Return of the Emblem Paralogue One: The Travelers

[roymbrog]

Rhoul grimaced. There was no coming back from that. “Nah, my problem is that I throw like a mage…” he muttered after Aubri’s teasing comment. Just because he was behind, however, didn’t mean he was going to quit. He planned on at least attempting to keep it from souring his mood.

So once Aubrianna finished her turn, he plastered on a more cheerful expression and readied his dart. “I could really use some good luck. Mind lending me some of yours~?” Before waiting for an answer he continued, “Kidding, kidding, I’ve got enough of my own, anyway,” he said, and threw his dart, aiming for the same triple twenty he had missed. Considering how this had ended up last time when he tried to correct with magic, he instead aimed slightly to the right on the throw. While it did fly at the correct distance horizontally, it went up too far vertically, the dart instead embedding in the large twenty point area above. Not enough luck, apparently. At least no one else was watching, as far as he could tell…

((Rhoul uses skill upgrade 2 to give up cheating with magic in favor of skill luck. Should’ve gone with skill, bro))

[Blue]

Aubri shrugged, leaning back against the wall behind where the two were throwing from. Even if her second shot hadn't quite hit its mark, the score was still heavily in her favor. She stood confidently, crossing one leg in front of the other and watching the board. "Mm, nah. I'm gonna keep my luck with me back here." She twirled her last dart between the slender fingers on her right hand.

"Aw, c'mon. Mages aren't bad at throwing~ I use magic too." The staff slung over her back that she gestured over her shoulder toward was evidence of this. She saw the dart fly from Rhoul's hand, coming up just over the line again, this time just above for 20 points. "So close! So that's... twenty-three to seventy-nine~ Maybe I should have given you a kiss for luck, or something. Hehehe, kidding~"

Delaying her last shot, she took the short walk over to the bar, tossing a few gold coins on the counter. "Hey, barkeep, gimme a victory round, eh?" She left the coins there, heading back to the board to take her last shot. She stood, dart in hand, adjusting her aim left and right. "Lemme hit that triple twenty for you now, hm~?" She tossed the projectile, eyes carefully trained on the board...

And she came up just slightly off to her right. "Dang~! Miss! Triple five, fifteen... That's ninety-four. Not bad, I guess~!" Patting Rhoul on the back again, Aubri returned to the bar to pick up her drink, lounging against the back wall just as before with her legs crossed, her mug in one hand while the fingers of the other played at the hem of her skirt. "You can take your last shot, I guess, but you've gotta tell me whatever it was you were going to~!"

Edited April 21, 2013 by Tikiwiki

[Phoenix]

"Well ... alright, I guess," Shaun replied to Alphonse. He still wasn't certain about places like this, but he was ready to follow the man's lead.

[Toogee]

Jamilla looked upon the stage, wondering how to start her dance. Should she introduce herself? Nah, she preferred the spontaneity. Besides, it wouldn’t be terrible traveling around as a nameless dancer, known only for her unique performances. That was certainly something to aspire to.

The dancer took an empty mug off an unoccupied table and placed it on the edge of the stage. She went up to a bard polishing his violin and told him to play something fast. Jam went up upon the stage and tapped her foot twice, eliciting two loud taps that elicited some looks towards the stage.

The violinist began playing a scherzo in rapido, setting the dance to test Jam’s quick movements. The dancer obliged, tapping her feet to the beat in a tap dance. The music was performed in a regular pattern, allowing Jam to predict when to do the proper movements. When the music broke, the dancer performed a standing backflip, getting several gasps from the audience, especially when she continued with her tap dancing upon landing. At the exciting conclusion, Jamilla spun in place like a top, her ponytail sticking straight out from the momentum. The audience clapped to the beat as she spun for nearly a minute. At the end of the song, she stopped her spin and raised her hand above her hand. A flash of light burst out of her palm, courtesy of her light magic training. The special effect was enough to get to convince more people to toss a few more coins into the empty mug. Jam took the mug and sifted through her reward as she met back with Shawn and Alphonse.

“So, what are we eating?” she asked cheekily, as if nothing in particular happened on stage.

[Eail]

Alphonse had been shifting his eyes between watching Jamilla's performance and checking the patrons for any type of foul doings. So far things had been rather acceptable to the swordsman, so he could just enjoy the girl's dancing for now it seemed. Giving his own applause at her rather showy finale of magic.

