The church was filled with every elf in the village to celebrate the day of the goddess Tarellethiel. Aranel was happy, since this was the first time she was celebrating this day as a priestess. Everyone kneeled down on the floor in prayer, when the doors flew open to reveal a horde of trolls. They came in, shoving people out of the way and kicking them. They took anything of value and stuffed it inside of bags. Aranel was paralized. She felt someone tugging her shoulder and looked. It was the high priestess. "Aranel , go out of the backway, we'll take care of this." Aranel ran out of church, into the forest, and kept going. She finally fell out, exausted, and slept the rest of the day. When she woke up, she walked back to the church with no difficulties since she knew these woods by heart. When she got inside, everyone was dead, and the shrine was destroyed. "I should have stayed," she said, sobbing, "I should have fought too." She curled up on the floor and cried for hours. When she was done, Aranel backed what was left of her things, and set out to Jotunheim to avenge her village.

Minh sat atop the large boulder overlooking the valley that led to the small Elven village halfway between the Elven Capital and the Human Realm. He wandered often, finding serenly beautiful spots like this. His backpack hung loosely on his shoulders, his Harlequin mask hanging by it's straps on one of the many trinkets sticking out at odd angles. The most recent find being a scimitar inliad with a golden butterfly. He bought it solely for the fact that it reminded him of Desna, his Goddess, and so he spent the day figuring out how to create a wayshrine to Desna. She often enjoyed her shrines to be far and few between, but beautiful places like this would do her justice. And so by nightfall, a small butterfly trinket dangled from the sword's hilt as it stuck out of the ground. Minh made camp and fell asleep staring at the stars.

The next day he ventured into the small town, walking the small alleyways, and lines of merchant shops running down the merchants' quarter. He hovered around a church to one god or another that he didn't much care for before stopping in a tavern that was practically smack dab in the center of the town. Ordering a cheap mead, he sat back and watched travellers come and go for a while. Waiting for something exciting to happen before he'd set out at nightfall for the next town or pretty place to view the country side from.

Chey yawned as she fluttered around Mihn quietly. Usually, the days werent this quiet, and the half-elf would have said more than a few words by now. But of late, things were a lot more quiet than usual. Even while they were in this bustling town, things only seemed quiet.... Though she supposed that it had something to do with the fact that she wasn't very talkitive herself lately. Perhaps the two would find something interesting to do... but there wasn't really much to do anyway. This town really wasn't too large anyhow.

She finally rested on the Mihn's shoulder, smirking lightly at him as she and him both looked on to the people that came in and out of the tavern. People watching seemed to be something Mihn enjoyed....why was beyond her, but it was far from her to question him. She finally spoke up to him, quietly looking around, before focusing on the half elf. "So. Mihn.... I've never asked you. Why do you travel? I mean, you seem so...nomadic. Is there a reason?" She would ask innocently.

Aurelier was late to the celebration of the goddess. She had been distracted as she flitted about the garden tending to her roses. She ran to the church, careful not to tear her dress. She kept running over the twigs, careful not to break them. When she finally reached the beautiful church, she lingered outside the door. She hoped no one would notice her when she pushed open the door. On the floor layed the bodies of her friends and the closest thing she had to family. A troll ran out a back door with a sack full of gold. Aurelier let out one of the loudest screams in all the land. She went back to her house and gathered all of her things and began running to a nearby town, looking for help. She wasn't sure if any elves were left in existence. She prayed to multiple goddess that she was not the only one.

Where... Am I?

Apoline pushed open the doors of the tavern aimlessly, transfixed by the lines and curves of the map. The tavern's mild buzzing and the maidens' careless giggling ceased at once, although the elven soldier took no notice of such happenings. Men and women alike stepped away from the tall stranger that came through the doors and gawked at her as if she had two heads. Apoline sighed in displeasure, having no luck in trying to read the map the King had kindly given her to aid her during her mission. Hell, she didn't even know what town she was in! She folded the crumpled paper into a square and looked at her surroundings for the first time after walking in, raising an eyebrow at the staring eyes. Apoline smiled and raised her slender hand in a hopeful greeting. Dead silence.

