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When the world is falling apart, throw a little craziness at it!
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Post by Pandora on Mar 7, 2018 4:18:06 GMT
The midday desert sun beats down on a sparkling clear oasis and the lush greenery that accompanies it. Looking beyond the pristine landscape reveals the bustling town that sprung up around it countless years ago, full of bright and colorful tapestries that adorn the stands in the streets to contrast the sandy and pale brick and straw houses. This is Sarabaya, a peaceful place for both traders with wares and travelers seeking respite.
It is not strange for a group of three individuals to come to this sanctuary after a long trek across the sands. However, this trio searches not for rest but answers; in the last place they visited, the three heard a rumor that Sarabaya is home to a legendary warrior who once defended the town from invasion after invasion all alone. Intrigued by the story, the group made their way here, and now they stand at the outskirts of town.
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Post by Nocturne on Mar 7, 2018 9:13:09 GMT
Leyl basked in the midday heat. He might rule the shadows, but let it not be said that he didn't appreciate the warmth of the sun. That said, he was standing in the shade provided by Giratun right now, as he very often did, so perhaps the slight cooling effect of this had influenced him. Looking at the landscape before them, Leyl had to whistle. "What a beautiful sight. Lets not ruin it by causing panic and chaos, eh, Giratun? Time to wait underground."
Giratun gave a very human nod, something he had no doubt adopted from Leyl, and burrowed into the ground, the reverberations caused by the giant nine meter long obsidian snake hopefully not carrying too far. The relationship between Leyl and his Pokemon partner had improved over the years. At first it was fairly clear that Leyl was the master and Giratun the servant and Leyl had treated the Pokemon as such, training him to be subservient. This had to some extent stemmed from his ignorance of the intelligence slumbering within the Pokemon. Giratun was far more than just one of those beasts that ravaged tribes and caravans where Leyl came from, he had his own personality, his own feelings and perhaps wasn't as intelligent as him, but was clearly not dumb. This was something Leyl learnt as time went on, and it changed everything. Leyl began to treat Giratun more as an equal, eventually ending up as a strange mix of master and friend to the Pokemon.
Leyl turned to his companions, Emir and Nora. They'd been travelling together for a while now. Emir was a good friend that he'd known previously, while Nora had been a stranger, which together with her age made travelling together a little strange at first. Leyl had warmed up to the woman eventually however, having managed to coax some stories of her life from her. Honestly he had nothing but respect for both of these people. Emir had sadly been exiled from his own village, but it had been for defending a being that he felt needed it from harm. Though perhaps excessive, the blame couldn't put on him, as he'd only truly grown into his powers then. More than his history, Leyl appreciated the way Emir carried himself. He was like a nobleman among peasants, but remained mostly humble, which could be seen from his clothing. This was a trait that was hard to find in men as young as him, Leyl had discovered in his travels. Leyl himself had a liking for quite expensive and elegant clothing, so he couldn't quite claim to be humble in that regard.
Nora he still didn't know too much about. He knew that she used to be a noblewoman, but had abandoned that life to become the leader of a militia, which Leyl could respect. He'd also learnt of her obsession with ruling, well, the world, which honestly, Leyl couldn't really argue against. Were there people more suited to this than those who could become gods? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Either way, Leyl wasn't going to stand in the way of her ambition. If he was honest, he was somewhat fascinated with the idea of influencing things on a grand scale himself, though most likely in a more subtle manner. Beyond that, when he started travelling with Emir and her, they both became his tribe, his caravan, even if it was the smallest tribe in the world. If Nora wanted to rule the world after saving it, Leyl would help her do so, maybe becoming an adviser to make sure the power didn't get to her head, and that she remained just.
Truth be told, there was one matter which concerned Leyl more than the saving the world business, and this was finding the person that could explain how it worked. Not just because he wanted to save the world, but also just to meet her. Leyl wasn't super confident in the chance of her falling heads over heels in love with him, but he would already be fairly content if he could just get to know her.
These were thoughts for later though. For now, the group were on the tail of a legendary warrior who had apparently held off entire invasions by himself. Repeatedly. This sounded quite mythical, but perhaps if this person was also a potential god, it could be feasible. This person seemed to make their home here in Sarabaya, a city which Leyl was already falling in love with at first sight. He almost hoped that it wouldn't be too easy to find this person, just so that he could justify staying here longer. Being the goal-orientated person he was though, he would of course focus on business rather than pleasure.
