The hour before leaving Shadow Worth was the first time that Bree felt in her element since the start of the journey. The return walk from the spring quickly sapted any warmth she had acquired. However tempting, she knew that calling upon her element among the drakken would have been unwise, and waited until she was back in her room before calling forth a great fire. Upon entering her tiny room, she was relieved to see her trunk returned to her. She was almost as relieved to see that the grey clothing from earlier had vanished.
Her mother had always taught her to value self care. That appearances, especially first ones, were everything. Those words echoed about her head as she opened the trunk.
At once the room filled with the warm, flowery scent of home. The brilliant colors of the garments within seemed out of place in the plain stone room.
A sharp pain struck her as quickly as the scent, it started right behind the navel and slowly crawled up to her chest. It wasn’t until the tears threatened to spill from her eyes that she was able to name the aching feeling: Despair.
For the first time, she allowed those bitter tears to rolls down her face. To feel the rage and disappointment that came with the whole situation. The unfairness of it all. Nearly a quarter of an hour passed before she was able to pull herself off the floor. Yanking a dress at random and pulling out a small bag, she slammed the trunk shut. The scent lingered for a moment, before being replaced by hard stoney castle scent.
With more care than she had in a long time, she started the process of applying numerous creams, pigments and kohls for her face. Trying to cover the blotchiness that came with a good cry.
Not that much dear, we are accentuating what Vivari gave you, not lying to the poor souls.
Her mother’s voice once again swaying her hand from applying the mask she wanted. The armor she longed to wear to protect, to give her strength. Setting the skin tools aside, she focused instead on her hair. It was nearly dry as she released it from its twist, leaving soft curls in its wake. Most of her long hair she left down, twisting a single lock into a braid, before crossing it over the top of her head and pinning it with a small white flower ornament.
The dress she pulled out was light yellow and flowy. The sleeve hung off the shoulders and left nearly half her back bare. It was one that she had worn in the high heat of summer back home. The material was thin, too thin for early spring, but the dress gave her a warm feeling that soothed the pain in her chest. After dorning the dress, she wrapped a soft cloak over her shoulders and she joined the rest of the gems on their walk to their carriages. Their journey to their husbands.
Husband
The journey to the capital took far longer than expected. Bree watched as the landscape shifted from bare snow capped peaks and wild evergreen forests to rolling hills of long stalked grassess. Sandstone ridges started forming as the sun set. Casting a fiery glow as all green faded, making way to sand.
The capital was twisting roads of hard pack sand that all seemed to lead haphazardly to the same central point of the city. Or it might have, the drakken guards had shut the curtain on the carriages after the carriages started to gather too much attention from the locals.
The carriages stopped outside of a large building. The night had taken on a chill as the smell of rain threatened those who stood outside and a quick wind started to whip up. The girls were quickly lead into the building by the High Prince.
A gasp drew Bree’s attention as one of the troublesome girls from earlier, Adorabella, was pulled from the line by a very pretty drakken.
Perhaps they... Bree tried to think of a reason for the girls removal. She chose not to finish the thought, as all answers she could come up with lead nowhere good.
The High Prince’s words were lost on her after that. Bree’s eyes darted around the room. Unlike the guards, the drakken in the hall seemed more on edge, more eagar.
As they should be, they actually get to touch what they see, instead of just edging on it.
In what felt like moments, the pretty drakken from before had returned, leading her away this time. For a moment, fear clutched at her heart.
You’ve done nothing wrong. They’ve no reason to single you out. You bowed, you followed the rules Still the worry didn’t fade until the pretty drakkan stopped in front of another.
The pretty drakan stopped the group of gems a few feet away from another drakkan, pulling Bree close, he whispered a message into her ear. Told her to nod if she remembered it. It was a simple message, truly, and seemed like something the drakkan could have easily said himself. Bree felt her face twist in confusion, but nodded anyway.
A breath escaped Bree’s lips has the pretty drakkan released her. Her shoulders relaxed, only to tighten up the second she felt the drakkan’s hand on her face. She had been too stressed out about the fact that she might not be given to a drakkan to have actually looked at the male she was left with.
He was tall, far taller than herself and of a height with even the tallest figures in the room. While she still wasn’t great with guessing ages of drakken, this one seemed young. Aubree felt her face color at his assessment of her. Normally, she could care less about the opinions of others. But all the others before had been Gems, temporary creatures. But this drakken was to be with her for the rest of her life. However long that was.
Bree’s hand took on a mind of its own at the mention of cutting her hair. Her fingers, brushing a few strands her eyes focused on the ends of it. Cutting it happened rarely back home and hardly ever took it shorter than the width of three fingers. Although the drakkan probably expected a lot more than that to be removed. The idea left a vague irritated feeling in the pit of her stomach. She opened her mouth to disagree, but closed it at one.
Not even with him three seconds and you’re already trying to be difficult. Stop being so childish, it is only hair. It’ll grow back
“ My name is Aubree,” ,”she said, proud to hear that her voice came out steady. “ Aubree La-...” She cut short. There were many things she was now, but a Lamay was not one of them. Not wishing to offend her...husband she chose to leave it. Just Aubree, although some call me Bree….Sir,”
There was something about the way that Kagan introduced himself that seemed suspicious. It was well known that only the most important and loyal drakken received Gems. But a Kinner, while she had no idea what a kinner was, certainly didn't sound like a lord. Obviously it was tied up with religion. People of faith were plentiful back home and she could only hope that they played a more valued role here. "You are correct, Kinner Kagan ," she said, tasting the word on her tongue, hoping for a hint of familiarity or hidden meaning. " I don't know what Kinner is. But do know that Krenta is your g---the god of death. The one we all meet in the end,"
Bree's eyes flashed over to some of the gems she had grown familiar with in the past few days. She found Arden quickly and felt her heart lift to see Sorrin standing alongside her. At least they had enough other. Although their husband made her's seem friendly by comparison. She quickly refocused on her own husband, although she couldn’t help but feel a bit of envy. They had each other and she could very well be on her own.
"Am I your first bride?" she asked, her voice coming out a little too quickly in her desperation to know.
