The Crumbling Crown

[Dezan]

A mighty empire, stretching far as one can imagine, is falling apart. The Emperor Dezan Othrelos rules with an iron, but his grip is slipping. The Imperial Seat is under martial law, the Legions have free reign. The out lying territories are rife with discontent and anger. On the far southern edge of the empire, near the deserts and jungles of the barbaric orc tribes, the King of the newly acquired territory of Ylorc is preparing to revolt. The empire is as diverse as possible, people of all types populate its territories, pious, decadent, rich and poor.


---------

All right people here are your rules. All races are allowed, angels and demons, ARE discouraged but do as you will. All faiths are welcome from Catholic, to World of Warcraft or invented religions. Final Fantasy style setting so swords and bows and magic. Mages are limited to magic styles, such as: Summoning: Summmoning restricions are simple. You can only summon a creature equal to your power, and they will only stay for a limited time. If a Summoner tries to keep their creature longer than their power allows the creature will turn on them and kill them in order to get free.

Healing: This one speaks for itself.

Destruction: Attack magic, to include elemental spells used as attack spells; however the Mage of Destruction can only use the elements in blasts.

Elementalist: These mages can summon, cold, fire and all other elements to use as they wish.

Geomancer: The masters of earth and nature, Geomancers can reshape the face of the planet to better suit their needs. Their alterations are not permanent however.

Conjurors: These mages can summon objects at will. They need not carry weapons or armor to battle as they can call it upon themselves from thin air.

Gun Mage: These mages are the most volatile of all people. Their magic is highly dangerous and easily corruptable. One mistake and they will blow themselves or allies to pieces. As a result not many follow the teachings of this new magic style.

Any other race, or class is welcome. Have fun, and try to prosper.

[Dezan]

Name: Delitano Ramza 'Crimson Blade'

Age: ?

Race: Dragon/ Human Hybrid

Ht/Wt: 6'4" 260 lbs

Appearance: Tall and muscular, green vertically slit pupils, large sharp canine like teeth, tan skin, long white hair tied back in a pony tail, black plate mail with chain mail and leather under padding under the plate mail.

Abilities: Abnormal strength, speed, and endurance. Some skill in geomancy, master swordsman and armorer.

Weapons: Enchanted bastard sword and silver dagger.

Bio: Delitano is a former Crucible Arena Grand Champion. He has been a mercenary as long as he can remember. He has fought for and against the Empire, for petty warlords, slavers, guards, even private or anonymous employers.

****
Delitano ducked under a sideways chop aimed at his chest. He back hand swung his sword catching the slaver in the upper thigh. Delitano push up expoloding from his crouch and slammed his shoulder into the slaver's chest ramming him into the carriage. Delitano's left hand flashed down to his waist and dulled his dagger thrusting it into the slaver's throat drenching him in blood.

Delitano spun swinging out with his sword tearing the next slaver's chest open and slicing through his heart. He then pivoted sheathing his dagger and raising his sword to block the over head chop coming at him. The slaver's sword glanced off of his sword as he twisted his wirst, then he stepped forward blocking another slash and reached out grabbing the slaver's wrist. He twisted grinding the man's wrists together then snacked forward and struck the slaver with the pommel of his sword knocking the man unconcious. Delitano stepped toward the door of the carriage.

[kathryn]

Name: Aria Griffin

Age: 18

Race: Human with some undistinguished past blood

Ht/Wt: 5' 6.5"/ 125 lbs

Appearance: Soft features, pale skin, long auburn hair tied back in a braid, blue green eyes, thin but not twiggy. Wears nice clothes, mostly dresses, with a veil that usually covers her face.

Abilities: White magic (meaning that she's a healer). She isn't as good at it as she wants to be, but she continues to try.

Weapons: Carries a small ceremonial dagger.

Bio: she's a "princess", born and raised in a small kingdom within a larger one. To tie the bond between her father's small kingdom and the empire, she was given over as a "gift", but it was against her will. She has a secret that she won't tell anyone.
+++++++++++++++++++++++

Aria had been fighting off the slavers and bandits who attacked her carriage with her little dagger, but then the fighting stemmed. She knew someone was outside beating up her attackers, but all she could do was wait for him to open the door to find if he was good or not.

[Dezan]

Delitano picked the unconsious slaver up and slammed him into the carriage. The man roused groaning from pain and Delitano punched him in the stomach. As the man gasped for breath Delitano smiled and held him on his feet as his knees buckled,"Listen filth, I was sent to acquire whoever it is your carrying. Now you can tell me now or I'll make you tell me later." He smiled as the man looked up at him and gasped, appareantly his deep, hiss like voice did as much damage as his sharp teeth would have.

"What, what do you want to know?" The man trembled and Delitano could smell the urine running down his leg.

"Where are you going? Who do you work for?" Delitano flicked the man's broken wrist and he squealed.

"The Imperial Seat, we work for the Empire. I swear it, this was to go directly to the Emperor's palace."

Satisfied Delitano smiled and started towards the carriage door. The slaver moved slightly and Delitano stopped,"I am The Crimson Blade." The man's eyes widened in horror and he began glancing around nervously, then suddenly the ground beneath the man turned to muddy water, then quicksand. The man screamed till Delitano kicked him in the face.

Delitano grasped the carriage door handle and turned the handle.

[kathryn]

Aria started when the door suddenly opened. Without even thinking, she curled her hand to a fist and punched whoever opened the door.

Her hand was still there on his face when she realized that it really really hurt to punch him.

[Dezan]

Delitano's head moved slightly as the small hand hit him in the head. He grabbed the wrist with his left hand and sheathed his bastard sword as he pulled the girl from the carriage. He noticed instantly that she was noble born so he threw her onto the dirt, It just so happened that she landed in a puddle of blood. Delitano glanced back in the carriage, seeing nothing he looked back at the girl,"Your the package?"

[kathryn]

She had fallen ungracefully into the blood, and got it all over her dress and arms. She looked back at him with a fire in her eyes. "Wouldn't it be apparent by the fact that I was the only one in the carriage?" she said in a calm voice that was on the edge of anger. She stood up to take a look at her 'rescuer'. "Who are you? A kidnapper to take me to some god awful place where I shall be killed, or a rescuer, saving me from... whatever it was I am to be saved from?"

She didn't want to give away her identity until she knew more about this man.

[Dezan]

Delitano glanced around then looked back down at her,"I'm a man who was hired to take you from these men and take to a city where someone wants to speak with you. Then I will collect my money and leave."

Delitano looked her over, she was a gorgeous girl with blue-green eyes. He smiled slightly as his pupils narrowed,"Get up lets go."

[kathryn]

She shivered at his inhuman voice. She brushed off some dirt from her clothes, but didn't move, getting her nerve together.

"So, you're just a paid lackey. Why should I follow you? I have no idea if you are telling the truth, or if your employer truly just wants to speak with me. After all, you brutally killed these men just to get to me. How do I know that I won't be killed later on?" she said harshly, standing her ground. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled at her his large sharp teeth showing,"Fine." He was upon her before she could move and picked her up throwing her over his shoulder. He walked from the carriage quickly and soon they were in a thick forest.

[kathryn]

"Wha-? You brute! Put me down! I'm ordering you to stop this and put me down!" she practically screamed as he scooped her up and took her away. She began to beat her small fists on his back and shoulder's, being careful not to hit too hard. She already learned how hard his skin was.

[Dezan]

Delitano ignored her for the good part of half an hour. Then as he stepped onto a cobbled road, Delitano spun and tossed her into the bushes. He spun back towards the open area drawing his sword. As he spun around Delitano stumbled back as a crossbow bolt slammed into his left shoulder. In a flash his dagger sailed across the road and into the throat of the brigand.

