Lord of Azure ***** Chapter 4: The chapter in which no one dares to utter the F word

[Snowy_One]

Ilyphina, capitol of Elyisima

It had been an unusually slow day for the morning guards of the city. Starting at six in the morning, they all awoke to the sound of a mighty trumpet blast that came down from the massive temple near the center of the city, soon accompanied by thousands upon thousands of joyous cheers as men and women awoke to engulf themselves in a brief party to celebrate the morning that consisted of several bars and taverns putting out loafs of bread for all as the multitudes went about either waking themselves for a good morning dance or to pry those drunkards whom had passed out upon the floors and streets before heading out. By 6:02, before the guards had stumbled out of the barracks, the sands of sleep still within their eyes, three people had arrived to report drunken conduct at various spots throughout the city. By 7:02, ten 'arrests' had been made, sadly only consisting of pointing a spear at drunkards who could make no sense of their surroundings to get them under control before getting them to drink some water to clear their heads and escorting them back to their homes. Three reports of minor fires, followed almost immediately by three reports of minor flooding; typically of beer though one happened to be of milk today, used to extinguish the flames, and followed up by a increase in the reports of drunkenness.

Sadly, by eleven, all major activity had died down and the city was back to running like any other sane city. At least, until a carrier pigeon arrived at the capitol. Within it's message, the reports of two Haltonian soldiers and a squad of mercenaries under their command having passed the border, set fire to a town, ruffed up guards, engaged in outright conflict, and even KILLED several citizens of Elyisima as well as having seemingly smuggled drugs past the border was more than shocking to it's reader. A certain hero, the swordsman who had fought against the Lord of Azure Flame... Harold.

As his eyes read the message, nothing sort of pure and total outrage at the soldiers whom had dared such a thing could be seen upon his face! Haltonian troops, inside the border, and KILLING citizens of Elyisima! This was no minor matter. This was a cause for war with Halton! War! Harold's swordhand rested upon his saber, clattering the weapon back and forth within it's scabbard as his face turned crimson with rage. This had to be a joke! A mistake! Two defectors from the army having joined up with bandits perhaps? If they were Halton troops, they needed to be slain. If they were not, they needed to be slain. There was only one choice.

"Summon the army! And get the archsage in here now!" he screamed as loud as he could. "And fetch Percy!" he added as one of the servants quickly hurried to accompany the tasks. A few moments later, a tall figure passed through the door to Harold's chambers. It was clad in a thick and heavy robe, thick enough to obscure any and all light. The only sign of who or what it might be came from nine circles emblemized upon the back of the cloak. This was the archsage; a person of immense power whom could summon storms, cause volcano's to explode, and cause monsterous beasts made of pure lightning to appear before him. According to rumor, he could even cause the spirits of myth to appear before him if he so chose.

Harold opened his mouth to speak, about to demand that the archsage rally the mages, the might of Elyisima, to hunt down and destroy these... intruders. Before he could do so, however, the archsage raised his hand and slid out a tiny note, folded up.

"What's this?" asked Harold, confused as he took the note.

"Don't open it." said a firm, masculine, voice. "Well, don't open it yet. Wait a bit. Now... what did you want to ask me?"

Harold gave a odd look to the hooded figure before his indignant fury took charge once again. "Did the servant tell you what I read just now? We have insurgents! Soldiers of Halton within our borders! I want you to rally your magi to hunt them down! To slay them before this leads to all out war! Or will you let them slid through your grasp until their actions bring about the death of one of our nations?"

"Open the note." instructed the sage. Harold grumbled, but was no fool. The Arch-sage was not someone to be trifled with. Upon opening it, all he could see were four words written inside. Suddenly, the blood shot up to his face, dying it a near crimson with fury at the four little words. Yes. No. Maybe so.

"WHAT?! How can you be so aloof as to ignore this threat to our national security?! Are you traitors to your own nation? Monsters! The whole lot of you are- STOP YAWNING!"

