Dreadlords The Anniversary of Freedom

[Lysander]

Lysander was walking through the crowd. Once again, a decent size berth was given to him, if only because of his magic. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way though.

Currently, Lysander was on a mission. Or two. First mission, find his brother. Surely Kalix was out and about this festival. It had been nearly a year since he had last seen him. And when he had asked other initiates about Kalix… well, they weren’t that positive in Lysander’s opinion. The second mission? Well, that one was much simpler yet much harder at the same time as he had to—

A tall woman went running past him. She was practically his brother’s height, if not taller. He blinked his dull blue gaze, and then realized, oh, it was her. Height checked out. Hair checked out. Seemingly running away and crying? Yes, it had to be her: Kristen Pirian.

He needed to speak to her right this instance. He didn’t have much time to chase after her so with his magic he pulled her back, quickly stepping over so he could face her. He was much shorter than her, and yes, it did seem correct: she was indeed taller than Kalix.

“Initiate Kristen Pirian,” Lysander said, loudly enough to capture her attention. He ignored the signs of sick over her. He then knelt down onto one knee and bowed his head, a somber look on his face. “I would like to formally apologize on my brother’s behalf for his harassment towards you. You must understand that I cared for Kalix before the academy, but there were a few instances that I did drop him. Not on purpose. They were accidents. He squirmed a lot as a baby. He also was a biter.” Lysander then stood up, looking right up at Kristen.

“Forgive me for not raising him better. And please forgive his lecherous gaze and rambunctious attitude.” A slight pause. “Do you need a napkin, Initiate Pirian?” He asked.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

The Unwanted Sights Group​

Fire intro? Check. Witty banter? Check. Making dreams come true? Double check. Oh fuck. Super reversal? Triple check. But now we're just getting ahead of ourselves.

Zana asked them a question and Drast grinned. "Oh yeah, Ella and I are great friends." Shadowing? Oh hey, Kristen was going to spend the festival with Zana! This was splendid, she was going to be so excited.

Late? "Uhh-oh yeah! That was definitely my fault. They were waiting on my hand-slapping from Proctor Vernon." It was totally believable. Boom. Recovery? Check. Or so he thought.

He watched the proverbial carriage wreck happen in slow motion. His efforts failed spectacularly to avert the great Kristen crisis of Operation: Anniversary Freedom. But he would not fail, at hopping back and out of the way of any rogue puke.

And then, she was off. "I uhh.. will go hunt her down for you, Dread Master Zana." A sheepish smile before he turned to give chase.

"Kris!" He would weave through the crowd in hot pursuit, thankfully he didn't have to go far. But he did pause dead in his tracks. A guy was on his knee before Kristen. A proposal?! Him and Delaney would be fighting over who would fight this nerd.

He would almost tackle the guy, until he saw a bit of Kalix in his face. Lysander! His gait would come to a stop beside them and he laughed lightly, internally. Lysander would be far more into Zael than Kristen. "Kris, you okay?"

Kristen Pirian Theadora Cloud Zana Lysander

 

[Theadora Cloud]

Sights/Impromptu Escort Group​

Thea bit her lip as the butcher stared at them, perhaps into their very minds! She bit her lower lip and prayed the Trinity would protect her. Her shoulders slumped slightly when the butcher finally spoke again. "I, know Eleanor." Although she wasn't sure if 'friends' was the right word for their relationship. They were classmates during her time at the Academy and studied together a few times.

"I suppose you're the three the academy sent to shadow me whilst I am here, hm? You're late."

Oh dear, she knew that wasn't true, it can't have been, but did she really want to admit they interrupted her day without reason? Maybe it'd be better if she thought they were her shadows for the day. She'd gladly take a reprimand over whatever the butcher could do to them. Although it'd also be best if she didn't directly lie either, best say nothing at all.

... If only Drastus agreed.

"But I guess they don't reprimand tardiness anymore, do they?"

Thea's lips parted but no words came out. Her mind strayed back to her own time at the Academy. "I, guess they don't," she mumbled. Still strange for her to picture the place like that. She noticed Kristen's sickly appearance and frowned. "Is she sick or...?"

Before she could think to do anything Kristen vomited on the ground in front of her. Thea grimaced and took a half-step toward her. "Are you okay?" But the initiate ran off. Poor Kristen, she wondered what could've happened to her, she was fine a minute ago. Unless... her gaze slowly shifted back to Zana.

