FE on the Forums: Scarlet Crown [IC]

[rokubiraijuu]

"The wheel of fate is hard for man to turn, but it is not impossible." - Leknaat, Keeper of Balance

 

PROLOGUE : Under the Flag of Unity
Solis Y3302, Summerswax

 

Motion and the lively tumult of countless voices and bodies fill the air and streets of the City of Flowers. For centuries, this has been the way of life in Antei, the commercial heart of southern Caliss, where people clip along at the quick pace of business and trade under the protection of high ivory walls. From the west, crisp winds blow in from the mountain peaks, bringing with them the smell of freshly melted snow. From the Sacine River to the north file in caravans by the dozens each day, laden with goods and treasures from across the continent, even across the world. The rainbow of tarps stretching across the bazaars and the myriad of cultivated flower beds decorating any spare space lend the city a patchwork appearance, like a brilliant children’s coloring book.

 

“3000 potch for a shawl? I could find one in Gregminster for half the price. 2000 at most.”
“Steady! Let me grease the wheel first before you pull!”
“Mommy, can I have ice cream? I want the jujube one, like in Lenankamp!”
“Pleasure doing business with you, ma’am. You take care.”

 

These voices and many more swirl and meld to create the constant thrum and din. It feels as though there is never enough time to rest for the citizens whisking from one place to the next, lists in their hands and enterprise at their fingertips.

 

But off of the center of town, there is one refuge to be found amidst the chaos. Sequestered in an enclosure of low-ledged white walls like the rest of the alabaster city are the Central Gardens. Here, families and couples customarily enjoy a stroll on stone pathways among carefully trimmed hedges and bushels of blooming flora. But today, the Gardens have been closed off to public entry.

 

Today marks the first collective gathering of the Allied Guard months after its official formation and finalization. From the far corners of Caliss and the Antei Mountains, qualified combatants have been selected to herald the arrival of a new spring for both the young Republic and its allies, the Dragon Knights. 

 

After confirming identification and registry at the manor of the city mayor, they are escorted to the Central Gardens and its grassy field. One by one, they will learn the faces of those who will be their comrades at arms for the time to come. Here, in the peace and quiet away from the hubbub of commerce, they are instructed to wait at ease before receiving their first instruction as the unified Allied Guard.

[Chevaleresse]

A brunette wearing heavy armor and a rather irritable look stood in the field with her arms crossed. A shadow seemed to cross her face whenever her eyes flicked across one of the non-Caliss members of the newly formed Guard, at least as far as she could judge by clothing and armor patterns.

"I hate waiting. You'd think that if this was so important, they'd cut down on all the time spent standing around doing nothing."

[ElfCollaborator]

A tall, armored person stands on the grassy field, seeming to breathe in the fresh spring air, judging from the movement of their chest; their face is obscured by a heavy black helmet. To the irritable brunette, they seem as if they're from Caliss; the armor is unmistakably the work of Lenankamp armourers, and skilled ones at that. They stretch their arms out behind them, shifting to accommodate the weight of the armor.

 

"Ah, fresh spring air in the City of Flowers! Seems they weren't lying about its beauty. I'd take a rose brooch, if I weren't here on business."

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

Naomi instead of standing up, was on the floor laying belly down with her legs in the air, her hands on her chin gazing at a butterfly perched on a flower. "Oh little butterfly. What if I could teach you magic? What would you do with it?" She pondered. "If I taught you magic then you could teach all your butterfly friends. And then I'd have an army of magic butterflies! Oh that sounds so cool."

[Aurorix]

Argos marches into the gardens full of excitement and vigor, his huge wooden rocking side to side on his back. The lad looks around and fully takes in his surroundings. This place is much different than the snowy and rocky mountains of which he lived and protected. He wonders what kind of grand warriors have come here to become part of the Allied Guard. Though the group stood out like a sore thumb, what with all their heavily armored members. He has to make a good first impression, don't get flustered now ya hear. Once close enough to the group he grows a huge smirk on his face, whips of his sword from his back and starts spinning it around in the air overhead as he talked to anyone who would listen,

 

"A-ha! No need to fear, for I have arrived at last! The one, the only, Invoker of Mayhem has joined your party, feel free to gawk in awe!" With that he rested his overly large wooden sword on his shoulder, his face showing an overflowing amount of confidence.  "Ha! I totally nailed it! I bet they all think I'm super cool!"

[Chevaleresse]

". . . This is who they chose for this? A bunch of kids that sound like they barely got let off their mother's apron strings?" The brunette shook her head. "Gimme a break."

[The Nonexistent Tazz]

Seymore taps his left hand on his own leg out of nerves, his right arm preoccupied with his hatchet. From the sleepy hamlet known as the Great Forest Village, the city of Antei was as far removed from his way of living as he knows it, and a continent away. The garden is somewhat removed from the noise, but not totally. It is beautiful, though, but after an hour or so of absorbing the sights of the beautiful flowers and with an important meeting to begin, Seymore could not concentrate on it for long.

