Introduction
History
Aires is world that is untouched by earth’s modern man.Technologies thought to be basic necessities on earth are nonexistent which means no cell phones, no cars, and no firearms. Just people, politics, civil war, religion, and the cyclopean.
For centuries, Harbingers have described the cyclopean as lost souls—people with problems that weren’t properly resolved after death, people who were filled with hate and consequentially turned into monsters. Others say that they exist only by the will of their king Oblivion and that they were never human to begin with.
Despite the differing opinions, there has always discourse between the humans and the cyclopean. It was a balanced battle, head to head, toe to toe until a powerful evil began to encompass the land and overrode all that was good. Oblivion, the king of the Cyclopean, took the entirety of Aires as his prize and began to murder all who opposed him.
The Goddess, not powerful enough to defeat Oblivion alone, created twelve stones and infused their powers into a group of mortals who possessed the will power to manipulate their powers. The people of Aires called them the month warriors—saviors who would vanquish all chaos—demi gods.
They purified the land within a matter of months, but in the midst of the final battle Oblivion vanished, leaving the job unfinished. Soon the warriors were consumed by their gems, trapped inside, and reduced to glimmers on a cave floor.
Kick off Plot
The fate of both Aires and Earth lies in the hands of a group of young people who the prophets identified as matches for the sacred birthstones.
Our story begins with 12 young people who are oblivious to their powers and by some odd coincidence end up in New York’s Central park. Unaware of their destinies and the phenomena lurking deep within their gems, they accidentally embark on a life changing journey of tragedy, friendship, magic, and self-awareness.
The Cyclopean race is back, and the creatures are beginning to leak into earth. Can these children discover the full potential of their destinies before it’s too late?
Aires is world that is untouched by earth’s modern man.Technologies thought to be basic necessities on earth are nonexistent which means no cell phones, no cars, and no firearms. Just people, politics, civil war, religion, and the cyclopean.
For centuries, Harbingers have described the cyclopean as lost souls—people with problems that weren’t properly resolved after death, people who were filled with hate and consequentially turned into monsters. Others say that they exist only by the will of their king Oblivion and that they were never human to begin with.
Despite the differing opinions, there has always discourse between the humans and the cyclopean. It was a balanced battle, head to head, toe to toe until a powerful evil began to encompass the land and overrode all that was good. Oblivion, the king of the Cyclopean, took the entirety of Aires as his prize and began to murder all who opposed him.
The Goddess, not powerful enough to defeat Oblivion alone, created twelve stones and infused their powers into a group of mortals who possessed the will power to manipulate their powers. The people of Aires called them the month warriors—saviors who would vanquish all chaos—demi gods.
They purified the land within a matter of months, but in the midst of the final battle Oblivion vanished, leaving the job unfinished. Soon the warriors were consumed by their gems, trapped inside, and reduced to glimmers on a cave floor.
Kick off Plot
The fate of both Aires and Earth lies in the hands of a group of young people who the prophets identified as matches for the sacred birthstones.
Our story begins with 12 young people who are oblivious to their powers and by some odd coincidence end up in New York’s Central park. Unaware of their destinies and the phenomena lurking deep within their gems, they accidentally embark on a life changing journey of tragedy, friendship, magic, and self-awareness.
The Cyclopean race is back, and the creatures are beginning to leak into earth. Can these children discover the full potential of their destinies before it’s too late?
Stones and Powers
Jan: Garnet: The force of life. Healing. In extreme scenarios revival.
Gwenneth Yuan--China Demon
Feb: Amethyst: Electrical storms. “Technopath”
Tallyho Abell--Birthstone_Spirits
Mar: Aquamarine: Wind power, Wind storms.
Dorian Roberts-- Usernamesareadrag
Apr: Diamond: Manipulation of fresh water ponds, lakes, rain.
Kyle Keaton-- FyreT1ger
May: Emerald: Animals, nature.
Skylar Grayson-- Zomgitsmarisa
Jun: Pearl/Moonstone: Manipulation of Oceans, Seas, Saltwater.
Harper Calloway-- Cirrus_SD
Jul: Ruby: Fire, Heat.
Aria Delaine--dreammuffin
Aug: Peridot: Light Illusions: Conjuring very few, dopplegangers of a specific form. These illusions hold quality over quantity, therefore they have close to the same strength of the original figure. August can also use their illusions for mirage like effects. (Opposite of October)
Jason Carter--Rikura
Sept: Sapphire: Telekinesis: Access to the mind. Ability to create mental forums. Travel into the subconscious of others in order to gain information.
Falke der Herrscher-- Listentothetimpani
Oct: Opal: Dark Shadow Illusions: Conjuring massive amounts of dopplegangers of a specific form. Quantity over quality, the illusions are significantly weaker than the original figure but can over power with numbers. October can use their powers to conceal.
Xabier Sanchez-- Goong125
Nov: Topaz/Citrine: Connections to the Spirit world. Manipulation of the energy force. Communication with the dead.
Autumn Jones-- Linnea
Dec:Turquoise: Ice, snow.
Lux Adair-- Lita-Bug
About Aires: Culture, Geography, and Government
***All of the following images were drawn by TitusLunter on deviantart.com. Check him out!
Although it is an alternate world, Aires is, in many ways, similar to earth in geography and social categorization. There are eight continent-countries on the planet and each of their properties can be compared to those of various regions on Earth.
The Rose Kingdom is a land that sits on the far west side of the map. It is a land of grassy, hilly terrain that outstretches from sea to sea and most of its people can be best compared to earth’s western European population. While men are considered “superior”, women still have rights and are able to take on unconventional roles without much question. As for the government, it is a strict monarchy with a massive military. The economy is considered to be extremely strong.
There are five important cities in the RK. But the most important city is the capital city, Ve Marie, which was named after one of the greatest queens in history, Queen Marie the Merciful. Ve Marie is home to the Laude palace and the famous World Court House where cases around the globe are tried in honor of the five tenants of good citizenship. One of the RK's most notable monuments is the stone which is rumored to be the exact spot where the Goddess found the twelve birthstones that were later infused into the Month Warriors. The stone also serves as the coronation spot for the RK's up and coming monarchs.
Constance is a land that sits south of the Rose Kingdom and is closer to the center on the map. It is usually very rainy there and filled with various small bodies of water, swamps, and grass marshes. Its people are from many countries, so many of the people of Constance are of multiple heritages and cultures from all corners of the planet. While men are seen as the bread winners, there is a special appreciation for the woman because of the Goddess and Constance’s reputation as one of the most religious continent-countries. As for the government, Constance is a democracy with ambassadors and elected officials. The economy is moderately strong.
Constance's capital is called Tiara, a city that is home to the continent's political officials, and the best place to find the world's best undertakers. (Funerals are a very big business in Constance because the people who live there pay special attention to the afterlife.) Constance is also the home of the Vinn Compound, an infamous international prison that houses the worst offenders from the RK's World Court. Its most notable monument is the Light Shrine, a grand placebo where the month warriors were rumored to have had their first encounter with the Goddess' messenger angels, Bachs and Siberia.
Solace is a land in the southwest corner of the world. It is the most agrarian of all of the countries with its flat lands, high grass, and long mountain ranges. Because of its rural and sparse settlements, it is easier for men and women to be considered equal. Many of the people there can be best compared to earth’s European and Native American populations. Like Constance, Solace is extremely religious and the leading government officials are often leaders of the church. Because of their position as the leading food export country, their economy is moderately strong.
Farmers from around the continent flock to Malboro, the capital city, in hopes of selling their goods at the biggest flea market in the world. Malboro is also home to the Grand Harbinger. The Grand Harbinger is Aires' version of the Pope. He is also the leader of the Monastery of the Sun, a religious school that produces most of Aires' clergy and eventually, the next Grand Harbinger. But be aware that Solace isn't the most holy of soils. Down south, the "Savage" Conservation can be found. It is a place where native Solians are separated from the rest of society for "their own benefit" and fed the words of the Goddess by missionaries. Ironically, Solace's dearest monument, Mother's Mound sits nearby. Monks say that the sealed tomb houses each of the month warrior's sacred weapons.
Hales is a land situated near the center of the map and is brimming with snowy mountains and expansive tundras. Like solace, Hales is pretty rural. However, it is a monarchy and despite its size, it has one of the most resilient militaries on the planet. Men and women are treated equally in rural areas. But in the capital city, there is a distinct separation between the genders. The people there can be best compared to earth’s Eastern European and Inuit populations. Despite their advances in warfare technology, and rich oil supply, Hale's economy is moderately wealthy but not as wealthy as it could be. Most people are poor because any taxes go towards the monarchy and expanding the military.
Despite it's distressed appearance and disgustingly classist social scene, Koratev, Hales' capital, is the technological capital of the world. Underneath its icy expanse rests hundreds of thousands of gallons of "black gold". Most scientific research is done in Hales because of its wide expanse of tundra and free space. Rumor has it that scientists have made advances in developing weapons likened to "arrows shot by a flick of a finger", or guns. This, and many other developments, are what makes Hales a militaristic leader and a great ally for weaker countries during war time.
The Trading Islands are a collection of connected man-made ports on small growths of land in the Grande ocean. It sits at the very center of the map making it the perfect trading spot. It is best known for fishing, shipping, and pirates. Men and women are equal, but the land has a very “every man for himself” mentality. A laissez faire economy runs awry because of a lack of government management, and constant disputes between the merchants of the Rose Kingdom, Hales, Eastern Isle, and Ira. Because there is no government, the four other countries take it upon themselves to implement their laws on their territory, which causes conflict for each of them back home. Many counties fight to claim this area because of its ability to link the west to Nomansland, one of the most sought after locations. Like Constance, the population is extremely international. Money may run through this land, but it runs right into the pockets of the other governments leaving the economy weak.
The islands' capital, Trade City, is the black market of Aires because of the continent's severe lack of law enforcement. St. Marcus is the most orderly city on the landmass, and even so, it's usually known for its bars and nightlife.
Nomansland is a tropical landmass in the northeast. It is richest in resources, making it a prize to the more militaristic, developed countries. The people there can best be compared to Earth’s African, South American, and Southeast Asian populations. The people stick close to tradition, therefore, men are expected to be dominant. There is no huge government, but people divide themselves into tribes. There is also no metal currency, so instead bartering is utilized. The base of civil nations is an international campsite where missionaries from the Rose Kingdom, Ira, and Eastern Isle solicit natives about religion conversion and trading opportunities.
The four, "civilized tribes" according to the west, are the Anasi, Mondego, Nubai, and Korobi tribes. There are many more unconnected people roaming in the forest. There is even a tribe rumored to have freckled tan skin, bright eyes, and red hair. The Anasi and Mondego tribes are known to be "the friends of the west" because of their proximity to and cooperation with the base of civil nations. Little is known about the Nubai and Korobi other than the fact that they are rivals and that foolish missionaries are often caught in the crossfire of their war. Natives speak of a secret beach where the messengers Bachs and Siberia frequently appear to advise local sages. Despite the pleas from the base of civil nations, the natives refuse to take outsiders. Any outsiders who dare to venture out to the beach end up dead or missing.
Eastern Isle is a long continent on the Far East end of the map that is filled with high mountains and tropical jungles. The people there can best be compared to Earth’s far east Asian and East Indian populations. Men are dominant. The land has a figurehead emperor, but in reality the government is run by the military, which is also considered to be strong. Because of how far away it is from the other militaristic nations, it puts a lot of effort into trading with Nomansland and Ira. Its economy is nearly as strong as that of the Rose Kingdom.
Bin City was named after the first emperor of Eastern Isle, esteemed commander Woo Bin, a former warrior. Since his reign, the military has been a driving force in the rise of the nation. Far south of Bin City, there is a temple where a very old landlady lives. Residents say that she sees visions from the era of the first month warriors, and if one is brave enough to hike into the mountains to visit her, she can tell them who they were in that life. Because the announcement of the new month warriors have not been claimed, she is especially useful to people who believe that they are a Month Warrior and want clarification.
Ira it’s a flat land laden with beaches and deserts. The people there can be best compared to earth’s Middle Eastern and north African populations. Men are considered dominant. It is run by a monarchy, and while it’s army is not as ruthless as Hales’, numerous as the Rose Kingdom’s, or as regulatory as Eastern Isle's it still excels because of the country's advancements mathematics and science. They also have rich resources that are sold and traded in order to leave the economy strong. Pabul City, the capital, is home to the world bank where the wealthiest people of Aires ship their riches (if they avoid the pirates around the Trading Islands) trusting that their assets will be kept safe. Southwest of Pabul is the Warrior's Temple, a place where all four of the inactive seasonal stones are kept and rumored to be the training ground of the month warriors before their final battle with Oblivion. The Grand Harbinger preaches that the stones will only become active if faced with the true warriors.
Nearby is a dark, ominous canyon called the great escape. No one knows what is down below, and anyone who dares to venture in is never seen again. Some believe that it is where the cyclopean come from.
Jan: Garnet: The force of life. Healing. In extreme scenarios revival.
Gwenneth Yuan--China Demon
Feb: Amethyst: Electrical storms. “Technopath”
Tallyho Abell--Birthstone_Spirits
Mar: Aquamarine: Wind power, Wind storms.
Dorian Roberts-- Usernamesareadrag
Apr: Diamond: Manipulation of fresh water ponds, lakes, rain.
Kyle Keaton-- FyreT1ger
May: Emerald: Animals, nature.
Skylar Grayson-- Zomgitsmarisa
Jun: Pearl/Moonstone: Manipulation of Oceans, Seas, Saltwater.
Harper Calloway-- Cirrus_SD
Jul: Ruby: Fire, Heat.
Aria Delaine--dreammuffin
Aug: Peridot: Light Illusions: Conjuring very few, dopplegangers of a specific form. These illusions hold quality over quantity, therefore they have close to the same strength of the original figure. August can also use their illusions for mirage like effects. (Opposite of October)
Jason Carter--Rikura
Sept: Sapphire: Telekinesis: Access to the mind. Ability to create mental forums. Travel into the subconscious of others in order to gain information.
Falke der Herrscher-- Listentothetimpani
Oct: Opal: Dark Shadow Illusions: Conjuring massive amounts of dopplegangers of a specific form. Quantity over quality, the illusions are significantly weaker than the original figure but can over power with numbers. October can use their powers to conceal.