Four men in miss-matched armor walked out weapons drawn. Two carried longswords, one a large axe and the last a shortsword. The one with the axe, obviously the leader stepped forward,"Where's the girlie, old man? I bet she tastes sweet right?" He chuckled lightly, then suddenly Delitano was standing over his falling body, his sword already bloody. Delitano raised his left arm, blocking a sword with his gauntlets bracer, his sword flashed and bit into the man's throat. Then he spun and slammed his sword into the other swordsman's chest. He searched for the other brigand, he looked back to where he had thrown the girl and saw the man. He was reaching towards a thrashing bush. Before the man could reach the girl, Delitano grabbed his hair and rammed his sword through the man's chest from behind. He smiled as he watched the man die.

Delitano dropped the man, and grabbed the barb of the crossbow bolt then snatched it out. He growled and felt the spot where the bolt had managed to find a niche in his armor. He dropped the bolt and turned back to where he dropped the girl.

[kathryn]

When Aria had been thrown down, she thrashed in the bush. It might have been better than the hard ground, but she still hated how the twigs poked and scratched at her. After a moment, she looked up and saw a man standing over her, and her face went pale with fright as he reached out to grab at her.

She was even more shocked than the man when a red bloody sword slid through his chest, almost effortlessly. He died with only a gurgle.

Aria could only gape when she saw the mercenary turn towards her, having effortlessly killed these men, it almost seemed familiar. Then a memory clicked in her mind. She was young and sitting with her father at an arena. A man was in the pit, battling monsters, winning every battle without a scratch. Her father called the man his 'money bag'. The arena called him the 'Crimson Blade'.

(OOC: I think she recognizes him now ;D)

[Dezan]

Delitano looked down at her,"You coming this time or am I going to have to carry you again?" He walked over to wear the man with the crossbow had been and retrieved his dagger. He stood and rotated his shoulder wincing slightly as he felt it tighten. He looked back at the girl,"Well you walking or being carried?"

[kathryn]

She breathed in and with some effort, climbed out of the bush, getting a few scratches and landing roughly on the ground. She stood up and brushed herself off "Since you leave me with no other option, I'll walk, thank y- You're hurt!" she said, watching closely when he winced at moving his arm.

She walked over and pressed a hand gently against his wounded shoulder. "Don't move..." she said calmly and whispered a spell under her breath. Her hand glowed white for a moment as she healed his wound, the blood stopping and his skin knitting back together.

[Dezan]

Delitano waited for the spell to finish then stepped back from her,"Grab the shortsword that guy dropped. It will serve you better than that small dagger." He looted the bodies of the dead brigands then moved them out of the road. When he came back to the clearing he looked to the girl,"Ready?"

[kathryn]

She had almost forgotten about her small dagger at her belt. She looked around for a moment and picked up the fallen sword, hefting it in her hand. It was heavy, almost too heavy for her to use efficiently, but she could hold it comfortably. She belted it around her waist.

When he came back, she nodded. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Lead on."

[Dezan]

Delitano nodded,"Stay close, if I tell you to do something, do it instantly. If you don't you'll get yourself hurt, killed, or see something you don't want to." Delitano started down the road,"About an hour away I have horses waiting on us. Can you ride?"

[kathryn]

"Of course I can ride. I've ridden all the time," she said almost defiantly. She went quiet for a moment and stepped in line, close to him and with a hand resting on her new sword.

"I know that you're the Crimson Blade. But what I can't understand is why you would kidnap me like this. How can a Crucible Arena Grand Champion land so far as to kidnap women for money?" she had said suddenly, partially wanting to make some conversation, and partially surprised that she spoke.

[Dezan]

Delitano almost barked out a loud bomming laugh that echoed off the trees,"Girl I was getting paid to kidnap girls like you long before I ever stepped foot in that cursed Arena. As for how can I do it now? It pays well." He kept walking not looking back at her. His voice now quiet again almost seemed to slip on the wind back to only her,"And how is it a girl like you became kidnapped by slavers heading for the Imperial Seat?"

[kathryn]

Aria blushed. She felt complied to tell the truth. "An agreement was reached between my father and the Emperor. The Emperor would grant my father leniency, and in return, my father sent me away. When our caravan was taken by slavers, I knew that the Emperor went back on his word." She said all this calmly, unaffected. "And now neither the Emperor or my father will have me, thanks to you," she said almost venomously, hiding her irritation at always being bartered over.

[Dezan]

Delitano stopped immediately and rounded on the small girl,"You want me to leave you here? By yourself with brigands all around just waiting to take you for their own?" Delitano crossed his arms looking down at the girl.

[kathryn]

Aria stepped back from the imposing man, a little intimidated by his stare. "No! I just wish I wasn't some mere girl to be... bartered over! But since if I run you'll just manhandle me, I'll go with you to whoever is paying for me and after that I'll be free of your ilk," she huffed, getting angry at him.

She hated this man who killed easily and who ordered her around like he was the emperor. But at the same time she felt safer with him rather than being by herself on the road.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled softly,"Very well then, M'lady I am glad for your company and you have my word that I will do all I can to protect you." Delitano spun on his heel and started walking again.

After a few more minutes he turned off the road sharply and headed into thick brush with a gruff,"Wait here." Moments later he returned with two horses, one large destrier obviously bred for battle and a sleek roan mare. Delitano walked the horses over to the girl,"Mount the mare."

[kathryn]

She looked at the mare, obviously a good breed. She was almost about to ask for help to get on, but decided not to, instead stepping in the saddle and throwing a leg over the other side. Her dress hiked up to her thighs, but she barely blushed at that.

"You didn't steal these horses, did you?" she asked him suddenly, a hard glean in her eyes.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled,"It isn't stealing if the owners are dead, now is it?" He grabbed the pommel and jumped into the seat. Delitano wrapped his reins around the pommel and tapped the horses flanks with the spurs on his heels. The destrier started forward,"This horse I raised from a foal, as I did his sire and his sire. This horse is the only thing I have of my old life." His words were soft almost wispers.

[kathryn]

She was a little curious at that whisper, but decided not to inquire. Aria didn't want to know more about this man quite yet.

"How long until we get to... wherever it is your employer is at?" she asked, kicking her horse forward until she was beside him.

[Dezan]

Delitano leaned back in the saddle his hands resting on the pommel,"Only a few hours. The city is quite close, I don't think you'll like it very much. A very....... decadent and sin-full place." Deitano twisted in the saddle and grabbed the pack sitting behind him, from this he pulled a sharpening stone. He pulled his dagger and began running the stone along the blade while guiding his horse with his knees.

[kathryn]

The sound of the stone against the blade made her shiver as she rode next to him. "You mean that city Bowerstone. The sin city of the Empire, run by crooks, murderers, thieves, and whores," she said calmly.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled as the trees began to thin and they emerged onto an open plain. He looked up and could see the city in the distance,"Yes, and there she is." Delitano leaned forward sheathing his dagger and twisting to replace the sharpening stone. He loosened his sword in its sheathe, and closed his eyes concentrating. He concentrated on the stone under them that gave way to dirt. He could feel the dirt and reached out searching for anything between them and the city.

[kathryn]

She looked at the large city, evil looking, with billowing smoke rising from the chimneys. Aria took a deep breath to steady herself and clicked her horse forward, casting a look down at herself.

She looked perfect for the city, with torn and blood covered clothes, scratches and hair that was threatening to come loose from her braid. She barely looked like the noblewoman she was supposed to be.

[Dezan]

As they approached the gates Delitano spoke in a voice no one save the girl would hear,"Ride slightly behind me to my left and close." He guided the horse through the city easily, as Firareth would avoid obstacles on his own and was conditioned to war so he would not bolt. The roan however was slightly different. As soon as he could Delitano grabbed the horses halter and kept her from bolting in the unpleasant city.

