YoMoves

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Axley would have killed for a pheasant in the moment, but she shook her head and offered Sparrow a smile regardless. "Don't worry about it. I don't exactly make much, but I can at least cook for a little bit. If anything, let me cook the pheasant for everyone else." That was the last interaction Axley had for the time being. She wanted some time to think about the situation she found herself in. The place she had called home when she lacked a place to live or a job to keep her fed was being foreclosed upon for seemingly no good reason, and she couldn't fight the powers that be in the process. What a nasty predicament to find oneself in, truly...

Axley found herself straggling behind the others; she truly had no desire to leave the church, even if the man inside it was leaving it and the convoy had moved on without her. She sighed, turning back to look at it wistfully. It might be the last time she saw it under Sparrow's ownership, after all. Best to cherish the time she spent there and the people who had helped her become a real member of the Ruins' society, instead of just a leech and homeless. And yet here it was, simply being taken away from her. At least the building would still stand; she could perhaps visit every now and then...just to relive old times.

Irony had a funny way of striking quickly and painfully.

"What was that?" She could have sworn the ground had shaken ever so slightly, and the low groan of...what was that? A machine of some kind? She couldn't identify the noise, but she barely even had time to consider that when she watched a strange, silver shell smash directly into the place she held close to her. She wanted to go investigate, but from what little she could see and the screams she could hear, that was most likely a fatal idea. No, someone had come to destroy her home....

Again.

Axley locked up. Was it the mafia? Had they found her somehow? No, that couldn't be...whatever was eating away at the church's insides was...sinister. Definitely too powerful to be the work of a criminal organization some hundreds of miles away. Something else had done this, but the thoughts racing through her head were all the same. Why couldn't she just have something? Her legs wobbled like jelly at the prospect of everything being taken from her a second time. She wanted to run back, protect the church to the very end, but the voices around her all were encouraging her to run, run in the other direction, as fast as she could.

It was something she at least knew she could do.

"Move, move, MOVE!" Axley's panicked cry rang out as she barreled through a group of fleeing citizens to catch back up with everyone else. Her lute bounced on her back as she rushed through the streets as quickly as she possibly could, trying to do anything she could do to escape the oncoming carnage. "F-Follow me, I know the fastest way outta here..." Her home was on the outskirts of the Ruins, which conveniently happened to be on the side of town opposite the direction the shells were coming from. She probably wouldn't have any time to grab anything, but at least it'd get them closer to the end of town and relative safety...

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Sometimes, Axley hated life. When her home and family burned before her very eyes and left her alone, near penniless, and adrift in the sea of fate. When she was homeless in the Imperial Ruins before meeting Sparrow, begging for a living and having nothing but her blade and lute to her name. And right now, being forced to accept that her once-home and treasured place in her heart was being destroyed at the whim of some asshole who decided the lives of those within simply didn't matter. Those were the times Axley truly despised the cards she had been dealt. But unfortunately...she couldn't simply ask for a redeal. She would have to play them the only way she truly knew how.

She could feel the eyes of Cillia on her as she watched the exchange of money take place. At least the man was being charitable and giving them a chance...though part of that made her angry as well. Simply flaunt money at a problem, and suddenly everything was better. That was her father's way of thinking as well; he may have been doing it with the right intentions, but it still left a sour taste in her mouth. Regardless...it was clear she was simply not winning this fight. Moreover, the last thing she wanted to do was set off the woman beside her. If she were to decide the man deserved hate...there was no telling what might happen.

With a defeated sigh, Axley hung her head for a moment before folding her arms. "Looks like I don't have any option but to agree." She spoke as though it were her own livelihood being taken from her, her own home being uprooted. At times, it truly felt that way. Even as Sparrow turned to them and he thanked them for their presence...Axley felt somewhat useless. "I don't exactly have a ton of space, but I can take at least a few people in in interim. It's the least I can do." It was also the most she could do, but details were in the eye of the beholder, she supposed. She grumbled to herself. "Honestly, after this, I'm not in the mood to go serenading. I'm probably going to go stuff my face in some diner tonight." Axley liked to eat her frustrations away. Luckily, she was not frustrated often, but for tonight she'd likely be eating something very large and expensive.

For now, though...she needed to give Sparrow what help she could. She moved to the streets with the rest of the small group, sighing defeatedly once more. Now she needed to help Sparrow move...at least to maintain some level of usefulness. What a terrible day...even though Sparrow was probably feeling it tens of times worse than she was.

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Sometimes, Axley couldn't believe the cordiality and patience of the man called Snow Sparrow. Lawyers generally tended to never be good news in the Imperial Ruins, and the bard had a bad feeling about this encounter. Inviting the man in for tea was likely not the best course of action, but Axley was really in no position to fight. Violence against someone in the legal business would go over extremely poorly...not that she was much of a fighter anyways. She knew enough to swing a blade and defend herself, but her ceremonial sword was mostly for intimidation...she wasn't entirely sure how the thing hadn't broken in the few scraps she'd had since she struck out on her own.

