Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Dec 15, 2014 14:43:51 GMT -6
Danger was a theme in both Jennis as Jaden's thought processes, so it seemed, and rightfully so. "Indeed," she muttered in response to the former's statement. She thought hard on what she knew before and what she had just learned.
When the half-elf had mentioned the champion of this goddess having a face like carrion fowl's, several memories seemed to awaken like newly relighted candles in Idina's mind. The old king had said his husband spoke to him of a raven, with a minuscule R by the sounds of it, and it occurred to her that Faljere had done the same to her, if only once. Before they had split up over the summer, at the end of that ridiculous quest he had dragged her along for, he had warned her to "beware the raven". Had he meant the masked murderer? Had he meant the man who now likely strolled idly between the pews of his Church now, grinning broadly and paying no heed to the spot on the ground where she had felt searing pain, then nothing? How disappointed the elf must be in her for not heeding his advice...
No, she scolded herself. She needed to focus now. She forced her train of thought to shift to the Stone once again. The more she thought, the more words began to escape her lips in the form of mutterings; one could say "like father, like daughter", for muttering to herself was a trait she had picked up from her quest with the Clanless.
"The Minister's face without the mask seemed ancient, but not impossibly so; perhaps it was the eyes that made him seem younger still. Those eyes were tricky. They seemed too young for a face so old, but as the Raven... I could never get a good look at his face then, but he seemed almost ageless with the mask on. It changed his person, it seemed, which was how he managed to hide so well, and likely how managed to use Faljere for the task..." Her brow furrowed. "And if the Philosopher's Stone, on top of those he kept in a jar, were embedded in that mask... That must be it! That must be the explanation: the mask itself is a Philosopher's Stone, and the mask itself keeps him alive! Yes! He is the champion of the church Faljere tried to dismantle, and he is the minister of the Church in Wildgard now! He must be!"
One curiosity persisted, however, one that was only vaguely related to her spiel, but one that demanded acknowledgement nonetheless. "I-if it is not improper of me to ask," she said as she turned to face Jaden, her tone less assured now, "I would like to know so as to gauge how old the Minister might be: how long ago was it that you and Faljere met?"
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Post by Jaden of Mara Villa on Dec 17, 2014 22:28:54 GMT -6
There was the answer the old king was looking for. Idina’s mind had been working now for a few moments after Jennis’ clever remembrance of her nation’s history, which helped them identify both how long he’d been at odds with Faljere and why. He wouldn’t admit that he found it quite...fascinating to think of Faljere as a heroic, warrior-like anarchist.
Still, now wasn’t the time for him to think on such things. They’d discovered now every missing piece of the puzzle and had put it completely together to create a strong, broad image of what had transpired, giving them enough information to at the very least give the girl a sense of closure.
But there was one question that escaped her lips. One that, although he was fully invested in the conversation, he hadn’t anticipated at all. When she asked him how long it had been when him and Faljere first met, the king was thrown. He’d mentioned it earlier, but perhaps she hadn’t heard. No matter should he have to repeat himself, for she was a girl that he’d love to tell a story to.
“It was just over five hundred years ago,” he began, “when I had been banished from my own kingdom. My father was the previous king of the Maran Empire, and his rule was forceful and strict. I was brought up among my siblings to be as royal and stern as he was, but none of us seemed quite to follow his standard of deportment. My eldest sibling, Adrianne, was a peaceful woman who would often monitor the streets of Mara Villa, seeking only to help the poor. Christun was only a few years behind me and fell in with the nobles and the merchants, learning speech craft. Novus, the youngest, was full of life and often spent his time among the soldiers, perfecting his combat skills.
“When we each came of age, we became the overseers of the four capitals within the empire: Christun of Silas Villa, far south and away from the cold, Novus of Atson Villa, up north where the hardy warriors were, and Adrianne of Docas Villa, where peace and tranquility accompanied a life of honest work. I remained in Mara Villa with my father, learning to be his successor, when the war broke out. This was when the empire entered new grounds that they should not have, and the men who they attacked fought back.