She looked at the young man standing next to her with a mug in his hands and he blushed profusely, turning away. Apoline walked towards the bar and seated herself in a stool. She could almost feel their stares burning a hole through her head. If looks could kill. "Ale, please?" she asked the bartender, flashing him the sweetest of smiles. He cleared his throat, flattered by the attention and slammed an overspewing mug in front of her. Slowly, very slowly.. the buzzing and chattering began again, the tenseness of the atmosphere dissipating as everyone returned to their business. The female bounty hunter tied her long, transluscent hair high up with a tattered cloth and ruffled her light yellow bangs anxiously.

Minh focused quietly on the small Faerie. He wasn't sure when they'd met. Since he never paid much attention to time, or the passing weeks. He just lived from day to day wandering around and making people smile. He shrugged lightly and smirked as a particularly robust woman entered the tavern and waddled her way to order massive amounts of food. She must have been a human passing through the land to trade with the Dwarves. Elves would never have ordered a meal fit for a family. He refocused on the little Fae and sighed, "Why not? You'll never see the world sitting in a study. Or one of those boring libraries. Or what about a tavern?" He asked, waving his hand in a gesture, "They're so full of... Interesting people." He mumbled as an oddly tall female Elven Bounty hunter entered the room. He smirked a bit at her, thinking her more interesting than off-putting or weird. He liekd unique people, and surely one with unique looks would be of interesting character to carry herself with such a demeanor, "And yet you can never see them all." He shrugged once more, probably detrimental to the Fae's balance on his shoulders but he figured she'd compensate well with her ability to fly, "Besides. I seem to have been struck since birth with a... Wanderlust of sorts." he grinned and stood, picking up his harlequin mask off the table and resting it over his face. He then gathered his backpack and made for the door when a small boy spotted him. The kid shrieked and laughed, tugging on the hem of his mother's dress to get her attention while pointing at Minh, or possibly Chey. He couldn't be sure.

The child asked him to do some tricks and Minh was a little taken by the ale anyway, so he jovially obliged. Tossing his ringed starnknives into the sky and cutting fancy trails through the fading twilight. He cast light on one of them, and as it flew through the air, would cast long shadows about and leave blazing trails of light. All this was accompanied by a wide variety of martial arts-style dancing moves and a tale of Desna travelling the stars. When he was through, a crowd had gathered and they dropped some coins on the floor which Minh scooped up, thanked them, and left town.

He'd heard the stories of Trolls raiding nearby towns, boardering the two lands. While he was usually apt to avoid such instances, he couldn't let people be slaughtered. If there was something he could do, he would do it.

"You can come along if you wish, Chey. But I will not ask you to accompany me in my suicidal fancies of glory. "
He said and hopped on the back of a passing caravan that was headed in his direction.

<<Editted to add in the post that was put while I was typing ;) >>

Aurelier saw a man walking her way. He was a lot taller than her and had an elven walk. She noticed a fairy sitting on his shoulder next to a harlequin mask. Aurelier was intimidated but gathered herself enough to ask the man for help.
"Excuse me," She said in her quiet, harmonic voice. She wasn't sure if he would help her. "All of my village was murdered by trolls. I want revenge but do not know where I should go..." Her voice trailed off into nothing. She wasn't sure why the man would even bother helping her and what could he help her do?

The Shadowdancer smirked behind his Harlequin's Mask. Tilting his head slightly. He had just arrived off the caravan, and barely stepped into town before someone was asking for his help. Clearly he'd made a mistake in coming here. But the woman seemed so pleading, so helpless. His nature got the better of him and he stopped to look at her, dusty leather boots caked with forest mud and all manner of odd forest items scuffing the dirt path. His neck craned to peer toward the town church, which was deserted. He could barely make out spatterings of blood which caused his stomach to curdle and turn. He kept his mask on, and rested a hand on his belt as he bowed regally, "I'm not sure if I can be of help, but I promise I will try." he responded in a soothing voice and gestured toward the town, "Perhaps an investigation of the scene would give us clues as to the whereabouts of our perpetrators...?" he offered and started to trot nonchalantly toward the church, trying to be calm.

