baraquiel

The Forest of Helsend

~ NEITH ~

Tag: @Eviledd1984@Jerkchicken@Utrax

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Just as Neith and Micah were about to proceed to the building he pointed, Neith was surprised to see the large female orc she saw back at the tavern. Neith could tell she recognized the two of them too judging by how she reacted. Should Neith go and say hello? She barely knew the woman but it wouldn't hurt to make new friends. Maybe she could know a thing or two about this supposedly cursed forest. Just as she was about to approach her, Neith was surprised when the orc unslung her horn from her back swiftly and played it while looking at the forest.

Neith's body froze, shivers running down her spine while the orc played that haunting music. It was just so weird and out of the blue for someone to play that kind of music, especially when everyone in the town was fast asleep and everything was practically covered in darkness by how dimly lit the lamp posts were. Aside from being scared, the elf was irritated by what the orc did. She didn't know if she also had some weird connection to the creepy forest or if this was just a prank but this had to stop.

Before she could do anything, the group was approached by another person. Seriously, all these people popping out of nowhere will give Neith a heart attack. It was also a huge coincidence when it was the same guy she saw back at the tavern. In fact, it was the same guy she bumped into a while ago. Another coincidence for him to still be here like the orc woman. Just what the hell was going on here?

"Wait, you're going into the forest too?" She asked the guy in confusion. It took her a second to remember that a lot of people were probably interested in this forest like her as well. They could either be competition in finding that lost treasure inside it or they could be very helpful to her in getting that treasure if said treasure really did exist. "This is really weird... What kind of business proposition are we talking about here?"

After asking another question to the guy, Neith pointed at the orc woman. "And can you please stop playing that song? It scares the shit out of me."

Avatar: Order of the White Lotus Interest Check

Awww is it too late to join? I can be a non-bender if that's alright :)

Avalia

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TIME: Evening
LOCATION: The Grand Ball, Roshmi City
INTERACTIONS: Kyran @Alivefalling, Risa @princess, Ilan @Dreamingflowers, Terneus @Dezuel, Torvi @Tae

---

Sakura couldn't help but let out a small giggle to the comical misfortune of the arrogant elf. He and Pride will get along very well or they'll likely kill each other to see who's the greatest among them all. The demoness taught to herself as the elf desperately tried to save whatever's left of his dignity as he's carried off away from here.

"Well, that took a turn." She commented. "Now that the pesky elf is gone, it's best I let you pair be. Enjoy the night, my dears." She said to Risa and Ilan, giving a knowing wink to the satyr before she walked off.

If her father could see her right now, Sakura was very sure he'll be disappointed that his bright and talented daughter became a mother-like guardian to these pathetic people. She wouldn't blame him, she was disappointed at herself at first too. She just reminded herself that it's all part of her mission. Usually, her missions didn't last for more than a week. Wait, has it already been a week? A month? She lost track of how long she was undercover as becoming an ally of the rebels.

She just went back to her table and drank a glass of water to compose herself. She could sense that the longer she stayed here, the more she'll actually like it here. Her heart had gradually been softened by the times she spent with Ayita, Cade, and even Ilan together. She was supposed to hate them as their races, except for the humans, were the ones who mercilessly killed Sakura's kin. She should be filled with hatred and disgust towards these lowly creatures.

However, there was also that other side of her that doubted that. It looked like that doubtful side came from... her heart?

Oh bullocks, she couldn't believe this was happening all over again. She really hoped all of this will go over sooner than later. She didn't know how much more of her inner turmoil she could handle before she'll explode. She needed to let all of this pent up emotions and frustrations out but she knew she couldn't trust anyone.

Thankfully, this ball was an effective distraction. The band stopped playing, signaling that it's time to find their second partner for the night. Her magical paper-crane-thingy re-emerged out of nowhere and fluttered around Sakura. The demoness just sighed and rolled her eyes as she followed the flying paper-crane-thingy that will lead her to her next partner. It was a bummer she didn't get the chance her first partner.

When she saw her partner, she couldn't believe what she was seeing for a second. Somehow her paper-crane-thingy led her to another human!

At least, she looked like a human to the demoness. She just thought it was human because Ayita also had naturally tanned skin too. The demoness thought all humans have tanned skin and she'd never seen a human with a different skin tone yet. The horns on her mask also made her thought it was Ayita but it was probably just another dark-skinned elf.

Even so, Sakura knew of course that there were many of Ayita's kind scattered throughout Avalia. Does that mean there were other humans present among the crowd too? That's probably the reason why the other demons were here, to scout for humans in addition to scouting for the members of the rebel group. She saved that thought for later, she had a role to play right now.

"Hello there. It seems you will be my partner for this dance." Sakura sweetly said and curtsied before the white-haired human. "You may call me Sakura. What is my partner's name?"