After another two hours of riding Delitano tapped Firareth with the toes of his boots and the horse stopped,"Get down and follow me." He patted Firareth as he dismounted and told the horse to stay the tied the roan's reins to Firareth's saddle.

Delitano ducked into a large building. The door opened to a large open greething room with a large double staircase leading to a balcony flanked by guards.

[kathryn]

Aria walked behind the Crimson Blade, ready for anything. She wasn't prepared for how grand the place looked, but more like rich gone sour. As she walked through the doors, she could see from behind Delitano the room, richly furnished, and with guards stationed inside at the corners. A man walked through a side door, dark skinned and blonde hair.

He was a drow, but apparently not fullbreed, dressed in rich clothes that looked tattered, as though they had been bloodstained and washed too many times.

[Dezan]

Michael stopped when he spotted Delitano and the girl. He smiled and stepped forward,"Ah, and here is Delitano with my newest teasure." He started towards the girl and Delitano stepped aside. The drow looked her over smiling,"Well we need to get you some new clothing don't we. Dante take the lady to get some new clothing." A guard stepped forward then stopped as Delitano stepped in front of Michael.

"I want my money first. Until then she is under my charge." He crossed his arms smiling, till Michael stepped back and several of the guards moved forward.

"I was hoping to spare the girl the site of your death but it seems you leave me know choice. Kill him." Before the gaurds could draw their sword Delitano had grabbed Michael and punched him in the stomach knocking the breath from him and threw him into one of the men. Next Delitano stepped forward and slammed a foot into one of the men, sending him sprawling and spitting blood. As Delitano's sword slid from its sheathe he lunged forward and swiped across the guard's throat, spinning Delitano parried a thrust and disarmed the man then thrust his sword down to the hilt in the man's chest. Delitano ducked then rolled to the side as one man slashed a his head and another tried to cleave him in half. He swept the man down with a kick behind his ankles and slashed through the back of the other's knees. As one the one screamed his way into death Delitano stood and thrust his sword into the other guard's throat and let him bleed to death.

Michael began to stir as Delitano descended on him. Delitano thrust his sword into Michael's shoulder then ripped it out making the drow gasp in pain. Delitano sheathed his sword and picked the man up by his clothing,"Now you will learn what happens when you cross The Crimson Blade." Michael's eyes grew wide then he began to beg for his life. Delitano punched him in the stomach again making the man retch. Delitano smiled then bit into Michael's neck and ripped his throat out, then dug his hand into the man's chest tearing flesh with his sharp nails and grasped Michael's sternum then viciously tugged ripping it out. Delitano ripped the man's beating heart out as he tried to scream then dropped the man to the ground.

[kathryn]

Aria watched in shock and fear, tears welling in her eyes. She looked up at the now terrifying bloodstained man, a little dizzy headed. "You... just... what?" she said, her brain running slow due to shock.

She looked down and saw the eyes of Michael still looking at her, blank and glazed over. Her heart fell to her stomach, and she turned cold. She let out a scream and turned, running back down the hall, tears streaming down her face.

[Dezan]

Delitano kneeled slamming his fist into the ground. A rock wall appeared a few feet in front of the girl and the floor beneath her feet turned to sand. Then suddenly the ground under her shifted, rising then falling swiftly. Delitano stood and began walking towards her, the dust rising and swirling around him then falling to the ground.

[kathryn]

She landed on her bottom and looked back at the sharktoothed man walking towards her. She breathed a racking breath and curled in a ball, her hands over her head, on her knees, just completely terrified.

[Dezan]

Delitano kneeled in front of the girl smiling,"Look up. I'm not going to hurt you, but then again you'd never cross me. Not after I'd saved your life three times in a single day." Delitano reached out and touched her arm gently,"Look up at me, and I promise no harm will come to you."

[kathryn]

Aria trembled from the touch, but unfolded her arms and shyly looked up at him, tears streaming down her now very pale face.

Her eyes widened to see the blood on his neck and she bent over and threw up what little she had in her stomach onto the sand. She coughed, the bile burning her throat.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled wanly,"Come here little one." He gently picked her up in his arms and began walking out of the house. "What is your name little? If I'm to protect you as you need, I must know your name." The rock wall crumbled as he stepped close and the ground hardened back to the marble floor it was. As Delitano stepped outside he whistled and Firareth trotted over, the roan following.

[kathryn]

She was taken aback by his sudden... kindness and gentleness. She coughed into her sleeve, wiping away the phlegm and clearing her burning throat. "Aria Griffin..." she said softly, coughing. "I'm Princess Aria Griffin."

[Dezan]

Delitano waited for the horses to get close then sat Aria in the saddle,"Well Lad Aria, my name is Delitano Ramza, more widely known as The Crimson Blade. I am at your service and will gladly escort you to a city of your choice." He swung into the saddle and urged Firareth forward.

[kathryn]

She looked down at herself and fingered her clothes. They totally weren't suited for wear...

"For a price, I suppose..." she muttered to herself, gathering her wits together. "There's no way I'm going to go to the Capital, or back to my father. No, I believe I have family over near Kinnling... first, can we get out of this town? I don't trust these people..." she said weakly, looking around at the evil characters in the street.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled,"Of course, do you wish to stop at the bazaar first? They have a wide variety of things and I have more than enough to outfit you as you will need?" Delitano thought for a moment,"My recommendation is that we should go to the bazaar you need better clothing and equipment."

[kathryn]

She nodded. "That's a good idea. I should be able to get some extra money if my father's banker is there..." she muttered. "Lead on."

[Dezan]

Delitano touched Firareth's side and turned him down a side alley. When they came out on the other side they were in the middle of a wide street lined with stalls. Delitano directed Firareth toward the western end of the city. He stopped before a large stall and dismounted, inside was everything from dresses to lingerie and even armor for women. Delitano sweeped his arm out,"Pick whatever you want. Do not worry about if you pick armor out and it doesn't fit perfectly I can fix that."

[kathryn]

She looked at the clothing, dismounting and picked out a simple outfit, trousers, a white shirt, and some light armor. "This will do," she said. There was a small room in back for persons to put on their clothing, and she exited through, coming out in a moment wearing light metal armor over the shirt and pants, wearing boots and gloves. She had the dress crumpled up in a ball in her arms.

"Good. It fits," she said. "I'd rather not wear another dress when riding. It's too cumbersome..." she muttered. She still had her swords and jewelry on.

[Dezan]

Delitano nodded and looked at the merchant,"I'll give you a hundred gold coins for the lot." The merchant looked as if he wanted to argue for a second then Delitano smiled revealing his teeth. The merchant pale visibly then quickly sputtered,"O-of course good sir. M'lady you look ravashing, I pray the armor protects you well." Delitano reached inside his saddle bag and pulled out a small coin purse dropping it on the table.

Delitano turned to Aria,"Let's go." He mounted and began riding towards the gate.

[kathryn]

Aria mounted her horse, keeping her dress for whatever reason inside the saddlebag. She would get rid of it later, perhaps even leave it in a ditch for her father and the emperor to find.

She rode after Delitano, clicking her heels into the horse. They were soon out of the city and down the road. "I'll pay you back for the outfit, once I get more money," she said.

[Lau]

OOC:Yall look lonely
Name:Mobeus aka Black Knight
Age:94 years
Race:Golem
Appearance:I was inspired by this (http://wes-talbott.deviantart.com/art/Com-The-Black-Knight-102882128)only instead of red its blue detailing and cape.

weapons: a shield with a four foot diameter akin to spartan shield painted black, his sword is a single edge wide blade squared off at the end of its 4 foot length sharp but designed as an armor breaker but is just as effective as a limb taker. He also is known to weild this (http://webzoom.freewebs.com/norstar1/115-SW925-530.jpg) aswell strapping the sheild to his back weilding this weapon with a much greater reach and cutting power 6' long from tip to handle.

