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Arcadia Is What?; I'm so Fucking Funny
Topic Started: Oct 12 2015, 02:22 PM (106 Views)
13Ghosts
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Drake's bird had arrived sometime last week, trained to fly directly to Mara's window to allow all the tales of fancy that her farther wanted her to be no part of. Only this one was odd, written hurriedly and difficult to read because the ink had smudged. Presumably because it had been rolled up and sent before the ink had time to dry.

"My dear Little Sister

I am on my way home, boarding the ship in the morning to cross the Sea of Water in the morning (Normally called the Sea of Dread but he decided to change it years ago on your behalf, claiming it was nothing more than an expanse of water and not to fear for her brother.) I hope you've kept up as well as you say you have with your training and schooling, I just might test you when I get home. (a very common event when Drake returned was an all out assault from the young Mara to display her determination and skill with a blade) I have things to tell you that father will not like, (A weird thing to say as he was usually much more discreet) but cannot tell you right now. Rest assured though, times are not too dire to bring you a small gift from a far away land.

Love Drake Wes"

A very short, very uncharacteristic message from her brother sad awkwardly with her until the celebrations began. Even given the motive behind the two week long festivities, it was hard not to get caught up in all the song, dance, drink and food. Even though Mara wasn't really allowed too much of the latter two.



The morning in the castle was bright and warm, wind rarely got to most places inside the walls so spring time was always a nice temperate time of year. The walls surrounding the castle was basically it's own mini city. With it's own small businesses and residences of higher castle officials, a small bazaar and basically no reason to ever leave the castle walls since fresh food was brought to the bazaar everyday. There was even a little sign shop near the gates. Or as the illiterate Orc had named it "The Sin Shop", he would probably turn pretty good business if not for that one problem.

The castle itself this morning was very quiet, everyone was sleeping off their hang overs or gluttony from the night before. Servants were tired from cleaning up the after math and the only noises were many spring song birds and the ringing hammer of the blacksmith... Oh and a second knock at the door, the first one must have been what woke her up. Just her hand maiden coming to relay a message from her father. Apparently she hadn't seemed jovial enough and was representing the Weston family as ungrateful and even resentful of the great things that were to come with this a most magnificent wedding. The handmaiden actually conveyed the message and feeling very well, probably because she believed her father's words and basically brought down the strong message that she should be happy and if she isn't she sucks.

On the bright side, Mara had an excellent reason to be happy today, Her brother would be showing up later this evening.



The run ran low, many people had gone home and only a handful of the guests remained. Laughter, music and loud conversation rattled off the castle walls all around as the cook fires burned low. Mara was wandering around the open courtyard with her lute saying good byes to people who were leaving when something caught her eye. A small procession of horses loped through the tall open gates, lead by Drake in his ornate armor, well kept but clearly well tested. A small trumpet sounded to announce the prince's arrival as he hopped down from his horse.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

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Giri & Freki
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Sivera
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Mara was putting on her best face, where she nods and smiles at everybody but her mind is completely elsewhere. She nodded and smiled at her father's "speech" handmaiden, stating the usual "Of course father I'll do better" retort that usually satisfied him for at least the time being if he didn't come down to yell at her himself usually it meant that it was a trivial complaint to keep her in line rather than to correct her behavior.

She smiled at the cooks and servants who beamed at her and spoke of her "big day".

She smiled at her brothers and mother who were busying themselves with their own affairs.

She smiled at the festival guests, many still drunk from the night before, their clothes stained with bits of expensive drink and delicacies. She brought her lute along to appease the guests who requested a song before they parted and sang traditional songs that her mother approved of the night before. She promised she wouldn't sing one of the maiden who threw herself from a tower when she couldn't marry the knight she loved. "Soooooo Dramatic" her mother moaned before suggesting more lively tunes.

She put on her best face today, because she knew it would be worth it to keep the peace until her brother returned home that evening.

Her hope was rewarded early in the day when she heard the procession enter the gates, squealing and losing her demeanor completely she went screaming across the courtyard, stepping in great puddles of mud and losing a shoe in the process.
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Wasn't really clear on that but it'd be just coming on dusk at the moment.

Drake's clearly tired face seemed almost instantly re energized as he turned around to see Mara sprinting at him. "Well hello there Mara!" He opened his arms ready to catch the flying princess and caught her with relative ease. Even the rather angular and rigid breast plate wasn't enough to make that hug totally worth.

