Author Topic: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman  (Read 4834 times)

MTYL

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Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Topic Start: September 23, 2017, 10:22:20 AM »
That's the first character of which roleplays I record as I go. The "coming of age" story. Mostly short RPs. Lots of not mine RPs and even letters included for the sake of context. If you see your text here and don't want it here let me know I'll fix it.

Other things worth checking:



Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

Having amassed the small contingent of her family retainers, Mistress Jarra decided to grasp her fate in her own - ludicrously small, clad in preposterous blue gauntlets - hands and become Dame Jarra of Athol Margos. Tiny frame of the young lady stepped on the stairs of Seaside Estate, escorted by twenty men outfitted according to fashion chosen by their Mistress. Some of the more battle-weary warriors barely restrained from planting their faces with their beautiful blue gauntlets every time their Lady displayed her limitless naivete and immaturity. This time however they took some pleasure in watching her cocky face radiating with satisfaction at the view from the Seaside Estate.


From Letter of Goriad II Gabanus

We have some new blood, that is good news!

Jarra, tell me one thing, do you like fighting and hunting? I've only recently returned from a good hunting trip down south, managed to snare me some, but I always enjoy some new hunting companions to teach the thrill of the game.

Goriad II Gabanus
Knight of Rines


From Letter of Jarra Bennet

Sir Goriad,

I think I enjoy it. I hunted once a squirrel. I shot it right through the neck with an arrow lunched from a shortbow on my third attempt. I later learnt that my cousin tied it down with a string by the tail so it wouldn't run away, that took most of the fun out of it. But I'm eager to try again.

Jarra Bennet
Dame of Athol Margos


From Orders of Rania Eastersand JeVondair

[...]

Dame Jarra, I bid you welcome to Obia'Syela, my dear. There is much to be done in the Service of the Veiled Goddess and I hope you will prove yourself to be an asset to the faithful and to the realm.

[...]

Rania Eastersand JeVondair
Grandmistress, Grand Inquisitor, Grand Chancellor of Obia'Syela
Royal of Obia'Syela
Duchess of Amen Keffa
Margravine of Rines
Priestess of Heralds of Obeah


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Asset?! Asset?!" - Jarra shouted hysterically towards her captain who hadn't had the opportunity to explain that she's neither her chamber maid nor her scribe - "You believe this Maura? I may be young, I may be inexperienced, but I am a lady, you can't call a lady rear end names!"

"M'Lady" - Maura struggled to talk through the noble girl's most excited jabbering - "that word has nothing to do with your noble behind"

"It doesn't?" - Jarra paused suddenly calm.

"No m'Lady. It means something or someone of worth."

"Oh." - noble girl took a moment to think - "I take it you haven't sent the previous letter?" - Maura just shook her head, so Jarra continued - "Good! Burn it please. Now write another one."

"M'Lady I'm not a scri..." - Jarra didn't let her finish the sentence, dictating loudly:
"Grandmistress, Noble Lords and Ladies..."


Letter from Goriad II Gabanus

Jarra, noone is good at their first attempt, but a willingness to learn is most important of all. Throughout my life I have hunted many things. Gold and slaves when I led one of Talerium's raiding armies into Minas Leon, men themselves, both on and off the battlefield. Many a fool in the colonies laid awake fearing I would hunt them, and for many that turned out to be true. Now on this island we have a lot of monsters and undead to hunt and target, and they posess a unique experience on their own as no single beast is perfectly the same, but they do often share similar flaws.

Join me in kjelegy and I assume we'll march north tonight. Although it will be a battle more in the open, I'll show you how hunting is applied even on and off the battlefield.

Goriad II Gabanus
Knight of Rines


Letter from Jarra Bennet

Sir Goriad,

I am on route to Cjelegy as I write this letter. I am most eager to meet you, from what I hear you're very... I can't even find a proper adjective.

I don't understand what you mean by hunting men, do you mean fighting them on battlefield or do you mean it literally?

Jarra Bennet
Dame of Athol Margos


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Mauuuuraaa..." - calls Dame Jarra - "Mauuura... eek!" - she exclaims startled as she turns around to see ebony black face of her captain.

"Yes m'Lady?" - Maura responds hiding annoyance as best she could.

"Maura, have you seen any loop snares when we were in Rines? Perhaps hidden on a crowded marketplace?" - young lady asks.

"m'Lady?" - puzzled look of the captain clearly sought for clarification, instead Jarra continued:

"Are there even human-sized loop snares?!"
« Last Edit: November 23, 2017, 06:01:06 PM by MTYL »
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #1: September 23, 2017, 10:22:51 AM »
From Roleplay of Goriad II Gabanus

[...]

"As you write the letter, I think I'll be looking for lady Jarra. According to one of the scouts she has arrived. Her banners were spotted a bit south of here near an open plain, joining the main camp. We should teach her not to do that too often Sigmund, she'll make herself a target."

And so Goriad II rode towards Jarra's camp. He was hardly wearing any armor, but was rather dressed in a black cloack, which covered his 3 raiding blades, his throwing knives under his sleaves and a blowpipe just behind his right shoulderblade, with several poisonous darts lightly sown into his collar.  By the time he arrived at her camp he unseated his horse, a proud and loyal beast he brought from Atamara itself. He tapped the horse on his back so he would run towards the camp, which startled the guards, a horse with no rider, and most of the followed the horse. This allowed Goriad II to sneak into the camp to greet Jarra, nearly privately, save from most likely her captain and perhaps 1 or 2 guards. Normally he would have quickly killed the guards, but today he came with good intentions.


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"So you're saying that when the Blue Fist smashes the Daimons or undead, or whatever we're fighting right in the face, they will already be scattered due to many volleys of arrows, and I will be behind the line anyway, so no need to worry, right? Do I follow?" - Jarra asked her captain curiously but then noticed that she's distracted with neighing sounds outside and soon shifts her attention above Jarra's shoulder to the entrance of their tent.

Young Lady swiftly turned around and scanned the visitor with her eyes. It was a cloaked man, roughly twice her age, dressed in dark colours. She then turned back to her captain and said:

"Maura! I told you already not to receive your scouts in my tent! I just had my boots cleaned. Do you know how hard it is to clean the mud off lamb leather?"

"But m'Lady, he's..."
"Yes, I'm sure he's very capable scout, he certainly looks very imposing, but he would be equally capable outside, I believe?" - Jarra cut her off in mid-sentence, but Maura continued persistently:

"M'Lady, what I wanted to say is that he is a nobleman. Sir Goriad II Gabanus, I believe." - to that words Jarra suddenly envied her captain's strong, motionless, dark effigy of a face, for she felt the skin of her own face getting as red as the finest Nothoian wine, radiating heat in the process, and her eyebrows twitching uncontrollably.

"That's preposterous, how would you kn..." - now she didn't get to finish the sentence as her captain cut her off:
"Our scouts don't use horses for the same reason bandits don't use horses - too expensive to purchase and too expensive in upkeep. And certainly neither our scouts not the ones of other Lords would use deception to get into our camp, common men get beheaded for such tricks. Altough not of the finest silk, the cloak of our guest is very well made and dark, inconspicuous clothes for a noble who wants to travel all by his lonesome are much better choice than a blue dress..." - saying that Maura looked at her lady making sure that she didn't caught the allusion and continued - "As for the precise identity of our noble guest - only Sir Gedrid and Sir Goriad are roughly that age, and Sir Gedrid is presently in Avengmil. It's all common knowledge to noble commanders and their captains." - saying that, Maura bowed slightly towards Sir Goriad II and finally let go of the hilt of her scimtar, making Jarra realise that she was ready to unsheathe it the second she heard the horse outside.

Young Lady exhaled, still facing away from Sir Goriad and after a couple long seconds turned to face him:

"Sir Goriad. How splendid to finally meet you in person. Your letters suggested that you'ra a rather extraordinary person, but I failed to imagine quite how extraordinary in fact. Please take a seat."
Jarra waved around and shouted some commands, having wine, cheese and fresh fruits fetched, while Maura had guards posted outside the tent, leaving her lady and her guest to their privacy.


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

Goriad II looked amusingly as the young lady and her captain went back and forth, untill Jarra too understood who he was and she welcomed him, offering him a seat. "Goriad is my father," he said just as the captain left "but she's a keeper you know, not all captains have their whits about them I can tell you that," he continued with a smile, but rather than to sit down he walked towards Jarra, looked her in the eye for a moment and then walked around her in a circle, examining every part of the young lady, her perfectly clean boots, her fine clothes and a relatively tall length for a women, making her about as tall as himself, but he could spot no weapons. Jarra was still nervous and the twitching of her eyebrows had yet to stop and Goriad II walking around her, closely, no doubt did not aid in putting her at ease.

He had been silent for a while as he examined her and then suddenly made a sound "Allow me, milady" he said as he approached her from behind and took her hair in his hands. Jarra was nearly frozen, but Goriad II made no further inappropriate moves, but only put up her hair. He placed one hair pin after the other in Jarra's beautiful fawny hair, untill he had created a nearly perfect knot, held up by an array of about fifteen hairpins which were shaped in a nearly perfect circle. As Goriad II finished he walked towards the chair she had offered him and he sat down. As he had taken his seat, he pulled out a throwing knife from his sleeve and held it in the hair "Now for step 2, let's teach you how to use them."