More importantly, Axley knew the moment the news was delivered that her plans for the day were ruined. Not that she was mad at Sparrow...no, she had a much more pointed target of her outrage. "You have got to be kidding me. You're joking, right?" To forcefully evict a a pillar of the community, and a church no less, was bad enough, but to give him a day...? Did the people ordering this goon around have any sense of labor and time? There was no world in which even a group of Solars could vacate the premises safely over the course of a day, even if one did not sleep and used the night as well. She knew she couldn't fight the writ itself; perhaps if she still had the status of her bloodline to back her up, she might, but with her family dead, her money liquidated, and her lineage all but forgotten, there was precious little she could do here but be indignant.

"So this is how the rich treat the less privileged, got it." Was this how her father was as well? She'd kept mostly out of business affairs, focusing instead on being a proper daughter of a Crawford. If that was the case...maybe it was no wonder he had made enemies. Still. That was then, and this was now. Axley stood with a hand on her hip, the burning glare in her eyes more than enough to melt straight through any with a faint heart. "Well, you can tell whatever idiot decided to make this writ that a day isn't sufficient time to evacuate an entire block of underprivileged folk out. Hell, three days wouldn't be enough." Axley was choosing her words carefully despite her anger. The last thing she needed was for her words to be seen as a threat and legal action be tossed her way. She took a breath before she continued to speak.

"So here's how this works. Either you give us more time to find a safe place for all these people and a proper place for Sparrow to continue his work...or you can turn around and prosecute the fool who ordered this for murder when they have to slaughter us for merely being mortal. Sure that'll look fantastic for them." It was a bad enough situation for Axley, Sparrow, and everyone here. Surely anyone with a sense of decency would understand that people couldn't up and move an entire homeless shelter in a day.

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Being a bard wasn't as easy as many seemed to think. It was probably the most common heckle Axley was used to receiving from particularly drunken listeners when she played in taverns come day's end. She'd been offended when she first started her unwieldy career, but nowadays she simply scoffed and rolled her eyes. Not everyone could play a tune, let along a good one. She knew that now...though when she had first started hearing the coarse, brutish nature of the common working man had been quite the bit of culture shock. It had taken time to grow accustomed to the nature of society, though once she had she had learned she didn't much like taking shit from others; her personality grew confident and a bit standoffish as a result, though her heart still beat pure and would not rest to see another's suffering.

Today, she wasn't to be alone-she'd often played at Snow Sparrow's church in the evenings, the only payment she truly required being a sampling of some of the dinner he'd provide to the homeless that night. For a soup kitchen of sorts, the meal was really quite excellent; it was what had first drawn Axley to the place when she had first arrived in the Ruins, barely a yen to her name. Her first night had been at the church, in fact; it was out of the kindness of its head that she had managed to get back on her feet in the first place. She could say she owed him one, and repaid his kindness whenever she could by making an appearance to grace the church and its following with a bit of music to enhance their evening. It didn't pay well, but sometimes money wasn't the most important thing in the world. If only her father had learned that lesson.

Axley rose early as always; in order to snag the crowd at lunchtime, she had to prepare early. She wished to start earlier than usual as well; she knew Sparrow was bringing a sanxian, but apparently his skill was not quite as refined as hers. She intended to help him along just a little, and figure out a few numbers that they could play together. A minstrel band could draw more than a single bard...but only if all the players were in harmony. The slightest bit of makeup to ensure her features were fair, and a fresh set of her bard's clothes, and she was prepared for the day. The walk to the center of town was a fairly long one, but rewarding; it helped keep her body in shape and gave her plenty of time to let her thoughts wander. She pulled into their planned meeting spot a little bit early to find no Snow Sparrow in sight. She supposed she had gotten there early, and she knew he had a morning routine, so she couldn't fault the man too much. She played on her own for a little bit, collecting the few coins tossed her way with a bright smile and a thanks, before starting to wonder just where he was. Had he forgotten? Had he gotten the time wrong?

Once an hour had passed, Axley grew a mite concerned. She abandoned her usual spot, taking off down the court at a brisk pace in the direction of Snow Sparrow's church. He'd probably gotten distracted with others or simply gotten the meeting time wrong; either way, they were burning daylight to work together. Her legs carried her away from the bustle of the crowd, out towards the outskirts where she knew his church was located. Seemed to be a fairly busy spot today; even just from a distance, she could see a few children playing outside. Seemed he'd been busy after all. That was fine, but he'd made a commitment and she intended to see it through, one way or another. She walked up to the entrance to find Snow Sparrow engaged with another man she didn't pay much attention to at first. "Oi, Sparrow." A mildly irritated, nearly lyrical voice would greet the ears of those at the door as Axley approached. "You didn't forget our gig was today, did you?" It was only then she noticed the man Sparrow was speaking to. This was not one of his flock; no, she recognized those clothes from her time with Father. This was a barrister, possibly a lawyer. For one to be here...it likely wasn't good news. "This guy bothering you?" Axley wasn't a fighter, but it wouldn't stop her from defending those she cared about, and the ceremonial sword on her back gleamed in the midday light.

