Dartbored Fairy

Caravan: Resurrection

Lyullia yawned, watching her soon-to-be travelling companions and sighing. She'd been a knight for at least a year, but this would still be her first time on a Royal Caravan. She'd travelled with a Caravan to get to Arcadia of course, but that was hardly formal.

Being a member of the knights wasn't a choice she'd made because she wanted to be a knight, but rather one she made because it was the best option she had at the time. A roof over her head, a steady source of income, and a reliable source of food were more than enough to convince her to become a knight, even though Lyullia much preferred avoiding violence.

Joining a Caravan however was something she liked even less. It meant that Lyullia had to lose a comfortable bed, a warm building to sleep in, and an easy way to acquire new books to read for who knows how long. Unfortunately, she didn't have that much choice in the matter. She could've opposed the idea, but that probably wouldn't have ended that well. Best to deal with it for now that suffer the potential consequences that could come with refusing.

Her companions meanwhile, ranged from interesting to boring. A knight, far too invested in being a knight, stood so perfectly upright next to the Caravan that Lyullia wondered if he even had a back that was capable of bending. Inside the caravan sat another knight, but he looked far less disciplined. Playing a guitar, they seemed more like a travelling bard than a knight, but judging by the fact that they were here they probably were a knight after all. At least the music wasn't half-bad, and not annoyingly loud either.

Near the front of the caravan stood her other two companions. One of them, obviously a mage, was playing around with a rock. Boredom did things to people's minds, but Lyullia preferred fighting it off with a good book. Or perhaps working on a clockwork machine. The other companion was wholly invested in the Venbu that were to haul the caravan. Lyullia didn't know much about them, but she heard they were reliable creatures. The girl seemed nice, but Lyullia also knew that she was likely a new recruit judging by her outfit, and based on their interest in the animals they were also the one in charge of them, giving her a very important role. Lyullia just hoped that she'd do it right so the caravan wouldn't have problems.

Sighing, Lyullia approached the caravan. Best to stay close to it so she could hear what the General was going to say, lest she missed it.

Caravan: Resurrection

Lyullia

Name: Lyullia
Age: 19
Appearance: Lyullia stands at a glorious 5'6 with her long, white hair and clear blue eyes. She usually wears a black dress with a jacket that has many pockets. She also almost carries with her a bag containing her most important belongings. In other words whatever books she's currently reading, some money, food and whatever construction she's working on.

Personality: Shy but curious, Lyullia doesn't like interacting with people. Instead she prefers the company of either books or her own creations, since neither are likely to bug her or otherwise distract her from what she's doing. She's not one to start fights, as she can't really handle blood all that well.

Height: 5'6"

Race: Human
Home Nation: Marrenfell

Magical Capabilities: Elemental, specifically Metal. She usually uses her ability to create the material she needs for her clockwork creations.

History: Born in Marrenfell as the daughter of a Librarian, Lyullia has spent most of her youth surrounded by books. It didn't take long for her to become fascinated by magic, and soon she decided she'd become a great and powerful mage.
Though, like most children's dreams, those dreams didn't come to fruition. For the young Lyullia, the amount of studying that would require was just way too much. So, instead, she decided she would focus her efforts on one type of magic, and become the best mage of that sort. The latter part of that dream also didn't come true, but she did set her focus on one specific field of magic. Elemental Magic.
Having grown up in Marrenfell, technology was all around her, and she soon became captivated by clockwork mechanisms. Deciding to combine her goal and her interests, Lyullia started to focus on using Elemental Magic to create the parts she would then put together to make simple clockwork creations.

Over time, Lyullia found herself getting bored of the books in her hometown, and decided it was time to leave home. By offering to help out on a Caravan she got a ride to Arcadia.
However, once there she realised that things weren't going to be as easy for her as they were in Marrenfell. With no family to live with and no source of income, Lyullia eventually decided to become a knight. While not a huge fan of violence, the benefits that came with it (mainly a roof above her head) quickly won her over.
She's been a knight for little over a year now, spending whatever free time she has searching for either books to read or opportunities to practice her magic.