"*yawn* Sorry? What? Excuse me but, doesn't your nation have two hero's? The Swordsman and the Wyvern Lord? That should be more than enough to hunt down and slay them if they are bandits. Besides, if you do this, you will regret it. Too bad you don't have a mage of your own to call-oh right. You had one who might have but you muted her. Didn't I tell you not to bring your sword that day? Though, if you must hunt them down, I suggest you bring along a blanket and two lampstands; otherwise you will fail. Now, if you don't mind, I have boring mage duties to attend to... Toodles."

With that, the archsage turned about and walked out the door, not even bothering to wait for the response of the Hero. By lunch, however, Harold had thrown the advise completely out the window. The guards were gathering together, convening with the army, and getting ready for a good old bandit hunt!

---

Lunch came sooner than expected for the small group. As the sun rose high into the sky, Katie rushed out in front of the group, urging them to halt and have lunch before she offered her sandwiches to them. Two for each person, except herself. She had given her second to a certain someone else earlier in the day. It wasn't much, almost the extent of her cooking skill, but she could learn to cook easily enough if she needed too. However, as she passed out Morgan's lunch, she slipped her little present in; letting it rest atop the second sandwich hidden beneath the first ever so carefully.

Meanwhile, Esphyr simply sat upon her horse, a vapid look upon her brow as she absently munched her second sandwich. The scent of drugs was still heavy upon her body, to the point where one may have even considered lighting her on fire to get a high. Though she was coming down, it was difficult when every breath she took caused her lungs to fill with the drug. A bath for her was a very, VERY good idea!

[riariadne]

"This is so awkward," Tina said, "eating lunch after we basically just wr-- yeah, on second thought, let's not say that ere. Still kinda weird though..."

[Phoenix]

Isotov wanted to distance himself a bit during lunch, but Irina wouldn't have it. It was awkward indeed as she dragged him closer to the center by his cape. She then made him sit down by pressing down on his shoulders. After awhile, he stopped struggling and just sat there, trying to ignore the stares.

With her two sandwiches in hand, Irina bit down onto one, and then flinched when she felt heavy breathing against the back of her neck! She slowly peeked behind to see Kiev staring at the sandwich with his head tilted.

Irina:

The wyvern and her stared at each other, neither making a sound for ten whole seconds.

Irina: But ... this is people food.

The wyvern gave her a shocked look and then snarled.

Irina:

Feeling that he wasn't rewarded earlier for his guard disposal maneuver, Kiev quickly snapped one of the sandwiches out of her hand and then turned around and walked away.

Irina:

Iso: That's why I didn't want to become a wyvern rider. Wyverns aren't obedient like horses.

Irina: Kiev! Give me back that sandwich or you don't get your usual treat when we hit the big cities!

The wyvern stopped dead in his tracks and nervously looked back at her.

Iso: You actually want that sandwich back? -_-

[Inactive Account]

Kelas looked to Esphyr: she was awake, though did not look particularly well. "Feeling any better?" Kelas asked her. "Whew... if you were any more saturated with that stuff I think the horse'd be getting dozy. I wonder who that lot were...?"

------------------------------------

While everyone was eating, Arrin timidly approached Katie. "Er, sorry to bother you, Miss... I was just wondering... did you maybe know my teacher, Ilony Haldensri?" She had been a teacher, she might well... he reasoned. Even after finding his sister and the Crimson wielders, he still wanted to find out what had happened...

OOC: Ilony, Arrin's teacher/foster mother, was a mid-high level mage who taught at academies for a while, then became something of a recluse. Shortly before his entrance into the story she died of unknown causes (possibly related to harboring a Crimson wielder), and he set out to look for hints as to what happened. I don't expect Katie to know anything other than her name (though if you want there to be more of a connection, that's cool too).

[Kanami]

Kamilla sighed as she looked around, she hadn't expected anything like this to happen this morning when she woke up. Looking around at the odd group she shook her head. Everyone here was either insane, stupid, or some fatal combination of both. She took a glance at Esphyr, who Kamilla had looked upon as one of the "normal" people in the group, but apparently she was a drug dealer who'd got a whiff of her own drugs in the fire.

Kelas returned looking like she'd finished rolling through the cellars of the church, his horse had joined him, and the lack of interest he seemed to have in being so dirty was befuddling, if that wasn't bad enough, he'd returned looking like a crossdresser. On the other hand there was her brother, talking to the woman with pen and paper about his teacher, mage business no doubt, but it was irritating to see the two so calm and composed after what had just happened.