Distracted, it took her a moment to realize Drastus followed Kristen into the crowd. Leaving her alone, with the Butcher of Vel'Anir.

She was going to die.

Thea swallowed and anxiously followed after Zana, chewing on her lip as she went. "S-sorry about that, Lady Zana. Please don't hold it against her."

Zana Drastus Tal'deneshaar Kristen Pirian

 

[Eleanor]

Eleanor had approached as Zana was finishing admonishing the group for being late and a moment before Kristen took off with Drastus in hot pursuit. Poor Thea was let holding the bag in front of Zana. That alone caused a small chuckle to escape from her as she fell into step besides Zana and threw a smile at Landon and Thea.

"Firstly, Thea is a full fledged Dreadlord. Secondly, none of them are your work experience students. Do they not keep you informed of anything anymore?"

She gave her pseudomother a smug look that only a teenage daughter could pull off. She knew she was a surprise to Zana. They were meeting up later for some mother daughter time but Zana did not know she was coming to the festival. Sneaky daughters and all. In reality, Ella had been bored and wanted to go wander.

"Also, Kristen idolizes you so I am pretty sure the thought of you being disappointed in her was just too much for her."

Ella shook her head and looped an arm around the waist of the Butcher of Vel Anir. "I missed you," she said softer before pulling away and walking beside Zana. She motioned for Thea to come walk with them.

Zana Landon Theadora Cloud

 

[Zana]

Zana turned just before Kristen vomited. It was a sixth sense - a mum sense - to tell when someone in the vicinity was about the suddenly hurl their guts up. The quick step to the side and Kristen bringing up her hand to cover her mouth were probably the only reasons she hadn't ended up with sprayed chunder across the back of her uniform and in her hair. A grimace rippled across her face and she opened her mouth to offer some help when the poor girl turned and ran.

Maybe she'd been a bit too mean. No. These kids had grown up under the old regime, surely they hadn't softened so quickly in a single year.

"Hm?" She glanced over in surprise to see one of the children hadn't fled with her friends. "Oh, don't wo--" Zana got no further with the arrival of Ellie and she couldn't help the warm smile she offered the girl in return.

"I never had work experience students assigned, I was only playing," she sighed and glanced back towards Thea to run her eyes over her. Fully fledged hm? "I suppose I still need to work on my 'joking' face," with a shake of her head she turned back towards the bookshop. When her back was turned to hide her lips to all but Ellie she mouthed 'missed you too' back before carrying on smoothly. "Now I fear I am the late one for this signing."

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Guilt churned in his gut as Amelia spoke. He felt more pity for her than he did for himself, particularly if she did choose to stay. The only reason that he'd agreed to this marriage was that it was coupled with a plan for her to leave this place and take her sister with her. He hadn't actually expected her to stay, or that he'd actually have to be a husband again. He didn't want to be a husband again, just as she hadn't wanted to be his wife.

It was a matter best discussed somewhere less public, and a quick glance from Arryn only confirmed that he was currently reemphasising how miserable her life would be with him. The Prince cleared his throat, and lifted Amelia's hand from his arm to press a kiss to her knuckles, stirring a little more gasps and gossip around them.

"I haven't told you how stunning you look." he said, lacing his fingers through her own to walk hand in hand with her. She was beautiful, he didn't have to lie about that. His problem was acknowledging beautiful things, but today - since he'd already caused her to shed tears on a day meant for joy - he'd try.

The pair were escorted by carriage the rest of the way.

"Perhaps you might find your sister around here, My Lady." Arryn announced after the carriage had stopped, and he opened the door. Lynus stepped out, and offered his hand once more.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

An utter disaster.

There really wasn't so much as a thought of this (or any thoughts at all at present) as there was a pervasive feeling of it. Kristen's skin felt as though it wanted to crawl away from the rest of her, and her heart felt like it was trying to sink into the deepest cavity within her chest. Her throat still tingled unpleasantly with the burn of acid and the taste upon her tongue was wretched. One hand was still clapped firmly over her mouth and nose, concealing the mess underneath, and that slimy wetness on her face and in her palm was a stark reminder that, yes, it had all truly happened. Her nerves had failed her in the worst possible way at the worst possible moment.

Some people parted and others did not, Kristen having to slip in the gaps between or push them aside. Decorum was gone. It was all fight or flight, and Kristen was stumbling through a heavy haze of the latter.

Something yanked her, something that was not physical, and she went flying back. There came from beneath her covering hand a muted whimper.

