Mas Bagus

Into the Land of Twilight

The Gray Flame

---

The Gray Flame was still busy with the map he did not realize that his boss had moved on to greet the newest member. Strangely, he didn't remember someone named Fia on the list.
He was even more perplexed when watching the elven healer Roxas bringing am assortments of keepsakes from the upstairs. He was too occupied with Vesemir's whim, a carefulness to not show any sign of association with their current shelter, and observing the house itself. Which gave him a not-really-pleasant memory.

And now such sense of carefulness was challenged by the healer's action, who argued that her deeds were just. The gray flame stood dumbfounded for a good second, before Engelbert pulled him out to the corridor, out of the others for now.

***

As the two went for a talk, Vesemmir approached the group. A spark of interest twinkled on his monocle when his gaze fell to the items laid out on the table.

"Pretty things they are. Some are mundane, some are... well, I can say, quite valuable indeed."

He reached for the sword, holding it by the handle for a while before returning it. "Seems like a premium smithwork, and they put an enchantment in it too to make the steel durable."
Then his attention shifted toward the gold brooch with emerald on it. Despite not touching the jewelry, he concluded; "There doesn't see any curses in these items. So worry not. They were neither ancient nor very rare, though I wouldn't discount the possibility of a tragic story behind them. Anyway, I know what the combination of Gold and Emerald entails. The healers usually wore them, and they were, more often than not, blessed with magic to make casting restorative spells easier.

He adjusted his monocle when he finally picked up a tubular crystal with a socket for wires on it.

"And this.. just a mundane crystal lamp. Usually sold with its rechargeable battery or the crystal itself acts as the battery. But I think that's the former. If you can channel magic, you can hold the crystal real tight and channel your energy into it like you mean it."

Vesemir raised his hand and activated the crystal, temporally illuminating the room with a bright white light
"I think that's all."

He shrugged and retreated to talk with Fia again.

***

Meanwhile

"I know what you are thinking." The Gray Flame said. Despite looking like he was experiencing a blow to an old scar, he was quick to regain his focus. "But my hands are tied. What a rotten luck this is. You know what, let's see how it plays out or whether she was being true to her words."

It was obvious that Gray Flame was not in an optimal condition to talk, but who knows, things might resolve quickly with to of them talking?

So, with Engelbert in tow, The Gray Flame returned to the living room. The items Roxas brought have already been laid on top of the table, like some sort of auctioned goods. He breathes heavily as if to prepare for a great confrontation.

"Roxas," he said, slowly, clearly, like an elder brother telling his sister that the playtime was over. By the time he initiated this conversation, she was speaking with a giant Fellow The Gray Flame who hadn't had a chance exchanging names and pleasantries yet.

"To be honest we already overstepped our boundaries simply by taking shelter here and using this very room like our own."

Maybe intentional, or coincidental, the Gray Flame's gaze briefly fell on the photo and the bloodstained quiver. His hand slowly reached to touch them, until something snapped him out of it and brought his attention back to Fia, Evelyn, Carnathia and Roxas again, the main perpetrator.

"But what is done is done. If you think you have a very good reason to remove these items from their initial places, then I am willing to hear it. Otherwise, this is not a decent thing to do, and we better return them back."

Into the Land of Twilight

After some invasive tampering on the wooden frame and the lock mechanism itself, the door made a loud clacking sound and swung open with a small push. The room seems to be the master bedroom; it has a rather rage bed located at the south of the room, right in front of two identical windows adorned by the blue satin curtains that were tied to the side.

In the other corner of the room, there was a large closet, unlocked, with pillows stored in one of its compartments. In the wardrobe section, there was a satin gown, a summer dress, a shirt, and a tie hung.

There was a desk at another corner of the room. And on top of it, there was a laminated letter of appointment that stated the person under the name of Faldiar Alkreath to be transferred to the Sentinel Unit under Viceroy Adnand, starting on Monday, 12 October, 30 years ago.

Next to it, there was another photo of the couple again. The brown-haired young man was as energetic as ever, while this time, the blonde woman next to him was captured with a smile on her face. The background of the picture was this house, which seemed to be in its final stage of completion.

One of the drawers in that desk was opened, and inside it, there was a mithril pendant with the design of two elongated wings fitted with a diamond in the middle, its chains were made of silver, and the pendants glittered even at the smallest presence of light.

@Visyn

Into the Land of Twilight

The door was locked, but when Roxas pushed it a bit to fiddle with its lock, the door budged just a tiny bit. The lock was still holding the door shut, but it was apparent that either the bolt had become loose by age, or the strike plates on the frame had had all the woods around it rotted away.

