Lightning crashes over the Arcane Alliance Tower. Lenara Tosen was last seen entering the tower in the company of Archmage Lumina some 30 hours ago.
A cackling laughter can be heard on the wind, even in the middle of a Threshold storm.
“Yes! YES! I’ve done it!”
A few hours after the storm passes an exhausted appearing Len would emerge held by Val and wrapped in a small blue and teal patient gown and a cloak around her shoulders as she is carried back to Verge.
She sleeps in his arms but those that pay close enough attention would notice at times the cloak around her moves slightly around the middle of her back around her shoulders area along with a green glow that seems to emanate from either her or the cloak. You would assume she was shrugging if not for being passed out in his arms.
Post by Mrgrumble on Sept 28, 2020 13:22:17 GMT 10
A uniformed Templar of the Darq Church has been sighted travelling via Luln astride a huge black destrier - a large, adolescent Dire Wolf padding alongside the horse.
Entering the town from the North-West, he continued on toward Fort Doom, apparently returning from a short leave of absence. He was not accompanied by any other persons.
Post by Troubletcat on Dec 9, 2020 11:21:49 GMT 10
Passing by Tarnskeep today, one might notice that the soldiers drilling in the courtyard seem more sluggish than usual. Several of them are sporting black eyes or bruises. A mage with dark red hair stands on the battlement overlooking the courtyard sipping a steaming mug of coffee, a somewhat bemused expression on her face.
"Perhaps this is actually good for relations?"
Last Edit: Dec 9, 2020 11:21:59 GMT 10 by Troubletcat
Rumours from as far from Ylaruam reach the ears of those listening and the tale it tells is a strange one.
A giant castle appeared overnight nearby the house of Ajamar, the strangest thing is how it was made so quickly and how is it so stable when it is made from SAND.
Laughter can be heard from within and those watching might even see glimpses of wings and a rather large Fey run by quickly with something in her hands.
Moments later a small hand reaches out and places a flag on top of the tallest sand tower and a single jubilant cry is heard. “Long live Flappyville!” With that the figure dashes off and is not seen again.
//ooc It is silly and can be destroyed by those who wish it. This was a maddening moment brought to you by a too much free time Hin. As for how it sprung up overnight? MAGIC!
Rumours from as far from Ylaruam reach the ears of those listening and the tale it tells is a strange one.
A giant castle appeared overnight nearby the house of Ajamar, the strangest thing is how it was made so quickly and how is it so stable when it is made from SAND.
Laughter can be heard from within and those watching might even see glimpses of wings and a rather large Fey run by quickly with something in her hands.
Moments later a small hand reaches out and places a flag on ltop of the tallest sand tower and a single jubilant cry is heard. “Long live Flappyville!” With that the figure dashes off and is not seen again.
//ooc It is silly and can be destroyed by those who wish it. This was a maddening moment brought to you by a too much free time Hin. As for how it sprung up overnight? MAGIC!
Luminescent Technologies™ deny any involvement in the formation of "Flappyville". If you would like to know more about our "theoretical" line of geo-transforming products, please speak to one of our representatives in Highforge.
Mara is seen standing outside her store for once, flanked by guards. The door is shut, and a big banner, never seen says "Closed". Marshal Nassus and Captain Nguyen from Tarnskeep walk into town and shake hands at the foot of the ramp with Jericho.
The town does feel, surprisingly quiet for once.
Then the golden haired Marshal and dark Captain approach Mara's to receive an openly unwrapped and obvious parcel for all to see. Black Eagle Armor, contraband.
They exchange receipts, paperwork, financial restitution and Mara stomps back inside, furiously. She stays shut for longer than would be financially viable for the keen businesswoman.
Allowing Nassus and Nguyen to return to Threshold, silent and grim message of disappointment to all who pass them. No questions are answered.
A late night training session goes awry, Miss Ashbourne and the famed Kyrus are at slight odds. Zaire runs to find someone, anyone who can intercede and finds Tatienne in training. Who dons a quick one shouldered cover and attends to the issue.
