do hope they will hear you out Darius. If anyone can convince them I do believe it will be you. I mean you helped alter this angel's view on humans tonight. If they do not listen, however, then something will have to be done unfortunately. I will take that burden off your shoulders tonight, but in time you will have to learn to take those actions yourself. It won't be an easy thing, but perhaps if you have someone by your side guiding you along and teaching you it will make it a little easier. If you wish it, I will help you." She gave him a soft, reassuring smile, something that was not common to see on Azriel's face. It did something to soften her normal unsettling features and overall demeanor. She didn't even know she was capable of such an expression and yet there it was.

“Well it is a pleasure to meet you Kuroi and I suppose it’s a good thing I’m a quick learner!” Elsea giggled as they moved to the music. She’d merely just met this man, but she was quite enjoying his company so far. He seemed sweet and he had yet to mention recognizing her at all which she figured was good.

It took a few moments, but soon she fell into the rhythm of the dance and the nerves of messing up began to fade. Kuroi’s next question, however, had nerves hitting her once more. What was she to tell him about herself? For a brief moment she glanced over to Risa and Kyran, debating on taking a risk or not. Kyran definitely wouldn’t be happy if he knew what she was considering. Oh fuck it… She thought to herself as she made a decision. “Well if you want to know more about me I suppose it’s only fair to let you know that I’m apparently dangerous. I mean my face was all over the sky a few days ago.” It was a bold move, but she’d already been getting stares and was in danger no matter what. Why not use this to her advantage and see how her dance partner would react?

Kuroi took a few moments to ponder as this woman, presumably a human, outright revealed herself to him. Did he give off an aura that could be trusted? Or perhaps she thought she could trust a handsome buck with manners (something which Kuroi would advise against; looks can be deceiving). He looked into her eyes, examining her in what must have been nerve wracking silence to her as his ears twitched to and fro. After two minutes went by, he tilted his head at her and began to respond, “Oh? How interesting. I, myself, was declared as an assassin not too long ago. Must have been a mistake, I’m sure, or else I wouldn’t be freely presenting myself at the ball. I’m sure there’ll be an attempted arrest on me sooner or later if that damned governor spots me.” He says in an irritated tone.

He had decided to take initiative and freely talk about his rather recent experience. Although it may have been a leap of faith, he was already strutting around freely as to prove his innocence. After all, he was sure that if another duel broke out between him and Terneus, he was certain that he would be cheered if he bested him. By enough of the right people, anyway.

The silence that followed her statement was unnerving, but Elsea decided she didn’t have much more to lose. She could only pray that her bold actions would help her find allies for her friends. If this man killed her then so be it, at least she wasn’t being burnt at the stake. There was the slim chance he wouldn’t, however. At least not in this large of a crowd where it surely wouldn’t go unnoticed.

Finally he spoke and realization dawned on her, her eyes widening as she remembered seeing his face up in the sky shortly after theirs. How intriguing, but it could also be a good sign. If the authorities of this land deemed him a public enemy then perhaps he’d be more willing to join their cause. “Oh it must be a mistake for sure, just like it was a mistake declaring that I was dangerous. I mean do I look all that dangerous to you?” She asked with a bit of a smirk, though it wasn’t entirely a lie. The most dangerous thing about her was her magic and at the moment she couldn’t even feel that coursing through her body like normal. She really needed to work more on defending herself in case there was a time that she couldn’t use it and she was in danger.

“I suppose we’ll both be in trouble if either of us are caught by the wrong people. Maybe we should help each other out and keep each other safe?” She gave him a grin before leaning in closer to him to whisper in his ear. “After the ball you should follow the coast up northwest from Roshmi. You’ll find a small unnoticed port town there. There will be a group of us meeting there who wish to see justice restored in this world and names of those unjustly accused restored. We’d love it if you met us there and passed the message on to any allies you know of.” She’d made a decision, knowing that it may have been a stupid decision, but she didn’t care. If this man was unjustly accused like he said he was then hopefully they could help him. She wanted to help him, knowing what it was like to be unjustly accused.

