Conscripts

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: River
Interactions: Rowan @GingerBobOh Aurora @mole Zora @13org
Mentions: None
Equipment: Longsword and Plate Armor

---

After a short while of swinging, both him and the elf grew tired of swinging their weapons at each other with very little intentions to hurt the other person, and decided to stop. Despite not really getting the fight he desired, Barrock simply grew to accept this was as good as he could have gotten out of it. The elf's fighting style was indeed distinct from himself, he wasn't sure if it befitted the elf's austere and regal impression but it worked together in tandem.

And he didn't seem to be the only one to come to that conclusion. The orc noticed two ladies approaching him from the clearing, one more talkative than the other. Much much more in fact. While it was in no means as grating as the dark elf earlier, Barrock found himself a little bit perplexed at how much she read into this whole training. They were just swinging swords around. Why is this some sort of sophisticated conversation all of a sudden?

After a moment, he realized the sudden awkwardness it got for him. These two were likely the training partners Rowan was talking about, and now they were just acknowledging his presence like nothing unusual - like they were a group. The orc glanced between the tattoo-covered girl to the hooded one, on the outside remaining stoic, but his slit eye shapes hinted at his massive confusion as well as hesitancy. Dude, he was here for some fish, and now he is being roped into this?!

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions: Charlotte @princess, Sjan-dehk @Apex Sunburn, Roman @ReusableSword Layla/Olivia @Potter Farim @Lava Alckon
Mentions: Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Ruby @SausagePat, Kazumin @samreaper, Ariella @Tpartywithzombi, Cassius @PapaOso, and others

---

The friendly face was genuine as John was introduced to Charlotte's group after fetching the smoothies with the rest of the group, putting his hand on his chest as he gave a light bow. His gaze towards Olivia was a curious one, having not seen nor heard of the woman before. "Dr. John Harling Williamson of Varian Institute of Science. It's a pleasure to meet you both. Farim, it's great to finally see eye-to-eye with the man himself. Your company helps connect our cultures together. Always enjoyed a good book from Alidasht." John looked over to the Alidasht noble first, giving a brief and frankly a little bit corporate greeting, but soon his tone of voice suddenly grew more excited as the topic of science were on the table, even just for a little bit. "Oh, it's going on fantastic! I work for the royal-affiliated institute, so we get to play with cool things as it came out of the lab, things like seeing how your bones look like, without doing anything to you. Not my work of course, but we're already so excited to play around with that. I can always talk about it more later if you all want." He controlled the urge to digress on the thing that made him excited to turn to Olivia. "And Miss Olivia, I don't believe we have met."

The foreign gentleman gave his introduction as well. Not a blacksmith, a company owner nor a doctor, but a warship captain from Jafi, or Viserjanta? It was a bit confusing with the wording, but John could always ask later. But being a pirate hunter is genuinely a pretty cool job. You get to sail the large intimidating warships while fighting for justice. It is dangerous, but that's what makes the job more noble. "I used to imagine sailing those cool warships with those cannons firing when I was a kid. It must be so nice doing that for real, huh?" He gave Sjan-dehk a smile. "Anyway, if you're here for diplomatic, trading or just here for a good time...well, hope you're enjoying yourself, Sjan-dehk. Caesonia always look great around these times."

He'd say, this group seemed a lot more chilled out and friendly compared to the nobles of the first day. John was enjoying the company when alas, fun was cancelled. Layla, whom he left the first night after the dance having more positive impressions than what she gave off now, arrived to simply spit on everyone's mood. While it had that effect on everyone else, most specially poor Charlotte, it was...more humorous to John than anything. It was so over the top show-off, John questioned the actual motivation behind this whole thing. As she insulted his intelligence when it comes to an overly warm attire, John simply returned her gaze with a sneer colder than the northern tips. He was not taking up any of her taunts, not to him or his friends, but instead his raised eyebrow, crossed arm was firm and shrewd.

Roman signalled to him not to fight, and that was the only time John peeled his gaze away from her. He was not going to intervene out of respect and understanding of the roles they play, but continued to watch the ordeal explode in front of him. Farim disabling the guards, Sjan-dehk getting his weapons ready. It was a mess, but it eventually resolved itself at least somewhat peacefully and Layla began to leave. The Varian doctor only responded to her once before she disappeared.

"You can drop the arrogant act. It doesn't hide anything."