Bree does her hair and has a break down. Ya know, girl stuff. Travels. Freaks out when Adorabella is taken because she spoke to her that one time and obviously is guilty of what ever by association. Meets Kagan. Does not want her hair chopped and is unamused by his lack of title
The sounds of the tournament echoed around every corner of the arena, a constant reminder to all about why they were there. All around the field were holding pits where eager drakken lay in wait for their opportunity to fight.
A year ago, so much senseless violence had caused her endless nightmares. The first time she saw a drakken struck down left her in near hysterics. Now, she could almost see the beauty in battle, the need to fight and the honor in victory. Invested enough that she found herself rooting for a favorite to win and feeling frustration when they failed.
Rya perched herself on the armrest of Azilon’s chair, her feet barely touching the ground below. Nearby, another gem was tangled in the lap of Salazar. Although there were many girls around the pavilion in far more compromising positions than this one, the fact that it was Salazar’s hands touching the girl made Rya squirm and her face grow scarlet. While far from a virgin herself, Rya’s first husband making quick work of that the night they met, it just seemed so much dirtier when done with an audience.
Rya was unsure if Azilon shared her view on the matter, which is what kept herself planted firmly on the armrest, instead of his lap. Even though the armrests seemed to be designed to make that position particularly uncomfortable.
Despite her best efforts to pay the pair no mind, Salazar wouldn’t be anything less than the center of attention.
“So, Azilon… You still haven’t told me how you acquired such a beautiful young thing, it was to my knowledge that you did not attend these sorts of things.
An acidic guilted started to flood Rya’s body, starting from her stomach and spreading up her throat as she tried to keep her body relaxed and free from any admission of wrongdoings. She had no idea what her punishment would be should the wrong person discover what she did. Azilon seemed indifferent but Salazar finding out would have a much less ideal outcome, that much she was certain about.
Thankfully, Azilon seemed content to keep her secret. Or, at least, avoid the question. Which seemed best till he got up. Reaching out she caught one of Azilon’s hands, a silent plea not to leave her. But all that came from that was the appearance of Azilon’s sister. Morganna took reluctant hold of Rya’s leash and a grumbling occupancy of her brother’s chair. The molested Gem of earlier bolted the second she was free, no doubt off to find a friendlier drakkan to entertain.
Rya slipped to the ground by Morganna’s feet, pulling her knees to her chest. Arching her back, trying to make herself seem as small as possible.
It seemed that the entire population of Drakka entered the ring before Rya saw Azilon again. His name, as well as that of his father, stirred a wave of interest from many of the drakken around her. Drinks were set on tables and gem entertainment losing the attention of their drakken client for a moment.
A gasp of pain expelled from her lungs as the chain around her stomach tigented, digging into her skin. Glancing up at the female drakkan, Rya tried to dig her hands under the chain to loosen it, but Morganna only seemed to pull it tighter.
“You there, chew toy.Go to the edge there and watch the fight for me…. Oh, and don’t worry about Azi, if he dies I’m sure father will claim you. You’ll be well taken care of"
The female drakkan’s words did very little to comfort her. The year among the drakken had taught Rya to want for few things and expect less. But as much as she was afraid of Azilon, she knew that Salazar would be a hundred times worse. Rya crept forward as far as the chain would allow, settling on the balls of her feet, trying to keep the borrowed dress as clean as possible.
The agony that settled in her chest as the father and son fought on the field seemed to attack her lungs, making it impossible to breathe. Her hand digging into the smooth stone below her as she pressed into the hard earth. A coppery taste of blood filled her mouth the moment Azilon’s father got his son in a choke hold. Rya’s mind already flashing to the best direction to bolt should Az--
Lucky for her, the thought never had the chance to finishing forming. Azilon tossed his father off, winning the fight.
And kill him. The thought flashed through her mind. A hungry, eager thought from a voice deep down that didn’t quite sound like her own.
To the voice’s disappointment, Azilon backed away, encouraged to do so by the keeper of the games.
For as long as it took for Azilon to enter the ring, he appeared before her in what seemed like a moment.
“Come on Rya, we’re leaving.”
“Az...” It was unclear if he heard her and chose to ignore her, or if the aftershock of battle had deafend him to all. She found herself rushing to stand has Azilon stormed off away from the arena.
Rya’s feet kept catching in the skirt that was designed to look pretty, but it didn’t move very fast. After nearly falling for the 5th time in as many seconds, Rya was sick of it. Reaching out and wrapped her arm in the soft chain before yanking back on it like a whip, pulling it free from Azilon’s hand.
“You. Are. Going. Too. Fast,” she hissed, her voice low, the leash hanging loosely in her hand, the length of it dragging on the floor. She made no move to hand the chain back to Azilon or come any closer either.
Rya is not looking for husband number 3. So Az better not fucking die in the stupid fight with his father. Az doesn't die, in fact he wins (for the first time in his whole life). He then drags Rya along, but she is getting real tired of his shit and yanks the stupid leash back
Bree
Wife of ? Interacting with: Arden @Pupperr, and Adorabell @eclecticwitch and Sorrin [@Weeping
With the washing done, Bree carefully tipped the Arden's head back in the water, being mindful to not splash the soap into the her eyes. Satisfied with her job, Bree slowly started working on her own hair. Running the soap through it before starting the painstaking process of brushing through its length.
“Truly, the drakken should be paying me. Look at all the wisdom on survival I have managed to impart on you already Arden,”
The cheerfulness of new the gem...Adorabella, was a little overwhelming. Far too bubbly for the circumstance. Coming from someone who planned on being here, that was saying something. “An intense pleasure indeed,” said Bree, a polite smile that had been groomed into her repertoire coming to rest on her lips, as the reached out and took the girls hand lightly, the top of her hand point up. Holding it as though she expected a kiss, rather than a shake.
“And your friend, I assume her name is Sorrin?” Said Bree, her hands returning to her own hair, braiding each side as soon as it was free of tangles. “We sat next to each other during that delightful presentation how how not to let the drakken baby rip you to shreds on the way out” Well, Bree sat, Sorrin stood painfully nearby. A sharp reminder to mind the drakken. “ As near as I can tell, the trick is to get lucky,”
GM Post
Somewhere, in one of the deeper pools, a girl lept in. Her body curled in a tight ball before splashing water over everyone close to her.
There was a sudden cool breeze as the steam rushed to escape the room. The heavy rock door opened just large enough to allow a single drakkan to enter. The new drakkan spoke a few quick words to the two guards stationed at the door.
