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A Mercyful Fate [M] [Boglin] [COMPLETE]

Started by Lion, April 10, 2017, 10:56:00 PM

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Lion

For Darius each long minute she took to read the message and give her answer only presented - in his mind - a testament to how ill-educated much of Connlaoth's fighting forces actually were. It was bad enough her own mordecai seemed ill-mannered and uncouth - and unclean at that - and even worse now that the very Grandmaster herself seemed to have a difficult time reading a simple dinner invitation.

Darius turned up his nose until he received his answer. With a tilt of his head, he bowed once again. "I will deliver your response with haste," he said in a soft gentle tone. The moment he could be free of these barbarians, he took it with a harumph sound and swung around on his heel. And turned his nose back up in that departure.

Roland was sitting in his office when Darius returned, stepping in as discreetly as was his gait. Roland looked up, hiding the iron band in his hand as he glanced up at the servant. "And? What is the verdict?"

"A proper beheading, I'm afraid," Darius smirked, an expression only met with a scowl from Roland. He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I mean, she has accepted the invitation and would be happy to continue negotiations over food. Dinner will be served in a half-hour. Shall we make use of the banquet hall then?"

"No. This...is between me and her. Serve her soldiers a proper dinner in the hall, please. She and I will instead be taking our food on the third level sitting room."

"My lord?  A sitting room? Seems a little...improper doesn't it?" Darius asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes, but these are negotiations between us. And I promise to maintain the highest sense of propriety. Now, go see to the food. Thank you, Darius.  You're dismissed."

The servant chewed on his lip a moment before bowing out and doing as he was instructed. Roland watched him leave and he stood to ensure the door was shut properly behind him. In those few minutes, Roland hadn't realized he'd been gripping that iron band in hand, and he traced his index finger around the impression it made in his palm. He swallowed thickly, placing it back in his pocket and frowning.

He didn't know why she would bother to stay. If only throwing him into the fountain had been the end of it, that she would go back and report to her Grand Duke and prepare for war once again. That was how she became Grandmaster wasn't it? Because war was her creed. She served a man that gave no thought to the suffering of his people. She followed him, and yet here she was again doing his bidding.

The woman he had loved...  loved still, now in talks with him over the fate of a province that had only garnered interest when it's ruler was no longer loyal to the crown!  Roland saw this only ending one way. It was the only way, wasn't it? When he was either dead in battle or executed. He supposed a lot could happen between then and now, and that was a bridge that would burn once he crossed it.

Roland prepared himself. He'd never had anything so formal, and wore the crimson sash of the Red Legion interlaced with his uniform, a tunic beneath a black leather doublet, laced and buckled around his form. On the third level was an open sitting room, with a balcony to the far end of the room, a fire place on the opposite end, and wooden table closer to the open glass doors beside the balcony. It overlooked the courtyard, and those doors let in a cool evening breeze.

Roland waited beside the table where the food was served, not daring to sit until his guest arrived. Better late than never.




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

Much to the jibing of her men, Alanna worked to try and make herself at least somewhat presentable. Her hair was let loose of its tie and finger-combed into some form of submission while her uniform was smoothed out and some of the more cumbersome armor was removed to be left with her men. Alanna had even gently teased them to not let it be scuffed or dropped in their clumsy attempts to mock her in stories with it. The joke was met with hearty laughter which was exactly when Darius decided to slink in.

He bowed stiffly before her while offering to lead her to where dinner awaited. The only men became silent while Alanna graciously allowed herself to be escorted. Out of spite, he led her the longer way to where they were going, ensuring that there were several staircases both up and down before they reached their destination, all of which Alanna took in stride.

"His Lordship has asked that the table be set with the cellar's best wine, not of course it compares to anything you would recognize I'm sure," he remarked, feeling smug in the knowledge that she probably did not even know the swill of a Csog from a refined Berion. Darius wondered if Roland would allow him to stay just so he could see if she knew which silverware to use or whether she ate like the other heathens she dared call soldiers.

"I'm sure he chose admirably. His hospitality has been nothing but abundantly generous," she replied softly.

"That it has," he quipped back before pushing the door open to the room for her. "May your negotiations be less waterlogged this time around Grand Master," he added as they stepped into the room.

Alanna did not have the desire to quip back as she took in the figure her husband made. A smile unbidden came to her lips as she drank in his form softened by the fire. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, Sir Roland," the Mordecai greeted softly. "I was delayed by the many twists and turns it takes to get to this private room."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

"I see Darius made a point of taking you the long route then," Roland sighed, a little irritated that the servant would feel the need to make a mockery of his guests. But Darius had come with Iron Keep, and agreed to continue serving without complaint, as he had no other direction in life. It did not matter to him who was the master of the house, so long as Darius remained.