A quick glance at Tessa, Aiya and Damian, she didn't know much about them, but apparently the two in armor were the leaders of this group, though it bothered Kamilla at how silent they were, they'd often talk to eachother in whispers but didn't seem too interested in the rest of the group, perhaps it was a military thing, getting personal with your own troops might not be the best way to go she supposed.

Beside them was Morgan arguing about something, possibly about their next destination, her attitude was somewhat comforting, she looked like she was calm, but her voice seemed to be laced with a bit of irritation, unlike the others who seemed like nothing had happened.

She looked at Chase, unsure what to say, she'd thought he was a woman until the flames, but the escape had significantly altered his appearance, and the disguise was pretty much ruined now.

Finally her eyes rested on Irina and Isotov, the cause of all the trouble, if it weren't for them she'd still be sitting at the inn enjoying her lunch about now. She looked at Katie, the mage had offered her a sandwich, but Kamilla had declined, she didn't feel like eating, and she hadn't been taken into consideration when they were made, so her eating one would decrease everyone elses share.

Her eyes returned to Irina, glaring at her, her eyes were those of accusation, anger, and loathing. If it hadn't been bad enough that her stunt had led the guards right to them, she'd gone as far as attacking the guards. The man beside her (Iso) was probably her lover since the two looked nothing alike. A madman, or possibly even some sort of demon, either way he was someone she wanted to avoid, and she didn't want to risk making eye contact out of fear of being turned into ashes. Having nothing to do, she continued glaring at Irina, as if doing so would solve all her troubles.

[riariadne]

"Stupid fire ruined nearly ruined my disguise, too... Dammit Isotov! Is there any way to control the damn book?! If it's not someone saying something, or something stupid happening, it's the book! Does misfortune follow you guys this much all the time? Well, at least I don't have to wear that anymore, because I don't think I look much like I used to, but still! That stuff was expensive! Ugh..." Chase shook his head in annoyance. "Know what we need? We need..."

"We need a plan."

Edited May 6, 2010 by Lightning

[Snowy_One]

"What lot?" asked Esphyr, clearly confused. "The people... the people who had drugs in that blasted room? I... Don't know. Addicts thinking they could take... us on most likely."

---

The name is familiar, though I don't think he was a T.I.S.M.E. regular. Maybe a teacher for hire? I recall teaching a joint class with him during my first teaching year several years ago, but our relationship never moved beyond that class. I didn't even know his name until the third week. We were scheduled for a repeat class a few years back, but he vanished.

[Inactive Account]

"Yes, she stopped teaching at the academy a few years ago," Arrin confirmed. "If you hadn't seen her recently, that's all right... sorry for troubling you."

-------------------------------

"Yeah, I'd heard there was a fair bit of that going around this country..." Kelas remarked. She was about to say more, but something large and warm collided with her back. "What the--" she exclaimed as the head of Irina's wyvern snaked over her shoulder, aiming for the sandwich in your hand.

"No, you big lug, your kind don't even like green things or bread," Kelas reprimanded it, digging in one of her packs. "Here, go catch it." She threw a piece of jerky over her shoulder, which was immediately snatched up by the wyvern.

OOC: Yeah, Ilony's a she. Doesn't matter too much though.

[Ansem]

Mark was in the corner training. He picked up his sword and started swinging at the air. The sword was too light. He picked up his lance. He started stabbing in the air. Sure it was heavy but he needed a good workout. That is when he remembered back in the military camp when he would train. He would always train his sword because the lance was heavy. Feeling a little lightheaded he sat down and took a rest. His horse nudged him a bit. Mark realized he hadn't fed him. He gave the horse some food. "There you go, Ark" Mark said to the horse. It looked grateful. Mark went over to the leader of this group. "Damian i presume" Mark said. "Judging by your appearance you look like you might be from Halton". "It is a mighty nation but i here there has been some corruption here and there".

[Snowy_One]

It's fine. I'm more than willing enough to talk about my past or answer any questions you have. wrote Katie, smiling before she gave Arrin a light, friendly hug.

