Quest The Return

Organization specific roleplay for governments, guilds, adventure groups, or anything similar
L

Lia

They had made it, they had done it.

She wasn't entirely sure how, she wasn't entirely sure if this was even real. A part of her was still in a haze, but she knew it was right. She knew that they'd landed the killing blow.

A part of her was beyond pleased, another terrified.

The Lich had gathered a practical army at his fortress. Not just undead, not just the risen, but dozens of bandits and even mercenaries. It hadn't made much sense to her, how he'd managed to hire them all and keep them in line, but they'd been there.

It felt as though something was missing, though she had no idea why.

She'd tried to puzzle her way through it the last few days, but the celebration of the others had been far too distracting.

They were happy, and in truth they had every right to be. A lich was a plague on the land, and they had managed to rid the Reach of it all on their own. The Rangers felt no small amount of pride, and Lia's suspicions of a greater threat...well, it would take that pride from them.

So she'd remained silent on the thought, not even mentioning as they road into the city and headed towards the Ranger compound.
 
Kaska had celebrated without reserve with the others, a sense of thrill filling her gut as they came down from their journey up north. They had done it. Despite all her doubts, and she boy had she had them, they had killed the lich. Now that he was dead, she found a sense of calm within herself, a surety that no matter what, he would not be able to hurt her again.

And that made her a lot more pleasant to be around, the woman even casting Sarah smiles over the jokes and group laughter.

This all fizzled out when she looked to Lia, though, sensing in her gut the things Lia was keeping to herself. She kicked her horse, riding up along her find and falling into a musing silence.

The compound loomed over them, the horses riding up to the imposing gates.

"Hoy!" Called a voice.


They opened. Kaska held her horse still for a moment, then let him dart forward in a burst of speed, saying teasingly, "Lieutenant Lia."
 
Having started the morning off with routine training schedules being a few laps around the impromptu obstacle course and in archery with the newest recruits, the elf trainer was nowhere near tired when the report of a returning troop came to his ear. This had him calling off the rest of practice for the evening, an all to relieved sigh coming from the small group of trainees. His eyebrows perked as a wide smile beamed at them.

Don’t leave the compound, detachment coming back from a mission may need help, so get ready to make yourself as helpful as you can be. You might have someone else treating you the same later on.” Addis teased as he watched them drop their practice gear inside the shed before heading to the gate. Taking the stairs up to the battlement two at a time, Addis watched the trainees assemble, pointing them to better spots around the corridor in case someone needed pulled off a horse and carried to the infirmary.

The main idea behind the exercise was to equip them for future missions, making it habit to be ready to assist fellow rangers as a few senior members came to help them fresh faces. Addis glanced back and forth, until the lot came up to the gates, horses stopping just shy of the doors. All to content to keep quiet until Kaska had stopped in front of the gate. Another broad smirk emerged on his face before he calling down to the victorious troop returning from their harrowing journey.

"Hoy!" he hollered down, the doors opening to allow the group in as a horse rushed forward, alarming a few of the unsuspecting people below. A mix of alarm and outright fear sounding from the entrance, which made. The boisterous laugh from their trainer had a few deathly glares set his way as he walked to the side with which the horse had run into.

You know, allowing the welcome party to see you before you run between the doors is far more pleasant for the unsuspecting!” Addis tried to chide Kaska, but was still cackling and lacked any actual severity in his tone.
 
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Lia glared quietly as Kaska galloped forward.

She herself preferred to be more...composed upon their return. They had walked out of Ared'hol on one of the most dangerous missions the Ranger's had faced in a decade, and they had made it back. Now was hardly the time to go about galloping about like a fanciful girl.

Then again, perhaps Lia had simply read too many stories in her day.

She was used to the idea of Knights in armor, returning from a job well done at a slow gait, allowing everyone to take in the moment.

That would not be the case here as Kaska went charging forward in between the gates, one of the Rangers up front calling to her. A sigh escaped the Sergeant, but she said nothing. Instead she pulled on the reins of her horse and motioned to the others, speeding up the trot of her speed.

Though not allowing it to fall into a gallop.
 
Kaska blinked hard at the forces gathered beyond the gates, not expecting their presence and reeling back her horse to prevent running them over. He turned in a circle, neighing in protest, before she could reel him back in and the others caught up to her side.

"I wasn't aware there was a welcome," she snuffed, fussing with a bundle at her saddle. It spilled open, the liche's crown and spilling out to the ground.

