Finding Help in Honorable Places (Moderated/Open)

by **Creeper** on April 10th, 2012, 12:24 am

Timestamp: Spring 33, 512 AV
Time: Morning
Location: City Gates

Syo'Nea saw the bulwark that was Syliras, and smiled at long last. It had been a long journey, but her companions had kept her safe. The Konti turned to her Jamoura companions, "Laskh, Furd, we've arrived. Let's see if the children of Sylir will assist our city in its time of great need. Come now, I suspect the Knights will happen upon us soon and will want to know why we are here." The two Jamoura remained silent and followed the Konti down the Kabrin Road. As she had surmised, a small group of Knights detached from their patrol and approached them.

"Hello travelers, I wish we could greet you in better times, but we are still recovering from the storm. What brings you to our fair city?"

Syo'Nea stepped away from her companions, "We seek assistance. We are from The Hidden City, though many know it as The Spires. Like your own, ours received massive damage, however, we have lost the city. We seek anyone willing to travel back with us. We would be able to pay all volunteers for the service, and would provide all accommodations. Would you be so kind as to pass that message on, and allow us to ask the public for volunteers?"

The man's eyes showed that he understood the gravity of the situation. Stammering slightly, "Y-y-yes, I will pass this on, please, come with us into the city. I can make no promises, but it sounds as if your city is worse off than our own. You can recruit where ever you need in the public sections of the city."

"Thank you kind Ser Roland. Your assistance will be remembered far beyond the lifespans of anyone here."

Ser Roland was a bit taken aback that she knew his name, but he assumed it to be the magic of the Konti. This was an incredibly troubling situation, and he himself went back to town to pass the message onto the appropriate superiors.

The two Jamoura and the Konti slowly lumbered into the city. They could be found around various sections of the city recruiting any who would come with them. Everyone would get a similar speech. "We need any able bodies to return to The Spires with us. The city is in a severe crisis and is hiring help to regain control. I know you will be most helpful. We will provide the escort to a camp outside the city where you will receive additional instructions. If you wish to join us, meet us at the city gates at sunrise on the 36th. Bring only what you can carry, we must travel as quickly as possible."

OOCThis is open to anyone who would like to return to The Spires. There will be plenty of rewards to be had, as well as dangers and excitement. The traveling group will arrive in a camp near The Spires on the 60th. If you want in, just have yourself accepted by the group, then I will do a final post in this thread. We will pick up individual plots upon arrival in The Spires.

by **Xalet** on April 10th, 2012, 9:33 pm

It had been non-stop work since Xuphim had reached the surface. Moving rubble, checking for survivors, salvaging supplies and strewn goods. Laborous tasks completed regardless of the time of day, weather, or preference to be doing something more exciting. Xuphim could feel Xalet in the back of his mind, smug and content. The dark half could almost hear those thoughts, 'this is what you wanted, isn't it?' was how he imagined them to sound. No, it wasn't what he wanted. He wanted the life Xalet had before this day. The competition, the training, the fact that Knighthood dangled before him, so close. Each day Xuphim awaited those words, the instance of being taken aside and prepared for the Knights quest. It had to be soon...

"What the..." he breathed heavily as he halted his forward momentum, his arms flexing tightly from pulling a massive cart, packed with usable manterials that he had been instructed to collect. With a hefty thud his buckled boots struck the ground as he moved forward to hear something being spoken better, his chrome colored eyes rested upon a peculiar sight. Jamoura? He had seen one all of once before, through Xalet's eyes. Now there were two, as well as a Konti. From his belt the Squire pulled a strip of cloth, wiping the dribbling sweat from his eyebrows as he listened to their request.

As the distressed call finished his rag hung there around his mouth for a moment, eyes slowly widening. This was it. The chance that Xalet never had. Finally he could do something his light brother could not. He could finally leave Syliras, even if it was just for a short time. He could claim his own glory, his own prestige, he could show off the strength of his people. His body rocked backward as he prepared to approach, but a hand gripped the back of his dusty white tunic, causing him to halt and turn about. It was his Patron, Sergeant Irine Braklin.

