Radi

Our story began in Radi, a small village on the east coast of Namoor. The village were outside a blooming forest, close to the sea. In the very clearest of days, one could barely make out the silhouette of Aedi out in the great waters.

In Radi, everything was as normal. Children were running around, yelling, screaming and chasing each other. The women were watching over the kids, did the washings, prepared food and the likes. The men were hunting in the forests, fishing by the sea or did guard duty. Just last year, the Queen herself demanded that every village would require a team of guards. In Namoor, people were always very curious and naive. They were happy to accomodate several strangers from other parts of both these lands and others. For this reason, they needed guards in the villages to make sure the outsiders didn't overthrow villages and steal their supplies and kids. This used to be a problem earlier, as the people outside Namoor would take benefit of the naivety of the Namoorians.

There was one thing new in Radi this particular day. Five men had arrived by carriage. They had gathered down by the water and started speaking to every man and woman passing by.

"Have you ever wanted away from here? Are you not entirely bored of doing the same chores every single day?" one of the men started. "I am sure you all know the island of Aedi. How could you not, living in this village. And I am sure you are more than tired of people comming here to recruit a fellowship." the second continued.

There was mumbling in the crowd that had now gathered. The interest didn't seem to be that high. Too many times had there been groups recruiting adventurous villagers to travel to Aedi.

The first man went on. "Well, we have found the missing piece of the map! It is indeed not just destroyed, someone must have teared out a piece of the map, and now WE have found it! That is why the Queen of Namoor herself have ordered this inquest to Aedi! We have not been able to identify what the mark on the piece of map resembles, but the piece can be found on our ship, just one day walking from your LOVELY village!"

The mumbling became more intense. People were intrigued by these news. Was it really true? Could it really be?

"We do hope some of you want answers like we do, and that the bravest of you would find it in your hearts to support your Queen and the land with your help for this ever important quest. It will be harsh conditions, the weather is cold and hard. We will not babysit whoever decides to join. We're only here to lead this expedition. You will need to be able to handle yourself. We do, however, provide plenty of resources. Food, clothing and basic weaponry, just in case. This will be provided by the Queen. There are not likely to be any sort of resources at all on the island, though, so all that we can carry must last the entire two weeks we've planned to use on this travel."

The mumbling had stopped. The villagers had lost their tongue. It could not be. Was this a joke?
The guards of the village had already confirmed they were sent here by the Queen. This was really true!

"If you want to travel with us, if you want to be one of the heroes named in the books of histories for sovling the everlasting mystery of Aedi, please approach us. Tell us your name and your age. Tell us how you want to contribute, and what your motivation for traveling is. Oh, and let me say this lest I forget - There will be a good reward in it when we return, for all of us. It is a royal inquest after all!"

( OOC: To do this, register, simply reply to this post :])

Ivoreth strolled down the path in Radi, until suddenly she stopped by five men who seemed to be addressing all those who passed. Interested, she stopped to listen to the men as they spoke. Her jaw dropped as they were speaking, stunned at the news and shocked that the Queen had actually sent these men here. They spoke of Aedi, and instantly Ivoreth became interested. She had not gone on any adventure in quite a while, and would've liked to go on another.

She began to speak to the men, telling them the things they had requested to hear. "My name is Ivoreth Barringer, and I am twenty-two years old. I will contribute in whatever way you wish, and I am keen to solve the mystery within Aedi. I have not had a good adventure in quite some time, and this interests me. I am willing to do what is required of me and I am quite good at looking after myself as well. May I join you on your adventures to Aedi?" She finished speaking, awaiting the men's responses.

Another of the men, one who had stood silently in the background, opened up a book he had been carrying. He hastily took notes of what Ivoreth said. "Oh, look at that!" the first man exclaimed. "A woman!"
"Nothing wrong with having a woman in our ranks, is it chief?" said the thrid man, looking up from his book.
"No, no, not at all. I am truly sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I was just surprised to see a woman volunteer - atleast as the first one!"
"Maybe she will help attract more villagers to our inquest, sir?". The fourth man had a shy voice. "She is very pretty!". Her tan skin and long wavy hair seemed to spellbind him.

"Pull yourself together, Harn. You're here in the Queens name, for loves sake!". The first man turned back to Ivoreth. "So, if you think you are up for this, I shall not stop you. Mind you, it will be tough! Welcome to the team - Ivoreth, was it?"

The fifth man came up to Ivoreth. "We leave at dawn tomorrow; please meet here in time before then. If there is anything you require or wonder, please let me know, and I shall do my best to help you. Any and all equipment you will need will be provided once we reach our ship."