Jarra had a confused look on her face and was entirely obblivious to what Goriad II in reality had actually done. She felt her hair, and touched the hairpins and no doubt wondered why this strange noblemen had just spent two minutes redoing her hair, her beautiful hair. "Hehe, that's one of my sister's tricks, few if any will know of it," he continued as he leaned back "No guard will touch such a beautiful noble lady like yourself, especially with those rediculous fancy blue gauntlets and you are showing everything, meaning there are no places for you to hide weapons, none will search you and so none will ever suspect you to bring 15 throwing knives with you, now will they?"


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

Jarra looked as Goriad II circled her watching her intently. Is he trying to charm me or take a measure of me - she thought. For a lingering moment she felt like a riddle someone's puzzling over, and she couldn't help but glance several times at her curious guest. He was not classically handsome but you couldn't say that he's ugly either. Certainly he had manly features, what with his nose clearly being at the wrong end of a clout more than once, his rough hair and those sapphires of eyes looking right through her.

Don't be quiet girl, you're making a fool of yourself, look at him, this man is a warrior, he's not here to do your hair, he clearly came here to talk about strategy and war, and battles, and swords, and pikes, and perches, and trouts, and... n-not the trou...

"Allow me, milady" said Goraid II - interrupting her stream of thoughts and taking a hold of her hair - as she frozen completely dumbfounded. After a couple of minutes Jarra felt her hair heavier than usually, much heavier. She heard him saying about learning how to use them - this man must be insane, I don't need to know how to use hairpins, my servants do my hair for me, and as it appears sometimes mysterious knights do my hair for me, but I... she felt her hair and found very slim but surprisingly comfortable handles, more than dozen of them. She looked at the knife Sir Goriad II held and immediately understood. Jactosh's heel! I have whole armory on my head! - she was unsure if she hadn't said that out loud, she couldn't tell from her guest's reaction. He laughed briefly and said:

"... that's one of my sister's tricks, few if any will know of it. No guard will touch such a beautiful noble lady like yourself, especially with those ridiculous fancy blue gauntlets..." - she looked at her gauntlets, I won't take fashion advices from a men in black cloak - she thought as Goriad II continued - "... and you are showing everything, meaning there are no places for you to hide weapons, none will search you and so none will ever suspect you to bring 15 throwing knives with you, now will they?"

She took a brief while to ponder.

"So..." - she reinforced her pose and made the best attempt of appearing completely unsurprised - "so I assume you're going to teach me how to handle those knifes, -ehm, daggers? I have to warn you, I'm not completely green, I've watched Maura train the other day and I know just how t- HYA!" - she attempted to slide one of the blades out of her hair and point it at the cloaked knight with a preposterous battle shout, but she just slipped her fingers off the blade instead of handle and ended up cutting her fingers and almost hitting Goriad in the face. Her confident look immediately slipped off her face as her cheeks started radiating red colour once again. She could barely hear one of the guards through the embarrassment - "M'Lady, are you allright?!"

"I'm fine!" - she shouted at her guard and sucked at her finger to stop the bleeding. She then turned to Goriad II - "Sir Goriad, I don't believe there's much to be hunted in field tents. I think we should better continue it somewhere more private. Maura says we should be breaking camp before long, won't you invite me to accompany you during the travel?"


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

"so I assume you're going to teach me how to handle those knifes, -ehm, daggers? I have to warn you, I'm not completely green, I've watched Maura train the other day and I know just how t- HYA!"

Goriad II made a quick movement as a simple reflex and blocked Jarra's attack with his left hand while with his right hand he quickly drew a small pointy dagger from his waste, but managed to stay his hand about half way through the motion, realizing he was not at risk here. Before Goriad II could say a word however a shouting from the guard came and the reply from Jarra "I'm Fine!" she yelled after which she sucked her finger as she apparently cut herself.

He chuckled a bit, a thing he did not do often, but this mix of ladylike innocence, the blushing and the failed attempt to impress him were quite amusing to him. The chuckle lasted for a couple of seconds during which Jarra attempted to change the conversation ""Sir Goriad, I don't believe there's much to be hunted in field tents. I think we should better continue it somewhere more private. Maura says we should be breaking camp before long, won't you invite me to accompany you during the travel?" Once she finished he stood up, kneeled in front of the young lady and took her hand. He sucked out the last bit of blood from her finger before he tore a small piece of cloth from his undergarment and placed it around her finger.

He chuckled again, "You'll cut yourself a few more times. If you're afraid to do so then hunting is no matter for you," and he stood up and lifted up his shirt, showing a scar which ran from just below his shoulder all the way to his stomach "often it's someone else however trying to cut you." He smiled again as he thought back to the battle the got him the scar.

"It would be my pleasure if you would accompany me, but would Maura let you leave with such a dangerous man as myself?" he said as he smiled again, it seemed he was in an unusual good mood, a thing he did not quite notice, but Sigmund had. Sigmund had followed him to the camp a bit later as several letters arrived, including two from Vahanian, but upon hearing his master chuckle he decided it was best not to sour the mood with such matters, by now he knew better. And so he waited a bit outside together with Maura, who knows what they were talking about, but when Goriad II and Jarra walked outside the tent he greeted his Lord and informed him that the men were ready for travel. "Good Sigmund, if Maura will allow us, I will take Lady Jarra ahead of the army for a short while."
« Last Edit: September 23, 2017, 10:25:54 AM by MTYL »
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #2: October 21, 2017, 12:19:20 AM »
- FINALLY! - --- - stuff's in chronological order - how events unfolded one after another and when they happened not how roleplays were sent and submited -

Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"It would be my pleasure if you would accompany me..." - Sir Goriad II replied - "... but would Maura let you leave with such a dangerous man as myself?"

"Ah, Sir Goriad, perhaps you were a dangerous man half an hour ago, but now I believe most of your weapons are in my hair knot." - saying that Jarra giggled kindheartedly and quickly escaped the tent, looking back to ensure Goriad II follows her out. Outside she noticed that Maura was accompanied by a man, who promptly indicated that he's Goriad's captain and after receiving a brief report, Goriad II informed his captain:

"Good Sigmund, if Maura will allow us, I will take Lady Jarra ahead of the army for a short while."

Maura looked at them for a while gathering words and started saying: "M'Lady I don't think..."

"Oh, but you do..." - she was interrupted by Jarra - "... you do think quite a lot. Mostly about keeping my men in line and ensuring my safety, which I appreciate, but it's highly unlikely that Sir Goriad would plot to do me harm while on route frequented by our entire army. Shush now!" - Jarra concluded seeing Maura raising a finger. Her captain just said:

"Beautiful haircut m'Lady... is it new?"

With that Jarra whistled audibly and not a couple of minutes later a magnificent, white destrier of unparalleled sized was brought by a short boy in preposterously oversized chainmail and blue gauntlets. It looked as if a punt was towing a longship.
With one swift jump Jarra mounted the horse and turned to Goriad II with reinforced poise, saying:

"Shall we?"


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

Few were the books and scrolls but many were the faithfull. Scarce was the stained glass, statues and decorations - spirit and piety were abundant. How strange is this temple - Jarra thought - how unlike the ones I've seen before. She felt not the true calling, she was unsure if she'd recognise the true calling if she felt it but she was certain that the fiery zeal of the Inquisition and pious devotion of the Heralds were not what she felt. Neither could she compare the disposition of her heart with the blazing flames of extatic crowd she saw in front of the temple nor with the smoldering embers of those she noticed meditating silently in the corners.
It may have been ambition that brought her to Beluaterra, it was apetite for adventure that brought her to Athol Margos; was it the need to fit in that led her inside this temple? Was it her purpose when she decided to join the Heralds? Certainly! But it wasn't her sole purpose. She did felt the need to define a cause and goal of her existence, and not just one of this hideously carneous plane but one of more etheral and perennial nature as well. And she felt it long before she entered the temple in Rines. "Feeling comes with understanding, not the other way around" - she recalled one of the very few lessons her cousin ever gave her.

Standing before the administrative clerk of the church with enormous tome of names in front of her certainly wasn't the way she dreamed of becoming a believer, yet her shy nature prevented her from asking for a private audience with the Oracle. Given name, family name, origin; given name, family name, origin; given name, family name, origin... Many rows had empty place in the middle column, those were mostly scribbled with crooked letters. The rows that had all position filled in were calligraphed beautifully.

"This is the register of faithfull, tome 11th, m'Lady. To officially become a Herald you need to have your name written in the register, though many nobles don't bother to do it personally. Then you will need to swear to serve Obeah, embrace her magic and renounce daimons and all things evil. Her Holiness haven't blessed us with official statement of faith yet, so you'll need to speak in your own words. It's intention that matters."

Jarra took the quill and wrote "Jarra Bennet, Flowrestown, Dwillight" then glanced as her captain scribbled clumsily "Maura, Desert of Sillhouettes, Dwillight" leaving the family name column empty.

"Now" - she said, looking at the tiny collection of scrolls she noticed in the temple - "where can I learn more of the Obeah?"


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Now" - Jarra said, looking at the tiny collection of scrolls she noticed in the temple - "where can I learn more of the Obeah?"

The official just shrugged and pointed towards a small wooden stand where a short, bald scholar was copying one of the scrolls. Young lady thanked the official and made her way towards the strange scholar, who greeted her with a frown, clearly displeased that anyone weans him away from his work.