Exalted: Fall of Creation

This isn't the first time I've been ready for this.

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Axley's up, ready to kick the world in the nuts.

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Name: Axley Crawford

Age: 25

Gender: Female

Equipment/Possessions:

One ceremonial sword, sharpened at a local blacksmith to be usable in combat, intricately designed with the crest of the Crawford family.

One necklace made of silver, holding a brilliant green gem at its center, kept around her neck at all times.

One lute, perfectly tuned and made of a beautifully varnished cedar.

Personality: Axley has had to make a very rough adjustment to her new life as a woman without means. She often finds it difficult to fit in with the people around her when she forgets that she is one of them now, as opposed to a member of the bourgeois who is used to looking down upon the peasants of the lower class. She doesn't take shit from others and tends to have an attitude with people who don't hold her respect. She has a fine eye for detail and a particularly fine ear for music from her upbringing, giving her great talent with both her voice and an instrument.

Though she is intuitive, Axley is not overly versed in the world around her, having grown up sheltered from it for quite some time. She is quick to anger, but not quick to violence, only carrying her blade for intimidation, and only protection as an absolute last resort. She shies away from conflict when she can, though does not step down to the catcalls of the men around her. She has a sarcastic, sassy streak that shows itself whenever she grows irritated with others, but once someone has proven themselves as trustworthy to her, she is a loyal friend that would always keep an eye out for them.

Axley loves fashion in spite of her limited income, and can often be seen in the merchant district, browsing the various silks and fabrics for sale in the wishes that one day she might be able to reclaim her fortune. She'll often try to set up her post near there so that she can look on the job; though she wishes to pinch some for herself, she lacks the skill set to be a thief and knows it. She keeps her nose clean of trouble, though the possibility of breaking the rules and seeking adventure has always allured her, even though she has not had the daring or the strength to take those chances.

Backstory/History: Axley was born to people of means, a wealthy merchant family in the affluent district of Ulfhednar. With a silver spoon in her mouth from birth, Axley grew up never knowing the trials of the lower class. She looked down upon them as her father had, calling them the 'pigs' of the Blessed Isle. She saw herself as entitled, a level above those without money, and quickly developed a superiority complex over those who were without. Having been tutored privately to read and write from a young age, Axley's own interests turned towards music once she had grown of age, and began taking lessons from private instructors to tune her ear to the world of sound around her. After all, were she to land a fetching husband in due time, she would need to showcase some sort of talent to win his affections. That's what her mother told her.

Until the age of twenty-three, Axley lived in comfort with her family, oblivious to the darkness dwelling just outside their pleasant abode. Her father, Eiric Crawford, hadn't acquired all his wealth quite so legitimately-it turned out he owed quite a few favors to the local crime syndicate, and they had grown tired and frustrated with his truancy on his 'donations' to their cause as of late. Eventually, it had all boiled over to a head. While the Crawford family slept one night, Axley awoke from her bed to find the scent of smoke clogging her nostrils. She opened the door to her room to see if something was wrong, only to find the lower floor ablaze, hungry flames consuming everything in reach. Her parents' master bedroom was already blocked off by the blaze, and she found herself desperately low on time to escape; the fire was already making its way up the stairs. Gathering what few possessions she could from the wall, including a family sword and her beloved lute, she tied her blanket to the window and clambered down, making the leap to the ground and running for her life as the fire went on to burn unabated until there was no more.

She didn't have the heart to look back on her destroyed home. The news had spread quickly enough; the charred corpses of her parents had been found, but Axley had been nowhere to be located. Whatever might have survived the blaze was most likely looted by the dawn. She was left with nothing; her fortune evaporated before her eyes, the few things she had managed to save from the tragic fire all she had to her name beyond a little jade.

She knew not what caused the fire, but couldn't bear to face the common folk of Ulfhednar, especially given the reputation she knew her family had with the lower class. Instead, she decided to start life anew. Using what money she had left, she purchased a ticket on a ship traveling south across the river, eventually finding her way to the Imperial Ruins. Nobody recognized her there; she managed to find herself a cheap building on rent on the outskirts of the city, and quickly weaved her way into life there as a traveling bard, wandering the streets and bars singing her hauntingly alluring tunes, now twinged with sadness as hints of her former life leaked out in her voice and lyrics while she played for what coin the folk she used to mock would spare her.

Exalted: Fall of Creation

Welp. It's me again. And you know what that means.

Time to kill this thing a third time