"Nice one Jam, I swear you're one of the best dancers I've ever seen!" he praised the girl, patting her on the shoulder with his free hand. "I can handle paying for the food though if you want to keep your savings, I've built up my own nice little purse from jobs. Go ahead and order what you'd like." Turning around to the bartender to place his own order "I'll take what ever kind of stew you have, and an ale."

Just one wouldn't hurt right? Besides, the water in this place might not exactly be too clean....

[roymbrog]

“Eh, there isn’t any way I’ve got a chance by this point. Wanna call it quits?” Rhoul asked, shrugging with his usually present smile. He tossed his remaining dart back in the box and was just turning back to Aubri when the music started up. Glancing over, he saw Jamilla starting her dance, along with another new face he vaguely recognized.

“Oh, hey, they got another dancer in here. Wonder if she’s as good as you~” he said teasingly, before joining her over by the wall. The mage leaned over conspiratorially to whisper in her ear. It wasn’t particuarly needed, just made things feel more important. “Anyway, about that interesting tidbit I was going to tell you, I know someone much better able to explain than I. You see that guy over there?” He jerked a thumb towards the new guy at the counter. “Tall? Redhead? Looks like he has a stick up his ass? He’s guarding a merchant that’s leaving town today. If you need to travel with a large group, it might be a good idea to ask him about that.” Rhoul then pulled back a moment, trying to figure out how to phrase the last part of his advice. “But if you do happen to get turned down, stay away from the north road and you’ll be fine.”

---

The barkeep took Al’s order of stew to the back, and returned to pour a mug of ale. Instead of handing it over, however, he stood there waiting with an expectant expression. “I assume you’ve got coin.”

[Blue]

"Suit yourself, suit yourself~" Aubri sipped from her mug as a handful of new customers entered the bar; she watched as one of them, a woman clad somewhat similarly to herself, stepped onto the stage, a musician giving her the cue to start her performance. Aubri stood back against the wall where she'd gone to rest after her last throw, eyes fixed on the stage throughout, other than a brief turn to Rhoul when he began to whisper, and a quick glance at the bar's counter when he pointed.

The dancer's finale drew claps and a whistle or two from Aubri, who turned back to her former opponent. "Him, right?" She pointed to the same man he had pointed to, quickly looking him over. "You mean fire jacket, over there?" She briefly chuckled and shook her head. "I guess I'll take whatever way out of here I can get. Thanks for the game and the tip!" She waved to him and bounded quickly over to where fire-jacket sat at the bar, along with the dancer and a younger boy.

Taking a seat on the next available stool over, she turned first to the dancer standing nearby. "Hey, great show! Are you gonna be sticking around for a while? I'm gonna be heading out of town soon; I've been dancing here for the past week or so. I was thinking if you'll be around we could do a dance together tonight before I leave." She took a drink of her mug of beer, putting it down on the bar in front of her. "Assuming I can find someone to skip town with, anyway; I don't think I want to be out there alone..."

[Eail]

"Naturally" Alphonse responded, digging out a few coins and handing them over to the bartender. "This should cover whatever the kids order too right?"

Before Al could get any type of response out of the bartender it seemed that another girl, a bit older than Jamilla sat down near him. She seemed to be impressed by Jam's dancing, it was obvious enough. From the way she was dressed it seemed like she might be a dancer herself even. Taking a sip of his Ale he decided to try to help the girl out a bit at the very least.

"Well, if you're looking for a group to travel with Ma'am I'm sure that we would be able to accommodate you, safety in numbers and whatnot. I'm sure that you could come along if you're going our way to begin with."

[Toogee]

Jamilla nodded at Alphonse's request to pay for lunch. She wasn't one to refuse such an offer, so the dancer kindly ordered the same stew with a glass of water. It was then that another dancer came up to them and complimented Jam on the performance.

"Aw, thanks guys," Jam said back to Alphy and Aubri. "I'd always wanted to try a two-dancer performance, but I think we're about to leave after lunch. ...Hey! You could come with us! We're traveling with a merchant across the country, and I'm sure Greta could use all the help she could get. Then we could dance tonight for sure."