"I wish to learn of Obeah, brother..." - she asked and hearing him mumbling out his name incomprehensibly, she asked him to repeat.
"Imra, it's Imra. And I wish a lot as well! Fresh batch of parchment would be nice and a competent apprent..." - the scholar kept reciting things he would've wished in a half-mocking, half-ranting tone, clearly not intimidated by the noble lady, perhaps he himself was of some lower unknown noble family. When he finally finished Jarra enquired again:
"Brother Imra, what would one have to do to further himself on the path of enlightment?"
"Read the holy scrolls! Our most holy Sermon in Keffa in particular, listen to each word that comes out of Oracle's mouth or from under her quill and pray to Obeah! Meditate, practice magic. Anything that comes from or aims at what lies outside of this mortal plane is a beacon for the Veiled Goddess, practiced in her name and for her grace it brings Her closer to us and us closer to Her." - he replied barely interrupting his work and continued to mumble words as he wrote them - "... Obeah's Heaven, is to be made a place of worship and faith, of magic and study..."

Jarra pondered a bit and exclaimed while taking the scroll he was making a copy of from the wooden stand - "So to further my understanding of the one true goddess I need to read this... Sermon in Kaffa and practice magic in hope for epiphany?"
"Keffa! Sermon in Keffa!" - the scholar replied annoyed and took the scroll back - "And no - there is no one true goddess, many powerful dieties from outside of this mortal plane can be called gods as examplified by misguided followers of Daishi or heretics of the portal. There is but one right goddess. None of the other dieties has both the power and the will to deliver us from the tyranny of the Netherworlds. The Netherworlds is hell brought to earth and Obeah, and Obeah alone can slam the gates of hell on the archdaimon's face! It is up to us to accept her generous gift."

Jarra took on of the scrolls from the side and noticed that on the back-side of each scroll the scholar written several verses, those words she recognized, every believer she met prayed with these words. She read them out loud:

"Obeah guide us. Obeah teach us.
Obeah protect us. Obeah deliver us.
In your light we thrive.
In your mercy we are sheltered.
In your wisdom we are humbled.
We live only to serve. Our lives are yours."


She found beauty in those words and smiled at brother Imra - "I shall repeat it every morning."

"Evening." - the scholar thrown in.
"Excuse me?"
"The veil is at it's weakest during the night. Should we guide enough mystical forces towards the Veiled Goddess she's most likely to pierce the veil in the evening." - he replied.
"But shouldn't the goddess be all-powerful? Why wouldn't she pierce the veil on a whim and at any time she chooses?" - Jarra enquired.
"What would an all-powerful diety need followers for? What would be the purpose of faith and religion if it was all meaningless to ominpotent entity?"
"So she isn't all-powerful?" - Jarra poked the air with her finger as she tried to poke the scholar's reply, but to that brother Imra reacted with a mischievious smile and said - "Why do you assume that it can only be one way or the other? For all we know she may not be all-powerful at the moment, for there may be things she cannot achieve at the moment but if at any moment in time she was or will be all-powerful then her perception may well be - and likely is - unlike anything we can comprehend, perception of time in particular! Being fully aware of the flow of events in her history as they happen one after another, wether designed or merely accepted by her they are still what she choses. As such any event that occurs to anything that concerns the Veiled Goddess occurs with her acceptance and is thus by definition inevitable. Is she grand architect reliving her history in our presence, gently guiding the reality as it is to her own ultimate goal? Is she benevolent but not infinitely powerful being of another plane choosing our deliverance from evil for her passtime? Is she either? IT DOESN'T MATTER!" - he shouted - "It's meaningless to us. The nature of a diety is beyond our capacity for understanding. Mundane creatures pondering the essence of an absolute diety resemble rats pondering the grand designs of an architect - they're simply unable to! We shouldn't focus on what Obeah is in essence, for that would be unavailling effort; we should merely focus on what she is to us and what are we to her. Exactly as rats can't guess the grand design of an architect but it's architect's decisions that enable rats to poke holes through one wall and not through the other." - his self-satisfied smile slowly slipped off his face as he noticed the shiny eyes and held-back yawn slowly forming on Jarra's face.

"You lost me at perception of... did you just compared us to rats?" - she asked. Brother Imra sighed and started waving the scroll he just finished copying in air to help the ink dry. Afterwards he handed Jarra the scroll and said:

"This is what you seek, young lady, it's the first truth Obeah revealed to our holliest Oracle, it will teach you not only of what Obeah is to you and what you should be to Obeah but also many hidden truths about the nature of the magic and relations between our mortal plane and the plane or planes Obeah and wretched daimons come from."

She took the scroll and read several sentences inaudibly:

Obeah is a goddess of Magic. The Heralds believe that life itself is magic, and that humans, unique in all Creation, can channel the power that is their very existence to other planes, and draw power from these planes, in the form of magic. Even among Daimonkind, only their greatest are able to cast even the least of spells, with the rest of their souless legions being little better than...

"So which is it?" - she asked rolling the scroll and hiding it in her cloak. Seeing puzzled look on Imra's face she clarified: "Plane or planes?"

The scholar shrugged and pointed at one of the books near the altar saying "Perhaps one day that truth will be revealed to us."

Jarra thanked for the scroll and bidding her farewell walked over to the book Imra pointed. She read the letters etched on the cover - the Book of Mysteries. She took a quill and penned down:

"In our holy writings mortal plane and a plane other than mortal plane are mentioned. Somewhere else infernal plane is mentioned. Are those the same? Does Obeah come from the same non-mortal plane as Daimons, or from another one? How many are there?" - she pondered for a while and added - "Has Velied Goddess corssed paths with Daimons before? Is that the reason for their enmity to eachother?" - and happily underscored both questions.
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #3: October 21, 2017, 12:21:11 AM »
Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

Jarra sat in her room flipping a small blade in her fingers, less and less clumsily each time. The room was not much, as was the hut her captain requisitioned from some local peasants when she got injured. It was certainly better than the tent. She immediately rubbed the little star on the side of her forehead and went back to that battle in Avengmil with her memories - her first battle scar.

The seven feet tall beastman, covered in fur, limping from the vicious blow of Maura's scimtar, left behind the line of her infantry unit, assumed to be dying... she then felt so adventurous - what wrong could happen, he's facing away from me and is already dying - she took an enormous swing with her pernach, jumping a bit in the process and heard someone shouting "NO!" - whose voice was that? - she thought as she saw her mace flying right back at her face after bouncing off the thick hide of the beastman that apparently decided to posture up just as the pernach was about to hit him. Afterwards she only recalled blue sky, beastman's head flying somewhere above her, some arms picking her up and then darkness.

The reverie was interrupted by Maura entering the room. After some routine reports Jarra asked about Goriad II, who was now a Lord of Ajitmon and Marshal of Inquisition. Upon learning that he's still unconscious and reminding herself that it was her mistake that cause his injury she enquired:

"Do tell, dear Maura, are there any scattered groups of those beastmen still in Avengmil?"

"We've counted signs of presence of four small groups m'Lady, as soon as they stop hiding our army will dispatch them with easy." - Maura replied.

"That won't be neccessary. Ready our men, fetch my horse, we're moving out."

"M'Lady?" - Maura asked, looking at her lady's forehead as if trying to decide if she's still a bit shaken from the injury.

"Akkan's tongue Maura! It's not alchemy, we outnumber them ten to one. Have our scout track the beasts, we'll improvise from there."

"Yes m'Lady."

Maura departed as Jarra hid the small blade back in her hair-knot. It looked neither as neat nor as insconspicuous as the first time because the trick wasn't as easy to apply as it seemed but it was constantly improving.


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

Goriad II woke up once more this morning and the pain had been much lessened since he was first struck by the beast. As he had ordered his men to advance, he suddenly noticed they were alone and as he looked back to see where the banner of Jarra had been the two units clashed and Goriad II was not paying his usual attention. As his men did as instructed and opened up their ranks to lure in the beasts and cut them a thousand tiny cuts, their lord did not move as his attention had been towards the back. A giant creature, which looked like the mix of a wild boar and a grizzly marched one of its tusks at Goriad II. He turned around too late and was hit in the side and while he managed to ultimately kill the beast with some well placed strikes, he was bleeding badly. As his men heard his cursing mixed with a scream, they turned around and took their Lord of the battlefield who fell unconcious around half way in the retreat.

He sat up in his bed as he called in Sigmund "Get me Jarra in here, now!" His captain wanted to question his master's orders as he had just only come by, was half naked with his wound wrapped in cloth, but he dared not say a thing. "Get him cleaned up," Sigmund said against some of the soldiers, but his master countered his orders "No, I want to see her the consequences of failure of following orders. It's best to learn it young as we did, don't you think?"


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

Jarra was just reading the scroll with Sermon in Keffa when a heavy knock on the doors was heard. She turned her attention to the entrance and when it opened two infantrymen could be seen, not ones of her own - this much she could tell by the lack of blue gauntlets. She turned her attention back to the reading at hand and after a short while her captain indicated that those men were Forest Hunters and forwarded a message that Lord Goriad II is requesting her presence.

Jarra's reaction was ambivalent, on one hand Lord Goriad was trully extraordinary and after events in Melegra and on their way to Ajitmon she was certain that if there was adventure to be had in these wild lands, there's neither better nor safer place to have it than close to this inconspicuous noble hunter; on the other hand however she was certain that the man didn't became who he became by exercising forgiveness and mercy, and she did cost him a pound of flesh. Was it a misplaced letter or a misunderstood order? She couldn't recall, perhaps it was all because of her own injury - she pondered, rubbing the little red star on the left side of her forehead.

