WeepingLiberty

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

@Legion02 and @Zahrale I need both of you to react to the GM announcement on either Discord or here on the guild. Guild will notify me so no worries, but if you react on the discord announcement please tag me in a message and let me know. I need this done ASAP please. :)

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Aurora Liesma

_{Bride of Zakroti @darkwolf687; Sister-Bride to Aymiria @Amethyst
Interacting with Zakroti and Aymiria}

Aurora’s eyes lingered upon the scene before her for a few moments longer before she retreated, following after Zakroti as he led the way from the royal estate. Between her short lord and his fragile bride the pace was far slower than she would have normally preferred, though after such a long journey… such a pace wasn’t so bad. She stifled a yawn as she trailed behind the strange pair, ever aware of the group of what appeared to be soldiers surrounding them. No doubt they had their eyes fixed on her to assure her compliance, which was no real surprise considering her earlier outburst… Though she wondered how dedicated they would be in protecting her. Zakroti seemed like the protective type, but everything she had witnessed thus far, she was not so sure what would happen if someone were to attempt to challenge for ownership over her.

Such a thought only served to anger the girl so she pushed it from her mind, instead allowing her eyes to wander about. There wasn’t much for her to see aside from the bodyguards, just the darkened shapes of various buildings she did not know. The scent of rain was heavy in the air bringing with it a damp chill that sent a shiver through her body. It served only to add to her already growing fatigue, pulling her mind to a dream space where she could lounge in comfort and not worry about any of that which plagued her.

It was almost a relief once they had arrived at their destination, Aurora putting up little resistance as she was led inside. Had it been anyone else, she might have been a bit more wary of the situation knowing that once she entered, she was no longer guaranteed personal safety. Albeit once removed from the homeland her status was that of an object with little to no rights, but somehow she doubted this man would do her any undue harm… At least for the time being. There was no telling what the future held, but he seemed to be making an attempt at giving her space to acclimate to all that had happened leading up to these moments.

She stood quietly as he exchanged words with a servant, though what exactly was said she could not recite. Her eye raised lazily from the floor as it was mentioned their need to speak and a request for food, Aurora somewhat pleased at what looked like the man following through on his promise. This put her mind at ease some, her heart yearning for the opportunity to ask her questions and finally learn what had actually happened to her sister a year prior… but she found herself equally wishing for the bed she now knew to be just down the hall. The hope was that it would be better than the cold prison cell of a room the girls had stayed in before being delivered, but even if it weren’t she would have still been grateful for a place to rest her head.

Zakroti, finally addressing her, offered to postpone their interrogation until the morning over breakfast. She found his comment rather odd but she thought it best not to question it, instead chalking it up to being a Drakkan saying or something of the sort. It mattered little whether he noticed her fatigue or simply offered out of courtesy, as it saved her the trouble of having to ask… especially after the scene she had almost caused at the Reaping.
“If waiting until the morning is not an issue for you, than I agree it might be better. A tired mind is more readily distracted and clouded by emotions. I’ll admit that much and retire for the night. You had better not break your promise to me though, for I will learn what information I want to know one way or another.” Aurora spoke before he linked his arms with the girl who she had learned along the way to be called Miry. It almost sounded like a nickname, shortened for something else, but she cared little for what it might be, after all, the less she had to interact with the girl the better.

The invitation to join the pair was left open should she change her mind, leaving the girl rooted to her spot even after they had disappeared from view. Frame rocked by yet another massive yawn, Aurora made the decision to turn in for the night. Making her way down the hall, she peered into the room with a great deal of hesitation. She wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting when she opened the door, perhaps a darkened torture room of sorts, but it did not stand out as being all that uncomfortable. The decorations were crude, clearly thrown together with some haste, but she didn’t mind such things so late at night. All that mattered was the actual bed standing across the room from her, seeming to beckon her in from her place in the doorway.

Turning to the man who was to be guarding her door, Aurora thought hard for a few moments before choosing to speak. It was clear what his job was, mostly to keep her from wandering off, but she figured she would test the waters a bit to see if he was posted for her benefit as well. Clearing her throat politely to gain his attention, she bowed her head slightly before returning to an upright position.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I had a request if such a thing were allowed. Obviously you cannot refuse the lord of the house entry… But if at all possible, it is his bride I wish to remain outside. Her presence is not welcome around me and I simply wish to acclimate to my new surroundings in peace. I would appreciate it if you would at least consider my plea.” The fire Gem’s request was honest enough, spiteful albeit, but honest all the same. The girl that was to be her sister bride seemed like the sort that would pester for forgiveness, something that Aurora was far from ready to give… At least not until she had learned of the events that took place a year prior.

Bowing her head once again, Aurora let herself back into the room and closed the door behind her with a sigh. All at once the last of her energy disappeared, leaving her to collapse onto the bed with little grace. By this point she was far too exhausted to care about finding something to change into, opting to remove and leave the dirty garments in the middle of the floor. She would see about replacements in the morning… Something that seemed so far away as she quickly drifted off into sleep.

~~~

Her dreams that night were quite vivid and none too pleasant, leaving her tossing in cold sweats well into the morning hours. Even as the sun rose, Aurora did not, caught deep in a world of twisted memories. Her sister’s bright smile haunted her from beyond the grave, showing her a world where she had never been taken away. In such a world she was chained to the shadows of her elder siblings, heard and seen by none around her.