"You wouldn't be thinking of joining, would you Xuphim?" she spoke softly. Physically she hadn't changed in the ten years the Akalak had known her, while he had grown over a foot since the start of his term as a Squire. She also knew that Xalet's brother was in charge, a mutually agreed upon decision by the two for the Season.

"Sergeant...I...yes. This is what I've been training for. You've seen what I'm--" he cut himself off, rephrasing his words, "...what we're capable of. Now is my chance. You might think I'm a burden, I realize. Gods damn, even Xalet does...or did. But this is my chance to put a different perspective of me in the eyes of the people, in Xalet's eyes, in your eyes. Passion, anger...emotion isn't bad. I've got the instinct, and I know this is something I've got to do."

"I do know what you are capable of, Squire. I trained you after all. We are reaching a destination a Patron wishes for, but never truly desires once it has arrived. There is little more I can teach to you. You and Xalet will go and become your own man, and you must do it together. I'm not here to stop you today, as I agree, this is something you should do." immediately she could see Xuphim was preparing to extend his gratitude, though she halted him instantly with a finger raised between the both of them, "Of course you must recognize should you fail or bring shame to Syliras or the Knights, there will be consequences. Ahem, also, don't die."

"Sergeant, thank you! When I get back you and I will need to have a little nude work-out session together." he said, his head snapping backward to avoid the hilt of a suvai coming at him. 'Ugh!' was all he heard behind him as he raced quickly away from the Sergeant and to the pair of Jamoura, as well as the Konti. "Squire Xuphim. With permission from Sergeant Braklin, I'll volunteer. I can be ready by then, no problem."

by **Mirei** on April 10th, 2012, 10:51 pm

When Mirei first arrived in Sylira she had only meant to stay for a day or two to rest and restock on supplies - excluding food - and then leave, but after seeing the extent of devastation to the city she found herself staying longer to help out where she could. She even offered to help without compensation, letting whatever rations of food that would've gone to her go to someone else who needed it more. Besides, she was a hunter and was capable of finding her own meal out in the wilds where she slept when each day's workload was done. It was no doubt strange for a Kelvic to be around helping of her own free will and without compensation, but she sympathized with the citizens. There was also the added benefit of gaining a good reputation with the Syliran Knights since she preferred not to make them an enemy.

It was now the eighth or ninth day since she first arrived and by now, Mirei was getting annoyed and aggravated. It wasn't anyone's fault but probably her own, the reasons being the crowded city as well as the foul stench that seemed to never fully go away. She wasn't sure if any of the knights had noticed yet but even if none of them did it was only a matter of time. So in that regard it was far past the time for her to move on. She'd finish this day's workload and then head out in the morning.

The only problem with that was she had no idea where she'd go now. Zeltiva? Sunberth? Another city? Or should she just stick to the Wildlands for a while? Each selection held no more interest than any other so it was a hard choice to make, and she so hated thinking. Then Mirei's thoughts were intruded upon by several voices. Looking up ahead she noticed there was a small crowd with three people as the center of attention. The woman she easily picked out as a Konti, but the two males she couldn't place immediately. Curious, Mirei wandered closer to get a better look as well as actually listen to what this was about.

Mirei weaved her way through the small crowd until she was at the front, listening intently to what the Konti woman had to say. Apparently, The Spires was in an even worse state compared to Syliras and in obvious need of help. In front of the woman, there was an Akalak and from the looks of it he was signing up for the journey - and he seemed rather eager about it.

That got Mirei thinking about where she would go from here again. She was long past done with this city and had no problem leaving but in retrospect there was nothing and no one waiting for her beyond Syliras. Mirei would just go back to her simple life of just being. Granted, she didn't desire the finer things of life and was a simple creature but lately she had been feeling restless. Maybe it was time for a change of pace and what better way to do that than to go on some possible adventure? Of course, there was her trust issues and fear of being betrayed but she didn't want to be alone all her life. Besides, how was she to know that her bondmate or master wasn't beyond the Syliran region?

