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Post by Seya on Jul 12, 2017 14:24:23 GMT
Nolana held her shield closer, throat tightening with emotion at Rydderch's words. The King and Adalind's confidence had inspired her to believe wholly in her own abilities, and those of her teammates, but here she was feeling like a child fresh down from the mountains again and unsure of what lay ahead.
"Oh, Grandmaster..." she started, doing all she could to stop from sniffling. That would not do. "You and the others have taught us brilliantly, you know? I'm sure my companions would agree that we couldn't ask for better years of training. I mean, look at the result." Her gaze wandered to the four other squires--teenagers, really--and she smiled broadly. "I'm not sure anyone's truly ever ready for war, but you've prepared us to fight and survive. I personally am eager to prove to you that your time and effort has paid off."
Lana thought back then to the moment she'd first arrived, when she'd thought Rydderch was the most intimidating man she'd ever seen. The years had worn that impression away--he was still fearsome and beyond impressive, but she liked to think of him and the other instructors as extended family of sorts. It made every day that much easier.
Finally giving into the sniffles, she bowed deep, mostly to hide the wetness in her eyes. "Let us do you proud as well, sir."
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Post by birdy51 on Jul 12, 2017 22:01:32 GMT
Oh sweet, dear sunny Lana! Morgan's eyes caught the watery sensation from her. Did she not know that a women's tears would only make him cry as well! Oh the humanity! The sun did not deserve to be clouded so! "Oh, don't cry not Lana. It's only going to make things harder for me too!"
He wiped a tear from his eyes. Well. Most of that was a half truth.
Cledwyn Rydderch was not a beautiful man. He was a scarred, battle-worn, and positively ancient old soldier. But, he had all the things that looks could never buy, like a steady heart and a warrior's soul. His devotion to duty, even in his advanced age was its own form of majesty. He was a tough master, but he and the other instructor's belief in him is what got Morgan here today. Morgan was always a natural with the bow, but it is them who refined that skill and made it shine. Now, from now on, he would have to keep that skill polished on his own. Morgan shuddered with anticipation.
"We won't let you down sir! I promise you, we'll greet your esteemed face again before the first frost!"
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jul 14, 2017 21:19:53 GMT
Maela swallowed hard. Containing her excitement in front of the king was one thing. It was a lot harder to keep up a pleasant smile listening to the Grandmaster worry about them - and listening to the hint of emotion in the old warrior's voice was almost enough to set her off.
Her own blue eyes were bright, and she blinked a few times to push back the threatening tears that made them shine. It took her a long moment before she could speak with her voice steady. "Of course, Grandmaster. We'll keep each other safe, especially thanks to your training."
She breathed in deeply, her hands falling into a meditative posture on instinct. "Like Morgan said. We'll be seeing you again soon, sir. Count on it."
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Post by amillaiara on Jul 15, 2017 8:02:02 GMT
O promised himself he wouldn't cry after the Grandmasters speech, and was hard pressed to keep that promise especially after everyone else in the group seemed to be crying, or about to cry. With a somewhat cocky grin toward the grandmaster to hide any similar emotion he might be feeling, before responding "But of course Grandmaster. We were trained by the best, and we wouldn't want to have naught to show for it."
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Dec 12, 2017 10:45:02 GMT
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Post by HeadPikachu on Jul 15, 2017 14:11:04 GMT
Everyone was so sad...Amelia, too, felt a powerful tug at her heartstrings hearing this old fart who trained them get all emotional at them finally leaving. Of course, Amy already said goodbye to someone FAR more important in her life, who had raised and trained her for a decade, and who had been like a father to her...Aww, now she was getting sad all over again!
It seemed she wasn't alone, the others getting teary-eyed and choked up at the brief departure between the group and their trainer. She swore she even saw a bit of emotion in O's adorablecocky face! The other girls and also Morgan were getting the worst of it, though, and Amelia was worried that such a sad start to their adventure, especially after such an exciting moment, would be an ill omen...So, she did as she always had: pushed down the bad feelings and forced up the good, focusing on her excitement and joy at getting her new partner to give a bright smile to Grandmaster Rydderch.
