As they began walking, Fable lost themself in thought. They were only roused, when they heard their name spoken. Their head snapped towards the noise, honing in on Akello. Staying silent, they waited to hear what he had to say, before replying. They supposed he had a point. ”Aright, I will admit that I agree somewhat. Not all stories have their truth, but yes, some do. You just have to find the truth from the lies. Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done. I have rarely had an issue, though. The truth is like string. Sometimes, you must detangle it from the lies.” Fable occasionally had their moments of philosophical sprach, and this was one of those times. Unfortunately, they rarely even realized what they were saying had any weight. When Sithral spoke up, Fable nodded. They knew not to believe everything, of course. It would be unwise if they did.
@eunoia - Sithral
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Akello
3 Likes
Kirara stood in the open spot, the light of the campfire flickering in the distance. She began her training, each movement deliberate and focused. But as she moved, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, of something lurking just beyond the edge of her vision. Kirara’s senses tingled with awareness as she moved through the darkened forest, a primal instinct warning her of a powerful presence lurking in the shadows. The air crackled with magic, an overwhelming aura that seemed to permeate the very fabric of the night. Yet, despite the raw potency of this unseen force, there was no hint of hostility in its midst. It was a paradox, a delicate balance between strength and restraint. Whatever dwelled in the depths of the forest possessed the power to vanquish her with a single gesture, yet it chose instead to remain hidden, observing from the safety of the shadows.
Suddenly, the forest around her seemed to spring to life, vines and roots twisting and turning in response to her movements. They surged forward, wrapping around her with surprising strength, tossing her across the clearing like a ragdoll. Yet, each time she was thrown, she landed in a soft bed of moss and leaves, cushioning her fall and preventing any harm.
With each attack, Kirara’s senses sharpened, her instincts guiding her movements as she dodged, parried, and countered the onslaught of vegetation. But just as she thought she had gained the upper hand, a branch lashed out, knocking her onto her stomach with a force that stole her breath.
As she struggled to regain her footing, she felt the vines wrap around her once more, but this time, there was a difference. A gentle warmth spread through her body, easing the ache of her fall and soothing the pain of the branch’s impact. It was as if the forest itself was healing her wounds, restoring her strength with each passing moment.
This continued on for a while.
@OhSumana
(It’s up to you/Kirara how she will respond. Use the information given to see if she wants to attack, flee or investigate, provoke, etc. The intentions and the information is given that should help you make the choice)
4 Likes
Akello knew this feeling too well. Although these two recruits followed him, neither of them believed him, and Akello knew, from experence, that in this case continuing to talk isn’t the way to go. It doesn’t matter what he’s seen, witnessed or felt, both of them are like the rest of the people in his town … Quick to think whatever he says isn’t true unless it’s also witnessed, seen or felt by somebody else to confirm his words. Although whatever he said he witnessed was never disproven or proven to be a lie, everybody still took each thing he said with a grain of salt ever since he came home with a wounded eye. He didn’t feel half as maimed when coming back as he felt when the way others viewed him when he came back with an eye patch.
When Siltral and Fable kept saying they didn’t believe him, despite him saying he’s seen and witnessed it, he felt no emotion, because hope to be heard died in him a little, when he realized even people who have never met him do not trust him. He took a deep breath and allowed for his eyes to tear up, although no tears went down. Since he was in front of them, he could do this withouth them seeing, and in truth all Fable and Siltral would be able to see is the back of his head.
For the remainder of the trip he remained silent, decided on keeping it that way even if the recruits pose questions for fear of being doubted when telling the truth again cosnidering how he hates the feeling of exasperation and he’s tired of being treated only with incredulity. At one point Akello stopped in his tracks and turned to the recruits.
“Beyond this point we no longer take the road, this is where we ‘derail’.” He turned towards and empty field full with overgrown weeds and he said. “Tread carefully, Aardal is like a deer, easily startled and will flee if he knows somebody is there. I know which areas he’s already been in, and I’ve never seen him in the same spot twice, which means the longer we wait the more narrow our options of where he could be are, which means we’ll find him easier. Just don’t let him use his necklace on you, I’ve seen him swinging it around and chanting something and the next day the dark magic influence could be felt stronger than before, so I would be wary of that.” He said before slowly and carefully entering the overgrown weeds, waiting for them to join him.
ORP: Finally! You’re gonna meet my character!!!
4 Likes
“Beyond this point we no longer take the road, this is where we ‘derail’.” Siltral suppressed an eye roll as long as anyones head was remotely looking his direction. *“Tread carefully, Aardal is like a deer, easily startled and will flee if he knows somebody is there. I know which areas he’s already been in, and– blah blah blah bla-blah a more maddening voice whispered. Sing-songed. It sincerely made Siltral tired. Need any help, bud? It asked.
Siltral froze in place, temporarily stunned by the voice. He cleared his throat. “So carefully and quietly so we don’t scare him? Like a deer, watch your step?” He said it more of a checklists to himself, but also hearing his own voice–real voices helped him. He was ready to march into a forest filled a an evil fairytales than face his own problems. “Lead the way, I’ll be silent.” He affirmed. Then turned to Fable. “Are you ready… partner?” he asked, more of a ‘take that’ moment to his lover.