“My father and youngest brother were killed in the final battle at Nodab Hill, and I, thought to be a conspirator against my father because of mine and my sister’s want for peace, was banished from the empire for fifteen years. In that time, my uncle, Titus of Mara Villa, took over, and his rule, much like his personality, was lenient. Christun acted as his steward, but made most of the executive decisions regarding economy, military, and agriculture. Civil war broke out, and by the time I’d returned, it was a major problem.”
The king sat back in his chair and began toying with the furs of his cloak, feeling their softness in between his fingers. “The real war was against an opposing empire. One made of demons, and led by goblins, vampires, and spawn from Hell. When I returned, I reunited the people of Mara, as well as the people all over the empire, and fought back against the threat. That is where I’d met Faljere, whose people had been too far away to know about both empires. I questioned his convenience at my side, but he proved himself a trustworthy ally, a heartfelt friend, and eventual lover. He assisted Adrianne and I in rebuilding our nation, especially after having lost the capital city, Mara Villa, in the last days of the war. Those were the days where I noticed what made him so special, and when I fell in love with him.
“We remained together in Mara Villa until the time of my death, serving the people as kings and friends. We brought peace, prosperity, and unity to the empire. Those who would once have separated remained, and any invading forces were talked out of their assault. I always wondered how he could keep an enemy so calm and sincere while we talked. I always loved that the most about him, the way he talked. It was genuine, and kind, and...”
His head hung sadly over his blue robes, a magenta tear rolling down his cheek. “...and I will never stop loving him. Not even for five hundred years.”
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Dec 19, 2014 22:55:54 GMT -6
Idina was always happy to listen to a good story, and so she kept quiet while the king spoke, focusing on his words for the reason that he definitely had a story to tell. As he recounted his life, however, her attention was caught even more firmly, so much so that when he fell silent, the lack of words in the air was disorienting.
Jaden certainly seemed like a good match for Faljere, and the love he felt for the Wood Elf was clear. Their years together must have been wonderful for both husbands. As well, what this one had to say about the other's skilled and calm tongue was most certainly true, even after so long. This was interesting to her, to be able to see that despite years, decades, centuries of time, such a huge and key aspect of Faljere hadn't changed. It could be intentional on his part, or is could simply be engrained into who he was. Whatever the case, she personally was glad to see that he'd always had it, and the magenta spirit might be happy to know he never lost it.
Another point stuck out to her, however. "I know this story," she murmured quietly to herself. She took up her voice again afterwards, louder so her companions could hear her: "I have heard about you! The good king who ruled his Empire for many decades, promoting peace and alliance in his work. The king who knew the needs and proper care of the people like a blacksmith knew his own blades." The green spirit grinned broadly, like a child pleased that she had remembered something a parent had told her. "I knew there was something familiar in the name Jaden of Mara Villa! Your greatest feats were common in the stories told in the village where I grew up!"
The girl shuffled her feet a little, her lips still smiling but the expression much more mellow. "It is an honour to have been able to hear a recounting from 'the good king' himself!"
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Post by Jennis Mul Moongem on Jan 12, 2015 18:32:54 GMT -6
Jennis shrugged as Idina gawked at Jaden's tale; one that the ex-mercenary had heard all too many times.
"I was a prominent figure, as well," she stated before silencing herself sheepishly. "Of course, not nearly as much as Jaden here. It isn't everyone who saves the world and remains humble about it..."
She turned to Jaden with a smirk. "If it's all the same to you, I'll have that wine now."
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Post by Jaden of Mara Villa on Jan 12, 2015 18:40:06 GMT -6
Gratefully, he passed his bejeweled chalice to his companion, finished with its intoxicating contents. He then turned his attention back to Idina, in awe that she knew of him. Of course, he'd been a good king. That is what he'd set out to do many years ago, when his body and soul were one. Never did he anticipate that his successes would reach the ears of children as a folktale, and yet here was living proof that he touched more likes than he thought.
"It is for this reason that I like to meet everyone who comes here," he explained as he motioned for Idina to stand. "I am humbled that you have heard of me, yet I am more humbled to be meeting one who knows of me. When one lives a life worth knowing, it should be known by all, and who am I to ignore their lives?"