Xabier Sanchez-- Goong125
Nov: Topaz/Citrine: Connections to the Spirit world. Manipulation of the energy force. Communication with the dead.
Autumn Jones-- Linnea
Dec:Turquoise: Ice, snow.
Lux Adair-- Lita-Bug
About Aires: Culture, Geography, and Government
***All of the following images were drawn by TitusLunter on deviantart.com. Check him out!
Although it is an alternate world, Aires is, in many ways, similar to earth in geography and social categorization. There are eight continent-countries on the planet and each of their properties can be compared to those of various regions on Earth.
The Rose Kingdom is a land that sits on the far west side of the map. It is a land of grassy, hilly terrain that outstretches from sea to sea and most of its people can be best compared to earth’s western European population. While men are considered “superior”, women still have rights and are able to take on unconventional roles without much question. As for the government, it is a strict monarchy with a massive military. The economy is considered to be extremely strong.
There are five important cities in the RK. But the most important city is the capital city, Ve Marie, which was named after one of the greatest queens in history, Queen Marie the Merciful. Ve Marie is home to the Laude palace and the famous World Court House where cases around the globe are tried in honor of the five tenants of good citizenship. One of the RK's most notable monuments is the stone which is rumored to be the exact spot where the Goddess found the twelve birthstones that were later infused into the Month Warriors. The stone also serves as the coronation spot for the RK's up and coming monarchs.
Constance is a land that sits south of the Rose Kingdom and is closer to the center on the map. It is usually very rainy there and filled with various small bodies of water, swamps, and grass marshes. Its people are from many countries, so many of the people of Constance are of multiple heritages and cultures from all corners of the planet. While men are seen as the bread winners, there is a special appreciation for the woman because of the Goddess and Constance’s reputation as one of the most religious continent-countries. As for the government, Constance is a democracy with ambassadors and elected officials. The economy is moderately strong.
Constance's capital is called Tiara, a city that is home to the continent's political officials, and the best place to find the world's best undertakers. (Funerals are a very big business in Constance because the people who live there pay special attention to the afterlife.) Constance is also the home of the Vinn Compound, an infamous international prison that houses the worst offenders from the RK's World Court. Its most notable monument is the Light Shrine, a grand placebo where the month warriors were rumored to have had their first encounter with the Goddess' messenger angels, Bachs and Siberia.
Solace is a land in the southwest corner of the world. It is the most agrarian of all of the countries with its flat lands, high grass, and long mountain ranges. Because of its rural and sparse settlements, it is easier for men and women to be considered equal. Many of the people there can be best compared to earth’s European and Native American populations. Like Constance, Solace is extremely religious and the leading government officials are often leaders of the church. Because of their position as the leading food export country, their economy is moderately strong.
Farmers from around the continent flock to Malboro, the capital city, in hopes of selling their goods at the biggest flea market in the world. Malboro is also home to the Grand Harbinger. The Grand Harbinger is Aires' version of the Pope. He is also the leader of the Monastery of the Sun, a religious school that produces most of Aires' clergy and eventually, the next Grand Harbinger. But be aware that Solace isn't the most holy of soils. Down south, the "Savage" Conservation can be found. It is a place where native Solians are separated from the rest of society for "their own benefit" and fed the words of the Goddess by missionaries. Ironically, Solace's dearest monument, Mother's Mound sits nearby. Monks say that the sealed tomb houses each of the month warrior's sacred weapons.
Hales is a land situated near the center of the map and is brimming with snowy mountains and expansive tundras. Like solace, Hales is pretty rural. However, it is a monarchy and despite its size, it has one of the most resilient militaries on the planet. Men and women are treated equally in rural areas. But in the capital city, there is a distinct separation between the genders. The people there can be best compared to earth’s Eastern European and Inuit populations. Despite their advances in warfare technology, and rich oil supply, Hale's economy is moderately wealthy but not as wealthy as it could be. Most people are poor because any taxes go towards the monarchy and expanding the military.
Despite it's distressed appearance and disgustingly classist social scene, Koratev, Hales' capital, is the technological capital of the world. Underneath its icy expanse rests hundreds of thousands of gallons of "black gold". Most scientific research is done in Hales because of its wide expanse of tundra and free space. Rumor has it that scientists have made advances in developing weapons likened to "arrows shot by a flick of a finger", or guns. This, and many other developments, are what makes Hales a militaristic leader and a great ally for weaker countries during war time.
The Trading Islands are a collection of connected man-made ports on small growths of land in the Grande ocean. It sits at the very center of the map making it the perfect trading spot. It is best known for fishing, shipping, and pirates. Men and women are equal, but the land has a very “every man for himself” mentality. A laissez faire economy runs awry because of a lack of government management, and constant disputes between the merchants of the Rose Kingdom, Hales, Eastern Isle, and Ira. Because there is no government, the four other countries take it upon themselves to implement their laws on their territory, which causes conflict for each of them back home. Many counties fight to claim this area because of its ability to link the west to Nomansland, one of the most sought after locations. Like Constance, the population is extremely international. Money may run through this land, but it runs right into the pockets of the other governments leaving the economy weak.
The islands' capital, Trade City, is the black market of Aires because of the continent's severe lack of law enforcement. St. Marcus is the most orderly city on the landmass, and even so, it's usually known for its bars and nightlife.
Nomansland is a tropical landmass in the northeast. It is richest in resources, making it a prize to the more militaristic, developed countries. The people there can best be compared to Earth’s African, South American, and Southeast Asian populations. The people stick close to tradition, therefore, men are expected to be dominant. There is no huge government, but people divide themselves into tribes. There is also no metal currency, so instead bartering is utilized. The base of civil nations is an international campsite where missionaries from the Rose Kingdom, Ira, and Eastern Isle solicit natives about religion conversion and trading opportunities.
The four, "civilized tribes" according to the west, are the Anasi, Mondego, Nubai, and Korobi tribes. There are many more unconnected people roaming in the forest. There is even a tribe rumored to have freckled tan skin, bright eyes, and red hair. The Anasi and Mondego tribes are known to be "the friends of the west" because of their proximity to and cooperation with the base of civil nations. Little is known about the Nubai and Korobi other than the fact that they are rivals and that foolish missionaries are often caught in the crossfire of their war. Natives speak of a secret beach where the messengers Bachs and Siberia frequently appear to advise local sages. Despite the pleas from the base of civil nations, the natives refuse to take outsiders. Any outsiders who dare to venture out to the beach end up dead or missing.
Eastern Isle is a long continent on the Far East end of the map that is filled with high mountains and tropical jungles. The people there can best be compared to Earth’s far east Asian and East Indian populations. Men are dominant. The land has a figurehead emperor, but in reality the government is run by the military, which is also considered to be strong. Because of how far away it is from the other militaristic nations, it puts a lot of effort into trading with Nomansland and Ira. Its economy is nearly as strong as that of the Rose Kingdom.
Bin City was named after the first emperor of Eastern Isle, esteemed commander Woo Bin, a former warrior. Since his reign, the military has been a driving force in the rise of the nation. Far south of Bin City, there is a temple where a very old landlady lives. Residents say that she sees visions from the era of the first month warriors, and if one is brave enough to hike into the mountains to visit her, she can tell them who they were in that life. Because the announcement of the new month warriors have not been claimed, she is especially useful to people who believe that they are a Month Warrior and want clarification.
Ira it’s a flat land laden with beaches and deserts. The people there can be best compared to earth’s Middle Eastern and north African populations. Men are considered dominant. It is run by a monarchy, and while it’s army is not as ruthless as Hales’, numerous as the Rose Kingdom’s, or as regulatory as Eastern Isle's it still excels because of the country's advancements mathematics and science. They also have rich resources that are sold and traded in order to leave the economy strong. Pabul City, the capital, is home to the world bank where the wealthiest people of Aires ship their riches (if they avoid the pirates around the Trading Islands) trusting that their assets will be kept safe. Southwest of Pabul is the Warrior's Temple, a place where all four of the inactive seasonal stones are kept and rumored to be the training ground of the month warriors before their final battle with Oblivion. The Grand Harbinger preaches that the stones will only become active if faced with the true warriors.
Nearby is a dark, ominous canyon called the great escape. No one knows what is down below, and anyone who dares to venture in is never seen again. Some believe that it is where the cyclopean come from.
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 14 authors
Autumn gave a gleeful smile. She couldn't do a reading for herself, seeing as she had done one earlier that day, but doing readings for others would not only satisfy her desire to help but it would also give useful information on the situation.
"Alright, I'll do some readings. It'll be a basic spread, three cards. Past, present, and future. Hopefully we gain some insight!" She flagged down a barmaid, ordering some bread and finally getting her beer. Cracking her knuckles dramatically, though they didn't make a sound, she shuffled the deck.
Tallyho left the table, leaving Autumn to wonder if she really had rambled on for too long. She cast a worried glance towards the other girl, but decided not to say anything. Tallyho was from here. She probably knew what she was doing. Or this was just her idea of fun.
“Alright.” She said, laying out three cards face down. “Jason first, since he asked first. This is a simple three card deck. Past, present, and future. Let’s see what we get, huh?”
She flipped over the first card. It featured a young man steering a small boat where six swords stood upright. “This is the past card. So, this has already happened.” Autumn explained. “Six of Swords. This normally means you’ve traveled lately, but it’s probably not a holiday. Maybe you had to get out of a bad situation?”
The next card revealed itself. A young man stood lightly on a Cliffside, seemingly unaware that he could fall. “A major arcana card for the present. This is The Fool. Keeping up with this travel trend, this probably is talking about the world we’re in right now. This card is about new beginnings. Though, I guess that’s pretty obvious. There’s choices to be made, and leaps of faith you should take.”
The final card was much less pleasant. Autumn frowned. The card was decorated with people falling out of a burning tower, the crown on the top falling off due to being struck by lightning. “Well, this is another major arcana. This one is The Tower. It’s a little… dark. Um… I haven’t really done a reading where this card shows up before. But, basically, it means that there’ll be struggles. Uh, a bit of destruction possibly. Maybe some conflict.”
“All in all, there’s a lot of travel in here. It’s to be expected, I guess. But I really don’t like the look of that tower. You need to be careful. We don’t want that card happening. So, all in all, stay safe. I’m sure it can be avoided.” She really wasn’t.
“Alright, Harper is up next.” She shuffled the cards once more, quickly abandoning the previous reading. She really didn’t want to think about it.
The first card of the trio showed a man surrounded by his family and his dogs. Ten pentacles overlayed the picture. The picture itself was upside down. “Past card. Ten of Pentacles. Normally, this means pretty good finances. Since it’s reversed, though, my guess is that you’ve had to deal with some money problems. Maybe family issues as well?”
The present card featured a young man, grinning over the defeat of his enemies who were walking away solemnly. He held three swords, and two were laying at his feet. “So many swords today…” Autumn commented. “Anyways, present card is the Five of Swords. It’s kind of a tricky card.” Tricky in that it meant she might insult him. “Sometimes it can mean conquest and victory, but it can also mean aggression and hostility. It’s sort of a negative win. Like, you technically won, but it’s not all that honorable or good. So, depending on the next card, it could be good or bad.”
She flipped the last card. “Alright, here’s your future.” On it, an armor clad skeleton rode on a horse. It waved a black flag embroidered with a rose, trampling over people without a second thought. “This one is Death. Not literally, I’m not saying you’re going to die. Death is a change card. Like, new beginnings. It’s just not that pleasant of a change. It’s still a pretty positive card, though, all things considered. Based on the previous card, it probably means you’ll change your actions. I’d try not to avoid this card. It might be hard, but it’ll lead to a good outcome.”
Autumn shuffled the deck once more before laying the stack of cards on the table. Just in case anyone else wanted a reading. “It’s funny really, you’d think that Death would be the worst card of the lot. It’s really not. The Devil, now that’s a card to be wary of.”
“So, to put it simply, Jason needs to be careful. Actually, I think we all do. Since we’re a group, The Tower might affect us all. And Harper needs, is, going to change.” She smiled. “So, what do you think? Accurate? Helpful?” God, she hoped so.
"Alright, I'll do some readings. It'll be a basic spread, three cards. Past, present, and future. Hopefully we gain some insight!" She flagged down a barmaid, ordering some bread and finally getting her beer. Cracking her knuckles dramatically, though they didn't make a sound, she shuffled the deck.
Tallyho left the table, leaving Autumn to wonder if she really had rambled on for too long. She cast a worried glance towards the other girl, but decided not to say anything. Tallyho was from here. She probably knew what she was doing. Or this was just her idea of fun.
“Alright.” She said, laying out three cards face down. “Jason first, since he asked first. This is a simple three card deck. Past, present, and future. Let’s see what we get, huh?”
She flipped over the first card. It featured a young man steering a small boat where six swords stood upright. “This is the past card. So, this has already happened.” Autumn explained. “Six of Swords. This normally means you’ve traveled lately, but it’s probably not a holiday. Maybe you had to get out of a bad situation?”
The next card revealed itself. A young man stood lightly on a Cliffside, seemingly unaware that he could fall. “A major arcana card for the present. This is The Fool. Keeping up with this travel trend, this probably is talking about the world we’re in right now. This card is about new beginnings. Though, I guess that’s pretty obvious. There’s choices to be made, and leaps of faith you should take.”
The final card was much less pleasant. Autumn frowned. The card was decorated with people falling out of a burning tower, the crown on the top falling off due to being struck by lightning. “Well, this is another major arcana. This one is The Tower. It’s a little… dark. Um… I haven’t really done a reading where this card shows up before. But, basically, it means that there’ll be struggles. Uh, a bit of destruction possibly. Maybe some conflict.”
“All in all, there’s a lot of travel in here. It’s to be expected, I guess. But I really don’t like the look of that tower. You need to be careful. We don’t want that card happening. So, all in all, stay safe. I’m sure it can be avoided.” She really wasn’t.
“Alright, Harper is up next.” She shuffled the cards once more, quickly abandoning the previous reading. She really didn’t want to think about it.
The first card of the trio showed a man surrounded by his family and his dogs. Ten pentacles overlayed the picture. The picture itself was upside down. “Past card. Ten of Pentacles. Normally, this means pretty good finances. Since it’s reversed, though, my guess is that you’ve had to deal with some money problems. Maybe family issues as well?”