With those thoughts in mind and a sudden sense of rightness, Mirei approached the Konti woman. "I'll join your cause. I'm prepared to depart at any time."

by **Marcus Braeden** on April 11th, 2012, 10:50 pm

When he had awoken that morning, Marcus had suspected yet another day of training was ahead. And by training, he surely meant clearing rubble from the streets. Perhaps he would even get to practice sheathing and unsheathing his sword!

His instructions were the same as usual, to meet his patron knight, Ser Noah Kal'or, outside the Rearing Stallion. Ever since the two had emerged from the caverns underneath the city, they had met outside the tavern and done whatever needed to be done, usually moving stone, wood, or other raw materials. His training had nearly come to a halt while he remained underground. He though he would be right back at it once back in the fresh air, but the storm had left another task for him, and the rest of the city, to complete.

He found his patron leaned up against the cracked wall of the Rearing Stallion. "Hello Ser, so what sort of 'training' will we be taking part in today?" Marcus asked upon approaching his mentor. His mentor turned and faced Marcus, "Well, originally I had planned some relaxing street clearing. And if you were a good boy, we may even get to help do some rebuilding. But..." he pointed over at too massive beings, Jamoura. The Jamoura were calling out to anyone who listened, that they needed recruits, volunteers, to help recover their city after the storm. "...Im thinking a trip could be good for us. Stretching our legs and arms after being locked up for so long." Ser Noah glanced at Marcus.

Marcus stared back. He was split on the subject of actually going to The Spires. He almost felt as if it were too soon to begin traveling around and actually using his skills. He was just a squire, and a new one at that, compared to the other ones. But on the other side of the coin, Marcus wanted to be the hero, the adventurer. At this instant, the former side of him took control of him. "Ummm Ser, are you sure you wan't to do this? I can't say I feel ready to, what is it, take back an entire city."

Ser Noah responded to the young squire, and for once, he was not being his sarcastic self. He took on the role of a serious knight, stating "Look Braeden, the role of a Syliran Knight is to take risks to protect, to further civilization. Because I can almost guarantee the average citizen wont do it, which leaves it up to us. If you don't have the experience now, then I guarantee you will have it by the end of this. So, will you be accompanying me on an adventure? Or will you stay here and frequent the sparring fields every single day until I return?"

That word, adventure, rang within Marcus' ears. It was why he joined the Knight's wasn't it? And so, Marcus' other side, the dreamer made the final decision, "Alright, alright. You have me with you on this one." Marcus said confidently.

Noah turned, facing the two Jamoura and called out "I, Knight Noah Kal'or and my squire, Marcus Braeden, volunteer to join this expedition"

by **Tessa Poe** on April 20th, 2012, 3:45 pm

Tessa groaned quietly as she rolled over in her bedroll, the early morning sunlight filtering through the canvas of her tent leaving dull trails behind her eyelids as she struggled towards wakefulness. All around she could hear the sounds of the refugee tent city coming to life and she knew it was time to be up and moving about, there was work to be done. With a wide yawn she tossed her blanket to one side and struggled into her clothes under the low hanging apex of her tent, cursing softly as she realised that once again she'd left her breeches pressed against the canvas and they were soaked through. There was nothing for it though except to grin and bear it, or at least bear it for the moment. Once she got to work they’d dry off soon enough anyway, even if that that knowledge didn’t help all that much with the cold, slimy feeling of dragging them on.

She staggered in a half crouch out of her tent and stretched, shivering a little as the breeze caught at the damp and sent goose bumps running down her legs. At least she was out under the open sky though, that much was a definite blessing. Those days crammed into one of the caverns under Syliras had been… well unpleasant would be the understatement of the season. Still, better that than being dead or worse, right?

She sighed and glanced around, her ‘neighbours’ all seemed busy with their own affairs which was all to the good, she wasn’t in the mood to be social. After she’d lost the caravan job for ‘poisoning’ the rations she’d been stuck in and around Syliras and work hadn’t been easy to come by. It’s not like she’d actually poisoned that, that petch’s food either! She’d just made sure he was a little too ‘uncomfortable’ to try and sneak into her tent at night was all. Unfortunately the caravan’s owner hadn’t quite seen it her way and so she’d had to walk back to Syliras and now? Now she was at the point of being down to her last few Mizas... and then the storm had hit.