Kuroi almost instantly responded to her words, “You are not the first to present me with such an offer. I am afraid my answer is I don’t know. Just by doing so much as interacting with another human, I’ve already lost my honor and been unjustly accused by that damned governor. Were it not for the lawful and political repercussions, I would have killed him...I should have killed him…” growled the vulpine, his ears suddenly going stiff.

The young fox already knew that he was talking to a human the very moment she had revealed to him her plans. Although he showed no hostility, he was certainly angry. “I don’t want to ruin my life any further, I’m already branded a criminal by my own city...the same city I created my fame in!” He snarled. Despite his rather angry tone, Kuroi kept in rhythm with the music and occasionally spun his partner. He was more tense, however.

Kuroi was well aware that it was not the humans’ fault that they were here, nor that they (in his experience thus far) meant any evil. All he knew was that he hated Terneus, he never should have gotten involved with any human, and that these humans could further ruin his life. Convincing this man would be rather difficult indeed.

Elsea’s heart sank as Kuroi responded, quite obviously upset and angry, but she remained silent until he seemed to be done. The music and dance were coming to an end and she knew there wasn’t going to be much else she could say, but she had to say something. She couldn’t just leave it like this, knowing that she’d upset this man who’d been quite kind to her. “Kuroi I am truly sorry, I did not mean to upset you in any way. It sounds as if you’ve been through far too much already and perhaps thanks to the hands of my kind. If joining us is going to make matters worse for you then don’t do it, I don’t want to be the reason things worsen for you.” She gave him an apologetic look before glancing at the ground ashamed. “Unfortunately I too understand to be unjustly accused of something. Where I came from I was accused of being something I wasn’t, imprisoned, starved, and I was being dragged to be burned at the stake when I got brought here. Avalia is my chance to start over, but I want to make this world safe for myself and those in it that have also faced unjust acts like yourself.” The music came to the end and Elsea was still staring at the ground for a moment. She knew it was time to move on, but she had one last thing she wanted to say to this man. As she looked back up at him she moved to take one last bold action, throwing her arms around him in a hug.

“Thank you for being kind to me from the start Kuroi. Although I don’t know your full story, I will remember your name and I will remember you. If there is any way I can help you restore your honor then please let me. I truly believe in my heart that you deserve that.” She let go from hugging him and backed up, giving him one last kind smile. “It really was an honor to meet you and I hope our paths will cross again someday in a better world.” And with that she turned to walk away.

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interaction with: @Tae Torvi

---

Umber almost found it impossible not to expose his delight of Torvi's feelings as they surfaced. So many loved yet so many perished. He could see all of those who were snatched away by death. He could feel the love that was now smothered in grief and pain gush from off of her as if she was made only from it. NOW… Now, he understood her feelings about death. It was not an end, but a destination where she could reunite with those she loved so dearly, but…

What… What is this I feel? No. It couldn't be… How am I so lucky! To find another with that... fire! Rage! It's buried deep. Locked away. Powerful... but still it pales to hers... Torvi… As much as I would love to see your rage unravel onto the Lich King, I'd much rather witness you suffer in the torture of undeath. I would bargain you would be even more entertaining than General Faister…

Umber's dark thoughts hid behind his charming exterior. Unfortunately, Torvi found his talk of death to be unfavorable. She did well not to show it. She was good at this, but her feelings would always betray her to him. He had unsettled her. A slip of the tongue.

Even then, Umber kept cool. Aklenroth wasn't the first to rule Avalia, and he wouldn't be the last. As rulers came and went, Umber would continue to indulge in the pain and suffering that naturally made itself available. He was prepared to exist as long as his pleasures did. He would break those with weak hearts. He would twist those with burning ones.

"Celebrated. Yes. Even if I'm not considered a loved one, I would hope I would be honored in giving you your wanted celebration." Umber answered Torvi pertaining to death before smiling humorously. "Perhaps that was too morbid. I would rather hope to possibly see you and Vaeril… side by side." Umber managed a wink before releasing Torvi from their dance with a graceful bow and freeing her from his grasp.

Despite hearing some kind of commotion on the other side of the dance floor, Umber's gaze shifted towards Azriel as she unknowingly pulled his attention. He had just noticed it. A terrible thing indeed. She had lasted longer than all of the others, but even so, she had just reached what might be the beginning of the end. From her, he felt a flame. One that he loathed due to his inability to control it. It was but a flicker, but it would grow in time. All because of this human. One he considered being weak and breakable. Was it he who sparked it? This wild flame known as ambition...