With a roll of an eye, he turned back to Charlotte and the group. "Again, I'm sorry to see that." He offered her his smoothie to compensate for the one being dumped on her. He heard of Roman's invitation, but his mind blanked a bit at the clothing is optional part. What? "I'll try to be there, if nothing comes up." With clothes though. His classy style aside, he wasn't going to go naked anywhere.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Steffen Gravinir

---

He was glad the former-mercenary lad had the same idea, though he hoped Gerard would have taken a few companies with him. It is a pretty easy position to be encircled, like he himself said. If he got into a fight, he'd be in trouble.

Steffen took a bit longer to get his own patrol going, calling upon a few other knights to form up before moving. He also took the northern edge, trailing behind Sir Gerard from a distance, being ready to cover for him in case of an attack, but also to cover anything the young knight might have missed.

He could hear bits and pieces of the commotion that was happening with Fanilly: the mercenary mage with Lady Veilena, with the towering Haelstadt behind one of them. Nothing surprising, aside from the two latter individuals being here for some reasons. Worth a deep investigation into it for sure. But soon, the attention was snapped to the treelines. Movements, a lot of them.

Ah, the mystery of yesterday showed up. With new reinforcement this time.

"Behind me." Steffen instructed the knights that accompanied him. They were outnumbered, but the confidence of victory laid with the knights, as they moved slowly in Gerard's direction.

For many years, the Ingvarrs achieved a degree of mysticism that preceded them and accompanied Steffen every step of the way, more often an annoying stigma to shake off, but today, just today, in front of the despicable slavers, the murderers and the abominable, he would gladly embrace that image, to demonstrate the dread that these northern warriors would instill deep into the nightmares of soldiers and combatants across the continent.

One of the charging hounds would immediately find its heads ruptured from a quaking overhead slam of the metallic spear. The aftershock of such a blow allowed him to impale the hound through the forehead for a quick finish. In the time the hound dissipated, another would make its jump on him, only to be bashed in the face with the crescent shield and swiped aside in the same movement. The Ingvarr didn't even bother finishing it off, his comrades would.

Behind the hounds was a Boar's human member - the ones that would actually feel pain and terror. Right now, there wasn't any yet, as he fearlessly bellowed his battle cry and charged. At the same time, a juxtaposing lullaby echoed, which saw Boar's speed slowing down. His movement lacked the same energy and precision as before.

He was going to just stab this Boar with the spear, but no. That would be too kind.

His spear shifted left to his shielded hand, leaving his right hand bare. As the Boar fell and made its swing, its speed and ferocity had been dampened considerably that allowed Steffen to easily intercept and grab hold of the blade's handle, forcefully removing it from the Boar's grip, which in this case was not very strong. The Boar having just realized this, could only register one more thing before the Ingvarr skewered him in the chest with his own sword in an uppercut motion. The force exerted was so powerful it knocked him off his feet and fell on their front, the sword handle impacting the ground first, driving the blade further in his ribcage.

The spear swapped hands again, and the Ingvarr kept moving. His was a silent but disciplined march towards a loud barbaric horde of slavers and monsters. His voice was reserved for the blood-soaked mercenary in the carnage.

"Sir Gerard! You're straying far, get back!"

Looks like his reputation for recklessness was true.

@HereComesTheSnow

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions: Charlotte @princess, Sjan-dehk @Apex Sunburn, THE Roman @ReusableSword
Mentions: Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Ruby @SausagePat, Kazumin @samreaper, Ariella @Tpartywithzombi

---

"Oh don't worry, we get compared to gods all the time." John burst out in a chuckle as soon as he heard Charlotte's praise. "You know, every time we saved someone's life, they wipe the sweat off their and their relative's foreheads and bowed their head thanking god for saving them. I am very honored to be so revered." The casualness accompanied the snark, but it was more joking than snorting at Charlotte. If that wasn't clear enough...

"For serious though, thank you. Our work is sometimes thankless, so I am glad to know there's someone out there who appreciate what we do."

From his experience, if the patients was not aware of his...more prestigious status, they tended to be more thankful. Jealously and spite are still pretty widespread, even in more humble and progressive societies.

From then on, quite a few more people began to show up. The first being this handsome gentleman with an...intriguing attire. He had never seen this outfit before, not to mention the abnormally large hat, bigger than the ladies hats that he had seen. But it went off well with one another in an exotic way, so it's much less likely some artist and designer having a stroke of wildness, but rather this is a foreigner from neither Alidasht or any of the smaller colonies from the three kingdoms. If the weird phrasing hadn't given it away.