And at the time that was fine by Roland.

"I'm sorry," he quickly apologized for him. "But you...you look wonderful, Alanna." Something heavy fell from Roland's chest at the chance to say that name again. He bowed his head and moved toward the seat, pulling it out for her to take her place.  "The amenities here aren't much. But what treasures could be salvaged are being salvaged."

He had noticed she'd used the knightly title he'd often attached to his name. And while it felt out of place for her to say it, he didn't question it and took his seat in front of her. "I honestly didn't think you were going to accept my invitation," he admitted. "Thank you, at least for this."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

"You needn't apologise," she said waving away his concern and taking the proffered seat. "I know it was not your doing. Had you wanted your food to get cold you would have made it yourself." The sound of her name on his lips had her heart somersaulting about in glee. She had missed how it sounded especially in his voice. Alanna realised now more than ever that until now she had thought to never hear it spoken aloud in such a way again. The dead do not speak after all.

"And I honestly thought you would send me out on my ear for leaving you in such a state. It is I who is honored by your invitation. Thank you. You have shown great kindness to myself and mine. I know that you are not obligated to do so but nevertheless continue to be honorable. Thank you."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

"I think what's even more strange is this setting. Unusual even for us.  It's so...domestic. I don't think we ever really had a chance to play house, did we?" Roland said quietly, perhaps even with a tinge of sorry on his lips. His eyes flitted over the corners of her face, appreciating the contours therein.

She was always beautiful to him, and even the lines made by time only accentuated it further. His eyes dissected her, flowing from her own gaze, to her cheeks, her nose, her lips, down to her neck, and below. Until finally they fell on the chain at her chest. He felt his heart thrumming loudly in his ears.

"Well, what good are we, if we let our own followers fall into rabble. Lead by example. I have you to thank for teaching me that," he said softly and his head gestured to her neck. "I guess I really shouldn't be surprised to see you still have that old piece of iron."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

Alanna chuckled at the notion of them ever being domestic. Even as newlyweds it had not truly fitted them. She was a soldier not a housewife. Meals for them had often constituted going to the pub or mess hall if they both happened to be home at the same time. "I believe we were more focused on a different aspect of domestic bliss together than the cozy little fire with dinner on the table," she recalled with a fond smile.

She was about to respond further when he directed his attention towards her person. Confused, she looked down to see where he was pointing and then promptly blushed. A hand came up to gently cup the ring within her palm before closing around it and pressing it against her heart. "I couldn't let you go," she murmured softly, her eyes closed to hold back unshed tears. "It was over a year before I could even bear to remove it from my hand and even then it felt wrong. I never stopped thinking of you. Half the time I kept expecting to turn around and find you there with that crooked smile on your face."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

Roland pushed himself forward, leaning against the table, listening intently. Those words laid heavily on his ears and he dropped his head. He was sinking, falling deep into a pool of dark water, drowning beneath the weight of all those desperate hopes. It was only with force that he was able to look up at her again, meeting her gaze.

"But you keep it still. You still hold onto that old memory of me. I'm sorry, Alanna. You were right, I should have told you. Regretting that time lost, however, won't change the past," he said softly and reached into his pocket to pull out the iron band he had. The white line on his finger had long since tanned over, but there was the ring still, polished and clean, as he carefully unwrapped it from a handkerchief.

"I kept it because....because you were my wife." And still was, but he refrained from saying such. "Because you were my lover and my confidant. And I keep it, because those are the only good memories I have of those past years. Everything else went to shit."  He cleared his throat and uncorked the wine, pouring the glasses and settling it on a rack beside the table.  "You know, I will always admire you, right?"




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

"Not a confidant," she rebuked with a shake of her head. "You did not trust me with the truth. You did not trust me to listen Roland. Am I so stubborn, so hard-headed that you did not think I could listen? This lie hurts me more than the truth. This new reality is tearing me to pieces in ways that even the truth then couldn't have."

Alanna let go of her ring and took up her cup instead to sip at thoughtfully. "Is that all I will ever have of you now? Your admiration? Then again, I suppose we've both changed and grown old. I've just become Grand Master and you a Duke it seems. I don't recall you ever being knighted or of noble blood. Or is that another truth kept hidden from me?"
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

Roland knew that it was coming at some point, and he paused to meet her gaze just when he was going to reach for his own cup of wine. He smirked, just a small wry grin. The same grin he seemed to make when they had first courted.

"I have no official titles, that's true. But I had a friend during our last battle. His name was Braxton. And he knighted me before he died. Gave me his sword, his holdings. He had no family to speak of, no wife, no children. Gave them to me, in an unceremonial way about it. He was a good man," Roland murmured quietly. "I have never been one to throw titles around, but people seemed to respect authority when there's a useful prefix in front of it."