[Blue]

Aubrianna glanced between the two of them as they both gave her the same offer. "Well, with both of you offering, I don't think I can decline! If you've need of a healer, should you get in trouble, perhaps I could be of some help? This whip isn't just for show, either!"

Aubri turned to the dancer, now, addressing her. "Oh, it'll be so much fun! We'll dance by the campfire for the others, and... hmm, how many are there in your group, anyway?" She looked at the group of three in front of her. "Is it just you, or are there others?"

Turning to the other dancer again, she shook her head. "I guess it doesn't really matter, I'm just curious... One way or the other, I at least have some rather lovely company, no?"

Edited April 25, 2013 by Tikiwiki

[Phoenix]

It was decided; they were going into the tavern. Shaun made sure not to make eye contact with anyone inside. With Jamilla's dancing and Aubri's arrival into the conversation following it, that was actually pretty easy. Merz, these dancer types sure like to dress to impress. I'd be so embarrassed, showin' so much skin like that. Can't imagine sis wearin' anythin' like that ... oh lords and ladies, yes I can! Oh merz, that ain't the kinda stuff I should be picturin'; it ain't right and normal! Shaun covered his eyes and shook his head a few times before snapping out of it. "Uh ... d-don't mind me, I just ... uh ... I just ain't used to places like this, yet. Kind of embarrassin'," he explained as his head sunk between his shoulders. He scanned the area wondering how much attention he'd just stupidly garnered.

[Eail]

Alphonse gave a smile towards Aubri with her acceptance of their offer to join them, Gretta probably wouldn't mind having another person along right? Plus she said she could heal, "More healers is always nice, better safe than sorry. Especially considering I think I might be the only actual frontline fighter we have. A sneaky rogue type, a mage or two, and myself are the only actual fighters I believe."

Taking a sip of his drink and thinking over the numbers the swordsman gave an answer "Nine of us at the moment, ten if you include the dog we seemed to have picked up, and I guess you'll make eleven, so welcome to the team. Personally I look forward to seeing the both of you dance together, I'm sure it'll be incredible if the individuals are so great on their own."

'She's going to need me to protect her as well, this is getting really uncomfortable.... too many girls, what if I can't protect even just Jam? I can't let anything happen to them....'

A slight frown appearing on Al's face as he thought this

[roymbrog]

“Hmm. That covers it,” the barkeep said, taking Al’s coins. He took the second request of stew to the back, returning again shortly with their food and glass of water for Jamilia.

---

His good deed for the day done, Rhoul finished off his beer and placed the empty mug on the counter before leaving. He had some sour news to tell Greta, and there was no point putting it off any longer.

---

Eventually Nimoeph had searched most of the town. It was only when she started nearing the carpenter’s shop that her calls for Elrey produced results. Lying by the wagon, the dog’s head had perked up before he rose and dashed off towards the distinct whistle. The mage sighed in relief when he rounded the corner and knelt down to scratch his head. “You really need to learn not to run off so far,” she mumbled, petting Elrey’s ears.

[Toogee]

"Wow, sounds like our little party has expanded quite a bit," Jamilla commented as she took her soup before introducing the crew to Aubri. "My name's Jam, the silly one is Shawn, and Mr. WorryWart here is Alphy."

Jam could tell that Alphonse was thinking of their dire numbers and everyone's safety. She recognized that look. It was the same look she saw on him when they first met. Jam had only recently started her journey, traveling the road alone when she first came across Greta's bandwagon. From that moment on, she had seen Alphy as sworn protector of whatever women and children they happened upon. Taking in Aubri likely only exasperated this nature. And so, with a light tap of her foot against Alphonse's leg, Jam addressed the concerned look.

"Seriously, we're just traveling up north. We're not going to war or anything crazy like that! Besides, I got some light magic that's more than a bunch of pretty lights. I got your back." She added the last bit jokingly, knowing that her participation in a battle would probably only irritate him.

[Eail]

"Someone has to be concerned about the safety of the group, and it might as well be me. The name is really Alphonse though, Alphonse Kuralias, call me whatever you like though, doesn't matter much in my mind." The swordsman admitted with a shrug

With the tap from Jam's foot, Alphonse looked at the younger dancer. Seeing the concerned look on her face he could tell that she knew what he was thinking about. He'd taken to protecting her faster than anyone else, she was innocent, a pure light compared to the black world, Alphonse wanted to protect that no matter what. Even whenever this job with Greta was over, he'd probably stick with the blonde girl

"Even so Jam, the roads aren't safe these days. The war is revving back up between Skotia and Ursium, more bandits are out and about. And don't you even think about trying to fight if we run into any trouble, understand? Just let me deal with anything that seems like a threat, I want you to run and hide until I come get you, and if it's something I can't win against just leave and don't look back, I'll hold whatever it is off. Same for you Shaun, you too if you're coming along Miss....." Realizing that he didn't know the girl's name yet.