There's no point in guessing with that man, he could call me to rearrange my hairstyle for all I know - she thought to herself immediately moving her hand over to the "hairpins" in her hair-knot, even though fewer than originally they still weren't so neatly arranged.

After half an hour of dressing up and making arrangements she stormed out her hut and not a minute later she was already mounting her magnificent destrier. Silly choice - most would think - for someone so poorly armoured, courser would be much more suitable. But ever since her adolescence in Fatexna she had a way with beasts and whatever natural advantage she possessed she was never shy to use it, so she took the strongest, fiercest, most ferocious beast she could find.

On her way to Goriad's camp she encountered Maura and a dozen of her men escorting several peasants. Two of her men she noticed hauling firewood behind the squad, another two carrying big wooden logs. One of the captive peasants was shouting:

"No tribute to false idols! No tribute to false lords!
The true lord comes from the portal
to visit mortal plane
true lord really is immortal
his power never wanes!
NO OBEAH, NO OBEAH!"

Jarra stopped to enquire about the scene:

"Heretics?" - she asked and Maura nodded in response - "What will happen to them?"

"They will be sternly reprimanded." - Maura replied - "Most of them will have to pay fine, double taxation. The most vocal one will be flogged."

Jarra seemed satisfied and continued towards Goriad's camp, deliberating - why would my men carry the firewood? Why wouldn't they have the peasants carry it for them as part of the punishment? Oh, nevermind, it's not even that cold tonight.

Upon arriving young Lady was met by Sigmund, who had apologetic face while motioning towards his Lord's quarters, she couldn't understand why untill she entered... whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that.

During the long silent seconds Jarra's eyes opened as wide as her facial features allowed. Her slightly opened mouth wanted to form a proper greeting but could only mutter out:

"L-Lord Goriad..."


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

Goriad II was sitting upright in his bed, giving orders to servants, soldiers and going through the great many letters he had received untill he heard several men approaching and entering the tent, bringing Jarra with them. She was well dressed as usual, but also had some of his 'pins' in her hair, fewer than he had given her, and not as neat, but she war them. ""L-Lord Goriad..." she finally muttered, before she went silent again.

"Jarra, just the one I was waiting for," he said with a sly smile as he ordered everyone else to leave the tent "Sigmund, none enters, do you understand?"

He got up from the bed, grunting from visible pain but still he got up. As it was summer he only had some cloths on that would resemble a medium sized under garments, although for some reason he was wearing light armor covering up his thighs and also his forearms, although he wore no further clothing on his upper body, just the pads with wolven ornaments.

"The consequences of failure are dire Jarra," he said as he now follow had stood up "I want you to understand that," and Jarra looked quite concerned as she didn't know what exactly Goriad II was capable of and would do. He then placed his hand on his bandages and tore them of in a single yank. Blood started to seep through the wound once more, although it was further covered in herbs as well. "A single failure of an inquisitor, can be the death of another," he said, now smiling. "I was looking back to see where you were and let this bastard surprise me, but they can't kill me this easily."

He placed his hand on his wound, taking up the blood seeping through it on his hand and ensured his entire hand was covered. He then moved to Jarra, placed his two hands on the sides of her head and said "Do you understand the consequences of failure?" As he released her, the right side of her head, her cheak and all, were now covered in a single bloody handprint.

Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"The consequences of failure are dire Jarra," Goriad II said as he stood up from his bed "I want you to understand that," - what does he mean - Jarra thought watching him walk towards her. He then placed his hand on his bandages and tore them of in a single yank. At the sight of uncovered wound Jarra went a bit dizzy but she swiftly came back to her senses when Goriad placed his hand on his wound, taking up the blood seeping through it on his hand, ensuring his entire hand was covered. He then moved to Jarra, placed his two hands on the sides of her head and said "Do you understand the consequences of failure?" - the metallic taste of his blood found it's way to her mouth, it was soured with herbs. Her mind was blank, single out-of-context thought that went through her mind was that it's curious how in shocking moments like this one all narrative in your head stops and gives place to a deeper and much less loquacious part of your self. As he released her, the right side of her head and her cheak were now covered in a single bloody handprint.

It took her a while to shake off the initial shock and when she did the question her host asked out loud was still present in his stare. "I-I d..." - she stuttered trying to answer, quickly she closed her eyes and clenched her teeth - "I do." - she repeated in calm voice. Seeing the wild, feral flash in his eyes she instinctively wanted to step back but fought off the impulse. "My unit will join you in line from now on. I can't say what really happened last time, I was recently injured..." - she motioned towards the little star-shaped cicatrizing wound on the left side of her forehead, and mid-motion her finger caught on one of her 'hairpins', when a silly notion crossed her mind - pointless, you silly girl, this may well be the second best warrior you ever met  - she thought to herself waving the tought away and continuing - "... the monster group that injured you, I've ordered my men to form hunting parties, I've led one of them myself, the beasts are all dead. One of them would make an astonishing winter-coat, I tell you." - she laughed studying the reaction of the... half-naked huntsman lord before her, however hard it was for her. Is he suppresing a smirk? - she thought, suddenly outraged and narrowing her eyes she pointed towards the long scar going over his chest - "This one, whatever caused it, looks much worse than the other. Mind to share the story?"


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

"the monster group that injured you, I've ordered my men to form hunting parties, I've led one of them myself, the beasts are all dead. One of them would make an astonishing winter-coat, I tell you." Jarra said to him and Goriad II could not help but imagine how her blue puppets were busy slaying the beast, making loud noises while 'sneaking' up on their enemies. "This one, whatever caused it, looks much worse than the other. Mind to share the story?"

Goriad II's eyes narrowed a bit "Then where is my astonishing coat Jarra?" he said with a very slight smile on his face "And this one, it was a short battle, I think I was only 11 or so when that piece of !@#$ thought I wasn't studying my military strategies hard enough. He was perhaps the greatest swordsmen of that time and the coward self proclaimed warrior King thought it a good idea to fight a boy to teach him a lesson!"  and after Goriad II spoke these words they were both silent for a while untill gave a small pinch to Jarra's cheeck "A good thing I'm a more lenient teacher isn't it"
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #4: October 21, 2017, 12:21:25 AM »



Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Why would my liege only mention Goriad's eagerness?! I was wounded too!" - Jarra complained while laying in her bed at her beautiful Seaside Estate, licking wounds and having letters read to her by Maura.

"But it wasn't eagerness that got you wounded."

"What was that?" - Jarra enquired about Maura's inaudible comment.

"Nothing, m'Lady."

Jarra went back with her mind to the battle of Athol Margos:

The hordes were enormous and closing in on the archers when "ADVANCE!" - she heard and saw her infantrymen clench the handles of their shields and shafts of their spears with their preposterous blue gauntlets. The infantry wall was growing thiner and thiner as she looked on in horror at the disfigured animated corpses breaking through; one of them was different though. She took a closer look and saw that this particular animated deadman was absurdly dressed, he had a cloak made of the finest silk but dirty and torn in several places, boots of a peasant, blue braids on the sides of his rotting head and a battered leather armour with most ludicrous inscription on the chest: "If you found this armor without it's occupant, please return it to the most handsome unconscious naked man you'll find nearby. Thanks. -VM". She barely finished reading and felt a dazing blow to the back of her head. Melodic voice saying "stupid child!" filled the darkness that ensued after.



Continued Roleplays of:

Jarra Bennet...



Sounds of metal clanging on metal pierced the ears - whatever does he think - steel clanged again - I'm not one of his soldiers, I'm a noble lady - and again - I'm going to show just WHAA... - Jarra landed flat on her ass with Maura standing above her, lowering her scimtar.

"M'Lady, are you certain that's wise? I can't see what would you need that for." - Jarra's captain offered her hand - "Perhaps you could take a break. We can resume training after dawn."

Altough Maura knew her lady's stubbornness, the new scroll with written history of the first days of the Heralds of Obeah just arrived from temple in Rines, compliments of brother Imra. Jarra hesitantly complied and not an hour later she had her nose burried in the ink-scented parchments. It was already well after dusk when Maura led one of the Forest Hunters into the room: "My Lord Goriad II requests your presence, Lady Jarra." - he said, bowing slightly.
Of course he does - Jarra thought and said - "Tomorrow I move out to Rines, as per orders... his orders. Tell him I'll be... " - she looked to Maura and recalled their last meeting - "Tell him we'll be joining him tonight. Wait! On the second thought, we'll arrive there before you, so I'll tell him myself." - she stormed out the door just as she stood, without overcoat, and with scroll still in her hand.


... and Goriad Gabanus


When Jarra arrived at Goriad II's camp he had only be warned of her approach just before she arrived by one of his scouts and as such he only had time to walk out of the tent when she arrived "Jarra, perfect timing,"  he said "Maura, please go with Sigmund, he'll make sure you have something to drink this night. Jarra, you with me"  he said, but when she dismounted her horse he suddenly noticed the scroll. "Ah you have some news for me, good, what is it?" he said as he pointed towards the scroll further inviting her in.

Jarra explained his error, that it was not a message but in stead a scroll of the faith. "I see,"  he replied, "Much of that is quite clear and can even be considered with logic only, while some of it requires faith and trust in the experiences of others. Why do you have that scroll, do you ponder some questions then?"


