Return of The Emblem Chapter Two: The Trail

[Zsword]

"Hmm... I'm intrigued, though I don't deal in money if I can help it, I deal in information pertaining to the Fire Emblem..." Shadrak said, maintaining the eye contact with his own glare. "So, unless you have some that peeks my interest, I'm afraid you'll have to look somewhere else for your healer..."

Now then...that'll either deter them... or they might actually know some useful information, either way, I get something out of it.

Edited February 14, 2011 by Zsword

[Phoenix]

"The fire emblem?" he said breaking off his former gaze and turning to his partner. He returned the look. Facing Ucollas, he spoke again. "Well isn't that something. We actually do know something about the fire emblem. Our masters know even more. Consider our offer and you will get what you're looking for."

"That's right. Our masters know more about the fire emblem than anyone ... we'll guarantee that." the other said chiming in.

[Zsword]

"Hmm... I'm interested in meeting your masters... I take it you'll take me to them after I help you with this... thing?" Ucollas inquired further, replacing his Staff on his back. Now this could definatly prove fruitful to my research...

[Phoenix]

"Of course. It will take some time to reach them, mind you, but we wouldn't go through the trouble if we weren't serious." he replied.

"Right. So then, you'll grant us your aid in this upcoming mission, and we'll in return take you to our masters to exchange information. Whatever you need to know." the other said in a low tone of voice.

[Zsword]

"Sounds good to me..." Ucollas said. "Now, then where is this 'mission' of yours taking place?" He asked, looking around the street a little as he did. How bad could this be? They seem... decent atleast, and if their info is good, well, I'm better off for it that's for sure.

[Phoenix]

"We'll be setting up for an offensive outside Urquium very soon. You'll be coming with us for a briefing and such." he explained with his arms crossed.

[Zsword]

"What sort of offensive?" Ucollas asked. "Are you holding a strike or something?" I really hope what these people are doing is legal... I do NOT want to get on the bad side of the law...

[Phoenix]

"More specifically an ambush." he said vaguely.

"Now don't get cold feet on us now, lad. You want information on the fire emblem or don't you?" the other said leaning in a bit.

"Relax, he's just trying to get some context here."

[Zsword]

"Who are you ambushing?" Ucollas inquired further... he really didn't hope this was going to end up with him on the wrong side of the law....

[Phoenix]

"That you should learn at the briefing, I think." he replied. "We all need briefing on these people in further detail frankly."

[Zsword]

"Ok then... what side of town are you meeting outside of?" Oh great, so they're asking to help them with something they know rather little about...

[Snowy_One]

Daloth's eyebrows raised in mild surprise. Seliah had clearly not heard the stories of bards getting thrown out of taverns or beat up for offering to tell stories, or she was willing to humor him at the least. Either way, he quickly cleared his throat before beginning.

"This is a tale of fiction, of fantasy, of myth and wild dreams. Imagine if you would a strange new world. A world without the Gods, or the divine beings which we worship. A world without magic and joy. A world known only as Korm. The world of Korm is a simple world. Few nations exist in Korm, and those few that do are at peace with each other. Bandits do not walk the roads, and people spend their days with the plough farming the fields.

Les was a melon farmer who lived in the small nation of Talgoth. Every day, he would awaken with the rise of the sun and the crying of the rooster to eat a small meal of grain gruel before he would stumble outside, hoe in hand and horse already tied to the plough, before he would set to work upon the fields. Throughout the day, through lunch, and until the setting of the sun overhead he would work. He would work until the sweat of his body made his clothes as damp as a bath and until his muscles ached from the sheer toil of his labor. Then, once the sun had set, he would retreat to the local bar, seeking to drown the pain of the day in the swill of rum.

For years, this cycle would continue, until one day, come the early time of spring, he wandered into the bar as always. With a flip of his hand and a cheerful greeting he addressed the bartender, smiling happily as he took his usual seat and ordered his usual rum. Beside him was a tall man, clad in the heavy clothes of one from far too the north. Animal skins and thick cloaks made of wool covered his body, while a massive club made from thick and heavy oak ripped from a great tree rested beside him.

