drewccapp

The Vanishing Kingdom

Allanon had plenty of time to consider a next course of action from here. After all these years of working in the shadows to avoid the direct attention of the Calabris family while fulfilling his wife's last wish Allanon had built his skills in subterfuge and intrigue to what would qualify as a skillful level. He had two options at this point: stay here and wait for the hit squad to come and finish their job, or take a serious risk and step into an unfamiliar city to act as a body guard. He was not at all interested in losing control over his environment if he could help it.

The healer stepped out after an hour and filled him in on the situation. The catwoman wrapped up her explanation with a rather ironic joke which caused Allanon to raise an eyebrow and then chuckle a little bit. "Well, thank you." The Saints he knew were a good humored people. He was glad that the pair here appeared much the same.

Once Valia stepped out from the infirmary and told him she was ready Allanon replied to give her a choice. "The Calabris family I know will not let you be until it becomes too expensive for them, their operation here is dead, or you are dealt with appropriately in their eyes. We have a couple choices here. We can wait here for them to show up, and if they are Calabris mercenaries and not some third party hire it's possible I can get a direct lead to their operation's base and shut it down. The second choice is more aggressive and risky. We can leave here and make our way to another location where we can control the flow of who's coming in and who's coming out. The risk comes with the getting there and if they have someone with better stealth skills than my senses can detect."

He paused to give her some time to consider before continuing. "I will let you know. I prefer the first choice, but this is your life, and I want you to choose in this instance. I will keep you protected either way. I can guarantee there are few that are my equal with swordsmanship and fewer that are above without the aid of magic."

Allanon probably had the fewest answers to magic, however it was so restrictive and rare that he also rarely had to deal with dangerous magic situations. Only an idiot or another magic-user would dare risk facing a prepared magic-user head on. Everyone knew that.

The Vanishing Kingdom

Allanon remained silent as people questioned him about what happened. He could already see the suspicion forming in their eyes. These people were not combatants, but they could cause trouble if the opportunity arose. He could not trust any of them anyways. What if they were spies for the Calabris family trying to get more information out of him? The less they knew the better regardless.

If he could keep some people untainted by the Calabris family he would.

Red Saints. This caused Allanon some relief. Of all the families that were in charge of Portea they were the ones he trusted the most. Two beastmen. Unusual sights in Portea, but since he had arrived in Kalla he had seen more of them. One of them seemed to recognize him and commented on his appearance.

The bounty on his head listed all the crimes he had committed while under the “employment” of the Calabris family. The truth was his infamy was well-earned. The only thing was it was a secret until the Calabris family decided to “retire” the Ironblades. Again, he decided to remain silent. They could come to their own truth. He had no illusions about his past. He was responsible for the crimes he committed back then, but he also had a promise to keep.

The first step of Allanon’s plan was already at work. The news spread by all of those that witnessed him carrying her from her school to the temple would be more than enough to catch the attention of the Calabris family operation. Madame Valia was already bait, but it made him feel better that she was willing to help. She was right that it would be better if she could walk.

He resisted slightly as he was ushered out of the room he had brought Valia to. He wanted to be in the best position to protect her should an assassin arrive. After he did leave the room he stood by the door maintaining constant vigilance. It would be a matter of time before someone with the intent to kill arrived.

He placed his hand on his wife’s sword and sighed. ”I hope I’m doing right by you, honey. I hope that every day.”

The Vanishing Kingdom

As they made their way over to the temple, Allanon kept on full alert. While it looked like they felt just one mercenary would be enough for one woman he could not discount the possibility of a back-up. The information she gave him while limited was good enough for him to work with.

"How secure is the oasis?"

As he considered where to look next he considered the fact was with the one person with any link to the Calabris family's operations going on here. Even if she knew little about what they were doing it was entirely likely they would want to cover up any knowledge she had. It wouldn't be long before her act of self-defense would be known and the rumors would spread. He knew the Calabris family to be relentless in their pursuits, and it would not be over for Valia until their operation here was dead.

He cleared his throat. "Never mind that. I would like your help. It is entirely possible they will track you down and try again. I want to use that to find their base, and I promise to keep you safe. If I'm going to rescue those girls I'm going to need your help in this."

The Vanishing Kingdom

Allanon already understood he was overpaying for this bread, and if he were in Portea he would definitely have called it out and haggled. Money was not easy to come across even when he earned most of his money by taking it directly from the evil people he had hunted over the last few years. He had six silver coins and two coppers left after this purchase more than enough to make ends meet if need be. Even so, he was paying for more than just bread. He was paying for information, and what he got was perfect. It sounded like the Madame responsible for training dancers was under suspicious circumstances. Allanon smiled at the merchant. "Thank you."