"Hey, when we make it back to Virran, we should have a little feast! Maybe have some of the rookies do the hunting as part of their training, too! After all, we'll have plenty to celebrate!" Amy cheerfully suggested, making two things known: they would return, and they would succeed. Everything would be all right, the world would keep turning, and they'd be able to look back on this day with laughter years in the future.
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Post by Zephias on Jul 17, 2017 20:00:13 GMT
Cledwyn Rydderch, Grandmaster of the Tyrshall ______________________________
| "Give 'em hell, ya hear me? An' come back home safe. Ruddy war has been goin' fer long enough alreadey"
The old soldier stood up and took a swig from his hip flask, coughing just a little bit as it went down.
"Well, enough mopein' aroun' an' bein' all sentimental. I didn't want to make all me pupils cry before a big daye. We need ta go back ta Lornas, find some lodgin' for tha night. The five of ya set off tamorrow, wee hours, so we need ta grab yer supplies an' give ya a chance to send missives to yer families. March ho!"
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The party made their way to the bustling city that was Lornas, finding an inn to spend the night in and heading out to obtain rations, supplies and similar. When the sun had set they met back at the inn for an evening meal. [This is some free RP time for you all while I finish moving. Feel free to discuss between your characters and RP, then in a couple days we'll be able to actually move on with the story]
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Post by birdy51 on Jul 18, 2017 12:32:39 GMT
Having finally reached the end of the day, Morgan slipped into a chair and collapsed. These madcap days were moving so fast. Sitting down like that this was a true blessing, like pretty girls and fine food! Granted, this meal was far from the finest one could enjoy. But, it was something. Now that his quiver was full of arrows, he was eager to get down to the more important business of life.
Gossip!
"That lady Adalind was truly wonderful wasn't she? Goodness! I could hardly speak, lest I be consumed by her rapturous beauty!" He laid his head down onto the table and loosed a heavy sigh. "Oh... I hope we do get back quickly..."
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Feb 27, 2023 22:33:22 GMT
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Post by Seya on Jul 19, 2017 16:59:45 GMT
Lana giggled at Morgan's words. "You would have been looking at Lady Adalind, wouldn't you?. Personally, I was more concerned with keeping face in front of the king." She flushed slightly, voice lowering. "Do you really think they believe in us? I mean-- I'm confident, and it's one thing to hear it from our teachers... but the king."
She fiddled with her shield again, then sighed and set it aside, reaching instead for the little pearl-like bead containing her newest companion. "I suppose it's nigh time we met properly. What do you guys say to introducing our old friends to our new ones once supper's done?"
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jul 19, 2017 22:58:51 GMT
Maela had spent most of her shopping time making sure she had the basics and laying in a good supply of medicines. Sure, the Midvall Crescent was settled enough, but not every village had a healer, and in any case it would be a different story once they reached the forest. It never hurt to be prepared, especially since she fully intended to be sharing with the rest of the group, too.
Now it was time to relax before starting out on their first quest! Maela wasn't sure how she was going to get to sleep tonight. She hid a smile as Morgan waxed rhapsodic about Lady Adalind. "I was a little too distracted by our quest to stare too much at Lady Adalind. We're almost there!"
She gave Lana a reassuring smile. "If they didn't believe in us, they wouldn't be sending us." Sure, with most of the army at the front, keeping a watch on Orias's barrier, there weren't a lot of other options, but if there hadn't been some faith that the five of them would pull it off, why bother sending them rather than trying to come up with something, anything else? "They're certainly counting on us now."
She reached up to touch her own beads, strung on her necklace. "Introducing our Pokémon sounds like a good idea, though. The stable yard, maybe? Somewhere we won't frighten the other guests."