Sins of Brittania: A Seven Deadly Sins based Rp

:(

The Forest of Helsend

~ NEITH ~

Tag: @Eviledd1984@Blizz

---

Weird was putting it mildly. Neith didn't need to be a master of the occult to understand that what she was currently seeing on the boy's drawing was something very, very dark and demonic. Even though she barely started her search, Neith could feel that the rumors about the riches being kept in the forest were highly untrue. Still, it's too early to back out. She needed to get to the bottom of this mystery no matter how scary it looked.

Even if it didn't have any riches, Neith could imagine her being famous for being the only person who solved the age-old mystery regarding the forest of Helsend. Of course, with fame came riches too. She could be a bit delusional but no one could fault a woman to dream.

"H-Hey kid, what did you-". Before she had the chance to finish her question, the kid's mother called out to him and he ran off to her. The only ones that were left there were Neith and Micah, her new companion.

The dark elf looked at the same spot the kid named Koa stared at but all she could see was pitch-black. Did the kid really saw whatever this 'thing' was clearly or was it just his imagination? Either way, she'd have to save her investigation for some other time. Everyone's already in the safety of their own homes and the lamp posts were going to go out anytime soon too.

"You should... You should keep this just in case." Neith said while gingerly handling the paper to Micah. "I think I should also find a place to stay for the night too. We can maybe go back to the tavern and ask the bartender if they know a place I can crash even just for tonight. I'm really tired..." The dark elf added before letting out a yawn.

The Forest of Helsend

~ NEITH ~

Tag: @Eviledd1984

---

Neith was fairly impressed. She didn't realize she'd hit a jackpot upon arriving at Helsend. Granted that forming an alliance with a seemingly crazy person that talks about themselves in the third person was very risky but it sure was better than nothing. At least, she already had someone to help her to find out whether or not the rumor she heard about the forest was real or not.

However, she couldn't help but notice the obvious fear in his eyes and voice when he spoke about the forest. He, or rather they were as stoic as a stone when a man was this close to punching them but just the mere thought of this particular forest gave him the chills. That almost made her turn tails and leave but deep inside, she was also getting excited about it. She felt like this will be the most fun she had in her life yet.

She waited for Micah to get his stuff, taking the time to look around the tavern. Night-time was approaching and most of the patrons left the tavern to go back to their houses and rest. Even though they were only a few people out there left, Neith still wanted to be extra careful.

"I think it's best if we discuss this outside, at a less populated place." Neith softly said to Micah, grabbing his arm as she guided him out of the tavern. The sun was setting on the horizon and lamp posts were gradually getting turned on one by one. Most people were already going back to their houses while there were still those lingering around, perhaps enjoying the cool breeze or do something crazy. Neith really didn't care.

"Let's keep walking." Neith said softly to Micah as she walked around just near the tavern while walking. "I know very little about this 'cursed forest' but from what I hear, they say there's a huge pile of gold in it. All the treasures you can imagine laying somewhere within it. Of course, I wouldn't want to pass up on an opportunity to be instantly rich. That's why I want to know..."

She didn't continue what she was saying because her attention was caught by a boy sitting on a tree stump nearby and fervently scribbling something on his paper. She noticed the kid was facing the direction of the forest but she couldn't see anything eye-catching about it save for the trees. It was getting so dark and it's impossible for anyone to see anything through the forest but somehow, this kid was drawing with a purpose.

Neith poked Micah's arm and pointed at the kid's direction. "That kid looks like he knows what's up. Let's see if we can get something out of him." She told him as she casually approached the young boy.

The Forest of Helsend

~ NEITH ~

Tag: @Eviledd1984

---

Neith raised an eyebrow in amusement at the guy she just saved. She didn't know why she made all that effort of ending a fight as it was very unlike her. She was surprised when she had the idea of charging in and her legs suddenly moved on their own. Neith just got here and this place was already having an effect on here. Maybe it's because of anxiety deep within her heart; she thought she was confident in her decision but she's still troubled by damning herself for making the wrong choice.

Either way, she can't let the worries of the future affect her present. She needed to stay completely focused on her self-made quest and make sure that every decision was according to her plan, but this man was already making her confused as heck. He could be one of those crazy fanatics of make-believe gods. She knew better than to tell them that because she knew how loyal and violent they can be if anyone questioned their fate. The best course of action was to just go with the flow.

"Micah eh? You may call me Neith." She said to him as she continued to walk. "Your offers are tempting, believe me, and I'll surely talk to you on those later. I just have something I needed to do in the meantime. If you really want to show me your gratitude, maybe you can help me out with something. I'm sure you've heard of the rumors about a certain forest near this village, yes?".

The Forest of Helsend

~ NEITH ~

---

"Oh, you're so sweet. You may call me as Neith or you can call me whatever you want, sugar. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Neith sweetly said while offering her hand to the stranger. He looked very strange with the exotic vibes she's getting from her but she just ignored it. She had met people who were far stranger-looking than this guy. She could also tell that this man was inherently good. No use in being snarky towards a kind guy.