After a moment's embrace Drake held her out at arm's reach, not really a problem to the rather powerful man, and set her atop his horse. "It seems like I've come prepared for just this moment." He said looking at your now rather muddy feet with a smirk as he hands you a small rag. "One moment!" Flipping a saddle bag open he rummages around for a moment before seeming to find what he's looking for a pulling out a rather lumpy roll of leather sealed in wax. He looks up for a reaction before giving a reassuring wink and breaks the seal on the roll before unrolling at and pulling out a beautifully made set of leather riding boots. Etched with a portrait of Mara (The Goddess) on the inside of both calves and a dragon rampant on the outside of each. The ankles and bridge were mostly bare with a blunted toe and a thick, aggressive sole.

"Looks like a perfect opportunity to try them on! And I've got a part two to that as well. But we'll have to make it through the evening before you get that." He takes the reigns of the horse and slowly leads it along to the stables.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

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Mara lets herself be set upon Drake's massive warhorse, feeling giddy and like a little girl again as she watches him unravel her present. Mara's eyes light up immediately as she sees the beautiful leather unfold before her, her fingers gently tracing the soft leather designs as her mouth forms into a silent and admiring "ooooooo"

The princess quickly wipes her feet before slipping on both the boots, it felt like almost a second skin with how perfect the fit was.

Mara hops off the back of the massive horse as Drake starts to lead the procession away, giving them all an eyeful as she grabs up the skirts of her dress and wraps them tightly around her hips and waist in order to admire her boots in their entirety. She then walks with a proud stride towards the stables to catch up with her brother, her sky blue silk slippers still stuck in the mud behind her.

Somewhere across the courtyard inside a decorated window, their mother watches their antics feeling deeply, deeply embarrassed and wondering why Drake enabled the girl so much.

Image of how Mara likes to tie her skirts for battle!
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The royal guards stay professionally polite, though probably at least a few sideway glances, and Drake simply chuckles to himself. "Good to know you're still the same Maya I said farewell to all those moons ago. You should go find your glaive while I go talk to your father about his northern prospects."

He rolls his eyes as he passes off his horse to the stable master and rummages in his coin purse for a generous tip. "Clean him up good, it's been a long road my friend." Drake loosens off his breast plate and takes a deep breath as he rests an armored hand on your head mussing up your hair. Even as tell as you were, as tall as or barely shorter than most men around the castle or even other suitors that had come by. Your brother always seemed to stay the same height above you. Standing as an imposing figure at nearly six and a half feet tall.

"And I'll tell you the rest of my letter while I see if you've kept up your training." He smiles as he pulls his arms sword from his saddle and hooks it into his weapon belt.

I love the pictograms (hair tying optional)
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

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Giri & Freki
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With great excitement Mara ran out of the stables and towards the courtyard entrance that was closest to her room. The Princess did not bother to circumvent the muddy courtyard's grass with the stone path but instead cut right through it. Her new boots splashing as she ran, the mud sliding off the supple leather almost immediately and dirt did not become embedded in the ornate design. Mara suspected that it was magic of some sort, and decided she needed to elevate her gift giving standards in order to match Drake's many thoughtful and considerate gifts he always brought or sent home. One of the servants was already retrieving and cleaning her expensive silk slippers from the mud at her mother's request, normally Mara would stop to apologize for causing such a mess but there was no time! Drake was home!

The queen was at the bottom of the steps when Mara ran inside. knowing she wouldnt' be able to stop her daughter due to the excitement of Drake being home, her royal majesty simply settled for giving her daughter the biggest scowl she could possibly muster as the young girl sprinted past, leaving bits of mud and dirt in her wake. Mara offered a half shrug to her mother as she made eye contact, but quickly went to her room to retrieve her weapon.

The long elegant and thin Glaive hung over the fireplace in Mara's room, while her parents insisted that she keep it in the armory, Mara always found a way to bring it back to her room with the help of some sympathetic guards. Grabbing the weapon and twirling it around for good measure, she makes her way back outside.
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I was planning on this being a pseudo combat training for you, but Arty's chapter ended sooner than expected. So it will be streamlined a bit. Also the whole reading my mind this was a bit weird, js. The boots would actually leave no foot prints at all behind you and have a muted footfall. But I'm not sure wether you'd have noticed this as of yet.