After a few second of conversation, one of the drakkan guards stood. "Out now," he barked, his second heading to the back of the room. Probably to chase out the Gem's who had wandered too far back.
“But, I thought you said we had until lunch,” Said Bree, stepping out of the pool and quickly wrapped her towel around herself. “It can’t have been more than an hour,”
“ Plans have changed,” Said the drakkan, his voice as greasy as the look he gave her as his eyes flicked down her body. “It is time to meet your husbands,”
This is not a drill. We are all finally getting murried (or sold into sexual slavery as part of the sketchy looking breeding program) So the gemmies, time for primping and travel to the fighty fight place.
Next time on: Who is running this ship...oh wait.... Everyone, keep a weathered eye for Libby’s post (coming soon) to find out what caused this mysterious speed up.
The warm water rushed around Bree’s head, washing away the layers of grime that still hung to her skin. The weightlessness of her body lulling her into a calmness, her brain willing to stay in the sereness of the pool forever, even as her lungs started to scream for air. Giving in, she lowered her feet, and pushed up until standing, the warm water resting just below her navel.
Bree had spent her whole life practicing the art of not looking at the female form. Allie made it easier, Bree had eyes only for her. But Allie couldn’t always be there and other forms were poisonous temptations that always drew her gaze. Even as her brain screamed for her to look away telling her it was unnatural, wrong, that it went against the goddess herself.
The thoughts never quieted, but they were ignored. She also learned that not watching was far more telling than openly staring could ever be.
Bree settled herself on a small ledged, watching Arden. The girl dropped her towel after a few minutes hesitation.
The dark bruise that blossomed from the girls stomach drew Bree’s eyes, far more than anything else about her. A tightness that started in her chest soon dropped down into her belly. It was Arden’s own fault that the beating had occurred, yet it left a bitter taste in Bree’s mouth.
“Not used to what? Being drug thousands of leagues away from home? Spending the eve of your wedding in a guarded hot springs? Strange,” There was a lightness in her voice as she had her eyes flick towards Arden’s before using the small bar of soap to scrub at her skin.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Arden fiddling with the water. Looking away from her arm for a moment, she glanced at the girl only when she felt a gentle wetness brush her stomach. The water was moving in a vortex, being brushed along by the gentle current of air. The sight of it brought an a quick smile to Bree’s face, followed by a laugh. A true one, one that filled her heart with a fullness that found a space in Bree she didn’t know what there. Reaching a handout, she let the vortex rush over her hand until the air escaped and the water returned to itself.
“Fire, although I don’t think it’ll do very well in here,” Indeed, the air was far to wet for even a spark to occur. Usually something that only happened when caught in a rainstorm. But for the moment, it hardly bothered her.
Her eyes once again found Arden’s bruise as the girl reached out of the pool to grab a bar of soap. “You must be sore,” she said, filling drawing her eyes away from the dark mark on the girl. “C’mere, I’ll help you wash your hair, it won’t heal you, but at least you won’t have to strain your stomach trying,”
“Although, perhaps you got off easy, if you are going to try to fight them over every little thing. You are in for a shit time of it,” She rubbed some of the soap into her hands, waiting for Arden to come closers, all the while wishing for one of the bottles in her trunk that smelt of Kakali flowers
A short moment later, and the pair was joined by a third gem. Bree's eyes narrowed in on the girl and was a little shocked to recognize her. Granted, if you spent a full day starring a a girls boobs, you'd be likely to remember that girl.
Why is it that I seem to attract the trouble makers
"I don't suppose their is any point in saying 'this is the sorta thing you don't do if you want the drakken to leave you alone' is there?" Said Bree, although her voice was anything but convincing.
Bree and Arden like...snuggle wash and then that trouble maker Adorabella comes along and tries to get the girls to water fight poor Xae and Zel @Saltwater Thief. Of course Bree has to be talked into it
The thin material did little to protect from the icy wind that whipped through the crowd of browbeaten Gems. The entrance to the underground was an almost welcome relief, although it did little for the chill that seemed to hold onto Xae’s very essence. But at least it stopped the wind.
The stone underfoot was eerily smooth. Worn down by the thousands of Gems who had walked it path before.
How many of them are still alive?
A dark thought she tried to brush away, but one that kept echoing in the darkest corners of her mind. It had reared its head the moment the drakken guard pressed the coal to her heal. It was a move that was meant to humble rather than cripple. Effective and temporary. While the burn still ached, after a day Xae was able to bare some weight on it.
A hidden blessing, the journey below was perilous enough with two legs.
The cavern that house the pools stretched on, the steam giving the room the illusion of going on forever. Suggesting that, if one traveled far enough, they too could vanishing into the steam.
All around her, girls were climbing into the pools, eager to bathe. The three leering drakken guards that remained were unavoidable, but they seemed content to watch the show, only reacting if the girls came to close to the door.
Clearly they are certain that there is only one way out of here
There were only a handful of girl still clutching at their towels now. One of which was a girl with scarlet hair. Xaelia had noticed her before, one of the few other girls who seemed to keep to themselves, rather than cling to others for support. Not that Xaelia blamed them. By the time she had tried to reach out to other girls, the brand on her heal already marked her as trouble. Far too many were wise enough to avoid that. Their reaction thought...well it hurt more than the burn.
But this was clearly time meant for the Gems. A time to pretend that everything was fine. That they were just people, rather than prizes. Taking a few step closer, she spoke to the Gem.
“I find it strange,” said Xaelia, the words struggled to come out, as though she was talking to all of the capital, rather than just a single girl. “That they would show kindness in the face of all they have done to prove that they are anything but,”
“Although I suppose even drakken have to agree that a dirty, travel weary girl would make for a poor prize,” Picking one of the smaller, shallow pools, Xaelia sat near of edge of it, her towel still held tightly around her chest.
The harsh warmth of the day beat down on the small group of drakken that was the Dantanath family. Leading the pack was a monster of a drakkan who, in Rya’s opinion, was more like Salazar than Azilon ever could be. The eldest Dantanath, Tarkylian, overshadowed all of his siblings in height alone. While Azlion was only a few inches shorter, two and a half of him could easily fit with in his much broader brother.