The present card featured a young man, grinning over the defeat of his enemies who were walking away solemnly. He held three swords, and two were laying at his feet. “So many swords today…” Autumn commented. “Anyways, present card is the Five of Swords. It’s kind of a tricky card.” Tricky in that it meant she might insult him. “Sometimes it can mean conquest and victory, but it can also mean aggression and hostility. It’s sort of a negative win. Like, you technically won, but it’s not all that honorable or good. So, depending on the next card, it could be good or bad.”
She flipped the last card. “Alright, here’s your future.” On it, an armor clad skeleton rode on a horse. It waved a black flag embroidered with a rose, trampling over people without a second thought. “This one is Death. Not literally, I’m not saying you’re going to die. Death is a change card. Like, new beginnings. It’s just not that pleasant of a change. It’s still a pretty positive card, though, all things considered. Based on the previous card, it probably means you’ll change your actions. I’d try not to avoid this card. It might be hard, but it’ll lead to a good outcome.”
Autumn shuffled the deck once more before laying the stack of cards on the table. Just in case anyone else wanted a reading. “It’s funny really, you’d think that Death would be the worst card of the lot. It’s really not. The Devil, now that’s a card to be wary of.”
“So, to put it simply, Jason needs to be careful. Actually, I think we all do. Since we’re a group, The Tower might affect us all. And Harper needs, is, going to change.” She smiled. “So, what do you think? Accurate? Helpful?” God, she hoped so.
Harper watched passively as she did Jason's. He didn't believe in this sort of stuff (in fact, he didn't really believe in anything spiritual), but it was still kind of cool. The pictures in particular were the most interesting part.
He only commented once during Jason's ("Haha, you got the fool") and then once again after ("Wasn't there a movie called "The Tower"? It was like the first big disaster movie or something") but was overall fairly civil. He leaned forward when it was his turn, smiling expectantly.
Had anyone been playing particularly close attention to his face, they might have noticed the furrowing of his eyebrows as the first card was flipped and explained, as well as a slight frown of his lips. However, none of these changes lasted very long, as Harper quickly dismissed the first card as coincidence. Besides, he wasn't struggling that badly with money. Although if he was stuck here for too long, that might be a different story.
The next card just confused him. Harper didn't care much about honor, but how could winning not be good for you? Then again, his dad had won many cases as a lawyer, and not all of them were morally good wins, either.
The future card looked the most badass. He almost laughed when she said it was Death, considering the Ring joke he had made to himself. When she explained it though, he hmmphed out of interest.
He leaned back when Autumn reshuffled the cards. "The first card was pretty close," Harper answered, "The second one confused me and the third one...well, everyone changes, whether they like it or not." His second beer arrived and he took a drink.
"To be honest, I don't really believe in anything like that," he said, putting down his mug, "It seems like something my sister would be into, though. She used to be really big in those...oh, what are they called," he mimicked opening and closing something with his thumbs and index fingers, "You fold them out of paper and you have to pick a color and a number and they spell it out to say your fortune or something like that..."
He only commented once during Jason's ("Haha, you got the fool") and then once again after ("Wasn't there a movie called "The Tower"? It was like the first big disaster movie or something") but was overall fairly civil. He leaned forward when it was his turn, smiling expectantly.
Had anyone been playing particularly close attention to his face, they might have noticed the furrowing of his eyebrows as the first card was flipped and explained, as well as a slight frown of his lips. However, none of these changes lasted very long, as Harper quickly dismissed the first card as coincidence. Besides, he wasn't struggling that badly with money. Although if he was stuck here for too long, that might be a different story.
The next card just confused him. Harper didn't care much about honor, but how could winning not be good for you? Then again, his dad had won many cases as a lawyer, and not all of them were morally good wins, either.
The future card looked the most badass. He almost laughed when she said it was Death, considering the Ring joke he had made to himself. When she explained it though, he hmmphed out of interest.
He leaned back when Autumn reshuffled the cards. "The first card was pretty close," Harper answered, "The second one confused me and the third one...well, everyone changes, whether they like it or not." His second beer arrived and he took a drink.
"To be honest, I don't really believe in anything like that," he said, putting down his mug, "It seems like something my sister would be into, though. She used to be really big in those...oh, what are they called," he mimicked opening and closing something with his thumbs and index fingers, "You fold them out of paper and you have to pick a color and a number and they spell it out to say your fortune or something like that..."
Autumn took a small sip of her beer, pushing the cards away just in case it left moisture on the table when she put it down. Perhaps she should have put them away? She didn't think that anyone else wanted a reading. "Well," She explained. "The Five of Swords is kinda about personal victories. Like, arguments." She really didn't want to touch this subject, in fear of another fight breaking out. Still, she felt like she owed Harper a more detailed explanation.
"So what it means is that you're possibly pretty aggressive, in words or actions. Maybe both. And it's not really a good thing. Like, someone who has this card in their present might think that they're winning arguments or that their actions are putting them on top, but it's really just not that good for them in the long run." She took another sip. It was actually pretty good for beer. "No offense or anything. I mean, these cards aren't absolute." Since nobody seemed to want a reading at the moment, she put the cards back in their case and away in her purse. It's not like she couldn't just pull them out if someone wanted a reading.
"Oh yeah, those things!" Autumn smiled warmly, recalling memories of elementary school. "What were they, finger catchers or something?" She laughed. "I admit, the cards do seem a little silly. Truth it I first started using them in middle school just to freak people out. You know, the whole teenager against the world phase. Then things starting lining up and it's like, woah. Used them ever since. The cards aren't absolute, though. They aren't meant to say that you're going to do something really specific and it will happen no matter what. They're more like guidelines. Hints about what could come to pass. It's up to you to decide what to do with that information."
"So what it means is that you're possibly pretty aggressive, in words or actions. Maybe both. And it's not really a good thing. Like, someone who has this card in their present might think that they're winning arguments or that their actions are putting them on top, but it's really just not that good for them in the long run." She took another sip. It was actually pretty good for beer. "No offense or anything. I mean, these cards aren't absolute." Since nobody seemed to want a reading at the moment, she put the cards back in their case and away in her purse. It's not like she couldn't just pull them out if someone wanted a reading.
"Oh yeah, those things!" Autumn smiled warmly, recalling memories of elementary school. "What were they, finger catchers or something?" She laughed. "I admit, the cards do seem a little silly. Truth it I first started using them in middle school just to freak people out. You know, the whole teenager against the world phase. Then things starting lining up and it's like, woah. Used them ever since. The cards aren't absolute, though. They aren't meant to say that you're going to do something really specific and it will happen no matter what. They're more like guidelines. Hints about what could come to pass. It's up to you to decide what to do with that information."
Aria looked up at Jason as he began to speak. "Hey. Kind'a like Arya from those Eragon books, huh? Definitely an awesome name. Mine's kind'a boring, but," he shrugged, "eh, who cares?" Aria gave him a broad smile as he mentioned Eragon. "I'd be lucky to be anything like Arya, but I guess with this so called power I have, I come a little close." Then Jason inquired about tarot cards, and Autumn happily explained about them. Aria looked with intrigue as she pointed at each individual card, explaining its meaning and significance. The cards were strangely beautiful with their intricate illustrations.
Just then, Haru interjected with some advice. “Oh, on Aires, the barmaids don’t necessarily wait on customers in the way that you would imagine. You must alert them. In these parts it’s considered rude to assume yourself on others and interrupt their meals. I haven’t been on earth in so long; I nearly forgot your customs. Go on, call one over.” Aria then diverted her attention away from the cards to call over a bar maid and ordered something to eat, and a beer. As the bar maid left, she turned back to the demonstration.
One by one, Autumn flipped over three cards, explaining each one as she did so. The tower seemed bad, and she grimaced momentarily. Then, it was onto Harper's fortune. The second card that was flipped over seemed to fit, but the last one looked pretty scary. Once Autumn explained it, it didn't seem so bad. The bar maid returned with her beer, but her food was going to take a little longer. “So, to put it simply, Jason needs to be careful. Actually, I think we all do. Since we’re a group, The Tower might affect us all. And Harper needs, is, going to change.” It was pretty uneasy thinking about the tower affecting them all. "Let's just hope Harper changes for the better," she said before taking a sip of beer.
Harper chimed in with his opinions on his reading, and struggled to explain what the origami finger things were. Autumn offered up a guess. "What were they, finger catchers or something?" Aria snapped her fingers as she recalled those small contraptions; she used to make them all the time. "I always thought they were called fortune tellers." She took another sip and eyes Autumn's cards for a moment. "Do you think...you could do a reading for me?"
Even though he didn't care for tarot cards, Kyle was glad for the change of attention and subject because he didn't know how much longer he could control his rapid-rising temper. He felt like he would explode any minute. Even though he already hated Harper and didn't want to hear it, Kyle was also relieved when the jackass and a number of others started laughing at him. He chuckled despite himself, thinking that Harper actually sounded like a donkey when laughing. "hee haw, hee haw."
When the beers arrived though, he turned serious, staring into the mug and spinning it around between his hands. He remembered Haru's threat, but since he was stressed out over today's events he debated whether it would help calm him down. The blond had never even had alcohol before, and it was strongly discouraged at home. He didn't know know how long they'd be here, but he was pretty sure it wouldn't be within a week, so his parents wouldn't know if he did try. Haru didn't seem to know he was only sixteen, even if the redhead knew everyone's names. That was a little creepy. If the guardian did know their names, he could know other things about them as well. Ugh! This was giving him a headache again. He reached up to rub his head, and then skidded the mug closer to the head of the table where Haru was. "You can have mine. I'm not feeling well."
Kyle then got up from his seat to substantiate that statement, but he froze for a second when the tavern suddenly went silent, only broken by that irritating elementary school tattletale noise. Seriously, weren't all these people older than him? Shouldn't they have outgrown that by now? Though, if Harper was any indication, maybe not. He groaned a little but sat down again asking the nearest barmaid for some water and corn stew, and the noise returned full force. Well, he was glad he didn't take that drink. Since, he really wasn't feeling well now he might get drunk from just one drink, and that wouldn't be good for anyone.
When the beers arrived though, he turned serious, staring into the mug and spinning it around between his hands. He remembered Haru's threat, but since he was stressed out over today's events he debated whether it would help calm him down. The blond had never even had alcohol before, and it was strongly discouraged at home. He didn't know know how long they'd be here, but he was pretty sure it wouldn't be within a week, so his parents wouldn't know if he did try. Haru didn't seem to know he was only sixteen, even if the redhead knew everyone's names. That was a little creepy. If the guardian did know their names, he could know other things about them as well. Ugh! This was giving him a headache again. He reached up to rub his head, and then skidded the mug closer to the head of the table where Haru was. "You can have mine. I'm not feeling well."
Kyle then got up from his seat to substantiate that statement, but he froze for a second when the tavern suddenly went silent, only broken by that irritating elementary school tattletale noise. Seriously, weren't all these people older than him? Shouldn't they have outgrown that by now? Though, if Harper was any indication, maybe not. He groaned a little but sat down again asking the nearest barmaid for some water and corn stew, and the noise returned full force. Well, he was glad he didn't take that drink. Since, he really wasn't feeling well now he might get drunk from just one drink, and that wouldn't be good for anyone.
Harper shrugged at Autumn's further explanation. "Eh. I do a lot of things that end of biting me in the ass later," he said, taking another swig of his beer, "I'm more of a man of the present. Live in the moment, carpe diem. You know. Dead Poet's Society stuff."
Finger catchers sounded familiar, but Harper's food arrived at that moment. "Thanks!" he said, catching the eye of the barmaid--the same one who had taken his order, he noticed--and smiled again, sending a wink her way before turning back to his food.
He half-listened to Autumn as he surveyed his food. There was a lot of yellow, bread looking stuff, but when he tasted it he realized it was just like a corndog, without the meat. There was also a bowl with what looked like a chicken pot pie, but probably with some sort of twist. On the side were corn cobs and a different sort of bread, in a roll. Harper wasn't a picky eater, and he dug in.
"Mmf!" he grunted with a point when Aria mentioned fortune tellers, mouth full of the hot interior of the pot pie. He swallowed before speaking, "I think my sister called them something else, though...Finger catcher is really close. It's like.....something-catcher...fortune catcher? Augh, I don't remember." He turned back to his food, but continued talking (to no one in particular), table manners still intact,
"Anyways, my sister would make her's really detailed. Like, first you had to pick a number, and she'd count. And then you had to pick a color and she'd spell it. And then you had to pick another color, and she'd open the flap and make you pick top or bottom, and then make you pick one of three numbers and then she would read out the specific fortune she had written for that. She had like fifty different fortunes written in that thing and it was almost impossible to get the same one twice. Some of them actually happened, too. Like, you know how kids are all about bubble gum? She had written this one fortune saying 'the next thing you'll put in your mouth will be gum' and it worked on like ten different people."
He laughed at the memory, breaking apart one of the rolls. "She's a smart kid. She just got into LaGuardia High School, you know the one for the performing arts? It's one of those high schools you have to do an entrance exam for or some crazy shit like that. Really prestigious stuff. A lot of famous people went there. She plays cello, so that's how she got in." Which reminded him of that one guy who went missing...the one with all the tough attitude. Harper could have sworn he'd seen him before...maybe he went to the same school? He decided to ask him next time he saw him.
Finger catchers sounded familiar, but Harper's food arrived at that moment. "Thanks!" he said, catching the eye of the barmaid--the same one who had taken his order, he noticed--and smiled again, sending a wink her way before turning back to his food.
He half-listened to Autumn as he surveyed his food. There was a lot of yellow, bread looking stuff, but when he tasted it he realized it was just like a corndog, without the meat. There was also a bowl with what looked like a chicken pot pie, but probably with some sort of twist. On the side were corn cobs and a different sort of bread, in a roll. Harper wasn't a picky eater, and he dug in.
"Mmf!" he grunted with a point when Aria mentioned fortune tellers, mouth full of the hot interior of the pot pie. He swallowed before speaking, "I think my sister called them something else, though...Finger catcher is really close. It's like.....something-catcher...fortune catcher? Augh, I don't remember." He turned back to his food, but continued talking (to no one in particular), table manners still intact,
"Anyways, my sister would make her's really detailed. Like, first you had to pick a number, and she'd count. And then you had to pick a color and she'd spell it. And then you had to pick another color, and she'd open the flap and make you pick top or bottom, and then make you pick one of three numbers and then she would read out the specific fortune she had written for that. She had like fifty different fortunes written in that thing and it was almost impossible to get the same one twice. Some of them actually happened, too. Like, you know how kids are all about bubble gum? She had written this one fortune saying 'the next thing you'll put in your mouth will be gum' and it worked on like ten different people."