Standing before her (and shortly thereafter kneeling before her) was a man she did not know. Some vague recognition or likeness, but Kristen couldn't place it. Not right now. She couldn't much focus on anything right now, such was her overwhelming distress. As he spoke she stood bristling with a terrible, singeing eagerness to just start fleeing again. And she would.

But not before Drastus showed. Kristen's gaze, wide and panicked, shifted from Lysander to Drastus and back and she, her voice still muffled, pleaded to the both of them, "I'm sorry! I just...I just want to sit down! I'm so sorry!"

She couldn't even process Lysander's offer of the napkin

Kristen turned and started running again, her only desire in this narrow, harrowing tunnel of a moment to simply get away from the mass of people at the Festival and their joyous celebrations and curious looks and retreat to someplace shaded and quiet and far removed.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar Lysander

 

[AmeliaPirian]

Amelia thanked Lynus for his kind words about her looking stunning today. She probably would have been happier if she felt like he had actually meant it and it was not just the fact that Arryn was keeping him from digging an even bigger hole.

Their carriage ride was silent as Amelia watched the festival go by. She was ready to go home after she spoke with Kristen. She and her husband needed to have a serious discussion and she was very worried that it would turn into shouting with Arryn trying to play mediator. That poor man had the hardest job in the palace.

"Yes, I am sure she will be easy to spot. According to her letters, she got a growth spurt." Of course, Amelia didn't know how much her baby sister had grown.

The Princess placed her hand in Lynus' and started to step out of the carriage. Her foot at barely hit the ground when she saw a tall figure that looked like her sister go running by.

"KRISTEN!" Amelia shouted. "Kristen Lucretia Pirian!"

Lynus Anireth Kristen Pirian

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Drast offered Lysander an apologetic look and snatched that napkin from him. "Thanks, Bud." He would in fact move with Kristen, shoving some party goers aside for her to get some space. He had shadowed her until he found a small aclove for her to slip into away from the hustle and bustle. .

One hand of his would work to her mid back. "Here, Kris. Sit over here." He fished his flask free and offered it to her. Seeing she was unresponsive, the hand at her back shifted to her shoulder and forcefully sat her down.

She stopped, making the effort easy. He had missed the first Kristen. "Wash the taste away with this." He put the flask in her hand when suddenly he heard that middle name drop harder than a strumpet at the Lusty Leopard.

He would freeze. He had gotten got with handing Kris his precious flask. It was a game time decision and Kristen was in super shock, the last time he saw this expression they were questing for Cake. Now it was his turn to drop low. Napkin in hand, his newly freed hand would pull the puke hand away cautiously before he started wiping it up. His reputation as an asshole was now on the line.

Someone called her name, they didn't need to see her like this.

Kristen Pirian Amelia Pirian Anireth Lysander

 

[Theadora Cloud]

The Sights Group?​

Thea stiffened when the butcher looked her way. Failing to make out what she'd begun to say over the now rapid beating of her heart. And she didn't have anyone to take some of the attention off her. To think she thought going with Kristen and Drastus would mean avoiding getting into any trouble.

Well, maybe it would've if the latter of the two hadn't tagged along.

Fortunately for her, deliverance would come in the unexpected arrival of Eleanor. Who's teasing words and smug look shocked Thea all the further. How could anyone speak to the butcher like that? And live! Yet strangely Zana didn't seem to mind, in fact, she looked kind of, happy? Was that a smile on her face? Did they just hug!?

Thea slowly loosened up, though her anxiety remained. She smiled graciously at Eleanor for arriving and explaining matters when she did. She didn't think she'd have found the words to herself. "H-hey, Eleanor, nice to see you." She'd heard that Eleanor was Zana's apprentice before, but she'd always thought it was just gossip!

"I never had work experience students assigned, I was only playing," Zana sighed and glanced back towards her. Playing? The Butcher of Vel'Anir was, messing with them? "I suppose I still need to work on my 'joking' face."

Thea managed a nervous laugh in response. "I'm, just an Apprentice, my names Thea, or, Theadora. It's, an honor to meet you!" If not for Eleanor she doubted Zana would even be convinced. Given her cute face and the commoner clothes she wore. She hardly looked like a Dreadlord.

At Eleanor's signal, she dumbly followed after them. Still processing everything that'd just happened...

