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Post by D on Jun 9, 2008 18:45:33 GMT -5
My little one...Oh... my little one... please awaken... A suffering one seems to be heading this way...
"What is it? I was having a nice dream..." Davyn still had his eyes closed, but he opened his mouth to speak. He spoke in elven tongues again.
Oh, I know--
"I do not sense any suffering...nor do I sense a person approaching."
It is disrespectful to interrupt your elders...
"I am sorry..."
Apology accepted, little one. I can feel her footsteps on the ground with my roots. From the way she steps, I know that she is a woman and in pain. Her feet must be sore... This must be the one from earlier...Heheh...I suggest you go and help her. Be a gentleman and help her find a place to rest...
"You do not whine like the others..."
Their seeds have made it far...even if they are gone...I know a part of them is elsewhere...Ah! But go on now, my little one. Please go and help her. I am sure that you do not like to see women suffer like so. You already had to watch...Ah, nevermind.
Davyn sighed and with his eyes still closed he got up from the ground. "...I wish you well..." He said and the tree grew silent. He blinked a few times, stretched and then yawned before heading out to look for the person the tree was talking about. When he looked around, he noticed a few soldiers looking toward one direction. "What are you looking at?" He asked. "That girl." A soldier pointed and Davyn turned his head to see. To his surprise, it was the same girl from earlier with the glowing hands and feet. "They found her out somewhere... she looked like she was ready to die. Ahaha... I also heard she can use magic." "Hmm...I see..." Davyn left before the soldier could continue on speaking. He approached the girl. "Would you like any assistance?"
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Post by V on Jun 10, 2008 4:44:36 GMT -5
"Well look at that? The well is empty." Some of the soldiers shrugged. "Ah well, guess the Ayriians wouldn't keep it too full anyway. Luckily, we have surplus from the rain. The Harad'rim managed to push into Ayriian territory, without much problem, at least this far. Jia Min decided it was time they pressed their advantage. They knew of humanoid race to the north that have been harassed by Vorsar's forces over and over. They could try to enlist them to their side. The female general consulted with the male, he agreed to the plan. "I will go." Kahyet said. "I'll take the new spellcaster, and a few volunteers. Would be a good test of loyalty." "Very well. Just tell me who you are taking." Jia Min answered. Kahyet left the barracks, and immediately approached the young woman beneath the tree. "Xinrae I presume?" He said, sounding friendly. "I am General Kahyet...I see you have been acquainted with my fellow general." He could see she was not too happy. "Well, I am afraid to say this...but, we must venture north in order to seek allies, and I am afraid you are going to come. I'll see to it other men come though. Do not worry, we are not leaving until three days time, and until then, you will get plenty of rest." The cleric approached, and Kahyet acknowledged him. "I see you've done well with out new guest?" "I do what I can, sir. But I'm not sure she is a venturing position." "We know that, but...she must come..." "But why? There must be someone to..make sure she gets more rest?" "Some things are best left unexplained."
They both knew Xinrae could hear them, and would be curious...if not paranoid of something bad. The two men departed, and another pair approached, Kolgrim and Einarr. "No, no, no, you fool!" Einarr was talking. "You do not simply crack the skull of such a beast! You hobble it first, and let it bleed!"
"What?! Are you mad?!" Kolgrim retaliated. "If you give it a chance to strike it will take it. It is best dealt with straight forward!"
"Straight forward? You could only hit things at an angle. Your poor eyesight should be noted."
"What did you say?!"
"Your ears are impaired, too?"
"That's it Einarr! Put 'em up! I'll break my sword over your thick head, but it'll be worth it!"
