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Post by ZaRenkinjutsushi on Aug 9, 2006 14:16:55 GMT 12
Jyuken listened to Leonne with a keen ear, but never realized the Pale Ash Amulet was real; he only thought they were rumors. As she finished, he was glad to hear she would take occasional detours. "Alright then, so do you have any leads on the Amulet? 'Cause if we ever get the chance, I'd like to pass Yazuac to... to complete some unfinished buisness." He caught a glimpse of another woman in the middle of the brick-like street staring blankly at them. Quitely he whispered, "Who is that, and why is she staring...?"
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Post by Thermite on Aug 9, 2006 16:08:05 GMT 12
Leonne racked her brain, trying to remember Yazuac's location. A day's walk from Farcestone, so it would be a likely place for their next inn. Leonne liked to avoid camping outside whenever possible. She looked at Jyuken for a moment and answered, "I might have a lead. And as for that girl, she's gone." Leonne chuckled and nodded over to the blank space.
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Post by ZaRenkinjutsushi on Aug 9, 2006 18:35:20 GMT 12
Jyuken glanced over where the girl had been standing. Somehow she had dissapeared without a trace, despite the fact that he had let his eyes off her for only a second. Letting the thought leave his mind Jyuken quickly began to think about Yazuac. Yazuac... At Yazuac Castle he could finally recieve the revenge he deserved so rightously and take what rightfully belonged to him. Jyuken stared blankly at the ground, wondering how to plan his vengence. He felt Leonne watching him, so the calm yet newly annointed swordsman sighed, "Alright then. But since this is your crusade, what do you want to do now?"
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Post by Thermite on Aug 10, 2006 3:57:02 GMT 12
Leonne looked at the tiny pieces of hail that surrounded her feet. The rain hadn't let up one bit. Quickly she glanced around and spotted an armory. She gestured for Jyuken to follow. The young swordswoman entered with a rap at the door. Leonne waved at the busy blacksmith hammering away at the anvil. He grunted and jerked his head towards a shelf near the back of the room.
Leonne took a blade off and knocked her knuckle against the metal. "Iron, no. Steel... stronger than that. Feels like a longsword quality but... ah. It's a silver claymore. Not very manuverable with, but it packs a wallop." She quickly ran her index finger against the edge and stared at the crimson trail trickling off her finger. "Ow."
Leonne offered, "4 gold and 68 silver and 10 bronze." She walked over and held out the money. The blacksmith stared at her and nodded slowly. "Pleasure doing business with you, Cid." He smirked and let out a small chuckle. Leonne took her new sword and strapped it to her back. "Hey, Jyuken. You can either get a new sword or have my old one. Take your pick."
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Percival
New Member
"Swordsman of Gale"
Posts: 30
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Post by Percival on Aug 10, 2006 4:30:27 GMT 12
Percival jerked to the right in his sleep. He felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Dammit... Borus, Roland, Christopher, no! Fall back... fall back, dammit!" He shot up off his bed and blinked. Sunlight seeped into his reddened eyes. The merciless knight glanced to the right. On a chair beside his desk was his armor. He slipped it on and made his way downstairs.
A daring maid greeted Percival with a small hello. Percival retorted with a challenging glare and the maid instantly faltered. "People shouldn't even try, pfft." He looked around at the stone interior and stared out a window. "A simple bluejay owns more freedom than one such as myself. Pawn of the monarchy..." Percival knew not of what happened prior to two years ago. He didn't really care. So long as he was fed and alive, did it truly matter?
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Post by ZaRenkinjutsushi on Aug 10, 2006 7:05:17 GMT 12
Jyuken responded with a sigh. "No, I'd rather keep my own blade. Besides, I'll be getting my most treasured sword over at Yazuac." Yet despite that he decided to take a quick look at all the other finely crafted swords. Jyuken only saw a few which could match the quality of his. 'I could make better swords... but not with as much hard work as Cid's.'
Besides that, there wasn't anything else to do there. So Jyuken took leave and led Leonne and himself out of the armory. After taking a few steps, his stomach growled ravenously. "Oh. I'm hungry. You mind if we stock on rations before we do anything else?"