He laughed at the memory, breaking apart one of the rolls. "She's a smart kid. She just got into LaGuardia High School, you know the one for the performing arts? It's one of those high schools you have to do an entrance exam for or some crazy shit like that. Really prestigious stuff. A lot of famous people went there. She plays cello, so that's how she got in." Which reminded him of that one guy who went missing...the one with all the tough attitude. Harper could have sworn he'd seen him before...maybe he went to the same school? He decided to ask him next time he saw him.
Haru snickered. Well apparently Harper wasn’t paying attention. Oh well, he just hoped the boy wouldn’t get alcohol poisoning. He almost couldn’t wait until training started, just so he could show them what they were in for. But meh… The redhead stood up and made his way towards the back door for a smoke.
“So are we going time or amount?” The red bearded one asked.
“Amount,” Tallyho interjected, “stealth is for cowards.”
She looked her opponent in the eye, his focus unwavering.
“Well then amount it is,” another man huffed, “make yer bets!”
Most of the bystanders put their money on black beard, but the redbearded man put a few pieces on Tallyho’s end.
“I’ll give’r something. She’s got spirit,” he howled as he pressed a patronizing palm to her shoulder and threw his head back for a fit of jolly, drunken, guttural laughter. The others joined in and Tallyho snatched her frame from his grip, tossed her hair over her shoulders, and pressed her elbows onto the table.
“Are we going or what?” she growled loudly.
“Okay, okay,” the redhead hummed, “you boys—and er girl—know the drill. Each of them takes a turn on a shot and they keep going till oneofem’ throws their mother’s lunch! Agreed?”
“Agreed,” the table chimed in loudly.
“We’ll make it easy for you and have him take that first shot—“
The strong liquor made a flaming trail down Tallyho’s throat and landed in the fire pit of her stomach. Her face—once turned to ceiling and pressed to cup—lowered to meet the gaze of her opposite.
“Your turn,” she said, and the table gave a roar.
Blackbeard grunted and took a cup to his lips. The drink disappeared and he set it to the table.
Tallyho went again—consuming her shot with the same solid swagger.
The duo continued the drinking game. Ten minutes in, and the barmaid was bringing two new trays of twelve shots.
“I see that your nose is painted,” Tallyho laughed. Though she was a little giddy she was nowhere near as drunk as the average man would be. It seemed like after she found her necklace, she was a more focused and sobered person.
“My nose ain’t painted,” he huffed, words drizzling like sap from an old tree. It was his turn again and he drank, and so did Tallyho.
“What number are we on?” She asked five minutes later. “Fifteen? Eighteen?”
The man grunted and took his turn.
Tallyho downed her shot and watched as he took a limp hand to another cup.
“You sure about that?” she asked.
He wasn’t focused enough to pierce her with his eyes. The men around the table jabbered on nervously.
“Keep going,” one said, “I have money on you!”
Tallyho smirked as the man took his glass and sat back in his chair.
The liquor fell into his lap, the glass shattered on the floor. Another roar erupted from the group as Tallyho spooned her earnings to her chest.
“I ain’t lettin’ that little hussie take my money,” a man from the back rang.
“No me either!”
“Hey now! I’m getting my share a put my bet on her fair and square,” the red bearded man howled.
“Well she ain’t human!” another man hissed.
Tallyho furrowed her brows, “I won it, there’s nothing else to it.”
She slid the redheads winnings to him and used black beard’s sack to stuff her spoils.
“You little gypsy witch, I want my gold back,” a man yelled as he lunged at her from across the table. Tallyho, one to give way to her reflexes kicked the table over for the bottom. The glasses shattered on the dance floor. The redbearded man got a shard in his eye and he backed into another man who shoved him into a barmaid, who chucked her corn soup at a mustachioed fellow. The mustachioed fellow threw the bowl at red beard, but it missed and he hit black beard instead who made a drunken stumble into the table of a young couple enjoying a chicken dish.
The young couple cussed and fussed and soon punches were being thrown. Barmaids were swarming around the scene trying to restrain red beard who was swinging his arms in a fit of rage. Meanwhile Tallyho was walking out of the door with her bag of gold, a foaming wave of blonde, cruising through the door and melting into the night.
“So are we going time or amount?” The red bearded one asked.
“Amount,” Tallyho interjected, “stealth is for cowards.”
She looked her opponent in the eye, his focus unwavering.
“Well then amount it is,” another man huffed, “make yer bets!”
Most of the bystanders put their money on black beard, but the redbearded man put a few pieces on Tallyho’s end.
“I’ll give’r something. She’s got spirit,” he howled as he pressed a patronizing palm to her shoulder and threw his head back for a fit of jolly, drunken, guttural laughter. The others joined in and Tallyho snatched her frame from his grip, tossed her hair over her shoulders, and pressed her elbows onto the table.
“Are we going or what?” she growled loudly.
“Okay, okay,” the redhead hummed, “you boys—and er girl—know the drill. Each of them takes a turn on a shot and they keep going till oneofem’ throws their mother’s lunch! Agreed?”
“Agreed,” the table chimed in loudly.
“We’ll make it easy for you and have him take that first shot—“
The strong liquor made a flaming trail down Tallyho’s throat and landed in the fire pit of her stomach. Her face—once turned to ceiling and pressed to cup—lowered to meet the gaze of her opposite.
“Your turn,” she said, and the table gave a roar.
Blackbeard grunted and took a cup to his lips. The drink disappeared and he set it to the table.
Tallyho went again—consuming her shot with the same solid swagger.
The duo continued the drinking game. Ten minutes in, and the barmaid was bringing two new trays of twelve shots.
“I see that your nose is painted,” Tallyho laughed. Though she was a little giddy she was nowhere near as drunk as the average man would be. It seemed like after she found her necklace, she was a more focused and sobered person.
“My nose ain’t painted,” he huffed, words drizzling like sap from an old tree. It was his turn again and he drank, and so did Tallyho.
“What number are we on?” She asked five minutes later. “Fifteen? Eighteen?”
The man grunted and took his turn.
Tallyho downed her shot and watched as he took a limp hand to another cup.
“You sure about that?” she asked.
He wasn’t focused enough to pierce her with his eyes. The men around the table jabbered on nervously.
“Keep going,” one said, “I have money on you!”
Tallyho smirked as the man took his glass and sat back in his chair.
The liquor fell into his lap, the glass shattered on the floor. Another roar erupted from the group as Tallyho spooned her earnings to her chest.
“I ain’t lettin’ that little hussie take my money,” a man from the back rang.
“No me either!”
“Hey now! I’m getting my share a put my bet on her fair and square,” the red bearded man howled.
“Well she ain’t human!” another man hissed.
Tallyho furrowed her brows, “I won it, there’s nothing else to it.”
She slid the redheads winnings to him and used black beard’s sack to stuff her spoils.
“You little gypsy witch, I want my gold back,” a man yelled as he lunged at her from across the table. Tallyho, one to give way to her reflexes kicked the table over for the bottom. The glasses shattered on the dance floor. The redbearded man got a shard in his eye and he backed into another man who shoved him into a barmaid, who chucked her corn soup at a mustachioed fellow. The mustachioed fellow threw the bowl at red beard, but it missed and he hit black beard instead who made a drunken stumble into the table of a young couple enjoying a chicken dish.
The young couple cussed and fussed and soon punches were being thrown. Barmaids were swarming around the scene trying to restrain red beard who was swinging his arms in a fit of rage. Meanwhile Tallyho was walking out of the door with her bag of gold, a foaming wave of blonde, cruising through the door and melting into the night.
Oh no! This was getting worse and worse! Tables flipped over, glass shattered, the music stopped and turned into shouts of rage, people were throwing food and fists, and Kyle already felt ill. Because he was sick, he knew he wouldn't be able to hold his own in this rumble and had to get out. Since he got his water already, he chugged that, grabbed a piece of bread or roll from the table that someone else ignored and ducked out of the way of all the flying stuff. He was going to have something to eat, since that's what he came here for, but he certainly did NOT want to come back in to get it.
Since the biggest fuss seemed to be coming from the front door, Kyle weaved his way around to the back, ducking under tables or behind people in rough spots. He passed the kitchen on the way, and considered checking in about his soup but changed his mind. It was too dangerous to linger. He managed to get outside into the evening air and caught the whiff of an unpleasant smell. The blond boy stumbled to the ground and coughed, trying to clear his lungs. He wasn't prepared for this.
Since the biggest fuss seemed to be coming from the front door, Kyle weaved his way around to the back, ducking under tables or behind people in rough spots. He passed the kitchen on the way, and considered checking in about his soup but changed his mind. It was too dangerous to linger. He managed to get outside into the evening air and caught the whiff of an unpleasant smell. The blond boy stumbled to the ground and coughed, trying to clear his lungs. He wasn't prepared for this.
“Alright, sure thing.” Autumn pulled out the cards again for Aria, shuffling them as Harper spoke. Her bread arrived, forcing her to lay out the cards much closer to her as the plate took up table space.
“Good for her.” Autumn replied to Harper. “Your sister sounds like a really cool person.”
“Alright, first card.” Just as she was about to flip the card over, the nearby drinking contest she had been trying to ignore turned into a full on bar fight. Haru was gone, tables were being flipped, and the whole scene was general chaos.
Now, she could handle drunk friends getting into their mom’s wine cooler, but this was a whole new level of crazy. She quickly put her cards away, trying to keep them out of harm’s way. She looked around for a way out helplessly, unsure of how to weave through the crowd to safety.
“Good for her.” Autumn replied to Harper. “Your sister sounds like a really cool person.”
“Alright, first card.” Just as she was about to flip the card over, the nearby drinking contest she had been trying to ignore turned into a full on bar fight. Haru was gone, tables were being flipped, and the whole scene was general chaos.
Now, she could handle drunk friends getting into their mom’s wine cooler, but this was a whole new level of crazy. She quickly put her cards away, trying to keep them out of harm’s way. She looked around for a way out helplessly, unsure of how to weave through the crowd to safety.
As soon as the commotion started up, Harper didn't bother turning around. He'd been in enough bars, and bar fights, to recognize the growing noise, and immediately wolfed down the rest of his food, downing his second beer as well. He stood up and started jamming the more portable stuff--bread, rolls, and the corn cobs--into his pockets, wrapping them hastily in napkins first, but realized that one of his rolls was missing...he specifically remembered only eating one of the wheat rolls, out of three that had been provided, but he'd only put one in his pocket...where was the other--
Before he could accuse anyone, someone pushed into him from behind, shoving him hard against the wooden table. "HEY!" he shouted angrily, spinning around and shoving the person who had no doubt pushed him first, "WATCH it, ASSHOLE!"
The punch landed him back first on the table, dishes clattering. Familiar stars flashed behind his eyelids, and he could feel his cheek swelling, as well as some blood in his mouth.
Now he was really pissed. When his head stopped spinning he reared his legs towards him and kicked his assailant in the side, knocking him over. Jumping off the table, he grabbed his chair, rotated it so that he was holding the legs, and punched it at the guy's face when he tried to stand up, knocking him out for good.
Briefly he looked behind him, seeing quite a few of his supposed team members still sitting there. Autumn just looked flat-out terrified. He rolled his eyes and gave an exasperated sigh before shouting at them, "If you guys want out, then you better haul ass and make a conga line behind me quick, because I'm not gonna wait forever!"
Turning back around he hefted the chair in front of him and started plowing forward through the madness towards the back exit.
Before he could accuse anyone, someone pushed into him from behind, shoving him hard against the wooden table. "HEY!" he shouted angrily, spinning around and shoving the person who had no doubt pushed him first, "WATCH it, ASSHOLE!"
The punch landed him back first on the table, dishes clattering. Familiar stars flashed behind his eyelids, and he could feel his cheek swelling, as well as some blood in his mouth.
Now he was really pissed. When his head stopped spinning he reared his legs towards him and kicked his assailant in the side, knocking him over. Jumping off the table, he grabbed his chair, rotated it so that he was holding the legs, and punched it at the guy's face when he tried to stand up, knocking him out for good.
Briefly he looked behind him, seeing quite a few of his supposed team members still sitting there. Autumn just looked flat-out terrified. He rolled his eyes and gave an exasperated sigh before shouting at them, "If you guys want out, then you better haul ass and make a conga line behind me quick, because I'm not gonna wait forever!"
Turning back around he hefted the chair in front of him and started plowing forward through the madness towards the back exit.
By this point, Gwen was watching everyone around her with a heightened level of distaste. The men at a table across from them were making obscene gestures, some of which Gwen recognized and some she didn't, and jesting lewdly at any barmaid who was unfortunate to wander too close. Disgusting. Even the members of her own group suddenly seemed so petty. Harper was right. They really were so young. Gwen sincerely hoped that they had a couple years before anyone expected them to do anything useful--if that story was actually true.
That Harper fellow was an interesting character. Gwen watched him sidelong, more judgmentally than curiously. He was a sort of personality she had encountered before. Despite what anyone else thought, he knew exactly what he was doing. He was the kind of person who thrived in the spotlight. Gwen could tell from his body language, the way he was always conscious of the eyes upon him. It was like an act, with a gleeful Harper in the lead. Some people were just meant to be onstage.
When Haru finally told them how to order, Gwen huffed a little but wasted no time in ordering food. She had some difficulty getting a barmaid's attention, and the woman gave her a slightly strange look when she finally deigned to come over. Gwen ordered both an entire loaf of wheat bread and one of cornbread, along with "a lot of cheese." If someone else was paying, Gwen was giving no fucks about how much her order cost.
It wasn't until the entire bar fell silent for a moment that Gwen noticed that the Aires girl had left the table. Gwen turned slightly to see what the blonde had gotten herself into. The situation looked a little precarious to Gwen, and from appearances alone she could understand why the people at the table were mocking the young woman. Gwen hoped the blonde knew what she was doing, because there was no way she was going to get involved in that shit. Though, from what she'd seen of the Aires native, the girl could probably handle herself. She had a head on her shoulders, that was for sure.