Kristen Pirian Eleanor Landon

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen all but fell into the quiet little spot of seclusion in the alcove, collapsing down into a seat at Drastus's prompting. The sound of the Festival and all its jubilation was both there and not, near and far. For Kristen it was as if the world had all but retreated to a tiny sphere around herself, of which Drastus was the most prominent part.

Her hand, slick and slimy with the erstwhile contents of her stomach, fell away from her mouth. A shaky hand (the one devoid of bile and mostly digested breakfast) absentmindedly took hold of the flask when it was thrust into it. She didn't yet make any move to rinse out the foul taste from her mouth. She was just staring forward. Forward and down.

A buzzing storm of emotion clouded her head, like a great expanse of black clouds that stretched from horizon to horizon and darkened the earth below whilst brightening the sky with violent flashes of lightning. Mostly it was wordless, thoughtless, just the roiling turmoil of one of the very best moments of her life inverting and turning into a nightmarish, twisted version of itself. Yes. One of the very best to one of the very worst in the blink of an eye.

Above this storm though, perhaps riding upon it, there was one clear thought.

One she spoke, her words so quiet that Drastus may not exactly hear them in their entirety, even as she looked straight at him as she said them: "I can't go on like this. I can't keep letting this happen."

Then, from outside the alcove.

Kristen Lucretia Pirian!

Kristen briefly became a statue, petrifying into a perfect sculpture of horror. Blessed Aionus...Holy Sentinel...

Amelia!? Not now! Gods, not now! Why now? Ever since a fateful encounter with Liliana Lorel, Kristen had been meaning to pounce on the first opportunity to speak with her sister Amelia in person, for what she wanted to ask could only be asked in person. Yet now? Now?? She was not only a mess (thank Aionus for Drastus, who was helping her with that) but a wreck as well! It was all Kristen could do to hope that Amelia hadn't seen precisely where she and Drastus had gone, their disappearance into the crowd and into the alcove mayhap buying her some precious few moments to fix her presentation and to get her mind in proper working order.

"Th-Thank you, Drastus," Kristen said, her attempt at a smile failing before it had even begun. "Your help...and your dis—...discretion...m-means quite a lot...to me."

She rinsed out her mouth with help from the flask and spat to the side. Mother would be aghast at how unladylike this was, but that was the least of her worries at present.

"My sister...Amelia..." Her lips trembled. She swallowed. "...was calling for me."

Drastus Tal'deneshaar Amelia Pirian Anireth Lynus Anireth

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

All the while Drastus knew that if any initiate saw him right now, so much cred as the asshole would be lost. He couldn't focus on that though he had a hand to clean. She said something quietly, too quietly. He heard something that sounded negative, but didn't quite make out all the words. "Kris, you can't talk like that, okay?" He'd say, his hazel eyes focusing on her, his look a little more determined.

"Remember all that we've accomplished, you're doing fine. Just gotta work on the eject button is all." He finished the last bit with one of his patented grins.

As she started to thank him for his help, he thought of all the truths he could say, but it was him. A guy from a lesser house. Instead his hand would cover hers that held the flask and he would pour it over the slimy hand until it was clean. Using Lys's hand towel, he dried her hand, folded it, then finished cleaning her face

"Yeah, well, it was my fault. Thought I was doing you a favor to help you meet your icon. Boy, that sure backfired." He would say with a light laugh. "Good job, Drast."

He looked over his shoulder briefly. "Well, we could slip down this alley, move five blocks up then cut back into the main road. If.. you don't want to face her, yet." Both hands would gently remove her hand from around his flask before he tucked it into his belt.

"Take three deep breaths for me, Kris." Whether she did, or not, he would take both her hands and rise to his feet, pulling her up with him. "Meet her or not, you should be on your feet." He would still be holding her hands, should Amelia happen on them quicker than he thought.

Kristen Pirian Amelia Pirian Anireth

 

[Kasim Areth]

Fifteen years.

More.

Erich, Kasim, could hardly remember the streets of Vel Anir as he walked through the crowd. The cheering, the celebration, the joy which rippled and ran through all around him was like a slap in the face. He could hardly comprehend it.

He remembered these streets as a downtrodden mess. A stark reflection of people toiling away, of the House pushing and pressing for what was theirs.

It was so surreal. So...different.

He could not have imagined what his father would have said to this. The disapproval that he would have offered. Two years ago the Virak House guard would have stormed the street, thrown peasants into the gutter, executed those who got too close to the estate.

Now he saw them on the corner of the street handing out candy. It was so strange, so foreign, that he couldn't wrap his mind around it. What had Elise done?