When it came time for the Reapers to choose her sister for the ceremony it was Aurora the town offered up instead, begging that the important sister be left home. Bound by chains and abandoned by all that she knew as home, Aurora was shipped off to a land she knew nothing about to fend for herself against a race of demons.

With a strangled shout Aurora shot straight up in bed, the sheets falling away as she struggled to regain her composure. She strained for a proper breath, beads of sweat rolling down her face and back in an attempt to cool the fevered state. It took her a few moments to come to her senses, attempting to place yet another new location.

The Reaping ceremony had indeed happened, though perhaps not the way it had in her dream, but it had happened all the same. She was no longer under the care of Drakkan who were to train her without damaging the goods, but instead a ‘finished’ product delivered to her new owner. Aurora had been lucky enough to end up with a man who cared for them physically, seeing that she had a proper place to sleep the night away. It was not something she was willing to expect as the norm quite yet though, suspicious that it might be a trap in order to get her comfortable before he attempted to mold her to his will like the other girl seemed to be.

She would not love a monster.

Exhaling slowly, Aurora pushed the rest of the sheets away from her, standing up to her full height next to the bed. Still quite warm from her panicked state, Aurora chose to put off finding clothes for the moment, instead walking to the nearby window to gaze outside. There wasn’t much that interested her outside the walls of her room, but the light emanating from the sky above served to calm her nerves ever so slightly.

Returning to her bed, she set to work making it up carefully though she had no reason to. Part of her wanted to believe that she was saving whatever other servants her husband had from doing any unnecessary work because of her… But the reality was far more likely to be her attempts at stalling. Day had arrived, and with it a new opportunity to learn the truth. It was what she had been waiting for, something that nearly got her into trouble upon meeting the man for the very first time even… But there she stood fixing her bed in the nude putting off joining the rest once again.

Once the bed had been made, and remade, Aurora heaved a sigh. There were few choices left for her, she had to face him sometime. After a short investigation of the room, the girl decided to redress in the garments from the previous night. Flashy as they might have been, there was no reason to let a perfectly good outfit go to waste. After all, they had been fresh upon arrival. There was no reason for to change out of them just yet.

Putting on a brave face, Aurora situated herself and reached for the door handle, Slow to poke her head out into the hallway to survey her surroundings.

Summary

Aurora is a little shit, who goes to bed… has a nightmare… wakes up and does chores? Not in much of a hurry anymore now is she? Lol

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

GM Announcement!

Good Evening Gems and Drakken! I have a very important announcement to make for you all. In the spirit of literally every service I know updating their policy agreements, we too have some updates (kind of hahaha).

Please be sure to read the following carefully as I have a question that I would like answered by everyone here. I will be posting this in the RP thread as well but you only need to indicate your understanding (or respond accordingly) once.

Through the month of May we have been very relaxed in expectations due to various exams, holidays, and other real life events. As great as it has been, it’s time we get back to work… And with a new month comes renewed expectations.

~To accommodate the groups whose schedules made posting within the expected cycle difficult we will be extending the cycle from 9 to 14 days. This should be more than enough time for EACH player to post AT LEAST once for each of their characters. Due to this extension the GMs will be cracking down harder on those who frequently hold up their groups and by extension the rest of the RP. Please note that this is a bare minimum set to prevent being dropped/kicked from the RP and should not be seen as an invitation to post only once every 2 weeks.

If you feel that your partner(s) are not posting to the personal expectations of the group, please have a conversation amongst yourselves and come to an altered agreement before bringing the issue to the GMs. Please remember that there are lots of you and only three of us.

In the case that your partner(s) are not posting to the posted expectations of the RP you will be granted temporary permission to puppet the situation (if needed) in order to keep the rest of the group moving smoothly. This is an issue to be brought up with the GMs so that they may deal with the situation properly as a case by case basis.

~You do NOT have to wait for all partners to respond before posting again. If the situation does not call for their presence than they will just have to play catch up. Keep posting if you have something to respond to. If you do not have something to respond to you may either: post anyway or request a post so that you do have something to respond to.

~DO NOT WAIT TO POST FOR ALL CHARACTERS!!! This has been stated in the beginning and been widely ignored. Frankly we don’t care what you like it to look like, if you have a response for a group, post it. The excuse that things get lost is no longer going to be accepted as you are tagged in each post you are relevant in. Use the search function in the browser if you have to. This will not continue to be a reason groups get held up.

~The new cycle with the new expectations will begin on Sunday, June 3rd!

~If you are still interested in this RP and are willing to comply by previous as well as new expectations, please give this announcement a react (If on RPGuild please like) to indicate your understanding and agreement to the posted announcement.

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Sorrin Lucielle

_{Bride of Heccarim @ClocktowerEchos; Sister-Bride to Arden @Pupperr
Interacting with Heccarim and Arden}

Sorrin gazed at the monstrous creatures warily, the grime from their bodies soiling the beautiful cloth they had been given for the occasion. She didn’t necessarily fear them, in fact she might have even thought them kind of cute had they not been so utterly creepy. The pair were singing some kind of song, chanting names she did not know, and detailing scenes that at best could be described as horrifying. Before their new master had pulled the creature away from them, he had even begun making obscene gestures that led Sorrin to pull her arms closer to her chest.

She had all but silently sighed with relief when she felt her body being yanked forward, forced into motion by the chains that bound her to the terrifying man. Every muscle in her body tensed once her mind had caught up with the sudden motion, her captor speaking terrible things as he ran his fingers traced across her torso. Words of torture and threats of returning to claim loved ones from the homeland, it was enough to make her chest tighten.