"The task is done. The lich is dead," she said with more dignity than she had previously managed. No one had truly expected them to complete the task, it only handed out because Lia had demanded it after a long track record of good results. It was a test. One she had passed.
 
"Trying to get them used to helping other groups coming in." The Corporal hollered as Kaska fussed with something on her saddle.

Addis watched the bundle open and a crown fall to the ground. After Kaska spoke, the whole crowd cheered around her and began spearheading the celebration as they headed further into the compound. Addis waited for the company he had gathered to exit before descending the stairs and coming to eye level with the mounted rangers.

“Rowdy bunch of young bloods. Glad to see you both back in one piece. Didn’t have to much trouble did you?” Addis smiled as he looked back and forth between Lia and Kas before looking over the rest of their group.
 
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Lia and the others trotted in behind Kaska, she too blinked slightly as she observed the wall of Rangers that they were met with. She managed to hear the explanation, nodding slightly in understanding as it came.

It was a good enough method of training, though she again couldn't help but feel taken aback at the wave of cheers that ran through the small crowd. Her lips twisted slightly in a frown. Had news of their mission against the Lich spread? It must have if they all knew. For some reason that didn't sit well with her.

Though why she couldn't stay. "We'll need to speak to the Major."

Lia spoke to Addis Vrummal who seemed to be the ranking Ranger around them.

Most of the others she recognized as recruit, and they wouldn't really be of much help.
 
Addis looked back to Lia as she spoke, pursing his lips a little as his brow drew together in thought.

"Shouldn't be a problem." Addis smiled as he waved after the recruits.

"You lot clear out or else you'll get five more laps around the course! Dismissed to quarters!" Addis yelled to the scattered group ahead of them, all of them staring at him for just a moment before making haste away from them.

"Oh they just love that course..." The Ranger spoke quietly to himself as he shook his head. Looking back to Lia and Kaska before pointing to the crown, his expression a bit confused.

"That...thing, is clear of magic then?" Addis spoke carefully, as though speaking ill about the crown would somehow make him a target. He stooped and looked it over a moment, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and picking it up with a covered hand.
 
"Probably." Lia said, though her tone of voice would not really do all that much to inspire any sort of confidence.

In truth she wasn't sure.

They had been carrying the thing for nearly a week or so now on their trip back, and so far at least none of them had seen any ill effects. She suspected that it might have been because none of them were mages. In truth though, Lia had absolutely no idea about these things.

Nevertheless, she motioned to Kaska. "Put it away for now."

"We'll keep it for the Major." She was sure he would want to see it.
 
Addis handed the crown to Kaska, more than ready to have his hands free of it should be be the unfortunate recipient of any lingering hold the lich had over it. He wiped his hands on his thighs as a curious thought struck him, looking the two over a for a brief second before moving them along the way to the major.

"Highers up have been a bit stirred up since you lot left. Couldn't say why myself, but this ought to put them at ease." Addis idly chimed as the path cleared before them, the rangers returning talking to those who had come to greet them. He looked around before speaking again.

"My apologies Sergeant, I wouldn't have gathered the mess at the gate had I known you all were in better than expected health." Addis admitted, still content to chatter as they walked.

(OOC Move them as you see fit)
 
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Kaska took back the crown with a piece of cloth in her hand, wrapping it up and tucking it back away. She at the very least was not keen on risking any magic. After the last times, she had no taste for it at all.

"Is. That. So," she mused tightly, glancing at Lia with a look that spoke volumes.

The look, at least, withheld an 'I told you so' as they set back off onto a comfortable walk. She kept herself upright easily, looking primly around. "Appreciate the vote of confidence, Ranger," she commented back dryly. And whether or not she meant the term in a friendly way, or to strip him of his rank was left thoroughly convoluted, Kaska moving on before he had a chance to blink.

"Any word from my father or can I at least spend the evening striping off for a drink? I swear to the gods if I have to wear this armor without a clean pair of underclothes for another day I'm going to cause a scene," she bemoaned, abruptly slipping back to her old brisk ways as their return had eyes uncomfortably turn to her.
 
Lia nodded her head slowly in agreement with Kaska, though she didn't say anything.

A part of her was still caught up deep in thought, and she couldn't help but feel that something was still...wrong. Just what it was she had little clue, but there was an odd sort of tightness in her chest. A frown touched her lips for just a brief moment, but she walked alongside the other two.

"We'll make a quick report first." The Sergeant spoke quickly, nodding her head. "But a bath would be nice."

And some clean clothes.