Her letter had said she had changed, that she was different, that Vel Anir was in a world most could only have dreamed of. He'd assumed it was lies, a tale spun to entice him to coming back for some machination. Yet here he walked, in mirth and joy. Surrounded by people who could only dream of the fate that they happened upon.

It was a mystery, an utter wonder.

Kasim found himself wandering, walking. He had no goal. Nothing he was going towards. He wanted to see the new Vel Anir, what the people had to offer, what they whispered about.

More than once he stopped to talk to someone. A street urchin talking about House Luana's charity. An old woman whispering about the Republic's new grants. A young Guardsmen speaking of Virak's newly delivered armor. All of them told a story, all of them were of generosity and kindness.

He stepped like a man in disbelief.

Walked like a Ghost.

And that was exactly what Lynus Anireth would see coming towards him. A familiar, distant face. A ghost of his past. A man who as a boy had once been his best friend. A man who was supposed to be dead.

A man that was walking directly towards him.

 

[Lynus Anireth]

'Kristen Lucretia Pirian!'
​

Even Lynus blanched at the tone that Amelia used to call for her sister. He and Arryn exchanged a feigned look of terror, but at least the knowledge that his new sister-in-law's middle name was Lucretia was amusing enough to soften the frown he wore.

"Remind me not to tell you my middle names.." he murmured with a breathy laugh, and again he looked to his personal guard, with whom he always shared his jokes. Arryn however, no longer wore an expression of feigned terror nor of amusement. The colour had drained from his face, and he was more than a few shades too pale.

"What? Arr--" Lynus' tone had taken on a far more serious timbre, but whatever else he'd been about to say had been cut off by Arryn's hand on his forearm and the grip with which he squeezed it. The Prince followed his guard's stricken stare to the man in the crowd, and it took him a moment to realise why his friend had appeared to have spotted a ghost.

It was a ghost. Confusion creased at his brow and his breath turned to stone in his throat. The other guards shifted uneasily, assuming to prepare for attack.

"Erich?" Arryn called out, the name a strange sound to the Prince's ears.

"Careful." Lynus growled quietly. Their friend was dead, he had been for years, and Lynus for one knew if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was. There were people and creatures capable of all sorts, and he'd known of shifters and people who stole faces. Surely that was more likely than his friend rising from the dead...

 

[Kasim Areth]

His name echoed out.

His real name.

For some reason he had thought that he could walk through the crowd without being recognized. Had thought he would have time to see Vel Anir, speak to it's people about this new Republic. It had been fifteen years, longer, since he had been home.

Yet the features of a Virak were always certain, even through age. His blonde hair, the odd yellow eyes, and the slight scar on his cheek. He should have known, should have guessed. Eyes closed as the name rang in his ears, and then slowly he turned around.

Through the crowd he spotted them.

Guards dressed within the Royal Colors, a dozen or so.

Kasim smiled, an easy, slight smile. He did not have to guess who called his name. He saw the two faces staring over towards him, saw the weariness, the hope, the slight spark of insecurity. Pain lanced through his heart, regret.

For a moment he considered melting into the crowd, walking away. Simply never returning and sparing them the pain.

Then the coward within him lost.

Slowly he stepped forward. Not a word slipped from his lips, not a yell, not a cry. He pushed those in front of him away, parting the crowd as he made his way towards his old friends. The easy, familiar smile did not slip as he approached them.

Some of the Royal Guard seemed to tense, fingers falling onto swords as the stranger approached them. Kasim's steps slowed, stopping just a few feet away. "Arryn."

He said, his voice full of nostalgic warmth. Bright golden eyes flickering. "Lynus."

The slightest smile touched his face.

"It's good to see you." He said, knowing the storm that was about to break before him.

 

[AmeliaPirian]

“You have multiple? I will make a note to bribe Arryn later.” Amelia wore the first genuine smile since they had departed from Elise’s company. This day may turn out alright after all. Maybe.

No smartass remark back from either of them? Weird. The Princess turned her own her head to look at her husband and his personal guard. Everything about their manners had changed. Tense, worried, confused.

She lightly squeezed Lynus’ hand, but he did not look at her. What was going on? The guards were acting weird and Lynus looked like he had seen a ghost.

“Erich?”

Erich…

Amelia looked in the direction of their gazes and took a breath in. There had to be lots of Erich’s in the world but there was only one who looked like Elise Virak.