Short breaths were all the small girl could manage, oxygen failing to reach her lungs no matter how many breaths she took. Sorrin could feel her thoughts clouding over, her head becoming fuzzy and body weak inside the cruel man’s ever tightening grip. As he pulled her arm away from her body, she fought with all her strength but it was barely enough for him to notice, easily isolating a finger for the creepy creatures to drool over. It was clear from the looks in their eyes that her flesh was not out of the question if ever offered like that again, a thought that helped none in her attempts to gain control of her emotions once again.

Eventually the Grave Warden had turned his full attention to her, answering a question she had already forgotten she had asked. Most of the words he spoke floated through her mind finding no perch on which to remain any longer than a few seconds before being purged. Any progress she made in calming herself back down were lost the moment the man’s fingers wrapped around her neck. His grip might not have been enough to do more than bruise the skin, however, in her panic Sorrin stopped breathing of her own accord.

"So, Arden, will we proceed with your punishment now?"

Eye’s glazing over, Sorrin never heard her sister-bride’s response as the world around her warped and faded into an entirely different scene.

A tiny Sorrin sat huddled beneath a wooden table situated at the center of what was the family dining space. The room was covered in an unnatural darkness, the air thick with the musky scent of wet soil. Her breath and heartbeat had been the room’s only sounds for what felt like an eternity, the pounding rhythm becoming louder as her breathing strained. Somewhere off in the distance, the little Sorrin thought she could hear voices shouting to one another but she made no motion to move from her place under the table. A throbbing on the side of her head caused her to reach up and touch her fingers to her left temple, a thick and sticky substance coating the tips that brushed against her skin. It carried a faint metallic scent that Sorrin could not place but had grown accustomed to over the last several hours.

The blonde awoke with a gasp, body jolting up into a sitting position where she had previously been laying flat. It took her more than a few moments to gather her bearings, her eyes still stuck in a setting that was clearly not the present. Eyes scanning the room, she found her surroundings completely unfamiliar to her.

Events from the previous day came rushing back to her, the morning seeming lifetimes ago. A day that had started with a comforting trip to the hot springs had twisted so quickly. A large room full of warriors and crying women popped into her head, the sound of chains ringing in her memory. Chains…

Sorrin’s eyes opened wide, seeking the face of the man they had been handed over to. She jumped a little when her eyes fell upon him, his eyes staring her down from his seat across the room. He didn’t seem to be moving, just simply… observing. Her eyes shifted around her, wondering if he was looking at something other than her and her new sister-bride. Completely out of her element, the sleepy girl was at a loss for what she was supposed to do now.

“Um… Good morning?” Her words escaped as more of a question than anything else. Sorrin was sure to keep her voice low so as not to bother Arden if she was still sleeping.

“Excuse me sir… But, um, where exactly are we? This doesn’t look like the carriage.” She asked, glancing around the room again. Turning her nose up into the air, she breathed in heavily through her nose.

“It certainly doesn’t smell like it either. It’s so much cleaner, and kind of refreshing! Say, Mr. Grave Warden sir? What is that smell, I don’t think I recognize it?” If she had to compare it to something, it was almost like home. The air smelled open and fresh like the meadow she had been taken from… But it wasn’t quite the same. She thought that maybe the rain had played some part in the odd scent, however, she couldn’t smell the dirt that usually followed a storm back home.

Sorrin opened her mouth to speak again when a faint tingle around her neck caught her attention. Slowly she reached her fingers up to poke at her neck gingerly, wincing slightly as she did so. That part of the night had become fuzzy for her, only remembering the feeling of the man’s hands around her throat. She could recall neither what had led up to that moment nor anything after, leaving her more than a little confused and with a great deal of sadness in her eyes.

“D-did I do something wrong? If I did, I’m very sorry and I’ll try not to do it again… Although to be perfectly honest, I don’t exactly remember what happened. It’s so rude, I swear I was raised with better manners than this. Is there anyway I can make it up to you?” Sorrin looked up at the man staring back at her, a faint but apologetic smile on her face.

Summary

Blackout… Some memory flash… Waking up in strange places, with strange faces, and a brand new smell. What an exciting field trip.

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

@Ellion Hush you.

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Morganna

_{Interacting with Höd Ultair @Pupperr, Rya @Ellion, and Lienna @Obscene Symphony}

Despite outward appearances, Morganna’s interaction with the two small brides did not hinder her observations by much. She could sense the man beside her scanning the room like a predator surveying a field before him. A shift in his energy and his posture alerted her to what she could only assume was the find of a satisfactory target. While she awaited a response from the girls, she turned her gaze back to Höd.

”Pardon me, miss. I hate to cut our conversation short, but there is something I need to take care of. Maybe we can continue this later, if I am so lucky. And I do apologize, for what comes next… but I’m sure you’ll understand."

Höd spoke with a slight bow of his head, respectful yet not submissive… Had he been speaking to anyone else, they might have wondered what it was that stole his attention so. After all, the opportunity to interact with a woman of her caliber was by no means an easy feat. However, Morganna was not anyone else, knowing before he even spoke where he was off to. The real question now was who the unlucky target was going to be.

She had to compress a smile itching its way to the surface as he singled out a Drakkan across the room. Even by her standards, the subject was far below par. While he had the horns of a Drakkan warrior and the brides to ‘prove’ his worth, he simply could not fit in. Flashy, skinny, and really an unimpressive specimen, Morganna would never had given him a second look. The woman had no doubts that Höd felt the same way as she did, using this as an excuse to overshadow the disturbance made by the intruder.