With Darius' commitment to his goal challenged once more, Malgormuun prepared to give the human a few words to keep his confidence up. If he became too disheartened or doubtful, he would become nothing but a liability.

However, before Malgormuun could speak, Azriel gave Darius some comforting words. Eyes of amber and crimson locked as the angel gave him needed words of both encouragement and generosity. She seemed to understand his difficulty in the thought of having to harm or even kill others, but she also did not shy away from the reality of the option. He managed a smile, but it still lacked some confidence.

"Thanks." He wasn't sure what else to say as he was just glad he could get that off his chest and have someone be understanding. This thing he was choosing to do. This path. It was going to be tough, but he had to realize he was not alone in this. There was a small part of him that still believed in the chance of things just playing out as perfectly as he wanted it to. With everyone agreeing to leave, the rebels giving up, and the DROMs being destroyed. If only that could be the reality. "If it does come to that… Then I would definitely want you to be there to help me." Darius said with his weak smile as the music started to slow down and quiet. The first dance was ending and Azriel was leaving him with so much to think on. It was a hard subject, but this wasn't a game or some fairytale. Real lives were at stake and he had to make a commitment. Everyone else at his side did, right? Everyone who directly fought against the rebels. Kol, Malgormuun, Airdan, Azriel, and even Aklenroth. They had different motives but were all aiming towards a similar endgame.

"Again, thank you…" His smile grew as he was beginning to appreciate their meeting. Darius found this dance to be both reflective and enjoyable. "...for the whole thing. And also keep that smile up. I think your next partner will enjoy it too." Darius gave Azriel a slow twirl and while wearing a bright smile to assure her of his better mood and to encourage her to keep smiling. He would remain positive and smile until the time came where he couldn't afford to.

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interaction: @Eviledd1984 O’Ner

---

”Oh everyone can be interesting if you pay attention and listen to gossip.” Kenia said with a giggle. ”For instance, if you look over there…” She began as she pointed to a light elf man dancing with a young demi-human girl. “That’s Lord Camus Kristoris. Talk amongst the ladies will tell you that he’s quite the lover and will chase any pretty little thing in a skirt. See how his eyes wander over the poor young girl he’s with?” Sure enough the man was a bit more handsy than he should have been with the demi-human who looked a little uncomfortable. ”The only problem is he’s married to Lady Zestari Kristoris and she’s quite jealous. She’s over there and hasn’t stopped glaring at her husband throughout the whole dance.” She explained as she pointed out another elf who was dancing with a man, but not paying any attention to him and was glaring at the previous dancing couple she’d pointed out. Of course Kenia really knew all this as she’d been hired by Lady Kristoris to spy on the Lord and gather blackmail evidence against him. That was only a few weeks ago and obviously Lady Kristoris hadn’t used any of the information Kenia had gathered yet.

The music was beginning to die down meaning that this dance was almost at its end. Kenia was quite glad of this as this man was quite obviously not someone that could help them and, while she was intrigued to learn more about who he really was, now wasn’t the time. ”So you see anyone can be interesting if you only pay attention. Just like you, I find you quite interesting and wonder who you really are and what stories you might have to tell.” She told him with a grin as she stopped dancing. ”But alas it seems our time together has come to an end. Thank you for the lovely dance, it was quite fun.” She curtsied to him as she bid him farewell before walking away. As she did so her second paper took flight and began to head in the direction of her next partner. It looked like there would be little time between these dances to rest unfortunately.

---

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interactions: @FunnyGuy Umber

---

Yes this man was dangerous, Torvi had no doubt about that now. And if he was dangerous then she could only assume that Vaeril was also dangerous. She was released from the dance, but instead of quickly scurrying away from the man she gave him one last smile with parting words. ”Oh but that celebration will not be complete unless I have others to join me. Perhaps I can bring you and Vaeril along in that same celebration with me.” With that she dipped in a curtsey again and walked away.