At first, Les paid the man no mind, but as the drink flowed long into the night, Les became friendlier, less inhibited. Sauntering up to the northern man, he sat down beside him. 'What share you doing tree shend? I can shee you blaren't from 'round these parts!' he said, slapping the man heartily on the back. The northern man groaned in mild discomfort before looking sorrowfully at Les. 'I am a man from the north.' he explained. 'Oh I she!' exclaimed Les, smiling giddily. 'You came down from the north becaush it's shoo cold!' The northern man shook his head before continuing. 'Once I had it all. A beautiful wife, a loving family, and the greatest treasure I could imagine.' Les once again chose to interrupt. 'Sho you came down ear to shell it off to shupporsh your family?' he said. The Northern man gritted his teeth in annoyance at the interruption, but shook his head in denial. 'We lived high in the mountains, cutting wood for a living.' Les piped up again. 'Oh I shee-' 'NO YOU DON'T!' bellowed the northern man, growling loudly as he slapped Les across the face. 'Now sit your drunk as-errr… body down so that I can answer your question!' The northern man smiled as the fear of the Gods seemed to be put into Les, and then he sat down to continue.

'My family and I worked as woodcutters. We didn't have much. Just each other, our small house, and… a sword. A lovely broadsword crafted from pure emerald and silver, smooth and sleek, polished and as shining as the sun. Rubies and sapphires decorated the hilt, and diamonds, the pummel. It was a lovely sword, because my father in law had made it. Though it was no weapon, but rather art, it was his second greatest love. His greatest was my wife, his daughter. Upon our wedding, he gave her the blade as a gift. Long had my wife kept it by her side, until last year. My wife came down to these lands, seeking some leeches for our son had caught cold. She had taken the blade, for we have no money, and a doctor to bleed and leech our son would be expensive. But just before she could find one, a thief stole the blade from her! Though my son has recovered, I will reclaim what was stolen from my family!'

Les looked confused at the man, for the rum had clouded his mind and his judgement. 'shoo you're your wife's errand boy?' Les woke up the following morning on the bar floor, his head throbbing in pain and five imprints of an oaken club across his body. Groaning in pain, and barely remembering what had happened the prior night, he set out to work.

A week went by and Les had pushed the northern man's words from his mind. Yet as his hoe dug into the earth one morning, sparks flew out of the ground. Thinking he had struck a rock, Les grumbled as he dug it out. Yet it wasn't a rock. It was something far more valuable! The glint of silver light blinded Les as he pulled out of the ground the precious blade. The northern mans words came rushing back to him as he held the blade in dumbstruck wonder. The thief had chosen to bury the weapon in the field, hiding it away so that he could recover it later. He didn't recover it fast enough though, for Les had now found it!

Confused as to what he should do, Les decided the only logical course of action was to report the weapon to his lord. With the blade in hand, not even wrapped, he hurried off towards the lords estate. Upon his arrival, he told the guards that he had something of great value for his lord. A gift that he wished to donate unto his lords health. Presenting the sword, the guards nodded, before escorting him inside under watchful eye. Yet, as he entered the lords hall, standing to the side, he saw the northern man once again!

The man's eyes went wide in shock as they fell upon the blade. No word was said and no other choice of action considered in his eyes. Though the guards had wisely taken his club, the man ripped the leg from a table before descending upon the guards, a furious roar in the air. The guards raised their spears, only for the wild man to knock both aside, shattering the shafts with his wroth! With a second and third swing, he bashed both men upside the head, sending them sprawling, before he descended upon Les.

'Wait!' cried out Les, raising the sword in offering. 'I don't know you, but if you want this so bad, take it!' he said. But as he spoke, the lord entered into the hallway. Two men, one with a drawn blade, and the other with a bloodstained club, stood in the hallway before him standing over two dead guards. 'Assassins!' he cried out, screaming in fear. Swiftly, six more guards rushed to the hall, eager to protect their lord. Les took one look at the northern man. He could turn the blade on him, but the blade was no weapon and this man was a trained warrior. He would stand no chance against them. He did not have a choice anyways, for as the guards came in, the northern man grabbed Les and yanked him along behind him, Les screaming in fear as he did so.