@Ouijaloveletters - Fable 
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Akello 
sorry the post was mid guys 
4 Likes
Told they were going to have to go off the beaten path, Fable shrugged, quietly stepping into the long grass. They were used to being quiet, so it would be no issue. Tread like a deer. Yeah, Fable was way ahead of him. They already figured that they had to be quiet. It really seemed like a no brainer. They walked in silence for a while, until Sithral started muttering. Fable raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent. It was none of their business. It was weird, though. Still, they had to be quiet, so Fable gently poked him, raising a finger to their lips.
@eunoia - Sithral
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Akello
4 Likes
Akello got on his knees and sunk low into the big grass. While he walked, or rather, crawled in the field it looked more like a small animal approaching and not a human walking, which he wanted in order to get closer to Aardal. Thankfully, Akello has been following Aardal for a while and knew there are only few places in the enitre place where he could be at the moment. He didn’t want to disclose any decision or anything to the recruits because at this point he feared speaking to anybody, he just silently waited to be able to show rather than tell and overexplain.
He kept silent the whole time while making his way through the grass, only looking back to see if the recruits are following them. Them being silent and knowing from before that any questions they pose might not get answered or acknowledged meant they could sneak up on Aardal.
Akello visited most of the places he knew where to find his evidence, and they were already in the field for half an hour at the least. Finally, there was a sound heard that didn’t come from any of them.
A clackering sound. Scribbling on paper, footsteps and then a clackering sound again. Akello knew the recruits wanted to say something about the sound so before they had a chance to utter anything, he swiftly turned around and put his finger on his mouth to indicate silence.
Turning back around he decided to finally confront Aardal, which he could not do before because despite black magic being not so powerful against light magic, Akello would still be weaker in said match becuase he posses no magical abillity. Now, however, Akello had not one, but two recruits who are able to do magic who can easily outdo any dark magic Aardal has plaqued the place with. Knowing his position from hearing the osunds he made, Akello jumped towards the origin of the noise, startling everybody, even the birds that were around who shot up in the sky and continued flying indefinetly.
“AAARGH!” Akello shouted in surprise. Maybe becuase he was surprised he is going to be able to prove something for once, but maybe becuase he himself has started believing people when they said he’s gone mad and talking nonsense and seeing things nobody else has seen.
“AAARGH!” Exclaimed Aardal in both surprise and fear. He was surprised by Akello’s sudden jump, and he recognized Akello from the stories, but he was afraid that he was caught doing something hard to explain and that this would be the begining of his demise. Aardal wasn’t able to get Akello away from him, since Akello has gotten training Aardal never had the opportunity to get, and while looking up at Akello he was silent and didn’t show anything in his expression, but his eyes gave away the fear he felt, and he could not hide it no matter how hard he wanted to. Lying on the floor, he knew his book would reveal unpleasant secrets that could only harm him, so using magic from his fingertips he closed it and put a spell on it, but other than that he could not move because Akello was on top of him and held him in a locked position from which he could not move. Next to the two of them were the notebook and the pen Aardal used and his necklace made of bones. He also had a packed lunch with him just in case his business today took longer than planned.
ORP: Absolute jobby post, but hey I’ve had worse!
3 Likes
Akello got on his knees and sunk low into the big grass, and Siltral watched. Then looked at Fable. Then back to Akello, who looked more animal through the pattern of the swaying grass. It look immense will power—more than keeping a literal demon in oneself—to not sigh. Luckily, Siltral had taught himself the will power of a god over the centuries. So, he took his old bones and followed suit. Creeping like the critters in the grass.
“AAARGH!” Siltrals ears rattled as both men screamed. He immediately shot up as well, but froze, still as a statue as the other elf was absolutely still. Siltral’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at Aardal, his annoyance growing with each passing moment. How could this be? Aardal, the ancient being, the demon in the stories, was standing right in front of him, looking every bit as real as Akello. And what was he doing with a packed lunch? A demon’s lunch? The absurdity of it all made Siltral’s head spin. But in the blink of an eye Akello was on top, Aardals book was slamming shut, and Siltral found his face in its perpetual scowl. Looked like Akello was handling this, so he went to crouch and inspect the bone necklace—not before briefly peeking at the lunch.
@Ouijaloveletters • Fable
@LunaticLeviTheSecond • da boys
4 Likes
Fable and the two men were creeping along in the grass. Fable was completely calm, moving quietly, when two screams ripped through the air. Fable jerked in surprise, shockingly not making any noise. Their ears rung, and they shook their head, trying to regain their bearings. Well, sh*t. Was the fairytale guy actually real? Fable rubbed their eyes, blinking. Ok then. This was happening. The weirdest part of all of this? The freaking fairytale demon had a packed lunch. Fable’s head was spinning. For the first time in their life, Fable didn’t have an answer for what was going on. This bothered them greatly. Also, if this packed lunch carrying, screaming man was a serial killer…he must’ve been a pretty bad one. At the thought, Fable had to resist letting out a snort.