Kyrus: Studying helps you improve musical technique.
Leokadia Ryba: I kinda just pray for magic things to happen, like, but I really mean it.
Kyrus: The magic? That just comes with practice. No books, no tutors.
Kyrus: Heya, Tati. Nice dress.
Tatienne Delacroix: I threw it on, someone said Kyrus was harassing the nobility.
Lysandra Ashbourne: You mean like just as you learn music it somehow learns itself?
Kyrus: Pffft, I never harass.
Kyrus: If you have the talent, it just kind of comes.
Tatienne Delacroix: *she gazes around with heavy lidded eyes, she is sheened with glitter coated sweat. Beneath her gown she is wearing odd block toed shoes*
Lysandra Ashbourne: Lady Tatienne *nods*
Kyrus: Errrr, maybe not the best phrasing
Kyrus: Also, Miss Ashbourne just won't cut it.
Kyrus: What's your full name?
Kyrus: I mean, no one is going to come listen to Miss Ashbourne.
Tatienne Delacroix: *tries to subtly keep warm, stretching her feet beneath the large gown, standing on one toe and then the other* Ashbourne is a very alluring and dark moniker. Kyrus: Gotta lose the Miss
Lysandra Ashbourne: Lysandra Ashbourne
Kyrus: Hmmm, we can work with that.
Kyrus: Lyssa Ash
Tatienne Delacroix: She needs passion.
Leokadia Ryba: *sits cross-legged, her underwear easily visible*
Kyrus: I like it.
Leokadia Ryba: Ly Sassborn.
Lysandra Ashbourne: Is Kyrus your real name or a stage name?
Kyrus: Stage name
Leokadia Ryba: *she shakes her head at her own suggestion*
Tatienne Delacroix: *tilts her head back and forth, rolling her neck as she listens carefully to their back and forth*
Kyrus: Well, I don't actually have a real name, so . .. both? *grins*
Tatienne Delacroix: I too, chose my first name.
Lysandra Ashbourne: You sound like Nohai.
Kyrus: Nah, I wasn't banished.
Tatienne Delacroix: Styled after the greatest mage in the universe, Etienne D'Ambreville. *is serious*
Kyrus: Oh, I didn't know that!
Lysandra Ashbourne: Your parents didn't name either of you?
Tatienne Delacroix: We are both abandoned.
Kyrus: Ah, my parents dumped me out on my arse.
Tatienne Delacroix: Glantri, it is common. Perfection, is required.
Leokadia Ryba: Some people espouse their past, and carve a new self for their future.
Kyrus: Why dwell on the past? I've made a good life as Kyrus, so Kyrus I am.
Leokadia Ryba: Not me though. I'm "okay" with my name.
Leokadia Ryba: *laughs at herself*
Lysandra Ashbourne: I've always been Miss Ashbourne. I had few friends close enough to call me Lysandra.
Tatienne Delacroix: Lovers?
Kyrus: Well, you could stand to loosen up a bit.
Leokadia Ryba: I think it'll happen, in time. Threshold seems to have that effect.
Lysandra Ashbourne: I had a fiance. But it turns out he loved my family's money more than me. He cut me as soon as we got into trouble.
Kyrus: So, we start with the name. I still like Lyssa Ash, or even just Lyssa. Better ideas? Tati?
Kyrus: Ah, a pity.
Tatienne Delacroix: *she purses her slicked, dark lips as if this has answered a very important question* What a cad.
Kyrus: Agreed.
Tatienne Delacroix: Was he at least acceptable in bed?
Tatienne Delacroix: This is relevant.. for the emotion of your work.
Leokadia Ryba: vahazatr aza rejadok.
Lysandra Ashbourne: Uh we weren't married yet!
Kyrus: So?
Tatienne Delacroix: .. Oh darling.
Kyrus: This one needs work!