Their mission had gone faster than they'd expected, much faster, but they'd still spent the last few weeks running around in what amounted to dirty laundry.

Not exactly pleasant.

The three quickly rounded the corner of the Courtyard, heading into the large building at the end of the compound. Inside messengers ran around, one of them just ahead to alert the Majors that they were coming.
 
"Is. That. So," she mused tightly, glancing at Lia with a look that spoke volumes.

"You'd have to be outside the compound to not have caught some hint of it." Addis shrugged as they headed to the large building.

"Appreciate the vote of confidence, Ranger," she commented back dryly.

The elf stared at Kaska for a moment, his expression blank before he shook his head. "From what I know of lich's, they like to make little hidey-holes that they fill with lovely little traps and friends to make life hard for people trying to get at them. So the fact you, ALL, are walking is what amazes me." The tone of his speech surprised but still carrying a bit of disbelief. He watched the messengers go in and out, saying the last bit before glancing at who all was around them.

The mention of Kaska's father had him quiet for a second, very plainly thinking back on the week before making an aha motion."You should be alright to fetch a drink, and take a long dip after the report. I'd be more than glad to go with you for a drink and hear about your venture." The smile he gave them was a nod to their need for comfort after a long journey.
 
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Kaska's father had indeed written many times, demanding the status quote on the daughter he had not been consulted on before being assigned back off.

Not that any of the other commanders ever had to do such a thing. But the fact that they refrained from asking said something.

These letters never left the inner circles though, no one but the other commanders aware.

"The story is... a long one," Kaska sighed, unsure of where to even start with it. (MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT DONE BEING WRITTEN *glares at chris*) "Perhaps after drinks."

She sounded tired now, the excitement that had bubbled in her on the journey back fizzling out as they came to dismount and stand before the looming doors of the commander's offices. She hesitated, glancing at Lia, true apprehension in her gut.
 
Lia briefly wondered if things were spreading too fast.

The mission had been a secret, or had meant to be so. It was entirely possible that the Majors had informed everyone after their departure, or even after they had sent word with a pidgeon. She frowned, deciding eventually that she was just getting a little bit too paranoid.

This was a happy day, not something that they should hide away from and overthink. Even if she had to force herself to do it. "Kaska would tell it better."

Lia commented as they wandered the halls towards the main meeting hall.

"She had a flair for..." Glancing at the other girl she finished her sentence with a smile. 'The Dramatic."
 
Addis smiled as they both seemed to shy away from telling the story. "Must've been a doozy of a trip for you. I'll let you relax a bit before having you tell me the tale." Addis offered as they came round the corner to the main meeting hall.

He gave a heavy sigh and looked to both of them. "Drinks are on me if you want them tonight. Mighty thing you did." He gave the door to the meeting room a sharp rap. "Let's get it over with shall we?"
 
Kaska shot Lia a deadpan look. They pushed through, Kaska taking a deep breath as they announced themselves and quickly found themselves escorted through to the main office.

Minutes passed, the three commanders on post had returned to one as the other visiting ones departed once more, their stay only a stop coincidental stop over. Of the eight, It was usual for only one Commander to reign over a fort or section, spare for Alliria itself, which hosted two to three Commanders at any given time.

Come to think of it, why had three Commanders been gathered up here? Kaska didn't have time to think long on the question, the meeting starting and facts spewed.

She kept a good portion of the finer aspects to herself, not trusting the man before her. She half expected an evil man to be beedy-eyed or to have a mustache, but there was nothing note worthy with Commander Withers. He was as silent and hard to read as he was their first meeting.

If the details she brought him of the army the lich had gathered, and it's still unknown master, shocked him... he didn't show it. Which made her all the more suspicious as they were dismissed, an odd lack of celebration in the air as they walked out of the office, the crown left behind on the man's desk.

"...Huh," was all she said, biting her tongue.
 
Lia was a mar of negative emotion as they stepped out of the room once more.

Her lips were thin, her stomach had turned slightly, and her expression told of little more than doubt. The Commander had promised her the promotion Kaska joked about when they'd entered the Fortress, hell he'd even said the same for the other girl, but something was...wrong.

It didn't feel right. There had been a sincere lack of emotion within Commander Withers, a feeling of foreboding. His words had been encouraging, but his tone had been just about as flat as a house stepped on by a Dragon. Lia didn't like it, she felt like she was missing something.

She'd gotten her promotion, Kaska had gotten one, but...it felt wrong.