She caught sight of a half-orc leaning against the bar. Neith was so interested in meeting an orc again because she 'knows how they do' but was heavily disappointed to learn it was a female. She just shifted her sights to an equally large and slightly more muscular dragonborn she was talking to and thought that he'll do just right for her, she guessed. Neith also thought that the man she's talking to was fairly cute as well. She could tell she'll have lots of fun even with him.

Her attention was also caught by two men who seemed to be at the brink of starting a fight. Neith sighed and shook her head disapprovingly, although she had a smirk on her lips. "Excuse me, handsome. It looks like I need to teach these boys some manners. Let's catch up later." Neith said to him with a wink before going to the two men.

"Now now boys, don't you think it's rude to start a fight in such a lovely place such as this?". She said while sauntering towards them. She put a hand on the man's arm as he lifted the other weak-looking man with robes and dark brown hair. "Just leave the man and be on your merry way. A wet shirt never killed anybody after all."

Sins of Brittania: A Seven Deadly Sins based Rp

Helene was still wincing a bit as she walked towards the throne room. The tattooing of her brand at her lower back was a bit painful and she would often laugh out loud embarrassingly whenever the tattooer would hold her waist in place. It took four people just to stop her from moving as she accidentally kicked the tattooer a couple of times due to her extreme ticklishness. Now she's standing along with the other Sinners as well, each holding weapons that were scarier than the last one. One of them, Razol, grew weary of waiting for the King and began to leave. Helene didn't know why but she found herself running towards the man and grabbed his arm. "Don't! If you get out of here without direct orders from the King, he's going to throw you in jail again! We're already given a second chance despite all the horrible things we did. Please don't throw away this chance to do better in life." She pleaded to Razol where she could also sense a very dark aura coming from him.

Avalia

---

TIME: Evening
LOCATION: The Grand Ball, Roshmi City
INTERACTIONS: Kyran @Alivefalling, Risa @princess, Ilan @Dreamingflowers, Terneus @Dezuel

---

Kyran mentioned that he'd have to leave due to something he needed to be done first which Sakura understood. After he took his leave, she went back to her table and was unsurprised though sad that her companions weren't there. Of course, they would be on the dance floor, enjoying the symphony and magical ambiance of the Grand Ball by dancing the night away with their partners. It didn't bother the demoness that much. She was always used to being alone whenever she was sent on an expedition by her father to complete a mission. She was always used to being alone in the shadows.

Right now, however, it was the first time Sakura felt alone in a very long time and she gradually hated that feeling. As she pondered and looked at her half-eaten meal, at first she was angry with Cade and Ayita. She believed they made her soft, warmed her cold heart. She would never feel this way if it weren't for all the times they spent together. However, the other part of her believed otherwise. They opened a pathway towards other emotions and memories, experiences that she will never have if she continued to stay under the wing of Aklenroth. In a way, she even felt grateful to those two.

She looked towards their direction. Even with their masks on, Sakura could tell they were smiling and enjoying the night. Just seeing them happy made Sakura happy as well. Just then, she felt something in her heart. She wasn't sure what it was before but now she knew the best word to describe it: doubt.

Why? Where did she feel doubtful for? She was very sure that she enjoyed spending time with Ayita and Cade. No, she felt doubtful towards something else... Or was it someone? Aklenroth? He raised her, treated her on how a father treats his daughter, and taught her everything there was to know about the world. Sakura owed her life to Aklenroth and any doubt towards his will was treacherous and absurd. A being as powerful as he chose to waste his precious time and energy to save a demon baby, the only survivor in a massacre of her own kin.

"But why would he put up a spell that prevents me from going there? Why, Father, why?". Sakura angrily whispered to herself.

A burst of random laughter from the crowd snapped her back to reality. She looked around and saw that everyone was having a great time. She sighed, she should really stop overthinking things. She should just focus on enjoying the night instead despite the circumstances. She decided to cross the bridge when she got there.

Just then, Sakura noticed a peculiar-looking man interrupting Ilan and the fairy princess' dance. She swore she had seen that man before and she couldn't put her finger on when and how she knew her exactly, but what she knew now was that he was rudely interjecting himself in the pair's dancing. Ilan was the sweetest faun Sakura has ever met and he amused her so much that she decided to include him on her 'To Not Kill' List. Anyone who bothered the adorable male faun was an automatic enemy of the wicked demon witch. Besides, this was a good chance to get on her good side too.

She approached the trio and laughed amusingly. "Well well, you look quite dashing, my dear." Sakura said to Ilan with a wink and bowed respectfully to Risa. "It is an honor to meet you, fairy princess. I've heard a lot of good things about you although I can't help but notice this man was rudely interrupting your dance, yes?". She gleefully said, giggling as she put her hand over Terneus'. "I advise you to find someone else to bother, good sir. You don't want to spoil everyone's fun now, do you?". Sakura sweetly said while looking up at Terneus with malice in her eyes.