Lysandra Ashbourne: *flushes*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she stands on both of her toes, seeming to get a foot taller as she thinks, tapping her chin as she paces around like an elegant bird of some sort*
Leokadia Ryba: *seems calm as contemplative as she watches the trio*
Kyrus: I mean, could worth this. Go more for elegance than sexiness.
Kyrus: *work with this
Tatienne Delacroix: She has an appeal.
Tatienne Delacroix: But it needs heart. Whether it seeks love, is rage filled at loss..
Tatienne Delacroix: Joy at finding her wings, perhaps?
Kyrus: Too much apathy right now, that'll work.
Kyrus: Needs to get laid.
Tatienne Delacroix: Petulant sexiness?
Lysandra Ashbourne: I uh suppose nervous tension isn't appropriate as an emotion.
Tatienne Delacroix: I have seen it achieve good results..
Kyrus: Nope
Kyrus: Not for a bard, thnough. Need confidence.
Kyrus: And desire!
Tatienne Delacroix: Kyrus has played for me, as a dancer it was hard to keep the eyes on me.
Leokadia Ryba: Being... selective has an appeal, makes her seem loftier, more out of reach, forbidden.
Kyrus: Pffft, liar. *smiles*
Tatienne Delacroix: Like duelling.. His smoulder.. It blows away a naked women, you know that.
Kyrus: The eyes were always on you.
Tatienne Delacroix: I'm wearing my pre-show clothes..
Lysandra Ashbourne: I can see that he is attractive *blushes* er I mean ...
Tatienne Delacroix: Good. You see it.
Kyrus: But so are you, but you hide behind formality.
Tatienne Delacroix: But you know she brings on that urge to take the pins out of the hair..
Tatienne Delacroix: Like a gentle forbidden flower?
Kyrus: Hmmm, definitely go with the elegant, just out of reach concept.
Lysandra Ashbourne: *smoothes her hair nervously, checking that the pins are intact*
Tatienne Delacroix: Miss Ashbourne, do you get what we mean by heart?
Tatienne Delacroix: I know it is an industry term..
Leokadia Ryba: Being able to see the normally noble types finally fall into the brevity and freedom that comes from having no expectations, to literally let the hair down mid performance...
Tatienne Delacroix: That would be something.
Leokadia Ryba: It is a common story for a reason, the runaway noble, seeking their "bit of fun in the slum"
Lysandra Ashbourne: Passion?
Tatienne Delacroix: Passion, but expelled..
Kyrus: Definitely, passion
Tatienne Delacroix: May I dance for you, Miss Ashbourne? I am extremely out of practice, but I hope perhaps I can illuminate?
Lysandra Ashbourne: Uh with clothes on?
Leokadia Ryba: *scoots over, making room*
Tatienne Delacroix: I have clothes on underneath. I promise I will not be naked.
Tatienne Delacroix: You may stand or sit.
Lysandra Ashbourne: al...alright then.
Kyrus: Pffft, I've heard the tapping. You aren't out of practice.
Kyrus: Okay, what mood? I'll play.
Kyrus: Sensual? Something like Nights in White Satin, maybe?
Tatienne Delacroix: Sudden Desire, if you remember it.
Kyrus: Oh, sure, can do that. *grins*.
