The sun is bright and the world practically crackles with joyus energy as people are gathered in the clydewell plaza of kenabres. The whole town is filled with festivities. New squires and priests are chosen on this day, and even the lowliest of peasants are trained in warfare.
While the whole city is alive with festivities and exitement, be it among new recruits or simply the masses watching the mock battles and jousting tournaments, the clydewell plaza is filled with more people then anywhere else in town, all gathered around the cathedral to the west.
One way or another, you're all near the facade of the cathedral- likely in the cooling shade of one of the few trees in the plaza. The opening ceremonies are to start in roughly a half hour, and the attendance could not be more excited.
Xexik is standing to one side, standing in the sun, the heat means nothing to this red carapace Dromite. His segmented eyes surveying the area. His training not leaving him, even in this joyous celebration that is happening.
His mind, his Horror, silently swaying behind him. Shimmering in and out of the sun like a living shadow that can't seem to get through to this world just yet
"I could never understand how could people, these humans, like celebration so much" he mumbles to the Horror beside him, even though he knew it could not answer. But it has been with him so long, it was almost like second nature to voice his concerns with it
Azlana is relaxing, sitting under a tree reading a book while she waits for the opening ceremonies.
Lothar has spent his time wandering the city of Kenabres, gaining his bearings. Not particularly easy with the bustle of festivities, but not impossible either. As soon as he felt comfortable enough to stop focusing on his relative location in the city to not get too lost, he felt himself drawn to the various combat spectacles. He spends his time milling about, variously watching the jousting tournaments and mock battles, but focusing on the new recruits in the area, attempting to gauge how many he could win against in a melee, and whether he would trust them at his back in a fight against the demons. But those are thoughts for another time. Apparently today is a day for celebration.
Almost as if guided by the hand of Desna, his thought is echoed by a small, insect-like creature as Lothar brushes by him causing Lothar to turn and stand next to the creature. "With the never ending war just off these peoples' doorstep, does it really come as a surprise to find that they would take whatever time and whatever reason they can to enjoy their lives?"
Lina is at the festival as requested of her, but at the moment she's taken up a spot a bit more out of the way in the square. Her clothes might have been mistaken for a performer's, but over her blue tunic she wore a shirt of chainmaille. A white scarf tied around her waist kept the bottom edge of the shirt from moving around, and a deep blue scarf around her neck covered the bottom half of her face.
Just need to get through today. But, in spite of everything, it is good to see everyone in town so joyful, she thinks, and smiles.
A handsome Tien man stands a little off from the press, though not far from the shade of the trees. He seems to be gazing at the cathedral with a slight frown... or perhaps, given his unfocused look, just gazing into space without really seeing anything.
Haruto had dreamed last night, and the memory of it still chills him. A rain of silver, which had smashed buildings like catapult stones... a wave of roiling darkness... but then, here in this very plaza, six stars shining in the black, brighter and brighter until he had awoken. What did it mean?
Xexik turned to look at the speaker. His face an enigma. The Horror mimicking his movements
"there is a war on. Demons just out of reach. This celebration only numbs the senses. How k!an one fight if you're distrak!ted by games and musik! ?"
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Azlana looks up and scans the crown, and sees Lina standing off by herself a little. She smiles to see a friendly face, puts her book away and gathers up her stuff. She walks over.
Lina! hey. Here to join in the festivities?
Haruto starts, shaken out of his musings by a familiar voice. He looks around, a bit bewildered, until he sees where she is.
"Hello, Hanna," he says, giving her a slight bow. "I just... had a dream. It was not a good one."
Haruto looks confused for a few moments, then seems to catch on and grins a bit.
"Your humility is inspiring," he comments. "You're right, though. I'll find out what my dream was about eventually, I'm sure. No use worrying about it."
He gestures at their surroundings. "So, this is Armasse? What's it like?"
Lina smiles at the sight of Azlana, and gives a little wave. "Hello, Azlana. Unfortunately, somebody still needs to be keeping an eye on things while the church does its works. What about you, are you enjoying the festivities?"
Xexik turned to look at the speaker. His face an enigma. The Horror mimicking his movements
"there is a war on. Demons just out of reach. This celebration only numbs the senses. How k!an one fight if you're distrak!ted by games and musik! ?"
Lothar shrugs as he replies, "The people here are more often fighting than not. I have always found a bit of relaxation better prepares a proven warrior for battle than constant vigilance ever will, within reason. Seeing as this is not a battlefield, and the ones currently fighting are not distracted... Well. I, for one, see no reason not to allow people their downtime."
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Hello, Azlana. Unfortunately, somebody still needs to be keeping an eye on things while the church does its works. What about you, are you enjoying the festivities?
So, far yeah. There were a couple of good mock battles. Just waiting for the opening ceremonies. ... Are you on duty all day, or will you get time to have some fun as well?
He looks at Lothar then looks back at his Horror
"Always an optimist it seems. Desna. Hmmm. Best not get to k!lose to it. Let's just say your Desna and my... k!ompanion are oposites"
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Lina runs a hand through her short-cut hair. "Ah, I'm not certain. It's all a little up in the air right now, but I hope I can give you a better answer soon." She shakes her head. "It's been a while, now, how goes your studies?"