Aurelier nodded at the older man. In elven terms she was around the teenage age. Her long blonde hair swayed back and forth as she rushed to keep up with him. His stride was so much longer. "I-I'm sorry for sounding so needy," She said in her quiet voice. It was barely a whisper in the wind as they walked past her rose garden. She looked at her beloved purple roses and her enchanting green roses. She would have to leave them soon, nothing kept her tied here. She wasn't sure if anyone survived the attack. Obviously the goddess had planned for her to fall asleep in the garden and be late for the ceremony, right? Aurelier thought it was wishful thinking but they then came upon the gorey scene and she hid behind the tall man.

Aranel was at the edge of the woods when the heat of her anger that kept her going dissolved. How could she even think of avenging the village from trolls by herself? She suddenly felt weak and nearly collapsed. Nearby was the Lake of the Ancestors, where millions of great balls of light floated around the water. The elves believed the lights were the spirits of fallen ancestors. Around the lake were trees that were bigger that the other trees of the forest. They were supposed to guard the spirits being captured by sorcerers. Aranel walked to the edge of the lake and layed down. "I suppose the village is floating around me now, from the Afterworld in bliss," She murmmered, then fell asleep, dreaming of fun times in which she would sit by the lake with her friend Aurelier and talk of their plans and dreams.

Minh shook his head as they walked. He slowed his pace so the smaller elf wouldn't have to struggle so much to keep up with him, "It's not a bother. In fact, this happens to be the reason I came here. Last I ventured in this area, the townsfolk were very gracious with their coins and even gave me some symbols of Desna. Shiney, pretty little trinkets. Delightful." He chuckled and then stopped, staring at the green roses, "Beautiful." he mumbled and stooped near them. Taking the time to lift one toward his nose. He moved the mask slightly and sniffed at it before putting the mask and flower back down. He then stood back up and adjusted the crmson sash around his waist before making his way again toward the church. He stopped and rested a hand on the church door, steeling himself, "Death is not my forte, I must warn you." he said, his voice barely a whisper as if he was afraid to wake up the dead. He stepped into the gloom and surveyed the scene quietly.

(( Gah! I'm left behind. x____ x ))

Apoline narrowed her eyes and turned her head to the side discreetly to hear the 3 women behind her gossip. Something interesting had caught her attention..

".... The church?"
"..Aye, it seems they were celebrating, quite merrily at that, and a horde of trolls raided the area.."
"Where?! What happened?!"
"The next town!! Everybody was killed!"

The other 2 ladies gasped in unison and Apoline stood, thankful for the change in development. Sophitia. She bowed slightly, honoring her favorite Goddess and then swiftly crossed the small room in 4 great steps, exiting the tavern. She made her way towards the stable and silently entered the dirty shack, slowly, carefully moving so as not to startle the horses. Apoline cautiously approached a horse with auburn colored hair, a white diamond on the center of its forehead. She eyed the beast and smiled pleasantlly, murmuring encouraging words to the animal. The horse snorted and whinnied loudly, causing the others to rustle about restlessly. "Shh.."

Apoline retrieved 4 gold coins from a compartment in her belt and laid it on the ground next to the red horse for payment. The money should've been more than enough. The elf smoothed down the fur of the horse and he seemed to calm down under her touch. Proud at her accomplishment, Apoline saddled the horse and hopped on, trotting out of the stable and onto the dirt path.

--An hour later--

The gallop slowed to a trot as she stopped by a crystal lake. Apoline frowned, knowing she was probably lost again; She jumped to the ground gracefully and kneeled by the water's edge, lightly dousing her face with cool water. She scanned the trees and bushes for a possible path, knowing it was probably overgrown and impossible to see from a distance. She sighed, glancing next to her, at the sleeping girl who was a mere 3 feet away. Apoline stared at her for a while and then moved closer. She adjusted the giant oak bow saddled on her back and poked the sleeping girl on the shoulder. "Hello ... ?"