Strangely however, they heard a gesture from the young woman beneath the tree, over their bellowing. Amazing these two never truly broke out into a fight. "Hey! It's the pond skimmer!" Kolgrim declared. "You idiot! You don't speak to women like that! Amazing your wife hasn't left you." "Atleast I have a wife!" "Oh! You want to go there?!" "Maybe I do!" But, once again they realized they were in the presence of a female and calmed down. Seating beside her, they asked where she was from.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Jun 10, 2008 5:37:13 GMT -5
"Would you like any assistance?" Xinrae looked towards the voice and beckoned it forward. Before he could make it, Another commanding officer walked into her view. She blocked the sun from her eyes and looked in his direction. "Xinrae I presume?" She tried to block out what he was saying, until a fun little tidbit escaped his lips. "...you are going to come." She looked aghast as he talked with the cleric. none of the things they said between themselves registered with her. All she knew is that it took every once of her willpower to walk 50 men's lengths, so a journey like this will most likely send her to The Mists... she often thought about what the afterlife would be, wandering through the desert. Would it be dark and full of shadows? Who would roam it's dusty halls? Could she see her father? would he be in small pieces, like the bastard Vorsar left him? Would her mother make it, a non-human? All were unanswerable, until one made it to The Mists themselves. She sat, and thought, until the commanding officer,General Kahyet, left. Soon after, she found herself amidst more people she didn't care to get involved with. After nearly turning their faces into a fine paste, they sat down next to her. She feigned a smile, and quickly lost it. "Well... I was born in a small village, far north of Ayrii, in the Lyani foothills. My mother was a nymph, actually. Of the river. My father hid me from curious eyes when I came of age; I had used magic very well. He feared me, so he exiled me from the village. As it turns out, the village was sacked the very next day. I used to do anything you can to get money, really... in Fahranur, I never lived in the same place for a week." She almost laughed when she said this, but she was overtaken by sadness again. "I even lived upstairs from a brothel once... Worst three weeks of my life, I think. So many drunken imbeciles... " at this, she stopped, and quickly shook her head. "Nevermind, anyways, soon after, I tried crossing the border into Harad. I was promised baths of gold and streets of platinum. But the border guards didn't want me to. So Vorsar's men dropped me off as far as they could into the desert, and pushed me off, into the dunes. Then I presume you two found me, and..." She stopped talking and and just looked at the ground. waiting for her two new captors to reply, she picked up some pebbles and threw them into the woods.
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Post by D on Jun 10, 2008 15:45:25 GMT -5
Davyn watched as Kahyet stepped into her view before she could reach him. "Xinrae I presume?" He took a seat next to some random recruits and listened in to the parts he wanted to hear. "...we must venture north in order to seek allies, and I am afraid you are going to come..." There was more talk from the general and then the cleric from earlier came. He talked with the general for a while and then they went away. Davyn was going to go over, but another pair came and he could hear them clearly.
"No,no,no, you fool! You do not simply crack the skull of such a beast! You hobble it first, and let it bleed!" The first said. "What?! Are you mad?!" The second shouted louder than the first. "If you give it a chance to strike it will take it! It is best dealt with straight forward!" This continued on until they noticed the woman, but it started up once more after the second said something wrong. Their loudness wasn't as long as the first time and again, it stopped when they realized that they were in the presence of a female.
Ah, so you have failed to give her assistance, my little one... Do not worry just be patience.
Davyn stood up and walked toward the tree he was speaking to. He talked quietly and had his mouth still covered, so no one would look his way."You must have a lot of patience...for after all, you are a tree." Talking to trees seemed a little strange to most, but Davyn could understand why. Most didn't believe that trees can speak, and some just haven't met a person who actually had the ability to do so.
Hmm? What is that supposed to mean, little one? Some of us are able to move on our own, but this is quite rare now. There was a time when all would dance and sing... I suppose it happened long ago... No one cares to speak to us anymore even if we give all we are to them.
"I speak to you."
You were taught by your mother well, my little one... Haha. Now, would you like to learn more of this Xinrae...I can hear them loud and clear. The three are sitting against me... They won't know that I am telling you...
"...That isn't something an old tree like you would do...and I would like to speak to her by my self. I suppose it would be better that way."
Ah, little one... I was only joking... I'm sure you will be able to speak with her later.
"You must be lonely...to--"
Oh, I am...but remember, you are the one talking to a tree.
"...touché..." The tree laughed and Davyn stopped walked toward the tree, deciding that he would wait until the pair finished talking with Xinrae. The tree man was getting bored of talking to the tree and wanted to answer his own little questions.