With that he marched off in the direction the merchant had pointed. He cut himself a slice of the bread with one of his throwing knives and ate as he found his way through the streets toward Madame Valia's. Just as he finished he found the blue banners just as described. He entered the space and immediately scanned the area. "I am looking for Madame Valia. I have need to talk business with her."

If something was unusual about her lately according to the locals then it was likely she was directly working with the Calabris family, and she had moral qualms about it. The odds were they had something over her if she was performing work for them. This would require some delicacy. His actions could destroy innocent lives if he was not careful.

The Vanishing Kingdom

Kalla.

Allanon remembered the last time he came here. The Calabris family had sent the Ironblades to hunt down an opposing family’s operation and shut it down with lethal force. There were no survivors that night, and the only people that knew what happened were the Ironblades or dead. Rumors flitted about some time after, but now that it had been over a decade since that happened it was irrelevant.

Irrelevant. Allanon frowned at that thought. Their deaths were not irrelevant to their families. He still remembered, so they weren’t irrelevant to him. He had to carry that weight.

He had spent the night in an alley, but he was not entirely prepared for the cold night of the desert. It took some time for him to stretch his muscles to warm up as the sun rose in the morning, but this was a better option than a fight for survival in an inn. If anyone seeking his bounty recognized him or his swords there would be a serious fight for his life. This was just better for everyone. Although nothing Allanon did, and nowhere he went would ever be a safe place for him.

A rustle of paper sounded as Allanon pulled a bounty he saw as he entered Kalla.

1000 gold for his head.

It had gone up from 750.

Outside of the fact that he had grayer hair and his skin had gotten rougher with age he had not physically changed much over these last eight years. It was almost an honor that the Calabris family wanted his dead that bad. He was pretty sure he was tied for first among a few others including his fellow surviving Ironblades. A part of him could relate to some of the more villainous folks on the bounty list as far as how this could be a point of pride for them.

The temperature had already risen to a steadily roasting heat as the sun rose over the horizon. After his morning routine to maintain his body, Allanon lifted his hood over his head and entered the market to find out where the Calabris family had their slave operation. He had gotten the request from a panicked father that came to him to rescue his daughter. Apparently, he owed them and they wanted her as collateral or else. She was going to be brought here to be trained as a dancer and then sold to the highest bidder. Allanon promised to rescue her if the father could find a way to disappear with her.

Allanon stepped up to a food vendor selling bread. “I’ll have a loaf of bread.”

The vendor looked up at Allanon with a curious and possibly suspicious look. “That’ll be three silver, sir.”

As he took the coins out to pay for it he asked. “Also, could you help me out? I am looking for dancers. Where might I be able to find them?”

The Vanishing Kingdom

Name: Allanon Valentis the Ironblade

Age: 48

Race: Human

Appearance:


Personality: Allanon is a pensive man having lived a life seeing the darker side of humanity he carries many of his decisions with a lot of weight. He is decisive and discerning. He appreciates the small joys in life whenever he can afford to. He very much likes to reminisce over his childhood as it was a simple time where his decisions had little impact over others lives. His word means everything to him.

Bio

Allanon grew up as a member of the wealthy Valentis family. He was the fourth son and grew up with less responsibility than his older brothers as they were the ones to take over the administrative work of their company. Early on he took a deep interest in swordsmanship and learned as much as he could from various tutors and mercenaries.

The day Allanon became an adult was supposed to be a celebrated day, however, his father and oldest brother had entirely unexpected plans. Debts were being called by the Calabris family, and instead of money they wanted Allanon. Apparently, his martial skills had caught the attention of their family head: Varic Calabris. If the Calabris family desired, the Valentis family could be completely wiped out by them, and Allanon knew this. This was the first time that he felt the burden of responsibility, although at the time he only felt trapped and betrayed.

Taken away from his life of freedom, he was brought to the household of the Calabris family and presented to Varic himself. Varic explained how he was seeking talented individuals to make an elite team to work exclusively for his family. Allanon would be one of seven, but first a six month intensive training session was required of all of them to test their potential. Allanon reluctantly agreed as he knew he had no real choice, and before long he had to forget his reluctance to survive the training.

He built a good relationship with each member of the team as they were sent on black ops missions for the Calabris family. Some were stealth retrieval while others were bloody executions. Each of them knew the price of failure. One member of the team: Marissa Faye was the beacon of light in their team. In spite of the often awful tasks they were sent to do, she kept their morale up. Allanon admired her for her attitude and as time passed they fell in love and eventually married. Instead of rings they had a matching pair of longswords made as a symbol of how they met.

At 40 came the worst betrayal. Considering them too old to be effective, Allanon’s team was executed by the Calabris family. At least they attempted to. A full platoon of mercenaries was hired to eliminate what had come to be known as the Ironblades. All government officials had been paid off to view them as criminals, and bounties were placed on each of their heads. The initial assault was defeated, but at the cost of two members of the Ironblades including Marissa. Her dying wish was for Allanon to do his best to create as much light as he could in this world, and he promised he would.