Tarkylian was the unspoken leader, but it was clear that Morganna was incharge. Standing slightly off to the left, she lead the group. Halting them all whenever she saw something on the streets that caught her fancy and moving on whenever she got bored. To the right of the leading trio was Gorrak. A smaller version of his brother, still larger than Azilon, but not the monster that Dantanth was.
Compared to the leading three, the three behind looked distinctly out of place. Azlion towering over the two females on either side of him. Rya, of course, being one of them. The last of the siblings was Aeya. A mystery to Rya. Smaller than all of her siblings and much prettier than her sister.
The family ‘outing’ being triggered by tournament. The invitation had come last night, not long after Azlion and Rya had arrived.
~Yesterday~
The house of Dantanath was dark, even while the sun was still shining. All of the windows were heavily curtained, the many halls lit by candle light. A place of whispers and hushed voices, less you wanted to draw out a monster from the shadows.
At the center of it all, was Salazar Dantanath.
“Ah, the prodigal son returns, and….he brings a little treasure, ” Every aspect of the patriarch oozed a toxin that tainted everything it came in contact with. Azlion looked relaxed enough, but his eyes betrayed his displeasure. And Rya...mostly she tried not to breath, less it drew his gaze.
“Drinks,” Salazar's voice echoed around the chamber. At first it was unclear at whom the order was placed until a gem, even tiny by Rya’s standard of gem, arrived with a huge tray that held a heavy container of dark red wine. Rya watched the girl’s arm tremble slightly as she balanced the tray while pouring a glass for both Azlion and his father, before settling herself beside Salazar, the tray being held above her head.
“Well, son, let’s see what you brought home,” There was a power play here. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Azlion tensing, but didn’t make a move to stop Salazar as he circled her. She felt the urge to cover herself, but like with any predator, she knew it was best to just stand still. Or play dead, but that didn’t seem like an option.
As Salazar reach out to touch her, a crash echoed throughout the room, reverberating in every dark corner. All around the tiny Gem were the contents of the jug of wine as well as the shattered platter and glass jug.
“I’m-- I’m so sorry M-Master, it was too heavy. It… it was hurting my arms--” There was an sense of panic in the girl’s voice, as she scrambled to clean up the impossible mess.
“You. Little--” Salazar turned to the girl, her punishment already set in his eyes.
Rya’s hand shot out before she knew what she was doing, grabbing Salazar around the wrist “It-It was an accident,” she sputtered, alarmed at her own daring.
Salazar looked just as surprised as she was to find her hand on his wrist.
“Clearly my son hasn’t taken the time to teach you proper manners,” Salazar jerked first his hand free. Examining his hand for a moment, as though he expected to find filth, before he stuck her across the face with the back of his hand. “Perhaps I should take it upon myself,”
For the first time that night, Azilon moved, placing himself directly between the two. “That isn’t for you to decided Salazar ,”
“Well, look who finally grew up,” came Salazar’s mocking voice. “Do you really think-”
Whatever Salazar was going to say was interrupted by Morganna, who brought the message about the tournament.
~
Strictly speaking, Azlion and Tarkylian were the only two who had received an invitation. But Salazar suggested they all went, so they did.
Everytime that Rya caught a look at her reflection through one of the shop windows, she would try and stop. Salazar’s Gem bride (name still unknown) had swooped in on her early that morning. Attacked with powders and creams,kohl, oils and pigments of a thousand shades were artfully painted on her skin. Layers and layers.
Rya was left feeling...fake. Not like herself, but not different enough that she could be someone else. And what was more alarming was that the bruise, while she could still feel it, it was completely hidden. It left her to wonder with Salazar’s nameless bride actually looked like.
Having left most of her belongings at the cabin, the outfit she was wearing was another thing given to her by the girl. Light green skirt that brushed the ground as she walked. The beaded top ended just below her breasts. It was clearly made, not only for a smaller Gem, but with fashion over functionality. The end result being that Rya dare not raise her arms, for fear of pulling the whole thing off. An all to real risk.
Across her waist was Azlion’s only addition to the look, a silver chain that could have been mistaken for a belt, were it not for the thin ribbon that was attached to Azilon’s wrist. A leash, a pretty leash, but a leash all the same. It hadn’t gone on without a fight.
Earlier that Day
“I said no.” Rya puffed air through her nose indignantly, arms crossed and a scowl etched deeply into her expression. She eyed the thread of silver in Azilon’s hand warily, doing her best to stand defiantly all while fighting the urge to slink back.
“This isn’t an option little Api, you have to wear it.” He met the small girl’s blazing eyes with a cold stare of his own. Azilon wasn’t exactly know for being the most patient man in the world, but this was a battle he already knew the outcome of thus he felt no need to match her fury. There was, however, something familiar about the expression that hid behind her defiance, a feeling he knew all too well and had long since rid himself of.
“I thought me wandering off was the least of your worries. The only reason you were here in the first place was to get rid of me, was it not?” She countered, both her tone and posture rigid. It was clear from her composure that she wasn’t going to go down without a fight regardless of her odds of winning. Azilon figured she already knew how this all would end and that resisting it for as long as possible made her feel better about it. If he had either the time or the patience he might have even indulged her a bit, however after all that had happened thus far, he was left with neither. Heaving a sigh, the man took a step forward prompting her to take a step back boxing her into the corner of the room they had been standing in.
“That was the intention, yes. I am not the one with the dead husband, however, so you don’t really have much of a say. We could have always left you with the prince instead, but I figured there might be use for you yet so why hand you over to your death and waste an opportunity?” He allowed a brief moment to allow his words to sink in before extending his arm out to Rya, hand open so that she could take the chain if she wished to.
“Let me remind you that this is not an option, you will wear it… I will allow you the dignity of opportunity to put it on yourself, if you do not then I will put it on for you. Will you make this easy for yourself and just get it over with?”
“No.” Her response was quick and decisive, there would be no persuading of any kind. With her back already against the wall, Rya had no escape from Azilon as his left hand shot forward and grabbed her right wrist. He maintained a firm, but careful, grip on the girl as he slowly raised her arm above her head. Every inch her arm moved upward was followed by the subtle shifting of fabric across her chest, perhaps not enough to fully lift it, but clearly enough to warrant the reaction he was looking for. In a panic, Rya’s free arm wrapped tightly around her chest to keep the fabric from moving any farther, the faintest smile of amusement crossing Azilon’s face as she did so.