She’d been lucky, if she’d not been visiting the city she’d have been caught out in it all and… well that would have been that. Tessa shivered slightly for an entirely different reason, the thought of that much raw power shrieking over the land, almost as if the Valterian had come again, leaving a cold sweat across her brow and down her back. She shook her head slightly, pulling herself back together as she grabbed her coat and wrapped it around herself, the familiar weight of the chainmail and scent of the leather soothing her thoughts quite nicely. Feeling slightly better again she glanced around, catching the eye of the old man who’d agreed to look after her tent and shooting him a nod. It was nice that he’d agreed to watch over her tent while she was away, all it had cost her was a bit of Feverweed she’d treated his granddaughter with during those first couple of days after they’d all been let out of the caverns. It had worked out pretty well all things considered, the child was still alive at least though that probably had more to do with luck than anything Tessa had actually done.

Standing around won’t get you fed, time to move Tessa.

With that little reminder from herself she strode towards the city, her coat jingling quietly as always with each step she took. There was still so much to do in the storm ravaged areas of the city and she knew she owed this place a debt. She had to admit it wasn’t a debt she could ever truly repay, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to do her best to do so. It wasn’t long before the the gates loomed ahead of her, the short walk doing wonders for clearing her head, and as had become her routine over the last few days she waited patiently with the others to be seen by the guards. She kept herself quite firmly to herself, having worked that having her hood up and her arms crossed seemed to discourage the idle chatter that worked its way through the crowds. She wasn’t here to make friends, she was here to work and she was tired of second guessing every smile and seemingly kind word. There were those in the camp who were desperate and she had no intention of becoming one of them by letting her guard down with a seemingly friendly face.

Thankfully it wasn’t too long before she was back within the city’s walls, sometimes it was good to be woken early, especially when it meant that you could reach the gates before most of those working for the day. She nodded as she received her assignment from one of the squires and joined a small group who were helping to push and load one of the carts doing its rounds looking for materials that could be scavenged. Dull, repetitive and tiring work it was, but it was also necessary. If the Knights were ever going to rebuild this place they needed the damaged streets cleared and all the materials they could get.

Midday came and went in a blur of loading and unloading and before she knew it lunch was being brought. If nothing else all this labour was keeping her in trim at least. It was odd how quickly she’d gotten accustomed to it all really, given how she’d been so used to simply setting her own schedule in the past. Then again, when it was this or starve to death maybe it wasn’t all that surprising after all. With that in mind she bit hungrily into the dried meat that had been given to her, barely noticing the flavour as she washed it down with a cup full of water. She gave herself another few chimes of rest before she clambered back to her feet, easing and stretching her muscles as she got ready to crack back on with it when a vision of what she could only call perfection walked around the corner. Just looking at her made Tessa all the more aware that she hadn’t washed in days and was covered from head to toe in the day’s dust. For a moment she wondered if she was seeing things, at least until she sneaked a glance at the rest of the group and saw they were as dumbstruck as she was.

The woman seemed content to wait until she had their attention before she spoke, a short speech about needing volunteers to help reclaim the Spires from the effects of the storm. Paid volunteers. Tessa ground her teeth slightly, her thoughts slipping free of the bonds of her own exhaustion as they insisted loudly that this was something she just had to do. A chance to get to see the Spires, a chance to get paid! Before she’d quite realised what she was doing Tessa found that she’d taken a step forwards and was already starting to speak,
“I’ll go, I mean if you’ll have me that is.”
The woman turned to look at her, flicking those cool eyes up and down her before she simply replied “Then be at the main gate at the 36th’s sunrise, Tessa Poe.”

Tessa nodded, suddenly uncertain if she’d made the right decision here. How had the woman known her name? Some kind of magic maybe? Did it matter though? There was paying work, work that she desperately needed and while she knew she’d promised herself that she’d do all she could to aid Syliras after it had sheltered her she… she had to do this. This was what she’d been waiting for, hoping for for so long now. Besides there were plenty of others around here who were much better suited to helping, and she’d at least done something to help, right? Lost in her own thoughts as she was she didn’t notice the woman leave, and by the time she looked up to ask a question she was gone.