@eunoia - Sithral
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - boyz
3 Likes
Aardal was left speechless. Mostly because he wasn’t caught in the last century until now, but also because he hasn’t really talked and been in company with people to know what to say in any situation after a 100 years with almost no real conversations. Thankfully, in time he remebered the danger at hand and decided to instead warn them. “I am warning you, soldiers, there is a danger lurking here and I’m triyng to find out what it is before it grows. You have bested me, but there is darkness here that I doubt soldiers like you can best.” Realizing that Akello was a soldier from the stories he assumed the other two men were also soldiers. When Akello didn’t relent his grip on him, Aardal turned only to him. “Akello, is that you?” He asked, making sure he didn’t make a mistake.
Akello almost lost his grip on the man when he used his name. That monster from the stories knows his name. That frightened Akello, but even though he was shook up now, he answered truthfully. “Yes, I’m Akello … But how did you?” Akello started the questions but Aardal never let him finish.
“I’ve heard the wshipers about you and your days as a soldier. Knowing which war you served in I believe you must have felt that feeling of darkness looming around you. The type of feeling that lets you know something is wrong although nothing seems bad or the like you still have that anxiousness inside … You can feel it here as well, can’t you? I know becuase I can feel it too … The source of that feeling isn’t here, I’m not the man you’re looking for … But somebody is and I’ve got to find him.” Aardal tried to tune into Akello. He knew what he was looking for, but he also knew that he and the feeling of dark magic in this place aren’t connected and he had to let the group know. Aardal noticed how one of them reached for his chicken bone runes, but said nothing. He had nothing to hide but himself from the world, and now these people found him and him having nowhere to hide, he didn’t know what to do. "Those I use to find the source of the dark magic. I’m getting closer every day. I assume you’re looking for the same? If you are maybe we can work together and weed out the darkness that grows here.
1 Like
with a sigh, Dux rested his head on his hands as Calisa left his office. The weight of his thoughts pressing down on him, troubled by the sight of Midnight, tormented by guilt, unable to find peace. He pondered how he could offer solace and guidance when a messenger entered, bowing slightly as he handed over a sealed parchment.
The seal was unmistakable: the royal crest of the king. Dux broke the seal and unfolded the letter, his eyes scanning the neat, familiar script. The letter was written in a tone that spoke of long-standing friendship rather than the formality expected between a king and his commander.
𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐮𝐱,
𝐈𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬.
𝐈 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦—𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.
𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲.
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲,
𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐲𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐈
Dux smiled faintly as he finished reading. The king’s warm and personal tone brought back memories of their days together, filled with camaraderie and shared struggles. The task ahead sounded daunting, but he knew exactly who to turn to.
He carefully folded the letter and placed it on his desk, happy that the king just offered him a possible solution to his current struggle. Dux stood and walked to the window, looking out over the training grounds where soldiers sparred and honed their skills, spotting Midnight and Saoirse.
Dux got up and walked outside. The night air was crisp, but it did little to clear the fog of regret clouding his mind. He hadn’t meant to hurt Midnight, but the urgency of their situation had left him without time to fix his treatment. Now, he had to face both Midnight and Saoirse, not just to ask for their help but to mend the rift he’d created.
Whatever was going on, wasn’t meant for fresh eyes of new recruits, and there was no time to waste. He knew Midnight could understand the harsh realities they faced; she had been shaped by them. Saoirse’s unwavering loyalty would be crucial, too. But he doubt they would follow him, knowing the damage he’d caused?
As he approached where Midnight and Saoirse were resting, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. The sun cast shadows on their faces, highlighting the weariness etched in their features. Midnight’s eyes met his, a storm of emotions swirling within them.
“Dux,” she said, her voice cold. “What do you want now?”
Dux swallowed hard. “We have a mission,” he began, his voice steady despite the tension. “The king has summoned us. It’s urgent.”
Saoirse looked between them, sensing the undercurrent of unresolved tension. “What’s going on?” she asked.
Dux took a step closer, feeling the weight of their gazes. “I don’t know the details yet, but this mission seems to be better for those who have been harden by the reality of the world. Midnight, you know how cruel it can be. We need your strength, your experience. And Saoirse, your loyalty is something I can’t do without.”
3 Likes
“Akello, is that you?”
“Yes, I’m Akello … But how did you…?”
Siltral’s eyes danced between the trio. Aardal, the self-proclaimed dark master, bound by his own hubris, Akello, who one might argue had unwittingly stepped into a theatrical skirmish of cosmic irony, and Fable, whose eternal quietude stood at odds with the graveness of the situation.
“Those I use to find the source of the dark magic.” That. That right there made Siltral bristle. Like the, per se, general population Aardal had potentially wiped out didn’t matter. Siltral only hoped his body count was much lower than the number he pictured. “If you are maybe we can work together and weed out the darkness that grows here.“
“Aardal,” Siltral said, his patience wavering like a candle in a storm, “you want to find ‘somebody’ and I understand the darkness that looms. But you’re doing it from a particularly heavily tarnished pedestal. Those people you harmed? They were real. Not just tokens for some esoteric quest of redemption.”