This ball was most likely a trap, there wasn’t much doubt in her mind now. She needed to get to Bowyn and Belle in order to get them out of there. They would cut this night short, but before she could spot them she felt herself being pulled in a direction again. Really? The next dances were to start so soon? She wanted to fight it, but knew that wouldn’t go over well. So she gave in and prayed to the gods that her friends would be safe for one more dance.

---

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi Grand Hall
Interactions: @FunnyGuy Darius

---

Azriel could tell that Darius was struggling with the reality of things and while she couldn’t entirely comprehend why it was so difficult for him, she knew she could at least play the role of the understanding one. She could be the one to stand at his side and help guide him as she’d suggested, just as Umber had once been to her. It was time for her to go down a new path as she felt Umber had taught her all he could. While she’d forever be appreciative of the demon, he too seemed to be searching for a new play thing and she didn’t want to stand by and be pushed to the side by him.

The music stopped and Azriel actually felt a small twinge of sadness as she realized that it meant that she wouldn’t be spending any more time with this human for now. He seemed to accept her offer of help, however, and that brought her a small bit of happiness as it meant they would interact more in the future. He suggested keeping up the smile and she chuckled a little. ”Perhaps I will or perhaps I’ll save this smile for you alone as it is something special.” She said teasingly. ”Have fun with your next partner Darius.” She told him as she walked away to find out who she could potentially torment next.

---

Cora bit her lip as she listened to Bowyn speak. His discouraging words made her sink slightly into herself. Her smile faltered, as did the light in her eyes. It was a quick admission of guilt as she pulled up her impassive expression once more. She was afraid to admit it had been from Risa, and how she had met her Cora remained silent as she allowed him to speak his mind.. She did need to heed his advice though; she didn’t know this world, or who to follow. While she trusted and believed in Kenia and Malachi, she was wary of others. Those two had gone out of their way to protect Rei and her, while Risa could possibly thrust them into untold dangers. The actions of Princess Risa were indeed reckless and bold. She sighed quietly.

His next statements were enough to quelm her rising doubt and uncertainty. She was able to see the honesty in his words. He was quiet as not to allow anyone else to overhear. She could understand his point of view too. Through his words, she was able to decipher and pick up on his reluctance to join the rebellion. Something had to have happened to him in the past. She had seen his friends earlier and couldn’t help but wonder if they were elves or actually humans. His reluctance could have come from protection, and not just for himself and his bird. Once he finished speaking, she managed a gentle smile, but it wasn’t as bright as earlier.

”I regret to inform you that your previous statement is indeed true.” Cora stole a quick glance over to Risa, who was having quite the crowd. She turned and swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to think right now concerning the fairy. She sighed and looked at him. The friendliness and warmth was there now, as she remained open to the conversation. Despite the reluctance of agreeing, she has indeed made an acquaintance and she was happy for that. She thought about revealing herself to him but decided against it. It was best to keep the list of who knew her true identity to a minimum. Life could change rapidly, and sometimes friends could become enemies.

”I will keep your words in mind. Thank you, Bowyn. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and also your bird. I wish you the best of luck. If you do not come, I will understand.”

Bowyn nodded as she admitted what he’d suspected, her message had come from the princess that, he could only assume, reveled in the attention she was receiving tonight. It didn’t take much for Bowyn to realize he’d soured Cora’s mood a bit, and it tended to be a usual occurrence for those who spent too much time around him. At least she seemed to heed his warning some, though stealing the prospect of hope from others didn’t bring him any pleasure. He was, however, unsatisfied with her vague statements. He remained unsure of how deep into the rebellion she was or how well she actually knew Princess Risa or the fairy’s intentions. He still had his suspicions about Cora, suspecting his dance partner was yet another disguised human but, if she was, at least she had the sense to keep such things secret. He wasn’t interested in uncovering Cora’s personal secrets, but the larger questions he had; about who really led this rebellion and what their end goal truly was, those were the answers he needed.

