Log View
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| Deryl Laklan | Odyr, a shogunte successor state surrounded by verdant forests and its soil is fertile thanks to the minerals of the land thanks to a nearby active volcano, the rivers that flow through it, resulting in some of it's citizens believing it's both blessed by Pasiap, Hesiesh, Danaa'd and Sextis Jylis which mirrors the three families descended from once great gentes in the Far East almost destroyed by the Fair Folk invasion for they were near the borders of Creation, leaving them becoming one of the first victims in it's onslaught. The first family is gens Linug, infamous for their wrath yet famous for their unyielding will against the nation's enemies. The second is gens Mistletain, a lineage of noble riders beloved by the people yet their political intrigues are as poisonous as the deadliest flower. The third is gens Amrita, originally an outcaste lineage of doctors and alchemists while their service to their nation aids the masses of Odyr, and the fourth being gens Suri,a family of artisans, crafters and poets who were originally not as warlike as the other gens, but they improved on their military overtime
However this unity among the families would not last, for they would their silent political war became a hot one, as years ago, Linug staged a coup which resulted in their leader to declare himself as king. This also didn't last as a fire aspect from gens Suri overthrew the king and intended to replace the aristocracy with something better, but he was killed by his own brother known as Adranus who was actually manipulating him so he can become king himself. 7 years have passed since then and the state of Odyr worsened overtime thanks to Adranus's rule for his laws became more authoritarian. However it seems even his brother cannot rest at his betrayal, for his spectre appeared and calls him a usurper while an army of ghostly soldiers now follow him, the same ones massacred by Adranus thanks to an orchestrated massacre. Some of the citizens are afraid of this ghostly contender, for it reminded them of stories about Thorns. However some who were tired of Adranus's rule decided to side with him but it wasn't enough....at first. Unexpectedly however, some scions of Gens Linug and some outcastes sided with the fire aspect's ghost and another strange ally revealed herself to be a red haired woman wearing what seems to be the cross of a wedding gown and mourning dress. Nobody knows what this mysterious princess is save that she supposedly was the one who brought the dead prince to the world of the living. Meanwhile in the many roads of the Hundred Kingdoms just near routes heading towards Odyr, Deryl and his men were hired by Guild merchants to escort them and their goods out of Odyr before the war worsens. Despite him doing it for money, he allows a few refugees to follow them despite the Guildsman's irritation. "They won't hurt you or your caravans, mister Peravin. This people just don't want to be crushed under a meat grinder called war" He argues with one of the guildsman as they escort a small caravan along the way. "And what? We will feed them along the way too?" Deryl sighs at the merchant's complains. "Don't worry, we can just drop them into a nearby town or village. Hopefully they are generous enough to accommodate them" He looks at the refugees clinging to the caravan with sadness, as this is a horror he knows all too well |
| Amilar Ereyo | The Guild caravan is well defended, but slow - packed with people and goods, beasts of burden hauling the huge wagons along muddy, barely maintained roads. Several travelers pass them by without issue, until they hear the thundering of hoofbeat behind them. Not from a single horse, by the sound of it, but multiple horses, and quite a lot of marching boots to accompany them.
When Deryl and the other caravan guards turn around to look, they see more than a hundred soldiers marching in tight two-column formation, shoulder to shoulder, with several riders at their front, rear, and flanks. They all wear lamellar armor, various weapons, and proudly display a standard with their mons. One of the riders stands out - mostly due to the fact that she isn't sitting on a horse. Instead, a huge wolfhound, gray fur seemingly made of wind-stuff, carries her along at a steady trot. Deryl can recognize Ereyo from their first encounter at Misa's dojo. She even wears the same blue armor, and carries her daiklave. Unfortunately, the road is too narrow for the troops to easily overtake the caravan. Someone among the soldiers, a booming voice, shouts at the merchants: "Make way, make way! Seventh Legion unit passing through! Make way!" |
| Deryl Laklan | "Damn Lookshyans, it's very difficult parking our wagons in the side of the road!!!! I hope the pavement we park it in isn't muddy." The merchant Deryl referred to as Peravin calls for his men to make way for the Seventh Legion despite the clear annoyance in his face. He wishes they could at least pay for the obstacle they caused which is a hindrance to their travels. Meanwhile Deryl's men aids the caravan in setting their wagons aside as the Lookshyans use the road. "Oh great, Lookshyan intervention. Are your men here to do something about the war?" Deryl sighs as he himself finds it annoying for the road will be cramped.