'Shut your yap you big ninny!' bellowed the man as his might allowed him to hurry through the halls despite the terrified farmer being dragged behind him. 'You have my sword, and I want it.' 'You can have it!' exclaimed Les, not wanting to become a criminal. 'I just don't want to end up rotting in a cell somewhere.' As the pair escaped the lords hall, the northern man laughed in amusement at the terrified man being dragged behind him. 'Prison? What sort of man lets prison stop him? The laws of this land are meaningless to a man from the north! I do not care if you make it or not, but I will return to my wife, and you will help me!'

Les stood up, shocked at what he had just heard. He did not want to help! He did not want to get involved in this mans troubles! This was stupid! Even though he had been labeled an assassin, he was sure he could defend himself from his lords accusations enough to be let free as a farmer again. 'No! I won't-HURK!'

With a swift blow, the northern mans fist had impacted Les's belly, causing the man to double over in pain. 'You people have no manners down in the southern lands. Must be the heat that makes you unable to think and be polite. I have asked something of you that you can give. You should help me now. To refuse would be rude.'

Les looked up, pained from the blow. 'So *cough* if I asked you to help me by leaving me alone?' he asked, hoping the man would let him go.

'Then you would be a rude as-errr… little man and I would have to kill you for it. My name is Brad, and yours?'

Les sighed in frustration. He was trapped. Brad could take his head without a second thought, and he would be branded an assassin for helping this man out. All over a sword! 'Les' he said, shaking Vance's hand in grim acceptance of his fate.

And that's all I got for now lady Seliah. I apologize. It is not my best work, and is full of cliché's. I made it up on the fly though. Was it satisfactory, or at least good enough for you not to make your guards kill me?" asked Daloth hopefully.

[GoD]

Outside the port town of Urqium, a young woman and her horse were approaching said town. The young woman looked up, at the sky, and stared at it for what seemed like hours. In realit, she had been staring at the clouds for many hours, letting her horse wander about. She only stopped staring at the sky a few times, to tell her steed where to go. "You're quite smart, aren't you my darling Nesha."- the woman patted her horse absentmindedly, causing the horse to stop and purr for a few seconds before resuming his march. This happened a few times during her long journey to Urquim.

As she approached her destination, the girl stopped staring at the sky and simply took out a book from her bag. It was a Light tome, and she opened it and began to read. This lasted for a few minutes, before she told Nesha to stop. The horse whined, as if to protest but stopped anyways. The girl climbed down from atop the horse's back and turned to face Nesha. "I really want to read, besides we aren't in a such a rush. It'll only be a short while, a few minutes at best, and an hour at worst. You understand, right Nesha? I need to get better at light magic and since I don't have a target, I might as well read the tome. If I read more, I can discover new ways to use this single spell."

Nesha simply approached a patch of grass and began to eat, ignoring his master. She sighed an audible sigh, and began to read, as she muttered "I, Chelsea Liton will not be weak."

[Phoenix]

"Just follow us. We're heading to meet up with the boss, not one of the masters, mind you, just one of our managers. After he gives the okay and we get briefed, we'll head to the western exit and post up a few miles from there. The sooner we get ourselves prepared and set up, the better our chances of success." the calm one explained.

[Zsword]

"Lead the way then." Ucollas said, gesturing to the west as he did. Ok then... this can't be... too bad... oh who am I kidding this is going to end horribly for me isn't it?

[Snike]

"Cautious, I see...," Axel said, noting the questions. "Well, miss Veronika, to tell you the truth, I haven't been hired by anyone, nor have I invested in wares. Basically, I'm just doing this because I feel like it. Speaking of motives, why are you here? You seem to be Neviskotian, and you don't have the air of a mercenary."

[-Cynthia-]

"So there are two people who are coming along just because they feel like it? Curious." Veronika said, narrowing hey eyes at Axel and Gytha. "As for myself, I am searching for someone close to me that was looking for the Fire Emblem. I hoped that by following Raquel I would eventually be able to locate him."