“Was it Princess Risa who abducted all these humans? Ripping them away from their own lives for something as petty as regaining her crown?” Bowyn asked the question he most wanted to know in a voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. This was a dangerous topic, he understood that, but he needed to know who and why. “Because I have met humans, they are good people. They don’t deserve such a fate and I do not wish to see them suffer and die for nothing. I have little in the way of options for them. So, if this port is truly our best option, I will be there, but if you have any cause to doubt your information, or the source of it, I need to know. My kind are much less forgiving than most.” He continued with his quiet tone, though his words held the weight of his situation. He knew the dance was coming to its end, there wasn’t much time left for his answers and he wasn’t going to waste time trying to make more friends. If her information proved useful, they’d likely meet again anyway. If not that he didn’t need anymore attachments to strangers so willing to throw themselves into a lost cause. He needed to make sure before he tried to lead Torvi and Belle anywhere that it wasn’t on a fool’s errand.

Bowyn’s inquiry of Risa made her eyes widen. Shock and confusion rose. Aklenroth had brought them over, right? Why would the princess have done that? She frowned as she listened to him and furrowed her brows. She sighed and began to qulem her worries. Kenia and Malachi hadn’t lied to her; she trusted them. Cora’s sunny disposition was rising up once more. She wasn’t going to allow this fairy’s doubt to spoil her night, nor Rei’s absence. After a few deep breaths, Cora felt calmer again. She didn’t respond to Bowyn’s commentary and instead, chose to remain silent. She smiled as he mentioned having met other humans. While it was not confirmed, she couldn’t help but suspect his two light-elf companions were actually humans.

”The humans should be the top priority of being kept safe and out of harm's way. They did not ask to be here and were snatched from their world. That’s something both sides should take into consideration. Humans did not ask to be here.” Cora’s statement was bold, but honest. She wasn’t as angry as she had been previously about being here; though, some part of her felt resentment. While nobody would have been looking for her, she had truly disappeared - all the humans had. What was happening on Earth with all the sudden disappearances? These questions had been in the back of her mind, though she never gave them anymore birth. There wasn’t any answer, and it would only drive her nuts thinking about it. To her, this was ehr new life and second chance for her to do good. She had made plenty of mistakes in her life on Earth; both pre-Linnet and post-Linnet. She was determined to do better this time. Cora nodded to Bowyn to signal she understood.

”Thank you for the insightful dance, Bowyn. I would heed your own advice and allow you to make that decision for your humans and yourself. It seems that at some point, we’ll all be affected by the danger of the rebellion. Whether or not the risk is worth it, is up to you. I wish you the best of luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.” Cora winked at him and curtsied. Then, she stood up and began to follow her butterfly paper to her next partner. She caught sight of Malachi and Kenia. She kept an eye on them as she walked through the crowd and worked to keep her doubts at bay. She was going to feel awful if something happened to Bowyn and his friends. She wasn’t sure if she should have told him. Cora bit her lip and took a deep breath and thought to herself, ’Trust yourself Corvina, for you are your best asset.’

Bowyn studied her reaction, his question had surprised her and he knew she did not have the answers he sought. He was no closer to determining whether the location she had given him was a solid option or not, but for now it seemed the only option he had. All he could do was present it to Torvi and Belle and let them decide. “On that we agree.” He said as she spoke about the humans and their tragic circumstances. “Good luck to you as well. He added as his dance partner left him with more questions than answers. He could only hope his next encounter proved as useful though he doubted he was that lucky. In a room full of enemies and empty-headed aristocrats he doubted the odds were in his favor to be paired with another that held any insights or even a common goal. As much as he would have preferred to share what he had learned with his friends before the next dance, it seemed that there would be no break in between. So, Bowyn followed the enchanted paper towards his next partner and tried to bring back his earlier façade that he dropped. As with most things in his life he went in with little hope for the best and all the expectation of the worst.

Zelginn

The dance with the much larger woman had gone decently well, even though Zelginn really didn't know how to dance with someone. She had also been smirking at him, the sudden urge to do something else soon filled the small figure. He was ditching this dance thing and going back to that food table. While the woman seemed to share his dislike for nobles, there was no reason for him to linger further in her presence. Then had the signal come for the dance to be over and the next to begin.

'Finally! I am out of here! To the dark abyss with this woman and all other women!' The small figure thought and he smiled widely to Ayita trying to keep his mask before bowing and waving. "Bye bye." He said in a cheery manner before scurrying off into the crowd of onlookers.