[Blue]

"Eleven, huh? And quite a few of us can fight, too..." Aubri nodded, taking a sip of her drink before continuing. "I mean, at the very least, we won't be an easy target, right?" She nodded and took another drink. "Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners?" She apologized to the man, whose name she learned was Alphonse. "My name's Aubrianna. You can just call me Aubri, if you wanna. Most people do."

She glanced over her shoulder to the staff strapped onto her back, then traced her own side with her eyes down to where she kept her whip. "As for trouble... Are you lookin' at me? I can hold my own in a fight. I'm not stupid, I'm not gonna just charge into the bandits, but I can stay back and heal you up. Maybe crack a whip once or twice. I'm not gonna hide. Besides, the more people you have to protect, the more likely someone is to get hurt, including you."

Shaking her head, her layered hair following the same motions, she leaned down to drink from her mug, emptying it and sliding it down the bar towards the bartender. "If you wanna watch my back I'll watch yours, but don't try and be Mister Hero here. I've seen trouble before, and I'm not here to take a free ride."

Edited April 27, 2013 by Tikiwiki

[Toogee]

“Hide?” Jam replied to Alphonse. “And miss your performance? I don’t see you ducking when I dance. I’m certainly not going to do the same to you! That would just be rude!” The sarcasm was evident in the dancer’s voice as she went back to her soup. With Aubri on her side, she wasn’t concerned about being relegated to wagon duty during some exciting battle.

“Tell you what, Alphy: if you can handle yourself on the battlefield, I’ll stick to the sidelines. But if you start losing, I’m coming for you. So you better not lose!”

[Phoenix]

So from the sound of things, Aubrianna was going to be going with them. He wasn't expecting to run into another recruit, let alone end up traveling with two dancers. Of course when the talk shifted to fighting, Shaun became worried and insecure. Even their dancers were going to be putting themselves in harms way? Yikes. "Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. We don't know f'sure there'll be trouble on the road at all. Maybe the whole trip will be plain and borin', heheh." Well that wasn't very well thought out. Now they're gonna say 'better to be vigilant' and some such. "Err-I know we've got to be careful and not get caught with our pants down, but ... still. Let's be optimistic, like pa always is." Guess it's easy for pa to be optimistic, though. He's got the gun.

[Eail]

"I can count the number of Caravan escorts I've done where I haven't had to kill someone on one hand. Of course I'd prefer to add this one to that list, but past experience tells me no." Alphonse softly said. "If you're so determined to help me somehow I'll take the healing, Aubri."

However Jamilla was a different story entirely. "Jam, fights aren't some fascinating thing like the bards spin them to be, or how they are in books. Taking an axe to the arm or a lance through your shoulder isn't something you just shrug off. I don't want to see you hurt...."

[Toogee]

"Wait, she gets to help but I have to go run and hide?" Jam replied to Alphonse. "You've already said we're low on fighters; I'm sure Greta needs all the help she can get. It's not like you can take on everyone all alone."

As the dancer finished off her stew, a smile stretched across her face. It wasn't the "thinking about funny joke" smile but something a bit more mischievous. Her Cheshire smile turned back to Alphy.

"I know! You can train us. Me and Shawn. Aubri too if she wants. We'll be your apprentices!"

Jam then turned to Shawn for support.

“Back me up Shawn. It’s great to be optimistic, but you have to prepare for the worst just in case. Now, what are you good at? Swordplay? Magic? Maybe a bow?”

[Phoenix]

Training?! Shaun began fidgeting at the mere suggestion, waving his hands defensively and shaking his head. "Oh no, I can't fight! Just ask sis, even a rooster can give me what for! A bandit could just look at me and I'll be out like a busted lamp," he pleaded.