[Mercakete]

"I didn't realize we were here for the same reason!" Gytha mentioned, apparently happy at the notion and not quite realizing Veronika's suspicion, "Alright, then, I'll try to remember yer names. Lesee... Veronika...and...Axel. That right?" I wonder what that "Fire Emblem" thing is that the lady's friend looking for... Someone close to'er, eh? I hope it wasn't too close a relationship. Hard to separate from someone really close.

[Snike]

"It is," Axel first replied, before turning back to Veronika. "What makes you think you'll find him going after the Emblem? For all you know, that could have just been an excuse, and he left you, skipping town. You should probably give up on him."

[-Cynthia-]

"Excuse me?" Veronika asked Axel, grinding her teeth. "How dare you insinuate such a thing?! For the record, he did not even tell me where he was going, I found it out myself. If he wanted to leave me he would have told me so, not go off and promise to return. What would you know about it anyway?" she shot at Axel.

[Mercakete]

The mariner frowned; this was getting very heated very quickly. "That...was the wrong conclusion, methinks," she comented to Axel, though didn't really feel like sticking around for the fight. They were drowning out the ocean's familliar sounds. Ironic phrasing? Yes. But that was what was happening. So, Gytha wandered down the pier to see what the shipyeard was like in this port.

[Snike]

"Well, that simply helps my case. If he left without telling you where he was going, it'd be pretty easy to just vanish," the lancer said, unaffected by the woman's anger. "And truth be told, most men aren't paragons of virtue, like what you think yours to be. He could have just easily assured you with the false promise, and lied to his friends, and then skipped town. And now, since you bought his promise, you come into the opposing country, to look for him. Let me be the first to tell you, go home. Your friend is not worth dying for."

[-Cynthia-]

"You would certainly know about not being a paragon of virtue," Veronika snapped at him. "And his reasons for not telling me were good ones, it had to do with the security of our country. I hardly see why I am speaking to you on this matter anyway, it is none of your concern," she said to Axel stiffly, turning to leave.

[Phoenix]

The men headed off followed by their potential healer. They steadily made their way to a seemingly abandoned building on the edges of Urquium. Once they reached it, the calm spy carefully opened the door trying to minimize the squeaking sound as the light poured in. The place was still dark, and all sorts of things were lying around from a clean out.

"Wait here, I'll go see if the boss isn't already in a meeting." he said to Shadrak and his partner. Time to see if we even got permission. he thought before heading off up a staircase.

Meanwhile ...

"So where do we have to go? Where's the meeting?" Raquel asked.

"Europa, outskirts of the city. You and your band cannot and I mean CANNOT approach the grounds. They'll take you out if you try. People attending will all be picked up at the same time in Europa and brought there." Rodrigo explained. "The others will have to find something to do in the meantime I guess. Not too difficult. Europa's got a lot going on this time of year."

"Alright then. So ... should we meet you there or travel together?"

"I'm heading straight there, all nighter, no stops. If you can keep up, feel free to tag along. I need to get there with some extra time to spare in case I feel like performing." he explained.

"Oh ... alright then, you go ahead of us then, and we'll meet you there. Do you have a place in mind?"

"Meet me at the museum or something. I'll have someone on the look out. Simple enough."

"Okay." she said smiling.

Huh. Cute smile. And girl do you remind me of someone ... he thought hiding his curiosity with a grin.

[RPG]

Seliah stared blankly at Daloth for several seconds before giving a response. "That was fascinating," she commented. Seliah had recalled that these stories may have some sort of moral. "Then...that Northern man is a representation of what society can do to a person's attitude and drive. He is a victim twisted by societal pressures, and Les is his own victim. As they are both victims, it shows how chains of hatred never end if left alone. The prized sword could represent...no, it must represent fire. Then the story tells of the struggle between humans when they come across a power that could be used for their own personal gain. They fight until one side sees use for the other, forces its alliance or assistance, and the hatred continues, fanning the flames into something more dangerous than either side could realize." She felt very proud of her analysis. "Maybe this tale even mirrors that of the Fire Emblem."

Over-analyzing much? Raim thought to himself. Brat, you think you're so clever, but you're far more naive than others your age. He scoffed, no longer caring if she heard.