Baraian Paladice

Why had the creature smiled to him, it unsettled him more than anything else in the room. The creature had soon followed by nodding it's head, was it actually considering to eat him or somehow bond? The idea itself made the dark elf feel a stab in his gut. Despite it all the creature had done well on following his lead, despite he wasn't much of a dancer at all. His attempt to somehow show off had resulted in the creature tripping some man, not just any man either but that was Terneus.'Curses...' Baraian had thought and quickly pulled Myra back in and relocating their dance in another direction and past another pair of dancers. That ought to have put some distance between them and the elf whose ego was too big for the entire hall. The dark elf finally gave a look at Myra again, what was this thing? She had a tail unlike any other. His red eyed gaze wandered over Myra a second time.

'A demon? A servant of Aklenroth? Maybe I should ask her who she is here with...' The elf finally thought before opening his mouth. "So... who are you here with?" he had just managed to ask the question before the dance was over and the next one was commencing.

Terneus Andros

All of a sudden the noble elf's legs had been swiftly swept from under him, what in the heavens had happened? Had some lowlife managed to get the better of him? How could he not spot it? Had he slipped in a drink? No. This elf couldn't slip, for it was an act for the ungraceful. There was however only one thought going through the governor's mind as he fell, it was to attempt to gracefully stop the fall. He couldn't allow himself to be the wrong gossip for the evening. The elf latched unto the nearest thing within reach as he fell, some long and soft fabric which haltered his fall slightly before it too gave way with a ripping sound.

The lower part of a dress was being held in his hand as he had landed on his rear against the floor. How ungraceful a landing, there was no way to avoid the embarassment now- That's when he heard a slight gasp and shriek, it ringed in his keen and superior elven ears. What in the old elven graces was causing such a ruckus. Right next to him stood a birdwoman of some kind, with the face of a duck but the body more humanoid, and it was reaching down to cover it's undergarments as it had lost it's skirt to the gentle grasping hands of the light elven governor. It took a moment for the elven lord to gather what was going on.

'Ugh. What a disgusting creature, get dressed you unsavor- Oh so this is yours?' He threw a glance at the garment he held in his hands, he suddenly tossed it away as if it carried the plague. And according to the ever insightful elf, such could possibly be the case amongst such inferior and meager creatures. But not even his greatness could predict that the duck-woman's dancing partner, a man with a piglike face. Was it an orc? Well they were all ugly so it was hard to separate one thing from another, despite his grand eyesight. The pig-like creature had then the audacity to grab unto the elf's noble shirt and ruffles and punch the mask he wore on his face in what seemed to be some kind of bestial display of rage. The mask bounced against the elf's already aching face and he gritted his teeth, holding unto the nose of the mask. "Not the face- you insolen-" The elf began to utter through curses as the dancing around was coming to a stop, the piglike man then beckoned to someone behind the elven lord.

The blue eyed gaze of the ever present, ever mindful and ever patient lord Terneus saw a tall creature. Green. In a dress. Oh no. It was the orc woman from earlier. "Take this drunk away from the floor." The pigfaced man said while picking up the dress to cover his dancepartner, while the large orc leaned over slightly looking down at the elf who was looking slightly up at what was above him. He wanted to scream. But then he would draw more attention, negative attention. Before he came up with a cunning plan, the big brutish woman had grabbed the back of his collar and was lifting and dragging him from the dancefloor, then hurling him into an empty spot in the crowd of people who knew very well to move away when such a giant of a woman were approaching.

"Unghnn!" The elf grunted as he landed on his knees and caught himself with his hands against the floor. 'How dare you touch me you filthy lice-ridden inbred half-witted lout!' He felt as one of his stitches at his face broke as he grew angry, rising to his feet in the most graceful manner he could. But before he could act, the crowd of people was moving into his path, and the lumbering giant of a woman was walking away.

'Someone will hang for this.' He tightened his fists and looked around with intent eyes as some people eyed the man whom had been dragged. "And what are you looking at? Do something useful and get out of my way." He cursed as he began to head up some stairs to a higher elevated position in the hall.