"Don't sweat it." John raised a hand in response. "How may I help you sir?"

The second being Roman, whose greetings, like usual, was short but respectful. John returned the gesture with his own, similar in intensity, similar in regard. Seeing how Charlotte was interested in getting herself a drink, John decided to go back to the food stalls, but not before checking with the two (and maybe three) in the group.

"I can get you one then." He said to Charlotte. "Which flavours would you like? They can mix and match, so the fruits of preference would be fine." Turning over to Roman and the gentleman from afar. "You can let me know too in case you want a drink. It's really good on a hot summer day, I will tell you that."

((Can assume that John gets back after a few minutes. Don't need to wait for another round))

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: River
Interactions: Rowan @GingerBobOh
Mentions: None
Equipment: Longsword and Plate Armor

---

"Rough." Barrock replied plainly to the mention of Rowan's participation in the dark elf war. It was the most sympathy he didn't think he'd be giving out to a random stranger, but being one himself, albeit not really participating for any righteous fervor, he knew firsthand life at the other end of a spearpoint. But it was somewhat undercut by him just forgetting Barrock's name just after he just announced it.

"Barrock." He gritted his teeth to conceal his annoyance, but left a very curt response to it.

Rowan proceeded to retreat further into the clearing after offering Barrock an opportunity to join his 'warm-up'. The orc's eyebrows perked. Warm-up huh? Was he just offered an opportunity to fight? A reasonable justification? With natural vigour giving rise inside him, Barrock looked at where Rowan had left him. Grabbing the blade near him along with his belongings, the Orc followed the footsteps. The clunky footsteps catching up with the light elf matched his growing skepticism that slowly caught up with his hotheaded desire for combat. The elf wasn't offering a spar, was he?

Seeing the elf practicing alone, that seemed quite likely.

God damn it...

Now that he showed up, he could not simply chicken out now.

Barrock kept a bit of composure as he dropped his belongings on the ground with the same energy as a little girl trying hard not to sit on the flower she loved. He did get a bit of calm back after grabbing hold of his blade though. It would simply be a training session, that's all, just with this guy here to watch.

The Orc's form was one of might, but at the same time exuberating a great degree of calm and self-control. The long hilted, long bladed sword often came close to a mighty swing that would have sliced through any weak material in its way, but it would stop and switch directions with great agility. Often, as he was yet to get used to having a partner-of-training. Normally he would be a lot more precise.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Steffen Gravinir

---

Steffen, let the others decide amongst themselves which tails to chase next. Having a very limited number of leads made the decision quite obvious for everyone. Cae Mayl this time. Once again a boring ride, but if he could stand the boredom of paperwork, this was nothing but an opportunity to practice a little bit of melody. He had no flute here, but his lips would suffice to create the delicate air dance in the form of a Veltian folk song. His whistling was no louder than any hooves clomping on the trampled roads, but was enough to keep some knights company for the journey.

Cae Mayl appeared around the same time they were at the fort the day before. A breathtaking scenic that gave him no surprise this was chosen as the first shrine to Mayon. The water seemed completely still, a pretty mirror for the goddesses to take good look at themselves, if they needed that vanity. Supposedly, it was deeper than anticipated, but it was the more magical nature of this place that got the message through to Steffen more than the water depth.

With the information that the shrine appeared untainted from Tyaethe, he would be reassured that there wouldn't be anything yet, not at least until the knights were fully disembarked. It still wasn't clear to what degree the Boar's presence here were like. Had they already left, finishing whatever nefarious task they were up to here already without touching a finger on the shrine? Or had they not even arrived yet? Are they around here somewhere, intentionally? That last question bugged him the time he was at the fort, and it would bug him again now.

Seeing Dame Serenity took off with Lein to search for any tracks out of the shrine, the watchdog duty had to be taken up by someone.

"Sir Gerard, Sir Nicomede, if you two don't mind." Steffen raised his hand to attract the two knights. "Let's keep watch on the treelines. Form a patrol to check if there's any Boars there." He figured the knights had enough hands checking the shrine as is.

@Krayzikk@HereComesTheSnow

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions: Charlotte @princess
Mentions:

---

"Good morning, Lady Charlotte." John returned the hug with his non-smoothied hand, as well as her smile with one of his own, small but with hints of excitement. "Yeah, perfect timing too. Caught up on my sleep and ahead of work schedules, so today is just good old do nothing day for me. Nothing but hunting for free food that is."