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Post by Thermite on Aug 10, 2006 7:13:15 GMT 12
Leonne nodded and looked around, contemplating whether or not she would head back to the tavern or searching for a more suitable establishment. She sighed and decided that a proper restaurant was required. "I'm pretty sure we can find something at the market square. There is fruit and fish and we can preserve any we don't eat. I have a craving for salmon, speaking of which." She took the lead once more and absent-mindedly went into thought.
If we are to visit Yazuac Castle, we may run into their infamous stealth archer - Percival the Heartless, they call him. Not because he's a ruthless killer, but because nothing can phase his stoic outlook. Sounds like an interesting quest. Perhaps another potential... 'acquaintance'. Yes. Having him help would do my cause good, heh. Two years as a knight... something about that sounds suspicious.
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Post by ZaRenkinjutsushi on Aug 10, 2006 8:12:36 GMT 12
Finally Jyuken would be able to eat a decent meal; usually he had no money and ate at the local hostel. Relieved Jyuken trailed behind Leonne as she entered the Market Square, all while planning his assault.
His primary target was the master swordsman and Alchemist, Ryohei Akane, mentor of the infamous Percieval "the Heartless". Since Ryohei usually took refuge in and trained swsordsman and Alchemist at the Yazuac Castle Training Grounds, he'd have to find a way to sneak into the castle. 'I think I can use my Alchemy to make an underground pathway... all I need are the Castle construction plans.' And from there, it'd be...
He hoped Leonne wasn't looking at him, for he witheld a blank stare and an absent-minded walk as he thought. Swiftly he changed positions and began to stroll in his usually collected demeanor.
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Percival
New Member
"Swordsman of Gale"
Posts: 30
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Post by Percival on Aug 10, 2006 8:18:58 GMT 12
Percival glanced into the knights' mess hall and dodged a bowl of gruel meant for the guard standing beside him. He scoffed and stared at the guard with a mediorce sense of camaraderie; a slight pity. The guard returned the look with a mix of fear and gratitude. Percival shrugged as if he had never payed any attention to the patrol. He walked over to the rowdy bunch and slammed his fist on their table. Instantly they hushed and Percival went on his way.
Percival looked over his shoulder and stated, "The next time someone dares to critize the work of our security and/or patrol force, it's the sword at their necks." He continued walking away, but not before a spry recruit nervously murmured, "He spoke more than a phrase..." The recruit's more experienced companion ribbed him and silenced the boy.
Percival blinked unphased and leaned against a wall in a shadowy corner. He clutched his forehead and winced. "Damned nightmares. Akane-sama won't let me live it down if I'm late because of a lack of sleep. Feh. Once more I abandon a decent breakfast."
Percival stared at his leather armor, so different from the clanking steel his comrades wore. As the only stealth archer in Yazuac's patrol unit - there was the patrol unit, scout unit, infantry unit, and the royal guards - a lot was expected of Percival. He left without a sound, unsheathing his poisoned dagger with a blank expression.
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Post by Thermite on Aug 10, 2006 8:43:05 GMT 12
Leonne grimaced as she recalled another tidbit of information. The knights of Yazuac had a renowned spellsword, Ryohei Akane. The name rang a bell and Leonne couldn't help but chuckle. Sure, to the public eye he was Percival's sword mentor, but to the Mercenary's Guild, Akane had a darker secret. Leonne came from the faction: Solemn Murmurs. It was one of the higher-up stations of the Mercenary's Guild.
From her time as a sellsword, Leonne knew many things about many people. Venom-Seether Akane... an assassin in his younger years. Alchemist, bah! He used to mix up poisons. I wouldn't be surprised if that stealth archer was let in on certain poisons for his arrows and dagger. ...rumors say despite his heartless'ness', nobody has heard him speak over a phrase or order. Far from an open book, that infamous archer is.