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Post by V on Jun 11, 2008 22:47:35 GMT -5
"Sir, before we embark..." The Cleric was speaking with General Kahyet in a tent. "I want that woman to have taken some a swig at the least from this chalice." The male general turned back to the priest, and examined the thick cup. "What is it filled with?" "A serum. It holds some healing magics from the fountain of Hora. It will speed up the woman's rate of restoration by several. She'll be ready to move with the time of rest you are granting her." The Cleric took his staff, and was preparing to leave. "If you don't mind me asking again, without anyone n earshot, what is it we are taking her for." The male general took a seat, and started to unclasp his helmet. "Jia Min tells me she passed your test. Now, these people we are going to meet...they will not come to our side due to a common enemy. They might want us to prove our devotion, or some kind of nonsense. They only deal in spellcasters. With her coming with us, we have a card to play against them." "I see..." "Yes. The woman in time might realize how important this war really is. She currently sees us as enemies...I could see it in her eyes. I take it Jia Min was not to friendly with her." The Cleric chuckled. "No, she was not the least bit." "Haha, well, that is all. Hopefully she will be battle ready for that time. Take your leave, Priest." "Aye sir."
The two soldiers took a seat beside Xinrae, and began listening to her story. She's needed to put up with much worse things they had, even if it was a two-headed troll. "Oh...that is a shame. Really the border guards at Harad would not let you in?" They two of them looked at each other with odd remarks, then back at Xinrae. "We know most of the border outpost men. They don't seem like the ones to turn back a pretty face with all her paper work."
The cleric walked up, chalice in hand. "Miss, I humbly request you take a drink from this blessed chalice." He spoke softly and friendly. He, like the other three men currently affiliated with this woman, was very worried about her. "It will help you restore faster...I'm afraid there is not much else I can do for you." He extended the cup to her, hoping she could take it...and if not, she would simply need to open her mouth, and he'd apply it.
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Post by Jo on Jun 12, 2008 0:30:47 GMT -5
Rest. Rest was much appreaciated from the last battle. She was apart of the stealth team, a simple scout. She learned to be quiet, to lightly tread on noisy grounds. But she prevailed despite the womanizer men in this camp. She ate alone, she slept alone. She was a woman in a man's and no offence to the female general she was not built strong enough to be competent in a one on one fight. As the woman had noted before she was graceful, fraile, yet was skilled enough to be enlisted. She had brandished her weapon yet set aside from her basic training. Perhaps she would need someone who could help her. Lestari was not fond of any of her "companions", yet she would yeild if they were able bodied men and did not treat her as if she was from a brothel. She cleaned herself up, away from hungry and prying eyes. She felt she was on sale as a slab of cow meat. She slowly soaped her skin with a herb and flower mixture that destroy impurities on the skin. She was slowly feeling a bit more like her former self. Soon the nymph dried herself off, stepping out of the stream/filled pool. She changed into more womanly clothing yet still appropriate incase she would need to go into battle. * * * She walked into the encampment, not noticing really what may have lied ahead. She bumped into another soldier, she of course landed on her bottom. She sighed heavily. " I'm sorry. I should have been more observant" she murmured while slowly getting up. She refused to look at the man. To look at Davyn.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Jun 12, 2008 1:12:57 GMT -5
The cleric approached Xinrae, emerging from an extravagant tent. Presumably one of the generals'. "Miss, I humbly request you take a drink from this blessed chalice." She rolled her eyes. "It will help you restore faster...I'm afraid there is not much else I can do for you." He held a chalice in front of her, with a clear, pearlescent liquid in it. "What in the name of the... Gah... What is this going to do to me?" He sounded sincere. "Why not... couldn't possibly make this worse anyways." Slowly, cautiously, she grabbed the cup and raised it to her lips. It had a sickening, earthy, sweet flavor. Like drinking tea made from tree bark. She handed the chalice back to the man and gagged a small mouthful down. "If I don't like whatever this does, I may very well hunt each and every one of you bastards down." All the while, the two Harad'rim were sitting by her, looking on.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Two Anur'Ranst were standing at the rear of the fortress. Vorsar was in the center of the courtyard, watching over the daily shift changes. Before the daemons could move from the small door, A little man in a blood soaked white vest burst through. He was immediately pinned to the wall with a blade in his throat. Vorsar called them off, and interrogated the old man. "The scum! They're in our Holy land, sir! They slaughtered our village! Our women are slaves! Aythre knows what they may do next, sir! Their stench still lays in my nostrils!" He slammed his hand on the table at the end of this, showing a palm and 4 small stubs. This infuriated Vorsar, and everyone knew it. A faun came up, quick and silent as the wind, and gave him an attack plan. Vorsar smiled an evil and twisted grin, and called Vostocre to his side. She was not as frail as the previous days. As though her old self came back. She too, looked at the scroll of parchment and laughed. All the while, the daemons chided and hissed between one another. Her, and her followers, were told to follow these plans explicitly, and intercept the warband at Ronjok, a fairly large city in the outer rim of Ayrii and her Megalopolis.