However he then sees a familiar face he met back in his sifu's dojo. "Oh you're that dragonblooded visitor I met in Great Forks. I shouldn't be surprised your nation intervenes in this kind of stuff" Meanwhile his men seem to be well organized and unquestioning as they seem to be quiet on the job with no complains while helping the caravan make way for the soldiers |
| Amilar Ereyo | The Dragon-Blooded talonlord leading the column on his horse doesn't even acknowledge Peravin's grumbling, and meets Deryl's question about the purpose of this march with a blank stare, then looks the man over, noticing Deryl's strange mutations and his gear. "I'm not at liberty to tell you, mercenary."
The officer turns away to coordinate the column's march. They have to wait until the caravaners have moved their wagons to the side. Thick undergrowth on both sides of the road makes it difficult for the soldiers on foot to simply sidestep the caravan. But while the talonlord mostly ignores Deryl, Ereyo gives him a curious glance, then moves her strange mount closer. Recognition dawns on her face. Although she is currently wearing a helmet, it doesn't have a visor, and so Deryl can see her cautious smile quite clearly. "Greetings. Deryl Laklan, the Exigent of Diamonds... what a curious coincidence. You sound... unhappy about our presence here." She takes a look around, noticing how difficult it must be to move the heavy wagons aside, and sighs. "Are you with the merchants?" |
| Deryl Laklan | "As expected from a prince of the earth" He rolls his eyes at the dragon talonlord as he was snubbed. This isn't the first time he met princes of the earth with that attitude after all. He then turns to Ereyo as at least he will get a response. "Well I'm hired by the Guild to get their assets such as goods and other important resources away from Odyr before things get really bad. Is your nation here to participate in the war between the dragonblooded families? Although I'm a sellsword, I certainly don't want the war to escalate further to burn their homeland into the ground" He looks at the refugees that are like birds on an elephant fleeing from Odyr.
"My job will be done once we get to the next town that is just up ahead. I'm actually known in these parts since....I once helped slew a deathknight. I wonder if the ghosts that appeared was due to one." |
| Mahendru Divya | Among the merchants, another of their kind silently observes the exchange between the mercenary captain and the leader of the 7th Legion unit competing for space on the roads. The Sidereal hiding in plain sight is well acquainted with Deryl, of course, but has seen no reason to draw his attention to her just yet. Dressed in the fine traveling robes of a successful merchant herself, she just blends right in with those being escorted to safety.
Presently, she's watching the conversation with great interest as one of the closest merchants up front. The sight of the 7th Legion and in particular the two Dragon-Blooded meeting with Captain Lakian stirs an affectionate smile at the sight. Divya's had many opportunities to work with Terrestrials in her near century of service. It's only been recently that she's faced the prospect that their interests and hers no longer so closely align, not when there are Celestials to potentially back in the hope of changing Creation's status quo. Still, these might be the right people for the job. Assuming their destination might be a step onto finding out what's really going on in Odyr. Trusting that Destiny would make her next move clear soon enough, Divya continues to observe. |
| Amilar Ereyo | Deryl's reaction to the Dragon officer's behavior doesn't go unnoticed. With a frown, Ereyo turns her head to follow the talonlord's path - he is still on horseback, now moving away from them towards the back of the formation, where the Legion's supply wagons are trailing the soldiers.