Morganna did find it interesting, however, that Höd had chosen to abandon the prize he had so rightfully earned. While she had her theories, she tucked away her curiosity to be addressed another time. The two would speak again, and when they did, she could inquire about it then. Tracing his exit with a smile, Morganna returned her full attention back down to the two girls who were clearly on very different pages. She might have even found it amusing if she had not found herself being insulted… Twice.

While the one that had initiated the whole scene had kept her voice low, Morganna had not missed the comment made about her offer of a deal. She figured with the Gems just about worshipping the concept of diplomacy, such an offer would have been heaven sent… It would seem this particularly girl had other views on the matter.

Still, despite conversing with a ‘demon’, her brother’s bride still picked her head back up and questioned the terms. How predictable. Morganna thought to herself, staring down with a lazy expression.

The other girl’s cooperation was not so easily earned, however, having to have her head physically turned by her sister bride in order to focus on what was in front of her. Morganna tracked her gaze back to its source only to find it the man demanding her as entitled paid. Eyes rolled internally, Morganna opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by the sudden sound of the second bride’s voice. She sounded anything but pleased, turning on her very own and belittling what was clearly an attempt to keep her safe. The first she knew to have been a bride before, certainly she recognized the benefits of being with her brother over other warriors… otherwise Morganna would not have had the pleasure to toy with them a little. All her efforts were met with the hostility of a girl freshly picked from a posh city somewhere in the Gem’s homeland.

Morganna almost felt bad for the girl… Almost.

"You coward," she spat, "So timid are you that you grovel at the feet of the bear just to escape the fox?"

The woman’s eyes narrowed at this, all signs of amusement vanishing from her features.

“It is usually best when grovelling at the feet of bears to remember where the bear is standing, don’t you think? You should have listened to your sister here, kitten, she knew full well who she was dealing with and was ready to accept on your behalf. Distracted by the fox you insulted the bear, and now you’ve been thrown to the wolves. You had better hope this is a decision you can live with.” Snagging a handful of each girl’s hair, Morganna dragged the two forward through what little crowd stood between her and Rynek’s men.

Catching the attention of those closest to her, Morganna half threw the pair forward.

“They’re yours. Now get out before I change my mind.” She hissed, turning her gaze back to her brother who glanced back with fury. He was too far from her and too close to the challenger to be able to make it before the girls were taken away. There was nothing he could do, and the royals had no say either as they had been handed over freely by a member of the family. Things would have to be settled privately now, the real question was if Azilon was willing to do anything about it.

Flicking her dark hair over her shoulder she turned and glared at those still remaining, family and stranger alike.

“Pathetic, the lot of you.” Morganna huffed before making her exit, men moving out of her way as she moved. Stepping outside, the rain had dulled to a light shower, the darkness allowing her all the cover she needed to make her way to the estate without incident. Her elder brother could be heard still working on his bride, but she paid him no mind, instead retiring to her own room for the evening. Her younger brother’s qualms were a problem for tomorrow.

Summary

Morganna gonna see Höd again… She gonna make sure of it. ;)
She’s a little insulted by the girls though… Demon is ok, but bear? Come on now, she had a really nice figure. Can’t do her dirty like that and not expect her to just hand you over. Have fun with the Rynek crew!

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Aurora Liesma

_{Bride of Zakroti @darkwolf687; Sister-Bride to Aymiria @Amethyst
Interacting with Zakroti and Aymiria}

Aurora should have known better than to assume invoking the name of a literal god would be enough to intimidate a Drakkan, even if the one standing before her was so small. If anything he seemed… amused? At the very least he could have acted insulted, if not at the challenge then perhaps the mention of a god not his own, but it would seem that a different statement would bear more power than her first.

It was as if a fire had been lit, the air becoming taut with undisplayed rage as his face twisted into a scowl of sorts. She couldn’t be sure at first as to what exactly had caused his sudden shift in composition. While it could have been her stepping out of line that had set him off, but such a response was unwarranted for such a small infraction… No, it had to have been her sister, or at least the mention of her. It would seem her death was a sensitive topic for the pair of them, a concept she was not sure she was quite ready to accept.

He had stepped closer to her by the time she had calmed herself but made no motions to punish her in any fashion. There were many things she had expected of the creatures that lived in Drakka’s wastelands, the cursed children created in mockery to the creator Vivari. The men that had ‘cared’ for them upon their departure from the homeland were so much bigger, more threatening than the man that stood before her. Everything about them screamed predator to her, like a lion charged with the care of a lamb. Her husband-to-be was not like any of the ones she had met so far, but she knew better than to assume he was not as dangerous, if not more, than they. He was no lion, but a wolf, nay… a fox suited him better.

She was caught off guard a bit by his next words, able to maintain his position of authority over her even while admitting her validity. Aurora was determined for answers but she had never expected to be handed them so… diplomatically. Such a thought tugged at the very core of her being, a small flicker of concern that was quickly overshadowed by her desire for closure. This was her chance to learn all the details of what occurred instead of imagining the countless horrors that no doubt went through her family’s minds.

'I understand your outburst; any one of these events would be difficult to handle individually, let alone thrown at you together. When we withdraw to my families spare residence here in the city this night, you may interrogate me for every detail of that morning your sister died and I shall answer the best I can. If you find it insufficient or find me at fault, you may throw every curse you like at me, launch whatever other empty threats you desire- vent your anger and hatred and sorrow and so forth. But here in public, I must maintain appearances. Is that a reasonable proposition?'