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Post by ZaRenkinjutsushi on Aug 10, 2006 11:23:15 GMT 12
After buying a pack filled with fruits, vegetables, meats, and other necessities for the trip, Jyuken began to dig into a loaf or bread. It melted slowly in his mouth as he savored the plain flavor. While Leonne and himself strolled down Farcestone's main street, Jyuken questioned, "All right, should we stay here longer, or do you want to leave now?" He then took a look at the town bulletin and spotted something that scared him.
Jyuken looked at a sign with his picture at the top and text that read: Jyuken Ryzare, Age 15 Wanted for assasination of his own family and theft Is extremely unstable and very dangerous Reward: 5000 Gold Coins Posted by Ryohei Akane
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Post by Thermite on Aug 10, 2006 11:29:02 GMT 12
Leonne ripped off the flier and glanced it over. She compared the information with what she knew and smirked. "The assassin is now the hero eh? Venom-Seether, for shame." Leonne glanced over her shoulder at Jyuken and chuckled. She tore the flier in half and let her aura flow rush into the paper. It froze instantly and shattered when Leonne dropped it onto the ground. "Oops. My bad."
She took a bite of her newly bought apple and savored the taste. Juice trickled down her throat, keeping her a few moments from being parched. "Let's get out of here before the patrol forces show up. Then again... I hear Percival's unit deals with warrants like this. I want to meet this heartless man, see what's so great about him..."
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Percival
New Member
"Swordsman of Gale"
Posts: 30
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Post by Percival on Aug 10, 2006 11:35:33 GMT 12
Percival stared at the green shimmer on his blade and pressed his back against the wall. He heard the ramblings of a tired odd man, rattling about another criminal on the loose. Ryohei was going senile. Percival shrugged lightly and quietly pushed open the door to his mentor's quarters. He waited for the old man to come out.
Nobody would come. Nobody watched over the knights' quarters. Perfect.
The moment Percival saw someone, he plunged his dagger forth and his eyes sparkled with excitement. "So, how's the poison treating you, Akane-sama?" Percival smirked, finally showing a hint of emotion.
Ryohei Akane coughed and fell to his knees. He collapsed and muttered, "Apprentice, you are now a master... of poisons... You carry the antidote...?"
"Yes. But you won't be receiving it. I'm out of here. The knight's life just isn't for me. I'm thinking more along the lines of the Mercenary's Guild. Ebon Slash faction. They kill as many as need be for contracts..." Ryohei chuckled lightly before closing his eyes. "...oh, you want me to find that boy? Ryzare? Pfft. Fine. Whatever..."
Percival glanced back at the man's fresh corpse. He always loved a good challenge and placed his poisoned dagger by his body. "Let the knights of Yazuac come. I'll slaughter them like the lambs they are!"
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Post by ZaRenkinjutsushi on Aug 10, 2006 11:56:26 GMT 12
Jyuken sighed with relief as Leonne destroyed the flier with... ice magic. So she used magic too. Besides that, Jyuken wanted to get out of Farcestone as soon as possible. Yet from what he mustered Leonne wanted to stay to meet Percival. Jyuken tried not to make his slight fear evident and overlaid it with a cool expression. He knew he was going to be followed because of this, and slightly regreted taking Leonne's offer; she could be in trouble, too. "Can we please leave now? The guards are probably looking for me now... probably even Percieval."
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Post by Thermite on Aug 10, 2006 12:02:52 GMT 12
Leonne glanced back at Jyuken and smiled softly. She caught a few drops of rain in her hand and watched them turn into ice crystals. A laugh escaped her lips. She looked over to the battalion advancing towards them. "Yeah, we should get out of here. Actually, on second thought, you take the alleyways. I'll catch up."
Leonne shoved Jyuken on his way and sauntered up to the patrols. "Why hello there. I don't mean to bother you but-"
The leader of the battalion retorted, "Not now, ma'am. We're looking for a criminal in this very town."
Leonne wiped her eyes and sniffed. "B-but... It's my brother! H-he was attacked. Just now. O-over by the tavern. P-please, sir!" She fell to her knees and began to cry. The patrol guards looked at her and gulped.
"V-very well. You three, go help her. The rest... one, two... come with me!"
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