He opened the platter, revealing the chicken and peas and other delicacies in their meal. It wasn't at all any presentation of opulence, for Falkenrath had been nearly bled dry from the war. But what was there was served well, and Roland could appreciate it for what it was worth. "I do admire, you. Even before I came to love you. And I always will. You're strong, and you let nothing hold you back. Your sheer will is a trait of which I envied. I've always loved that about you. And I always will."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

Alanna met his gaze, an answering smile turning up the corners of her own lips. It was impossible to remain stern when his boyish grin had not changed one bit. "I am sorry for your loss," she said and she truly meant it. Regardless of which side they were one everyone lost someone in the war. There were no true victors just an endless sea of bloodshed.

The smell of food peaked her interest though and she smiled gently at the fare. "I'm impressed you could even find vegetables. It seems more and more that no one has any left unless they're on some nobleman's table." She shook her head again and sighed.

"I don't feel strong anymore, Roland. I just feel," she paused to take a sip of her wine, "tired. My soul is tired. When you were well "alive" there was at least the essence of you to cling to. Afterwards there was only the forward momentum of survival. But, a human body cannot live in a survival mode forever. Roland I don't want to do this," she said suddenly, looking up at him with pained eyes. "I don't want to stand opposite you or walk away and know that that may be the last time. I did that once already and I-" her voice cracked as she balled her hand into a fist. "I will not survive it. I was content to know I would most likely not survive the war. Now, now I wish I did not have to keep fighting in it."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

Those last words hung heavy on the air and Roland's shoulders lurched further forward. If anything she might have said had any resonance this night, it would be that. He didn't know how to tell her that he understood exactly how that felt. He didn't know that there were times he sat and stared at the edge of his blade, facing down the point and wanted nothing more than to fall on it.

Roland recalled the sting of her nails, clawing at him, the very anger with which she launched him into the fountain, and there was no doubt in his mind that her feelings weren't true. He only wanted to reach out to her then, draw her in close, wrap arms around her to secure her in the knowledge that he loved her and loved her still.

He gazed back up at her, tempering himself with another sip of wine. "What would have of me, Alanna? What do you want me to do? I never meant for any of this to happen. It simply did. I'm sorry, Alanna. Truly. But I didn't lie when I said that I still loved you. I don't know what that can possibly mean to you now. If it means anything at all. But that is the truth."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

"I," Alanna hesitated a moment before placing her hand on the table palm up and reaching for him. "I don't know. I don't have any answers and I'm not sure there really are any either. What I do know is, is that I never stopped loving you. I never want to stop loving you. But I don't know what to do. I can't...I can't give you up anymore than I can give up Connlaoth. Maybe that makes me weak. I regret becoming the Grand Master now. If I wasn't then," Alanna paused and lowered her voice as walls have ears and she did not need her own words to tie the noose about her throat.

"If I wasn't then turning my back might actually be survivable. This war is not my Connlaoth, Roland. This is not the home we talked of making a family in but there are still some people left who are trying. Both sides think they're right. Both sides want their own way, the right way."

She shook her head, letting the idea go. "You know what I want of you? I want you to live, Roland. I want what I thought was taken from me. I want you to survive through this because you claim my husband is dead but he still lives inside you. That has not changed. You are as you always have been, a good man and the man I love."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

For now the food was forgotten and it was Roland to moved from his seat. The moment her hand reached for him, it was as if by instinct that he moved closer to her, his hand falling with ease into hers and grasping it as if it were the only anchor he could grasp.

"You are not weak. Even in your exhaustion," he said and fell to his knees beside her. His other arm touched the back of her chair lightly. He took her hand and pressed it to his chest, where she'd be able to feel the heaviness of his heart beating wildly. "And I would never ask you to leave your loyalties behind, for me. We are both fighting for the same things, you said it yourself. I want only for people to live in a freed Connlaoth."

He closed his eyes, brow furrowing, expression pained. "And I would only want the same for you. That's all I've ever wanted. I wanted you to live on and find someone deserving of you. I didn't mean to be a burden, I never wanted to hurt you but I did. And that's something I will always carry with me. And I would never demand forgiveness for something so treasonous." He leaned down and kissed the back of her hand, relishing in her warmth for that time being.

"For tonight, let us forget the war. The only thing here is you and I. And that's all that matters."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

Her features softened as he spoke and Alanna found herself reaching out with her free hand to cup his face. "I did find someone deserving," she spoke softly, looking at him with her heart on her sleeve. "That has not changed. When this is all over then we can work out how much the years may have changed us, but not tonight. I will say one more thing of this war, Roland and then I promise to let it go for now. Please, whatever you do, wherever you go, keep your ears to the earth. Run if you must but live for me. Connlaoth needs you alive more than dead. I need you alive," she added more softly.