Kyrus: *begins to play* ((Sudden Desire - Hayley Williams)) Tatienne Delacroix: *she starts of with one hand on Kyrus shoulder, brushing her cheek against his cheek as she spins away on her toes. The layered white dress flaring out wildly*
Kyrus: *sways slightly as he plays*
Tatienne Delacroix: *petite toe shoe stepping with the beat towards Leokadia, giving her a darkly sensuous smile before she quickly turns to Lysandra*
Leokadia Ryba: *she moves away for a moment, then leaning in*
Kyrus: *clearly matches the music to her movements, as if he's done it before*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she regards the woman lightly, tilting a head to the side, like she is curious and interested, before spinning on the spot and unpinning the gown and reveals a pale cream fishnet bodsuit, stockings and her toe shoes that wrap all the way up her legs* Leokadia Ryba: *whistles*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she raises her arms and draws up all her long shimmery hair, her body is covered in constellation tatoos that are like a second skin of metallic lace*
Kyrus: *doesn't seem phased by the sudden clothing change at all* Lysandra Ashbourne: *looks uncertain where to look, her eyes darting over the various constellations*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she slides down into the splits and just barely, almost touches the hem of Ashbourne's gown as if reverent of her figure*
Tatienne Delacroix: *tilts her chin up and makes direct eye contact for much longer than is proprietary in any culture, rolling backwards to slowly rock on her stomach to flip to standing. She emerges covered in dried rose petals from the debauchery the night before - fitting*
Lysandra Ashbourne: *her pale skin flushes, her hands gripping the folds of her gown tightly*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she touches her chin to her shoulder coyly, lowering her eyes and exposing the gold leafed eyeshadow on her heavy lids. Then raises her right leg until her thigh is against her cheek, stable on her toes but to the sharp eyed there is still a tiny flicker through the muscles at the demarcation of her replaced legs*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she ever so slowly lets it down half way and then lets her body slide into into a graceful one legged double turn away from Lysandra and towards Kyrus in three sweeping movements. Then with one last, longing look over her netted shoulder, she allows the song to come to a close and bows deeply*
Kyrus: *plays a flourish as she turns* Leokadia Ryba: aza muazarowuemile.
Leokadia Ryba: *she claps*
Lysandra Ashbourne: That. That ... was ... hard to describe
Tatienne Delacroix: I was once.. the best.
Kyrus: Ah, been too long.
Lysandra Ashbourne: *seems to be startled out of a haze as Leokadia claps and joins in the applause*
Tatienne Delacroix: *she gathers her gown a little sadly and shakes off the petals as she wraps it around herself with dignity and grace*
Leokadia Ryba: I could see the longing, but... like, it was. Hrm, off? Kyrus: You still got it, babe. *grins*
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 11, 2023 17:01:20 GMT 10
A discussion, or more accurately, argument, is overheard in central Verge and quickly sweeps the rumour mill as it relates to the latest bit of exciting bad romance gossip.
A Darine woman, dressed in the traditional bright colours and jewelery of her people, stalks into Verge, clearly annoyed at something if not outright angry. She seems to be looking for somebody. In fact, anyone paying attention to recent drama would recognise Leokadia and know exactly who she’s looking for.
Today is different. After she walks by the main benches in central Verge, which sat empty, a voice stops her. From one of the main benches in central Verge, which evidently was not so empty. Zeljko rises as he speaks, apparently not wanting to be sitting for this.
“What? What do you want, eh?”
Leo turns to face him. “What happened to ‘malishka’, huh?”
Zeljko just stares at her in response. Waiting for an answer.
“You think you can just pull me into a mess like this and then just vanish? You had the commander of the local garrison knocking on your door the next day! Half of the Eagle sailors look at me like I’m a dead woman walking, don’t think I haven’t noticed! What do I /want/? I want an immortals-praised explanation!”
Zeljko slumps a little. He seems to accept that he’s in the wrong, but there’s also a flash of some deeper hurt in his eyes. “You… should’ve known I didn’t really want to.”
Leokadia looks a little incredulous. “/You/ came onto /me/. The instant you saw me. Now you’re saying, what, I /forced myself/ on you?”
Zeljko raises a hand, somewhat plaintively. “I did, eh, come on first. Da. I flirt with everyone. Usually, eh, nothing happens. I thought maybe you were the same way. But, listen, the things I said on the way back. And the way I said them. You should’ve known I was trying to… talk out of things, somehow. And the way I walked you past the bedroom into the kitchen, like we were really there for drinks, before you turned me around. And hey, look, I’m not trying to push this on you. I know I said ‘Da’ with the way I acted more than ‘Nyet’. Inside, I was… eh… /feeling/ much more ‘Nyet’. Won’t try to explain the disconnect between feeling… and doing… I don’t know why yet myself. Need to… do more… eh, introspection, is a word. But you could’ve seen the ‘Nyet’ if you’d let yourself I think, and decided to pull back instead of egging on, you know?”