The same thing was the case the other day as well, but he and Charlotte all knew that didn't go so well.

Taking one subtle glance back at the group Charlotte arose from, John gave a shrug, lightening up his uptightness with a chuckle. "Sorry you seemed to be having an engaging conversation, so I didn't want to interject." Knowing his history with the Vikenas, both of them, he wanted this little interaction to be less serious than he normally is. "Anyway, you look good today. Do you go here often?"

Taking a sip of the smoothie in his hand, he gestured to Charlotte about his new-found snack. "You want some? I can get you one as well."

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Irian Sinewell

---

These organization names all sounded foreign to Irian, but the young lord was willing to shed lights on the individuals they were dealing with. In simple straightforward terms, they're trash, and they're here to take them out. Seemed like there were people like this in every kingdom and culture though. He did remember a couple of cases back in his settlements, thankfully most of them were just loose groups of low lives instead of an organized group like this.

In any cases, the plan was to get rid of their mounts and wipe them out. Simple enough, Irian did not think much of it other than to prepare. He did hear about the acid as a measure against armored opponents, but decided to opt out of, as his magic infusion were sufficient to pierce through most conventional armors he expects to face. It was also safer, considering acid is easy to hit yourself if not careful.

What he did hear though is the griffin rider's requests, and the horse recipe. Horse meats? That's a new to him. He held back the temptation to criticize it for now, since he had certain respects for nature's bravest and most humble animal, trying to let curiosity take the lead first.

"Is that for us or for Mr. Griffin there?" Irian came up next to Roger. "Never had horse meat before. You guys have it often?"

@Crimson Paladin

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions: Charlotte @princess
Mentions: Olivia @Potter, Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Farim @Lava Alckon

---

The Ends of the Eromora

The journey north took almost a full day by train, and another few hours by snowmobile, and what John was greeted with wasn't a village of wonder and curiosity that sparked many cute fairy tales across the age, but instead silence - an eerie deafening silence. Right there, at the ends of a continent, a silent village sat there suffering from its accursed fate.

But by all means, it was nothing out of the ordinary for an event this calibre. Despite glowing reports from the governor there that the plague had already been contained, fear probably had yet to release its tight grip on its inhabitants. And it would continue so for at least a while longer after he would be gone.

The snow mobile slowly appeared inbetween the frozen treelines, two individuals stood in anticipation: Baron and Baroness Salovey of this tiny speck of land called Omyakon. Their governance was barely a footnote in Varian history, as the place was so remote no one wanted anything to do with the place. But today, they would be put under the spotlight by the Varian Institute, having an outbreak on their hands. Both spouses were shaking, not from cold, but anticipation.

"I don't trust that woman anymore, honey. Look at her, she's itching to snitch us out to the Institute." Baroness Salovey, a stern middle-aged woman, her curly black hair normally requiring high-maintenance cowered behind her large coat and hat, as she glanced back and forth between her bald husband and a blonde lady much younger than her standing at the distance.

"It does not matter how she looks." The Baron didn't even bother looking back at either, instead looking at the incoming snowmobile, that soon parked over at an empty snowfield, its driver and passengers disembarking. "This is their new guy. All new guys follow the books to bootlick their higher ups. Just follow my lead, give him what he wants and we'll be fine."

The driver with the snow goggle was accompanied by two gentlemen, one in military uniform and one wearing plain but sharp overcoat. It was not hard to identify who is who.

When John neared the two nobles, they both gave the doctor a simultaneous bow.

"Doctor Williamson. Omyakon is honored by your arrival." The Baron said.

"Deeply, deeply honored." The Baroness trailed behind.

"I understand the Institution is having a lot of questions regarding the situation, but be assured that we had everything under control..." The Baron continued, his voice monotonous. "Here is our full report...as well as all the individuals to be held accountable."

He handed John a few sheets of paper. The list of name was not important, John skimmed over the report worth lives over. And just like the previous report, it was shoddily written. Grammatical error and spelling error notwithstanding, they seem to lack the knowledge of what is a good report in general. The Barons wouldn't know it from looks alone, but John grew aware the moment they listed the only cause first in the report and then present evidence towards it. Especially combined with the list of responsible individuals, or as John would like to call it, lambs to the slaughterhouse. From his experience sticking around with Mina, it seemed awfully like they were interested in blaming someone.

"No."

A female voice spoke up from neither behind John nor in front of him. Stares of delirium were immediately sent that way.

"These men and women were not the ones responsible. I can attest on their behalf."