The Gem found his request to be more than reasonable, Zakroti leaving very little room for refusal to his propositions. Looking around the room, such a move was beginning to make more and more sense. In a nation ruled by the biggest and strongest, this man had to work twice as hard to earn a right to live among them. He would have been a fool if he believed he could rely on brute strength alone, so he adapted to his circumstances. To lean so heavily on strategy, she had no doubts he was able to fight his battles as one would play a game of chess, always several moves ahead. Had she not been so angry, she might have been impressed.

Aurora did not answer him right away, instead shifting her eyes past him to size up the Gem who had looked equally as wary of her. Her stance had remained polite but her eyes were distant, as if she weren’t quite there completely. She was either a complete airhead, or she knew something… more accurately, she was remembering something. No doubt it was the memory of the topic at hand, whatever scene she witnessed enough to bring tears to her eyes. Ice crystals formed on her skin wherever the water touched, a clear sign of distress from someone of her typing. The fire Gem maintained eyes on the small girl as she came around, taking note of every glance she made toward Zakroti and the way she moved by him as she approached.

'Peace, child of Pyrus. You are not the only one to have lost her sister that night. You are not the one who still bears scars of it. So- Trust. The matter is not what you think it is.'

What she expected and what she heard were two very different things, Aurora’s posture shifting ever so slightly as the girl spoke. It would have been one thing if she had come with real words of assurance, but such was not the case. The girl spoke of loss and yet even as she did so it was all in defence of a Drakkan. Aurora’s nose turned up from the girl, her gaze falling harshly upon the small creature.

“If I required the input of a Shattered, I would have asked for it. I expected more elegance from a follower of Naia but it seems her wisdom is not so easily imparted upon her children.” She hissed, throwing a slur rarely used among her kind. It was not a word that was said openly, only whispered in rumor behind the offender’s back. Being taken by the Drakkan was a tragedy, to fall for one’s captors was a crime against her people and their collective suffering. To be called out on it was no small thing.

Turning her attention back to Zakroti, Aurora finally nodded her compliance.

“Surprisingly fair for a Drakkan, but if it gets me the answers I’m looking for then I clearly have no choice now do I? Worry not, your ‘appearances’ will be maintained. But make no mistake… The children of Pyrus, daughter or not, make no empty threats. I would advise you to stop shielding your weapon from me though, it makes you look like an idiot.”

She made sure to keep her tone low so that it would carry only to its intended target, displaying her promise of maintained status while still making it clear to him that she was not yet completely under his thumb. A loud commotion from behind her startled her out of her stance, the girl whipping around to find the source of the disturbance. Aurora was surprised to find that she wasn’t the only one disturbed by such an entrance, even the royals taking up arms against the unknown threat.

A smarter girl would have stepped back and taken refuge behind those that would have protected her, but Aurora was more stubborn than wise and chose to remain rooted to her position. If Zakroti wanted to assure her protection, he would have to come to her to make it happen. Seemed such a move would prove unnecessary, however, as the stranger introduced himself and scanned the room. Death was not his primary goal but quite characteristically within reason, his demands simple enough. A bride.

As far as Aurora knew, each girl that had been plucked from the homeland had been rehomed already, none to spare for a party crasher such as he. This left him with the option of taking someone else’s girl. Settling on a target across the room, Aurora turned her head slightly to look at Zakroti, silently inquiring about their departure. While she was interested in seeing what could very possibly turn into a battle, she had more important things to tend to. There were answers Zakroti possessed and had promised, and she wasn’t about to let some small matter distract her from her expected information.

Summary

Ro is angry sprite, but compliant. Doesn’t like Miry very much and throws super harsh Gem insult to her face. Great start ladies.

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Sorrin Lucielle

_{Bride of Heccarim @ClocktowerEchos; Sister-Bride to Arden @Pupperr
Interacting with Heccarim and Arden}

Gazing down at the metalwork that bound her and her sister-bride, Sorrin’s face clearly displayed her distress. She fidgeted with the shackles on her wrists with the feeble hope that they would either loosen or fall off completely. Obviously, neither were to be the case. While the man circled them once again, he took to answering their question of his title with what sounded more like a figure of myth than a proper name. Regardless, Sorrin would try to remember it to the best of her abilities. He was, after all, not a myth but a man… A very real man at that, standing before her and Arden with the pair tethered to him in chains.

It didn’t take much longer for the Grave Warden’s checks to be complete, his satisfaction marked by the sudden tugging on her wrists. Stumbling forward in surprise she scampered after the man, the sound of the rustling chains unnerving her as they moved along. Much to the youth’s dismay, the rain had yet to let up, plummeting the temperatures far below anything she was used to back home. She ended up thinking to herself that it wasn’t as bad as the keep they had been staying in previously, but it still was not ideal.

The group moved from shadow to shadow, the man leading them wishing to remain hidden for whatever reason. Sorrin didn’t mind this so much, as most of the shadows were created by awnings and coverings that shielded them from the falling rain. By the time they reached the walls that signaled the edge of the city, Sorrin had already began to feel rather damp and a chill had already started in. The young girl shivered as they were dragged from their position out into the open, continuing to march on into the desert despite the falling rain. At this point Sorrin’s breath escaped her in small tufts of vapor, vanishing as quickly as they appeared before her.