Siltral leaned in with mock sincerity. “Aardal, the only threats I’m worried about are the ones you’ve previously unleashed. This ‘dark magic’ is a mere wisp compared to the very real consequences of your actions. Dare I say, you can’t lecture us about looming threats when you’ve already played a hand in amplifying the chaos? Let’s skip the theatrics, shall we? You’re under arrest, you’re being charged. Save the pleading for court. The tension crackled in the air, and Siltral relished it like a fine wine, each moment ripe with potentiality—but, as ever, one kept a wary eye on the shadows, for they were friends and foes in equal measure.
Fable • @Ouijaloveletters
Aardal | Akello • @LunaticLeviTheSecond
Orp • So much I wanted to say 
2 Likes
Fable stood silently, as if they weren’t even there. All they wanted was to arrest this man, and go home to read. Staring at the two men in front of them, it was as if they were ghosts. Fable simply stared right through them, no light behind their eyes. There never was any light. Not yet, at least. Though, who knew if there ever would be? ”We have the suspect. Let’s go. There is no need to waste more time here.” Fable droned, voice flat. There was absolutely no emotion behind it. The spark in their chest had yet to be lit. No one yet had the match. Turning, they began to walk away, only turning back once to see if the two men were following. The tension crackling in the air was unknown to them. All they knew was that the mission had been completed. They seemingly treaded through the tense atmosphere like a fog. It was invisible to them.
@eunoia - Siltral
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Ardal\Akello
2 Likes
Aardal tried to get through to Akello, not only because he knew his story, but because he could resonate with him, because their stories and feelings were somewhat simmilar. Even though Akello is treated like a laughin stock or labeled a crazy old man, Aardal still favored him and hoped to one day meet him and make a friend of him, just like Dux made a friend of Aardal.
When one of the other guys called his name “Aardal” he looked at the man in confusion, since the tone in which he spoke his name seemed to Aardal as if he’s annoyed. He kept on talking, and Aardal listened. One sentence resonated with him. “Those people you harmed?” He repeated it. “Those people I harmed?” Before continuing he put on a smug face. He knew exactly what kind of stories people told about him, but he figured one of Dux’s soldiers would make a little more research before believing every story, especially ones with no evidence to back them up. That’s why he formed his question as if talking to a child. “I seem to have no recollection of harming people. Oh but maybe you can help me figure out more about that. Tell me one name that is proven to be harmed by me, and not by some ilness or animal in the woods.” He knew there wasn’t a single one of these cases that doesn’t have an explanation other than him because he never harmed any humans, so he felt confident in saying this. Being so confident might’ve come across as even more smug than he was initially.
The other soldier, sounding either bored or lazy, said “We have the suspect. Let’s go. There is no need to waste more time here.” After hearing that Aardal decided it was the latter. He turned to them like an owl. “Well … If you’re so unwilling to do your job you can always go home. I’m just not going with you. I’d love to go back with you to see Dux to prove my innocence in this and other things, but the trail is hot and by the time we come back it’ll get cold. It gets colder by the day and today it’s on it’s last breath. I don’t care if you stay and help me or go, but I’m staying right here and dealing with this myself if I have to.” He said. He knew Dux would send somebody his way, but in no way did he think somebody so uwilling to be at a mission would be the one Dux trusts. The other … although he has more spirit and fight in him, he’s ready to believe anything he’s told by anybody, so it’s also a wonder how he’s working with Dux. Seeing such ‘talent’ being sent to help him, he realized he might as well work on this alone, and if they try to arrest him, they’d only be a hendrence. He took his bone runes and turned to Akello. He felt Akello was the only one he could trust in this. “Feel the heat … There’s the remainder of soemthing sinister here.” He said as he gave him the runes so he could feel them. He readied his hand like a gun slinger in a western, putting it over his bag in case they might trying something, so he’d freeze them in place with his fine powder. Chances are it’d melt off by the same corruption that kept the runes warm, but by that time he’d be gone and free to do his work on his own.
@eunoia - Siltral
@Ouijaloveletters - Fable
2 Likes
Siltral narrowed his eyes, a flicker of amusement dancing behind his disdain as he observed the change in Aardal’s expression. Confusion replaced by a smug confidence that came dangerously close to arrogance. Fable’s tone was lifeless, pulling Siltral back into the moment. “We have the suspect. Let’s go. There is no need to waste more time here,” they intoned flatly, their impatience barely concealed. Fable’s flat tone echoed Siltral’s sentiments, but the conversation between him and Aardal had caught the latter’s attention. Aardal turned to Fable, his expression mingling defiance with a hint of something almost desperate. “Well…”
It threw him off, piercing through his carefully cultivated skepticism. And Dux? Plus, until now, Aardal had been little more than a shadowy myth, a tale whispered among the fearful and the foolish—children. To know the very man who had sent them on this convoluted mission was a revelation that unsettled him. However, the surprise quickly yielded to resolve as he steeled his focus on the situation at hand.