The villager was executed shortly afterwards. "Your physical impurities may leave your family unfit to live in the New World. Though you are a great hero to Ayrii, you mustn't be allowed to live." Vorsar swung his broadsword across the man's head and ordered the corpse burned, so no one else may contract his impurities. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"Soon, my scheme shall rid the world of those unfit. Let us move."
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Post by D on Jun 12, 2008 12:25:40 GMT -5
He he he... Little one...Perhaps your chance isn't today, but something new has come.
"I must be boring you..." Davyn said.
Not at all. It's been a while since one of elven blood has talked to me, and I do miss the company of those who can understand...and care to speak to kindly to an old tree. Now, little one, I shall stop pestering you and let you continue on your own.
"This is your goodbye?"
It is... Please come and visit if I am still in this very spot. If I vanish, know that I have enjoyed the short time with you and that I wish you luck and the army you fight with. He he he... Goodbye, my little one.
"Good bye, great ever--" He was bumped into by another person. Davyn turned around and looked at a woman who had landed on her bottom. Still talking in an elven tongue, he asked the woman if she was alright and needed help, but then he later realized his mistake. He was going to ask again in the Harad'im language, but she had already gotten up and said something.
"I'm sorry. I should have been more observant." He heard her say.
In the Harad'im language he said, "There is no problem on my side, so there is no need for an apology. But are you alright? I didn't mean to have you fall on the ground." He was silent for a while as he waited for her response, but when she was done, he spoke up again. "Why do you look down?" Davyn asked. "We are both soldiers and judging from your attire, we were both recruited from Kamigawa. We stand on an equal level...When death comes in the form of a blade crashing down on you, it doesn't matter if you are a man or a woman." He coughed and looked back at her. "Sorry...I didn't mean to say so much. You were probably going to a place and I stopped you..."
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Post by V on Jun 13, 2008 5:27:05 GMT -5
The cleric chuckled at the young woman's threat. "Don't worry, nothing bad will happen." Suddenly Einarr burst out. "Oh! The chalice of life! You get a drink from that, and it'll have you ready to beat down the Tundra Giant of the Drift." "Bah! Like you could even stand to look at it! The mere gaze of it would have you running." "Like you've ever even been to the drift!" "I have! Twice and back both!" "With who? Your father the hero?" "Are you mocking me?" "I reckon I am!" "OH! The gloves on now!" The two men stood from their seats, and entered fighting stances. The cleric only laughed. "Ah! I see you've met Kolgrim and Einarr. They were hunters who enlisted a few years ago. They served us greatly, and a good source of entertainment. They always act like they are going to fight, but...it never happens. Something always gets between them." Kolgrim faced around. "What was that?!" "Oh? Nothing." The cleric said, crossing his arms behind his back. Einarr then pointed to something out in the distance. "Look! Now that is a good looking bird." And indeed it was. Black feathers, maybe seven feet tall. Two all of them there, there was just one thing that came to mind; "Food". "Come Kolgrim! We'll bring it back and feed our entire brigade!" The two men ran off, likely to get spears to hunt the bird.