Without any obstacles in his way, and clearly a destination he wanted to reach quickly, the girl’s keeper found no reason to lessen his pace. Both girls were quite small in comparison to the man, their shorter legs working overtime just to keep up. Glancing over out of the corner of her eye, Sorrin noted that Arden was having difficulties keeping up with the pace set, the chains helping none in her case. Sorrin, on the other hand, had all but broken out into a run and still found herself struggling to keep upright. If they continued on in that manner for much longer, Sorrin was certain she was going to find herself being dragged after the ‘Grave Warden’.

Coming to a swift halt, Sorrin barely recovered herself in enough time to avoid running head first into the back of the stationary man. The rain continued pouring down and by this point her teeth were chattering, the girl almost wishing that they had kept moving if only to warm her frozen body slightly. Producing a bell from somewhere on his person, Sorrin moved to cover her ears, though the task was only half accomplished due to the restraints. The sound sent an unearthly chime down her spine separate from the weather, a cold pit of fear settling in her stomach. From the darkness came a carriage unlike any she had ever seen, a sight that nearly made Sorrin shriek.

Tethered to the back was what she assumed to be a body, difficult to tell considering the cloth wrapped around it, however she couldn’t imagine anything else with what she had learned of Drakkan-kind. Small creatures hobbled their way around the carriage, calling out to the man they referred to as Master.

Grave Warden? Master? These aren’t proper names at all! It’s worse than the nameless ‘High Prince’. Don’t Drakken get names? She thought to herself, shifting from foot to foot in order to keep moving.

Before long they were allowed onto the carriage and out of the rain, her drenched clothing helping her condition none but at least it was covered. She did her best to ignore the cloth-wrapped object as she climbed inside after her new husband, forced to take a seat opposite him. At least she was allowed to by Arden, though with them being chained the way they were she wondered why she assumed it would have been any other way.

Upon the windows being boarded up, Sorrin tensed, a feeling of being trapped beginning to set in. Her heart began racing, her chest already on fire from the half-sprint it took her to reach the destination. Her shaking hands were camouflaged by the constant shivering, her arms covered with goosebumps as her hair dripped icy water down her back.

She barely heard a word as the man spoke, certain that it was threats or rules of some kind that they would have to follow now that they were under his care. Sorrin had already forgotten the man’s full title, there was no way she would remember a list of rules. Instead she focused on her breathing, finding a center to keep her from falling into panic. Usually she would hum a little tune, but with the scary man talking, she didn’t think it a good time less she wanted to be beaten for not taking things seriously.

It seemed that Arden did not share those fears, however, her voice briefly breaking through Sorrin’s clouded consciousness. She sounded so bold, so fearless, so… suicidal. Arden spoke back to the Warden in a similar fashion that he spoken to them. Going so far as to even throw back his own phrases, she wondered how such a girl had survived this long. Listening to her sister-bride challenge the man struck a chord, her panic rising over the edge in the fear that Arden would be punished for speaking out so disrespectfully.

“EXCUSE ME SIR?!” She blurted out, much louder than she had intended. Her eyes shot open wide, fear filling them completely. Small droplets of water formed at the outer corners of her eyes, rolling down her face as she took in the terrifying sight of the man before her.

Sorrin wasn’t entirely sure why she spoke out as she really had nothing to say. She wasn’t like Arden, she couldn’t throw demands around like she had a say in any of this. Just the act of blurting out the first line was enough to nearly stop her already pittering heart. Falling further into panic she looked around confused, wondering what to do next. Returning to her usual, sheepish expression, Sorrin played with her hands in her lap and refused to make eye contact with anyone as she finally spoke back up.

“Um… Well, I-um… I was wondering…” She stammered, swallowing the lump in her throat and clenching her eyes.

“I was wondering what your real name was!” Sorrin finally blurted out, glancing upward fearfully.

“Well, what I mean… I uuuh…. I mean, Grave Warden isn’t really, well you see… It’s not a proper name by anyone’s standards. Clearly it’s a title, a very cool title to be sure, but it’s just a title. Like a stage name that actors use, it’s not real. You must have a real name, everyone does, so I was wondering if you would tell us what it is because Warden something or other of Land of Kor is just really long and I’m never going to remember it and calling you just Warden is… Well it’s boring. So umm, well, will you tell us?” Somehow the entirety of what Sorrin spoke was said in a single breath, the girl not stopping until she reached the end despite her hesitations and panicked babbling. She settled back down in her seat, her shaking beginning to calm some now that she had found something other than the enclosed box she was sitting in.

“Please?” She followed up, after all, she was not raised without her manners.

Summary

Sorrin is short. Slow dooooown.

Also super nervous, you put her in a box and she doesn’t like boxes so now you are stuck with her really confused, run on sentence of a question requesting the real name cause his name is long and confusing and boring all at the same time.

P.S. Isn’t she just the cutest tho?

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Azilon Dantanath

_{Husband of Rya @Ellion and Lienna @Obscene Symphony}

Azilon featuring Evienne

_{Interacting with Rynek @NarcissisticPotato}

"Is this not Drakka? Since when was killing forbidden? And anyways, they did technically fall on my spear. You are welcome to try it sometime."

Sharp eyes pierced the stranger, taking in the scene before her carefully. The armed men following the stranger didn’t seem particularly hostile despite the string of bodies left in their wake, their demeanor mischievous but relaxed overall. After the mishap in the arena Evienne wasn’t all too trusting of a force knocking down her front door, however, the man didn’t appear to have much motive outside of perhaps coveting someone’s hard earned bride. She paused a moment longer before relaxing her stance, an amused expression taking over her face while he continued speaking.