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Dec 12, 2017 10:45:02 GMT
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Post by HeadPikachu on Jul 21, 2017 1:19:29 GMT
Amelia's shopping trip was short and sweet, just getting the basics and really, REALLY avoiding getting Peaches this adorable little pet collar she saw in the market...Even though it was a two-for-one deal and getting her newest partner one too would've been SO CUTE! But alas, she saved her money and was 'responsible.' So boring.
The mage rejoined the group as they were talking about the mission and introducing their partners to each other, completely missing Morgan waxing poetic about Adalind, which was clearly the best part of the night. Unlike the others, Amy had gone shopping with Peaches out and about, though she hadn't really gotten any funny looks; Snubbull was a fairly common pet, Peaches herself was well-cared for and snuggly, and until you saw her in battle most people wouldn't assume she was a highly trained combat companion. Now, once she evolved it would be another story, but Amy would worry about that later.
"Oh, that sounds nice! Fang and Peaches should get along great! And we can make sure everyone else plays nice together, too!" Amy enthused, playing with her beads. "Oh, but maybe we should eat first? I'm starving!" She suggested, waving down a waitress.
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Post by Seya on Jul 21, 2017 15:45:55 GMT
Lana laughed. "Yes, food first, of course! I'll have to ask around later about recipes for food to make on to go. Not going to have many options when it comes to what I can make on the road, but it'd be nice to vary up the rations now and then."
When the waitress came by, Lana was quick to order root vegetable soup and a quarter-loaf of rye bread, then asked for a pitcher of water for the table. "Probably best to avoid drinking anything heavy, and sweet juices will have me up all night, personally. Say, do any of you have experience with gathering wild plants? I suppose that'll be more relevant now. I'm only really familiar with the gardens around here, and the mountains back home. I hope I'll be able to forage for something healthy."
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Post by birdy51 on Jul 21, 2017 19:08:00 GMT
"Lana, you could make a rock taste good. I'm sure you'll be fine! You cook better than anyone I know." Morgan chirps. It was true after all. Out of all of them, Lana had made the best meals. With a bit of work, she could one day create some truly gorgeous gourmet meals. She certainly cooked better than some people he knew. That poor Unzefezant! Such a beautiful bird. So poorly cooked. Fowl and rubbery. Following Lana's intuition, Morgan ordered the same root soup and leaned his head down onto the table.
"To be honest, I'm not prepared to introduce Fleur to Lizarda tonight. Fleur is already clingy when I try to converse with your dashing personas, so I can only imagine what will happen when she learns I have adopted yet another lizard." He groans. Oh folly! Maybe he should leave it to the hands to introduce them to each other instead.
"Besides," He added. "They may believe in us, but because of that, this will probably be the last time we all get to relax like this for a while."
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Post by amillaiara on Jul 21, 2017 21:41:40 GMT
O's shopping took a while since he was choosing things he needed over what he wanted to get, but he finally decided on what would help him, and hopefully his friends before finally getting back to the inn. His stomach rumbled loudly as he took a seat with the others, catching the tail end of the exciting conversations that had been going on. "I might be able to find some edible plants, although I'll have to leave the cooking to you Lana. Unless you want me to turn the food into poison." He joked as he ordered the same soup with bread that Lana had ordered.
"I'm not sure how Bryn would take it if I were to introduce him to Nimbus. Hopefully he'll take it well though, I wouldn't want them to fight, I can't see that going well for either of them." O replies as he pulls out both Nimbus and Bryn's beads, and looks them over before putting them away.
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Post by Seya on Jul 22, 2017 20:52:41 GMT
Lana goes a bit pink at Morgan's praise, before nodding eagerly at O. "Any help will do. Perhaps you'd be able to teach me a thing or two about finding the edible ones while we're out there... I suppose it is something I should put a little bit more time into learning."
She sips at her soup for a while, trying to figure out the herbs the cooks used. The carrots were delicious and sweet, and the broth so thick she'd nearly call it gravy. I wonder how hard it would be to come by flour, she wonders with a frown. Unless there were grain farms along the way, it might be a while until they'd have the luxuries of fresh bread and thick stews again.