Abilities:very strong and durable being made of armor he is only as durable as the steel that he is bound to, so repairs are required on a regular basis. He is bound to a black coin something that enslaves him to the one who carries it.

History:A golem built almost one hundred years ago, with the soul of a mercenary warrior as it's catalyst, it is bound by a coin, it was his curse in life fighting for coin, in his new form he is bound to a black coin forged from the same armor he was bound to, this coin compels his service so throughout his life he has been enslaved the coin passing from hand to hand over the years most of the coin's holder dying an early death giving the black Coin a reputation granting the power fo the Black knigth but calling death to whom ever holds it. He has fought on many battlefields despite his reluctance and he has only known defeat in one on one combat once in his time his only match in life, a name he wont speak of to anyone save for the one that owns it, but respects him like no other.
****************************

(OOC:One of you is now holding the black coin, the the curse is just a myth it wont kill you)

Moebius had been tracking his coin for weeks passing from merchant to merchant, theif to theif, aggravating him to no end they had no idea the value of what they held and he could do nothing but follow it, he could not make demands of anyone who held the coin and his requests were met with greed abd refusal they sold it at higher price, until they lost it. He'd been following the call not knowing who had it but he was drawn to it.

At this moment it was coming toward him , and two riders peeked over the horizon. and he stood in there path, instead of losing it again he would surrender his services, anything was better than this wandering that plagued him. So he stood silently in their path waiting for them to approach atop his own horse.

[kathryn]

(OOC: Considering that neither one of us did any coin exchange besides giving a sack of gold to the merchant.... How about I take the coin? It could be on a piece of jewelry of some sort or something weird like that. After this post, I'm gonna wait for Dezan)

As they rode forward, Aria started to notice a figure, imposing and in full black armor.

She reined in her horse when the man wouldn't move out of the way, twenty feet away, and waited for Delitano's reaction.

[Lau]

(OOC:sure could be anywhere could be in a saddle bag tied into a necklace it's no bigger than a quarter gives alot of lee-way)

[Dezan]

((OOC: Kathryn you taking the coin is fine with me. If Delitano had it Lau would have found him by now.))

Delitano reined in Firareth and looked through the imposing figure in black armor. He studied the man for a minute before speaking,"Pray good sir, would you let us pass? If you want money or items of value, we neither are able nor willing to aid you. If you have need to speak to us then speak, if not move out of the way before I send you to an untimely death." Delitano studied the armor, he knew the armor. He had seen it before but he could not recall where.

[Lau]

Mobeus looked at them for moment before speaking a single word, sizing them up trying to see what kind of trouble would await him in the sevice of these two, one a warrior of solid stature the other a maiden in warriors garb she mostcertainly didn't look the part she tried to portray, too noble.

"They call me Mobeus, and you carry the black coin, there is little more to be said, I am here to serve the one who carries it." He spat the words as if they were bitter to the taste.

[Dezan]

Delitano laughed,"Me? I have your coin? Nonsense, begone from me beggar. I care nothing for your petty loyalties." Delitano laid his hand on the pommel of the saddle and tucked his knees in. Firareth, who a second before had been fidgetting, stood stock still and his muscles rippled with excitement.

Delitano looked to Aria then back to the black armored man,"Out of the way fool, NOW!!"

[Lau]

"Do not threaten me." He spoke plainly unsheathing his long blade from behind his back, if this man held his coin he could not have drawn a weapon against him the mere thought of killing him would never occur to him.

"If you wish you can test yourself against the Black Knight, I will not dissapoint you." Mobeus pulled the reigns tight and readied his blade.

[Dezan]

Delitano laughed loudly and dismounted,"Fine then fool. Come at me." Delitano drew his sword and stood lazily letting his sword droop in front of him. He watched the man waiting for him to move.

[kathryn]

"Please, don't fight. If this man merely wants to follow us, Sir Delitano, then there's no reason to kill him." She looked at the strange figure, thinking it odd that he was dressed in full armor.

"Please, I just want to get to Kinnling as fast as possible. Don't waste energy on this man," she said, clicking her heels into her horse and riding forward. "Now, what is this about a black coin, Mister Mobeus?" she asked, not realizing that it was on her bracelet.

[Dezan]

Delitano snorted then swung into the saddle,"Fine if you say so." He looked across at the figure in black,"If you're going to travel with us, at least show us your face, 'Black Knight'." He almost spit the last two words.

[Lau]

Forced to sheath his weapon at her word, he was certain she held it, she had the coin her fiery companion making demands. Mobeus responded to her question "The black coin is a peice of my armor, an enchantment binds me to it, I can always find it." Mobeus pointed to her bracelet, but didn't wish to say anymore the time would come or her curiosity would continue.

"As for you, take a close look you wont get another." Mobeus pulled up the visor of his helmet a pair of glowing white eyes and black smoke spewed forth from the helmet before he slammed it shut "That is all that I'll amuse you with it is not your word that commands me!"

[kathryn]

Her eyes widened. He definitely wasn't a man under all that armor. She looked at her bracelet, with the black blue and white disks around her small wrist. She nodded when she picked out the black coin, the same color as his armor.

She breathed deep, closed her eyes, and looked at him again. "You aren't human. I won't ask what you are, I have dealt with stranger things today," she said quickly, raising her hand. In her most commanding, spoiled princess voice, she said, "Since you insist on following us, I ask that you walk twenty paces in front of us at all times, so that we may keep an eye on you. If we are attacked, you may stand closer and defend me. You understand that you will do this until I say otherwise, correct?"

[Lau]

"Nobility," he chuckled to himself "The way you give orders comes so natural." Mobeus did as he was commanded. "Yes I understand, your word is my will.....unfortunately." Mobeus took his position silently. He had served nobility before they rarely requested anything they demanded it, but never-the-less it made no difference she held the coin, request or command would be the same.

[Dezan]

Delitano smirked when the black smoke billowed forth from the helmet. He let Aria finish then leaned in to her, pretending to wisper,"He's a golem, a soul bound to the armor so he may live past death. This one seems to be bound to service to the wielder of the coin." Delitano stopped looking thoughtful,"I wonder would happen if he came into possession of the coin? Would he be in control of himself, or would he be unable to possess it? Odd." Delitano looked to Aria,"I have fought them before, they are tough opponents, I have yet to meet one that was not skilled in life. The weak are simply no use to anyone bound to this world. They are tireless and most don't feel pain. I've taken legs, heads, arms off of them and them not miss a step in combat. Trully usefull contraptions, but I have yet to meet one that I never beat, in life or bound service."

Suddenly recognition dawned on Delitano's face, he riegn Firareth in and grabbed the roan's halter with his long arm, stopping Aria's horse. He stared at the back of the armor,"Your last battle in life was in service to the empire wasn't it? You fought to take Ylorc for the Emperor and met your demise at the hands of a half-dragon geomancer they call Death. You thought you could have been the Emperor's champion as a mercenry."

[Lau]

"You presume too much, I care not for emperor or king, and even less of being champion, the coin and the kill were enough, and you should be dead I ran you through," he was unsurprised dragon breeds were resilient creatures "I'll remember twist the blade if I ever find myself in the same situation and losing my head wont stop me so easily this time." He respected the skill but detested his bravado, it would get him killed as quickly as it had Mobeus "Only fools fear death in any form warrior or time itself."

He remembered moments of his life, slashing burning stealing, and raping his way through villages on the way to the emporer's goal, those were the days.

[kathryn]

Aria blinked in surprise. From the little she heard, she recognized which war they were talking about, but that was quite a few years ago. How old were these men?