Aurelier leaned around the man to take in the scene. She saw the bodies of many priestesses and cringed as she saw some of the elder priestesses that had cared for her. But one body was missing. Her best friend, Aranel was not in the church. She thanked whatever goddesses would listen. "Really? Death is not what any of my kind can handle. We focus more on the lives in the world." Aurelier sang a quick song helping all the spirits on their way. "Thank you Mr... uhm.." She had forgotten to ask the kind man's name.

Aranel heard a voice a woke up. Looking at her was an elven woman. "Help me, please! my village..." She could not complete the sentence and started weeping.

Startled, Apoline stepped back, her hands moving directly to the hilt of her bow sitting on her back. She stared at the woman with wide eyes for a few seconds and hesitated, before asking, "Are you.. related.. to the Church? I have heard rumors in the previous town.. about.. " The elf didn't bother to finish her sentence and instead dropped her burning gaze. "I woke you, meaning to ask directions to your village.. but it seems.."

Apoline kneeled next to the weeping woman again and placed a handkerchief in her hands. "I will definitely do all I can to help you," she said, smiling gently.

"Thank you so much," Aranel said to the woman. She led her back to the Church, feeling, not better, but not so bad. "I'm Aranel, by the way. The newest priestess there. And you are...?"

Minh turned his eyes and face away from the sight and smell of death. He cringed them closed for a long while. Up until now, he had always been in some kind of motion. Bobbing and weaving, constantly flowing like a fluid river with every movement he made. Until that moment when he stood motionless as a statue. He opened his eyes slowly and turned toward the smaller elf, "Mr. Kaizu." he said at last, "You can call me Dancer or 'that Harlequin'. " His grin matched that of his mask, "Or weirdo. The children like that one." he let out a small chuckle despite the gore within meters of him before he stopped quickly.

Bending down and crawling through the door he approached the first body, inspecting the wounds and lack of shiney trinkets Elves seemed accustomed to wearing during such events. It was a sobering thought, seeing their blood around the floor and their lack of shiney things. He pulled out a small butterfly cut from Rose Quartz, and laid it on the female's chest, saying a small prayer for her dreams to be exceptionally well that night. He then stood and looked around for anything the trolls might have left behind.

Aurelier inspected the beautiful butterfly. "You worship Desna?" She questioned. "I like Dancer, some of the elves called me Singer because of my voice. It's 'special'." She was really opening up to this stranger. The only person she had ever opened up to was Aranel. She prayed that Aranel was safe wherever she was. "So what should I do? Should I move towns?" She felt the need to whisper in the Church. It seemed even more sacred after all of the death that has happened here.

The harlequin stood quietly, which was odd for him. He still stooped and moved and even stood with a slight sway to him. As if his body was moving in to a continuous beat that nobody could hear but him. He looked slowly over at the small elf and nodded, "Desna, Goddess of Travel and Dreams." he responded with a lofty reverence in his voice. He pulled his mask up to reveal a face tatooed with arcane sigils surrounding his eyes and chin. His hair was mostly pulled back into the long, dark pontytail that gleamed in the gloomy light. His eyes were Hazel, flecked with golden star patterns as if they were splashed with it in the womb. He smiled slightly and bowed, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Singer." His eyes flicked around the room, "All things aside." he added at the end while he bound his mask to his sash, next to his twin starknives.

He heard voices coming from outside, two females heading for the church and motioned to Singer, then seemingly disappeared into a shadow. Not as if he hid in it, but more like he BECAME the shadow, in that he was absolutely nowhere to be seen as he awaited the arrival of these two new people.

"Apoline," she said simply, her demeanor becoming stoic and severe as she neared place of murder.