Siltral raised an eyebrow, taken aback by Aardal’s audacity. It was clear that he was trying to project an air of urgency, but it only fueled Siltral’s irritation. “Akello, are you holding up alright?” Siltral called out, deliberately diverting his attention from Aardal for the moment. The tension around them felt palpable, and he needed to ensure his compatriot was steady, especially given the stakes at hand.
Siltral let out an exasperated breath, the tension coiling in his chest. “Innocence and bravado don’t often coexist well, Aardal. The courts will be the ones to determine your fate when that time comes,” he shot back, his tone unwavering. “It is not our job to play judge and jury here. You may feel all high and mighty, standing defiantly as if this is some consequential moment in a grand adventure, but let’s remember—you’re not the hero of this story, regardless of how you see yourself.”
He gestured at Fable with a nod of solidarity, adding, “My colleague is right. The longer we linger here, distracted by your dramatics, the less chance we have of uncovering the truth. You can assert your resolve all you want, but you’re operating under a precarious pretense that will likely crumble under scrutiny. The only thing that will save you is solid evidence, not stubbornness.”
Siltral’s eyes narrowed further, assessing Aardal with an intensity that sought to pierce the veneer of confidence. “You claim the trail is hot, but what you fail to comprehend is that chasing shadows can often lead to deeper darkness. Trust us when we say, you need us as much as we need clarity in this matter.” Siltral’s gaze hardened. “It’s not up to us to judge you here. That’s for the courts to determine, based on hard evidence—not your word play.”
As Siltral braced himself against the increasing tension in the air, a familiar, insistent voice broke through the chaos in his mind. Trust him, Siltral. There’s something more at play here than you real**ize. You know he’s not what he seems, Saeris urged, the urgency palpable in his tone. But Siltral brushed the voice aside with practiced ease. You’ve never been truthful, Saeris, he thought back, dismissing the nagging presence. He had learned long ago that Saeris thrived on chaos and manipulation, always spinning tales that blurred the lines of reality. Siltral had no intention of falling for that again, especially not now. He was done looking through smoke and mirrors.[/center]
Before he could fully ground himself in his resolve, Aardal moved with a sudden intensity that caught Siltral off guard. He was preparing to do something—that much was apparent as Aardal grasped his bone runes and turned to Akello. “Feel the heat… There’s the remainder of something sinister here,” Aardal stated, extending the runes toward Akello with a look of urgency.
Siltral’s instincts flared. Defensiveness surged through him as he immediately recognized the potential volatility of the situation. Swiftly, he grabbed the shirt on Fable’s elbow, whispering, “We need to move—now, In a blink, they were shrouded in the tall grass surrounding them, the world transforming into a blur of greens and browns as they disappeared from sight, abandoning Akello to the unfolding tension between Aardal and their companion.
It was comedic—they now hid the way Akello had forced them to sneak up on Aardal. In the grass, like an animal. From their hidden vantage point, Siltral kept one keen eye on Aardal, who was now poised like a gunslinger from a dusty Western, his hand hovering ominously over his bag. It was a gesture that spoke of desperation and caution, and Siltral couldn’t shake the feeling that they were witnessing a dangerous dance of intentions.
* Do you see now?* Saeris whispered, persistent and echoing within his mind, yet Siltral fought against it. * This isn’t purely about you, believe it or not. This man holds a key to something larger.*
The weight of Saeris’ voice lingered in the recesses of his mind, but he wouldn’t risk his safety or Fable’s by trusting Aardal’s sudden escalation. His past experiences wove a cautionary tale too vivid to ignore, the shades of betrayal still fresh. He had no intention of letting his guard down, not even for an instant. Trust had a price, and Siltral wasn’t ready to pay it.
Siltral’s gaze sharpened with resolve. “You can’t dictate this one, Saeris. The stakes are too high,” he breathed out, refusing to let the voice lead him astray again. His heart pounded, a drum of anticipation as he eyed the grass around him for Fable.
As he peered through the grass, Siltral’s heart raced. He could feel the tension crackle in the air, all threads winding tighter as he observed Aardal, ready to set off in a tight flash of chaos. They had left Akello behind, but for now, his focus remained trained on Aardal as he prepared to make his next move.
“Let him burn,” Siltral muttered under his breath, steeling himself for whatever would come next. He would keep Fable close, protect their own, and see this through to whatever end awaited them. Aardal may think himself clever, but Siltral knew that not all traps were laid by others.
Fable | @Ouijaloveletters
Aardal | @LunaticLeviTheSecond
1 Like
“I’ve heard the whipers about you and your days as a soldier. Knowing which war you served in I believe you must have felt that feeling of darkness looming around you.. Akello’s eyes widened with recognition and with regret. He saw a hint of himself in Aardal. Akello was also just a person who was labeled as crazy. Remebering the stories told about Akello, they all paint him to be crazy, just like he is painted. Although Akello is aleinated already, he’s not yet as alienated as Aardal. Akello regretted believing all that was said about Aardal through fairy and folk tales, not recognizing until meeting him, that he was very simmilar to him.