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Much of that is quite clear and can even be considered with logic only, while some of it requires faith and trust in the experiences of others. Why do you have that scroll, do you ponder some questions then?" - Goriad II said pointing at Jarra's scroll.

"Oh that?" - she replied - "Oh no, that's only historical. History of the Founding of Heralds. Tells of the great battle between our Oracle and Akkan, and daimons' smithing by Obeah. There is the inaugural speech for the Veiled Goddess and her Heralds here as well. Do you think it really happened like it's written? With the overlord Akkan and enthralled daimons, and the crowd, and Her Holiness indecent, and..." - she noticed Goriad half-amused half-annoyed - "Forgive the zeal. Feeling comes with understanding, not the other way around. I have a beautiful copy of Sermon in Keffa back in my place, if you'd like to talk about Veiled Goddess, I can go and fetch it." - she grabbed her destrier by the mane and the beast neighed, but Lord Goriad stopped her mid-motion and she returned her hand.

"There is much I still don't know. Before I came to Obia'Syela I only knew reading, riding and broiding." - she said looking at her host expectantly and handed him the scroll.


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

"There is much I still don't know. Before I came to Obia'Syela I only knew reading, riding and broiding." Goriad II escorted Jarra further into his camp, leading her away from her horse "I have a copy of that scroll with me as well. I have no reason to doubt Lady Rania would lie much, so assume the majority of that sermon is truth. Magic is strong here, but never forget the power of the sword as well or you will be dead before you found the strength of magic."

Rather than leading her to his tent and his scrolls however, Goriad II was leading Jarra away from his camp and into the treelines "Do you see these trees? They do not grow anywhere on the colonies, I know because I've been everywhere on that forsaken island, nowhere! But in the lands of Atamara they were as abundant as here," he paused for a moment "While much of this island is the same as my homeland's, there are clear differences to it. Here the daemons invaded the human world seven times now, on Atamara we did not even believe they existed, none had ever seen them. Imagine that!"

He kneeled down, took a small dagger and carefully plucked some flowers "These were my favorite back home," he said as he held the flowers near Jarra, but as she went to reach for them he took them back "Painfully poisonous of course if you know how to process them. If you boil the stem for about an hour with some stomach acids from a human the heat and acids will cause an interesting reaction with the plant and it will create a most deadly and painful poison. All you have to do then is extract it from the stem. As I said, all here is as I remember it, but here our north stops at Melegra, here many of the great southern cities are no longer here, swallowed by the ocean, all the consequences of the deamon invasions from what I've read."

He smiled for a moment as he placed the flowers in a bag "There is something about this part of the world that the daemons come here but nowhere else. Here the veil to the Netherworld is weakest. The rest is simple logic as well. We know there is another world, for it is where these daemons keep coming to strike at us, even if we kill and banish them from our world, there will come a time when they return in strength again, when the veil is at its weakest again. It is only logical that if there is one other world, that there will be others as well, such as that of Obeah. We also know that the deamons demand human worshippers and that this not only strengthens them, but also weakens the veil that keeps them in their world. So we know that the human worship to these deamons opens the way for them to come to us and thus we cannot doubt that the same will work for Obeah. If enough of us pray for her coming and weaken the veil to her world rather than to that of the Netherworld, she will come and only she will solve the issue of the deamons for all times. Her power will strengthen the veil to the Netherworld and will close their path to our world for all times. An alliance between our world and hers, to cast off the Netherworld foregood."

He looked up for a moment "You see, it is not only faith, much of our faith to Obeah is simply logic and logic cannot be refuted. The faith aspect is that we must trust Lady Rania on her world of the presence of Obeah she felt and the events in Keffa, but so many people have seen it and she swears it, who are we then to doubt it still?"





Letter from Jarra Bennet
Message sent to all members of the Inquisition

Towards Rueffillo! Correct? Did I guessed right? Richest non-city region adjacent to Ardmore. We should loot there, should we not? I feel so wise now I could command this army! Make way for Jarra, the wisest lady of them all!

Jarra Bennet
Steward of Athol Margos


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Maura, don't tell me you penned down all I said?" - Maura just nodded at her lady - "And you sent it already?" - she nodded again - "Obeah have mercy!"


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"What on earth is this?!" - Jarra's shrill shout echoed in her tent when she heard Maura reading the recent letters out loud. - "I have been scared for my life at least three times in Lord Goriad's presence and me he actually likes... I think. Poor old Vahanian will get himself killed! That would be a shame! Such a stately Lord. He never told us a story by the fireplace about how it was in the old times."

"I don't think that would ever happen either way. Besides - it's just to the first blood." - said Maura but Jarra just waved her finger saying - "You know well enough that with Goriad first blood might as well be the last one."

She let herself think for a while and finally said - "Get your quill out Maura, we'll save our nestor Marshal."


Letter from Jarra Bennet
message to all nobles of Obia'Syela

Lord Marshal Vahanian,


My liege Margrave Erheas has the authority to forbid whatever he choses to forbid. As the Grand Templar he has the sovereign rule over all the armies of Obia'Syela with mandate given to him by Obeah herself through Her Oracle Rania Eastersand. That is how I learnt things are in Obia'Syela when I arrived. Has anything changed since them? Can your direct superior be questioned on a whim now?

And I believe Grandmistress mentioned the academy, not the sands of any type. I believe academies have firmed ground, so you would have to bring the sand with you... Athol Margos has beautiful beaches! Sand is the perfect shade of creme'ish beige there. Worry not, my Lord - lapses in memory such as this one should be forgiven to people of your age, so I don't don't think anyone will hold it against you. You can still chose to come to the beach in my Seaside Estate instead of the dueling grounds, I'm sure the former is much safer. If you can keep a secret I can show you a secret passtime to be had there. It's a little bit unbefitting a noble but it's still very fun!


Kindly,

Jarra Bennet
Steward of Athol Margos
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #5: November 23, 2017, 05:26:04 PM »
Lost the ones I've had on the Maya visit to Avengmil, so this is shamelessly taken from Goriad II RP thread. Sorry John. :P


Quote
The arrival of Empress Maya of the Shatttered Vales

All day servants had been running around in the Lord's estate in Avengmil. Farmers brought in additional food for a feast, servants running around with the decorations. Goriad II had even ordered a group of peasantry to make a flag resembling the family crest of the Tandaros family, a serpent mingled in itself with black and purple. It had been finished just in time and he had it hang behind the head of the table and placed the Gabanus family flag next to it, the Wolf, as he often saw himself as well. It was perhaps the only part of the Gabanus family which he truly liked, the only sense of belonging to what destroyed his childhood.

The dining hall in Avengmil had not yet been used under Goriad II's rule and for a long time people wondered why he had it built in the first place, but as they finished with the preparation it actually looked like a proper hall. Jarra had joined him some time ago and seemed to be in her element, much more than Goriad II. She had brought him a present, a set of blue gauntlets to which she was met with a rather surprised look from Goriad II. Normally he would have scolded anyone who did that, but for some reason he did not wish to offend Jarra and her gift. "Jarra, I do have gauntlets, I just chose not to wear them. I made the mistake of growing arrogant and misunderestimated my opponent, a mistake you can never make. My wound should have never been visible to start with, the old man has more spirit than it seemed. But I think they would look beautiful on Sigmund,"  he said as he turned to his trusted advisor. Sigmund could not reject his Lord or the lady and graciously accepted, as far as he was graciously that is. "Now, if you one that bring that coat you proised me, I shall gladly wear it,"  he said now smiling "Now, let's go meet Maya...by the way, this is important Jarra, Lady Rania nearly begged me that we use her titles when we address her. You know how I think about this, but we shall honor the request for this one time, I expect the same from my inquisitor."

As Maya arrived at the estate, located near the south of the region, Goriad II rode out on horseback to welcome her, followed by Jarra. "Empress Maya, I have heard the greatest of stories, please be welcome to Avengmil. I have a nice trip in mind." Although Goriad II had promised Rania, he refused to wear some highly ornamated dress like those pompous court nobles as he saw it. So now he war his black wolf cloths, with the wolf heads on his shoulders and knees, covered by the dark brown cloak he prefered to wear, hiding whatever else he carried along with him, but loose enough to hunt in properly.

Roleplay from Jarra Bennet   (19 days, 12 hours ago)
message to all nobles of Obia'Syela
Jarra couldn't be more excited to meet Empress Maya. She begged her marshal to allow her delay the refit in order to greet their most august guest. Returning from a campaign her wardrobe was limited, so she chosen a simple green tunic with highly decorated blue cloak and leather gloves with dried cornflower ornaments meticulously embedded in the seams. Shortly after visiting Goriad and helping with the preparations in the dining hall the Imperial Honour Guard could already be seen approaching from afar. Lord Goriad turned to Jarra and said:

"Now, let's go meet Maya...by the way, this is important Jarra, Lady Rania nearly begged me that we use her titles when we address her. You know how I think about this, but we shall honor the request for this one time, I expect the same from my inquisitor."

Jarra demonstrated a perfect deep curtsey, and ansewered in a lowered, nearly pious voice: "As you wish, Your Imperial Highness." ending her performance with a self-satisfied smirk.

They rode out to meet Empress Maya on the way. Jarra, perfectly aware of courtly conduct, allowed the host to greet the guest first, then waited for Empress' response when finally it was her cue she bowed her head ceremonially and greeted Maya, saying: "Your Imperial Highness, it is both an honour and a pleasure to meet you. I hope you will find our humble lands most welcoming."