He stood up from his chair and began to bow, placing his left knee upon the ground while his head hung above his right. One arm stretched behind him and folded, pinning his great cape to his back, and the other rested on his knee.
"I would be honoured to hear the story of Idina Doc," he requested. "Tell me about your life, your loves. Your village? Did you have a family?"
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jan 23, 2015 11:59:10 GMT -6
A thought at the back of Idina's mind urged that there wasn't much of interest in her life to tell, but this was not something she could tell the king. After all, it would be impolite to deny anyone's request for a story, no matter their status. But goodness, where could she even start with her story? She pondered a few different points before smiling and adjusting her posture to show a little more confidence in her words.
"A lot of my life was spent travelling, actually," she began. "It was not a case that it did not suit me to stay in one place, but more that I sought somewhere to belong. I made a little coin off of selling flowers during my travels. Every flower held meaning, and I blessed each one so they could live after being plucked; both the language and the spell were learned in the village where I had been born and raised. It was a lovely place in the middle of Britain - I think that was what Faljere said it was called? It was surrounded on three sides by dense coniferous forest with plains accessible by a short path to the south, and located close enough to a river for the sound of it to lull children to sleep.
"I could not tell you the name of the village" - she rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand as she said this - "for it has been quite some time since I have heard its name be said. It was attacked when I was quite young, and the last thing I remember of it was every hut and garden up in flames. I was able to escape thanks to some Kintu friends of mine, and the four of us travelled together for several months after leaving the village. The oldest was a robin, Eglantine. Brooke, a squirrel, was younger than Eglantine but older than I, and the task of keeping myself and our youngest travel companion, Rowan, fell largely on her, for Eglantine was often flying above us to make sure our course was safe. Brooke was the one who taught me what each flower would say if it were able to speak.
"We were something like a family for some months, until we came across a sizable town. Brook and Eglantine knew that the three of them would not be safe in a place so densely populated by humans since they were different, but they thought I would thrive with human contact. It took a huge argument, but eventually I gave into their wishes, and we parted ways." The green spirit's expression had grown somber. "I could never understand why discrimination against Kintu was so prominent in my world. I would go so far as to say that I owe my life to Eglantine, Brooke, and Rowan, and though I have not seen them since we went our separate ways, I have never forgotten their names."
With a smile to counter the liquidy light in her eyes, she lifted her left hand and pulled the sleeve back a little, delighted to see a circle of translucent rocks around her wrist. "This bracelet was given to me by my father, you see, a year or so before I left, using rocks that could be found in the nearby river. It serves as a nice reminder of where I came from, and the people who cared for me there."
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Post by Jennis Mul Moongem on Jan 29, 2015 21:36:37 GMT -6
Britain?
Idina did say Britain. Jennis had heard her correctly. She'd met enough humans to know that the land North of Franze was inhabited by both elves and humans alike, although the former were often far less common to be seen. After all, High Elves had made the Wood Elf clans an almost extinct culture in the past.
But what bothered Jennis most was the description of the village Idina came from. Small, backwater, and the target of as mass a genocide as the village could hold. Idina didn't recall the name of the village, yet its description didn't...no, it couldn't.
That's when the spirit's eyes let out a beam of orange light in sudden realisation. Of course, she couldn't tell Idina what she'd just thought, and to tell Jaden would bring only torment to the ancient king's heart. But the half-elf warrior had been there when the famous Wall of Valum in Mara Villa was brought down by dwarven conquerors who knew that Elven Diplomats were hiding within the Marble Villa. She was present for the signing of the Alliance between the Empire and the Republic, and when the elves needed soldiers from afar to defend the shores of Wales from the dwarves of Franz, she heard of the Maran Empire arriving to lend a hand.
Of course, that had all been when the Empire was stable. The war took its toll on the denizens of the Empire. Commoners were drafted into war, only to be killed the moment they entered the field of battle. The taxes raised, and people lost their homes, their food, their very families to the taking of money, while nobles were forced into common labour to retain the slightest bit of money to keep their title. Even this wasn't enough, and soon, the Maran Empire lost its humanity, conquering small villages near the shores themselves in order to gather soldiers, healers, and strategists without having to provide for their own citizens already fighting.