---

"NO! Bad wyvern! Bad!" said Esphyr, pouting slightly as the piece of jerky was gobbled up by the protodragon. She gave a depressed sigh. "I wanted that jerky."

[Kanami]

Kamilla sighed, having had enough. "Am I the only on here who comprehends what this group has just done?"

"You made an arson attack in a border city, smuggled drugs across the border, killed civilians, trespassed and attacked guards and killed civilians" she was so confused she didn't even notice she'd said civilians twice, "And now you're all sitting here having a little picnic while the group back there" she indicated the way they had come "are probably sortieing for a bandit hunt" she shouted angrily, "and you sit here like nothing's happened? What? Do you cause so much chaos everywhere you're used to this, this" unable to find the words she burst out in tears.

Just a few hours ago her life was normal, she was broke, but had a bed to sleep in, and 2 or 3 meals a day. Now she was probably on Elysimma's most wanted criminal list, and it was all because of these lunatics.

[Inactive Account]

Kelas laughed. "I've got more, it's not as though there's a shortage of deer when traveling," she said, passing a piece of jerky to Irina.

She turned for a closer look at the wyvern. "Great huge thing, isn't he?" she remarked. "I've never actually seen a wyvern up close before...

--------------------------------------

"Thanks," Arrin said, then asked, "Have you-- did you know anyone in the academy that was particularly opposed to the Crimson weapons, by any chance?"

[Snowy_One]

And what would you have me do about it? I just wanted informaton that could help me find out what happened to my apprentices! Then you people had to go and ruin everything! I a criminal now as well. But if I relax and have a picnic, I can at least delude myself into thinkthing that I'm still a normal citizen!

"Wait. We did what?! WHEN?!" exclaimed Esphyr. "Okay. Someone here needs to explain to me what the hell has happened here since I don't remember anything after I got high from the smoke when I put that fire out. We're wanted now? CRIMINALS?! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS... Nevermind. It's you guys. You know what, screw this. I don't know if I'm cursed or not, but if I am, it's better for me to not bring you guys down with me, or if I am not then someone here is! I'm going back there and turning myself in and going to claim you took me hostage and drugged me to make me come. I have a better chance of getting cured in prison at this rate then I do following you guys around!"

[riariadne]

"Hey, don't blame me! I had nothing to do with the fire! Or the civilians! Or the guards! Or the drugs- wait, what drugs? Someone had drugs? Oh, whatever, I don't care anyways. But still, it's not like you can say we did all of this, it was mostly one person did each thing," Chase whispered. "And, uh, don't you think here's kind of a bad place to talk about this?"

[Ansem]

Helios rolled his eyes. "You better learn to live with it" He said to the girl. "I dont see why you are here in the first place". He turned to Esphyr. "Take a good look at your weapon" He said. "That is the accursed thing that caused everything". "Direct your rage toward it and harness it". "I also doubt we killed anyone". "Just some people overreacting might be a simple explanation".

Edited May 6, 2010 by Kai-Sama

[riariadne]

"Hah! How's it her fault? It's just as little her fault as it is the horse's. If anything, she's probably being helpful. Unlike somebody here who nearly got us killed by guards."

[Ansem]

"I never said it was her fault" He replied to Tina/Chase. "Do you ever listen"? "It is your fault we have to lay low in the first place".

[Inactive Account]

"You're going to fall off the horse," Kelas warned, reaching out an arm to steady Esphyr. "Look, you're the least likely to be on their wanted list-- they didn't even see your face." She paused. "If we don't talk about the weapons in public places and avoid using them at all costs, we should avoid most unwanted attention. We don't know which of us they're accusing and what for yet."

"It's likely even inaccurate," Arrin added. "I doubt they got a proper count of us, and what other officials will be looking for will depend on how good those guards are at describing faces they barely saw... I think that if we had someone sneak into the next town and look for wanted posters, we could fairly easily make ourselves not match the descriptions."

[riariadne]

"Hah, what? I got past the border fine, but you nearly ruined it! Besides, I'm a lot more helpful than you're giving me credit for."