“You can feel it here as well, can’t you?” Aardal asked about the darkness that Akello felt, which led him here. Akello, being so utterly ashamed of treating Aardal the same way he has been treated, kept silent, simply answering to that questions with a confirmatory nod. When he said “I’m not the man you’re looking for … But somebody is and I’ve got to find him.” Akello, although he was wrong in this assumption, thought Aardal had the same motive for finding this man as he did. Knowing the reason behind this want was in it’s core good, Akello has decided to trust this man, for he has no reason to doubt him yet.
While Akello was confused and trying to think clearly and get his thoughts in order, he could still notice the things going on around him. He saw somebody reach for Aardal’s items on the floor. He also noticed Aardal didn’t react to it and explained what they did. “Those I use to find the source of the dark magic. I’m getting closer every day. I assume you’re looking for the same? If you are maybe we can work together and weed out the darkness that grows here.”
“Aardal!” the black haired soldier tried to get his attention. Aardal and Siltral are about to start a discussion, which Akello intently listened to.
“you want to find ‘somebody’ and I understand the darkness that looms.” Does he really understand? Akello doubted that. He didn’t have the same feeling of understanding from Siltral as he did from Aardal. It felt as if Aardal knew more about what he felt.
“But you’re doing it from a particularly heavily tarnished pedestal. Those people you harmed?” If he hadn’t felt alienated from the world and more connected to Aardal already, he felt it after that saying. He felt sayings about himself around the area weren’t true, and he wondered if this man was so quick to accept a fairytale told as true, would he also believe any lie told to him about Akello?
The man kept on talking as if what he was told in a story was true and it annoyed Akello and he could see it also annoyed Aardal.
Akello, who at first wanted this man captured was now feeling a sense of injustice and a bad gut feeling when both the soldiers said they wanted him arrested. “Let’s skip the theatrics, shall we? You’re under arrest, you’re being charged. Save the pleading for court.” He felt like he should shout ‘NOO!’ and done something to protect him, but he also felt something like this was too much.
“We have the suspect. Let’s go. There is no need to waste more time here.” Akello turned to Aardal to see what he would do now. Aardal had gotten his point across nicely, withouth resorting to violence, and has shown Siltral the ridiculousness of his accusations. Akello watched Siltral’s face as Aardal spoke to see how his words resonate with him, still trying to process things. “I’d love to go back with you to see Dux and prove my innocence in this …” Akello stopped listening to Aardal’s words at this rate because something in this sentence caused a slight reaction in Siltral. Was the name important? Is Dux a place or a person? And why does it matter so?
Siltral kept on talking about how they will take him to court, not entertaining any notion Aardal said before. He then mentioned. “The only thing that will save you is solid evidence, not stubborness.” And Akello had half a mind to say ‘Look who’s talking, you decided he was guilty of countless crimes withouth having any more evidence than a town gossip.’ But he didn’t bring himself to say it, knowing they would both turn on him. Having light magic and being soldiers, he knew that Aardal who maybe had dark magic and himself who knew no magic at all, wouldn’t be able to fight against them.
Akello waited for Aardal to say something to prove his innocence, and he turned to watch his response. Instead of dignifying Siltral with an answer, he rolled his eyes and turned to Akello, which surprised Akello. He took his runes and placed it in Akello’s hands. When it dropped on his hands Akello didn’t expect them to be so hot. It wasn’t hot enough to melt anything or to harm his hand, but they were warm, and yet too warm to come from the heat of his hands. He then explained the warmth of the runes was connected to the darkness. Akello looked at the warm runes in his hand and poked them with his finger. “What, they get warmer the closer we get to the darkness? How close are we considering they’re so warm?” Akello didn’t want to look at the reaction of the soldiers because he knew they would be condenscending and rude to Aardal even with this evidence. He turned around to see them gone. Aardal followed his gaze and when he aw the scene rolled his eyes again. "Are they …? He looked at Aardal. He didn’t want to finish that thought because it seemed stupid that they should hide in the grass as if that would save them from any real danger. He also thought they were overrecting and too gullible. He regretted bringing them out here and wished he went in alone, as he often did. He was glad to have found somebody who could understand him even if that person is Aardal.
@Ouijaloveletters - Fable (it’s your turn now)
@eunoia - Siltral (I have no clue what just happened?)
@Meekepeek - Can Aardal prove some way that he’s innocent? Otherwise Aardal will freeze Siltral and Fable and move on withouth them saying “The darkness that looms will set you free in about an hour or so due to the heat it’s producing.”
3 Likes
Fable’s head swiveled between the two men, trying to keep up with the conversation that was going on. Ok, this was happening. Runes were exchanged, and Fable watched silently. ”What exactly is going on? I do not understand. Please enlighten me.” Fable droned, deadpan. They never understood others. This is the exact reason why they never interacted with people. It was too much of a headache. That was exactly what was happening to them now. They absolutely needed a nap after this. ”The runes are…getting hotter? What do you-“ Fable leaned closer, feeling the warmth.