Gwen turned around again, crossing her arms tighter and keeping to herself as the noise in the bar rose. She could tell it was coming from the table where the drinking game was happening, but Gwen had no interest in getting involved. Gwen didn't scrape other people's shit off the floor, as a general principle.
The barmaid finally delivered her food. It was better than she had expected; the bread was fresh and steaming, the crust hard and brown. And there was a lot of cheese. Well, she was wasting no more time in this awful place. She had no napkins to wrap the food in, so she straight up threw the food in her bag. She drew the drawstrings closed with a sharp movement and stood, quickly exiting the table despite the growing commotion.
Before Gwen had reached the door, however, a heavy hand latched onto her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Roughly, the hand turned her to face a heavy-set man easily a foot taller than herself. His dark beard was neatly trimmed, but he was clearly intoxicated--unfortunately not enough to keep him from walking, it seemed.
"Whassa young woman like you doing hereabouts?" he asked, pulling Gwen a little closer to him. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. Behind him, she could see that at least two other men hovering behind him threateningly.
"I'm just passing through." Gwen gave her neutral response, though her hopes of diffusing the situation were not high. "I don't want any trouble. I was just leaving."
"No trouble, you say?" The other men moved in closer, just a step. "Because I coulda sworn I saw you sneaking a little summat into yer bag back there."
"It's covered. I'm with someone." Gwen breathed deep to kept calm. Outwardly, she was stoic, but her heartbeat was racing.
"With someone? They ain't doing a very good job of reigning you in, ain't they?" He snickered. "Here's the deal. Tell me who your husband is and I'll hand you back with no trouble. Got it?"
What, husband? How dare they. Gwen didn't speak for a moment in surprise. She should have expected this. After noticing the other cultural differences, she should have been more careful...
"Eastward bitch doesn't understand what you're saying," grunted one of the men further back.
"I'm on my own," Gwen stammered out. "Like I said, I'm just passing through. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes."
"Like hell you are," the bearded man spat into her face. "Lying thief. Boys, wanna teach this Eastwarder what happens to thieves in our country?"
Feeling the man's grip tighten on her shoulder, Gwen immediately tried to dash away. But the man's grip was too strong and he threw her into a table. Before she had a chance to catch herself and regain her balance, he grabbed her from behind and hauled her away from the table's startled occupants.
Gwen could see the other two men approaching, so she acted fast. Throwing all her weight downward, she thrust her heel into the man's foot, hard, on top of the little toes where it would hurt most. It only worked because he was wearing shoddy shoes. The man yelped and staggered backward a little, relinquishing his grip just enough that Gwen could pry one arm free. From there he was an open target. His nose was just at the right height to connect with Gwen's elbow.
Blood dripped from a broken nose as Gwen dropped to the floor and scrambled away. If she could make it out of here with such little injury, this would be an unprecedented victory. As she approached the door, she remembered that the man had had backup and gave her environment a wild-eyed glance-over. It seemed that another, more global bar fight had broken out besides the mess she had gotten into. Gwen was glad for the distraction. It would allow her to escape.
An errant punch grazed Gwen's face a little, but she plowed ahead with the other people attempting to escape the madness. The door was just in reach.... Finally, she broke out into the open air. It was dark out, and the people spilling from the tavern disappeared into the darkness as they went their separate ways. Gwen did likewise and made a dash for somewhere dark and isolated. That wasn't hard, seeing as there were a lot of dark places when streetlights didn't exist yet.
That Harper fellow was an interesting character. Gwen watched him sidelong, more judgmentally than curiously. He was a sort of personality she had encountered before. Despite what anyone else thought, he knew exactly what he was doing. He was the kind of person who thrived in the spotlight. Gwen could tell from his body language, the way he was always conscious of the eyes upon him. It was like an act, with a gleeful Harper in the lead. Some people were just meant to be onstage.
When Haru finally told them how to order, Gwen huffed a little but wasted no time in ordering food. She had some difficulty getting a barmaid's attention, and the woman gave her a slightly strange look when she finally deigned to come over. Gwen ordered both an entire loaf of wheat bread and one of cornbread, along with "a lot of cheese." If someone else was paying, Gwen was giving no fucks about how much her order cost.
It wasn't until the entire bar fell silent for a moment that Gwen noticed that the Aires girl had left the table. Gwen turned slightly to see what the blonde had gotten herself into. The situation looked a little precarious to Gwen, and from appearances alone she could understand why the people at the table were mocking the young woman. Gwen hoped the blonde knew what she was doing, because there was no way she was going to get involved in that shit. Though, from what she'd seen of the Aires native, the girl could probably handle herself. She had a head on her shoulders, that was for sure.
Gwen turned around again, crossing her arms tighter and keeping to herself as the noise in the bar rose. She could tell it was coming from the table where the drinking game was happening, but Gwen had no interest in getting involved. Gwen didn't scrape other people's shit off the floor, as a general principle.
The barmaid finally delivered her food. It was better than she had expected; the bread was fresh and steaming, the crust hard and brown. And there was a lot of cheese. Well, she was wasting no more time in this awful place. She had no napkins to wrap the food in, so she straight up threw the food in her bag. She drew the drawstrings closed with a sharp movement and stood, quickly exiting the table despite the growing commotion.
Before Gwen had reached the door, however, a heavy hand latched onto her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Roughly, the hand turned her to face a heavy-set man easily a foot taller than herself. His dark beard was neatly trimmed, but he was clearly intoxicated--unfortunately not enough to keep him from walking, it seemed.
"Whassa young woman like you doing hereabouts?" he asked, pulling Gwen a little closer to him. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. Behind him, she could see that at least two other men hovering behind him threateningly.
"I'm just passing through." Gwen gave her neutral response, though her hopes of diffusing the situation were not high. "I don't want any trouble. I was just leaving."
"No trouble, you say?" The other men moved in closer, just a step. "Because I coulda sworn I saw you sneaking a little summat into yer bag back there."
"It's covered. I'm with someone." Gwen breathed deep to kept calm. Outwardly, she was stoic, but her heartbeat was racing.
"With someone? They ain't doing a very good job of reigning you in, ain't they?" He snickered. "Here's the deal. Tell me who your husband is and I'll hand you back with no trouble. Got it?"
What, husband? How dare they. Gwen didn't speak for a moment in surprise. She should have expected this. After noticing the other cultural differences, she should have been more careful...
"Eastward bitch doesn't understand what you're saying," grunted one of the men further back.
"I'm on my own," Gwen stammered out. "Like I said, I'm just passing through. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes."
"Like hell you are," the bearded man spat into her face. "Lying thief. Boys, wanna teach this Eastwarder what happens to thieves in our country?"
Feeling the man's grip tighten on her shoulder, Gwen immediately tried to dash away. But the man's grip was too strong and he threw her into a table. Before she had a chance to catch herself and regain her balance, he grabbed her from behind and hauled her away from the table's startled occupants.
Gwen could see the other two men approaching, so she acted fast. Throwing all her weight downward, she thrust her heel into the man's foot, hard, on top of the little toes where it would hurt most. It only worked because he was wearing shoddy shoes. The man yelped and staggered backward a little, relinquishing his grip just enough that Gwen could pry one arm free. From there he was an open target. His nose was just at the right height to connect with Gwen's elbow.
Blood dripped from a broken nose as Gwen dropped to the floor and scrambled away. If she could make it out of here with such little injury, this would be an unprecedented victory. As she approached the door, she remembered that the man had had backup and gave her environment a wild-eyed glance-over. It seemed that another, more global bar fight had broken out besides the mess she had gotten into. Gwen was glad for the distraction. It would allow her to escape.
An errant punch grazed Gwen's face a little, but she plowed ahead with the other people attempting to escape the madness. The door was just in reach.... Finally, she broke out into the open air. It was dark out, and the people spilling from the tavern disappeared into the darkness as they went their separate ways. Gwen did likewise and made a dash for somewhere dark and isolated. That wasn't hard, seeing as there were a lot of dark places when streetlights didn't exist yet.
Falke, who had always considered himself to be more of an observer, had situated himself in a seat near the end of the table throughout everything that was currently going on. He had managed to survive a trip down the stairs the second time that day – or night, he wasn’t very sure about the apparent time fluctuations here except that there seemed to be – and had followed one of the other members of his ‘team’ into the tavern that a boy said Haru had gone ahead to pay for a meal. Contrary to the others complaining how starving they were, Falke just really wasn’t – having had a large breakfast that morning was likely the main cause of it, but being on a alien world that he was considered an alien on, well, could have something to do with it too. And this old, old, old bar-like place didn’t at all seem like the quiet, polite restaurants of Earth that he’d usually gone too either, another check for not in the comfort zone. Plus the people to his right, well, er-…
He listened to all they had to say truthfully, but in a sort-of distastefully reluctant kind of way. Really, this was all a wonderful way for the group of Earthlings and one Airian to become a ‘team’ with sassy comments galore and bitter accusations and general teen hissy fissy fighting. He attempted to mostly ignore those beside him at this point in time, even after they delved into more civil topics, including something about one of them having tarot cards and read a couple members futures or something of the ilk, because he was still really trying to stomach all this destiny crap being thrown at him and the loudest belch, clink of glassware, or guttural yell of the tavern’s background noises was a significantly disconcerting and legitimate distraction. He rested his cheek against the heel of a hand, fingers burrowed into his own hair causing some odd locks to stick up randomly in response, eyes blearily floating about aimlessly.
Someone had sat down briefly to the open chair to his left for a spare moment or too, he assumed ‘they’ being the girl that had stated she’d go wash up before coming over and because she smelled like a wet person usually did (cleaner than usual, though), before disappearing off somewhere no sooner than she’d sat down. It wasn’t surprising really, he’d leave too if more comfortable with knowing the way back the inn and if he’d stayed long enough at the table to be considered polite before he left. It didn’t take long for something different to catch his concerned, attempting to ignore the world as best he could, attention again however…
Beer had arrived. Some of the group, more eagerly than most, took to it like a fish to water – Falke however was a little hesitant with his own glass. He’d drank before, often with his family at celebrations and the like. Alcohol wasn’t a stranger to him, but beer was well… It either tasted like honey or feet, and he’d had more of the foot variety than the honey one sadly. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but it was better than nothing and he wasn’t even sure if they had water separate than the water the animals drank from so the beer would do just fine – he took a sip, wincing slightly but not wincing at the bitter taste but more of the foot taste, yea’ the foot variety, wonderful. It was just as he was setting it down, sudden silence filled the Tavern, lead by a clear unwavering demand and solid thump. Okay then? With laughter, and bets being made on what he assumed to be a drinking game, the normal tavern lit returned shortly, but left Falke curious as to what had happened to make it fall silent like that. No matter, it wasn’t any concern of his – he took another sip of beer, managing not to wince this time. With a couple sips of this stuff, he wouldn’t need to eat anything until morning – not because it was really filling, but he didn’t trust himself to eat anything else with it.
Crashing, banging, shouting – Bloody hell, a bar/tavern fight? His sightless eyes were wide, panicked and horrified at the same time, dancing between noise after noise after well… Let’s just assume about everything in the place seemed to be breaking apparently, and chaos was running rampant everywhere. Falke shoved himself out of the chair, wobbling slightly as he fought for balance on half-asleep legs. Someone near the head of the table to his right, mentioned something about a conga line and following him for the exit - it sounded like the one everyone was exasperated with, the loud annoying fellow, but anyway... What on earth or er, Aires now he guessed in some dusty corner of his head, was a conga line and hauling ass - who would haul asses? Well, nevermind that now. He understood the following the other to get out of the mess before it got worse.
"C'mon," He hummed to the person still seated right beside him, still frozen from shock of being stuck in the middle of the situation they were now in. And by her voice earlier talking about the tarot cards, he assumed it was the same girl who had lead him through the golden portal to Aires earlier that day. She could likely see better than he had ever could and follow the other young man more effectively than he could, and he'd followed her once before - so, maybe, a drop of trust-ish, ish, sounded about right he guessed. He made the extra effort too enunciate his word's clearly over the horrific noises in the background, knowing his accent might as well made his voice seem like any other drunken brawling brute in the tavern - so she could hear what he had said easier, or so he hoped.
He listened to all they had to say truthfully, but in a sort-of distastefully reluctant kind of way. Really, this was all a wonderful way for the group of Earthlings and one Airian to become a ‘team’ with sassy comments galore and bitter accusations and general teen hissy fissy fighting. He attempted to mostly ignore those beside him at this point in time, even after they delved into more civil topics, including something about one of them having tarot cards and read a couple members futures or something of the ilk, because he was still really trying to stomach all this destiny crap being thrown at him and the loudest belch, clink of glassware, or guttural yell of the tavern’s background noises was a significantly disconcerting and legitimate distraction. He rested his cheek against the heel of a hand, fingers burrowed into his own hair causing some odd locks to stick up randomly in response, eyes blearily floating about aimlessly.
Someone had sat down briefly to the open chair to his left for a spare moment or too, he assumed ‘they’ being the girl that had stated she’d go wash up before coming over and because she smelled like a wet person usually did (cleaner than usual, though), before disappearing off somewhere no sooner than she’d sat down. It wasn’t surprising really, he’d leave too if more comfortable with knowing the way back the inn and if he’d stayed long enough at the table to be considered polite before he left. It didn’t take long for something different to catch his concerned, attempting to ignore the world as best he could, attention again however…
Beer had arrived. Some of the group, more eagerly than most, took to it like a fish to water – Falke however was a little hesitant with his own glass. He’d drank before, often with his family at celebrations and the like. Alcohol wasn’t a stranger to him, but beer was well… It either tasted like honey or feet, and he’d had more of the foot variety than the honey one sadly. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but it was better than nothing and he wasn’t even sure if they had water separate than the water the animals drank from so the beer would do just fine – he took a sip, wincing slightly but not wincing at the bitter taste but more of the foot taste, yea’ the foot variety, wonderful. It was just as he was setting it down, sudden silence filled the Tavern, lead by a clear unwavering demand and solid thump. Okay then? With laughter, and bets being made on what he assumed to be a drinking game, the normal tavern lit returned shortly, but left Falke curious as to what had happened to make it fall silent like that. No matter, it wasn’t any concern of his – he took another sip of beer, managing not to wince this time. With a couple sips of this stuff, he wouldn’t need to eat anything until morning – not because it was really filling, but he didn’t trust himself to eat anything else with it.