Leo just stares at him during this explanation, her expression one of conflicted emotions. Predominantly still righteous anger, but perhaps the faintest twinge of guilt. She seems unable to think of anything to say.
“It’s okay.” Zeljko says after letting her look lay on him a while longer. “You’re right to be angry. Far more my mistake than yours. Far, far more. I should’ve been direct instead of… I don’t know what… hiding my feelings and going along.” He pauses again, seething, seemingly furious, but it’s self-directed anger. “But maybe, eh, I don’t know, try to look out for more warning signs next time.” He pauses again. His normally emotionless eyes are a little wet. “Listen. I don’t really ever want to see you again if I don’t have to. Hurts too much. Sorry for all this.”
Leo appears vaguely incredulous, regards him a few moments more, before storming back out of Verge, muttering in Traladaran about idiot manchildren.
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 18, 2023 17:10:37 GMT 10
This notice has been posted around Threshold and Verge for a few days:
To all adventurers, warriors, wizards, and rogues:
I require assistance for a potentially dangerous task exploring lands unknown to... me anyway, and most likely also the reader of this notice. Due to the totally legitimate nature of transportation I have secured, I am unable to put more details in writing but will explain before we set out.
Aside from the exciting prospect of seeing new lands, this venture may also have significant implications for local wars and politics and governance etc.
Hopefully this has been enough to pique the interest of some vaguely competent characters.
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 19, 2023 0:22:57 GMT 10
The date on the above notice comes and goes. Shortly thereafter, new rumours start to spread:
Apparently access to the island nation of Ierendi, previously shut off due to a combination of rotten weather, war, and mercurial trade restrictions, has been reopened by one sole, enterprising, entirely-above-board trader. According to rumors she was able to acquire the necessary legal documents to sail to Ierendi through entirely legitimate means. She sails out of Sulescu, currently offering the only access to the island nation.
Rumor has it that the Penhaligon Merchant's Consortium and Highforge are both interested in establishing transit links with Ierendi as well, via teleport and airship respectively. But each have hit roadblocks in this process.
Perhaps enterprising adventurers could investigate the matter, resolve these issues, and enable more convenient access to the island nation...
But, even with the inconvenience of needing to travel to the remote village of Sulescu, adventurers from Karameikos have already begun to flock to Ierendi, which is rumored to contain types of magical items unlike anywhere else, and very large frogs, among other delights.
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 20, 2023 15:33:28 GMT 10
A Karameikan Naval Vessel arrives in Ierendi carrying medical supplies, clerics and wizards skilled in the treatment of sicknesses, and able-bodied sailors and soldiers who busy themselves helping with hurricane repairs.
Despite the presence of several Black Eagle ships in the waters around Ierendi, the KDF vessel appears to have made it through mostly unscathed. The hull is scratched and dented in a few places. A few small rips in the sails. A couple of the sailors bear evidence of minor injuries.
Experienced sailors would recognise the damage to ship and crew as being typical of grapeshot cannonballs being fired from well outside their effective range. Almost as if the engaging ship was merely making a show of attacking.
Last Edit: Nov 20, 2023 15:42:42 GMT 10 by Troubletcat
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 20, 2023 23:09:12 GMT 10
Verge is abuzz once again with romance gossip, this time of a more positive sort.
Bellamy and Zeljko were seen returning to town together, clearly happy in each other's company. They spent a little time in Verge before going to a house in Threshold East which had been taken off the market a couple of weeks ago, shortly after Bellamy had left Karameikos.