Like with the chest lock, it was entirely possible to just force open the thing.

@Visyn

Into the Land of Twilight

After some forceful twisting, the padlock gave in. Despite being worn out by time, the chrome-plated shackle on it was still unbendable the dagger would suffer some blunt on its edge for the effort.

Inside the chest was a white book that seemed to be heavier than any other books on the shelf. It was a journal secured with a magnetic clasp that could actually be opened with small effort. Under it was a photo of two people, the first person in that photo was a young, energetic brown-haired elven man posing with two fingers making a V sign. Beside him was a fair-haired elven woman, standing with a deadpanned expression.

The other item inside the chest was a dagger, a jade bracelet with no ornaments whatsoever, and a punctured, bloodstained leather quiver that at some point seemed to have a spear being run through it. There was also a mithril hairpin with jasmine ornaments on it, secured inside a transparent box.

@Visyn

Into the Land of Twilight

The books were all still in pristine condition. Like the flyer, they were printed 30 years ago. Some of them are titled "Bones for Beginners, Guide to Emergency Triage, The Discoveries of Bacteria, Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, Magical Codes 101, and How to Diagnose and Self-Sorrect Misaligned Mana Flow.

When Roxas tapped her blade against the container's wooden exterior, all she could hear was a small thud as normal. There was nothing unusual about the chest. Just a wooden one decorated with rather lavish trimmings

@Visyn

***

As the scrying spell seeped through, a surge of information rushed out from it in response. The stains were from the blood of an elven man, approximately 28-31 years old when the blood was spilled. The sword was exquisitely made and blessed with strengthening enchantment, and that explained its pristine and sharp condition.

@Izurich

Into the Land of Twilight

@Visyn

Apparently, nobody was hiding upstairs. It was devoid of any trace of living being.

The second floor consisted of a large room that seemed to be an office or some sort of it. On the west side of the room, there was a large desk with a wooden chair that seemed still sturdy. On top of the desk, there was a crystal lamp, a flyer that reads "Introducing: Varenheim's newest commuter service' dated 30 years ago, and a gold brooch fitted with an emerald gem.

Not far from the desk, leaning against the wall by the north side of the room was a bookshelf filled with an assortment of medical books and tomes for the novice magic caster.

Next to it was a large decorated wooden chest, locked with a combination padlock that didn't seem too sturdy.

At the south of the room. There was a door leading to another room. Both the chest and the door seemed to be the only things in this room that had locks on them.

Into the Land of Twilight

Though breaking the camp was done hastily, Vesemir's caravan rolled forth without delay or difficulties. For now, the journey took them straight to the east, following the road parallel to one of Silmetirta's swift branches. To their left was a river and to their right were meadows and farmlands, marked by houses and barns that already sprung to live with activities. The journey continued on, and before the idyllic scenery could bore them, it all soon would be replaced by wooded grounds, and at last, Alkautsar's grand silhouette finally disappeared behind them.

The Gray Flame had guided them confidently among the many crossing paths. Vesemir was sitting next to him and seemed all too eager to pilot the leading wagon. Most of the companions and the archeologist's henchmen were in the first and the second wagons. Two of their transports had their canvas roof removed and transferred to the third and the fourth wagons for extra covering on their consumable supplies. Forbann and Engelbert occasionally disembark to walk alongside the convoy, either to enjoy the scenery on their own paces or just to lighten the horses' workload.

Meanwhile the only person with a horse, Carnatia was tasked by the Gray Flame to be their outrider.

"Carnatia, dear girl, may we trouble you for this part of the journey to check on our rear wagon every once in a while?" He had said.

It had been two hours since they left Alkautsar. The roads were well-paved, wide, and smooth, but the convoy had no reason to be hasty under this wonderful weather. It was a pleasant day worth enjoying; the sunshine was clear but not too hot. The sparse woodland around them was still leafy and full of color and seemed peaceful and wholesome.

---

But nature was always unpredictable, even in the land where its inhabitants were deemed more attuned to it. The sky that was clear thirty minutes ago had turned gray. The wind was picking up, bringing in a cold and moist breeze. A sound of thunder sounded distant, but the warning was fair.

It was pouring already. Reluctantly, but still resolute to the heart, the convoy trudged forth. They still hadn't escaped from the woodland route, and according to the Gray Flame, the nearest village was some 10 kilometers away from their position.

From there the situation was not improving. Like an ill omen, the rain fell hard, thunder and lightning cracked on the pale sky above them, and the wind whistled eerily, swaying the tall trees like a dozen hands ready to swat those who were brave enough to push through. The thunderous boom from the sky made the horses frantic, and as they kept neighing and prancing at every crack of thunder, the choice was obvious.