Crashing, banging, shouting – Bloody hell, a bar/tavern fight? His sightless eyes were wide, panicked and horrified at the same time, dancing between noise after noise after well… Let’s just assume about everything in the place seemed to be breaking apparently, and chaos was running rampant everywhere. Falke shoved himself out of the chair, wobbling slightly as he fought for balance on half-asleep legs. Someone near the head of the table to his right, mentioned something about a conga line and following him for the exit - it sounded like the one everyone was exasperated with, the loud annoying fellow, but anyway... What on earth or er, Aires now he guessed in some dusty corner of his head, was a conga line and hauling ass - who would haul asses? Well, nevermind that now. He understood the following the other to get out of the mess before it got worse.
"C'mon," He hummed to the person still seated right beside him, still frozen from shock of being stuck in the middle of the situation they were now in. And by her voice earlier talking about the tarot cards, he assumed it was the same girl who had lead him through the golden portal to Aires earlier that day. She could likely see better than he had ever could and follow the other young man more effectively than he could, and he'd followed her once before - so, maybe, a drop of trust-ish, ish, sounded about right he guessed. He made the extra effort too enunciate his word's clearly over the horrific noises in the background, knowing his accent might as well made his voice seem like any other drunken brawling brute in the tavern - so she could hear what he had said easier, or so he hoped.
As soon as he heard the back door slam open, he put is cigar out and whipped around to see who was making the commotion. First came Kyle who was falling all over himself, stumbling out of the tavern like an elk that had been shot.
He furrowed his brows and made his way over to him, but just as he approached, Harper plowed through the exit, and that was just enough for Haru to know for sure that shit was going down.
“What the hell happened?” He asked as he made a step towards the door. A look of confusion and irritation washed over his face.
Tallyho never really returned to the inn. Instead she was crouched down in a nearby alley, the weight of her earnings firmly pressing down against her toes. She made a slight gasp as a shadowy figure approached, and took cover behind a protrusion on the side of a building. Tallyho and watched with caution as the figure approached.
She knew that it wasn’t one of the men from the bar, that’s for sure. Not with a willowy figure like that—though it was like looking in a mirror since Tallyho was of the same build. She recognized the girl as one of the warriors, so she moved away from her hiding place and approached.
“Hey… You…. Gwen?” The Airian hummed. “Are those other people coming out here too?” she asked.
He furrowed his brows and made his way over to him, but just as he approached, Harper plowed through the exit, and that was just enough for Haru to know for sure that shit was going down.
“What the hell happened?” He asked as he made a step towards the door. A look of confusion and irritation washed over his face.
Tallyho never really returned to the inn. Instead she was crouched down in a nearby alley, the weight of her earnings firmly pressing down against her toes. She made a slight gasp as a shadowy figure approached, and took cover behind a protrusion on the side of a building. Tallyho and watched with caution as the figure approached.
She knew that it wasn’t one of the men from the bar, that’s for sure. Not with a willowy figure like that—though it was like looking in a mirror since Tallyho was of the same build. She recognized the girl as one of the warriors, so she moved away from her hiding place and approached.
“Hey… You…. Gwen?” The Airian hummed. “Are those other people coming out here too?” she asked.
When Haru put out his smoke, Kyle was able to breathe easier. He didn't realize it was the redhead guardian until he heard the voice. It didn't sound like he was too happy though. The shorter blond swallowed nervously, but he could take no blame for what happened, and pulled himself together to speak. Immediately, he was interrupted by none other than Harper. The shorter blond huffed briefly, but otherwise didn't acknowledge the jerk's presence. He took another step back and tried again to answer the guardian's question. "A fight broke out, but I swear we had nothing to do with it." Okay so he wasn't completely ignoring Harper. They were stuck in this mess together, and it was fair to give him credit for NOT being a jerk even if it was only for a moment. Kyle was pretty sure as soon as whatever potential danger had passed he would be back to his irritating self.
Autumn had no qualms about getting out of there as soon as she could. She left the table, allowing the boy seated next to her to leave as well. There was something off about him. Maybe it was the accent, or maybe it was the way his eyes didn’t seem to focus quite right. Autumn furrowed her brow in confusion. Blind perhaps? “Over here.” She called out, just in case. She wasn’t about to touch him, not after his reaction in the portal. It wasn’t all that bad, but she certainly didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
Following Harper, she was almost grateful for his attitude. She would never be able to plow through the scene like that. As soon as she was outside, she let out a sigh of relief. So, her first bar experience. Not really the best. It was then that she realized that she had forgotten her bread, thanks to her growling stomach. Well, maybe this would just mark day one of her diet. It wasn’t like she was going back in there to get it. Glancing around to make sure everyone was there, she frowned. “Wasn’t Tallyho at that drinking table?” What if she was still in there? Autumn hadn’t seen her slip out. And just where was Gwen?
Following Harper, she was almost grateful for his attitude. She would never be able to plow through the scene like that. As soon as she was outside, she let out a sigh of relief. So, her first bar experience. Not really the best. It was then that she realized that she had forgotten her bread, thanks to her growling stomach. Well, maybe this would just mark day one of her diet. It wasn’t like she was going back in there to get it. Glancing around to make sure everyone was there, she frowned. “Wasn’t Tallyho at that drinking table?” What if she was still in there? Autumn hadn’t seen her slip out. And just where was Gwen?
Aria smiled at a bar maid as she set down her food and left. She happily dug in, sating her ravenous hunger. She listened as Harper talked about his sister, and couldn't help but notice the hint of affection in his words. Autumn pulled her cards out once more, and Aria eagerly leaned forward. "Alright, first card." Just as Autumn was about to flip the first card, the bar was thrown into chaos, almost as if a switch was flipped.
The sound of tables crashing and plates shattering filled the air, overlapped by the gruff yells of men as they scuffled. "What the--" She saw Harper spring into actions and stuff his mouth and his pockets with food before before he was sent crashing into their table. He started yelling at the assaulter, before turning back to look at them sitting at the table. "If you guys want out, then you better haul ass and make a conga line behind me quick, because I'm not gonna wait forever!"
Aria got up out of her seat to follow Harper. As she passed their table, a large burly man pushed into her, and using all her strength, she pushed him off her. It was a struggle getting to the exit. Halfway there, Aria felt a sharp pain on the back of her head. She had accidentally been hit with something in all the confusion. Her head throbbed with a dull pain as she finally burst through the exit. She held a hand over the spot she was hit and winced.
By then, most of the guardians had made it out. She saw Kyle on the ground, and Haru standing close by looking confused. "Well...wasn't that... exciting?" she huffed between breaths. Her head was pounding, but the pain was bearable for now. Hopefully, it wouldn't form a bump. She did a once over of the people who got out and tilted her head slightly. "Hey guys, where's Jason?"
Gwen moved carefully into the shadow realms between buildings, unsure of what to expect and momentarily blinded in the sudden darkness. She was hit by the subtle but unmistakable of urine and feces. It had never occurred to her how gross it would be to live in this time period. These people probably didn't know about germs and sanitation yet, huh? Not that being clean had been high on Gwen's priority list these past few days. Still, there was a high risk of disease in this environment. She made a firm resolution to not drink anything that hadn't been thoroughly boiled first. Also not to touch anything. Or get anyone's blood on her. The last one was a little late, seeing as she had just been in a bar fight.
She started when a figure emerged from behind a building, unable to make out who it was. Once the person spoke, addressing Gwen, she realized it must have been another of the teens from their group. Further squinting in the darkness determined that it was the Airian native. The hair was kind of unmistakable, even in the dark.
"Everyone was fighting when I left," she replied, motioning vaguely behind her. Looking back, she realized the tavern was out of sight. "I don't know what happened to... the others."
Suddenly she felt a little bad. But she'd had her own problems. Her choice of action had been completely reasonable. They probably made it out. They weren't completely helpless. Well... maybe some of them were.
"I'm gonna just..." Gwen trailed off, motioning that she was coming around to where the blonde had been hiding. She would prefer not to be standing out in the open, not with how aggressive the men had been back at the tavern. She wasn't sure if they would come after her on the pretense of her thievery.
"Sorry, I don't think I remember your name," Gwen said, now situated behind the building with the Airian. Actually, she was somewhat glad to have run into this teen out of all the others. Gwen hadn't realized what a dangerous place the world could be when you were completely oblivious to the culture. Gwen and the other non-natives were like children; someone would have to hold their hands and show them where the potty was. Someone would also have to show them the ropes to keep them from stepping on too many toes.
On a more serious note, Gwen had exactly no idea why she had been antagonized back at the tavern, other than that the men had thought she had been stealing. But she had picked up on a certain offense that she hadn't understood. "What the fuck does it mean to be 'Eastward' anyway?" she asked the other girl.
She started when a figure emerged from behind a building, unable to make out who it was. Once the person spoke, addressing Gwen, she realized it must have been another of the teens from their group. Further squinting in the darkness determined that it was the Airian native. The hair was kind of unmistakable, even in the dark.
"Everyone was fighting when I left," she replied, motioning vaguely behind her. Looking back, she realized the tavern was out of sight. "I don't know what happened to... the others."
Suddenly she felt a little bad. But she'd had her own problems. Her choice of action had been completely reasonable. They probably made it out. They weren't completely helpless. Well... maybe some of them were.
"I'm gonna just..." Gwen trailed off, motioning that she was coming around to where the blonde had been hiding. She would prefer not to be standing out in the open, not with how aggressive the men had been back at the tavern. She wasn't sure if they would come after her on the pretense of her thievery.
"Sorry, I don't think I remember your name," Gwen said, now situated behind the building with the Airian. Actually, she was somewhat glad to have run into this teen out of all the others. Gwen hadn't realized what a dangerous place the world could be when you were completely oblivious to the culture. Gwen and the other non-natives were like children; someone would have to hold their hands and show them where the potty was. Someone would also have to show them the ropes to keep them from stepping on too many toes.
On a more serious note, Gwen had exactly no idea why she had been antagonized back at the tavern, other than that the men had thought she had been stealing. But she had picked up on a certain offense that she hadn't understood. "What the fuck does it mean to be 'Eastward' anyway?" she asked the other girl.
“Ahh… sh—“
Haru paced back and forth for a few seconds.
“Okay.. No Gwen, no Tallyho, Lillian’s got Dorian… Kyle’s there, no Skylar, Harper, Aria, check, check. Jason? No Jason. Falke, yes. Autumn, yes. No Lux. Okay. I’m going to go back in there and get the others. Please, just stay right here. This bar fight definitely wasn’t a part of my plan.”
And with that, the cat guardian went through the door. Once inside, he squinted through the chaos to search for the missing warriors. He called their names multiple times in hopes of getting their attention.
Tallyho struggled to hold her bag.
“I think that they would be fine. As long as they listen to Haru,” she hummed.
When Gwen offered what Tallyho assumed to be an indirect request for her name, the blonde obliged.
“Tallyho Abel,” she said. She didn’t offer much else; instead she stared at the alley floor. Though she looked uncomfortable, she really wasn’t. The silence humbled the excitement of the night and pushed her into a reflective state.
“I’m not at fault if I won the money on a fair deal, am I?”
The question wasn’t so much for Gwen as it was for the moment. She did feel a little bad about her victory starting the fight. But she couldn’t tell if it was really all her fault or not.
Then Gwen asked a question about Eastwards.
“Eastwards? It’s sort of a rude saying,” Tallyho said as she drew circles in the dirt with her toes. “It refers to people out in the East, people from Nomansland, Eastern Isle, and Ira, you know?” she paused, “No… you don’t know. I forgot.”
After a moment of silence she began to speak again.
“You look like you come from there, Eastern Isle I mean. They probably said that because of how you look. They don’t really know about Earth and Earth people.”
Tallyho dropped the bag before her own toes.
“Hey,” she said, “did you eat? I didn’t get to eat my soup cause of the game and the riot. All that beer I had is making me a little dizzy. I know a place that makes little sweets at late hours like this—lady’s nice—would you like to come?”
She picked the bag up again, “my treat.”
She didn’t really smile when she offered the invitation, but her voice certainly wasn’t as sharp as it had been for the past few hours. In fact, she was pretty exhausted.
Haru paced back and forth for a few seconds.
“Okay.. No Gwen, no Tallyho, Lillian’s got Dorian… Kyle’s there, no Skylar, Harper, Aria, check, check. Jason? No Jason. Falke, yes. Autumn, yes. No Lux. Okay. I’m going to go back in there and get the others. Please, just stay right here. This bar fight definitely wasn’t a part of my plan.”
And with that, the cat guardian went through the door. Once inside, he squinted through the chaos to search for the missing warriors. He called their names multiple times in hopes of getting their attention.
Tallyho struggled to hold her bag.
“I think that they would be fine. As long as they listen to Haru,” she hummed.
When Gwen offered what Tallyho assumed to be an indirect request for her name, the blonde obliged.
“Tallyho Abel,” she said. She didn’t offer much else; instead she stared at the alley floor. Though she looked uncomfortable, she really wasn’t. The silence humbled the excitement of the night and pushed her into a reflective state.
“I’m not at fault if I won the money on a fair deal, am I?”
The question wasn’t so much for Gwen as it was for the moment. She did feel a little bad about her victory starting the fight. But she couldn’t tell if it was really all her fault or not.
Then Gwen asked a question about Eastwards.
“Eastwards? It’s sort of a rude saying,” Tallyho said as she drew circles in the dirt with her toes. “It refers to people out in the East, people from Nomansland, Eastern Isle, and Ira, you know?” she paused, “No… you don’t know. I forgot.”
After a moment of silence she began to speak again.
“You look like you come from there, Eastern Isle I mean. They probably said that because of how you look. They don’t really know about Earth and Earth people.”
Tallyho dropped the bag before her own toes.
“Hey,” she said, “did you eat? I didn’t get to eat my soup cause of the game and the riot. All that beer I had is making me a little dizzy. I know a place that makes little sweets at late hours like this—lady’s nice—would you like to come?”
She picked the bag up again, “my treat.”
She didn’t really smile when she offered the invitation, but her voice certainly wasn’t as sharp as it had been for the past few hours. In fact, she was pretty exhausted.