You find yourself in the middle of the deserted sand pit used by the trainees for combat practice watching the sun paint across the clouds as it set beyond the walls. A few minutes later Drake's hobnail boots echoes from the keep as he carried his helmet by his hip. On his way over he slowly draws a blunted training sword from the rack as he sets his helmet down.

"So Mara. Shall we begin?" He gripped the arming sword like a short sword and slimmed his profile towards you. There was a slight pause as you two squared off but, one blade check later, Both figures became a flurry of motion. Drake, extremely fast for his size, fended off Mara's harrying attacks while testing her ability to keep her distance. As always he seemed to be able to almost predict her movements and sway and step out of the way or parry it away. But he still seemed very impressed with her abilities.

In between clashes of steel Drake spoke in a hushed tone. "There will be a man in a dark cloak with black hair. He will slink through the shadows as though they are his only true home. He is coming to get you out of this place. You have to trust me Mara. It is sudden and it is confusing and there are yet things I cannot explain to you, but it is imperative that we keep you away from your father and your husband to be. This man will take you to a nearby town where you will find further instructions... And with any luck, me."
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

Not all who wander are lost

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Mara loved to battle with Drake, not only did he never let her win unless she earned it, but she always learned a lot from each sparring session. These sessions were dear to her because they had decreased significantly in frequency once Drake started touring.

Just as the sun slipped out of the horizon and the courtyard guards above the pit began lighting torches was when she heard Drake speak to her between clashes of their blades. Confused, she slowed her movements slightly to hear him better but not enough to draw more attention than they were already getting. Drake never spoke to her while they sparred previously, he wanted her to focus. So for him to choose now to talk to her in low whispers meant that it was something important, and it sent cold tendrils of fear down to her very core.

She parried one of Drake's attacks as she moves in and feigning missing her target in order to get close to him. "Father will punish all of you when he finds out I'm gone" she murmured in the brief moment their faces were near before drawing back and getting into a defensive stance.
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A low roll of the blade swept aside the half hearted strike and Drake followed through keeping almost the same spacing as before as he slid his blade down the haft of the weapon. Even a feigned opening was enough for him to test her almost always lacking defensive footwork, the palace guards went too easy on her.

"It's nothing but water Dear sister." He said with a smile as he grabbed his blade and shoved against Mara's Glaive, not as hard as he could by an stretch, but enough to check her balance for sure.

While either helping Mara back up or keeping up his assault by swinging heavy blunted blows against Mara's center mass to keep her retreating, he continues. "I cannot tell you everything just yet. For your safety."

Satisfied he allows Mara her distance while setting up for her counter attack.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

Not all who wander are lost

Giri & Freki
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Mara's counter attack came too slow, fear and paranoia, terror in the unknown. She'd never been outside the palace walls, everything she had ever learned about survival was pure speculation and it began to show on her face. "I'm afraid" she whispered quickly while darting past him, dodging his attack.

They were starting to gather a crowd now, some left over festival guests lingering at the top of the pit admiring their form but Mara was slowing down significantly as fear gripped her heart.
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Drake glanced about at the people starting to gather, it wouldn't do well to have all these people hear anything. Even with the fact that they were whispering, rumours are dangerous things.

"Any one with the sense of mind to feel fear when facing danger has what they need to do well in this world." He took a deep breath and stood up, sinking his sword in the sand. He was fairly certain the training session was over, Mara was too distracted.

"You have trained well as usual!" He declared in a clear voice. "And will do our family proud in the coming weeks." He turns to the gathered crowd. "But now it's time for us to rest, it's been a long day and there's more than enough time for play later."

With a smile he wraps his arm around your shoulder and guides you to the castle and once out of earshot he continues. "Always remember that courage is not that one doesn't feel afraid. But only what one does when they are afraid! And you would be a fool to think I had never been scared in my life."
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

Not all who wander are lost

Giri & Freki
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Mara, distracted, still remembered to twirl, and curtsy as Drake announced that their training session was over to the gathering evening crowd. Disappointed, they dispersed slowly and Mara was whisked away by her brother, her trained fake smile still plastered onto her face.

She nodded stiffly as her brother continued to talk to her, though she could hardly imagine him being afraid, he always seemed so utterly strong and immovable to her.

"What must I do?" she put a brave face on as best she could.
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"I have a bag prepared for you in you room. It has some provisions, tools and clothing you'll need. Though nothing quite as fancy as I'm sure you're used to." Drake chuckled and looked down to see if you reacted to the joke.