Ivoreth smiled as the five men spoke, listening intently to their every word. She said nothing in reply to the compliments, but smiled and may have blushed slightly, to her own dismay. "I am willing, but I have one question. Are we allowed to bring our own weapons if we wish?"

"Aye. You are free to bring whatever equipment you choose. You will however have to carry this, and any provision you wish to bring from the ship, yourself. The more equipment you bring, the less food you will be able to carry. Choose wisely"

As time went on, the men seemed busy with quite a few villagers, men and women, who were interested in more details. It was noon. The air was warm, and the sun was high in the sky. Children was playing by the water line, mothers paying close attention. The villagers usually had their midday break at this time, and so the five men was surrounded by even more curious noses than earlier.

From a branch in a nearby tree sat a raven. He payed close attention to what was going on. The raven, Crust his name was, couldn't hear much from this distance, and curiosity won; he would have to take a closer look. Crust spread his wings and slowly leaned over the edge. He let go, now falling towards the ground. The ground came closer and closer. Never would he grow tired of that tingling sensation. It felt as if exited butterflies was fluttering around in his stomach. He loved it. He flattened his wings and slid through the air, slowing down and carefully gliding towards a little bench behind a small house.

Not a minute later came a man out from behind the small house. He was wearing linen trousers and shirt. His hair was pearly black, shoulder long. The man had yellow, perfectly circular eyes, and seemed a little disoriented at first. He approached the big mass of people.

After a while one of the recruiting men finally noticed the man in linen clothes and tried to have him recruited. The black haired man listened for a while, and then decided he would quite like to be part of such a journey.

"I would very much like to take the opportunity you present before me, kind man. I go by the name of Crust, I am twentyfour. I might not be much of a combatant, nor any athlete, but for an inquest like this, I hope that wont be any trouble. I am however used to work in harsh conditions, often with little food, and for long hours. Lastly, I can offer you scouting abilities you might not have ever seen the likes of." He refrained from telling he was a shapeshifter. He had no experience with peoples reaction to the matter, and didn't think this was the time to experiment with such.

"Brilliant," said the first man, "but what is it that makes you so eager to leave this village?". "Oh," started Crust, "I have never really felt quite at home here. I have been looking for a ticket out of here for some time, and yours seem as good as any. Maybe even better than most. Very interesting indeed!".

"So be it." said the third man, "Your name is noted in the book.". The fifth continued, "We leave at dawn tomorrow; please meet here in time before then. If there is anything you require or wonder, please let me know, and I shall do my best to help you. Any and all equipment you will need will be provided once we reach our ship.".

"Very well!".

Ivoreth smiled and nodded in reply, quickly thinking about which materials she would bring. Bring only your basic weapons... you heard them, the more you bring the less food I can carry. Also I don't want my nice ones getting ruined... Ivoreth thought to herself, strolling back down the path after nodding her goodbye to the five men.

She walked into her small cottage in which she resided a few minutes later, receiving a welcoming glance from her horse, which she would leave behind in a friend's care. She began to gather what she would bring for the trip, which would be only her basic wooden longbow, a quiver of arrows, and two daggers, along with the knives she always kept hidden inside her boots. She took out the belt with the sheathe for her daggers attached to it, knowing she would need it also.

After setting these aside she took out some stew from the night before, deciding that she would eat and get a full night's rest so that she'd be prepared for tomorrow. Quickly she ate, not particularly in a hurry for any reason but her own self consciousness, until halfway into the meal she heard someone knock on the iron-hinged door of her cottage.

Ivoreth smiled as her friend's face appeared behind the door as she opened it, welcoming her inside. "I'll be gone for a couple of weeks I believe. Thank you so much for deciding to watch my house and the horse. I appreciate it." Ivoreth inquired, smiling brightly at her friend, Lhinnien. "Not a problem. Good luck and rest well, and don't get yourself into too much trouble." Ivoreth laughed at this, an inside joke spurred on by one of Ivoreth's previous adventures with Lhinnien.

"Make yourself comfortable where you wish," Ivoreth began, "I'm going to head off to bed for the night. Thank you again." With that she turned and climbed into bed, drifting off into a fitful, dreamful sleep, awaiting the approaching dawn....

(( OOC: Hi, I am sorry there haven't been much activity these last few days. I'm working long hours these days, and simply do not have the energy to write when I get home. I'll delete this OOC post and post a proper post within the next few days, I promise :] ))