Roleplay from Maya Tandaros   (19 days, 10 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in the region Avengmil (4 recipients)
The white horse carried on at a steady parade march, Empress Maya riding atop in her black lamellar armor, a long violet cloak, with her black hair braided elaborately. The Honor Guard marched steadily with their shouldered spears clinking on pauldrons. Their liege looked around keenly, quiet, letting Capt Gunnar bark orders at the unit as she astutely surveyed the surroundings. Avengmil was pleasant, southern country.

Ahead, at the gate, the Empress came upon Lord Goriad and Lady Jarra. "Break!" she shouted at the unit, the front of the box opened up allowing her to ride out ahead of the Guards and greet her hosts. "Hail to you!" she said to the two, dismounting and approached the gate. "I am Empress Maya, you are Lord Goriad, I presume?"

The Honor Guard approached and presented themselves in a line. Gunnar took her steed away back to the line, all dogfaced grunts maintaining a straight and professional gaze.

Moving to the fort
"Hail to you!" she said to the two, dismounting and approached the gate. "I am Empress Maya, you are Lord Goriad, I presume?" He nodded shortly  and replied: "Empress Maya, please call me Goriad II, my titles are of no importance in this world, just my actions. Please follow me milady, I wish to show you something before we feast. Tomorrow we can hunt if you would like to accompany me." He rode out followed by both Maya and Jarra. He took them slightly further south to the bridge which connected Avengmil to Ardmore and along the road they spoke about small things, but as they neared the bridge a structure could be seen from some distance.

"It is nearly ready," Goriad II said to the Empress "A Motte and Bailey just behold the bridge, a tower positioned so for the archers that they can fire on anything entering from the south while they're still crossing the bridge and if they swim our walls will protect us further. I look forward to testing it soon, but there is something I want to show you,"  and as they approached the gate, the signiture Wolf carvings were still clear decorating the entire entrance as he had designed for the pallisade. The gate opened and the company entered the structure, but Goriad II did not stop and rode on towards the higher tower.

When the company finally arrived at the tower, they saw nothing but a huge piece of cloth covering a large section of the tower. "Lady Rania kept telling me of the battle in Ete City and your heroism, and we all know of the fall of Keffa." He dismounted his horse and helped both Maya and Jarra dismount as well and once he did he waved to the peasant and the cloth fell. Now it became obvious what he had intended to show. The entire front of the tower had large wood carvings in it On the left it showed a large city and a great many soldiers, flags of the Shattered Vale both on the walls and on the shields of the men. Then flames, daemons and evil creatures depicted on the right side, some killed, some fighting with the soldiers. "The slaying of deamons should always be shown, for when they return all the world must know how it was when they came before, and return they will if we fail."

Roleplay from Jarra Bennet   (18 days, 17 hours ago)
message to all nobles of Obia'Syela
"Oh, how splendid!" - Jarra clapped her hands several times excitedly - "I've read about the battle in Ete City, but my imaginaiton failed to depict anything quite so graphic."

She then turned to Maya and politely enquired - "Empress Maya, what do you think? Does it give the reality justice? I would love to hear the story of your magnificent battles."

Roleplay from Maya Tandaros   (18 days, 7 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in the region Avengmil (12 recipients)
“Amazing,” Empress Maya gasped, gently touching the part of the carving depicting the explosion in the city. “The blast that consumed the Demon Lord Akkan and Rania was extraordinary and terrifying. For a moment I thought we would all die, everyone in Beluaterra. It was as if a sun rose out of the Earth itself. A cloud rose after forming a strange mushroom shape, and I still remember the uncanny silence that followed.” She turned around to see her host listening keenly, so she carried on.

“Your grandmistress and I have gone way back to the days of the kingdom of Melhed. We fought side-by-side in the Wars of Ice and Sun. Brutal hand to hand combat going back and forth in the forests for years. It was not entirely surprising that Rania decided to stand her ground, though I was surprised she seemed to disregard the order to pull out. I now see it was for a greater purpose. It was such a relief to receive news afterwards that Rania had not died, But was transported, or reborn in Keffa. The rest, well, you know.“

Maya continued telling the assembly random bits of history from D’Hara, Kindara, Melhed and the Vales while they inspected the machicolations. Her tale was sharply punctuated by horrifying howl that echoed from the horizon. “Undead approaching!” cried out a lookout above. A commotion followed as soldiers rushed to man their positions. The empress took personal command of her honor guard, leading them to the center rampart where they hung their white shields on the sharpened logs, preparing their positions with short bows. The undead appeared out of the night with savage beasts charging ahead of them as some sort of hulking Vanguard. The first volley was loosed and the battle begun, the Vales and OS resisted as one.

With victory secured, all the soldiers cheered. Everyone descended from the ramparts and celebrated, cracking open casks of ale or wine. Nobles gathered together. Maya asked Goriad II whether the undead were the hunt he had arranged, to a very polite chuckle. Just as Maya toasted with her hosts and the assembled nobility, a courier rushed through the gate and pushed a letter into the imperial hand. The seal of the Obian grandmistress was broken, and she read the short note before passing it off to her page. “Ah, sadly I must take my leave, as I am required in Rines. The Doge of Fronen has arrived for our long-awaited summit. I am humbled that our Vales are those honored in your artwork. And your hospitality is truly unparalleled – you are likewise invited to visit the United Vales to explore our forests, countryside, and various cities.” She ordered Gunnar to bring her white steed and assemble the Imperial Honor Guard. Thus they departed as they arrived, only with a smile now on Maya’s face.
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #6: November 23, 2017, 05:36:57 PM »
Report from Jarra Bennet

Lord Vice-Marshal Solomon,

I'm en route to Avengmil with 41 infantrymen. I shall order Maura to take them to a chummily beer brewery upon arrival. They're quite fond of those places and I've learnt the hard way that highly cohesive unit is leagues ahead of poorly cohesive one when it comes to the quality of defence and orderly retreats. I've been wounded five times already! Four times because my men failed to retreat properly. In exactly one year of service! Do you know how many dresses I've torn? Thank Obeah Maura learnt to repair my outfits in most artful fashion. Yes I know I'm supposed to wear a chainmail to battlefield, not a dress, no I'm not telling why I don't wear a chainmail to battlefield.
One year precisely of mending my outfits with most ingenious materials! I turned eighteen today, do you think I had coming of age ceremony? If you count filling out papers from Athol Margos Infantry recruitment center as coming of age ceremony, I have. I haven't seen eighteen candles nor eighteen sky lanterns but I've probably suffered eighteen paper cuts today! That counts, right? Both a way of celebrating and a training of withstanding torture. Oh, I forgot, reports are supposed to be brief and clear:

I'm en route to Avengmil with 41 infantrymen and zero bottles of wine.

Jarra Bennet
Steward of Athol Margos


Letter from Solomon Drake

Stewardess Jarra,

Well...at least you reported.
Also - you lead a unit of 41 armored infantrymen into the heat of battle while wearing a dress? I mean this in the most flattering way possible, but - you must be a terrifying woman.

Solomon Drake
Knight of Athol Margos
Vice-Marshal of the Inquisition


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

'Why do I wear dress to the battlefield' - silly question - thought Jarra about her Vice-Marshal's enquiry and went back in her mind to the preparations before the first battle of Avengmil:


"Quick, Maura, help me put this on." - Jarra motioned to her captain holding the chainmail, and the latter started dutifully slipping the armor on her lady. When finished, Maura held her lady by the arms to help her keep balance.

"Let go of me! Stop treating me like a child! I can hold my own weight with the chainmail on. I don't nee- AH!" - as soon as Maura let go of her Jarra overbalanced forward and dived nose first towards the ground.

The brief moment of silence filled the tent after young lady sat on the ground.

"Well, there are thinner chainmails..." - she said.

"Actually, m'Lady, there aren't." - Maura responded.

"Studded leather?" - Lady Jarra asked.

"Not much better." - Her captain replied.

They both looked to the blue dress stretched on the bedside coffer. Jarra let out a sigh.


Letter from Goriad II Gabanus

As inquisitors we have but one task: Find and convert infidels and stop those who wish to halt Obeah's return.

I realize that we've done so mostly on the battlefield so far, but that will not always be the case. Jarra is not terryfying at all, perhaps tall for a lady, but otherwise quite the opposite of terryfying exactly that will make her excell as an inquisitor if she listens and learns well.

We all have our own strengths, our own approach towards our goal. We are not all the same like those Templars.

Goriad II Gabanus
Margrave of Avengmil
Marshal of the Inquisition


(After receiving many letters about violent ways of dealing with infidels.)

Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"What does it mean? I thought unbelievers are sternly reprimanded, flogged on occasion."

"I'm sure they just speak in theory, m'Lady" - Maura calmed Jarra, who remained deeply disturbed by the letters she read.




Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

After battle of Ardmore Jarra was spending her morning as usual - over the holy scrolls, meditating on the religious matters. The prolonged absence of her mentor drawn her away from the dreams of walking a wolf among housedogs. She still pondered what might that be like - going Obeah knows where, unseen, unnoticed, lethal. Seeing every other breathing creature as potential prey. Dropping the pretty dresses and enrobing oneself in darkest shades of cloaks...
But those thoughts were scarcer and less concrete day by day. Instead - with every sentence read about miracles of Obeah and every tale she collected of magic - a different set of robes appealed to her.

