Concept

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

Thanks for saying that, I appreciate it. Post is up! Now, in the past when it comes to dialogue, I’ve sometimes run into collab hell where we post collab post after collab post to accurately portray the back and forth dialogue. I have no problem doing that if you want, but I also have no problem with a series of shorter posts unless we know our characters are going to have a longer conversation in which case we can collab it into a single larger post.

Just tell me how you feel about it and I’ll be down.

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

Nonsensical assumptions continued to pester Jabari’s mind. For the first time, he wished he could remember some of the political teachings his mentor had desperately tried to impart into his younger self’s thick skull. The sunburst embroidered onto the red and gold cloaks each rider wore was key, but its nature eluded Jabari. All he knew for sure was the color scheme represented nobility and wealth and all that meant was maybe he could haggle for more coin at the end of the whole thing. Still, the part of his brain honed and sharpened to a fine edge that tied into his instinct continued to scream at him. Nothing about the job was making sense and his body wanted to turn around and head back to the village. Jabari refuted his inner voice and approached one of the riders just as another cloaked individual was headed into the shade of a nearby willow tree.

“Fine armaments, good sir,” Jabari said.

The rider said nothing. His eyes sized up the darker man below him and then returned to their front.

Jabari ran a palm through curled black strands and short locs tied back with thin rope. Used two fingers to massage his goatee some before nodding respectfully and making his way around the rider and his horse. His instinct shouted at him again. He found it to be odd. As a Knight, he never would have given a second thought to this setup because as a Knight he never would have been a part of it. At the same time, because of the training he underwent, he knew something was off. He resolved to think more on it later. He had two days to do so, after all.

Jabari watched as another rider trotted their steed up to the tent covered cart. They gingerly swung off their horse and stuck their head inside a tent flap. Then they entered. Jabari turned his attention away and headed towards the tree with the other cloaked individual. They were the only ones who stood out amongst the caravan so clearly it was the second mercenary. And the conversation between rider and lord would drag out for a while so this was the perfect opportunity.

As Jabari neared, he realized his folly. He had been expecting another man to have to share the profits with and he’d assumed and thought no more of it. He was met with a woman instead. Not that it was a problem, but it did come as a surprise. In Jabari’s memory, the training to become a Knight’s apprentice and then a fully fledged Knight was tough. He’d never known another woman as strong as his sister, but seeing the woman and the sword at her hip was a dead giveaway. Unless she was also nobility, the uniqueness of the blade was hard pressed to be anything other than the blade of another former knight. Or stolen from one. Jabari decided to stop making assumptions. Maybe she was never a Knight at all, but what she was now was his partner. He quieted his thoughts.

“Fine day for an escort, would you not agree?” Jabari asked, stopping just a couple of feet away and increasing the volume in his voice appropriately.

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

Oh you’re fine, you’re not late at all. I still haven’t quite gotten down our time zone differences, but this came with great timing haha.

I’ll see if I can get a post up tomorrow, if not it’ll be when I return from out of town.

Storytellers Haven — Concept’s 1x1 Thread [Closed]

Bump.

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

Sounds like a plan to me, I’m looking forward to it.

Of course, you’re welcome!

Storytellers Haven — Concept’s 1x1 Thread [Closed]

Bump.

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

I had some unexpected time come up today so I took the opportunity to get a post up! As always, it’s no rush on your part. Enjoy your weekend.

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

As the wooden sign denoting Luinne inched closer, Jabari knew he was getting close to the crossroads. He strode on, each step crushing shrubbery and compacted mud in equal parts. His mind was a windstorm of thoughts and feelings. Memories eroded his threadbare armor and penetrated his mind’s eye. Memories of his days as a Royal Knight in service to the King and Queen. In service to his fellow brethren. The cobbled roads patrolled and labyrinth cities journeyed through and guarded. It was Jabari’s duty to ensure no one stood against his King and Queen by any means necessary. Most people thought of the Knights as a benevolent force that paraded around in plate armor as a symbol of peacekeeping and chivalry. Jabari scoffed. They couldn’t have been more wrong.

The heft of the blade at his hip made itself known suddenly. Jabari found himself torn as he continued onwards. His sword was his most prized possession, but it also remained his most painful reminder. The ornate regalia rested within its decorative sheath proudly awaiting its moment to unleash and devour again. Jabari knew it. He could feel its pulsing desire beating right next to his heart. He glanced down at the scabbard and hilt dangling alongside his wide stride. The scabbard was leather cow hide dyed ebon with a series of three evenly spaced gold straps and buckles lining the inky exterior. A golden tip etched with a tribal design had been sown to the tip where the blade would be. The hilt matched the scabbard’s dual shades of night black and bright gold, a diamond with sharpened vertices at the hilt’s end. The blade’s crossguard had been tempered into the shape of the number eight, but on its side so it more accurately depicted the infinity symbol.

Jabari shook his head. He could feel the bittersweet pangs nipping at his skin. He’d kept the physical manifestation of his anguish for the simple reason that he couldn’t bear to part with it. He felt there was a deeper lesson in there somewhere. Something about how a person both hated and secretly enjoyed their pain. At the very least, his mentor would have said something about as poetic. He chuckled. He missed his mentor even if he’d had no other choice than to forgo his post indefinitely. As suddenly as he’d had the memories, his absent-minded gaze saw the crossroads looming ahead. And at those crossroads, the caravan awaited.

Jabari stopped. Used a palm like a visor over his eyes and scouted the caravan from where he stood. There were several horses and riders all surrounding a horse and cart. The cart was decorated with banners and flags and other accoutrements Jabari didn’t care for. He’d never been political even when he was a Knight. The cart was also covered by a tent of red embroidered with gold so the occupant couldn’t be seen. He scouted for any indication of his mysterious companion he was to be working with, but another interesting facet caught his eye instead. The riders surrounding the horse and cart wore chain mail and were equipped with swords and some with bows of their own. They weren’t simply servants to this unknown dignitary. They were warriors in their own right.

It made no sense. Why hire two mercenaries to escort a clearly well guarded occupant into Viscerium? It made no sense, but Jabari waved the thought away. All that mattered was his coin at the end of the two day journey. He started towards the caravan once more. He figured his partner would be coming along and would be easy to recognize and differentiate from everyone else. The warriors all wore the same kind of chain mail with the same colors and helmets. Jabari wondered what kind of person he was to be paired with as he neared the caravan.

Storytellers Haven — Concept’s 1x1 Thread [Closed]

Bump

Added another idea, J.A.E.G.E.R, a military/spy thriller role play.

A Sun-Kissed Blade [Concept x Dr Acula]

Great post! No worries, I understand.

I respect that and actually feel the same way. I may have my post up before then, but if not, it’ll likely be Monday for me as well.

I’m going out of town next week starting Tuesday so I’ll try to get my post up before then. I’ll be returning that weekend so if nothing comes, next weekend will be the for sure ticket.