There was one thing that combined the two however, and that was searching for shards. He hadn't gotten around to doing his search for the day yet, and he had already sold the last of his supply of jewelry. With this in mind, he spoke to his companions. "Please give me twenty minutes. I'm going to get the day's dowsing out of the way so that we can focus on our objective." After saying this, he pulled out his dowsing rod, and went off to see what he could find.
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Post by madandy on Mar 7, 2018 16:26:31 GMT
Emir nods. "But of course, my friend. Take as long as you need - after our long trek, I should enjoy a short rest."
He looks around him, at the few bugs flitting around him - mostly midges and dragonflies that they had crossed paths with while travelling and who had decided to accompany him. He smiles, his hand twitches slightly at his side and the swarm disperses, flying off ino the city. A few ants crawl from his feet and go in the same direction. Not that they had bothered him particularly, but he knew from experience that having a swarm of insects around one did not tend to endear one to other humans. Besides, it's only fair that they get to enjoy the city as he would.
Having done this, he strolls over the edge of the oasis and sits among the greenery, watching Leyl as he works. It's an interesting process to watch, even if Emir has no idea exactly what he's doing. Then again, that is somewhat indicative of Leyl as a whole - Emir doesn't always know what he's doing, but he trusts him nonetheless.Of course, he knows he is a touch biased in that regard, since Leyl did accept him after his exile,Nevertheless, Emir is fairly sure he is worth putting his faith in.
His eyes briefly flick towards his other companion, Nora. He hasn't known her for nearly as long, of course, and finds her a little harder to understand.Her sheer drive always feels a little odd to the more laid back Emir. Still, knowing of her history did make it a little clearer - having not always had the benefits of self-determination, it is not surprising that she should embrace it as she has.
A noise by side draws Emir's attention towards his little friend Uzza, who is busy working with the greenery. Unfortunately, a trek through the desert was not kind to her. Fortunately, she has quite a talent for crafting clothing for herself and had made some gear that had made the journey tolerable. She had even insisted on crafting a hat for Emir to keep the sun from his eyes. Belatedly, Emir realizes that he's still wearing it and tips it back, smiling as he watches his friends work.
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Mar 8, 2018 5:09:09 GMT
Nora isn't far behind Emir, choosing a different tree from him. She imagined herself approaching the waters of the oasis in a graceful stride, a servant ahead of her laying down a fancy cloth for her to daintily seat herself upon, careful not to wrinkle the dress or gown or whatever she'd be wearing. Instead she stomped over and slumped herself down underneath the shade, careless of the state of her dusty boots and travel clothes as she breathed the cooler air here deeply and heavily. She smiled to herself as she caught her breath. Well, it was a fun thought anyway.
Eventually Nora's breathing slows enough for her to open her eyes and take stock of the situation. Here she was, just outside of little Sarabaya, days and days away from her city life in Kadjethus, the only life she ever knew. She probably wouldn't have made it this far without the other two, Leyl and Emir. They were used to this kind of life, traveling around the hot desert, whereas she'd never ventured far from the city walls.
Her thoughts drift to those two, as Leyl does that thing he does. A very ostentatious man, he seemed to be, though he was a little better than the types of people she was used to seeing act that way. For one, he actually seemed to care about how other people were doing, maybe a little too much. Apparently he spent a long time trekking through the desert with nothing but an Onix to keep him company, so maybe he's just overcompensating a bit with his human interaction now? Or maybe Nora's just not used to it, she thinks with a mental shrug. Then there was Emir. He was bit of an odd young man. He wasn't quite the loner type, he was a nice enough kid, but he still seemed off compared to other people. Maybe it's the bugs? He did seem to prefer their company, and Nora'd be lying if she said it didn't put her off at first. By now, though, she figures it's fine. Whatever suits him.
Moreover, they'd both had the Dream, just as Nora had. That was the initial reason she'd left with them, at least. Now the three of them were off to save the world from... something, and in the process become gods and goddess of the world left over.
Right. The Goddess Nora, sitting here all sweaty with a helping of grime. She supposes she has a long way to go.
For now... well, she'd rest now as Leyl hunts for shards. She considers what to do after that, though. The trio had come here looking up a rumor that there was some great warrior here. Maybe it was another Dream-haver? In any case, a person like that would probably have a lot of influence. That could be useful, regardless of how much he (or she, Nora considered) might actually know about this Dream girl Nora and the others had seen.