[Dezan]

Delitano laughed loudly,"You lie, I see through your false cowl of being only a mercenry. I also remember being beside you as did the most unspeakable things to forward the Emperor's goals. Remember true mercenries follow the coin not the man. That is why you are bound to that armor instead of riding beside me." Delitano looked down at the armor,"How long has it been old friend? Twenty, thirty years since the war ended?" He thought back fondly of his brushes with death, the challenge he had faced everyday and how he had excelled during those times, unlike now where he felt as if he were barely keeping his edge, and it wasn't even keen.

Delitano remembered one battle in particular, the last time he had the soul before him in its living body. They had fought for what had seemed like hours. The two greatest fighters in both armies, him fighting for Reman, and Mobeus for the Emperor. He had finally decided to use the last technique his masters had taught him,'Sheathing the Sword'. There comes a time when must be struck in order to end a battle, however that one also has the choice of where the blade will strike. That day Delitano had chosen to sheathe Mobeus' sword in his side.

Delitano looked down at the figure again,"You are wrong, I did exactly as I had planned. I knew I couldn't kill you without being struck so I chose when and where your blade would hit and used that to take your head from your shoulders. It is a deadly technique, most especially for the one performing it."

[kathryn]

She was thinking about how her father had fought in that battle, how her grandfather died in that war, and how he was away so much... What had happened to the King who stood up against the Emperor, who would rather go down fighting than surrender?... wait, did he say something about fighting against that black knight who fought for the emperor? That would mean...

"Wait, you were stabbed?!" she asked him, her eyes a little wide.

(OOC: I didn't notice this before, but she is still wearing a veil, but not a dress.)

[Dezan]

Delitano nodded then pointed to a spot on his armor,"Right here, you can see the scar later if you like." The sun was beginning to get low and Delitano turned Firareth off the road and rode into a small copse of trees and rocks. Delitano reigned in and dismounted, once his feet his the ground he smoothed it out. He gathered limbs from the ground and started a fire,"Mobeus since you don't need sleep you can have watch. I don;t if you eat or not, but I am cooking more than enough." Delitano removed his saddle bags and saddle then moved to Aria and held his hands out.

[kathryn]

Aria looked down at him, curious that he has his hands out to her. "What is it?"

[Dezan]

Delitano almost cursed before grabbing Aria and pulling ehr from the saddle. He set her on the ground gently then removed the saddle bags and saddle from her horse. He sat thiis with his things, then he brushed both horses and rubbed them off. When he finished this he began removing his armor slowly.

First he pulled his gauntlets off, then he pulled the pins from the gorget and slid the sleeves off, next he removed the cuirass and breastplate. Delitano sat down and took off his boots and greaves. He removed the undertunic he had been wearing under the armor and pulled on leather leggings and soft doe-skin boots.

As Delitano stood and stretched his skin glistened in the firelight. He grabbed one of his saddle bags and produced a pot, some powdered broth and a few pieces of hard block. He put the pot over the fire a stand, he produced equally from no-where, poured water in dumped in the broth powder then began cutting the chunks of block up and putting in the now steaming broth.

[kathryn]

Aria almost cursed too when she was "helped down" from her saddle. She blushed when she saw him undressing and turned away, walking towards the edge of the campsite. She turned and came back when she heard him pouring water.

Aria sat opposite of him. "Why do you help me, Sir Delitano? There will be little profit for you to help me get to my family."

[Dezan]

Delitano shrugged,"I like you, you have a mean streak in you that could come in handy later on in your life." He stirred the stew in the pot without looking up at her. He dropped in a packet of spice which instantly sent an aroma of homemade venison and vegetables. He dipped a small spoon in and tasted the stew, nodding then pouring a bit more water in.

After a few minutes he looked up at her,"That and you need protecting, regardless of whether I am to earn enough gold to buy a kingdom or not." He leaned in close to Aria smirking slightly and whispering,"I wasn't always a coldblooded mercenry you know. At one point in my life I was a man-at-arms for a small country at the southern border of the Empire. Back in those days of course we were our own kingdom, but money does strange things to a man. Even turn him against his friends," Delitano straightened back by the pot stirring and said to himself,"Or your family."

[Lau]

"Then there are the ones who develop a taste for it early on." Mobeus simply stood eyeing the fire continuing with his words "A dog bred on fire, smoke and death feels no peace until he's surrounded by all three the Emporer was no different he was amusing and rich what not to like." strecthing his senses out getting a feel for this place mobeus came to a stop beside a tree placing down his long-blade and shield keeping the shorter of the two at his belt.

"Were we ever friends? More like rivals, always competing whether on one side or the other, but it was fun I carried it through to my grave, luckily for you not much further, perhaps it can be like old times leaving out a few of our choice habits." If Mobeus could smirk he would have but he let forth a quiet and hollow chuckle.

Turning his focus toward the girl "He has many more reasons than you believe my dear, not all of them are as noble as they seem I'd be very careful." Again he began having his fun, but it was true depending on how important this girl was there were uses, most of them as a bargaining chip with varying amounts of money or blood, then there were the flesh markets a pretty little noble would go for a good price, but unfortunately those were the thoughts of old creeping into his helmet, he had no use for money the only enjoyable thing left was battle and he'd hope for more, maybe even instigate some if she kept her orders short and with room for creativity.

[kathryn]

She looked carefully at the golem. "Mobeus. Since I have ownership of the coin, you must do as I tell you, so answer all my questions truthfully and immediately. Now, what sort of person were you before you became cursed? Were you one who would fight valiantly for the sake of loyalty, or were you one who only lusted for bloodshed and wealth?"

She didn't trust this golem at all, and she knew that she had to be certain of what sort of person he really was before she could trust him. But his words struck a chord within her. She knew that she didn't know anything about either of her companions. As such, she couldn't trust either one of them completely yet, no matter how many times they will save her life.

[Lau]

"What kid of person? Well the term monster comes to many lips, I've been around for ninety years, butchering my way across the battle feild." Mobeus was uncertain how she would take the truth but regardless he could do nothing about it, except savour her reaction.

"I was born into a warrior clan of sorts, raised to fight little more, be it fighting with strategy or steel, we were pushed to excell in all aspects of war, at first I was a loyal little pup, but I grew board of tribal wars so I went and waged war among the kingdoms forces hired on as a mercenary, I was indulgent letting my whims and desires pointing the way to more and more, woman, drink, food, gold, and bloodshed all of them delights I gorged myself with," Mobeus sighed in his longing for the old days "if any was those weren't given for a price I more often than not took them. arrogant in youth, stubbourn in old age, I was 62 when Del killed me, not bad for an old man." He paused for a moment focusing on the coin.

"But as ignoble or terrible as I was or am, my loyalty is now greater than any other simply because of that, so in truth be smart with your words and I am the only thing in this world you can truely trust."

[kathryn]

She didn't disappoint with her reaction. Aria went pale in the firelight, her eyes growing hard. "You would admit to being a butcher and a monster? Well, I have no concerns about that, but... I'll be certain to watch my words very carefully."


(OOC: Lau, be grateful, I wanted to be reeeeeeeaally mean and order you to act against your personality, but instead I won't. It's more fun this way)

[Lau]

(OCC:the more fun the better:D I agree *whew*)
Mobeus laughed aloud "Admit? I admit nothing." Mobeus was suprised at her word "You asked for the truth correct? I have no choice in your requests whether I wanted to tell you or not is irrelevant you asked fot it, an example of watching your words."

[kathryn]

She smiled from behind her veil. "And I'm grateful for that part at least." Aria sighed and flopped down on the ground. A lot had happened to her in twenty four hours. Yesterday around this time, she was told of her father's plan to give her to the emperor. At the time she was furious at him, but the king asked her in a serious voice to do this for him. She had never seen him like that, and of course did her duty.

She rolled over and lifted a sleeve to her nose. Being tossed around and almost killed as well as almost being sold certainly didn't make her appeasing to the senses... Aria decided to take a bath as soon as possible.