...
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #7: November 23, 2017, 06:00:23 PM »
New Grand Inquisitor
Your ruler, Rania Eastersand, has appointed Goriad II Gabanus, Margrave of Avengmil, Marshal of the Inquisition, Priest of Heralds of Obeah as Grand Inquisitor of the realm.


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus
It was early in the morning when the messengers arrived at his camp. Some standard reports, he didn't care for them, but also two separate ones from Rania. The first wrote that he had been appointed as Grand Inquisitor, the other followed with a request from the Oracle "Rines is in desperate need of courts in my absence. Please hold court to restore order to the city." He looked at Sigmund who read the letter, and nodded "We set travel to the capital," and Sigmund replied "Are we bureaucrats now milord?" and Goriad II could only smile: "Sigmund, you should know better by now, I am Grand Inquisitor, not Grand Chancellor, or Erheas. Send word out of our arrival to the local inquisitors, let them be ready."

When they arrived in Rines they first moved to the Temple where a group of 20 men had gathered "Inquisitors, the Oracle has tasked us to hold courts in Rines in her absence now and we shall restore the order in this city. I trust you have done what I've asked of you?" and all 20 men went down on a knee until one of them said "We have been busy mapping the heretics' whereabouts milord. Goriad II looked at them, "Perfect, then show me to them, I shall hold courts today in the streets themselves."

As the group of men entered the city they quickly walked towards the area where they would hold court today. Now that he had become Grand Inquisitor his authority had greatly increased and as such he had taken the liberty to start arming the inquisitors throughout the realm, starting in Rines. They had some light armor to protect against knife cuts and clubs, but still light enough to move swiftly as he always prefered himself. The pride of their armor however were their weapons, two curved blades, much like he carries himself, combined with two smaller blades for difficult and extremely tight spots. He also had them train with the blades two hours a day, so in time they would become most feared. In the meantime Goriad II brought some of the local militia with him as well, the Sword of the Inquisition, 40 archers of which he placed half of them on the roofs around the small square where he would hold court today.

As they arrived the archers were ready, some guarding the streets, the others on the roof ready to take down any rebel who opposed him. He sent out the 20 inquisitors into the houses to where they had tracked heretics and quickly a group of 38 people were gathered on the square. Several hundred of people heard the noice and came outside, not knowing what was going on.

"People of Rines," Sigmund begun "The Grand Inquisitor has set out to remove the rebels from among you, the heretics who would oppose Obeah and who would overthrow our great rule here in Rines," and before he finished 5 men started to attack some of the guards in one alley, knocking down 2 of the archers, but as they attempted to plunge a knife into their chest arrows started flying from the roofs, shooting down the 5 men and wounded some additional peasants who stood closeby.

Now Goriad II stepped forward "Heretics have no place in our lands and those who oppose Obeah will meet the Inquisition. Assaulting the realm's militia is punishable by death, as is opposing Obeah's coming. If you know of any heretic, make it your duty to report them. And as to you," he said as he turned to the group of 38 men and women and even 3 children "You will also tell us everything about the heretics in the area, one way or another." He smiled, "Take them to the dungeons, make them talk."


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

Enetering Seaside Estate for the last time, Jarra couldn't help but shiver with sentiment and anticipation. She passed throught the main hall and into the main bedroom. There she took her last, long look at the ocean in a dim light of the setting sun. Turning around to leave she found the most awaited object on her bed:

Dark brown shape outstreched from one end of the bed to the other. Thick, yet surprisingly light, tougher than studded leather, yet not at all too cumbersome. When having it made Jarra resisted the urge of including blue lynchpins and crimson collar made of dyed fox, instead the coat was entirely plain in colour. Short-faced bears were extremely rare and extremely difficult to track and find, she hadn't had the time or the skill to hunt one herself but sent her best scouts on the assignment. Many of them returned gravely wounded, but not for a second had she considered a price too high for such a magnificent overcoat. She checked the last few detail - hidden pockets, straps and copmartments in the sleeves, near the collar and on the back, seeing everything in place she shouted over her involuntary smile: "Maura! Maura, come here quickly!"

"M'Lady?" - her ever-vigilant captain appeared momentarily, as if standing there at attention all the entire time.

"I have a package to send! Take note, I want to include a note. Ready?" - she coughed theatrically - "Dear G... no wait - Lord Mar- no... Grand Inquisitor now the office you hold requires appearance, hence the promised, long-awaited gift you see before you. Not the inconspicuous rags you would favour, nor the proper noble outfit I would preffer but a suiting - I hope - compromise."

"Should I address it to..." - Maura askede but was interrupted middle-sentence by her lady:
"Grand Inquisitor, of course!"


A gift well received...

Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

It was early in the morning when Goriad II woke up. He had not slept many hours that night as they traveled from Rines to Avengmil to settle some affairs in the region and there was much to do. There was recent fighting once more, so the mess had to be cleaned up first before he could even consider ordering repairs to the walls, so he did not trouble himself with it. He had many tasks before him now, building up the Inquisition the greatest he may have ever had, but he could not fail. He had been preparing his entire life for that one event, the end of the Warrior King, the look on his uncle's face when he finally saw his better, saw his failure in Goriad II. He had dreamed of that day since he was a little boy once more struck down for failing a small detail or another, but now it was taken from him and he would have his vengeance.  "He was mine,"  he said to Sigmund as he turned around "I want the main fort of the baily to be turned into the guildhouse for the Inquisition, it will start here." 

Just as he had given those orders a horsemen approached. Out of reflex both Goriad II and Sigmund drew both their curved blades, but it wasn't needed as the horsemen unseathed and announced himself "Captain Maura herself..."  he stumbled a bit as he saw the swords, but the Sigmund interrupted him "Ah Maura, how is she? Does Lady Jarra require our aid?" but the messenger shook his head "No milords, the Lady Jarra wishes to offer you a gift and has tasked me to deliver the gift and this letter."  Sigmund took the letter and read it out loud: "Grand Inquisitor now the office you hold requires appearance, hence the promised, long-awaited gift you see before you. Not the inconspicuous rags you would favour, nor the proper noble outfit I would preffer but a suiting - I hope - compromise."

Goriad II took the gift himself and removed the cloth in which it was wrapped. A dark brown coat, the hide of a short-faced bear if he wasn't mistaken, "These are rare Sigmund, I don't think you've ever seen one have you? As kid we'd used to hunt them, but we only managed to find two ever in our lives, they are native to the southern forests of Atamara, and apparently Beluaterra as well. It's beautiful,"  he said with a smile "Tell Jarra that I will soon come to visit her and express my gratitude, but first I have some business to attend to here."


... and well put to use

Roleplay from Astros Renodin   (Written by the Player of Astros Renodin, all credits go to him)


A Fancy Fur Coat

Lounging about was great but even that had its limits. The sun had started to rise in earnest and the morning was officially beginning. Astros pushed himself off and away from the table he had been sat at. Upon it were the mostly empty remains of a rather lavish meal. Plates with pork ribs stacked haphazardly. Two nearly empty tankards of what smells like mead, a platter containing crumbs and leftover cheeses and a bowl stained with humus around the rim and bottom. He stretched his huge frame and it made his clothing taunt against his muscles. Clawing at his stubble he took two deliberate gulps of air. All the while looking around to account for all his men. The entire floor of the inn was practically filled with his boys. Each selected for their physical size and ability to wield big weapons. ''Calvin!'' Astros called out to his captain. Motioning to the innkeeper, a portly man sporting a black eye. ''Take care of the bill, will you?'' The words sounded sincere but the accompanying grin twisted them beyond their meaning.

Moments later Astros was donning himself in his brigantine armor and slung his great-sword over his back. A black handled blade longer than many a man was tall. Stepping out of the Inn and being engulfed in the day's first light Astros squinted his eyes and actually had to bend forwards as he exited through the front door. Filling out behind him were his men. They congealed around Astros like a pack of wild dogs. Very big, mean looking dogs. A triple layered, bordeaux and black belt circled his waist. From it a hefty, jingling pouch dangled alongside a rondel dagger and a small leather packed which was sealed with two straps. From the packet a strong, earthy scent permeated.

Walking down the street toward the market the waking people shied away from the company of warriors. Astros took in the sights and gave overly friendly smiles and grins to anyone that caught his eye. He was feeling particularly good today. A fine meal will do that for you. Especially one donated so generously. Licking his front teeth with an open mouth he nonchalantly grabbed an apple from a grocers stand. A single exchange of looks enough to shut the merchant up. He laughed malevolently as he recognized the man's resignation.

Coming up on the main market square in Rines Astros felt inside his pouch. His fingers confirming the Grand Inquisitor's letter was still there. ''Now what would I be wearing if I was the Grand Inquisitor..?'' He mumbled to himself. Eyes scanning the stalls and people before him. Not catching anything of interest. ''Probably some kind of fancy hat, probably..'' His hand informed him of something soft and he turned his big head to look at it. It so happened that his hand had come to rest upon a raccoon fur hat that was on display at a fur trader's stall. Astros's face lit up with childish enthusiasm. ''Always did want a furry hat of my own!'' He grinned at the man he assumed was the trader. ''Thank you for your donation to the faith!'' He promptly put the hat on his bald head and moved along. Feeling supremely confident. Only a few stalls further he took the hat off again. The jolt of excitement he felt at humiliating the trader had passed and with it his interest in the hat.