"We are not getting anywhere in this storm," exclaimed the masked elf, trying to speak clearly amids the rain and raging winds. Vesemir nodded, not after giving it a deep thought.

"I know, but to where?"

Both elves seemed to think about the very same thing. But Vesemir was the first to spell it out.

"We have to go back. That house near the river."

That house in in question was hard to miss indeed. The party strode past it some fifteen minutes ago before the storm picked up. Wordlessly the Gray Flame nodded as the middle-aged elf steered their wagon to backtrack their trail.

The effort to get back there was equally laborious, but now at least there was some semblance of hope to shelter themselves from this infernal downpour.

Surrounded by rotting red brick walls no taller than an average man's waist, it was a house with a clear sign of neglect. Located near the Silmetirta, the most distinguished feature of that building beside the giant saman tree that grew next to it, was a seemingly working water wheel built at the end of an intact wooden pier.

As the group rode closer, turned out the house had a proper stable behind it, connected with the house's extended roof. Though it seemed to have seen a better day and quite small, at least there would be a place for their horses to keep themselves.

Stepping on its wide roofed terrace, The Gray Glame was the first to approach the house, with Vesemir following behind him. Up close, it was a two-story traditional-style house with unremarkable architectural uniqueness. Yet typical to an elven building, was built with durable materials and quite large, as though to express that it once belonged to a profitable person.

Vesemir repeatedly knocked on the door, called out, and peaked through its blurry windows, but no soul seemed to dwell in that neglected building. The hard rain was still pouring, and the air started to get colder. Nodding to get an assurance that the house was indeed abandoned, the middle-aged elf finally reached for its knob and opened the door, which was unlocked, apparently.

The living room was spacious but sad, gloomy and arid. There was a fireplace at the end of the room, flanked by the stairs that lead to the second floor and a door that leads to an unknown corridor. Inside the living room was an assortment of common furniture; tables and cabinets on the corners, a large porcelain vase on a wooden base, and a couch, made of polished wood with paddings seemingly intact. Above the fireplace was an elven sword displayed on a plaque. It seemed to be one of a pair, but the other sword was found lying on top of a table in front of the couch. The sword, identical to that displayed on a plaque had a flawless blade, but its handle was stained with dried blood.

It didn't take long for Vesemir to get comfy. Nobody knows how long the house has been abandoned, but its ember-colored tiled floor was not as dusty as everyone thought it was, and the middle-aged elf quickly removed his muddy shoes and threw them outside like they were nothing.

"Stepen, get the lanterns," he said, stepping aside to let the others get in. After letting his clothes be drained as much as he could, Vesemir entered and immediately regarded Gray Flame, who since their arrival in this house had never uttered a single word.

"Well, this is a pretty nice house. A shame it was abandoned. Well, since we are here and the rain doesn't seem to be abating any time soon, we are going to spend a night here."

Pausing, Vesemir glanced at the room's high, washed-out ceiling before continuing. "I hope whoever owned this house wouldn't mind us intruding."

Into the Land of Twilight

@Randomness

Cyptid Hunter

Name: Fia Blackfire
Species: Human
Age: 37
Gender: Female
Appearance:
A proud standing, voluptuous woman. She stands at 5’10”. She has fair skin and dark brown hair. Her hair is wavy and reaches her mid back in length. She keeps her hair out of her face with a hair clip, but otherwise lets it flow freely behind her. Her eyes are a dark deep red color with a black circle around her pupils. She doesn’t have any tattoos. She has several scars across her arms and along her back but her clothing makes them impossible to see. When exposed, her scars are noticeable, but have long since become as smooth as the rest of her skin.

She wears a low cut dress that drapes down mid calf. The sleeves of the dress cover her shoulders and end at her wrists. She has thin gloves, leather boots with a heel, leggings, corset, and a hair clip made out of an exotic looking flower. The dress is crimson red in color and made of a silky material with some velvet. Her boots, leggings, gloves, corset, and hair clip are black. The flower of the hair clip starts dark blue in the center, gradients into red, and then into white at the tips of the sharp and wavy looking petals. She has a thin gold chain with a pearl pendant, black choker, a gold ring and a sapphire ring on either hand.

Bio:
In many ways, Fia is a collector. In other ways, she is a hunter. Regardless of how one might view her, Fia has a passion for the unknown. Specifically, she seeks the knowledge and power of those creatures rarely seen. Rumored to predate humanity, mystical entities able to harness the power of the world effortlessly. What she seeks is yokai, genies, dragons, djinn, whatever name they decide to go by. She isn’t afraid to do what it takes to get as close to them as possible.