[Dezan]

Delitano produced two bowls from the inside of his bags. Both were of equal size and seemed carved of pure marble, he ladle some of the stew into one bowl and held it out to Aria,"Eat this, it'll make you feel better to have something in you." He smirked at the sound of his comment, but said nothing else.

[kathryn]

Aria didn't get the grin, and took the bowl lightly in her hands. "Thank you," she said, sitting up and looking at the contents. She wasn't all that impressed with them, but her stomach was too hungry to notice. She lifted the marble bowl to her lips and drank down the stew, a small portion spilling onto her chin in a thin trail.

[Dezan]

Delitano chuckled softly and ladled himself a bowl, which he devoured quickly. Delitano wiped out the last of the stew from his bowl spun a handful of grass in it then replaced it in his bag. He reached in and pulled out a small wooden flute.

Delitano began playing softly, a gentle tune played as often in taverns as in a palace,The King's Folly. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the tune letting hid fingers guide themselves.

[kathryn]

She almost choked when she heard him play the song. Aria wiped off the trail of stew, cleaning out the bowl with grass as he did, and handed the bowl back, listening closely to the song.

She began to hum along and slowly started to sing along with the music.

"He bartered the wheat
And he bartered the corn
He took all the horses
From all of their homes,

And the people called him the king
Folly King,
Folly King,
The people stole your crown..."

[Dezan]

Delitano lowered the flute as the song ended and smiled,"A friend of mine wrote that song when we were boys. He said my father should remember where his loyalties trully lie instead of the gold he was so fond of." Delitano placed the flute to his lips again and began playing a mournful dirge, one only he knew the true meaning of.

[kathryn]

Aria continued listening to him, even more surprised at how skilled he was. A little bubble of curiosity whelmed up inside her, and she began to wonder about the man she's traveling with.

[Dezan]

Delitano finished his song and put his flute back in its wooden case and pulled out his sleeping roll. He layed down looking at the stars,"Get some sleep Aria, for tomorrow begins early, and your gonna need all the rest you can get after today. I'lll answer questions tomorrow."

[kathryn]

Aria was shaken out of her trance when the music stopped. She looked through the packs and also pulled out her sleeping roll, rolled it on the ground, and sat on it. She turned to the golem, and told him, "Stand guard and wake us if anyone comes close. If an enemy appears, you have my permission to attack on first sight."

With a slight murmur, she began to sleep.

Night rolled on, the skies were dark, and as hours past, it grew lighter, the faint sunlight touching the trees. Aria woke to the sound of birds chirping, flying in the pink and orange skies, dew laying on the grass and in the leaves. She also woke up with an incredible backache, terrible bed hair, and her clothes were half pulled off. Apparently, she grew too hot and, in an attempt to relieve herself of her heat, she tried to pull off her shirt.

[Dezan]

Delitano was already up and stretching when Aria sat up straight gasping. He moved through the forms quickly, Cat Dances on the Roof to Diving Hawk, Turtle on a Log to Armadillo Rolls, and finishing with Crane Strikes from Above. Delitano spun driving his blade forward, and let it knock off of a tree. Delitano sheathed his sword then picked up a towel and rubbed his head and chest dry.

He walked over to where Aria laid and stirred the coals to life tossing a few sticks on them. He started preparing a new pot of stew,"Sleep well?"

[kathryn]

She groaned and got up, stretching, not noticing that her shirt was open until she looked down. With a slight blush, she covered herself up. "I slept enough," she said, stretching out her back. "Do you train with the sword every morning?" she asked, looking at his sweaty body.

[Dezan]

Delitano chuckled softly,"Yes I practice every morning. It helps keep me keen and my edge sharp. So when I come up against people like Michael I'm ready for them." Delitano dropped in a spice packet containing a large amount of peppers and bitter spices. He also set a tea pot on the coals and waited for it to boil before adding a packet of leaves. Once finished he ladled out stew and poured a cup of strong morning tea for them both,"Be careful this stew is quite spicy and the tea is bitter."

[kathryn]

She scoffed at his warning and took a sip of the tea. It was so bitter, it made her cough and sputter, she spat it out. "Ugh! This is wretched, how can you drink such a strong brew?" she asked, eating down the stew with gumption. She was quite used to spicy foods, and actually enjoyed it. She put down the bowl, her mouth burning pleasantly with the chemical burn.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled as he ate and took a large gulp of the tea,"It helps to be from a somewhat colder clime than this. I grew up drinking this tea. It was a favorite of our King and his family." Delitano finished and ladled out more stew into both bowls. He finished his second bowl without speaking and cleaned then replaced it. He drank his tea out of the tankard he had filled.

[kathryn]

She set down the bowl of stew and looked at the cup. If this man could drink this unrefined bitter drink, so could she, she thought as she chugged the whole thing down. It actually tasted nicer once it was past her tongue.

Aria looked over the camp site and decided to roll up her bed. Setting down the cup and the bowl, she quickly went to work rolling back up her sleeping roll, even if she did it clumsily. She wasn't used to doing manual work like this after all.

[Dezan]

Delitano smiled and moved over to his bedroll,"Watch." Delitano grasped the bottom of the roll and pulled it up a few inches and folded the roll over then began rolling it up easily,"After the fold it rolls easier." He tied the roll closed then lashed it to his saddle bags. Delitano stood and carried his saddle and bags in one arm the saddle cloth in his other. He dropped it all on the ground and reached out to Firareth and scratched behind his ear then rubbed down to his back before saddling the horse. As Delitano pulled the straps tight he kneed Firareth forcing the destrier to let out its breath so he could pull it tight. Delitano looked at Aria,"Saddle the mare so we can go."

[kathryn]

Aria mimicked Delitano finding it easier to fold up her roll now. She quickly saddled the horse, surprisingly enough correctly, put her foot in the stirrup and swung onto the horse.

"Where to, Sir Delitano?" she asked.

[Dezan]

Delitano chuckled,"You tell me, Lady Aria. Where is it you wish me to take you. I need to know an end destination before we head out." Delitano fished a dried apple out of his bags and fed it to Firareth.

[kathryn]

"Kinnling. I have an aunt there... though it is across the Empire..." she said softly. "But I have no choice. KInnling is the place I want to go."

[Dezan]

Delitano mounted and spurred Firareth into motion. He headed norhteast towards, Easton. "We are going to Easton next, it'll be a weeks ride and we will skip out on Seren but Seren is too tightly held by the Emperor and we have enough provisions to get us to Easton easily." Delitano forced Firareth into a gallop.

[kathryn]

Aria nodded, and kicked her horse into a gallop following him.

(OOC: Lau, when you come back on, me and Dez are going to post around your character, as though he was still there.)

[Dezan]

After a fortnight Delitano was amusing himself making the ground rise and fall around Firareth making the horse dodge sudden holes and rises. Suddenly Firareth stopped, making Delitano look up, four figures stood in their path. Delitano sighed and looked back at Aria,"Be ready to run. If there is a fight run, I will find you. Just run the mare till she wants to stop, then stop. None of them will follow I promise." Delitano turned back to the people before them, he guessed that it was an even split two men and two women, that or two of them were elven.

Delitano urged Firareth forward, the destrier shook his head as he moved forward and danced as if he wished to keep distance between him and the people before them. Delitano smiled at the people before them as he pulled his long hair into a ponytail,"Well good people, might I inquire as to why your standing in the path? I'm sure it isn't to block our passage as I'd hate to rend your heads from your bodies." Delitano kept his voice light, but let an edge sink into the last sentence that left the air heavy with his threat.