The clerics of Valerias, who had been making vague noises of discontent over the seeming failed connection and the events that caused it are clearly pleased. The Eagle sailors, who had been a bit on edge since the signs warning of their possible eviction had been installed, seem significantly more chipper, even having a small party in central Verge to celebrate the return of their erstwhile (perhaps) crewmate. The Cassanites just seem a little jealous, although in a good-natured way.
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 22, 2023 0:00:15 GMT 10
Zeljko walks out of the Church of Traladara in Threshold East, heads over to the soup area, where Bellamy is waiting for him.
"So, how did it go?" She asks.
"Was, eh, kind of different than I expected. Thought he'd like, scold me or something, for losing faith. Some of the elders in the village would have, you know? But eh, he just sort of listened for a while. I told him what happened. Not everything you know, but the big picture. And he just sort of said, like, eh, he understood, you know? That if it had happened to him, he'd be angry too, probably questioning his own faith. Didn't expect that. Then he asks me, you know, how I feel about Zirchev. And I tell him, you know, Zirchev wasn't there either he can go with the rest of them.
The priest though, he says, eh, actually, he thinks Zirchev *was* there. Zirchev, you know, he wouldn't have been able to come down and fight off all the Eagles. He's not a great warrior like Halav and Petra. He's a sneaky guy, a trickster, a schemer. The priest, you know, he says 'I bet Zirchev helped you get away with his tricks and his blessings of stealth and the woods. Helped Svetlana get away and find you again. Would've saved everyone if he could've, but he couldn't, so he probably, you know, used that big scheming brain of his, and his wisdom, and decided who to save somehow, in a way that made sense. And I don't know why he picked you and not your brother or your best friend, but maybe you could ask him. And if you're too mad to talk to Halav or Petra right now, about, you know, why they weren't there to save the rest, you could maybe just talk to Zirchev about that too, for now. They're all friends, you know, so maybe he can tell you something.'
And eh, the way he said it, I don't know, kind of seemed to make sense. Then he cast some blessing on me, told me it would make things a bit lighter, said I should come back when it wore off and we'd talk again."
The conversation continued, of course, but nobody could hear the rest on account of the bowl-washer starting a power-cycle.
Post by Troubletcat on Nov 25, 2023 0:35:32 GMT 10
A recently arrived refugee in Verge has an interesting story to tell from Luln.
Apparently, a number of small, pitch-black boxes were delivered to the town in the night. Left on the doorsteps of Luln militia patrolmen and a small number of actual Black Eagle under-officers residing in Verge. The cake recipients were people known to the refugee (and others from Luln) as particularly brutal on patrols, fond of doling out beatings, of taking even more belongings as 'tax' than most, and consigning peasants to the dungeons under any pretext they could find. Each box came with the same note pinned to the top under a pitch-black ribbon. The refugee managed to snag one of the notes and brought it with them to Verge. This is what it said:
Greetings!
From Verge! From Ierendi! From Port Hendriks, and here in Luln, and anywhere else you might try to hide!
Know that I am watching, and I know what you do!
My respects and concerns are for the people who are made to hide in the dark, or who find themselves beneath a steel-toed boot! All of these are my friends and allies, and I do look out for my friends!
By way of greeting, please enjoy this wonderful Cake Delivery I have provided! Know that I will be in touch with each of you again very soon!
-The Shrouded Prince
The boxes did indeed contain dark chocolate cakes. Almost black. Topped with halved cherries in the deep, dark red of venous blood.
The recipients, of course, see the obvious threat, and suspect the cakes to be poisoned. So rather than eating them, they give the cakes to the children of Luln.
Far from being poisoned, the cakes are, by all reports, exquisite. Several of the children who had a slice were reportedly seen crying tears of joy, and suffered no ill effects whatsoever, much to the chagrin of the original recipients of the boxes. Uncharacteristically, despite the embarrassment, they don't take any retribution against the townsfolk, seemingly unsure of what to make of the bizarre occurrence.
Last Edit: Nov 25, 2023 0:37:28 GMT 10 by Troubletcat