John raised his chin in curiosity, but the two nobles immediately intercepted her.

"Doctor Hania, I see you are continuing to spread information that goes against the best interests of Omyakon." The Baron sneered.

"It's not for or against anyone's best interests if it's a fact."

"Doctor Williamson, please forgive her uncouth manner. She lives and often works in solitude, so she can get a little cuckoo sometimes." The Baroness smiled, but John simply met the pretentiousness with a raised eyebrow. She turned back to the newcomer, seemingly confident in what she would say next. "Explain it to us, Doctor Hania. How is it that this plague is caused by magic?"

His eyebrows shot up even more. Magic. That's even more outlandish than the report said.

"That is not what I said."

"Oh it is exactly what you said, darling."

"I said it is influenced by a magical source, not that it was definitely caused by it."

"Oh? Then explain it to us, to Doctor Williamson here." The Baroness's voice churned. "How is it influenced by a magical source?"

The blonde girl suddenly found herself without words to say, especially as her peer, a man with much more power than her, one who with a stroke of a pen could easily ruin her life, was standing right there with his arms crossed. She grasped her coat with an arm, trying to avoid direct eye contact with John.

"I-I'm not ready to explain it at this time."

"As I presumed, there is no answer." The Baron responded, full of self-satisfaction.

"It's disgraceful, really. To think you are a doctor we entrust our lives to..."

John, having observed all three of them, were not really amused. He trusted none of these individuals, but from the brief conversation they had, there is a social dynamic going on here. Both the Barons were talking down to Hania, and addressed her as Doctor, meaning there might not be nobility going on with her. And by having the figurative 'victory' there, those Barons may be able to claim their bogus 'respiratory disease with necrosis and nosebleed' some authority and legitimacy, especially to Hamilton and Louis here, both of whom he did not expect to be aware of such technical knowledge. No, the authority to dictate the investigation should lie with him and him alone.

"If magic is not involved...then," John cleared his throat before speaking. "how do you explain necrosis and respiratory disease in the same sentence? Excuse my ignorance but I have never heard of a respiratory disease that causes your skin to die like that."

It was a bit of a lie. He could think of a few conditions, but they didn't know that. Neither might Hania...

"Honey, how is that the case?"

Works like a charm...

"I'm not sure myself. It could be a new disease..."

"You said it's a common regional disease though. You didn't read the report?"

"No no no Doctor Williamson, I have read the report. Ma-maybe you can talk to the doctors who wrote this instead of me?"

Holes had been poked, his authority had been secured. Now it is time to see who was the one speaking the truth.

"Very well, arrange a meeting with all doctors in this village. I want to hear everyone's perspective." Including this weird doctor here too.

Both Barons looked at each other, their nerves clearly been touched wrongly, but had to concede.

"It will be done, Doctor."

John remembered the ball a few days ago, he confessed being a fashionably boring person, wearing pretty much the same clothes everywhere until the day he is put into the ground. He wasn't kidding. With the exception of the coat, which John opted out due to the uninterruptible sun at its zenith, he looked quite similar to previous day's appearances. How this man, especially one who had lived in the cold north was able to withstand such heat in such stuffy clothes, science would have a field day. But one thing was for sure, it did not seem like he was interested in the water.

Having caught up with his sleep schedules, it was the first time John felt energized. He could finally embark on his lifelong mission: free breakfast. And today, the beach offered them. Its alluring aroma did not break him out of his composure, but it sure attracted him from stall to stall, enjoying a teensy bit of everything before moving onto the next, and then finally settling in with a large refreshment of strawberry-banana smoothie.

"Ah, good stuff. Good stuff." With a kid-like grin, he began trailing the shorelines but never really going close to the water. It was then that he noticed more familiar faces around here: Charlotte and Lorenzo. They were in the middle of a conversation with another woman and a man he thought was familiar. One of the Alidasht nobles? A pretty interesting one judging from his mannerism, and her visible discomfort. Noting that, John simply stood at a reasonable distance, waiting for Charlotte to notice a familiar face. It shouldn't take too long considering how out of place he looked.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Steffen Gravinir

---

It took a little while to go through everybody, but aside from that Boar member in disguise, every bodies in the barrack appeared to just be normal soldiers, no sign of the shards nor any additional Boar insignia.

"There's nothing else." Said Steffen as he returned to Fanilly, Amy and the mercenary lad. "Feel free to double check, however. A black shard is easy to miss."

@VitaVitaAR@6slyboy6