Pulling his chin up gently, she leaned down to kiss him. This kiss though was so very different than the brutal gnashing of teeth that their first reunion one had been. This was slow and tender in the way true love can be. Alanna clung to him sweetly, remembering the love they had once shared and feeling it rekindled once more in her breast. "I love you still," her words breathed against his lips as her forehead rested against his own. "I love you so much, Roland."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

At her words, the aching in his chest only seemed to swell and as he received the pressure of her kiss, he leaned into her with a faint desperation. Because he didn't know if he could keep that promise. He knew the potential consequences of his actions, that there were limited outcomes as to how this would end.

He didn't dare voice them however, didn't dare level the bridge that had temporarily been constructed between them. So instead Roland leaned into that kiss and wound an arm around her, feeling her breath splayed against him. Roland breathed in her scent, permeating that of the food and wine as he parted her lips, tasted the hollows of her mouth with a sweetened longing.

"I love you, too, Alanna," he murmured between tilts of his head. "I missed you all these years. You are a part of me and always will be."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

She knew that what she asked of him was a lot, perhaps even too much. It was not something she could promise to him anymore than he could for her. Nevertheless she had asked it of him because he had once been her world and she hoped to make him it once more. "You have always held my heart," she replied, combing her fingers through his hair and touching his ears and cheeks with the gentlest of caresses. "I am glad to know you're alive."

Her fingers traced the claw marks she had marred his face with and she pulled back slightly to look at them guiltily. "I'm sorry I hurt you." Alanna's sadness receded slightly though as she chuckled softly. "Seeing you sputtering in a fountain of holy water might have been worth it though. I wish you could have seen your face."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

"Could my ears be deceiving me? Or did you hit me so hard on the head I'm delirious? Surely I didn't just hear Alanna Mercer apologizing for throwing me into a water fountain, did I?" They were questions murmured in jest, and he laughed a little, lips curling into a sweetened smile as she touched him.

"I missed your caresses the most, Alanna," he breathed, sighing. "But really I'm not at all surprised by you vaulting me into that edifice. My only real shock came when that was all you did. Do you remember when we first met? During a training exercise. None of the other recruits dared to face you. Except me because I was so young and foolish. Do you remember what happened after that?"




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

"I make no apologies for that, only for clawing up your already not-so-pretty face," she jested back with an old bit of sparkle in her eyes. She continued to caress his face as if tracing its contours would burn his image into her memory again. "I feared if I did more I'd kill you and that was far from my intentions," she murmured a bit more seriously.

Tugging at his hand she motioned for him to take a seat and pull it close to her. There was no use for him to kneel on the cold stone floor for her sake. "Of course I remember. How could I ever forget when the cocky pipsqueak decided to challenge a Lioness? You challenged, I downed you and then you had the nerve to ask, no demand a drink when you finally got back up. I was sure I had knocked the sense clean out of you."
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Lion

With the chair pulled closer to her, Roland settled down into it and pushed it until their knees were touching. It was a subtle but intimate contact and somehow was easy to fall into. It was natural. There was nothing forced in it and Roland allowed himself to forget that there was still a war going on around them. That there were soldiers of opposing sides awaiting orders in the dining halls.

"Not so pretty face? Have I really aged so terribly?" he replied, chuckling and taking her hand in his, cupping it between his, letting his fingers intertwine for it.  "Pipsqueak? I am two years your younger. You're robbing the cradle, and I'm robbing the grave. I don't know which is worse." 

Roland reached for his cup, bringing it to his lips, taking his time with savoring the taste. "I demanded it. And you...did the wise thing and laughed in my face. But I didn't stop there, did I? I think I must have asked you 10 times before you said yes."




Like to kill mages?  Join the Order!
The Order of St. Agratha

Help Rebuild Connlaoth from the ashes of war!
The Red Legion

Jump in the water's fine!
Desert Valley Nights
Wrong Turn

"Go into battle determined to die and you will survive.  Go into battle hoping to live and surely you shall not." -Bushido proverb
"Life is a series of dogs." -George Carlin
"We must view with profound respect the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge." -Thomas R. Lounsbury
"If a cosmic tree falls in the universal forest and nobody is evolved enough to hear it, does it make a sound?" -Unknown

GoblinFae

"Oh you've aged just fine," she quipped, "just wasn't pretty to begin with." Alanna stuck out her tongue quickly before giving his hand a warm squeeze and leaning more into him. "I do believe it was closer to twenty times. You certainly were persistent. I hoped that if I just said yes you'd eventually sod off. And then we went and there was that brawl. I don't even remember what it was about, do you?"
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]