O'Ner Faister

TIME: Late Afternoon

LOCATION: The Grand Ball, Roshmi City

INTERACTIONS:@Tae Kenia. @13org Myra



O’Ner looked around to whom Kenia mentioned, listening to what she was saying. Shaking his head when he heard of Lord Camus’s inappropriate behavior. A man who is unfaithful to his wife deserves to be castrated and stripped of his home, perhaps that was too harsh. But he felt that it was a man's duty to be faithful to her as she would to him. “An inter sting fellow, i will need to keep a eye on him” He spoke. Perhaps he could be of use to him in the future, maybe he could blackmail the lord in serving him and him alone. “I noticed the Countess Marsh participating in this masquerade. Over there she is speaking with her husband the Count Grubstake. The count is a very influential man, his head mostly in drinking and i heard working for some unsavory people” He moved along with her keeping a eye on Count Grubstake.

“The Countess is quite unfaithful herself, From the rumors i have heard she is in quite the truss with one of her servants” He motioned with his head towards the countess. He was saddened to stop dancing with the elf, she was quite interesting and wondered if he could sneak in another dance with her later. “I thank you as well for the dance, once again i apologies for my poor dancing skills” O'Ner turned around from the woman bowing before walking away. Sending his own bird to send the invitation to dance to his next partner.

Cade noticed the change in the music as he finished up his snack, and he offered up a bow and a wave to Artemis before following the enchanted paper towards his next dance partner. Although he hadn’t learned anything more about the rebellion, he felt he had at least found another friend, and that was just as important to him. As he made his way through the crowd of dancers, he caught sight of a hopelessly drunken elf being escorted away from the dance floor by a female orc. It seemed that no matter the level of class an event attracted there always seemed to be at least one jester unable to hold his drink, a thought which made the feline chuckle slightly. Eventually he spotted a more pleasant sight; the familiar faces of both the elegant Sakura and the delightful faun Ilan. He smiled at both of them, hoping their time here was going as well as his own but before he had a chance to ask them about the evening, he noticed his paper had stopped fluttering about, signifying it had found his next dance partner.

Cade was astounded to find that the paper had led him straight to Princess Millinia. This was an honor he felt wholly undeserving of; while he aspired towards greatness, he knew he had a long way to go before he could even become close to achieving it. Did Avalia herself have faith enough in him that he would be brought into the company of royalty so soon? It appeared so and Cade would not waste such an opportunity, he would be sure to let the princess know where his loyalty lied and hope that she too would judge him worthy enough to fight at her side. His parents had raised him on the stories of those who once ruled with benevolence and light, and his trust that those same values existed in one of the few remaining heirs to such a time was absolute. Cade, with his deepest respect, bowed and avoided looking directly into the royal fairy’s violet eyes.

“Your Majesty, it is an honor to stand in your presence.” He spoke with sincerity and reverence as he approached the royal. He felt a strange awkwardness to be standing taller than his royal counterpart, again feeling that it would be much more appropriate to kneel in the presence of a princess rather than tower over her. But in a room most likely filled with lich loyalists such actions would bring them both a dangerous amount of attention. Instead he choice his words thoughtfully to express his admiration of her position, royalty that was only recognized by those who believed that Avalia could once again be turned towards the light. “Words do not express the hope it brings to see you here, dressed as boldly as you are. I will, no doubt, spend a lifetime earning such an encounter.” He added before offering his hand for a dance.

Despite the difference in size, the dance with Zel went decently well, although a bit awkward, since it was Ayita's first time. She did try to show that she was open to conversation with a kind smile and trying to show confidence as to not make the boy nervous but it didn't appear to work exactly as intended. When the music finally changed, indicating that they should go meet their next partners, Zel said a simple goodbye before disappearing in the crowd, in a similar way he appeared next to them when they arrived. It was still a mystery for Ayita what the small Zel was doing in such party as he really didn't seem to be the type to enjoy such events.

A few moments before the next dance began, there was a small pause for everyone to find their next pair. Following the small paper butterfly that was the other piece of paper she had received, Ayita saw herself next to an elegant and very well dressed man, using a blue coat on his shoulders and a black hat, contrasting with his black and gold mask. Interestingly enough, his appearance was somewhat similar to her disguise, due to his skin tone & etc. Such fact made Ayita a bit nervous of being discovered.