All four looked up and instanly Delitano knew his threat would be bought with blood, two of the people before them were as tall as he but as slender as he was corded with muscle. They had pale skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes, elves. These wore intricate light plate armor, obviously of elven design by the fact that it looked more regal than anything Aria had ever worn. The other two men were more of Delitano's build and taller than he. One carried an axe the other a broadsword large enough to math his own, both wore light chainmail obviously common issue but still high quality. The two smaller men both carried longswords, blades that shimmered with their magical enchantments. One of the elves spoke obviously the were in charge,"The Emperor wants his gift back."

Delitano chuckled as he looked back at Aria,"He wants you back. Do you want to go back?"

[kathryn]

Aria grips her reins. "You can tell your Emperor that if he wants his precious 'gift' back, he'll have to take it back by force. I'm not some doll to be traded to and fro, and I'm certainly not some slave!" she yelled at them, her eyes hard.

[Dezan]

Delitano chuckled as he turned back to the men before him,"Well you heard the girl. She doesn't want to go with you so. She isn't going." Delitano laid his hands across the pommel of the saddle,"Should get out of the saddle or are you going to let us pass?"

The elf shook his head,"You know we can't let you pass. But we can make this civil at least, you can face us one at a time and you may choose who you face and in what order. However once we start, you get no time to rest. Sorry, but I don't plan on letting you live and I know your good." The elf smiled as he placed his hand on his longsword.

Delitano smiled,"Of course." He dismounted and tied the reigns around the mare's saddle,"Aria don't worry about running these men won't harm you, and I won't be long besides."

Delitano drew his bastard sword and pulled his shield from the saddle. He looked at the man with the axe,"Come barbarian let us dance." The man ran forward and swung the axe savagely, only to meet the hard dragon steel of Delitano's shield again and again. Delitano lashed out with his sword only to have it knocked away by the wide sweeping strikes of the axe. Finally Delitano stepped close and the axe went past over him, and he ran his sword through the barbarian. The man stopped wide eyed and dropped his axe. Delitano smiled and stepped back dragging his sword free.

He looked at the man with the bastard sword,"Well come on then your next."

[kathryn]

Aria nodded, and sat back, her hand resting on her own sword. She watched as he cut through the first man, not letting the blood bother her. She couldn't let violence bother her when this person kept getting into fights all the time.

[Lau]

(OOC:maybe I should keep better track of these things damn it was standstill, and now whoo-gotta step back into the fun bits anybody miss me:D)

"What, I don't get any fun Del? Fine play with your friends I'll be over here." Mobeus had maintained a silence for a while letting his body do all the work and letting his mind drift elsewhere, but now their was something worth concentrating on save for the Lady's embarassment, Delitano's training the a boring landscape and meaningless chatter of food and drink.

Curiously enough none of the elves had noticed him trailing behind the other two, Mobeus was weighing the options should he barge in for the mere sake of battle and blood, or watch and see if the young lady would order him to intervene. "So milady how's the show, are you accustomed to such barbaric pursuits or does it spin that stomach of yours?"

(OOC:It feels good to be back folks)

[Dezan]

Delitano raised his shield a little slowly, almost lazily to block the swipe aimed at his neck, as he felt the sword glance off his shield he stepped in and threw his arm out slamming the shield into the man's face. He kicked the man's left thigh hard, planted his foot then thrust his sword at the the man's stomach, only to have it parried and another swipe aimed at his neck. Delitano brought his shield over his head and down to block the attack. Once again feeling the sword glance off his curved tower shield he swung his sword back-handed aiming to slice his opponents thighs. The man's jumped back, narrowly dodging the sword and recieved the edge of Delitano's shield instead. The man stumbled and Delitano dropped his shield and stepped in sword raised high. He grabbed the hilt with his left hand and brought it down double-handed. The man raised his sword to block, but was too slow to be effective. Delitano's sword slid down the blade and bit into his shoulder deep. The man kicked Delitano in the stomach sending him back and stumbled backwards himself. Delitano recovered first and rushed in, but had to dodge sideways to get out of the way of an overhead chop. He juked to the left then dove in and thrust his sword forward letting it be parried. As the man began his counter-strike his eyes went wide and he went slack jawed as Delitano's sword split his chest from nipple to nipple.

Delitano stood up straight and looked back at Mobeus,"No you don't get to have fun this time." He looked at one the elves,"I care not which of you dies first."

The elves looked at each other, the slighter of the two, the one who had done the speaking, bowed his head and the other stepped forward,"Let us dance."

[kathryn]

Aria shot a look at the usually quiet golem. "It always turns my stomach to see violence," she said simply. "But this time it's necessary, and it should be done quickly."

[Lau]

"Ah, I see, violence as a neccessity there's hope for you yet." Mobeus spoke plainly as he watched the fight closely, crossing his arms seeing the forms and remembering the old days the cut the blood and then the death that followed.

[Dezan]

Delitano leapt forward turning into the aggressor. He struck out, time and again, blow after vicious blow. Soon the smaller and faster elf was ducking and rolling away as he had no time to block. He barely managed to get away from three consecutive strikes when Delitano suddenly staggered back. He looked down and smiled as he saw the blood well up and begin trickling down his arm. The elf raised his sword, barely blocking a sideways chop. Delitano's blade seemed a blur as he danced the forms. Suddenly as the Cat Dancces Across the Roof Delitano gripped the sword with two hands and swung his large bastard sword with all his might. The elf raised his sword to block but to no avail. Delitano's vicious attack knocked the blade back and his sword bit deep into the elf's ribcage. Delitano kicked out, planting his heel in the smaller man's chest and crushing his sternum and collapsing his lungs. Delitano looked at the other elf,"Shall we?"

[kathryn]

Aria shuddered and nodded. "Are you harmed?" she asked, raising a hand to her mouth.

[Lau]

Mobeus chuckled to her response "A half breed like him is alot harder to kill than that, I learned the hard way," he mentioned tapping the plates arounf his neck.

[kathryn]

Aria looked over at Mobeus, flushing. "A good thing he is too. Otherwise the Emperor would catch his prize far too easily."

[Dezan]

Delitano launched himself at the last elf his sword seeming to blur as he danced the forms. The smaller man was obviousy faster but was having a hard time with the intensity of the blows. Suddenly the elf smiled and slashed at Delitano's neck. Delitano ducked placing his bloody left hand on the ground. The ground beneath the elf began trembling then shot upwards sending him sprawing then the ground beneath him softened and liquified causing him to sink. Before he could get out the ground hardened trapping him then it turned to stone and began closing in on him crushing him.

Soon the elf was gasping for air,"Please not like this, please I'm begging you."

Delitano walked forward and thrust his sword into the elf's throat. He turned and walked away as he let go of the hold he had on the ground. He walked over and mounted Firareth. He looked from Aria to Mobeus and back again,"Let's go." He spurred Firareth to a fast trot.

[kathryn]

Aria quickly looked away from the corpses as she rode behind Delitano.

[Dezan]

Delitano could feel Aria's apprehension,"Don't turn away from them or even pay their corpses mind. They would have taken you to the Emperor or killed you if they had to." He looked back at her,"You don't have to like death or killing but you need to get used to it. Especially if you plan on living for very long as Princess." He turned back to the path they were taking.

[kathryn]

Aria frowned at him and made a little humph sigh. "I know that. If I'm to make it through this alive with you and the golem, I'll have to get used to corpses," she said haughtily, hiding her disgust and sadness. She hated to see death, always have. But why must it bother her so when the deaths are required?

If she really wanted an end to death, she should give up... but the thought of her becoming a slave to the emperor or to any man made her want to fight. Her thoughts whirled around her head as she tried to overcome a sudden guilt: if she surrendered, she would sacrifice herself for peace.