"I need a drink." The newly christened Lieutenant blurted out as the door closed behind them.
 
Addis looked between the two, and even with the victory under their belt, a heavy feeling seemed to follow them out. His ears twitched a bit as the door closed behind them, ignoring the urge to look to the doors as he walked with them.

"Well, time for you two to catch a drink. First though-" Addis teasingly pinched his nose. "Get yourselves a bath and freshen up!"

He dropped his hand after teasing them before speaking again, his tone alarmingly serious as he shot a glance from where they had come from. "Gotta say I'm a tad more interested in talk than stories now."
 
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Kaska didn't quite acknowledge any of them, looking pale and lost in her thoughts as she abruptly turned and left without a goodbye.

It was very Kaska of her. She kept her stresses to herself, returning to promptly strip out of her gear and order that nice long bath. Another request was sent out for her belongings to be retrieved from storage. The village inn was a 30 minute ride out of the compound and she intended to do it with a clean set of clothes and a comfortable saddle at her rear.

She didn't linger, wrapping her wet hair up into a bun and slipping on a comfortable set of cotton she had brought from home. Looking in a warped mirror, she watched herself as she slid the comforting weight of her sword back on her shoulder. Damn, it was good to have it back. She picked up Lia's sword and bounced it experimentally in her palm before turning out to the stables to tend to her horse until the others made their way.
 
"We'll meet you at the stables." She told Addis Vrummal, though clearly just like Kaska her mind was entirely somewhere else.

The meeting sat heavily with her.

It was odd, she had achieved her goal, she had made Rank and was now in a position of more authority then she'd ever been in her life...but it felt odd. Not wrong, never wrong, but it felt as though she were missing something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something out there.

Her routine was close to Kaska's though instead of wrapping her hair she simply used the all too commonly seen needles to place it into her trademark bun. She took the holy weapon with her, strapping it onto her back and pulling the cord tight over a light leather coat.

She doubted she would need it...but there was a certain comfort to carrying it.

Without much of a thought she headed towards the Stables, finding Kaska already there.
 
Addis said nothing giving barely a nod as he made for his own room. He switched out of his ranger gear and into plain clothes very similar to his regular outfit.

The chainmail shirt was barely hidden beneath a leather vest, something he never left his room without. The short sword and dagger he carried had found their places on either side of his hips before he went to the stables. He made it well ahead of the other two and had their horses pulled aside.

He was giving his favoured stead a quick brushing when Kaska showed up. Then Lia appeared, making him throw the brush aside and mount quickly.

"Let's be away and onto cheerier moods with some well earned time off to drink." Addis proclaimed, a small bit of excitement to his tone.
 
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Kaska still didn't match the cheer, though now for entirely personal reasons as she grunted a bit in dull acknowledgement. She reached out, offering Lia back her borrowed sword with a small glance of contained gratitude. It had saved her life, which was another debt to the woman she never expected to pay off.

She continued on with her wordless demeanor, pulling up onto her horse and taking his reigns as he reeled back in contained energy.

"Let's go." She kicked off, breaking into an exhilarating gallop straight out of the stable.
 
She glanced over Kaska's shoulder for just a brief moment, spotting the blade that she had back. A slight nod tilted her head, though only for a brief second as she took the weapon and slipped it into the side of her saddle.

Lia had yet to decide which sword she would keep, but the holy weapon had...grown on her. She couldn't quite tell why, perhaps it was because of what they had just endured, but she felt an odd sort of bond to the sword. As much as that didn't make any sense at all.

Quickly, and nimbly, climbing onto her steed the Ranger followed after Kaska.

A few of the trainees bounded out of the way as they went speeding out of the compound and into Alliria itself, but most of them seemed to just shrug and laugh it off.

Their journey would take them to the outer-city, to the rougher, and arguably better taverns.
 
Addis was silent for the trip since thundering hooves were not conducive for chatter. He looked to Kaska and kicked his horse up in an attempt to overtake her position, a large smile on his face as he made to race her. The dour mood somehow missing the elf as he continued his campaign of lighthearted play.

Their moods were very plainly visible to him though, choosing to ignore adopting a similar demeanor. After all, they were going for drinks, and alcohol turned sour if you drank it with what felt like a foot in the grave.

He had been around humans for almost two hundred years now, and humans showed their emotions pretty openly. There had been a few that could keep hidden what they felt, but the majority wore their heart on their sleeve. That was the nice thing about humans.

They tended to show you how they truly felt, even if they didn't mean to.
 
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