"I suppose I should come up with a name for my new partner," she mumbles aloud, after listening to some of the others' plans and names. She still wasn't confident around most pokemon--giving them names didn't come easy. "She did look rather soft, so... maybe Chlua?" The last word curled from her lips in her native dialect. "A pillow. I hope she'll like such a name."
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jul 24, 2017 1:12:05 GMT
As the others discussed how their companions were likely to react, Maela mused, "I tried to go for a calm-looking partner, so she shouldn't frighten Arwain too much. But it's so hard to get a good read on a Pokémon when they're confined to a glyph." Especially when she was trying not to hold things up for everyone else. She really was concerned about Arwain's reaction to her new companion, though - though Arwain was unlikely to shy in a battle, off the field she was a timid thing. Even around a creature as relatively nonthreatening as a Woobat. "I'll have to see how she reacts, of course, but I think I like Clòimhe for my new companion. All that fuzz."
She chuckled quietly. "Be careful or you'll have us flattering you into taking cooking duty every night." Maela's own cooking skills were serviceable at best; she was unlikely to produce anything outright inedible, but Lana was always so much better. Maela had other things to focus on.
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Post by Zephias on Jul 26, 2017 1:28:36 GMT
~First Tale: The Search for Gwenhael~ The next morning, after some much-needed sleep at one of the local inns, the party found themselves at the city gates and overlooking the grassy hills of the Lornan countryside. Their instructors bode adieu, again wishing them the best of luck in their quest and recommending caution. With them gone in their trek back to the Tyrshall in Virran, the party was left to their own thoughts.
The wind swept through the grasslands as oxen carts and travelers crossed them, taking Gwyddel's Road towards Midvall and the Crescent. There, in the gate between stone and barley, was where the group had to decide their plan and path towards the forests of the Crescent.
The grass rustled, almost as if shivering in anticipation and knowledge of what was to come.
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Post by birdy51 on Jul 26, 2017 12:00:36 GMT
"Breathe deep Morgan. This is it."
Golden fields aglow with shimmering grain, dancing in the wind. This place was beautiful, and reminded him of home. But, being this close to their final destination meant that Morgan could no longer give way to thoughtless reverie. From here on, it was the mission.
"We should be on guard from here on."Morgan says, shifting his bow from his shoulder to his hands. "This place may seem safe, but wild Pokémon could be lurking anywhere."
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jul 28, 2017 22:16:35 GMT
"Right, just like you say. Keep sharp, everybody." The broad, rolling fields of grass reminded Maela of the desert's sand dunes... but without the looming threat of a sandstorm. Or of a lurking Garchomp. The clear horizon and the gentle rustle of the fields make for a far calmer scene.
"Hm... I'll admit I'm not the most familiar with this part of the kingdom. Does anyone know anything to recommend one road over any other?" They had their starting point, here, and their destination in the woods, but as to the broad stretch of land in between... one of the others was sure to make a better navigator; Maela's sense of direction was sadly not her strong point. She was more at home at a debate table than in the wild.
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Post by amillaiara on Jul 29, 2017 15:49:22 GMT
"I think our best bet would be to take Gwyddel's Road to Midvall. We can stock up on any last minute supplies there before we head into the Crescent and the Forest beyond." O. says from where he stood watching the carts and travelers also heading to or from Midvall. All the fields was a lot different the the gently rolling grasslands he knew of, at least their was probably a lessened chance of running into wild pokemon near the maintained roads and fields.
"That is unless you want me to try and find us a route straight there. Spending the whole time in the wilderness probably wouldn't be our smartest move though."
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Post by Seya on Jul 29, 2017 16:47:39 GMT
Although Lana remembered going over local geography in her lessons, as soon as they stepped out of the urban spaces and into rolling fields, she couldn't for the life of her get her bearings. She stayed quiet through discussions of direction, staring out over the expanse of grass. It was nothing like home, and home seemed further away than ever.
"Whatever you think is best, O," she says with a smile after he makes his suggestions. "This... pathfinding business always makes me confused. It does seem smart to limit our time trudging through those high grasses, though."
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