In this pursuit of specific power, Fia spent a significant amount of time on the road. Though she stays in town for weeks or months at a time, Fia never truly settles down. Her usual methods involve charming others to let her stay. She is usually gone before the other is able to truly advance things. After all, she only stayed for convenience. She would rather spend her time investigating the tall tales or rumors of the unknown that surrounded that particular town.

Expeditions always caught Fia’s attention. To go somewhere not yet discovered or fully explored meant there was increased likelihood to discovering just as unknown fauna. The land of twilight was especially enticing. For one, it was in Varenheim a country with its own history surrounding power and age that surpassed average human capability. And then there was the land of twilight itself. Not explored in over a millennia, who knows what sort of myths or legends hid away in the forgotten forests.

Passives:
Constitution of the Forsaken Divine – Resistance to magical abilities and effects from all sources. She is not immune to magical damage or effects. However, any damage she would take or any negative effects she would endure are dampened. Likewise, any beneficial effects or magical healing she would receive would also be dampened.

Voice of the Wilds– Fia is able to selectively listen and speak with most living animals of the natural world including invertebrates and fish.

Spells:
Witch Crafted Thread Armor – Mystical aura that acts as a full set of armor. It traces the caster in a translucent purple outline. The armor offers protection as well as physical armor against physical attacks and further magic resistance. Normally, the spell completely negates true and force damage. Unfortunately, Fia’s own magic resistance means the armor is unable to fully negate true or force damage.

Yokai Semblance of Transformation – Fia is able to transform herself into the shape of any animal no larger than herself. While transformed, she inherits any special properties the chosen animal may have such as but not excluded to speed, dexterity, strength, production, and locomotion. Because of her resistance to magic, she cannot maintain these forms for long, being forced to revert in about 10 minutes.

Chromatic Elementa of the Djinn – Fia is able to conjure and shape arcane elements into a controlled form. Her range of elements is extensive from natural elements such as fire and wind to more aberrant elements including darkness and force. Her power increases if Fia has access to an external source of the element. She can shape the magic to fit a variety of forms and distances. Some of these include single point explosions, fast moving projectiles, and lingering mist.

Jester’s Conniving Face – Fia is able to place floating eye, ear, or mouth anywhere she can see. Through these Fia is able to see, hear, and speak to the area in which the apparatus was placed. The placement of the apparatus is fixed and cannot be moved without being dispelled. Likewise, the apparatus is permanent until dispelled. The apparatus is visible, but cannot be interacted with physically. She can only conjure one at a time. The previous apparatus dispels should she cast another.

Mundane Skills:
Fencing Adept – Skilled at fencing and footwork. Capable of dancing around in swordplay.

Survivalist – Knows general survival techniques when out in the wilderness such as camp building, fire making, foraging, producing water, and general protections. She is also very good at cooking

Unorthodox Alchemy – She can craft consumables with the help of or from the bodies of djinn and djinn-like creatures. She has recipes, but she is also prone to making new concoctions.

Djinn Familiarity – Fia has spent a significant amount of time studying the djinn. She has special insight and awareness on any evidence of the djinn including their presence or manipulation. She can locate traces and track them.

Equipment:
Chromatic Heart – A transparent crystal ball a little larger than a softball. The sphere is smooth to the touch and entirely transparent. The sphere is practically indestructible against normal damage or wear. Inside the sphere is a starburst of all colors swirling and blending together. When the chromatic heart is in use, the starburst will change its color to one that best represents the element being channeled. The sphere acts as a catalyst easing the energy required to shape arcane magic into spells. The sphere also amplifies elemental magic as though the sphere itself was a source.

Arianacus – Silvered thin bladed rapier. The hand guard of the rapier is made of several thin curves that surround the base of the blade protecting the hand. One of those curves loops down over the handle ending at the pummel. The handle of the sword is red in color. The silvered blade is capable of striking incorporeal entities.

Over the shoulder canvas bag – containing survival tools, first aid, grooming kit, and potions kit.

Potion – Grease, lingered fire, healing, and Boom gust

Hunting Knife – double edged blade 10 inches long. One side is straight edge, the other is serrated. Cross guard, leather handle.

Other:

@Randomness

Approved. You may move her into character tab, if possible with the small changes we agreed upon.

Into the Land of Twilight

The Gray Flame

---

"Ah glad to hear that..."

Inevitably, the Gray Flame's somewhat casual response drowned in the sheer eagerness to prove oneself. Sword, thin and swift was drawn, stance guarded. While The Gray flame stood there unmoving. Listening, judging, and assessing. How long was the last time he met her? Ah, 3 years ago that felt like just yesterday. A bratty child she was with a lot of things to say and show off, with a father that ceaselessly fed that ambition of hers.