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Aardal and Akello
@eunoia - Siltral
2 Likes
The office was quiet except for the faint crackle of the candles. Dux stood at the center. He held a tattered piece of cloth in one hand, his fingers deftly pulling at a loose string. With deliberate care, he looped the string into a circle. A soft hum filled the air as the circle shimmered, stretching and morphing until it revealed a clear image. Three recruits appeared, standing in a bustling square of Mirathis in the Arcosis Kingdom.
”I like to speak with you all about the progress of your mission,” Dux began, his voice steady and authoritative. ”To summerise the information you gathered so far; For a few weeks, crimes have been comitted with the use of a strange artifact. People have seen the use of shadow magic, used by a human that was not born with magic abilities . The identity of this man, and his crew are still unknown. The development complicates matters significantly.” He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle over the room.
He gestured toward the glowing circle, where the recruits could be seen adjusting their gear and conversing among themselves. ”Handling dark magic is no task for first-year recruits alone. For this reason, I have sent additional support to join you—Cruor, Damian, and Nadia.”
Dux folded his hands behind his back, his expression softening slightly. ”Cruor is among the top tiers of our order. His expertise in dealing with such threats is unparalleled, and his presence will ensure that the mission is executed properly. That said…” Dux’s gaze sharpened as he looked into the image. ”…Cruor can be… exacting with new recruits. He expects discipline and excellence, and his methods may come across as harsh. Do not let it unnerve you. His aim is to bring out the best in those under his command.”
Dux’s tone grew firmer. ”As for Damian and Nadia, they are skilled, but let me be clear: they come from probation. This mission is their final evaluation. Should they falter or act out of line, there will be no room for leniency. You are to work as a team, but do not hesitate to report any misconduct to me.”
He turned back to the recruits through the shimmering portal. ”They will arive around sundown, and probably want to start making a plan straight away, you can either rest or have some time alone and explore the city but make sure to return to your in at sundown. This mission will test you all. Be vigilant, work together, and above all, remember the responsibility and risks that comes with facing dark magic. I expect nothing less than your full dedication.”
The circle pulsed briefly before fading into nothingness. Dux straightened, his piercing gaze lingering on the now-empty space as if still watching over the recruits.
@eunoia - Aurelia
@Bluecookies - Destin
@OhSumana - Glacius
4 Likes
The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the tall, arched window that framed the darkened sky. Dux sat behind his large, mahogany desk, fingers steepled and eyes sharp with focus. He reached for a piece of cloth draped over the arm of his chair, tugging a single, frayed string from its edge. With a slight flick of his wrist, the string transformed into a glowing circle, hovering mid-air. The circle shimmered and unfolded, revealing the image of three figures standing in the dappled light of a forest. A deep, warm smile tugged at Dux’s lips as he took in the sight.
”Ah, there you are, my brave recruits. Now, let’s go over this mission, shall we?”
The three figures in the circle were framed by ancient trees, the muted greens and browns of Sylvana’s forest surrounding them. Amissa’s brown hair swaying as she surveyed their path, was a familiar presence, The others were a mix of resolve and fatigue.
Dux’s voice softened, tinged with a note of humor. ”Amissa, I hope you’ve been able to keep the peace with Aevus. I know she’s not the easiest to tolerate.”
The image shifted slightly, showing Amissa casting a wry glance at the figure of Aevus, who stood with her arms crossed, eyes sharp and unyielding as the forest’s shadows.
”I hear she’s still wearing that scowl like it’s a badge of honor,” Dux continued, a grin tugging at his lips. ”That’s good, though. You’ll need every bit of patience you have for this part of the mission.”
The forest in the circle seemed to breathe, the leaves rustling as if whispering secrets.
”Now, you’re heading for Sylveris, the capital of Sylvana. It’s a long path, but if you follow it properly, you should arrive by sunset tomorrow. You’ll be collecting the book from Aevus’s mentor—the one on the withering lands. It’s crucial; it contains their most detailed report on the ongoing investigations.”
A moment of silence passed, the gravity of the task settling over the room like a shroud. Dux leaned forward, fingers tapping the edge of his desk.
”Once you’ve got the book, you’ll move on to Valerion and make your way to Valthorin. I’d say it’ll take you two days from Sylveris to reach the small town on the edge of the withering lands. The mission ends when you deliver the book there. Understood?”
The image shifted once more, a fleeting glimpse of Amissa nodding, her expression resolute. The circle flickered, the light around it dimming as it hovered in the air.
”Good. You’re on the right path. Just remember, you’re not alone. Keep steady, and the rest will follow.”
The glowing circle slowly faded, leaving only the quiet hum of the room and the weight of Dux’s gaze as he stared at the empty air, his heart steady with the belief that his recruits would make it through.