The fight that had broken out was one sure of a whirlwind. Lux could barely keep to the one side, dodging the blows thrown her way intentionally or not. This was not the way she was expecting to have her day! Not to mention the fact that she had lost the others of her team in the sudden outburst. A squeak or two left the female at constant intervals, actually hitting a hand out of her way or so. All she wanted was to enjoy her food, not get caught up in this mess! An irritated screech left Lux as she ducked once more, throwing a punch towards the bloke stupid, or drunk, enough to swing her way.
That was knocked aside, sending the girl to the floor. Groaning as she got up, she was about to lunge before she caught wind of her name. Looking around bewildered, the brunette was knocked aside like a rag doll once more. Barely getting up again, the female ducked and ran her way past the best she could. "Haru?!" The brunette called out herself over the noise, trying to edge her way towards the ginger that had brought them in here.
"Haru??!!!"
That was knocked aside, sending the girl to the floor. Groaning as she got up, she was about to lunge before she caught wind of her name. Looking around bewildered, the brunette was knocked aside like a rag doll once more. Barely getting up again, the female ducked and ran her way past the best she could. "Haru?!" The brunette called out herself over the noise, trying to edge her way towards the ginger that had brought them in here.
"Haru??!!!"
Jason blinked when Autumn finished his reading, thinking "Wow... That's accurate. Very accurate. I really don't like the last card though..." And didn't really pay attention to Harper's reading. Then just as the Aria girl was about to get her own reading done, chaos broke out as he heard a loud bang.
He turned his head to see that a table had been flipped, and almost immediately, fists were being thrown. Having seen many bar fights with his friends back in Tennessee, Jason was happy enough to jump up to follow when Harper spoke. He didn't want to get caught in this. Of course, luck isn't always on his side. As he started to follow the others, a punch slammed into the back of his head, causing him to stumble to the ground, a shock of pain exploding behind his eyes. He forced himself up a bit disoriented, and barley had time to dodge as a fist came at his face, knocking him into someone else. He pushed away whoever he bumped into and made a run for it, trying to maneuver his way through the crowd, which was hard to do.
His head was pounding with every step, and he was getting pretty damn annoyed getting bumped around. It was making him dizzy. Then he heard someone call out his name, and his head whipped up for him to see Haru, causing his head to spin. He also heard another name. Lux? And ten a female voice yell "Haru??!!!" He glanced over, slower this time, still trying not to get hit, and saw one of the girls from his group caught in the fray.
"Crap.." He had to get them both out, so he pushed his way towards her. When he was almost an arms length away, someone punched him in the side of the face. He stumbled back into someone, far beyond annoyed now, and then jumped forward swinging hard at the guy he assumed punched him and shouted, "Get the hell out of my fuck'n way!!!" and was able to grab Lux's wrist. He quickly started to force his way through the people, pulling Lex behind him as he roughly pushed his way through towards Haru. One guy tried to rush him, but Jason swung his arm as hard as he could, knocking the man off his feet.
"Lucky the guy was already drunk."
By the time he got there, his head was spinning and his ears were ringing, and he was about ready to freaking kill someone.
He turned his head to see that a table had been flipped, and almost immediately, fists were being thrown. Having seen many bar fights with his friends back in Tennessee, Jason was happy enough to jump up to follow when Harper spoke. He didn't want to get caught in this. Of course, luck isn't always on his side. As he started to follow the others, a punch slammed into the back of his head, causing him to stumble to the ground, a shock of pain exploding behind his eyes. He forced himself up a bit disoriented, and barley had time to dodge as a fist came at his face, knocking him into someone else. He pushed away whoever he bumped into and made a run for it, trying to maneuver his way through the crowd, which was hard to do.
His head was pounding with every step, and he was getting pretty damn annoyed getting bumped around. It was making him dizzy. Then he heard someone call out his name, and his head whipped up for him to see Haru, causing his head to spin. He also heard another name. Lux? And ten a female voice yell "Haru??!!!" He glanced over, slower this time, still trying not to get hit, and saw one of the girls from his group caught in the fray.
"Crap.." He had to get them both out, so he pushed his way towards her. When he was almost an arms length away, someone punched him in the side of the face. He stumbled back into someone, far beyond annoyed now, and then jumped forward swinging hard at the guy he assumed punched him and shouted, "Get the hell out of my fuck'n way!!!" and was able to grab Lux's wrist. He quickly started to force his way through the people, pulling Lex behind him as he roughly pushed his way through towards Haru. One guy tried to rush him, but Jason swung his arm as hard as he could, knocking the man off his feet.
"Lucky the guy was already drunk."
By the time he got there, his head was spinning and his ears were ringing, and he was about ready to freaking kill someone.
Chairs, Harper decided, were much more useful than he had originally thought. By the time he had barreled through the exit, the others trailing behind him, he had already made up his mind to keep the one he was holding. It was nice wood, too. Maybe he could find a way to make it collapsible and--
His thoughts were interrupted by the blond boy's voice and then Haru, who counted out loud who was present and who wasn't before returning back into the tavern. Harper gave an exasperated sigh after looking around at their exact numbers. "I told everyone to haul ass," he stated, rotating the chair so that it was upside down and touching the ground, and he leaned against it, holding the legs, "'s not my fault they didn't listen."
His cheek still felt hot where the guy had punched him, probably swollen and red. Nothing some ice couldn't fix, though.
Never a fan of waiting around, Harper dug into his pocket and pulled out the wheat roll he had stored. Unwrapping the cloth napkin around it, he let it fall on the base of the chair and bit into the still soft bread. At the second bite a sharp pain emitted from the back of his upper jaw, and when he quickly pulled the bread away, he felt something small and hard drop onto his tongue. Spitting it out into the palm of his hand, he realized it was a tooth.
"That asshat knocked out my tooth!" he exclaimed. Closer examination in the dark street revealed a metallic luster. "It's my goddamn gold tooth, too! I knew that dentist was cheap." Grumbling, he shoved the tooth into his pocket and pulled the bread apart into strips, chewing on the opposite side of the tooth's origin.
His thoughts were interrupted by the blond boy's voice and then Haru, who counted out loud who was present and who wasn't before returning back into the tavern. Harper gave an exasperated sigh after looking around at their exact numbers. "I told everyone to haul ass," he stated, rotating the chair so that it was upside down and touching the ground, and he leaned against it, holding the legs, "'s not my fault they didn't listen."
His cheek still felt hot where the guy had punched him, probably swollen and red. Nothing some ice couldn't fix, though.
Never a fan of waiting around, Harper dug into his pocket and pulled out the wheat roll he had stored. Unwrapping the cloth napkin around it, he let it fall on the base of the chair and bit into the still soft bread. At the second bite a sharp pain emitted from the back of his upper jaw, and when he quickly pulled the bread away, he felt something small and hard drop onto his tongue. Spitting it out into the palm of his hand, he realized it was a tooth.
"That asshat knocked out my tooth!" he exclaimed. Closer examination in the dark street revealed a metallic luster. "It's my goddamn gold tooth, too! I knew that dentist was cheap." Grumbling, he shoved the tooth into his pocket and pulled the bread apart into strips, chewing on the opposite side of the tooth's origin.
No way was Kyle going anywhere. Haru didn't have to worry about that. He had more than enough excitement for one day. That fight he got into at school, people chasing him on the street, that monster in Central Park, transporting to a completely different world to fight even more monsters-Man, he didn't want to do this anymore- and then a barfight. "I just want to go to bed," he muttered and hunkered down to start chomping on his own roll.
In between bites, he looked up to see how the little huddle of survivors were holding up. Some of them got knocked around more than he did. Kyle did duck under tables and such to avoid people. He already had a black eye from before they even got here, and couldn't afford any more injuries especially if they're stuck in the middle ages. Harper got hit pretty hard on one side of his face, and somehow took a chair out of the tavern. What would he do with that? The girls and a second blond boy sounded out of breath, but he didn't see any obvious injuries. "Good luck," he said quietly in the evening air.
In between bites, he looked up to see how the little huddle of survivors were holding up. Some of them got knocked around more than he did. Kyle did duck under tables and such to avoid people. He already had a black eye from before they even got here, and couldn't afford any more injuries especially if they're stuck in the middle ages. Harper got hit pretty hard on one side of his face, and somehow took a chair out of the tavern. What would he do with that? The girls and a second blond boy sounded out of breath, but he didn't see any obvious injuries. "Good luck," he said quietly in the evening air.
As Autumn began doing readings for Jason and Harper Skylar found herself beginning to zone out, slowly nursing the beer Haru had ordered for her. She might have talked a big game but in all honesty she wasn’t really a fan of alcohol, the way it muddled her thoughts and made her head heavy. While she may have had a high tolerance for pain, she was a lightweight when it came to drinking, her small stature not helping in that department.
One couldn’t hurt though, and everyone else was drinking. Besides, once she got over how strong it was, it was actually pretty good, serving as a distraction from the crowded pub.
The sounds of a bar fight erupting from across the room snapped Skylar out of her thoughts, her light eyes widening at the chaos. Squinting, she thought she could make out Tallyho in the distance and she vaguely remembered the blonde excusing herself from the group earlier.
What happened next seemed to happen in a blur, the fight getting worse as the sounds of drunken men shouting and glasses breaking filling the air. The rest of the month warriors scattered, leaving Skylar alone and slightly buzzed, a combination that didn't mix very well.
Skylar liked to be in control, liked to know exactly what was going to happen. Suddenly the events from the day hit her hard, her mind going into overdrive as she felt an anxious feeling starting to settle in the pit of her stomach.
She knew she had to get out of there, as quickly and injure free as possible. However, her plans didn't work out as well as she had hoped, drunken men stumbling over her as she tried to hurry out. She was starting to feel extremely claustrophobic, her heart racing as she felt her chest tighten. She felt an elbow collide with her face, another knocking her in the side.
I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die.
Moments later she burst out of the pub, her breaths shallow as she let herself slump to the ground. The night air was cool against her skin, a drastic change from the musty smell inside the pub. She hadn’t felt this way in months, she thought that she had gotten over it…
Looking up she saw the rest of the warriors, save for Tallyho and Gwen. The others seemed to be battered as well, some more so than others. Feeling slightly lightheaded, she wiped her face with the back of her hand only to realize that her nose was bleeding.
“I’m going to be sick.” Skylar mumbled as she watched Harper spit his tooth into his hand, her cheeks flushing.
One couldn’t hurt though, and everyone else was drinking. Besides, once she got over how strong it was, it was actually pretty good, serving as a distraction from the crowded pub.
The sounds of a bar fight erupting from across the room snapped Skylar out of her thoughts, her light eyes widening at the chaos. Squinting, she thought she could make out Tallyho in the distance and she vaguely remembered the blonde excusing herself from the group earlier.
What happened next seemed to happen in a blur, the fight getting worse as the sounds of drunken men shouting and glasses breaking filling the air. The rest of the month warriors scattered, leaving Skylar alone and slightly buzzed, a combination that didn't mix very well.
Skylar liked to be in control, liked to know exactly what was going to happen. Suddenly the events from the day hit her hard, her mind going into overdrive as she felt an anxious feeling starting to settle in the pit of her stomach.
She knew she had to get out of there, as quickly and injure free as possible. However, her plans didn't work out as well as she had hoped, drunken men stumbling over her as she tried to hurry out. She was starting to feel extremely claustrophobic, her heart racing as she felt her chest tighten. She felt an elbow collide with her face, another knocking her in the side.
I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die.
Moments later she burst out of the pub, her breaths shallow as she let herself slump to the ground. The night air was cool against her skin, a drastic change from the musty smell inside the pub. She hadn’t felt this way in months, she thought that she had gotten over it…
Looking up she saw the rest of the warriors, save for Tallyho and Gwen. The others seemed to be battered as well, some more so than others. Feeling slightly lightheaded, she wiped her face with the back of her hand only to realize that her nose was bleeding.
“I’m going to be sick.” Skylar mumbled as she watched Harper spit his tooth into his hand, her cheeks flushing.
"Why trust Haru?" Gwen mused quietly. "He's supposed to be your guardian, after all, and I didn't see him helping you out back there."
Gwen clasped her hands tightly as Tallyho explained the term 'Eastward.' So it was a race issue. Gwen could have guessed as much. This made matters a little more complicated. She would have to take some extra precautions until she learned the rules of this game. However, there was absolutely no way she was about to start relying on men to ensure her safety in public.
"It seems our worlds have similar race distinctions," she said to the Airian. "The place that I come from is a little more... global, though. I've never been harassed about the way I look before."
When Tallyho suggested going somewhere to get food, Gwen hesitated. She was torn between the promise of free food--an offer she hated to refuse--and the uncertain consequences of wandering blindly back into a unfamiliar society. Would it be dangerous? Her very presence might arouse suspicion, getting not only her both Tallyho in trouble as well...
Still on edge from her encounter in the tavern, Gwen could only think of negative consequences. She imagined groups of pirates ganging up on her, binding her in chains and selling her to the highest bidder...
"I don't know if that's such a wise idea tonight," said Gwen, continuing to wring her hands. "I'd rather stay out of sight for a while."
A small noise, probably just the movement of an animal, sounded nearby. Gwen jumped noticeably, but she was quick to regain her composure.
"I think I'll head back to the inn soon, once the coast is clear. If you want, I can share some of my food with you." Gwen's eyes glistened in the darkness, a small flare of light against her dark irises. "Though, you'd better pay me back."
Gwen clasped her hands tightly as Tallyho explained the term 'Eastward.' So it was a race issue. Gwen could have guessed as much. This made matters a little more complicated. She would have to take some extra precautions until she learned the rules of this game. However, there was absolutely no way she was about to start relying on men to ensure her safety in public.
"It seems our worlds have similar race distinctions," she said to the Airian. "The place that I come from is a little more... global, though. I've never been harassed about the way I look before."
When Tallyho suggested going somewhere to get food, Gwen hesitated. She was torn between the promise of free food--an offer she hated to refuse--and the uncertain consequences of wandering blindly back into a unfamiliar society. Would it be dangerous? Her very presence might arouse suspicion, getting not only her both Tallyho in trouble as well...
Still on edge from her encounter in the tavern, Gwen could only think of negative consequences. She imagined groups of pirates ganging up on her, binding her in chains and selling her to the highest bidder...
"I don't know if that's such a wise idea tonight," said Gwen, continuing to wring her hands. "I'd rather stay out of sight for a while."