And Idina's village met the description of the first one to fall to the insanity of the Maran Empire.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jan 30, 2015 9:09:34 GMT -6
Still looking at her bracelet, Idina continued with her anecdote. "My father had not been born in the village," she explained, "but he also had not been born where his father had been. The only explanation he gave me was that my grandfather and his family came from somewhere far to the south, so far that you would need a boat to reach it; and my father had been born farther north and had found his way to the village in his youth." She chuckled a little, looking up at the king. "I suppose I never got a specific location for either because he thought I was too young. That is a shame, I would have liked to know if I had passed by my grandfather's birthplace in my travels. But that cannot be helped.
"In a way, though, I could say that my father is the reason I was not afraid of my death. His spirit had visited me a few times after we had been separated by the fire. I think he made such visits as much to guide me as to be able to check up on me. He was a good man, my father." An image sprang to mind of the man that had frequented her dreams on occasion during her developmental years; a man only a little shorter than Jaden and Jennis, with long blond hair and patient, yet certainly sad, eyes. In such dreams, however, much of his face had been covered by the hood of his cloak, which had been a deep green when Idina had been growing up. "Odd..." she mused aloud. "I cannot remember what wound he bore as a spirit..." She shook her head as though to get rid of the thought. "I assume he died when the village was destroyed. Killed by the fire itself, likely."
She turned back to her other companion to see that the orange spirit seemed to be fixed in place. How long had she been like that without her noticing? "Jennis?" she called, turning to face the half-elf. "Is something the matter?"
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Post by Jennis Mul Moongem on Feb 2, 2015 21:33:40 GMT -6
Idina's inquiry was what brought Jennis out of her worried trance, although to speak of what was bothering her would shatter her heart for sure. To hear her paint her village and life in such a beautiful picture to the Emperor whose nation would eventually bring it down...she almost couldn't bear it.
She took a quick look at the good king himself, and he was completely invested in the girl's tale, and seemingly a bit distraught by the interruption, yet his face was more wary than Idina's; after all, he knew the half-elf well enough to know this worried look of hers.
He doesn't know...she told herself.
"Ahem," she croaked before stepping forwards to Idina, leaning closely to her ear before whispering: "The name of your village. It's Dalcot, the 'Cottage by the Stream'. I should know because in my days as a mercenary, I took refuge there more than once."
She wished to keep her voice quiet for the next part, but she reconsidered. This tale was for more than just Idina. Jaden surely had a right to know what his people had done to this girl: not to blame him, or to target him, but to remind him of the world he left behind.
"I also know because it fell to the clutches of the Maran Empire not too long before my death. I hadn't been involved in the war at the time, but Mara owed the elves some favours, and thus became invested in the war as we elves had. They used the people to fight when they could no longer send any more of their own people, and although not the only village to fall, it was certainly the first."
She knelt down in front of Jaden, breathing heavily and clutching her heart-whole. "Forgive me, Jaden."
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Post by Jaden of Mara Villa on Feb 2, 2015 21:44:42 GMT -6
Idina's story was cut short by a very unforgiving statement made by Jennis, who had somehow heard of Idina's small, backwater village, and who knew how it was destroyed.
By his Empire.
He knew this day would someday come. He always suspected that despite his good intentions, he would leave the world and the Maran Empire in the hands of one who understood not loyalty and humility to its full extent, preferring wealth and inevitable corruption over the goodness of the heart. The Maran Empire was clearly not ready for leadership of his type, and had reverted to its barbarically privileged ways because that was what it had always had to be.
Jaden was a fool for thinking it would be anything but.
Still, he let no emotion show on his stoic face, for he was not the one that needed the sympathy. It was the girl in front of whom he sat, green tear in her neck and an innocent gleam to her aura, that required sympathy from him, from Jennis, and from the world. Had she not suffered enough in her life that she should be brought before the Emperor whose later empire would force her into the great unknown?
The Emperor stood, his grand cloak pulling against the marble halls, now lined with dried blood, ashes from ancient flames, and decayed vines from a girl whose life had been shattered and still was going to be shattered forevermore. He made his way over to Idina, and he placed his great arms around her, cramming his straight nose into the crook of her neck.