She watched him curiously as he spouted something about first providing a name when asking for another’s, maintaining her poise until he had finally given his up. Her name was not his only goal it seemed, as the now named Rynek scanned the room for a prize of his own. While he spun around, pointing fingers and eyeing up girls, Evienne returned her gaze back to the men standing behind him.

“At least my hires know better than to bet against their employer. Can’t blame you though, it’s a smart move to bet on a clear victor, wouldn’t you say Lord Darion? Oh, but you’re not a quite a lord are you? See, I might not be a queen but I am still royalty and I know quite a many families, the Darion line being among them. Too old to be greenhorn from the looks of you, but that begs the question as to where you’ve been hiding all this time. Be you a liar? Or a bastard?” Evienne exhaled slowly, eyes following Rynek’s directed challenge.

“You waltzed in here spilling the blood of our guards, demanding that the royals follow your rules of conduct, and pick out the grumpiest man at the party to pick a fight with. Dear Rynek, your spear interests me none, but I think you’ve amused me enough to earn you a few names. I am princess Evienne, daughter to the High Prince Gaelnesh, granddaughter to the first King of Drakka. And that,”” She paused a moment, gesturing somewhat theatrically with her arm towards the taller fellow.

“Is a rare face to see at any gathering. Allow me to introduce you to Azilon Dantanath and his two brides, well earned I can assure you.” Smiling to herself, Evienne took a few steps backward, now clearly addressing the rest of the room.

“By the glory of the King, I now declare this year’s Reaping a success. I will oversee the validity of this challenge so for those of you who have other matters to tend to, you are free to go.”

Azilon grimaced, not at all enthused about the situation. Of all the women the man could have pointed out, the Rynek fellow had to settle for his. He hadn’t been particularly excited about having the women all but forced down his throat, but now he was being forced to defend them. The thought crossed his mind of perhaps conceding one to the warrior as a sign of good faith, perhaps keeping the quiet one for himself and handing over Rya to do to him as she pleased. Somehow the idea didn’t sit all that well, coming to the conclusion that at least Rya was somewhat self-sufficient. He would have little need to care for her once home, the newcomer Lienna was an unknown for the time being.

He ventured a quick glance behind him only to be met with the faces of fellow Drakkan, their brides held close to ensure their safety. His own had appeared to have stumbled backward into the crowd, a small glint of light catching his eye as they moved quickly away. His eyes tracked their movement until they reached a familiar face, his sister who locked eyes with him menacingly. Azilon had been challenged for brides that were now under her supervision, not to mention called out by a warrior somewhere out in the crowd.

Sighing heavily, Azilon stepped forward with an apparent scowl on his face. As he did so, the rest of the room took an additional step back to give the two warriors some room. He could feel more than a few attendees tense around him, ready to react to whatever might stumble their way.

“What a shameful display. To accept your challenge is not but to spare you the embarrassment of charity. The brides don’t mean all that much to me but at least I’ve earned mine, you on the other have made such little an impression that you are forced to grovel at the feet of real victors for their spoils. You prove nothing in challenging me for mine so why don’t you run along and go polish that spear of yours elsewhere.” Azilon’s distaste for both the man and the situation was quite clear, his expression hard and words sharper than usual.

The warrior stood his ground, staring down the man that dared challenge him for his own property. Wanted or not, the girls belonged to him and he would be damned if some nobody swooped in and waltzed off with his new pets.

Morganna

_{Interacting with Höd Ultair @Pupperr, Rya, and Lienna}

Morganna hadn’t strayed too far from where her brother stood before she was stopped by, what could only be described as, a massive force. The left side of her body collided with an object much larger than herself causing her balance to be knocked off. Should she the space it would have been no difficult task for her to catch herself and regain composure, but it seemed the massive Drakkan responsible for her tumble had other ideas. Just as quickly as she had been knocked off balance was she returned to an upright position, her attention no doubt the real object behind the maneuver.

As the man spoke, she found herself concealing a smile of amusement mixed with curiosity. Reading people was something she was trained to be good at, quickly assessing situations and reacting accordingly was a necessary part of being an assassin type such as herself. She was quick to determine that man before her was not a threat, or at least not a major one, and had either honestly not been paying attention or clever enough to plan to grab hers. Either way, he had it now. Relaxing her tensed stance, Morganna bowed her head slightly in greeting to the man.

“No pardons necessary, after all, it was but an accident was it not? I’m happy to hear that I was able to help brighten the place up for you, though I wouldn’t count the sniveling weaklings out just yet. With enough skill I’m sure you could train one up to be a cheap but effective alternative… Temporarily at least, they have such short expiration dates.” Morganna glanced over her shoulder at a nearby Drakkan’s whimpering bride with an expression that was difficult to discern. Be it pity or distaste, it was difficult to tell exactly what went through the young woman’s mind.

“Consider my presence your prize for making your way into a place like this uninvited. A valuable skill indeed, if you don’t mind my saying so. I find too many men around here pride themselves on a flashy entrance, spouting some nonsense about striking fear into the hearts of their foes. If you ask me, the real fun comes with a stealthier approach. Kill one or two and leave the rest to wonder who it was and who might be next. No greater pleasure than to watch a grown man squirm.” She mused before some kind of commotion stole both of their attentions. Gesturing to the entrance of a silver-haired male as if it proved the point she was making, she sat back and laughed subtly along with the stranger’s remarks.