"The man who is coming should protect you, but he is a man of money. A hired blade, treat him as such. And I'm going to need you to get much much sleep as possible in the next little bit to make sure you're prepared and alert."
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

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Mara found herself laughing at her brother's familiar sense of humor despite the feeling of her heart becoming squeezed in her chest. She nodded when he gave her the instructions and told her to get some sleep, though she doubted she would be able to get any at this point.

((are we fast forwarding?))
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Unless you have any other plans than simply going to bed, yeah more or less was gonna move on to morning.

"Things are often very confusing and over whelming when they catch you up in them and I'm sorry I can't come with you for the first part of your journey. But we'll see each other again, sooner than you think. And then you'll me telling me epic stories of your adventures instead of asking me about my travels." He pauses in front of the door to your room. "And if you absolutely must get an awesome battle scar to show off try to keep it to your arms and shoulders, they're the easiest to heal and least annoying."

Drake open the door and steps in before you making his way to the hearth near your bed. "A nice warm fire and thoughts of simpler times usually help me sleep." He says, understanding quite acutely how stress and confusion can mess with a person. "Is there anything else I can do for you Mara?"


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Mara shakes her head. "No... I'll be ready" though the words came from her lips she only half believed them. She slipped off her new shoes which fell lightly onto the floor without a sound (she found that odd) and climbed into bed with her festival clothes still on, too tired, exhausted and confused to change into a night dress. The silk was always comfortable anyway.

"Promise that you'll come get me later?" her words were hopeful and she tried to hide the distress in her tone.
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"Even if the Old Ones woke up and split the world in two, I would swim across that new ocean just to do so." He said in a calm soothing tone. "And if the Kraken tries to stop me as I swim over his home, I'll tie a rope around his head and ride it for better time! And if the giants should strike down my mythic mount I will grab hold onto their javelins and ride the lightning home."

He finishes his little poem with a smile as he circles around towards the door. "That's a promise Mara." He waits fro you to respond and close your eyes before trimming the lamps and stepping out quietly.
The morning comes far sooner than you would like, the spring sun shining through your drapes almost seems harsh, unfriendly and cold. The hearth had been stoked by a light footed servant keeping the room warm enough.

Today promised to at least be eventful. At the foot of your bed your brother had left a suit of soft leather armor, a woolen cloak and a back pack filled with some travelling tools. A few of your favorite treats were packed towards the top and a small utility knife.

Well, might as well tuck it away and face the day.
Edited by 13Ghosts, Oct 20 2015, 07:06 PM.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

Not all who wander are lost

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Mara dreamed of her brother battling a kraken, she watched him from a distance and as much as she willed her own body her limbs would not obey her to dive into the water. When she looked down she saw drowned faces and woke up in a sweat. Blinking blandly at the light coming through her lace drapes, hearing a bird outside her window and wishing death upon it.

She slides out of bed moving her sleep ridden hair from her face and glancing over the supplies left for her. She packed the objects tightly into a bundle and hid it under her bed, before picking out a soft pink silk dress. Her dresses, oddly felt like armor, her face she put on for the court. She half expected the speech maid to come through the door.
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Instead of the 'speech maid' you hear a rap at the door. After a few moments a somewhat startled looking maid walks briskly towards you and blinks several times looking fearful and uncomfortable before opening her arms open wide and chirping. "Forgive me!"

The maid wraps her arms around you in a surprisingly warm hug and then kisses you on the cheek. "Drake made me do it! He said he's bad at this kind of stuff! Don't be mad at me!" She quickly retreats into a deep curtsey and holds her breath.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change

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Mara stands frozen for several seconds processing what just happened before putting it all together, she let out an awkward sigh and started laughing feeling really strange she was laughing hysterically but alone.
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After your little giggle session dies down you can hear a somewhat heated conversation outside your door. After a second you hear the distinctive raspy voice of the Grand Master At Arms. He appears to be reprimanding your door guard for something about the prince? It dies down fairly quickly and you hear armored feet marching away, presumably for the poor door guard t be reamed out in private without the royalty having to hear it.

The festivities start up earlier every day but all the guards seem to be extra statuesque today. Stern face, no smiles and polished clean armor all around.

All in all, everything seemed to be weird all around, and promised to stay they way for a while yet.

Arty will be here soon! and at that point I'll probably merge the threads.
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Not all who wander are lost

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