@ohsumana – Kirara
@viiel.x – Ivadriel
Summy, the whole thing that happened with the attack on Kirara while training will be erased and we’ll redo it during their walk to Sylveris.
4 Likes
The halls of the Order stretched before Dux, bathed in the soft glow of enchanted crystals. His boots echoed faintly as he walked, his mind preoccupied. A familiar figure caught his eye—Ianira, with her dark, sharp gaze and a quiet presence that always seemed ready to unravel mysteries.
“Ianira,” Dux called, his voice calm but inviting. “Join me in my office. There’s something I need to discuss.”
She hesitated for a moment before falling in step behind him.
Further down the hall, Aristomache appeared, her stride confident, her presence commanding attention as always. Dux’s expression softened. “Aristomache, perfect timing. Come with me, we have some important matters to cover.”
A short while later, Nyxia emerged from an adjoining corridor, her arms crossed and her silver hair shimmering faintly in the lantern light. She arched a brow at Dux, who merely gestured toward the growing group with a slight smirk.
“Nyxia, I trust you’re not busy. Consider yourself part of this discussion. Let’s go.”
The three followed Dux through the winding corridors until they reached his office. The room was modest by the Order’s standards, cluttered with books and reports. Dux moved with practiced ease, retrieving a neatly stacked file from his desk.
With a sigh, he placed the report before them, leaning back slightly as his gaze swept across the group.
“You’ve probably heard rumors about the shores near Lakeshear. Mysterious, mournful sounds echo across the lake after sunset—sounds that no one can explain. Fishermen have seen spectral figures that vanish the moment they approach, and the nearest village is being crushed under sudden waves of despair.”
He let the weight of his words linger before continuing.
“The Order suspects these phenomena are connected to an ancient water spirit. Bound to the lake long ago by a forgotten summoning ritual, it seems that something—or someone—has stirred it awake.”
Dux’s expression turned serious, his tone steady and firm.
“You’ll be traveling to Aquaris to meet with Nerina. She’s the one who sent the request and likely knows more about what’s been happening near the lake. I’ve assigned Elias to this mission as well. He’s a veteran—reliable, experienced, and an excellent mentor.”
He glanced at Ianira, his gaze lingering for just a second longer than necessary before turning back to the others.
“This mission is delicate. You’ll need to move carefully, understand the nature of the spirit, and ensure no harm comes to the villagers—or yourselves. Trust in Elias’s guidance and trust in one another. Dismissed.”
With that, he leaned back in his chair, watching as the group exchanged looks.
4 Likes
“What, they get warmer the closer we get to the darkness? How close are we considering they’re so warm?” Aardal gave Akello a confirmatory nod. Aardal felt the soft thud of somebody dropping in the grass and he turned to see what happened to see them hudling down in the grass as if hiding from some danger. Were they really so stupid? They looked like one of those birds that think they’re invisible when they burry their heads in the ground. Aardal felt they were overeacting their fear and acting stupidly with this move because that choice can not save them from anything, and Aardal feels it’s just done to discourage him. They were treating him like a beast when he they had no reason to and Aardal was sick of it. He rolled his eyes at them, hoping they see he isn’t made to feel smaller by their pityful attempts. He’s had years of worse treatment for him to consider this type of behaviour a threat. That doesn’t save him, however, from passing judgement and thinking they’re not worth his time. “Are they …?” Akello asked an unfinished question, but even if the question is not finished, he knew what he was going to ask. Yes … They are serious. Aardal wanted to say, but he instead just nodded to Akello.
One of them rose from their hiding place, the apathetic one. They seemed intrigued as they walked over, and Aardal didn’t feel threathened by them or felt like they didn’t believe him. He was glad one of them decided to entertain the thought he might be telling the truth, so he decided to stop messing with them. “Yes, they’re teh runes I made myself and they burn with dark energy, which produces heat. They’re close enough to bursting form the heat, but it’s not close enough … The heat left from whatever darkness was here is fizzing out, becoming cold. It’s already late and I either need to find it now or lose it forever.” Aardal decided to let this one know the truth, since they aren’t small minded like the other one. He looked them straight in the eyes and said “You’re Fable, aren’t you?” knowing it would surprise them he knew their name. In order to not frighten or surprise them too much he said “Dux told me your names. He said you guys would help me when I told them about the darkness here. So knowing this can you help your friend realize he isn’t here to arrest me so we can do what is needed?” Aardal felt he could trust Fable to be reasonable and convince his friend he’s being ridiculous. He looked at the patch of grass from which he lurked, looking down on him with a judgmental look. Aardal has spent most of his life, actually all of his life, being judged and lied about no matter what he did, and looking at that patch of grass he decided it was time to turn the table around and treat that jerk the way he was treated by him. Giving him a taste of his own medicine. Acting as if he doesn’t trust him no matter how hard he proves himself, Aardal will judge him and treat him like a monster. See if he comes out as patient and soft-spoken and mild-mannered as he did after esentially his whole life of such treatment. He decided to spare the other two of any such treatment.
@eunoia - Siltral and Silaris?
@Ouijaloveletters - Fable
1 Like