Having decided that he wasn’t quite done with her, he grabbed the wrist of her other arm and forced it away from her body until it joined its twin above her head. As expected the fabric of her top had inched up dangerously high, not enough to uncover, but definitely enough to make her squirm with discomfort. He tucked her right wrist into his hand with her left, leaving his right hand open once again to wrap the material around her small waist.
Leaning his head in close to her ear, the man smiled and spoke with a tone that sent a chill down her spine.
“You’ll do best to remember which one of us is actually in charge here, Api.” He didn’t end up saying much else, instead releasing her arms which quickly dropped to re-adjust the positioning of her top. Never once though did she take her eyes off of him, scowling at him with a fury unlike anything he had ever seen on her kind before.
~
Even now, a few hours later, she was still salty about the event. Not wanting to draw the attention of Azilon's siblings, she played it off as nothing. For the most part.
If she occasional (always) wait for the line to grow taught before moving, well, that was normal behavior. Also, making unnecessary trips around Azilon, just to force him to re-adjust his hold, less he get tangled in the leash as well. Or break it, which would have been a shame.
They arrived at the tournament by late afternoon, the clashing sound of those already eager to battle ringing in the air.
“Ah, Azzy,” Tarkylian voice easily cut through the crowd. “I’m so glad that I get to share this moment with both of my baby brothers,” the way his voice sounded, one could almost think he meant it. The family, eager to see the goings on, soon vanished into a passing crowd. Conveniently, Azilon had chosen that very moment to become distracted by the architecture of the building. Or the weather.
Regardless of the reason, it gave Rya the chance to fully examine the area. Rya’s eyes were narrowed in on a gem standing just outside the door. She was upset, clearly, but that wasn’t why she held Rya’s attention. There was something about her, a muchness. It wasn’t her anger or rage, but something Rya had seen before. Something that she could figure out if she only looked harder. She felt a tug on her waist, only to look up and see Azilon pulling her expectantly towards the door. Rya turned her eyes towards the gem for a final glance, but the mystery of the girl remained.
“If she doesn’t go inside, death will probably be preferable, don’t you think?” Ask Rya.
“Maybe” said Azilon, not even sparing the girl a glance, before guiding his bride inside.
The space inside was chaos. There were a handful of gems, none that Rya recognized, flitting between the drakken offing their time, bodies and anything else a drakken could want.
Rya meets her new inlaws and they are all the worst. Rya and Azlion argue about a leash, Rya loses. They see Miry and stuff. Anyway, present at the tourney.
The group was lead down a winding staircase, the girls were instructed to leave their shoes at the top, and wearing only towels, were lead into the belly of the mountain. Arden, her new ‘friend’, was walking by her side when the path allowed, but would shift in front or behind her when the passages became too narrow to allow it.
The girl had grown on her. Despite her rebellious tendencies she was... something. Truthfully, Bree might have called her a friend, but a friendship unlike any she had had before. She had plenty of friends back home she wasn't particularly close to any of them. It was silly to invest heavily into something that would soon be lost. But Arden just made it so damn easy to know her. To care about her. To worry about her every time a drakkan gave an order.
The stone below Bree’s feet felt smooth, almost slimy, like the stone was trying to emulate a living creature. Hints of sulfur started permeating the air the deeper they went, but the final change was the most alarming. At the bottom of the stairs, the room was damp, drips of cool water sprinkling on the shivering girls. There was nothing that resembled a hot spring. In fact, there was nothing there at all, save a large round stone.
It soon became clear that the stone was a door. A heavy one, as it took two earth drakken to move its massive force.
The second the door was cracked open, the room filled with steam, inflicting an impossible humidity. For a moment, Bree couldn’t breathe. The sudden heat of the air filling her mouth and pressing down on her lungs. It took a few minutes, but soon her breath adjusted to the humid air and she felt...warm. The sort that went straight to her bones, causing a tension she didn't know was there to vanish in an instant.
The room beyond the door was low and casted in a strange yellow light and filled with pools, at least ten, but probably more that had faded into the mist. Scattered around the room were baskets will with soaps, pumice stones, rags, combs and an endless list of other things. Walking deeper in, Bree let out a gasp, as her foot hit something icy. Examining the floor a minute, she spotting a thin stream of water coming from a corner of the room where empty cups had been placed next to a spring.
“You have until lunch,” came the booming voice of the drakkan that had lead the girls down there. There were two or three drakken stationed by the door, their faces indicative of having won some grand prize themselves, before the rest of the drakken excited the room. Leaving the girls to their devices.
“I guess this is as alone as we are getting,” said Bree trying, and failing to hide the eagerness in her voice. The basin of water she'd been given did little in the way of making her feel clean. Her eyes flashed towards at the three remaining drakken who had taken chairs by the door, before focusing on Arden “But I’m not complaining, I haven’t had a proper bath since I left,” Bree stuck her hand in one of the pools, running her hand in a small circle. Unable to wait any longer, Bree pulled the towel off and folding it on a bench, away from the water. The warm air covering her body like a blanket, already leaving a dampness to her skin.
The pools themselves varied in size and depth. Some she could get in a touch both sides and the water would hardly cover her knees. The largest of the pools ran the full length of the room and have several stalagmite islands. Grabbing one of the soaps and a comb, she picked a medium sized pool and slowly lowered herself into the clear, warm water.
The hot springs and bathing. That is about all folks
Note: This isn't an interest check as the roleplay is already established. We currently have openings for 3-5 new gem characters. We are operating on a first come first serve bases with completed character sheets. I have included a link to our current roleplay. We would love to have a few new faces join us!
Hello, this is another revamp of the roleplay created by the wonderful [@MyLalia].
For those who have been with us since the beginning (or an earlier reboot), there is much you will recognize, as for those who are just joining please note the following:
This is is a dark and mature roleplay. The themes of death, torture, forced marriages and war are but a handful of the things that can be found within these walls.
My name is Libby and I will be your conductor on this wild ride. I also have a pet Ellion that is sometimes helpful but mostly derails plot lines because she is bored and I wasn’t paying attention enough. Do not trust. (Really, don’t trust her. She wrote that to make me look mean I swear. ~Libby)
Jokes aside let’s go on a little adventure.