In spite of how short Hanna's description was, Haruto's gaze had already wandered away from her face, staring off into space again. Had he walked here in dreams before...? Not just last night, but...?
"I see," he commented after an awkward moment of silence, during which he realized she was waiting for a response. "I am here to fight in the war, so I shall pay close attention to what happens, then."
He looks at Lothar then looks back at his Horror
"Always an optimist it seems. Desna. Hmmm. Best not get to k!lose to it. Let's just say your Desna and my... k!ompanion are oposites"
"Heh. It's not Desna that you should worry about when it comes to my patrons. Torag would be a more likely cause of strife between us, but even He knows the benefits of working with a potential enemy against a known, greater enemy. As long as there is no contract for my head, you'll find no trouble from me. But if it helps, I'd be willing to purchase your services on retainer against the demons of the Worldwound should our paths merge in the future, though I do wonder what place an assassin has in open warfare."
I just graduated. She smiles. No more school for me. I'm joining the crusade, actually.
Her smile fades.
... I, uh... well, I know everyone says that Zade is dead, but no one really knows, do they? He's just missing. I couldn't leave school like he did, but now that I'm out, I can at least go find out what happened to him.
"I simply work for them, not every Mantis is an Assassin, just like not all followers of Desna arent paladins" he nods and taps his armor
"Not the best suited to sneak up on folk!s, now is it? Oh, and if there was a k!ontrak!t, i doubt we would be talk!ing. No, the k!rusade is much more important than a simple k!ontrak!t"
you think the Dromite may be smiling, but with his race, you could be mistaken
"I simply work for them, not every Mantis is an Assassin, just like not all followers of Desna arent paladins" he nods and taps his armor
"Fair enough. So what do you do for the Red Mantis, then, and what brings you out to participate in the Crusades?"
Haruto smiles slightly back. "Desna has seen fit to bless me in other ways," he says, subconsciously reaching up to his amulet. "And magic runs strong in my bloodline. My father was a traveling sorcerer of no small skill, and he taught me well, though I've a long way to go."
Haruto lifts his amulet with one hand while murmuring a spell. Soft, silvery light soon shines from the pendant. "And may the Song of the Spheres watch over yours," he replies.
"My set of sk!ills are more martial, and my... K!ompanion here is very good with those k!laws he has, very good indeed. The two of us k!an be quite the team on the field."
He looks him over again
"Martial ink!lined are you?"
I just graduated. She smiles. No more school for me. I'm joining the crusade, actually.
Her smile fades.
... I, uh... well, I know everyone says that Zade is dead, but no one really knows, do they? He's just missing. I couldn't leave school like he did, but now that I'm out, I can at least go find out what happened to him.
Lina feels a pang at the memory of Zade. "That's very admirable of you. I wish you the best of luck." She hesitates, then adds, "Just...stay safe, alright? Your brother wouldn't have wanted you to get hurt looking for him."
the crowd grows exited, as the time draws near for the festival to start. The doors to the cit-
everything has suddenly gone black. Your heads pound and your ears ring as the sound of rubbble falls around you, and moans of pain are all but inaudible in the wake of the sound of the rubble. It's hard to breathe, and your nostrils fill with dust. As you feel around you, there is nothing but rubble.
He groans and clicks loudly, he had no idea what happened, rubble, dirt, it was still spinning, his head rattling
"Anyone alive here...?" he groans
"Anger is good, it k!eeps one alert and alive..." he trails off as he inspects his own body for injuries
Haruto groans and stirs, though he doesn't quite fight his way to consciousness yet. He is laying sprawled on the ground, his two tails uncomfortably trapped beneath him.
Just...stay safe, alright? Your brother wouldn't have wanted you to get hurt looking for him.
Azlana is about to reply when everything goes dark. It feels like she is buried, and she tries to dig her way out. After the initial shock she also remembers that she was talking to Lina and says Lina..? She feels/digs frantically around herself, hoping to find her.
Lina comes to coughing and wretching from the taste of dust. She puts a hand to her mouth, coughs again to clear her throat and wipes away the dust with the back of her hand. Her starknife is poking uncomfortably into her side but her armor keeps it from harming her, and one of her scarves came off in the fall. She ties the scarf back around her face, covering her nose and mouth.
She stands, perhaps sooner than is wise, and says, "Stars, what...gh, forget that for the moment--is anyone there? Is anyone hurt? Damn it, I need light..." Panic strikes her then, but she tamps it down. "Azlana! Azlana, are you there?"
"I am knows as Xexik!" he grumbles as he finally gets to his legs
His Horror left, that means he was out cold, well, best get the thing back, don't want it haunting his dreams, or anyone elses for that matter.
"Give me a minute" as he sits down, just like he was taught when he first arrived at the monastery
some loud groans come from farther down the rubble. It sounds like a man in immense pain, groaning and wailing. It soon sounds more like whining, as the man repeats his groans of protest over and over.
As the dust and rubble settles around Lothar, he remains still and silent for a few moments figuring that anybody wanting to use this opportunity to attack the wounded would go for the ones making noise first. But hearing no sounds indicating an ongoing or incoming attack, Lothar sits up and looks around dazedly trying to clear his head. "Did anybody see the giant that hit me? For that matter, can anybody see anything?"