“Holy shit,” she breathed out and drew herself slightly closer to her husbands side.

Erich Virak was dead. He had been dead for many years. She had been eleven or so when he and his brother was killed. It had been huge news and not something anyone forgot easily. Now there was a man walking towards them with his (obviously older) face.

“Kristen can wait, I am here with you, Lynus,” she whispered a few moments before Erich came to stop a few feet away from their little group.

Kasim Areth Lynus Anireth

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Remember all that we've accomplished...

Little nods of her head. Her list was worryingly short, even more worryingly imbalanced against the weight of her follies, but there had been some silver lining among disappointing clouds. Her magic had improved, she had been training hard and gotten better physically, she was coming close to actually winning some spars with her peers. Just surviving some of the more harrowing encounters she'd come into had to count for something, right?

She took those three deep breaths and, with some brief hesitation, stood. Her hands still clutched Drastus's own as if he were the anchor keeping her from going adrift.

A brief glance out of the alcove. She thought she had heard her name called out from her sister's mouth, but now she wasn't so sure. Wouldn't Amelia be coming this way if it had been her? Or maybe Kristen truly had dodged out of view and Amelia lost her in the crowd. She didn't know.

But there was one thing she knew for certain.

"I don't...feel very sociable right now. Nor festive," she admitted, gaze downcast.

A sheepish glance up. "Pardon me, Drastus, for I must be dragging you down with me."

The day was supposed to be one of celebration. Instead, Kristen just wanted to spend time doing one thing.

Reflecting.

Of where she was now, and where she ought to be.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Drastus would let out a calmed breath as his words seemed to take effect in her mind. She'd accomplished a lot, he had been there with her for a good portion of it.

He didn't mind her holding his hands one bit, hell he was enjoying it. She peeked out from their cover to find the source of the voice nowhere in sight. It was clear, his plan had worked to get her out of sight of those she wanted to avoid.

Then once more that sadness returned as she made a remark. "Well... truthfully Kris.." he would begin. "I came here to spend some time with you. So.. if you're done with all this..." he would give her hands a squeeze and offer a reassuring grin. "I'm with you."

He would liberate one of his hands from her clutches, only to rest it on the arms of their hands still interlocked. "So why don't we go off and talk about whatever just found its way in your head or.. we find a way to spark that festive-ness. Its me and you, Lady Pirian."


Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Thank the gods for Drastus. Stewing in one's misery alone was the height of awfulness. Why, she ought to know, for such a hole she'd dug for herself in the immediate wake of her kidnapping. She had pushed away everyone who tried to help and comfort her, banishing herself to a frozen landscape of loneliness and isolation. Val had gotten her out of it then, and Drastus was the charm to get her out of it now.

And she wondered, briefly, if the new way of the Academy was something like a breath of fresh air for him. If the old way had necessitated an unwanted serpent's coldness in order to survive, and now he needn't hide a more human warmth (not so much, anyway).

"That would be nice. Sitting. Talking." She tried for a smile, and she with her newly liberated hand brushed hair from her face. "Though we might be hard-pressed to find a quiet spot in a city full of jubilation."

Still, one way or another, she had to work her way through this. She had to. It would claw and bite at her until she found some manner of resolution. It wasn't just that she made an utter embarrassment of herself in front of Dreadlord Zana.

It was everything. That and everything which led up to now. She'd spoke it as more of an impulse, but ultimately it was true:

She couldn't go on like this. She couldn't keep letting this happen.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Chasmine]

Never one to be exceptionally jubilant, Chasmine watched her fellow Initiates try their hands at the game of strength, smiling brightly and wistfully at their own victories. At the tug her gaze fell once more to her small companion to which she nodded as he mimed his intent to play. The first hit - a 400! Goodness, this little boy was quite strong.

Then she was crowned with flowers and her attention immediately lapsed with surprise. Hands folded neatly at her front, Chasmine's eyes drifted upward to the new adornment settled upon her head. Her mouth opened to issue a warm thank you, but Everleigh found herself distracted by the small child's second hit. Enraptured by the unbidden gift, Chasmine barely had time to register what happened when a giant Dawnbringer stuffed animal suddenly appeared before her eyes.

"Oh!" She startled on the spot, reaching out to take the gigantic prize, "Wow! Do you suppose it's quite close to her likeness? Mm," Chas turned it a bit, "a bit smaller than the real thing, I think."

"Guys, there yeah?" Everleigh had found another game it seemed so Chas tucked the gryphon under her arm and offered the boy her hand again, "Come, the pond sprites require rescue."