"Good evening, I'm Ayita. It's a pleasure to meet you." she said, greeting the elegant man in a rather formal, albeit a bit formal and awkward manner.




Other than the small incident on the very beginning, which didn't lead to any more problems, thanks to Tan pulling Myra away from whoever was that she tripped with her tail, Myra's dance was going relatively well. Much for her and her partner's luck, Adrian was really thorough and detailed in his instructions on how to dance with Myra. Practicing with her indeed seemed to be way better than trying to explain with words. Even though Myra did feel that Tan wasn't as comfortable around her as Darius was, due to his stares, how stiff his body was (unlike Darius and Adrian's when they practiced with her), she tried to simply mimic the moves she remembered and simply continue the dance. After all, she wouldn't want to make any problems for Darius or Artemis, who were the ones which brought her there.

When the dance ended, Tan looked at her, asking whom she had came with. Tilting her head, a bit confused by the question and thinking on how to answer it. When she remembered what Darius said to her before the dance, she showed her sharp teeth to Tan just like she did before and winking just like Darius did when looking at the tall elf. Unsatisfied with her answer though, Myra thought a bit more until she had an idea. Standing on her tail, she looked around, trying to find Darius. The moment she did, she got down and pointed towards the direction Darius was.

Just after she did that though, the other strip of paper she had received suddenly turned into another butterfly, flying away. By now, she understood that it was supposed to take her to meet the one she was supposed to dance with, instead of being a ticket for her to be able to eat (which made her much more relieved, since she had lost the first one). Waving her hands in a simple goodbye, she left the tall elf as she began walking after the other paper butterfly, looking at her as she walked around the hall. After a moment, a small paper bird began flying around her, before going in the same direction her small paper butterfly went.

When the paper butterfly finally disappeared, she found herself standing next to the strange man with the weird undead smell she met on the table before. Approaching him carefully, Myra sniffed the air around him a few times as she looked at him, watching every movement he made. Even though he smelled just like an undead, she wasn't really certain he was one. Maybe he just forgotten to clean himself after fighting against them. Myra's claws also smelled similarly when she fought against them and didn't clean herself.

"Myra?" Darius was pretty sure he had just witnessed Myra's head briefly poke up over those on the dance floor while he moved to follow his second slip of paper. It slowly floated in the direction of his next dance partner. She seemed fine. Maybe just checking up on me. I hope everyone is doing okay. He did not expect to split off from his group so quickly. Even though it was unlikely for any rebels to act against his company, he couldn't help but worry a bit. Sure, Myra was an apex predator in the wilderness of Avalia, but where did she stand in the presence of a sea of masked strangers with hidden motives?

"Good evening, I'm Ayita. It's a pleasure to meet you." The female voice captured his attention from his thoughts. Her tone was polite, but there was hesitance. Like when one was afraid they might be saying the wrong phrase or word. His scarlet eyes looked upon the elven woman that looked as if she was wrapped by the beautiful star-filled night sky. He gave a welcoming smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Ayita. My name is Darius." He decided to go with a single bow this time around to make things easier before extending his hand out to Ayita. As he looked upon her, he keyed in on her appearance. More specifically her race. Azriel had said there were humans in attendance and that they would likely disguise themselves as elves. He couldn't help but wonder if this woman was by chance a human like himself.

"And no, I'm not an elf. Nor am I from this land" Darius stated boldly. What the hell was he thinking?

O'Ner Faister

TIME: Late Afternoon

LOCATION: The Grand Ball, Roshmi City

INTERACTIONS:.@13org Myra

O'Ner noticed the woman coming towards him, bowing his head towards her and smiling. “Good evening, my name is Mathis Sunderland. May I ask the name of the person I will be dancing with?” He asked seeing her face weary of his presence. He wondered if she could sense his undead presence. Which in that case he too would have to be wary when around her. Holding out his hand for her to take it, in the back of his mind he wondered if he should avoid her. But that would cause a lot of suspicion, and could ruin his facade.

This female was quite attractive, reminding him of her late wife. Which was something he would have to be cautious of while speaking to her.