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Post by Nocturne on Mar 9, 2018 17:29:23 GMT
Leyl returned to the party swiftly after the approximate amount of time he gave had passed. "Sorry about that. We can head into the city now. If you'd like for me to fashion you some mystical equipment from these shards, I'd be happy to do so. I could do that right now in fact, but I assume you'd rather get moving?"
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Mar 9, 2018 18:24:09 GMT
Regretfully, Nora has to stand up some time today. Her leg muscles complain as she hauls herself up on her feet again, and she dusts herself off.
"You should hold onto it. We might need something to pay for room and board, if you don't mind?" Nora asks at the end, leaving Leyl the option to decline. She had no business telling him what to do with his findings, after all. "For now, why don't we ask around? Let's see if we can find out more about our mystery fighter."
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Post by madandy on Mar 9, 2018 18:33:59 GMT
Emir nods as he stands up, stretching his long arms above him. "That would seem wise - it seems unlikely that such a warrior would be able to be kept a secret. It strikes me that the centre of this town will likely hold the most people and, as such, would be the best place to ask, no? Come, Uzza, let us see what we can find out."The litte bug nods a little as she puts the finishing touches to her new set of leafy garments (including a wide hat to protect it from the heat and from attacks from above - a reasonable concern for a tiny creature among buildings), rising to her many feet and following Emir. Uzza uses Designer, making clothes resisting Fire and Flying.
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291 posts
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When the world is falling apart, throw a little craziness at it!
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Post by Pandora on Mar 9, 2018 21:45:50 GMT
Finished with their downtime and with a goal in mind, the group walks along the edge of the refreshing oasis as they proceed into Sarabaya proper. Though they pass quite a few houses on the way, not a single resident going about their daily life seems to bat an eye at the travelers who appear just like all the others. That all changes as they approach the town center, as they can hear shouting and hollering before it fully comes into clear view. The rainbow of clothwork hung around the open market pales in comparison to the true liveliness of the town, as vendors and traders with a variety of wares compete for attention. There are even a few dancers showcasing their talents.
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Mar 10, 2018 6:29:34 GMT
Here was a familiar sight, Nora thought as she took in the marketplace. If the group had any money, they'd spent what little they had getting this far, she might be wary of pickpockets. "I think I'll tag along with you two. You're much better at mincing words than I am." And indeed, if that's what Leyl and Emir go for, Nora will follow along with them. She'll occasionally gives bits of advice, helping them to focus their efforts, to be courteous to the locals but don't dither about too much either. Using Focused Training + Leadership to give Leyl and Emir +2 to any skill checks they make
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Post by madandy on Mar 10, 2018 17:36:36 GMT
"As you wish, my lady." Emir nods as he looks around the bustling marketplace. To many people, such a scene would be little more than chaos, but Emir is used to seeing the patterns and flow of a swarm. He looks around, trying to find someone who may be amenable to questions and who they can talk to without too much interruption.
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Mar 10, 2018 17:48:42 GMT
Nora rolls her eyes. "I'm not a Lady anymore, Emir. You know that."
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Post by Nocturne on Mar 10, 2018 19:21:42 GMT
Leyl visibly brightened as the group neared the town center. Being a traveler and salesman himself, he'd spent a lot of time in marketplaces and felt at home in them. He remembered his former nervousness in such loud and vibrant places, before Hasima had taught him how to handle the noise and stress. Judging the colourful cloth strewn about the place with a critical eye, Leyl found he had little to complain about. It was a rainbow of colours, sure, but it was a dazzling one. That's not what Leyl came here to do however, and so he adjusted his posture to make himself look more stately. If he looked important, people would be more amenable to being called on. He'd noticed Emir was looking around. Leyl would let him do the searching for people, the young man had always been rather insightful when it came to other people. When it was time to talk, Leyl could talk as necessary. Guile to look noble: 15 (+2 from Focused Training calculated)
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When the world is falling apart, throw a little craziness at it!
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Post by Pandora on Mar 11, 2018 22:39:54 GMT
It doesn't take Emir long to scan through the busy marketplace and spot some good candidates for questioning. First, a few weapon-carrying individuals stand posted across key locations, no doubt part of Sarabaya's militia. Second, a rather opulently-dressed man is walking up to each vendor, chatting amicably and taking a moment to inspect their goods before moving on. The rest of the people currently around appear to be either foreigners or unremarkable locals.