When her eyes return to Deryl, she almost looks as if she's pouting. "He is actually not that bad, once you get to know him. But our rather sudden deployment and the muddy roads have put him in a sour mood." A half-smile is tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Our mission here is classified. We were not hired to participate in the war... and that is really all I am allowed to tell you." She lets her gaze travel along the long chain of Guild wagons, expression now thoughtful. "A deathknight, you say? There have been... rumors about activity on their part in the region, but it is difficult to get conclusive intelligence on what they are up to." The Air Aspect looks at Deryl again. "You seem to know quite a lot about the conflict in Odyr." |
| Deryl Laklan | "I mostly heard from the refugees since I took them in a nearby town that sits in its borders. Even the townsfolk there fear the war will get them" Even the villages and small communities in Odyr are not safe from the conflict between the princes of the earth within the kingdom. "According to them, it was just as worse under their king, Suri Andranus's rule for he imposed laws that slowly took their freedoms one by one. Supposedly it was not the first time a war happened and it was an aristocracy of gentes' descendants once. But one of the families became victor and one of their scions enthroned himself as king"
Even Deryl knows little about the war but he tells what he has heard from those that flee from the conflict. "It all started when the ghost of a fire aspect appeared alongside his soldiers Andranus massacred in a great betrayal. Supposedly this ghost was that of his brother who lead his gens into victory in the past war, but he was killed off alongside his men for reasons I myself don't know. Maybe Andranus didn't want rivals to his kingship....even from his own family." He then shifts to the topic about the mysterious chosen of death. "Oh yes, one of them wanted to make a city here into another Thorns but some sort of decadent paradise that is literally to die for. He even tricked a god into killing himself for a ritual. This is also the reason why I am wary regarding undead appearing in Odyr, since I fear they may have a hand in this. But there are also weird sightings going on there, but my employer may nag me so the caravan would stop in the nearby town, so I may tell you once it's done" |
| Mahendru Divya | Having been traveling with the merchants under Deryl's protection, Divya has already had ample opportunity to look at their numbers, arms and armament, and understand what they're capable of. The Talonlord's departure to the rear of the 7th Legion formation gives her an excuse to do something similar. So she follows him away from the conversation (at least for a bit), moving to the rear of the merchant caravan to get a better look at these Lookshyan forces. She's no military expert, of course, but it's useful to know how many there are. What their general composition is. And, especially, how many seem to be Terrestrial. |
| Amilar Ereyo | Just from her sharp, increasingly frequent nods, Deryl can tell that the Air Aspect has already heard most of what he can tell her about recent events in Odyr. But she doesn't interrupt or try to silence him, instead watching their surroundings and running her fingers repeatedly through the wind-born fur of her great hound, which responds with a gruff sound deep from its throat. Her violet eyes dart about, alert for anything unusual.
On the topic of the deathknight, she finally responds: "Yes, I have been wondering about the ghostly participants myself, and about... other things." Ereyo notices the figure following her talonlord, which prompts a frown, but doesn't seem to worry her beyond measure. "Are you aware of the Odyran shadowland? 'Hills of the Betrayed Dead', the locals call it. Admittedly, my knowledge about deathknights is quite limited." Here, she huffs with dissatisfaction. "But I am well aware that they ride out from the Underworld. A connection between your deed and the sightings of undead meddling in this war is possible. Are you planning to leave, once you have seen the caravan safely to their destination?" At first glance, the talon's composition is fairly standard: Mostly foot soldiers, backed up by light and heavy cavalry, archers and a few Immaculate monks. Anyone familiar with the Seventh Legion's customs can identify them as a unit of Field Force Four - innovators of weapons and new strategies, sometimes dispatched to find and secure artifacts for Lookshy. Aside from the Dragon talking to Deryl, and the talonlord, there are two other Exalted among the force: One is a grim woman in the robes of an Immaculate sohei, obviously the leader of the monks. The other, a man with bright green hair worn in a long, plaided braid, appears to be the talonlord's second-in-command. |
| Deryl Laklan | "Well what I know about deathknights is they have long and morbid something name like Avenging Wolf Howling For Vengeance or whatever. I even annoyed some to the point a moniker has been spread about me called "Diamond Devil Prince Of The Shimmering Hell" or whatever. I wish they just have normal names instead of that. But in all seriousness, they resemble the Solar anathema in some way but draw power from death instead of the sun." He sighs with annoyance once he gets back to Ereyo after the merchant finally paid him for the escort job as the town was near enoughh. "Betrayed Dead huh? Never heard about that but I gotta watch out for that place in case deathknight lingers there."