There was something that troubled her about the room’s newest arrival, however, a quick glance shared with her father from across the room as the man spoke his name. Darion. Rynek Darion. Many were well aware of the Darion name, but she had never heard of a man such as he. She was not particularly a fan of not having information but figured now would be good a time as ever to learn. Nodding her head absently in response to her new companion’s words, her expression became neutral with concentration.

“Intriguing to say the least.” She said softly, tensing as Rynek singled one of her brother’s brides out as his desired prize. Knowing her brother and what it would mean to the family for him to allow such prizes to be taken without a fight, she would not have been surprised if he handed both of them over willingly. It seemed such an opportunity was taken from him as a small shuffling movement off to the side caught her attention.

Standing before her were the brides in question, the one acquired first seeming to have pulled the newer one away from harm’s way. Her brother had no choice now. Looking up, she locked eyes with her brother who appeared less than pleased about the situation. A quick tilt of her chin ordered him to get his head in the game, a shift in his demeanor obvious to those who knew him but less so to strangers. If she was going to be honest, she was surprised he spoke. Often times his duels were silent, at least from his side. Rynek’s appearance forced a situation Azilon was far from pleased with, a dangerous place to stand if history was any indicator.

Turning her attention back down to the girls, Morganna placed her index finger beneath Rya’s chin to tilt her face upward. Forcing the Gem’s gaze, the female drakkan leaned in closely to the girl with a sly, almost triumphant, smile.

“Don’t you worry little birdies, I’ll keep you nice and safe. But you’ll have to do something for me in exchange, otherwise I might just forget who it is that owns you. I’m sure there are plenty of hungry men here dying for your attention. So what will it be? I would decide quickly, fights such as these don’t tend to last all that long.”

Summary

Evienne: Is amused, but unimpressed. Tells everyone left that they are free to leave if they want to. Introduces to Rynek to his opponent and steps aside to observe.

Azilon: Is a cranky puss. Disses Rynek, tells him to shunt off, and waits to see how the little runt will react.

Morganna: Flirts a bit with Höd. Has to deal with the arrival of two brides. Offers protection in exchange for some unknown ultimatum. Better think fast ladies. Going once… going twice…

The Crystal's Call

The mage couldn’t help but to feel quite a bit of amusement as she took in the reactions of those standing about her, her mischievous smile yet to fade even after her partial explanation of their current situation. Whether it had been her little trick with the shoes, or something else entirely, it seemed that Aryanna had rendered the majority of the group somewhat speechless. She wasn’t entirely sure herself what held their tongues, be it awe or fear it didn’t matter to her. An internal sigh resounded through her rib-cage, trapped within through sheer willpower of its keeper. She hadn’t the luxury of waiting for the children to catch up on their own as there was far too much to do and they were running out of time.

Her eyes flickered back to the male that had offered her the shoes, having stored the items away in his bag already. Aryanna took note of something in his eyes that pleased her, a look of what could only be described as recognition. His acknowledgement of a power that was still yet beyond their understanding, the power she held not only over them but of the entire situation as well. She figured his expression could also have been pegged for resignation,either way though, it would seem that at least one of her guests was already a page ahead of the rest; perhaps not yet on the same page as her but it was a good start at least.

“Alright.... What’s the work then?” Alec piped up, looking more than a little apprehensive.

“That’s the spirit, you catch on quickly. I do hope the rest of you will follow his example, it will make things run so much more smoothly.” She allowed her smirk to sit openly on her face, attempting to goad the rest of the group into a reaction of some sort. It wouldn’t do for them to go brain dead so soon after arriving. Re-adjusting herself, Aryanna replaced her mocking expression with a more serious one, clearing her throat before she continued with her explanation.

“I’m sure this is going to sound rather… cliche to you as I’ve noticed the situation mirrors your fictitious literature quite closely. To make an incredibly long story short, I need your help in dealing with a traitor. He’s a mage like I am, and is responsible for the eradication of our entire Order.” Aryanna stopped long enough for her initial request to sink in before she continued speaking, knowing that such a short explanation would not be enough to persuade any of them into action.

“I know it’s a lot to ask that you risk life and limb for a realm that is not your own, so you are still welcome to lay low until either he’s dealt with or you die of old age. That being said, I am obligated to warn you that if we’re not successful, there will be nothing left keeping the corruption contained to my realm. Considering the fact that your realm is the easiest to access, it would be a safe bet to assume that will be his next target.” Turning away from the group, Aryanna wandered off a few paces seeming to inspect the open area surrounding them whilst giving them an opportunity to talk among themselves.

After a few moments, and with a look of satisfaction on her face, Aryanna returned her gaze to the group. She wondered what each of them would decide, hoping they would step up to the challenge but honestly not expecting much. They were, after all, from a realm without magic… There was no telling how their bodies, let alone their minds would handle what she was about to do to them.

“I would advise you to be certain of your decisions, whatever they may be, as there is no turning back once we begin. And there is no playing catch up should you choose to join us later on. Once you’ve made your decision, find a place inside the magic circle on one of five emblems.” While she had their attention, Aryanna stooped down and placed her palm flat on the ground before her, a large shadow spreading from that point to take the shape of the magic circle in question. She was careful to remain off center for the time being, keeping her place now that the spell had been initiated.

“So, what will it be?”

Magic Circle

Looks a little something like this.