While Emir is doing that, Nora notices that two adolescent girls, who both look identical in every way except for the number of braids in their hair, are staring lovestruck at Leyl from behind a corner and whispering excitedly.
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Post by madandy on Mar 12, 2018 4:16:15 GMT
Emir blinks a little at Nora's admonishment. "Of course, my apologies, my La- my friend." He clears his throat a little at his slip - he tends towards referring to women he meets in that way out of respect, but is learning to suppress it towards Nora. Though he has not inquired as to the specifics, he's aware she has some... issues regarding such a title.
Refocusing, he waits until the noble-looking man is free before walking up to him, deciding that probing the people with weapons, while not a sure path to trouble, is probably the less desirable option.
"Excuse me, sir!" He calls before stopping a respectable distance in front of the man and giving a formal-looking bow. "Good day, sir. I am Emir Al-Hashara. These are my colleagues Leyl and Nora," he points to each as he says so, "and my attendant, Uzza." He indicates down at his feet, where Uzza peeks out from behind his feet and gives a slight nod. "I apologize if this is improprietous, but I wonder if you might assist us - we are here in this city looking for someone we have heard tell lives here and would appreciate your guidance in the matter."
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Mar 14, 2018 2:44:36 GMT
Nora simply gives a nod and sarcastic smile as Emir introduces them. Standing a couple steps back, she lets the young man talk for now.
Meanwhile she gives gives a sideways glance at the twins eyeing Leyl. "Looks like you've picked up a couple admirers. Keep it up and you'll have your own flock before long."
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Post by Nocturne on Mar 14, 2018 4:33:21 GMT
Leyl mimics Nora's gesture, dipping his head with a friendly smile. Emir had covered the subject matter fairly well, though leaving out who it was the group was looking for. Figuring there was a good reason for this omission, Leyl kept quiet, awaiting a response, when Nora spoke up.
Leyl glanced over, smile frozen on his face. As he looked away, his friendly smile gained a rueful dip. This wasn't quite what I had intended to attract, he thought. At least, as likely locals, we can ask them for help if this man doesn't have the knowledge we seek.
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When the world is falling apart, throw a little craziness at it!
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Post by Pandora on Mar 14, 2018 22:17:26 GMT
The well-mannered man bows to the group in return, taking a quick moment to appraise the new strangers and nodding approvingly, especially at the sight of Leyl, though he seems rather curious about Uzza. "Welcome, Al-Hashara and his colleagues. I am the overseer of this bazaar, Salil. I would be more than pleased to assist you at the moment. Tell me, whom are you seeking?"
As for the twins, they slowly inch closer to Leyl, trying and failing to seem inconspicuous. Despite their combined efforts, most of the locals who've also noticed the girls have rolled their eyes and proceeded to ignore them. One person looks like he's about to say something to Leyl, though he must have changed his mind since he instead walks off quickly.
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Post by madandy on Mar 15, 2018 1:13:00 GMT
Emir nods in appreciation, entirely oblivious to Leyl's new fans.
"I fear we do not have a name to go on, but I hope the description will be enough. We have heard tell of a great warrior who has protected this town for many years. It is entirely possible these rumours were false or did not tell the whole story, but we nevertheless desire to seek him out. As such, any help you feel willing to give would be most appreciated."
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Post by Nocturne on Mar 15, 2018 20:53:00 GMT
Leyl was quite curious about what exactly those twins were planning. They weren't being particularly inconspicuous, but it seemed they like were trying to. If they had bad intentions however, Leyl was sure someone would have spoken up by now. That said, if they got any closer, he would have to intervene. The main reason he wasn't doing so already was that he was currently giving Salil the respect he deserved and waiting for the man to answer Emir, rather than talking to a pair of adolescent twins.
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When the world is falling apart, throw a little craziness at it!
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Post by Pandora on Mar 17, 2018 4:06:15 GMT
The man chuckles slightly before explaining, "Forgive me, but you desire to seek her out, for there is no doubt that warrior is Al-Fajr. Everyone who lives here, save for the littlest ones, knows the legend of her deeds well. However, I cannot guarantee she will welcome an audience with you today. Though she is normally open to visitors, she has been rather unwell as of late. Still, I can give you directions to her family's residence. I would guide you myself, but I must remain here until sundown as part of my duties." Meanwhile, the twins seem to discuss something briefly before straightening themselves and walking in front of Leyl innocently. Well, until they accidentally both trip and fall towards him.
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