The Players
~The Geminites~
These fair creatures known as the Geminites (or Gems for short) hail from a country known as Gemina. While they look human in most physical aspects, each one is born with the power to call upon one of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Air. With this power they can guide their aligned element to perform various tasks for them, however, their powers are limited by their own constitutions. If used for too long, or requests are overly complicated, the Gem can end up doing harm unto themselves.
Gem's appearances are varied as they come in various hair colors as well as skin tones. One of their common, unique features is their glittering skin. It is usually very subtle and is most noticeable when in the sunlight or by firelight. As for their lifespans, the average Geminite might live to somewhere between 100 and 150 years of age.
Also important to note that Geminites are a very community oriented society. They do not condone violence and have gone to great lengths in order to avoid war. They have no formal army, and most Gems to do not know how to fight (though most do not want to anyway). It is because of their close-knit nature though, that is comes as no surprise that they gather their strength from their fellow Gems, and thrive when working together toward a common goal.
~The Drakkans~
Towering over many of the realm's other races, Drakkans are an ancient race of large, horned warriors. They too have the ability to control the elements, however, unlike their Geminite counterparts, have access to two different elements instead of just one. This can lead to an overall weakening of their power or control, though many make up for this with physical strength and battle prowess.
As mentioned before, the Drakkan are a much larger race than most. With heights averaging near the seven foot range, they barely have need for their war toned muscles to earn them the intimidation factor. Hair color and skin tones rarely differ from Drakkan to Drakkan, their environment dulling them over time. They are known for having either greyish, or tanned skin which are frequently decorated with tribalesque tattoos and battle scars. Common hair colors are black and white, however, since breeding with Geminites has begun, other colors such as auburn and the occasional golden blond have been known to occur. While their skin tones and hair colors might leave one less than impressed, it is actually their horns that really set them apart. Sprouting from the sides of their skulls, these horns come in a huge variety of shapes and styles as well as colors. They are as unique to a Drakkan as a fingerprint is to a human.
(Author's note: Due to cross breeding with conquered nations, there are a few genetic anomalies that have popped up among the offspring. This however should be treated as a rare case, as Drakkan genes are the dominant ones. This includes race classification and element alignment.)
Many see the Drakkan race as being very selfish and barbaric, however, they are surprisingly organized in their chaos. They have a primarily patriarchal society, though, female Drakkan are given just as many rights as the males. Most disputes and decisions are settled using physical means, with the spoils going to the victor. They do have a king, whose family oversees the war plans against other nations alongside the various clans that make up Drakka. And if need be they will step in to settle a dispute that has gotten out of hand between his subjects. Also important to note that due to their beliefs and societal norms, any Drakkan that is born weak, sick, or too much like their conquered breeding partner is immediately surrendered or abandoned and will not be raised as a legitimate child of that Drakkan.
On average they can live to be over 700 years and like the Geminites, they bear many resemblances to human beings.
~The Anathos~
If you don't recognize the name, do not fret as this is a brand new addition to the Prized Bride universe. As they are not quite playing an active role right off the bat, they will not be available for player creation until later on. That being said, they do play some part in the version of history we are going with for this revival so we figured we might let you know a little something about them beforehand.
Not much is known about the Anathos as they are an ever evolving species. According to ancient historical records the Anathos were a bug-like humanoid species, although due to their diverse nature, it may be more accurate to refer to them as a culture than a race. Anathos have the ability to breed with just about any other species and have the genetic talent for assimilating the best features from those pairings. In more current times, their appearances match closer to their conquered races' than their original, but it is still possible to find individuals that have still maintained some of the original features.
Staying somewhat true to their bugish nature, all Anathos are essentially one large family. Everything is done for the good of the whole and there is not much in the way of free-will. Rumors speak of a queen that is more or less a god to her people, and has immense sway over their lives... This however has never been substantiated. All decisions seem to go through a set of Anathos that closely resemble priests. They are the ones that determine when breeding is allowed, and who it will occur with. Those children are then taken and redistributed to designated caretakers where they are closely observed until they have matured. Once old enough they are placed into their roles based off of their observed talents and strengths.
Those that develop divergent minds, or are severely flawed, are not banished like other species tend to do. Instead they are contained and put to use elsewhere, cut off from the rest of the colonies and are banned from breeding.
Much like the other races of this realm, the Anathos retain some touch of magic... however there is not much documented on this. Information on how much of the population as well as the extent of their abilities have been lost to the modern races. It is because of this lack of information, and the ever changing physical appearances, that the Anathos are often considered a legend or myth by younger generations.
History of the Gems & Drakkan
Then:
As far back as anyone remembers, there have always been Geminites and Drakkans. The Gems are a passive but proud people, quite content in their ways of life. Innovative and patient, they are incredibly good at working with and alongside one another. As the 'first children' of Vivari, the Geminites are considered immensely beautiful in the eyes of many of the other races. This has made them targets over the years but their pacifist nature has lead them to develop other skills to aid their survival.
Many of their cities have become famous for their advancements in the arts, medicines, and even agriculture. With these skills they have managed to create many allies in which they rely on for protection in exchange for their services in diplomacy. All these factors considered, it is no wonder the Geminites have been able to maintain their land's vitality and thrive because of it. Made up of a few large cities and plenty of scattered towns and villages, the Geminites live their days out in peace and abundance in a land often referred to as a paradise.
Living to the East of this said paradise, separated by a mountain chain known only as The Great Spine, are the blightened ones. Forced to spend their days in what many consider a wasteland are the Drakkan. These are a people born from blood and thrive on war, known for their brute strength and ruthless nature. While they are capable of living several centuries, they found killing each other could be just as satisfying as killing everyone else. Living in the shadows of Paradise, they make do in a land of rock and monsters; a land where only the strong can survive. It took a a true crisis for the Drakkan race to come together as one, but lo and behold, they managed to do just that.
During some of their explorations southward, the Geminites happened across a new people know as the Anathos. Being the peaceful creatures they were, the Gems opted to leave them be and return home in good faith. This good faith was not shared. The Anathos, conquerors by nature, followed the Geminites north to their homeland where they amounted an attack on the nearly defenseless people. Being an unknown enemy, their allies scrambled to help, but many attempts were unsuccessful and many died as a result.
Around this same time frame, the Drakkan began realizing their own troubles. Their independant and pillaging ways had lead to a shortage of female Drakkan. Those that were left seemed able to bear only male children with the occasional female. Because of this the Drakkan race was staring down extinction within a century or two.