[Lau]

Mobeus saw her attempt to hide her discontent "Death has a way of warming up to you over time, the trick is staying alive in the mean time." Mobeus leaned down to the trapped man, a habit he picked up if he ever left a man to die slowly drawing a blade and slowly making a cut across his cheek "Maybe you
ll be lucky and die before anything picks up the scent of fresh blood, or maybe you'll be lucky enough to go unnoticed by the scavengers, friendly reminder though be very quiet." Mobeus chuckled and followed after the other two.

[Dezan]

Delitano spured Firareth into a slow canter, hoping to get away and closer to Easton, the sooner they got to the port city the sooner they could get lost in its crowds. Delitano looked forward to returning to the old city, it was were he had left his last true mark on the world.

[kathryn]

Aria followed. As they passed the landscape, she rode in silence, still thinking of what she would do when she got to her family. Would she be safe there? Would she have to leave? No matter what happened though, there was one thing that seemed to trouble her: She would have to leave Delitano, since his job would be done. Mobeus was bound to her, as long as she possessed his coin, but Delitano... he was not. There was no certainty that he would get paid, and he had no real reason to keep her away from the emperor, or at least none that she knew of, yet he stayed and fought for her and for her freedom. Why would he go through so much for her?

And what would she do with these feelings if he decided to leave her?

[Dezan]

Several days later they were riding through gently rolling hills. Suddenly Delitano reined Firareth in,"We're camping just over the hill. There is a small copse of trees in the dip." He looked at Aria and smiled softly,"And our Princess needs some rest. We're within a days ride of Easton. If it pleases you M'lady I would like to ride ahead and see what I can find out. We still have half a day of light left." Delitano turned Firareth so he could face Aria without turning his head,"Well, Princess, what do you think?"

[kathryn]

Aria frowned at Delitano. "Why do you keep calling me that? Princess this and princess that..." she said in a huff, slightly annoyed.

[Dezan]

Delitano's soft smile quirked into a smirk,"I thought after you recognized me as The Crimson Blade you would have noticed me for who I really was. I was their when Reman named you heir. I was standing behind your father. I was the one named as your protector, Little Star. That was quite a few years ago though, it was before we lost the war." Delitano spun Firareth around,"Make camp just over the hill in the copse of trees. I'll be back shortly following dark." He spurred Firareth forward.

[kathryn]

Aria looked in half shock as he galloped off and then burned with anger. But her thoughts quickly cooled as she took off her veil, no longer needing it.

"Come, Mobeus. Let's set up camp," she said, and cantered off towards the trees. Soon she was brushing her horse off, her pack on the ground, and a pit made. She had watched Delitano prepare for camp enough times that she knew the procedure. As the day drew darker, she found herself doing things in silence.

She said absentmindedly, "I'm going to bathe. If I call for you, come, but until then, stay in earshot and keep out of trouble," before exiting through the trees. The stream was shallow, but wide, and hidden from outside view by the tall trees. She smiled, a little happy to be taking a bath, and quickly undressed before wading out into the water. The cool water made her skin shiver, but she enjoyed the feel after riding on a horse for a few days. "Aah..."

[Dezan]

In the dark Delitano's eyesight was far better than a human's. So as Firareth stepped into the clearing he took in a full view of Aria. He whistled low,"I'd be careful if I were you. Evil men lurk in these parts." He smiled his white teeth glistening in the semi-darkness. His mind wondered to what he had found out in Easton. The town was full as usual and it had taken him a few tries to find an inn with rooms to spare.

[Lau]

Mobeus Simply stood gaurd the sins of the flesh were no longer his concern, though in the past he would not have been so polight.

Having heard Delitano call her princess made this trip so much more interesting, this one most likely running from responsebilities, and most kings would be very diligent in their attempts to retreive their daughter or soon to be bride. Mobeus chuckled to himself at the thought of fighting a small war simply for a rebellious girl.

[kathryn]

(Hehehe, I can see that happening too. This is the few times I'm playing such an important character! Too bad she's a brat.)

Aria immediately turned red when she heard his voice. Her hands clasped around her chest, as she was hip deep in the water, and she knelt down. With careful eyes, she was able to pick him out of the darkness. "You...!" she muttered and lowered her head under the water in embarrassment. After a moment, she resurfaced, but still didn't stand up. "What did you find out in Easton?"

[Lau]

Mobeus laughed aloud at her embarassment "Del leave the young girl to her bath, you can set your perversions aside besides the longer she hides in there the more chance of someone else happening upon us and I'm quite sure that she will have some issues trying to escape in her current state, but then again it would be amusing." Mobeus stated plainly, drawing his sword and checking its edge carefully.

[Dezan]

Delitano chuckled,"Mobeus, I have no idea what you are talking about. I have no such perversions." He turned back to Aria,"Enough, we'll be safe and you can sleep in a real bed for a night or two." He tightened his knees slightly and Firareth walked forward through the water. On the other side Delitano dismounted and walked the horse into the camp. He groomed the horse then set him out to graze. He stripped his armor off and took a seat near the fire.

[BlueCresentmoon]

(Dezan, do you all mind if I join?...)
Name: Alistair
Age: ?
Ht/wt: 6'4" 150

Appearance: an Aged man with a long, gray streaked beard. his silvery hair flows a little past his shoulders.
he's thin and tall and wears a shimmery blue cloak with silver trimming.


*~*~*

deep in the forest Alistair noticed three figures on horse-back, they stopped at a spot which wasn't out of his range of vision... they seemed to have made a fire... alistair sensed something unusual about one of the figures, and it caused him to feel a little uneasy.

the two men sat by the fire, from what he could see, they seemed to be discussing something... it was then that he noticed one of their number was suddenly not in sight.

Alistair concentrated, darkness crept in the corners of his eyes and consciousness left him for a brief second as he teleported to the camp and where the two men were sitting near the fire, alistair was ready to slay the two men who he thought to be simply brigands or the thieves who had stolen his talisman.

when Alistair opened his eyes, he immediately saw what made him so uneasy.
a rather muscular man with ivory hair and an olive complexion withdrew a long sword from within a sheath, as his emerald gaze met alistair's, it was then alistair noticed the man's slitted pupils... like the eyes of a cat...
alistair raised his hands, white energy materialized between his palms, glowing and pulsating. he pulled an essence of magic from within the energy pool, fashioning a lethal spell...

[BlueCresentmoon]

Is anyone going to further this thread and post a new roleplay plot?...

please... let's continue this journey...
now someone write some more to this RPG!!! LOL.

[kathryn]

Dezan is no longer part of the board, it seems. So, unless I took up his part, this story has ended.

[BlueCresentmoon]

Dezan is no longer part of the board, it seems. So, unless I took up his part, this story has ended.

DAMMIT!...
guess I'll create a new thread then...
how the hell isn't dezan a part of it anymore?...
wtfr?!?!!
LOL... ahhh that sucks... I wasted some good ass storyline right there... :(...
well, thanks for informing me.

[kathryn]

DAMMIT!...
guess I'll create a new thread then...
how the hell isn't dezan a part of it anymore?...
wtfr?!?!!
LOL... ahhh that sucks... I wasted some good ass storyline right there... :(...
well, thanks for informing me.

If the name is grey and crossed out, the person isn't part of the forum. You can ask one of the admins about the details if you're curious.

But yeah, start a new thread. We need more rps going.

[BlueCresentmoon]

If the name is grey and crossed out, the person isn't part of the forum. You can ask one of the admins about the details if you're curious.

But yeah, start a new thread. We need more rps going.

ohh... okay... lol, thanks... didn't know that, but, i guess I do now...
:D yeah, I'll start a new thread pretty soon... I'll write about it in this one and tell you it's Title.

[kathryn]

ohh... okay... lol, thanks... didn't know that, but, i guess I do now...
:D yeah, I'll start a new thread pretty soon... I'll write about it in this one and tell you it's Title.
You're new, so I'm also going to add this advice:

Use the larp discussion thread to tell me of a new larp. Don't continue writing here.