"It is not Jennis who needs forgiveness," he told the two young women, "but I. I beg your pardon, Idina Doc. With every ounce of heart in me, I beg of it."
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Feb 3, 2015 22:41:59 GMT -6
Hopefully the King would not take offence to the fact that the second he took her in his arms, Idina froze.
Physical contact had been something of a tricky idea for the girl for several years - probably since she left her village, to be frank. But her mind had already been abuzz with the information Jennis had given her, so no space was left to consider what to do. Thus, though the touch was well-meant, she froze as though she had been placed in front of a huge column of fire. Screwing up her eyes and brow, she rested her head on Jaden's shoulder as she tried to think.
Though it had taken years, she had come to accept that not only was the village more than likely gone, but the people in it were as well. The fact that they were dead had been hard enough to consider, but now the idea that some had been taken as prisoners of war was present. Her father could have been among the group that had been taken. To attack and destroy a village of healers while taking some of the villagers for the benefit of the army... And not just any army, but the army of the same empire that the oft-fabled king had ruled over centuries ago. The more she thought, the stranger these ideas seemed, and the harder it was for Idina to see the reasoning behind it. Perhaps, though, that was a result of overthinking.
One thing was clear amid these muddled thoughts: the good king she had heard so much about was begging her forgiveness.
A little awkwardly, she bent her arms and placed her hands on the backs of Jaden's shoulders. She started to say something, but faltered due to lack of mental clarity. Clearing her throat, she tried again:
"There is no need to seek forgiveness, and I mean that. It... Dalcot..." A chuckle escaped her lips after she said the name despite herself; it felt good to say it again. "...That was beyond your control! You were here when that happened, it could not have been your doing..."
She trailed off and tipped her head to just barely rest against his, unsure of what else she could say. Would what she had said be enough?
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Post by Jaden of Mara Villa on Feb 13, 2015 22:40:31 GMT -6
The Good King felt inclined to accept Idina's forgiveness as it was, but something about how she spoke just felt...indifferent. It was his empire--the one he'd left behind--that had caused her so much pain.
However, if Idina claimed that the situation wasn't as dire as he thought it was, he wouldn't pester her about it anymore.
Save one thing.
"Idina," he began, drawing away from the soft embrace and looking into her trailing eyes. He knew what he wanted to tell her, but somehow the structure of his desired sentence escaped his mind. How would he ask such a thing? How could he fulfill such a promise?
But he knew about promises. He knew about honouring one's word. Fifteen year banishment for disagreement during the Ishikami war came from him honouring his word. He could have easily left his banishment and returned to the empire under disguise, but he knew that without conviction, an action or notion was worth nothing.
Yes.
He would do this.
"I want to help you find your father here." The words rolled of like smooth marble, and he felt almost relieved to say them. "If it can be any consolation--especially now that you have departed from the land of the living--I will help you find your father."
He turned to the Half-Elf and smiled. "And Jennis knows how to find people, even the dead. She will guide you to wherever we find him. Is that not true, sister?"
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Post by Jennis Mul Moongem on Feb 13, 2015 22:46:21 GMT -6
The Half-Elf nodded to her surrogate brother and stepped forwards; almost immediately, the orange light around her morphed and flashed, changing her shape into one more suitable for the quest that she was being directed towards. Leather armour appeared on her chest and right arm, as did dull-coloured sleeves underneath it. Her bare legs became wrapped in dull cloth trousers, whilst around the waist of her armour grew a piece of cloth the same texture as her tunic and kilt; hanging upon the belt was a sash of brazen scales reaching down to her mid-thigh.
"Our Good King here has been wandering the Afterlife for five hundred years. Despite the amount of dead, it is a small place, and he knows where everyone lives," she explained as she stepped forwards, a brass and leather sword hilt appearing on her back just opposite a quiver of arrows: the last parts of her new, armoured appearance. "If your dad truly is dead, he will know who and where he is. Then it will be up to us to find him. A nice family reunion, eh?"
However, on her way to Idina, she passed Jaden. Although it seemed as though she hadn't spoken anything while she did, she spoke something into his ear that she knew only he would hear.
"It is the dead that you wish to study, is it not?"
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