The cleric only nodded, as they walked off. He then sat down "indian style" beside Xinrae. "I can that you are not too fond of us right now. I imagine that was due to our good General Jia Min? Well, don't you worry, she is not friendly with many outsiders. We're all a fairly good throng however." He then produced some parchment from his garb, and held it out to the woman. "I was able to talk some sense into General Jia Min, and Kahyet. They have both signed to you this land grant into our country. You will have a home, as well as some other luxuries supplied to you by the lord. We simply request that you come fight with us. You do not need to...but, it would give you a sense of honor." He waited for her to take it. "Also...my name is Zadukar. Zadukar the Blessed."
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Jun 13, 2008 5:59:27 GMT -5
Xinrae looked on, and almost made herself smile at the antics of the two soldiers. "Ah! I see you've met Kolgrim and Einarr. They were hunters who enlisted a few years ago..." As far as Harad'rim go, those two, Kolgrim and Einarr, were very likeable. "I was able to talk some sense into General Jia Min, and Kahyet. They have both signed to you this land grant into our country...." She looked at the scroll, still rolled up, in the Cleric's hand, then at him. She extended her arm forward and grasped the rough paper. "Thank you, Zadukar, err, Sir?" She unrolled part of it and tried to read it's contents. Like everyone else, the calligraphy was heavily accented and tough to read, a long leap from the straightforward, blunt scriptures of Ayrii. "Long ago, before the wars, and before the pain, when we were a united people, and borders weren't seen as lines, so much as dares to grow and learn, all of Anea was under one banner, we shared one culture, and spoke one language, and we were one people. Once the wars began, our cultures grew a rift. We weren't one people any more, but we still shared a language and a country." Xinrae's mother once told her, trying to explain why the wars make no sense. Leilon believed in peace more than anyone. With a tear trailing down her cheek, Xinrae nodded a "thank you " to her new friend and put the scroll in a knapsack. Slowly, deliberately, she eased herself up onto her slightly less sore feet and stumbled further into the woods. If the young man still wanted to meet her, she'd prefer to do it in here, among her friends. Trees, lakes and winds. She took to finding a old tree branch and some stone.
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Post by Jo on Jun 16, 2008 21:48:09 GMT -5
She looked up when Davyn talked. His words were filled to the brink with passion and sincerity which was rare of any male she had the pleasure to have met. Lestari gave him a light smile nodding to his words. They spoke the truth. Her fears held her back to greatly.
" Thank you stranger. I needed to hear something like that since we had left Kamigawa. I am Lestari; part of the scout division" she had to chuckle at her own foolishness.
" And I am afraid I do not have much place to go. The female general thinks that I distract men far too easily, so I decided to distance myself from the recruits and soldiers".
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Post by D on Jun 17, 2008 11:00:32 GMT -5
"Thank you, stranger." Davyn gave a nod of his head. "I needed to hear something like that since we left Kamigawa... I am Lestari; part of the scout division..."
"Davyn." He said finally giving his own name to her. "I suppose I fight with the archers... but I do not enjoy just standing and waiting for something to strike me." He used his bow and arrow alot more than his daggers, but he liked the feel of daggers in a battle better. He felt that he had a lot more control with daggers and with daggers, for some reason, he had an easier time knowing if his kills were actually dead.
"And I am afraid I do not have much place to go. The female general thinks that I distract men far too easily, so I decided to distance myself from the recruits and soldiers."
"Some soldiers they are said to be..." He smiled and mentally laughed. Davyn knew that men were only men, but he was surprised that they still thought of these things even when death was so close. The very place that they rested in could be attacked at any time, and all the men could do was get distracted by a female soldier. He thought for a moment.
No, he couldn't let his guard down. They were too far into Ayriian land and an attack could happen at any time...Unlike some of the other men, getting some ass wasn't on his mind right now. Davyn really didn't want to die before getting his pay, and he didn't want to fail either.
"I haven't really friended the soldiers or recruits either." He said. "Before we left Kamigawa, I had a fight with a soldier and landed on the female general's bad side...and for the recruits...I don't think growing close to most of them will help me." Davyn sighed. Friendships made at times like this never seemed to work out well. "... I am heading into the woods... I never really liked being in a loud place and around many. If you wish...you may come... " He turned around and began walking to the woods.