So he let her do her things. Swings here, and swish there, twirl one and pirouettes two, and all wrapped up nicely with a somewhat brazen sword-pointing against his neck.

Then it was over. She smiled, smugly proclaiming that this was but a small sample of what she could do. Of course, he didn't dispute that.

"Good job," he said that instead, adding a small amount of enthusiasm into his voice to let the girl savor her undisputed triumphant moment. Her big and round purplish eyes glanced at him and felt like angling for 'buts' and 'however' commentary. Sadly the Gray Flame has none.

But he will remember this. Like any other important things that might be useful for later.

Into the Land of Twilight

The Gray Flame

---

True to his words, suddenly there were already several people made their way to their humble playground. And after warmly welcoming the elven lady into the fold (and getting a rather cold response in return), Veseimr had already in the middle of accepting another attaché. This time a strange-looking human male wearing a broken goblin mask.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I take it you would be Vesemir,"

'In the flesh! The one and only!" said the aged elf while the man greeted him and bowed.

"Name's Rezello. I'm here for the journey to Nuria."

The archeologist opened his mouth in an unmistakable amazement. "Oh ho-ho. Now that's the spirit! I like a young man with a clear goal such as you. Let me introduce you to our Navigator, and fellow ruin enthusiast. This is Mr Gray Flame, and this one is Mr Engelbert"

Beaming as he guided Rozello toward the masked duo, The Gray Flame already felt that this journey would be amusing.

"Wassup!" he regarded the masked human and tapped his white mask, indicating their distinguishable characteristic. "Welcome to the club."

Because of the sudden influx of people signing up for the journey, Vesimir had left the trio to do his welcoming meet and greet. Next was a seemingly worn-out foreigner, who immediately explained to Vesemir that he was on a personal quest and would like to tag along. Another one came, riding a horse. A young lady with a certain degree of aristocratic air about her. Unsurprisingly, both she and Vesemir acted like they had known each other for quite a while.

Or maybe it was just the eccentric elf's usual antics? Who knows...

There were already some trivial conversations started between the trio until The Gray Flame's watchful eyes caught a glimpse of another redhead, and Vesemir himself doing a bow too deep for an elven standard. Their conversation could be faintly heard

"It is a great honor to have with us. Young Lady Evelyn. I hope both of us can benefit greatly from this journey to enlightenment."

Not sure how many moments passed after that. The petite young lady was already in front of him now after just a few blinks

"To think I almost missed you amongst this eccentric party we find ourselves in, Sir Gray Flame," "It's an honor, and considering we'll be relying on each other for the journey ahead, pleasure both."

The masked elf was left agape. So dumbfounded he couldn't form any sentence to respond. She? Here? And to *there*? Of all places?

"What the hell that fool Konstantin was thinking about? I thought he was sending one of his Aides! I swear those nobles, elves or humans are equally reckless!

Stuck between trying to force out a few harsh words that thankfully didn't manage to sound past his throat, and a strong feeling to add Konstantin after Adnan to his personal curse-list. The white mask managed to regard the young lady appropriately by saying:

"It is... err honor too. I will be in your care now."

That was the best he could muster. Hell, he might add a smile if he could show it. A teenager like her didn't know any better, it was us, the adults who should have practiced a wiser way of thinking.

"And the same sentiment goes to all of you as well, fellow adventurers."

Said Evelyn, but the Gray Flame had moved toward his boss. Whispering what sounded like a suppressed admonishment.

"Sir Barandir, are we really going to allow her into the group? Obviously there is a mistake or trickery at play here."

Glancing one second at the 12-year-old. The Gray Flame didn't rule out the possibility that this unfortunate and confusing situation was the result of 'her' own doing. Oh yes, he knows what she was capable of, and at some point was impressed by it.

"I must admit I was surprised myself. But what's the problem? It was commendable that a lady of such a young age is interested in this dream project of mine. Such enthusiasm is rare, Mr Gray Flame! Who are we thinking we deserve to snuff out such a noble passion?"

"But the journey is dangerous."

Politely excusing himself from the person he was currently talking to, the aged elf squared his shoulders to face Gray Flame. There were angry glints in his eyes as he spoke.

"I've been to many voyages I believe no less dangerous than this. Mr Gray, and this miscommunication will not be corrected. Because there is nothing to be corrected. She will go with us, and that's final."

Biting his lips-under-the-mask, The Gray flame nodded and retreated, one rule in this line of business was to not debate your client.
Besides, he had done his share to appear rather convincing.

Returning to Evelyn, the masked elven man sighed before initiating a casual conversation. "How was your dad?"