The elf stood in front of the Church door with sadness etched into her features as she touched the wooden, blood-splattered frame daintily; She stood there for a moment, preparing herself mentally for a gruesome sight. The door swung open silently and Apoline took a careful step into the dimly-lighted room. She grimaced at the smell of death that still lingered long after, although she did not back away fearfully from the gore and acts of violence that were before her. She held her bow resolutely in one hand and glanced at Aranel behind her; Her emerald eyes glimmered dangerously, knowing things were amiss. "Has somebody been here already? The scent pattern is irregular..."
Her grip tightened on the bow and she took a metallic arrow from her rucksack. With the grace of an experienced hunter, she placed it against the bowstring and pulled back her arm in one swift movement. It's still here. The tip of the arrow spontaneously erupted in brilliant flames as her bowhand and bow glimmered bright orange. The air around her warmed and tiny sparks flew from her charged weapon. She aimed at nothing, yet everything.. or, whatever showed a hint of life. "I do not like to be deceived," she informed nobody in particular, "Show yourselves!"

Aurelier's eyes widened as she took in the strange features of the man. She stood up leaving a body with a black rose on it and disappeared into the shadows, hiding from whoever was coming. She made herself flat against the wall. She saw the people and recognized her best friend. She hoped it was her friend, or could it be a trick from the trolls. Whatever they were the other elf seemed menacing and aimed a flaming arrow in her diretion. She hid closer to the wall and it raised a dust cloud in front of her. She sneezed as she breathed in the dust.
"Wait!" She shouted as the person almost let the arrow go. "I'm an elf, my name's Aurelier!" She stepped out, holding her hands up and praying that it was really Aranel.

The harlequin chuckled hollowly, reflected and reverberating off his Mask to cast it around the room. He often used this technique when telling stories so that even the farthest in the back could hear him. For now, he just laughed because of his own nervousness. He stepped out of a shadow to the hunter's left. More or less he seemed to melt -out- of the shadow. Reaching a hand out in a defensive gesture, his other hand was behind his back, gripping his starknife, "You'll have to excuse me." he said quietly, "Death unsettles me, and makes me nervous. I didn't mean to upset you." He continued standing like that, swaying slightly to his own tune as he awaited her response and hoped Singer wasn't anywhere nearby just in case this woman was dangerous. Though there was something familiar about her. As if he'd seen her somewhere before. Not quite sure, and he was glad for the mask which hid his scrutiny.

<Im on a sugar-rush, thats why my character is hyper>
"Aurelier?" Aranel ran up and hugged her. "I thought you were dead, I was so scared, I thought I was all alone and I would die too..." She said very fast.

Apoline looked at the one named "Aurelier" curiously and then at the other unknown. Her clear gaze lingered on his masked face for a while before returning to Aurelier. The beautiful, dull orange glow dissipated from the weapons and it was once again plain, just a bow and arrow. Though the two came forth with their identities, Apoline remained in a defensive position, with her hands still on her weapons.

"I thought you were dead, I was so scared, I thought I was all alone and I would die too..." she heard Aranel say and then rush up to hug her friend.

Apoline smiled despite herself. "You two know each other? Then you are one from the church, too?" she asked Aurelier, a bit apologetic now for threatening her with an arrow.
The elf looked at the masked man again, her eyes absorbing his posture and stance. Apoline stared at the mask calmly, emotionlessly. "Be still. I bear no hostility."

Minh grinned behind his mask further, wondering where Chey had gotten off to. Aside from that he relaxed his posture, but continued his dancing sway, "Says the one with an arrow in my face." he joked and bowed with one hand on his hip, feet close together. More a mockery of a bow, though he didn't give a name. He stood up again and watched the two friends reunite with a bit a chuckle, "Well at least she has a friend." he mumbled then turned back to the hunter who seemed to be scrutinizing his mask, "I would assume from your posture that you know what you're doing." Gesturing inward, Minh continued, "I was looking for signs of which Tribe the trolls belonged to. I don't think this was an officially sanctioned attack. Open warfare is beyond them." he speculated.