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Post by V on Jun 17, 2008 22:07:09 GMT -5
Zadukar watched as the young woman slipped away. He wasn't too worried about her leaving. The only safe path back to Harad was to the east. she was heading south into the woods. Maybe she would stay and help them. He waited for her to disappear from sight, before turning around, met by the sight of the two soldiers, Kolgrim and Einarr, spears out. "The bird is getting away! Come! We will have a great feast tonight." The cleric shook his head, and picked up his staff. "Allow me to accompany you." He told the two hunters. The two looked at each other, then back at him. "I don't know...think you can take a massive bird like that?" Zadukar chuckled. "Haha! you think I'm only useful for healing? I will prove you other wise. Come! I'll show you two how to really kill something."
he three were in pursuit of the bird, and they had chased it a few yard from they had spotted it. It was not moving much...which meant it must be guarding something. And it soon was discovered what; a clutch of eggs."Eggs, too? Ha! We will feed the entire army tonight." The bird, clearly the mother, took up a defensive position in fron of the men. This bird was much larger standing in front of them...maybe a few feet taller than originally thought. The two hunters readied the spears, the cleric simply took his staff, and rotated his arm forward a couple ties, before a massive ray of light shone down frm above, and struck the bird. Feathers flew about, some on fire. The bird had perished from the spell. The hunters were awed. "How in the name of Hora did you do that?" "It's called the Ray of Judgment. I'll leave it at that. It's holy smite that only priests would be taught. Now come! Let us hall the dinner back." The three men gathered all the eggs, and did their best to hall the carcass back to camp.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Jun 17, 2008 23:44:58 GMT -5
Xinrae waded into the cool of a small stream, amidst the rustling leaves and saying limbs of the great gnarled trees. It was shadowy, and hidden from view, and perfect. She continued to wade upstream, feeling blindly, with flailing arms, for small, smooth stones. In the foaming pools, she found some, and picking a handful, most no bigger than half her palm, she flopped down onto the bank. a little ways away, Xinrae noticed a felled tree; she made her way to it. Old and grey, it's trunk had been chopped through many years ago, and the trunk had been carved into a makeshift throne. Rubbing the smooth bark, warn so from years of wind and rain, she traced a small circle on it, inscribed in a heptagon. Something Leilon, her mother, used to do to every hurt part of her mother, Nature. Nearer to the tip of the fallen tree, no one had shorn the branches, as though the project was never truly finished. She found one long as her leg, and with patience and resolve, worked it free from the rotting wood underneath without further harming the ancient plant. With this, and her found stones, and the last shreds of her old rags off her now hardly sore feet, she quickly tied together a sort of staff. As the river rocks was her staff head, it easily communed with her gift. They glowed a faint, pulsating teal. The narrow, kinked, branch served well, and she was satisfied. Later, she'd hang her clothes over a fire, and dry them, but for new she left the soaked material at the bank of the river and waded about. Maybe some spirits still live in these woods, if one just knows how to look.
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Post by Jo on Jun 21, 2008 2:18:38 GMT -5
" That language you spoke earlier. It sounds vaguely familiar yet I cannot fathom where I may have heard it before" she mused, half from curiosity and the other wonder. It sounded like a song she once heard long ago. The words have all but faded to sweet nothingness but the melody still played. Must have been from her training, she never was good for remembering lyrics to songs.
" So did you enlist for the money or the thrill of battle?" she asked her companion. It was a valid question, it was asked a lot around the camp. She heard a few rumors already involving dear Davyn. Poor man's reputation was infamous. Yet it was thrilling to hear some of the tales, she suspected that they were mostly fabricated by bards to make him appear more ruthless, or heroic.
The woods held their own mystery. Dryads, Nymphs, satyrs. All beings given birth by nature. To protect what must be cherished. To make those who forgot of the Earth Mother pay with their blood. When was the last time she heard of the Protectors of the Goddess? It seemed like eons ago, another tale wept into the sands of time.
They built the most advanced civilizations that crumbled from their own greed, their lust for absolute power.
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