A Drakkan hero by the name of Toran the Bold discovered a Geminite woman that had been forced to flee because of the Anathos invasion. What exactly that had occured between the time they met and the time that she bore his three sons is a complete mystery to all. However, this pairing had given the Drakkan people hope... and more so, a plan. News of her had rallied most of the families beneath one crown. It was their plan to track down the Gem's homeland and simply take what they desired, however, this particular Gem came with a warning. She warned them of the Anathos that plagued her land and attacked her people mercilessly, and how they sought only to see the world under their control. Seeing opportunity, the royal family learned from her diplomatic ways and offered a compromise.
Freedom and protection for all in exchange for the lives of a few. The Gem's had no choice but to accept.
It has been written that the Drakkans fought with a ferocity never before seen by the Geminite people, and with a unity never before seen from the eastern lands. They fought more savagely than the invaders from the south, and despite their best efforts to assimilate the warrior race, the Anathos found themselves severely outmatched. Witnessing such bloodthirsty and war addicted behavior, the Gems began to wonder what exactly they had gotten themselves into, however... It was not in their nature to back down from a promise.
With the war won, the Drakkan lords came to the courts of the Geminite royalty, swords still stained with the blood of their enemies, and eyes burning with excitement. Everything about them was intimidating, and when they finally spoke, there was not much to do but listen. Many looked around in confusion as the warriors demanded their hard won prize, all eyes turning to the king Nixus, who had no words to speak. A single nod was all the Drakkans required before they began grabbing the most beautiful daughters from the court. For a brief moment, the parents of the these Gems broke from their usually peaceful nature and rose up in protest. They were furious that they had not been consulted of such a decision, but they were quickly silenced. Toran the Bold left the court with a single threat, complete annihilation of the court and of the country if they did not comply with their end of the bargain. This, however, was not the end. Not by any measure, for the next words he spoke have bound the two nations ever since.
"We will return in one year's time. If our brides are not ready we will consider it an act of war."
Now:
It has been nearly four Gem generations since the war, though the Drakkan still have living memory of its glorious achievements. The Anathos have remained dormant in their defeat for over a century, however something in the wind is stirring. The Drakkan were never meant to be a united people. The Gem's were never meant to live beneath the weight of chains. And the Anathos? Well, they've never yet been denied a victory. Peace is faltering and freedom calling... Which way will the tides roll, that is up to you.
Plot:
Our story here will be taking place over three arcs that can, and will, grow based off of the decisions made by you, our beloved roleplayers. For now, the first phase will be centered around the individuals. Whether you are a Geminite sacrificial bride, or a Drakkan lord looking to collect on your bounty... this is about establishing your character and their ties to one another. This is very important, so we urge you to take it as seriously as possible. It can, and most likely will, determine how this RP will unfold through future arcs.
Due to their kind nature, Geminites don't appear to last very long in captivity. They have begun longing for freedom as it denied to them the very day they are chosen and married off to their new lord 'husband'. Gem brides, however, are very well aware that without their sacrifice there would be war and the deaths of their friend and families while still ending up in the hands of Drakkan warriors.
Whispers have begun to surface from those who have forgotten the threat of the Anathos, some even believing them to be a Drakkan created story meant for intimidation purposes. It is these people that have determined it is time to stop selling Vivari's daughters in exchange for false protection. Will your Gem risk it all in the hopes of freedom, or will they perhaps find a degree of comfort with the new life chosen for them? Or will they yet find another way, a third choice, still yet undiscovered?
The Gem's are not the only one seeking freedom, though. Drakkan's too have a choice to make. Many voices have begun speaking up, calling to return to the ways before the war. The days where absolutely everything was left up to the strong, no allegiances or promises owed to anyone. Days where a man could take whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. It is only a matter of time before civil war breaks out, and the king keeping that peace is dying from the cruelest fate of all... Old Age. Can his sons keep hold of the crown, or will all he built die with him?
His eldest son (who will be played by the wonderful Libby) is to ascend the throne after his father's death. Taking closely after his father, this son bears much in the way of physical prowess and political drive. Aside from the ever looming civil unrest, the young prince has but another problem to address with his reign. While Gem brides have been producing children for the Drakkan lords, over the years there have been fewer and fewer desired results. Some attribute this the culture shock and being forced to live in a much harsher environment from their homeland. Other blame it on the race's frailty. It his suggestion that more brides be requested to increase the number of wives Drakkan lords can take, thus increasing how many, and how often, children can be produced. It will also be helpful in replenishing the ones that are dying off due to stress or overexertion.
His youngest son (played by the amazing Ellion) has other ideas. This prince has a vision for a future where Geminites are born and bred within Drakka's borders. It is his belief that the burden should not be the brides' to bear alone. A Gem who has never known freedom cannot miss it, cannot long for it, and thus should not die from having lost it. Stronger Gem's bred for a specific purpose, raised in the environment and amongst the culture... Thought to make the perfect slave race worthy of the Drakkan people.
Which side will you support, Drakkan? Demand more, or play the long game and make your own? Will you follow either at all?
Other Information:
Drakkans may have more than one Gem bride, so if there are loads of Gems and fewer Drakkans, that is fine.
Drakkan get two elements, Gems get one.
While the Anathos are listed as a species, they are not a character you can play just yet.
Drakkan will be mostly male, however we will allow one (MAYBE two) female Drakkan, due to their limited existence. Female Drakkan are considered male Drakkan’s equals in every way. If there is a Drakkan wife, she is as much the husband as the husband. I don’t know how else to explain that. (Libby says they kick ass, and take no shit. Very Spartan.)
Male and female Gem’s are about 50/50. While you can request to play a male gem, I really don’t seem them coming into play until at least phase two or three. So yeah...
For now, we'll all be starting as either a Gem or a Drakkan. Drakkans can come with past wives (living or dead) or this can be their first batch.
If you wish to play a Gem, you have two choices. The first being that you are a brand new bride and all that goes with that. Your husband will be chosen for you by either Libby or Ellion (probably a decision between the two of us), and while we do on occasion take requests… We think it is more fun, and a more authentic experience if you just let us do it. Enjoy the challenge of working with another character that might not click with yours at first… Might even to push your decisions in a way you might not have originally planned. ;)
Your second choice would be to play a bride who has already been paired with and living with a lord for some time. If this is what you decide to choose, then you may be in control of choosing your own husband. Both players need to be okay with this, and will be asked to collab on a back story... Or at least be on the same page concerning the time spent and relationship between the two characters.