Then he shifts the topic to the strange things he has heard. "Supposedly the fire aspect's ghost has other strange allies besides some outcastes and scions that joined him. There is this princess looking lady besides him that has fair folk and some sort of flying tiger headed snake with her as minions besides undead. I don't know about her capabilities since she rarely shows up besides times she was with the ghost. I suspect her of being a deathknight but it's weird she has wyld beings too as her allies" Deryl however is a bit wary with other dragonblooded besides her such as the sohei |
| Mahendru Divya | Divya nods in satisfaction at the prowess on display here. Immaculates can be difficult to work with, if you're not pretending to be one of them. But there are options she can choose between. In the meantime, she heads back to the front of the line. The Chosen of Aurora is where her chief interests here lie. She's worked with the man before, and has discreetly kept track of his activities to learn more about a vanished class of Exalt. Even now, he seems to consistently position himself with the defenders, against the aggressors. The Oracle finds that...heartwarming.
Smiling as she arrives, she catches the tail end of the conversation between Deryl and the wai tan-junai he conversed with. Divya pauses to consider the sorcerer-engineer. One of her colleagues' trainees possibly? After all, there were any number of Sidereal who cultivated their own agents by educating them, particularly in the ways of Sorcery. An interesting possibility. "Deathknights can be surprisingly cooperative," she observes, as she steps to join the conversation. There's potential here, a combination of magic and muscle that might do well to counteract the unscheduled increase in necrotic fortunes in this region. With a little guidance perhaps. "If you think you might be facing ghosts, perhaps I can help smooth the way. I'm something of an expert when it comes to the Underworld. If that's expertise you might find useful." She then dips her head in the token gesture of mortal submission to the spiritually greater Terrestrial. Still dressed in the fine traveling robes of a wealthy merchant, there's something telling in the cast of her eye and her turn of phrase, something confidence-inspiring that she really is the expert she claims to be. |
| Amilar Ereyo | Looking tired and exhausted from a long day on the road and the constant clamoring around them, Ereyo nevertheless hears Deryl out with all the attention she can muster. She all but slumps over in her saddle. The creases on her forehead appear again, deepening further in mute frustration as she realizes that none of the creatures described by the Exigent mean anything to her.
Just as she is about to respond, her train of thought is interrupted by... oh, it's just a random woman. But - wait! Divya can see the sorcerer-engineer doing a double take on her, and her eyes light up. Literally: The violet of her irises brightens and intensifies, giving the impression of a soft glow. From somewhere, she pulls the strength to sit up a little straighter again. "Did you hear that?", she exclaims to Deryl, beaming. "An Underworld expert. The Dragons chose to bless us with good fortune." Instead of bowing in return to Divya's gesture, she performs a simple Shogunate-style salute, with one hand covering her fist in front of her chest, and takes a quick moment to compose herself. Thanks to the change in her eyes, her excitement is still unmistakable, no matter how desperately she tries to hide it. "I am Amilar Ereyo, and this is Deryl Laklan. It is always a pleasure to meet a fellow scholar." |
| Deryl Laklan | "Ironically I got these eyes from an incident back in a bordermarch and I don't know that much about the Wyld" He sighs as Deryl himself does not recognize the Wyld creatures that accompany the strange princess mentioned by the refugees' account of what they know about the war. "Hear what?" He then turns to the person Ereyo was pointing at as it seems there is a stranger that claims to know more knowledge regarding the Underworld. "From speaker of the dead to an underworld expert. Creation truly is a wide place"
This isn't the first time Deryl meet someone with information on the dead after all. "Although I've fought undead, I have yet to know more about them so an expert may be good. I wish I learned more ways to exorcize lingering dead when I had the chance in Great Forks." He sighs but at least the martial art he is learning is useful in battle. "Hello there, stranger. I didn't catch your name" |
| Mahendru Divya | The proclaimed Amilar Ereyo is -enthusiastic-, which can be both useful and potentially tricky. Divya's reserve melts at the excitement and she smiles freely. "The pleasure is mine, Wai Tan-Junai. The Dragons bless in many ways. I'm flattered if I'm part of their plans in any way. I go by Ira Bisht. If I can be of help in any way, well, it's the least I can do for the people helping us all escape from Odyr."