The Ironblades agreed to split up and go into hiding while making contact once a year to keep tabs. Over the next eight years two of the five remaining Ironblades were caught and slain. Allanon was the only one to remain in Portea the whole time. He started working as a vigilante and consultant for those in need in exchange for nothing.

Equipment:
Matched Longswords: While his sword style is a single sword style he has kept Marissa’s golden blade with him as a reminder of his promise to her. They are enchanted so that so long as they are in close proximity to each other they will maintain and repair themselves.


Throwing Daggers: He has ten of these on a bandolier ready to throw as needed.


Abilities:
Valentis Sword Style: A balanced single-sword style created by Allanon over his lifetime. It is renowned as one of the best sword styles in the world for many-on-one combat.

Stealth and Disguise: Many of Allanon’s operations required the use of stealth and disguise, and while it was not his primary role he learned many things from the now deceased Ironblade that was responsible for disguise.

Extra notes:

The Vanishing Kingdom

Name: Allanon Valentis the Ironblade

Age: 48

Race: Human

Appearance:


Personality: Allanon is a pensive man having lived a life seeing the darker side of humanity he carries many of his decisions with a lot of weight. He is decisive and discerning. He appreciates the small joys in life whenever he can afford to. He very much likes to reminisce over his childhood as it was a simple time where his decisions had little impact over others lives. His word means everything to him.

Bio

Allanon grew up as a member of the wealthy Valentis family. He was the fourth son and grew up with less responsibility than his older brothers as they were the ones to take over the administrative work of their company. Early on he took a deep interest in swordsmanship and learned as much as he could from various tutors and mercenaries.

The day Allanon became an adult was supposed to be a celebrated day, however, his father and oldest brother had entirely unexpected plans. Debts were being called by the Calabris family, and instead of money they wanted Allanon. Apparently, his martial skills had caught the attention of their family head: Varic Calabris. If the Calabris family desired, the Valentis family could be completely wiped out by them, and Allanon knew this. This was the first time that he felt the burden of responsibility, although at the time he only felt trapped and betrayed.

Taken away from his life of freedom, he was brought to the household of the Calabris family and presented to Varic himself. Varic explained how he was seeking talented individuals to make an elite team to work exclusively for his family. Allanon would be one of seven, but first a six month intensive training session was required of all of them to test their potential. Allanon reluctantly agreed as he knew he had no real choice, and before long he had to forget his reluctance to survive the training.

He built a good relationship with each member of the team as they were sent on black ops missions for the Calabris family. Some were stealth retrieval while others were bloody executions. Each of them knew the price of failure. One member of the team: Marissa Faye was the beacon of light in their team. In spite of the often awful tasks they were sent to do, she kept their morale up. Allanon admired her for her attitude and as time passed they fell in love and eventually married. Instead of rings they had a matching pair of longswords made as a symbol of how they met.

At 40 came the worst betrayal. Considering them too old to be effective, Allanon’s team was executed by the Calabris family. At least they attempted to. A full platoon of mercenaries was hired to eliminate what had come to be known as the Ironblades. All government officials had been paid off to view them as criminals, and bounties were placed on each of their heads. The initial assault was defeated, but at the cost of two members of the Ironblades including Marissa. Her dying wish was for Allanon to do his best to create as much light as he could in this world, and he promised he would.

The Ironblades agreed to split up and go into hiding while making contact once a year to keep tabs. Over the next eight years two of the five remaining Ironblades were caught and slain. Allanon was the only one to remain in Portea the whole time. He started working as a vigilante and consultant for those in need in exchange for nothing.

Equipment:
Matched Longswords: While his sword style is a single sword style he has kept Marissa’s golden blade with him as a reminder of his promise to her. They are enchanted so that so long as they are in close proximity to each other they will maintain and repair themselves.


Throwing Daggers: He has ten of these on a bandolier ready to throw as needed.


Abilities:
Valentis Sword Style: A balanced single-sword style created by Allanon over his lifetime. It is renowned as one of the best sword styles in the world for many-on-one combat.

Stealth and Disguise: Many of Allanon’s operations required the use of stealth and disguise, and while it was not his primary role he learned many things from the now deceased Ironblade that was responsible for disguise.

Extra notes:

Lantern

Haha! I wouldn't say irritated is an effective descriptor. I'm insanely patient, and I've been busy building a business. I found an RP I'm very happy with, so I'm able to maintain my itch to RP now that my standards for RPs has been brought up wicked high thanks to Lantern and Mokley's other RPs.

It looks like life has pretty much eaten Mokley up as she has been on very very sparsely. Hopefully things can get rolling soon with this one. :3

Lantern

Seems like life is generally crazy for all of us in some shape or form! XD

Heroes of Azure City 🎫 Always Open

@Bea Yes, I am Demavend in the discord.