New Gem brides will start the roleplay off in a keep of sorts, taking place a brief time before the Choosing Ceremony. In it, Gem characters will get the chance to interact freely with one another. This time should be spent developing relationships with the other Gem characters. These ties can end up influencing decisions later on, so as we have asked before... Please try and take this seriously. We will also be using this time in order to give what will be a crash course in Drakkan culture as what will be expected of Gems as Drakkan brides.
As for the Drakkans and previous wives (if any of you choose this route), your characters will being doing something quite similar to the 'new Gems'. You will be arriving in the capitol city to participate in a... party of sorts. These events are held every year before the Choosing Ceremony, and should be used to set the family dynamics. Which Drakkan families get along with which... Who is seeking backing for a particular petition or motion? Make some friends or enemies, that is all up to you.
If you are a new member to this RP, this note isn't so much for you. However, if you would like to compare some of its workings and history, feel free to enjoy.
This is the third reboot of this particular idea (Original --> Reboot V1. ---> V.2 ---> Now). It is a beloved concept that has always attracted some of the best writers we have ever met. So many talented and dedicated RPers have participated over its iterations. Unfortunately, due to some previous events, and loosely laid out guidelines, for one reason or another... it has sadly died. Being so near and dear to our hearts, we really wanted to give it another chance at life, but we have decided that a couple of things needed to change to help assure its success this time around.
Previously, we have seemed to have lost focus on what the RP is really about. We kept getting stuck on Choosing Ceremony, and ended up in isolated groups. This time around we want to focus a little more on building the world and the relationships across the families. That way everyone has some connection to another, and we can keep things moving smoothly where nobody ends up feeling left out. This will be done by allowing both parties time to create ties with their own races and essentially take their first steps toward your desired sides. Then by introducing your partners, you may end up being persuaded to change your ways in a very authentic and natural way. We have done this because, while bride and groom interactions are important, it is not the only thing going on... And tends to be the main killer of interest.
Secondly, we will be implementing guidelines to help the flow of posting. This can be tricky as everyone has a different posting speeds and style, however we want to prevent stagnation. Specifics will be given momentarily but these are the two biggest factors
- We will be running on a real time post limit. (Please note this is not a posting order, or quantity limit.) -In order to move things along, we as the GMs will have set plot movement dates. (These will be edited only if we feel that there is good reason to not yet move on. We do not wish to hold up the group if a couple of people can't' wrap up their shenanigans.)
^^These were another primary reason for previous reboot deaths, and we want to be sure it doesn't happen again. Made it not so fun for the other players, and we want everyone to have an amazing experience with this game.
Rules:
1. Character Limit- We want this to be an expansive world, with lots of little parts working together for a larger whole. We will not be heavily enforcing a character limit... However, please create responsibly. Too many times have we seen people make more characters than they can handle (Trust me, I understand character creation fever well ~Libby). If we feel you cannot handle your character load, the GMs will take action and remove them from play.
Additionally, we will need certain ratios to be maintained. At no time should our Drakkan out number our Gems. Female Drakkan characters and male Geminite characters should be few and far between with 'petition' to the GMs making a case for either.
2. Posting Limit- As mentioned previously, the GMs will be running off of a real time (or RT) posting cycle. The expectation is at least one post every nine days. We aren't going to be super mean about it if you require a little more time, however, we would like to hear from you by day six if you are going to need an extension. If you don't think you will be able to consistently keep with this pace, as much as we would love to have you, this might not be the RP for you.
We are totally okay with double posting, and have no limit on how many times you may post within those nine day segments. If you have a character ready to go, feel free to post for them. We understand that sometimes partners aren't always on the same schedule, and writer's block is also a thing. Just don't let those other circumstances hold everything up. With an RP like this, it's a little difficult to get spammy. Let's keep it lively in here.
There will be events that happen on preset dates (in RL) to move the plot along. We aren't going to have anymore six months single nights. We have set the dates and we aren't changing them.
3. Communication- This was originally going to be roped in with #2, however, we think this deserves its own section. Communication is key in an RP such as this, and we take it very seriously. Ellion and I are very understanding of RL circumstances, as we have faced many of our own. Work, school, home... It doesn't matter to us, so long as you talk to us. If you need a couple more days to post, let us know and we'll work it out. However, if you delay a response that holds up your group, more than once without warning, by more than three weeks... then you are out. It is unfair to the other players who are here and waiting.
If we do not hear from you within the nine days, your character will be puppetted by a GM to move the story along. If we do not hear anything from you after two weeks, we will have considered you uninterested. After the third week, your character will be written out and you will not be allowed to return.
This being said, if you are aware of something big that will be taking you away from RPing for more than one month, we will require that you write your character out until you return. If you are comfortable with someone else playing your character you may delegate, however, it is usually easier to write out for extended times then to swap writers. If you have an emergency and have no time to write out, Ellion or I can do it for you. So long as you give us a heads up, you will be allowed to return when everything on your end settles, and can write your character back in. ( I wish I would have done this when I went to Europe for two months. You don't have to think about it and you can hop right back in when you are ready. ~Ellion)
~Please note that we will be a tad more lenient with limits around high stress times: Exams, Holiday Work Schedule, etc...
5. Collaboration- While we promote cross player collaborations... We do suggest that you keep collab posts to a limit. Time zones have proven to be a tricky obstacle and have frequently slowed progress for months. If you know there will be some rapid fire dialogue for this one event, go for it. If you cannot get on the same page for a writing session then we ask you abandon the idea and change the scenario. Also keep in mind that your collab partner will still need to make a response to your stuff anyway, so it makes them a little unnecessary if you think about.
6. Dictatorship Leadership- For this version of the Reboot, WeepingLiberty (Libby for short) will be taking over as acting GM. Her word is final say, and most decisions will be run by her anyway as she is more active during the week than the weekends. Ellion will be acting co-GM and has the same amount of power. However, due to scheduling conflicts... Ellion is only kind of active during the week but is totally your weekend warrior.
TheDoctor
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