Divya's head tilts slightly as Deryl speaks, smirking ever so slightly as he remembers the enigmatic Envoy but draws no connection to herself. Decades ago, she might have felt regret that she'd failed to make an impression but she'd been doing this for too long to still waste time thinking on what can't be changed. "I'm not Sijanese," she clarifies somewhat unnecessarily as her complexion suggests she's from the Southeast. "But I have had the pleasure of consulting their vast libraries. Exorcism isn't the easiest task but I'm versed with its principles and I'm certain I can spot the possessed, if we encounter them. I'm happy to answer any questions either of you have, if we're going to be traveling together." There. Hopefully it'll help cement the two groups sharing the road in case of probable trouble down the line. While Ereyo might be a little -too- eager, Divya did not mind at all the chance to teach. Her thoughts turn briefly wistful as she wonders what her life would have been like as a teacher. Ah well. Yet another example of wasting time thinking on what can't be changed. |
| Amilar Ereyo | The Air Aspect looks incredibly happy now, much like a dog presented with a generous serving of its most beloved treat. A cheerful, eager grin almost splits her face in half. She fiddles with her reins, simply because her fingers are already gripping them, and even bops up and down in the saddle a few times - eliciting an indignant look from the wolfhound, who has, after all, been the one carrying her on its back all day.
...and then, with a jolt, she remembers who she is, where she is, that this is a military operation, and what is expected of her. Ereyo stiffens, clears her throat a few times, and blushes deeply. "I... yes, that could be most useful. The sohei in our ranks is familiar with exorcism, of course - but she has yet to encounter a deathknight." Looking up again, she first meets Deryl's diamond eyes, then Divya's much more ordinary ones. "Should there be one of those deathly Anathema lurking in Odyr, we would have to consider bringing in a full Wyld Hunt." She presses her lips into a thin line. "Talonlord Maheka Immortal Oak would not approve of such unforseen complications." Although the Dragon looks as if she wanted to say more, their conversation is interrupted by a runner from the Legion's ranks, who just now reaches them and calls out: "Wai Tan-Junai! We are about to make camp for the night. The Talonlord orders you to attend to your duties immediately." Indeed, they have now reached the small town, just a the sun begins to set, and the Seventh Legion unit has already picked a suitable camp spot not far from the settlement's walls. The runner already turns around and sprints off, not even waiting for Ereyo's response. She sighs with obvious displeasure, then nods towards her conversational partners. "You heard him. I have to leave promptly. Please... let us talk later, or maybe tomorrow in the morning. I will speak to my superior. He would do well to not turn away your expertise. Until then, farewell." With a sharp tug on the reins, the wolfhound swivels and breaks into a full sprint. |
| Deryl Laklan | "I hope we can eliminate the possible deathknight swiftly. If we don't, death and despair will sure follow if their plans are not stopped" As he certainly doesn't want to know what will happen if Vitiating Whispers succeeded, he also does not want to see another deathknight causing a terrible tragedy for Creation is sure full of it. "I'll assist in the Wyld Hunt if needed but we need more information about this lady first" He says to Ereyo but as she is called by one of the Lookshyan soldiers, it seems he has to say his farewells for now. "Hope we meet each other tomorrow, scion of Mela and Ira Bisht"
"I'll be setting up camp as well and uhh...sorry for my behavior back at my sifu's dojo in Great Forks. It seems my experience with my former Cathak employer clouded my judgment" Deryl nods to Ereyo as he himself rests for now |