Back to work then Tessa, at least ‘til the 36th and then… who knows?

by **Creeper** on May 7th, 2012, 1:58 am

Sunrise on the 36th of Spring

Syo'Nea was sitting elegantly atop a horse of pure white, obtained with the others courtesy of the city. They hadn't gotten as many volunteers as she would've liked, but she could tell by their names that they were all of amazing quality and caliber. Her Jamoura companions had no need for such mounts, and would be able to keep up as they were. Syo had taken anyone who stepped forward, who truly wanted to help, not just take a Miza and run. It was not what she was charged to do, but she had to follow her gut. She hoped to get home soon, and was beginning to feel the worry for whenever her and her sister S'Vanka were separated.

She was looking at all of the volunteers, who had mounted the horses assigned to them, and smiled as she recalled each of them stepping up. There was Xuphim, and Xalet, a strong, beautiful specimen of the Akalak race, a fine tint of purple. He had the rank of squire, but was clearly a knight in heart. He would certainly step up and be most helpful, she could tell, with names like that. Then there was Mirei, the Kelvic, aggressive, powerful, a natural born hunter. Syo was almost certain she was of the feline variety. Her eyes passed over to a pair, Knight Noah Kal'or and his Squire Marcus Braeden. She hoped that Ser Noah would survive this, for while Marcus was indeed strong, he was not ready to be without mentor. And finally there was Tessa Poe, an unusual name indeed. Syo was having trouble pinpointing her qualities, but that usually meant there was a lot more to expect of her, and she would meet every expectation.

"We will be riding for The Spires today. This ride will be long, and we can't afford to fall behind. I trust that all of you will be able to handle this journey, I can see it in each of you. Let us depart now, to the hidden city, come now heroes, and ride true."

The 60th day of Spring

The small group arrived at the Base Camp with Leth's smile high in the sky, all of them tired and sore from the trip. Many were awed by the sheer size of the trees in this forest, especially after those that were used to the Bronze Wood. Some of the trees took several chimes to lead the horses around, roots the size of the walls back in Syliras. And they had yet to see the largest ones in the city proper, truly magnificent creations of Caiyha. They were approached by a Jamoura man that looked just as exhausted as any of them. "Welcome back lady Syo'nea, it is such a relief to see you well. Much has happened since your departure." He saw the look on Syo's face, and continued, "I'm sorry to say S'Vanka has not returned on her own expedition yet, but we all have faith in her and Hethe. The journey east isn't that harsh of one after all. She will return. Also, Marn has disappeared, and we fear he has returned into the mist. The Reclamation is going quite slow, so we need all able bodies to be assisting immediately."

He turned toward the group, sizing them up. "A strong batch you've brought, couldn't get more? No matter. A few things of importance. For every bell you spend within any fog, most prevalent is that within The Spires proper, you must spend two bells outside of it. The effects of the fog are magical, and will change you if you do not wean yourself off of it. Also, many of you are here to capture the citizens within the city so we can get them out of the fog. We want them alive. Assume every animal is a Kelvic, so do not hunt for food in the mist. We have several guides that will show you the layout of the city and assist you if necessary. If you have any questions, or need anything, ask one of the Hahk'Shatara members around, recognizable by the large, carved staves they carry. Go rest in the Longhouse, grab a meal in the Mess Hall, tomorrow, you work."

OOC :

by **Creeper** on July 23rd, 2012, 2:57 pm

Note: If Tessa Poe and Mirei would like a grade, should they return, contact the DS of The Spires.

Xalet

Experience Award

Persuasion: 1
Leadership: 1

Lore Award

Mission: Save The Spires
Xuphim Gets Missions Too!

Spoils

Marcus Braeden

Experience Award

Interrogation: 1

Lore Award

Mission: Save The Spires
Syliran Knights: To Protect and Further Civilization

Spoils

Notes to Both: It's always good to see the little children knights go off on a big bad adventure! Thanks for answering the call of The Spires! Also, Xuphim stop being such a perv, and Marcus stop being such a pansy.