A small noise, probably just the movement of an animal, sounded nearby. Gwen jumped noticeably, but she was quick to regain her composure.
"I think I'll head back to the inn soon, once the coast is clear. If you want, I can share some of my food with you." Gwen's eyes glistened in the darkness, a small flare of light against her dark irises. "Though, you'd better pay me back."
Haru didn’t get much of a chance to go in and help the three warriors he managed to catch in the skirmish. In fact, the other two, Gwen and Tallyho, weren’t even in the room. He groaned, the idea of having to go look for two teen-aged girls in the middle of the night after a bar fight was one of the least attractive idea’s he could fathom at the moment.
The setup kind of reminded him of those Lifetime Network movies he watched when he took brief trips to earth. Nonetheless, he was impressed with the Jason boy and his hands-on attempt at saving his comrade. While Harper had given the other’s a heads up, his approach wasn’t nearly as potent to the cat guardian just because the “I don’t care about any of you” front he put up since the cyclopean attack hadn’t really washed off.
Seeing Jason, Skylar and Lux plowing towards the door, he did the next best thing he could do to help, and held it open for them. Once they were all out, he gave a heavy sigh and made a slow pace around the side of the building, gesturing for the group to follow.
“Well it looks like they aren’t in there,” he huffed, “follow me and let’s get you guys set up back at the inn. Considering some of your conditions… I don’t think you should be out any longer. I’ll go find Gwen and Tallyho.”
Tallyho considered what Gwen said, but she gave a shrug.
“Well what should I expect from him? Yes he is my guardian, but he is also the only guardian here… So I guess he’s you guy’s guardian too. One soul saved above eleven doesn’t seem like a fair trade. I think he’s just focused on the group as a whole.”
She noticed a change in Gwen’s body language as she reacted to the eastward comment.
“Well if it makes you feel any better, Solace isn’t a very global place. I mean… They confine the native Solacians to conservation camps. The law puts a heavy hand on nomadic caravans, too. There are nicer places than this big corn field if you ask me.”
The blonde hoisted her bag over her shoulder.
“I mean…”
Tallyho really wanted food.
“I guess we could go back... But I don’t know. I’m not big on being in debt to others. Anyway, I’ll walk you back if you’re scared. People in Tabbard don’t generally pick at me outside of the taverns,” she hummed as she rolled her eyes at the buildings beyond the alley.
“Come on, let’s go to the inn,” her words were both sharp and blunt at once. She didn’t pause to secure Gwen’s approval to leave. The blonde figured that she would follow if she really wanted to go back.
Tallyho was only five steps out of the alley when she caught sight of Haru emerging from the side of the bar, and he definitely saw her.
Tallyho glanced back at Gwen.
“That was easy right?”
Upon entering the inn, Haru sent the group upstairs before proceeding to ask the desk girl for gauze. Tallyho hiked up the flight, and then dropped her bag of money before her little bed in the corner. Another day was under her belt. It wasn’t the easiest, but she definitely reaped some benefits. But, looking at some of the others, it didn’t seem like they got what they wanted.
She supposed she did feel a little bad. Sure some of them treated her a little rudely back on earth, and sure she got herself chased by the cyclopean to save them and received absolutely no thanks, but when her misfortunes were weighed against those of her “teammates”, well things just didn’t look to good for them.
The portal to Aires—the one that they were all forced into—led her home, while it led the others to a strange new world. The bar fight left her with a little money, while it left the others with bruises. The inn was a major improvement to where she had been sleeping before, but for the others it was a severe downgrade, a place devoid of family.
Moments later, the thumps of Haru’s fine, metal-soled shoes could be heard from below. The cat guardian rose through the door on the floor with a roll of gauze clenched in his fist.
“If you have an open cut, wrap it up,” he began as he paced the room, “Harper, put some gauze in your mouth for that tooth.” He tossed the roll to him first before sitting down on the foot of a bed. He chose a bed near the center, one that was a prime location for speaking to everyone around him.
“If I’m sitting on your bed,” he said, “I’m not going to sleep in it. I’ll get up in a minute. But I want to have a little talk with you guys. You have all been chosen. It was destiny, and there is no way to get out of it. You are the Month Warriors, you were always the Month Warriors, and you will always be the Month Warriors. I am a guardian, this was my destiny. I don’t want to be here anymore than you do, so understand that. But I am here to protect you and help you get the job done. So don’t resist me.”
He readjusted his position to a more relaxed informal pose.
“There, now that we’re past the magic shit, the prophesy crap, and all of the fancy little bells and whistles, let’s get real. Let’s talk about survival. When shit goes down, you need to be there to help each other. I don’t care if you were just punched, cursed , and spit on by your fellow warrior, if they are in immediate danger, you had better do what you can to save their asses. My biggest concern with this group is your lack of cooperation with each other. Shall I run through the problems of the night? The little tarot card thing was cute, but it was definitely overshadowed by you guy’s tendency to rag on each other and argue. Two. There is no doubt in my mind that a lot of you saw Tallyho get up and leave the table. When you see your teammate go off alone in an unsafe environment, the first thing any of you should do is try to go with them.”
The redhead then got a long, hard look at Tallyho.
“You. I don’t know what you did with your life yesterday. But today, you are in my fucking care, so you don’t can’t reckless. Because of your little drinking stunt, your teammates got their faces smashed in. You all might be eighteen or well above, but with me, you’re kids. How old am I? Like… One thousand and three? Hell, I don’t know, I’m immortal. But my point is, don’t screw with gambling because you aren’t an adult, and all those men had to do tonight was slit your pretty little throat and you’d be down. But you know that, don’t you? By the way, you’re not going to get everyone beat up then keep your gambling money. Tomorrow, we are going to Malboro to get you guys some new clothes and equipment and I was going to pay for it all. But now you’re going to help me out and make a nice donation. “
The redhead stood up, and walked towards Tallyho’s bed before picking up her bag. The girl made a lunge for him but the stillness of his glare kept her seated.
“Now, I’m not going to leave you all with a cloud over your heads. I’d like to commend those of you who promoted civil social interaction at the table. And Jason, good job on helping Lux. Falke, thank you for helping Autumn. Now, if you need me, I’ll be on the second floor. My room is the one right next to the stairway. Good night and heed my warning. Tomorrow it’s all business.”
The setup kind of reminded him of those Lifetime Network movies he watched when he took brief trips to earth. Nonetheless, he was impressed with the Jason boy and his hands-on attempt at saving his comrade. While Harper had given the other’s a heads up, his approach wasn’t nearly as potent to the cat guardian just because the “I don’t care about any of you” front he put up since the cyclopean attack hadn’t really washed off.
Seeing Jason, Skylar and Lux plowing towards the door, he did the next best thing he could do to help, and held it open for them. Once they were all out, he gave a heavy sigh and made a slow pace around the side of the building, gesturing for the group to follow.
“Well it looks like they aren’t in there,” he huffed, “follow me and let’s get you guys set up back at the inn. Considering some of your conditions… I don’t think you should be out any longer. I’ll go find Gwen and Tallyho.”
Tallyho considered what Gwen said, but she gave a shrug.
“Well what should I expect from him? Yes he is my guardian, but he is also the only guardian here… So I guess he’s you guy’s guardian too. One soul saved above eleven doesn’t seem like a fair trade. I think he’s just focused on the group as a whole.”
She noticed a change in Gwen’s body language as she reacted to the eastward comment.
“Well if it makes you feel any better, Solace isn’t a very global place. I mean… They confine the native Solacians to conservation camps. The law puts a heavy hand on nomadic caravans, too. There are nicer places than this big corn field if you ask me.”
The blonde hoisted her bag over her shoulder.
“I mean…”
Tallyho really wanted food.
“I guess we could go back... But I don’t know. I’m not big on being in debt to others. Anyway, I’ll walk you back if you’re scared. People in Tabbard don’t generally pick at me outside of the taverns,” she hummed as she rolled her eyes at the buildings beyond the alley.
“Come on, let’s go to the inn,” her words were both sharp and blunt at once. She didn’t pause to secure Gwen’s approval to leave. The blonde figured that she would follow if she really wanted to go back.
Tallyho was only five steps out of the alley when she caught sight of Haru emerging from the side of the bar, and he definitely saw her.
Tallyho glanced back at Gwen.
“That was easy right?”
Upon entering the inn, Haru sent the group upstairs before proceeding to ask the desk girl for gauze. Tallyho hiked up the flight, and then dropped her bag of money before her little bed in the corner. Another day was under her belt. It wasn’t the easiest, but she definitely reaped some benefits. But, looking at some of the others, it didn’t seem like they got what they wanted.
She supposed she did feel a little bad. Sure some of them treated her a little rudely back on earth, and sure she got herself chased by the cyclopean to save them and received absolutely no thanks, but when her misfortunes were weighed against those of her “teammates”, well things just didn’t look to good for them.
The portal to Aires—the one that they were all forced into—led her home, while it led the others to a strange new world. The bar fight left her with a little money, while it left the others with bruises. The inn was a major improvement to where she had been sleeping before, but for the others it was a severe downgrade, a place devoid of family.
Moments later, the thumps of Haru’s fine, metal-soled shoes could be heard from below. The cat guardian rose through the door on the floor with a roll of gauze clenched in his fist.
“If you have an open cut, wrap it up,” he began as he paced the room, “Harper, put some gauze in your mouth for that tooth.” He tossed the roll to him first before sitting down on the foot of a bed. He chose a bed near the center, one that was a prime location for speaking to everyone around him.
“If I’m sitting on your bed,” he said, “I’m not going to sleep in it. I’ll get up in a minute. But I want to have a little talk with you guys. You have all been chosen. It was destiny, and there is no way to get out of it. You are the Month Warriors, you were always the Month Warriors, and you will always be the Month Warriors. I am a guardian, this was my destiny. I don’t want to be here anymore than you do, so understand that. But I am here to protect you and help you get the job done. So don’t resist me.”
He readjusted his position to a more relaxed informal pose.
“There, now that we’re past the magic shit, the prophesy crap, and all of the fancy little bells and whistles, let’s get real. Let’s talk about survival. When shit goes down, you need to be there to help each other. I don’t care if you were just punched, cursed , and spit on by your fellow warrior, if they are in immediate danger, you had better do what you can to save their asses. My biggest concern with this group is your lack of cooperation with each other. Shall I run through the problems of the night? The little tarot card thing was cute, but it was definitely overshadowed by you guy’s tendency to rag on each other and argue. Two. There is no doubt in my mind that a lot of you saw Tallyho get up and leave the table. When you see your teammate go off alone in an unsafe environment, the first thing any of you should do is try to go with them.”
The redhead then got a long, hard look at Tallyho.
“You. I don’t know what you did with your life yesterday. But today, you are in my fucking care, so you don’t can’t reckless. Because of your little drinking stunt, your teammates got their faces smashed in. You all might be eighteen or well above, but with me, you’re kids. How old am I? Like… One thousand and three? Hell, I don’t know, I’m immortal. But my point is, don’t screw with gambling because you aren’t an adult, and all those men had to do tonight was slit your pretty little throat and you’d be down. But you know that, don’t you? By the way, you’re not going to get everyone beat up then keep your gambling money. Tomorrow, we are going to Malboro to get you guys some new clothes and equipment and I was going to pay for it all. But now you’re going to help me out and make a nice donation. “
The redhead stood up, and walked towards Tallyho’s bed before picking up her bag. The girl made a lunge for him but the stillness of his glare kept her seated.
“Now, I’m not going to leave you all with a cloud over your heads. I’d like to commend those of you who promoted civil social interaction at the table. And Jason, good job on helping Lux. Falke, thank you for helping Autumn. Now, if you need me, I’ll be on the second floor. My room is the one right next to the stairway. Good night and heed my warning. Tomorrow it’s all business.”
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Welcome home, Promethean. Here, you can manage your universe.
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Arcs are bundles of posts from any location, allowing you to easily capture sub-plots which might be spread out across multiple locations.
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You can create Quests with various rewards, encouraging your players to engage with specific plot lines.
Add Setting » 2 Settings for your players to play in
Settings are the backdrop for the characters in your universe, giving meaning and context to their existence. By creating a number of well-written locations, you can organize your universe into areas and regions.
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View All » Add Character » 45 Characters to follow in this universe
Newest
Gavin "Ghost" Vaughn
A white knight. Literally.
Yagi of the Sun
If you find that you cannot move away from something special, you have probably died.
Bryce Edwards
"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."
Liv Davidsen
Winter can be unforgiving, December the most.
King Rembrandt the Wholesome
King now. King forever.
Trent Cress
It is nothing shy of a pleasure to die for my country.
Kit Withers
"If you need me for anything, reconsider."
Ymir Tula
"From the luke-warm hands of the Gods."
Ondine Azur
Never underestimate the consequences of a single ripple.
Ryou Zerinn
"So this is what I have to work with… Well, then…"
Trending
Karma Chu
Don't be a wimp, wimpy.
Amber (Edwin Bradley)
The smell of burning rye haunts me.
Kyle Keaton
"I got your back, dude."
Harper Calloway Fields
I heard this great joke from my sister. Ready? What did one ocean say to the other ocean? ..... Give up? Nothing. They just...WAVED! AHAHAHAHA*snorts*HAHAHAHA!
Yagi of the Sun
If you find that you cannot move away from something special, you have probably died.
Katarina Bradley (Imani Cabo)
I suppose I was consumed by the fire...
Lux Adair
"Listen, I'm the one running this show and not you. So step back."
Jason Carter
"Dude, I wasn't being serious. Seriously."
Alatáriël Oronrá
" Lillian "
Most Followed
Amber (Edwin Bradley)
The smell of burning rye haunts me.
Bryce Edwards
"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."
Dorian Roberts
"No. No, I do not want to go on an adventure."
Alatáriël Oronrá
" Lillian "
Skylar Grayson
Just a little rough around the edges.
Lux Adair
"Listen, I'm the one running this show and not you. So step back."
Jason Carter
"Dude, I wasn't being serious. Seriously."
Falke der Herrscher
fei, Adventure?
Xabier Sanchez
"There can always be warmth hidden in the shadows."
Harbinger XII
By the blood of our first saviors, I dub thee worthy.
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A Place for Planning
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A Place for Planning
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Birthstone Spirits: The Great Escape
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Birthstone Spirits: The Great Escape
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Birthstone Spirits Art thread
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