She paid the vendor for both herself and the child then followed him around to the left of Evie and stooped down alongside him with the Dawnbringer watching for good luck. With a gentle and steady hand, Chasmine carefully dipped her scooper into the water and caught herself a small and glimmering goldfish of pale pinkish hue, then poured it into the waiting bowl. She smiled down at it.

"Don't worry, little fae. We'll find a nice stream to take you to. Your turn now."

Azzerin Henk Everleigh Ebersol Zael Castomir

 

[Azzerin]

There was nothing but pride in the young boys eyes as she basked in the glory that was her recently acquired Velaeri. He would offer a shrug at her comment on the likeness, he'd never seen the source of the plush, but it looked like a majestic gryphon and by the best of his knowledge, it felt like one too.

Then it became time for another game! Another chance to impress his new friend and there was shortness of excitement in the young boys step as he took her hand gustily. As they trekked to their new challenge he would skip beside her, just basking in the joy of playing games with newfound friends.

There was also no shortness of shock as Chas revealed the truth behind the fish.. pond sprites. Real live Fae amongst them. While Chas played the game and won a pond sprite of her own, Azz would sidle up besides Everleigh and take her hand as he watched. He didn't even look up at her to confirm if it was okay or not. She had tried to be nice earlier, so clearly this was okay.

It was a short session of handholding, yet something long enough to make Ventress blush. Before he knew it, he was bouncing up and down joining Chas in her victory. Then... it was his turn.

Face scrunched in determination, Azz would hold the scooper to the best of his ability. One pass, a miss as the "sprite" juked the scoop. Second attempt would be another failure and that little face scrunched harder. He. Was. Going. To. Get. One! Then came the monumental third scoop! That sprite must have grown a third eye because it danced around the attempt!?! Failure!?

Azzerin dropped the scoop with a defeated huff, those once proud shoulders drooping in defeat. One hand would raise to rub his eyes, shielding a brief glint from view, and that once cocky "sprite" would bubble its last, suddenly going belly up.

Chasmine Everleigh Ebersol

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Lynus squeezed subconsciously at the dainty hand in his. It sought to reassure him, and he sought to tether himself to his sanity as he watched the man he'd thought long dead approach. Many years ago he'd see faces in the crowd that made his heart leap only for it to be swiftly swatted back down when he had to remind himself, it wasn't Erich. He'd dealt with the same trickery of grief after losing his wife, when pretty faces and gentle voices all snared his attention and set loose a flutter of hope. Hope only made the reality more painful, and so he remained stoic and the man would remain a pretender in Lynus' eyes, until he could prove otherwise.

'Kristen can wait, I am here with you, Lynus'

The Prince's brow furrowed and he finally tore his gaze from Erich and down to his wife with a slight grimace that was a mix of guilt and gratitude. She had wanted to speak with her sister and he had yet to meet her. Of all the delays that could have happened on a day such as today, his dead friend strolling through the streets was not one that he had anticipated.

Again, his hand squeezed gently at Amelia's and he gave a tight smile down at her, tugging her subtly closer and slightly behind him as he turned back to Erich. Erich, who looked and sounded like was very much alive, who greeted him by his first name. Lynus and Arryn exchanged glances, but neither said anything for a long moment as they looked over him, the guards shifting uneasily.

'It's good to see you'?!

A muscle feathered under the stubble of Lynus' jaw and his blue eyes narrowed slightly. "Explain." he said firmly in response, a demand - not a request.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim offered Lynus a small, sad smile.

How did one answer a question like that? How did you go about it in a room with who asked it? How did one even start in a situation like this. It seemed all but impossible. Even alone it would have been a daunting task, but out here?

He felt vulnerable, exposed...and yet he knew it must have paled in comparison to how Lynus and Arryth felt.

The bard knew that he had betrayed them.

Fifteen years ago he had made his choice. He had walked away from riches, power, family and friends. He'd known that then. He'd known the hurt it would cause, what would happen to those that he left behind. Yet he had done it anyway.

He had broken the hearts of his best friends. Caused the death of his brother. Left a wake of chaos and despair within his wake.

He'd not foreseen every consequence, had never even dreamed them, but he had known there would be hurt. Had known there would be pain. Yet still he had made the choice. Yet still he had decided to leave and never look back. Fifteen years. A decade and half again. That was how long he had been dead. How long he had let them all think him gone.