Defiance

@Jensoman & @Zyngard specifically, though also others near the crypt.

---

With a single, powerful smash Corc manages to obliterate the door, opening up a path into the crypt. Destroying the door reveals a long, dark staircase leading down into what can only be assumed to be the depths of the catacombs.

However, Corc's destruction of the door is not without side-effects. As the door is smashed, the gems in the obelisks cease changing colour, sticking with the colour they had at the moment of the door's destruction. The five colours are Red, Black, Purple, Yellow and Crimson.

Soon afterwards however, the ground starts shaking. Some of the bricks used to build the crypt fall onto the floor, but nothing else happens as the shaking soon ends, followed only by a gust of ice-cold wind emerging from the crypt...

---

Nona giggles as Aelih sits down next to the tree, while giving a small wave as Jack wanders away.

"You know, sitting around a tree won't bring the catacombs to you, you know? Or are you perhaps too scared to enter?"

Defiance

I'll be going on holiday to the UK for a week, and the only opportunity for WiFi for me will be in Pubs. For this reason you shouldn't expect any posts from me until I get back, but if it's important you can just PM me and I'll try my best to respond when I can. Not making any promises though, sorry.

Defiance

Lui pouted as she emerged from the bush, her hiding spot having been given away by Aelih. However, she was still scared of the creepy Skull-riding girl, so she decided to hide behind the next best thing: Aelih.

"Who's that?" Lui whispers, cautiously pointing at Nona. "Is she dangerous?"

---

@Zyngard,@Hokum &@Seraphin,@tex

---

Nona smiled and waved as most of the group started leaving, leaving her alone with only a few people that had arrived later than the rest.

As one of them repeated a question that had been asked before, Nona sighed and slowly turned their attention towards Aelih.

"I already said that I know nothing of the skeletons your friends kept talking about, and I'm not going to tell you about the Resurgence unless you manage to make it back alive from those catacombs your friends want to explore."

---

As the first few people arrive at the catacombs, the first thing they notice is the smell of burnt wood. Around the entrance, several of the trees look as though they'd recently been on fire, and most of the grass has been burnt away.

In a small pit stand five small obelisks, each of which houses a multicoloured gem that seems to constantly change colour. Never are two gems the same colour, but there seems to be no pattern to their changing either.

At the far end of the pit sits a small building, similar to the entrance to a crypt. Perhaps the catacombs rest behind it's stone doors?

Whatever the case, those that are now near the catacombs find themselves feeling as though they're being watched from the shadows, but nobody is around besides them...

Defiance

Lui shrugs as Aelih asks her a question. "I have no clue what that was, it felt weird."

Arriving at the clearing with Aelih and Jack, Lui quickly spots the girl. Scared, she dives into the nearest bush in an attempt to hide, completely oblivious to the fact that her magelight is sticking out of the bush.

---

@Hokum@Jensoman@Zyngard

---

The girl simply rolls her eyes to acknowledge the arrival of Lui, Aelih and Jack, and instead turns her full attention to Devlin. As Devlin mentions physical violence though, the girl flinches and her smile fades a bit.

She soon regains her posture however, and waits for Devlin to finish talking, before nodding and grinning.

"Ah, don't worry, I'm not corrupt. I'm just slightly annoyed at being woken up at such an hour." The girl says before standing up and bowing slightly. "My name is Nona. It used to be short for 'No Name' but then I began using it as my name so now Nona is my name."

With a smile, Nona sits down again. "But anyway, you claim to not know about the Resurgence? Either you're ignorant or I know more than I think I know. Anyway since you seem stubborn enough to want to investigate the catacombs I'll give you a challenge! If you make it out of there more alive than dead I'll tell you some of what I know. Not all of it, but only some bits. Unless you're not interested of course."

She then temporarily turns her attention to Corc, and puts up a surprisingly innocent-looking smile. "Don't worry, Mr. Corc! I'm confident enough to say that I might be more trustworthy than some of your companions..."

Defiance

---

@Hokum@Polaris North@Jensoman@Candy@Seraphin

---

The girl tilted her head and listened - or watched - as Ren made their attempt at communicating. The mute's well-meaning attempt seemed to put a smile on the girl's face, and after he was finished she opened her mouth to respond.

Only to be interrupted by Fauve. Fauve's... attempt at doing what Ren did apparently didn't really do it's job well, as the girl's smile soon fell in favour of a more... annoyed and perhaps a bit disgusted look on her face.

Fortunately though, Corc's half-bumbling 'introducing' put a grin back on the girl's face. Apparently she liked Corc's obliviousness to what was going on.

And then Gabriel spoke, fortunately breaking the cycle by managing to not anger the girl like Fauve did.

As Gabriel starts to walk towards her, he mysteriously found himself within reaching distance of the girl, as though he had walked farther than he should have in a moment of time. Smiling, the girl takes the map and gives Gabriel a gentle wave as if shooing someone away with her other hand, and Gabriel then instantaneously finds himself next to Fauve again.

Studying the map closely - or taking a simple look at it, it's hard to tell at this distance - the girl remains silent for a while, before letting go of the map and allowing the breeze to bring it back to Gabriel.

"Well, unfortunately for you I know less than you all do about this attack you keep talking about, but I can tell you about this map. First though..." The girl's smile slowly turns into a glare as she stares at Fauve. "I do not like you. 'Ren' has more decency than you do, and I do not appeciate what you called me, so I'd suggest you talk less and think more since you look like someone who could do with that."

"In any case, the location marked on this map is a bit further ahead, it's some old ruin with some fancy statues. Don't know exactly what sort of building it used to be, but it has catacombs so that's always a big plus."

"But anyway, all of you except Corc and Ren still haven't introduced yourselves, and you." The girl turns to glare at Devlin "Do not wake me up by shouting again, please. Now, are you going to leave me be, or do you plan on accusing me of more things even though I already stated that I know nothing?"

Defiance

Lui pouts and waves as Dani starts climbing the trees. "Alright, I'll keep an ear open!" She says as Dani vanishes from sight.

"So, ehm... who leads the way now?" She asks the group just as she is hit by the gust of wind. "Hold on what was that?"

Confused, Lui looks around for the source, but finds none. The gust of wind makes her 'eye' itch, but Lui has no idea what has happened.

---

@Hokum,@Polaris North,@Seraphin,@Jensoman,@Candy

---

The girl continues glaring at the duo as Devlin tries to make it clear to her allies that they should not attack. As she does so, the girl crawls out of the skull and climbs up to stand on top of it, using the skull's height to look down on the duo.

From her newly obtained vantage point, the girl easily spots Gabriel, and grins, before turning her attention back to Devlin as she begins to apologize and ask her a question.

Smiling, the girl sits down with her legs crossed, somehow fishing a large bone staff out of her hat. The staff itself is not much shorter than the girl itself, and could in no way have fit in that hat, let alone while worn. One end of the staff ends in a skeletal hand that holds a glowing gemstone, which the girl points at Devlin.

"I know of no truffle pig, especially not a giant one. All I know of pigs is that they like rolling around in mud, so why do you question me about Giant Doom Pigs invading places I don't even know of, and then proceed to accuse me of orchestrating such invasions?" The girl says with a look on her face that makes it quite clear that she is both annoyed and sleepy simultaneously. "Do you have no manners? First you go and wake me up, and then you accuse me of being behind the Resurgence before even introducing yourself. What's next? Your friends hiding in the bushes launching an attack while thinking I haven't yet spotted them?"

As she finishs her statement, a powerful gust of wind hits Fauve, Gabriel and Corc, forcibly pushing them into the clearing.

"An Orc and two Humans. What a strange party. Are you going to be as rude as these two here, or do you intend to show some decency?" The girl asks, as she turns her staff to have it lean over her shoulder while a smaller witches hat materialises under it, hanging from the skeletal hand's thumb.

Defiance

@Hokum & @Seraphin in particular, though some others as well

---

As Devlin stalks closer to the skull, she noticed previously unnoticed details on the hat. Hanging from the tip of the cone is some sort of orb. It is almost perfectly round, and casts a sickly green glow onto the area around it. More disturbing however is the fact that at the bottom of the hat, pierced by the cone, is another skull. It's eyesockets are filled with two dull black gems, and it looks almost as though it is staring at both Devlin and Ren.

"I know you're here!" Devlin's words echo throughout the clearing, and the chimes fall silent, taking away the last source of ambient noise. For a moment it is still until Devlin finishes her announcement, leaving the clearing devoid of sounds for a while.

Then, a gust of wind erupts from the skull, travelling outward like a shockwave. The gust can be felt even at the town gate, and those sensitive to magic can quite definitively tell that it wasn't a regular gust of wind. Especially not since they would now also be able to easily tell that their companions have started radiating some strange ambient magic. It seems harmless enough, though it does make them stand out.

Back in the clearing, the previous quiet has faded as the wind picks up again. A strong breeze blowing through the forest and the clearing, and causing the chimes to chime like crazy. Yet, the hat itself seems to be unaffected by the breeze as it remains where it is, on top of the skull.

That is, however, until an arm reaches out of the right eyesocket of the skull to grab the hat. Crawling about halfway out of the eyesocket is a young, pale-skinned girl. She takes a few seconds to put on the hat - it is a tad too big for her - before actually noticing both Devlin and Ren.\

Her hair is a very dark black, and her eyes a strange, bright purple. She seems to wear a layered black dress of which each individual layer seems to be adorned with parts of the night sky. It is remarkably accurate, yet strangely enough something's off about it. Not only are there stars on her dress that shouldn't be there, all the constellations are marked through glowing yellow lines, and some of them are foreign.

The girl looks at the duo with a look of confusion on her face for a few seconds, before her look slowly turns into a glare. Almost immediately afterwards followed by a sense of dread washing over them.

"Which of you two woke me up." The girl says, sounding rather annoyed. The skull on top of her hat meanwhile rotates to look directly at Devlin, and the girl then points at her as well.

"Was it you, or do I need to replace his eyes again?" The girl says with a grin, temporarily revealing her rather... sharp teeth.

Defiance

Lui smiled as Dani apparently agreed to her plan. He seemed to agree that it was a good solution, and offered to guide the group. Some people still seemingly wanted to go in other directions or something, but Lui didn't mind. At least they were going to get going.

"Of course I'm coming!" Lui happily said in response to Aelih. "Just lead the way, Dani!"

"And we don't have to worry about the forest being dark either, because I've got all the light we need!" Lui said as she proudly held up her magelight, it's lantern shining brightly. She didn't expect the forest to be dark, but she took pride in her magelight, and she liked showing it off.

---

@Hokum

---

As Devlin continues deeper and deeper into the forest, she comes closer and closer to the source of the sounds. Strangely enough, there is barely a breeze, yet the chimes continue chiming, as if driven by an unknown force.

Then, Devlin comes across a small clearing in the middle of the forest. The ground seems a bit scorched, as though it has seen recent fighting, and several trees show large... scars, as though something has hit them. Obviously, something has been fighting here recently, but what.

Devlin soon spots the source of the sounds however, as on a large rock opposite of her lies a large witches' hat. Hanging from the brim of the hat are the wind chimes that are no doubt the source of the sounds that she has been hearing so far. Yet, strangely enough, there is no breeze at all in this clearing. Deeper in the forest there was some wind, but here there's none. Yet, the chimes are still chiming, filling the area with a strange sense of dread.

And who, if anyone, is even the owner of the hat? There is nobody in sight, and given the lack of wind it's hard to believe that the hat got blown here on it's own. Perhaps the owner was involved in what caused the damage to this clearing?

Then, Devlin notices a detail she had previously missed. The large, leaf-covered rock upon which the hat rests, is not a rock at all.

It is instead a massive skull, belonging to a creature that would have been big enough to swallow a small human whole. Yet, by the looks of it, the creature has long since died. Where it's body went is another question entirely though.