It was then that his eye caught a really fancy coat. Rich brown and hell'a furry. His large brown eyes grew bigger still. The skin on his forehead rippled like sand-dunes and his lips produced a sharp whistle. ''Oh damn! Ain't that a fine, fine coat!'' Loud enough for the wearer to actually hear him. Lazily Astros made his way to the man in the rich fur coat and his companion. Yet his steps were filled with purpose even as his arms and frame made a show of dodging out of the way of passers by and pushing goods aside that would otherwise obstruct his way. Following close behind him like an enveloping wave of water were his hulking warriors. They quickly came to flood the two men that Astros had marked out. Unbeknownst to them that they had actually stumbled upon the Grand Inquisitor himself.


Roleplay from Goriad II Gabanus

The Red Moon

He had already seen the gang of brutes coming, long before one of them whistled and quite loudly said "Oh damn! Ain't that a fine, fine coat!" and Goriad II shortly shook his head towards Sigmund who had wished to take action, instead they moved on slowly, untill they were surrounded by the soldiers. Their leader walked towards Goriad II, with a huge broadsword on his back. He could not help himself but wonder how usefull such a sword would be, in such close corners. Their leader tried to reach for the coat, not knowing that Jarra had hidden pockets sown into it allover, as she knew Goriad II's tendencies by now. Before the man could good and well speak, he was stopped.

"Now now, this coat was a gift to me, as was this blade," he said and now all eyes suddenly turned to his right hand in which he held one of his three short curved blades, positioned right against the upper thigh of the big man "Do you know why they call this the Red Moon my boy?" a grin appeared on his face, "I received this from leading the Red Moon army all the way from the desert into the coastal lands of Minas Leon, a most succesful raid..." he paused for a moment "But," placing a strong emphasis on the word but, "some say it is so named because when it cuts, men cry to the moon like a wolf bitch giving birth, the only difference is that you would never have children again."

Then, as all the men were on edge, the soldiers waiting for the order to attack, the blade was lowered and put back in his coat. "Now, I know the outfits of all militia in this city and there are no foreign troops allowed either, so I assume you must be Astros. Now I have a court to hold a mile further into the city, do have your men join us." Then he turned around again to Sigmund "Sigmund, I want 20 trapping snares and 4 bear traps, do let these fine big gentlemen carry them for you."



Appointed as Lord

Rania Eastersand JeVondair, Grandmistress, Grand Inquisitor, Grand Chancellor of Obia'Syela, Royal of Obia'Syela, Ambassador of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Keffa, Margravine of Rines, Priestess of Heralds of Obeah has appointed you as the new lord of Rueffilo.
You should probably check out the region and estates and make sure everything runs smoothly.

A New Lord
message to all nobles of Obia'Syela
Rania Eastersand JeVondair, Grandmistress, Grand Inquisitor, Grand Chancellor of Obia'Syela, Royal of Obia'Syela, Ambassador of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Keffa, Margravine of Rines, Priestess of Heralds of Obeah has appointed Jarra to the vacant lordship position in Rueffilo.


Roleplay from Jarra Bennet

"Obeah guide us.
Obeah teach us.
Obeah protect us.
Obeah deliver us.
In your light we thrive.
In your mercy we are sheltered.
In your wisdom we are humbled.
We live only to serve. Our lives are yours."


Jarra said the words over and over again. There, in the dark corner of her bedroom in Riverside Manor, dimly lit by withering embers of the hearth, Maura found her. She pondered getting her attention with her usual "M'lady", but hearing the whispered prayer she decided to touch her arm instead.

"Lady Jarra" - she said quietly, and took a step back noticing her lady's shining, watery eyes.

"I can't feel it Maura." - said young Margravine - "I believe it with my mind, but I can't force myself to believe it with my heart. I choose to believe it, but it should never be a matter of choice! How am I to take on priestly robes?! How am I to serve Obeah and fulfill my duty to the Holy Realm? We both know I am not a warrior. I'm neither as crafty as Goriad, nor as experienced as Lord Vahanian, neither as dutiful as Marshal Solomon, nor as Grandiose as Grand Templar." - she angrily motioned to the star-scar on her forehead - "I injured myself when hitting a half-dead beastman!"

She took a deep breath and Maura pounced on the occasion to speak:

"M'Lady, there are members of local minor gentry, as well as carftmasters of Rueffilo, leaders of stonemason guilds of Rii and representants of farmers of free lands of Bolkenia and Cagamir."

Jarra cleaned her eyes and asked what is the purpose of such colourful crowd visiting her estate, to which she received an explanation that the stonemasons refuse to deliver stone, making construction of the temple impossible; southern peasants inform that any attempts to invade their lands will be opposed; craftmasters have thousand ideas to spend the gold from Grand Templar's gift and local gentry still favours Angmar and Spearhold and demands that war be stopped. Jarra's eyes grew wider and wider with each sentence. Maura demanded some instructions with polite "M'Lady?". Jarra simply shook herself from all the noise she already envisaged in her mind and pointing at the set of stylish, hairpin-looking daggers on her dressing table she said:

"I think I will have to do my hair."

...

A couple of hours later the stone transports for the new temple were flowing, the craftsmen were leaving content and southern peasants reassured. Only the local gentry left still grumbling about the state of affairs. Jarra fell to her chair, exhausted.

"Quite a feat you've achieved here m'Lady." - Maura said, and hearing her lady muttering out confirmation, she continued - "And you haven't stabbed anyone."

"Just barely." - She replied.

"As if what you did you did by divine inspiration." - Maura continued.

"Obeah works in mysterious ways." - Margravine said absentmindedly, to which Maura smiled - a most rare occurance - and replied:

"Indeed she does, m'Lady..." - and to a realisation dawning on Jarra's face she reiterated - "Indeed she does."


---

Coming up next - Maura Backstory. More than a simple captain, but how much more and why?
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)

MTYL

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Re: Ingénue - Jarra's Bildungsroman
« Reply #8: March 25, 2018, 09:10:49 PM »
Closure - that's how ends the story of Jarra Bennet (and starts the story of Maura Arnickles Renodin).



"She died?", "She died how?", "She died and you survived?" - Regent's questions were increasing in intensity. To the last one Maura only thought 'I'd prefer I didn't' but chose against saying it.

She reached back into tormenting memories from over a year ago and winced from non-physical pain as she started telling the story:

"We were scouting south, en route from Bolkenia to Cagamir. We were just passing by the ruin of a bridge to sunken Eno when we got into an ambush. It was only a group of bandits hoping to get easy profit, they likely mistaken us for trade caravan. When they realised their mistake we've already dispatched two thirds of them and caused the rest to retreat. The fight wasn't challanging, but it was enough to distract us, enough to realize a minute too late that a greater foe scented us out. A pack of beasts not unlike wolves, just bigger and fiercer charged us. We barely had time to form a phalanx. We were holding our own but unlike us the beasts weren't tired and their feral stamina could have them going all day. Jarra looked at me, I shouted an order to pull back to the ruin of the bridge. With twenty feet of fall to the water surface behind our back we wouldn't get surrounded. It was a good plan for that situation. The fight took much longer but we had the numbers and the formation, we were set for victory. The leader of the pack was the biggest and toughest of them all, it moved on two legs. I squared off against it, the fight took all the wind out of me but ultimately I sliced off it's paws and saw it bleed out. Before the battle ended the day became a night. Seeing that we prevailed, exhausted I fell to the ground, darkness intensified further in my eyes and I felt every vein in my body pulsating. I thought we were safe. But with the night came the darkness and with the darkness came the undead. I was slipping out of consciousness in terror, trying to will my limbs to move and my body to stand... then I heard her..."

Maura clenched her teeth and took a deep breath before continuing:

"The sweetest voice of our Jarra. She said - "Don't you worry Maura, you protected me since I was just a kid, now it's my turn. We faced worse odds before and prevailed." But I knew how bad our situation was. Our ranks were thinned out and our warriors exhausted with two previous fights. And the bridge... the bridge was the worst place possible to defend against undead. The raised dead, they just push forward mindlessly, not minding our spears and swords. When I heard Jarra shout to form wedge, a spark of hope was the last thing I felt before blacking out."

She took another couple of seconds to calm her voice and said:

"A spark extinguished so violently... rays of first sun and masticating sounds awoke me. The first thing I saw was a blue glove streched out towards my face, the second thing was her beautiful pale face, calm and half-smiling to me, then I saw her dead, motionless eyes and locate the source of the sounds - a ghastly, animated corpse chewing on her ribs, her body was... she was not all there.

The undead were few by then - I killed them all. Burned all the corpses - our men, the beasts, the undead; except for her. I burried what remained of Jarra right by that bridge. I embedded a blue gauntlet on the headstone, it's unmistakable."

She held Goriad's gaze, as if deciding something, but the look she had was not fear, it was surrender. She finished her story saying:

"I know I failed her. I failed to defend her..." - she squeezed a scar where her left thumb used to be - "... I was supposed to be a shield. But I failed her more than that. She underestimated every threat she ever faced, because I let her underestimate them. Because I was always there to save her. But when I finally wasn't there, she wasn't ready for it... The fault is mine..." - she looked at the man before her and intently looking him in the eyes added - "... and mine alone."
_____
New family - Arnickles Renodin: Maura(OS), Myr(LN)
Old family - The (dead) Bennets: Max(SF), Joran(VT), Jarra(OS)