How did he explain that?

How did he tell them the why? The how?

Kasim smiled his sad little smile. His fingers flexed, and slowly, ever so slowly he reached up. The Guards around them stepped forward, made a motion to stop them, but a quick and curt wave from Arryn halted their steps.

The Bard's palm gently settled on Lynus' shoulder. "I was a coward."

He said softly.

"My father put me on a road. Showed me the path I had to walk on. To maintain my family. To be...be what he wanted me to be." Lynus had known Kasim's father, the man that he was. The cruelty and evil that had sat within his heart. The Prince did not know of Virak's magic, the power and the pact they had, but he knew the man who had raised Kasim. "I saw what he wanted me to do..."

Kasim trailed off, slowly, looking away from Lynus in shame. "And I couldn't...wouldn't."

His voice was quiet now, barely audible over the crowd.

"I ran. Never intending to look back." Slowly his eyes flickered up, that soft sad smile drawing over his lips. "But my father...my father knew, and he...he pulled me back. Threatened Rein."

Kasim's brother, the missing piece of their little gang. The one that would not walk like a ghost through the crowd. "So I..."

Tears flickered through his eyes. "So I came back...I thought I could convince him, that we could run away together, but father...father knew."

He always knew.

For a few seconds Kasim stayed quiet, the gentle streak of tears falling down his face. Teeth bit his tongue for a moment, and he took a slow breath.

"I...I was a coward." He said softly. "I made a mistake, and because of me..."

Words choked in his throat. The admission, the truth. "The explosion wasn't a lie, but only one of us died."

The wrong one.

It was well known that the Virak twins had died in an explosion. The story being that both of them had been sent to check on the production of a mine in the outlands. While there the forges had been ill-tended, and a blast had claimed both of their lives. A tragedy that had bought the Virak's much sympathy.

The truth was different of course. It had been a plan, a plot by Kasim's father to drag him back to Vel Anir, to complete the ritual that would seal the Well of power to the family once more. A plan that worked, though not by any choice of Kasim's.

"I'm sorry, my friends." He said, slowly looking for to Lynus and then to Arryn. "But I was weak."

The sorrow slowly trailed over his cheeks. "And I crawled from those flames as a lesser man."

One that chose to leave.

Lynus Anireth | Amelia Pirian Anireth

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Drastus could sense whatever was bogging her lift some, and that in itself made him more confident in the situation. He could help. There were so many things he wanted to say, to do to bolster her, but not amidst all these strangers. And then she moved some hair, a simple gesture to most but between that and the look, his heart labored for its next beat.

That was weird. He wasn't like that with people, yet this one was. She just wasn't anyone, she was Kristen Pirian. The KP. Then he remembered something, talking. He had to respond.

The mild appearing factory reset would occur as he recalled what she said. "I think I know just the spot." With one hand still holding hers, he would drag her off down the alleyway, running parallel to the main marketplace, his eyes scanning the rooftops.

As quick as he bolted, he would slide to a stop. "Here!" He would shout with a grin before he shot her with a wink and suddenly clambered up the wall and pulled himself up to a low overhang, with relative ease. Crouching down, he would reach for her, offering his hand. "C'mon. Lady Pirian deserves the best seats in the house. Just requires some determined climbing." If she took his hand, he would haul her up to where he was, before continuing onto the next level and repeating the process until they found themselves on the roof.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"Wha-what? Oh—!"

Kristen stumbled for her first few steps, her surprise mixed with the quickness of the sudden motion nearly taking her off her feet. But she recovered and she ran and the sense of wonder about the abrupt hurry and just where this spot happened to be all but cast out (momentarily, at least) the embarrassing development of the day.

Here!

And, awkward as it was to get going, she was equally awkward coming to a equally sudden stop, her slide not nearly as graceful as Drastus's own and she plowed into him. Lightly. He wasn't in any danger of being knocked off his feet, but Kristen had inadvertently been pressed into his side before she took a step back.

He winked and she blinked. "Drastus, where might—?"

She didn't bother to finish her sentence. Just...trusted him. Curious and eager (the reprieve was nice, even if the looming sense of despondence clung to the edges of her consciousness) she reached up and took hold of his hand. Allowed herself his help, and before long she found herself on a rooftop of all places.

Simply out of second-nature, one hand idly held her dress to her thigh at all times. Unspoken worries of some rogue gust of wind or some wandering eyes from below demanded she protect her modesty, even by as small a measure as that.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar