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Dragons of Estaria

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Dragons of Estaria Empty Dragons of Estaria

Post by Machine Man Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:03 pm

By the light of a fire in the hearth a trio of aged men spoke, their quiet tones muted even further by the elaborate decorations surrounding them. From the opulent furs on the floor to the large tapestries hanging on the walls, the entire space garnered a sense of respect for both the wealth of its design and the silence it invoked. The men spoke just loud enough to be heard over the occasional crackling of the fire, as if speaking too loudly might have extinguished the flame.

“That thing is getting closer each day we delay. If we do not call for aid soon, it will be too late. Our city will burn.” Xender tapped his pipe on the edge of the table, sending the spent remnants of burnt tobacco to the floor and accentuating his words over the conversation.

“Yes, but we are talking about bringing one of them here,” replied Desdern, his elbows resting on the small wooden table as he leaned forward. “They’re no better than the beasts they hunt. Just assumed kill you as look at you. Money-hungry monsters is all they are.”

The others seemed to share Desdern’s concerns, though it was obvious that each of them wrestled with the same thoughts.

“If we do not call for the Dakir’s help, there will be no one left for them to kill. The dragon and his horde will have taken care of all of us in quick order.” Xender struck a match and lit his pipe after speaking the solemn warning.

“What purpose does an army serve if not to defend the city and its people? We could send them out to meet our enemy while the rest of us make our escape.” Desdern’s suggestion was not popular, but he was not alone either.

“I for one could never live with that shame, knowing we sent our soldiers to die while we, ourselves, fled into the night like robbers. We should call the Dakir. If they kill us, it’ll be no different from the host of monsters at our border.”

The third man, whose silence had not gone unnoticed by the other two, stroked his long beard in quiet contemplation. He’d heard both sides, but the decision rested on his shoulders. Laslo cleared his throat and sat erect in his chair, speaking for the first time the entire evening.

“We will call for aid. Anyone who wishes to leave now… may do so with my blessing. Send the owl and summon the Dakir and send Dilah to collect the fee from the treasury.”

*************************

The port was just beginning to quiet down as the sun began to set over the Loch Skeleron. The arrival marked the first steps Rayth had taken on Estaran land. Deck hands rushed to tie off the ship and set the anchor, though all stayed clear of the Dakir, just as they had done for the three previous days. No one crossed paths with a Dakir when they could help it, and Rayth was no exception. His presence alone was enough to set the entire crew and the rest of the passengers on edge, for there was no telling what would happen if he decided to acquire a taste for human blood, or if he suddenly decided that everyone should be dead.

Of course, such things were completely ridiculous in Rayth’s mind. He’d vowed never to kill a human, regardless of the circumstances. This rule was never to be broken, as such an act of violence would result in the immediate termination of the warrior. Rayth had a mission, a purpose so important that he could not afford to let himself die before its completion. He was very careful with his actions and kept his nose out of affairs that did not concern him. One day, when the time was right, he would see his oath fulfilled. Until then he would not rest.

With the sun behind him, Rayth walked toward the center of town, his eyes scanning each building for the one that fit the description in the notice he received, all the while ignoring the hushed warnings and frightened mumblings of the townspeople as they moved to avoid him. He made no effort to hide what he was from anyone; Rayth dressed his armor most of the time, as it was comfortable enough to be warn all day long without causing any skin irritation. His hair was pulled neatly back to keep it out of the way. Every step he took made a sharp clink as his armored boots impacted the cold hard ground.


Last edited by Machine Man on Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:10 pm; edited 2 times in total

Machine Man
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Post by Danry Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:56 am

Someday I'll be gone, to the place where we all belong...

News of the Dakir being sent to Estaria had the city buzzing nervously. Had the threat of the Kin grown so great that the officials thought to bring one of them in? The choice couldn't have been made lightly, they knew how people felt about their kind. Still, the excitement was palpable, even more so when the Dakir finally arrived.

~

"Five coin there, ten back." A young guide sat in the front of a carriage, her legs propped up, eyes closed.

"What? Why double back? That's preposterous!" The young man glared at her, his expression twisted in a mixture of disgust and annoyance.

Without moving, the woman replied, almost boredly. "Going there is in the daylight nothing usually happens. Returning is at night and the extra coin ensures you arrive alive. If you don't want to pay the additional fee then I shan't attempt to defend you should we be attacked." She sat up and opened her eyes, cocking her head slightly, a crooked grin on her lips. "I have other arrangements at first light so if I'm taking ya, I'm doing it now, hm?"

The young man looked at his two companions, both male, a silent exchange occurring between them. She had no idea what they were contemplating, but could only assume it was whether or not to use her. Tryst was one of the best Guides in Estaria, with a fatality rate that was well below the norm. But she was a female, how could she possibly keep three grown men any safer than they'd be on their own? Well, that was a secret she wasn't keen on sharing.

With an audible groan of defeat, the young man turned and handed over the requested amount of coin for delivery and return, ensuring she not leave them behind upon her travels back to the city.

Tryst tucked the coin away and sat down, her grin in place. When the men were loaded in the back she flicked her wrists spurring her two steeds forward. The trip to the particular city they were headed was short in comparison to some she had been on, only a few hours with no interruption.

The path was smooth leading through a densely forested area, no doubt that it had been to shield travelers as best as they could from the Kin above. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not. Fortunately there were many side trails throughout that Guides knew of incase of an attack, whether from the avian enemy or one of their own.

The trip was uneventful, as Tryst assumed it would be, and hung out at a tavern until her customers returned. Her mind drifted to the following day, when the Dakir was scheduled to arrive. If they were first timers to Estaria then they'd need a Guide, and she wanted to be available if they did. Tryst wasn't adverse to showing around a Dakir like most. As long as you didn't attempt to kill her, she didn't give a damn who or what you were.

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Post by Machine Man Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:11 pm

The whispers that surrounded him did not seem to bother him. That, or he didn't hear them, though that would have been a bad assumption. Rayth's hearing was very accurate and sensitive, as were his other senses, a trait that made him unique even compared to his own Dakir bothers and sisters. He heard every single frightened mumble and ever terrified word. He saw the subtle changes in the people's demeanor when they caught sight of him, ushering their children behind the closest door they could open before they, themselves, hid from his vision. They were afraid, and Rayth did nothing to alleviate or validate their fears. it was easier to let them believe whatever they chose to believe. After all, their mental state was not his concern. He had a job to do.

The meeting place was little more than a cellar, old and damp with a stale smell hanging in the air. Lit only by a few candles, Rayth had to wait until the door was closed before his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

"You're late," he heard before he could see the speaker. Noting the annoyance in her voice, Rayth chose not to offer any explanations or excuses, responding with a simple apology before he stepped deeper inside. There were benches on opposite walls to sit on, which Rayth took advantage of after the appropriate amount of hesitation.

"We are all gathered, then," he asked, his voice even and cold like fallen snow.

"Yes. Scouts report that the enemy will be here within two days. Faster than originally anticipated. We are to intercept them before they arrive, to prevent the accidental loss of human life in the form of collateral damage." The female warrior pointed at a map that had been nailed to the boards that held the earth back from falling into the cellar, indicating the area in which they were to engage the enemy. "Our information reports that there are no more than twenty Kin in the group. Their master is strong, but the rest should be easy enough to pick apart."

Silently taking in the information, Rayth crossed his arms and rested against the wall. Even from that distance he could pick up on the energy the Kin produced naturally. Something bothered him about it, as it was unlike most of the energies he remembered encountering in the past. Whatever the cause, his mission objectives did not change. Still, for the first time in ages, he felt uneasy about the battle to come.

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Post by Danry Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:12 pm

Cursed shadows haunt and gather, in the city of no answer..

Much to Trysts' chagrin the Dakir had gone by the time she had arrived back inside the city limits. Well, they were either gone or had hidden themselves somewhere to avoid prying eyes. Neither of which were ideal for Tryst as she had no plans or trips that she had lined up for the next several days. At that point she had two choices. 1. Play taxi to anyone who asked, or 2. go visit her family. While playing taxi was good for her pockets, she didn't really want to deal with the mass of people wanting to escape for fear of Kin attacks. It would be a mess of back and forth, tedious work she wasn't in the mood for.

So that left option two. It had been a while since she'd been out that way, so it was definitely a better prospect for her, even if she wasn't earning money. The trip would be a few days, so she made sure she had everything she'd need, and boarded her carriage, only taking one of her horses. No point in lugging the whole thing with her when she was just going for a visit.

Finally set to go, she jumped on her horse and headed out. Taking the main trail would lead her through a wide expanse of open space and with Kin looming overhead it wasn't a good idea to be out in the open. Easy pickings. So, Tryst decided to go the long way. More wooded areas, with shorter bursts of fields she could run through quickly. It would definitely take longer but she'd at least arrive alive and have a nice view along the way.

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