[Snowy_One]

"Oh. You want to see rage? You want to see how mad I am?" Esphyr unslung her sword, her fingers lightly tracing upon the flat of the blade. Faint traces of magic, accented by faint rays of light, followed in her wake as she touched the blade. Powerful magic swelled up, as if she had uncapped a well, and was now letting it gush forwards.

"Oh Sword of my eternal woe

she who stains crystal sky with crimson tear

You have followed me both high and low

Yet no matter how far I run, you are always near

I hate you with passion undying! I despise every fiber of your being!

I rue the day you came unto my life, to haunt a mere child!

Behold my wrath and my fury! SWORD OF BLOODY WRATH!"

With a sudden gout, her blade turned from steel grey to the familiar crimson coloration of her weapon. Then, suddenly, faint licks of blue flame etched along the edge of her blade, mingling and flowing across it until it engulfed every bit of her sword. Yet Esphyr didn't notice. Maddened as she was by her new criminal status, she was far too absorbed in her hatered to notice such a change.

"Anyone who dares to try and stop me, come and try! I'm through with this! I'm no criminal and I refuse to be!"

OOC: DAMNIT! Didn't get past page 1 before I said it!

[Ansem]

"Enlighten me" Helios replied with a bit of annoyance in his voice. That is when he noticed Esphyrs blade glow. "Relax" He yelled out. "No one called you a criminal". Helios took out his tome just in case

Edited May 6, 2010 by Kai-Sama

[Inactive Account]

"Calm down there," Kelas said, and unbuckled the packhorse's girth, shoving the saddle sideways so that Esphyr slid off in the middle of her dramatics. "You'd make a good bard with that verse, but right now we'd rather not attract the attention of whatever merchant or traveler passes by. Why don't we all just sit down, stop pointing fingers, and come up with a plan?"

[Kanami]

Kamilla looked at the group incredulously, "Right tell that to the man hanging from the flagpole" she shouted at Chase, the moment we crossed that gate, we're criminals, all of us. "Why couldn't I have been drugged and unconscious" she moaned, just as she was going into a spiral of self loathing Helios spoke up sparking her rage again.

"I don't know why I'm here! I should be at my inn, cleaning my floor, or my dishes" she said in hysterics, "Live with it? You expect me to live like you bandits? I can't even lift a stupid sword" she said angrily, "And your best defense is blaming someone elses weapon? That.. sword didn't do anything, and if you didn't know, your friend there decided he'd burn the other patrons of the inn into ashes, if that's not murder what is?" she said pointing an accusing finger at Isotov

Having shouted as loud as she could for so long her voice started to hurt, she looked up at Arrins suggestion and shook her head, "The innkeep and matron got a more then good enough look at all of you, and I suspect they'll be more then willing to have everyone thrown behind bars after having their inn burned down" (it didn't actually burn down)

Coming up with a plan is fine, I don't care what you people do as long as it's going to prevent me from being locked behind bars, but sitting around feeding the stupid lizard, isn't one of them.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Nadesico

[Phoenix]

Irina smiled at Kelas, having been reminded of Kiev's earlier days.

Irina: Hahah! Kiev wasn't always this big. Wyverns are born the size of roosters and they're pretty much helpless at first.

Isotov simply tuned everyone out. Even when he was directly spoken to, he squinted his eyes and kept his head down. Being forced into a picnic was all the more irritating since a few of in the group actually tried to speak to him. This was not his day, and he didn't feel like explaining himself to anyone. He just wanted the voices to stop reverberating in his head.

Irina: Come to think of it, Kiev and I have been through a lot. Teehee, nostalgia :3

Kiev continued to sniff around searching for more handouts. His thought that perhaps his antics would garner some attention. Had he found his niche? The wyvern puppy niche?

[Ansem]

OOC: I just found out the f word isnt F**k :(

"Then why are you here". "What did Morgan see in you". "And how do you know it didn't" Helios said. "Do you know what that sword is"? "It is not like any other blade". "It is a crimson item that brings misery into its wielders life". "Just like this f**king book ruined mine". "And if she does not know how to harness that anger and turn it into power it will just backfire on her". Helios looked away. "Kids" he muttered under his breath

Edited May 6, 2010 by Kai-Sama