[Blue]

Not many trips are uneventful, these days." Aubri nodded in agreement with Alphonse, though she faced the younger boy. "But you don't have anything to worry about. We'll all be here to protect you." She stepped from her seat, reaching out and leaning forward to give Shaun's hair a small ruffle. "We'll take care of it."

Her cheerful expression dimmed just a bit as she turned to Alphonse again. "I know, I know. I've been travelling for long enough to know what to expect. I bet Jam here isn't from around her either, given that I haven't seen her in town until now... Look, I appreciate your concern, but we're perfectly capable. I don't even really need any training, or anything."

The dancer turned back to Shaun, her usual smile quickly restored. "Don't worry if you don't wanna fight, either. I'm sure there'll be plenty of us to keep ya safe."

[Eail]

"Jam that's because she'll just be using a staff to heal me if I get hit, which I don't even plan on doing if I can help it. You actually want to get right in the middle of it and fight with me, it's just too dangerous.... please" The red head begged.

Giving a sigh Alphonse looked down at the bar counter, it'd come to this already, the reason he was like this "Two years ago, when I had just started out in the world on my own and had only taken a few jobs I was travelling on my own to the next town. At one point I noticed there was smoke coming up from the trail further down from me, and I knew it couldn't a forest fire or anything like that so I decided to investigate."

"When I got there..... it was a massacre. It'd been a family, kinda like yours Shaun. Bandits had just cut them all down, it looked like the Father and the Son had tried to put up a fight but to no avail. They were all dead.... except for the girl. Blonde hair, green eyes, small, and a half Rexian skin tone." Naming off traits that could have easily described the dancer girl. "She was still alive, but just barely. They cut her up badly.... but not in way that would kill her quick. When she saw me, and could see that I wasn't one of the bandits the girl begged me to kill her, just to put her out of her misery."

A pause came, trying to collect himself. "So I did.... and I buried them. I couldn't even track down the bastards that did it, so for all I know they just ended up killing more innocent people!"

Staring at the blonde haired dancer now with obvious concern on his face "Do you get it now Jam? Why I have to keep you safe? I can't see something like that again...."

[Toogee]

Jam was so excited about her plan to train under Alphonse. Even if he refused, she would simply watch from the shadows, learning whatever she could. Nothing could have prepared her for what Alphy had revealed. Seemingly out of nowhere, the hero revealed his darkest secret (or at least what Jam hoped was his darkest secret): he had killed a mortally wounded girl that had resembled the dancer. He not only shared this story with Jam and Shawn, but to their newest recruit Aubri and to anyone in the tavern that happened to be listening in.

Suddenly, the conversation stopped. It seemed Aubri and Shawn were waiting for the dancer’s response to such a revelation, yet Jam wasn’t sure what to say. Her head was buzzing with ideas of what this meant. The thought about Alphy killing her in her sleep or something in an emotional fit had crossed her mind, but that wasn’t her primary concern. No, she was far more upset of what their friendship really meant. Jam thought he liked her for her optimistic personality and maybe because she was kinda cute. No, she was merely a ghost. She was a ghost that Alphonse was chasing in the hopes of redemption for the terrible act he committed. When he looked at Jamilla, was it her that she was seeing or that girl from so long ago?

After several moments of dead silence, Jam stood up from her chair and gathered her coins in a pouch.

“I think I’ve had enough adventure for today. Let’s get back to the wagon.”

Jam was clearly upset; she never had enough adventure. No longer was she the excited girl that entered the tavern with stars in her eyes. She was far more subdued, maintaining a stoic expression to hide the storm of feelings going one inside her. The dancer moved for the door, with or without the others.

[Eail]

Alphonse sadly looked on as the dancer left the tavern, it was obvious what he had said greatly affected the girl, with good reason to tell the truth. Still though, to see her vibrant personality reduced to that calm somber state was something unsettling, it just didn't suit Jam... Talking may have been what put the girl in this situation but the swordsman knew that was needed to make things better, that or time, but time was a factor Alphonse didn't like to rely on.

"Shaun.... take Aubri back to the wagon okay? I-I need to go explain some things to Jamilla." Excusing himself to go after the girl.

Following her out of the tavern and back to the street. "Jam, wait! I....I need to explain it better..... I'm not some insane killer, that girl... that's tormented me for years. Jam please, believe me, I don't ever want to hurt anyone if I can help it. The nightmares.... oh Merz."