Seymore had every right to be nervous, or at least, he thought so to himself. He did wish to enlist in the army, a factor he made perfectly clear to his adopted father. He'd see the world, help his fellow countrymen live in harmony, and perhaps honor the apparent legacy of his proper parents, whoever they were, and his father was perfectly supporting, as was most of the village. He did not, however, expect to immediately be assigned to an entirely new unit, one that was stressed to him as being of 'immense political importance' (he doesn't even know what a 'political' is!), and be done so with only the most basic of training and gear. His hatchet felt very different to swing than the woodcutting axe he familiarized himself with, and the feeling of chainmail between two pieces of cloth is downright alien.

The abrupt appearance of the 'Invoker of Mayhem' to the field, boasting and all, definitely got his gawking. Just not the awestruck kind. This guy's behavior feels ridiculous for something as serious as this 'Allied Guard' was made out to be by Seymore's instructor. Ultimately, however, he couldn't bring himself to vocalize the confusion, and just resumed staring straight on at a pile of pretty roses, tapping his left leg, trying his best to collect himself.

Edited July 20, 2018 by The Nonexistent Tazz
removing spare period

[ElfCollaborator]

The tall armored person approaches the standoffish brunette. If they're frowning, smiling or glaring, it's impossible to tell through the helmet.

 

"Don't be so tense, comrade. These are your coworkers! You can't possibly do your best if you're busy wondering how they got into the Guard with someone so clearly skilled as you."

[Chevaleresse]

"Don't make assumptions. I ain't gonna slow down to worry about them, I just don't want anyone to come crying to me become Mr. Invoker or Miss Butterflies over here couldn't keep up."

[Aurorix]

Oh, Argos knows whats going on. These guys are testing his strength of heart and his convictions! He knew they would be good but geeze. Alright, time to not disappoint!  "Do you know who I am? You're calling me, the Invoker of Mayhem, a child!? The mere mention of my name sends terror into the hearts of all brigands out there!"

[rustytengo]

Kris walked into the gardens with very light while licking a cone of ice cream. She tilted her head to the side and smiled as she saw one for the group gathered carrying around a large wooden sword. She approached the person with the sword and spoke "HI there cutie. What brings you here?" she asked seemingly addressing the person wielding the sword.

 

[Aurorix]

Argos looks around all flustered at the girl's remarks. Was she saying that to him? She's looking towards him right?  "Uh... um... merrr..." The boy stumbled over his words taking a couple steps back. His cheeks starting glowing pinker by the moment. He shook his head,  "Come on Argos, remember, keep it cool. Yea!"

 

"Yes, well, um, I'm here to join the, uh, Allied Guard. But what brings you here, Miss...?"

 

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"Hooooh?" Naomi jumps up onto her feet, scaring away the butterfly. She calmly walked over to the armored brunette, getting within breathing distance of her. With a wide grin she locked eyes with the brunette. "I'm not very impressed by you either, Ms. Fancy Armor Pants. I'm here to have fun, and I bet you and your killjoy butt can't even keep up with Miss Butterflies. If you think you can intimidate and look down on me because you are taller or have large armor, you're mega mistaken." She then took a step back and stretched out her hand breaking her grin into a genuine smile. "So with that out of the way, I'm Naomi nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends!" 

[The Nonexistent Tazz]

Between the sassy armored brunette, the boastful 'Invoker,' the ditzy 'butterfly' robed person, and the flirtatious purple-haired newcomer, Seymore feels alienated. The whole experience is weird and out-of-place for a military unit, in Seymore's eyes. Seymore started to wonder if this 'Allied Guard' position is intended to be as glamorous and important as his instructor made it out to be. Certainly, when he joined the army, he had no inclination to believe he would be working with such eccentric people-but here he is. The black-armored fellow almost felt normal and composed, compared to the rest, but Seymore does not approach anyone.

Seymore takes a deep breath and brushes a hand through his grass-green hair. This just can't be as bad as it looks, can it? The combined forces of the Calissian Army and the Dragon Knights could not possibly have picked the most unqualified individuals to represent the face of their allegiance, right?

Almost as an afterthought, responding to someone else-"I hope we can be friends!"-Seymore spoke, looking at no-one other than his boots. "I just hope we don't ruin this..."

[rustytengo]

Kris licked her ice cream cone and followed the man with the sword keeping in step with him. "Hey, where are you going? Don't be shy your adorable. Oh, that's interesting. How are you liking it here?" she said with a smile.

[ElfCollaborator]

A visible sigh can be heard through the helmet as they turn to the brunette for a moment.

 

"Already, they noticed. I hope you know what you're doing, comrade. Making enemies so early on is not good for whatever you intend to be doing here."

They wave at the newcomer, trying to be as polite as possible despite the fact that about half the words they just said flew right over their head. Somewhat. Growing up in Kouan kept them behind on fancy city slang a little bit, though they were catching up. Or maybe they just spoke a little quickly.

 

 

"Please, call me Michi."

[Swordstar]

A yawn, stretch, and minor clanking of armor came from a few yards away from the group, and a lightly armored man pushed himself up off the ground, making his way over to the rest.

 

"You all are way too noisy already. We're here to work together, represent our countries, blah blah blah. Even if we hate each other, we've got to shut up and play nice, you know? Same applies to flirting, etc. We're here to be professionals and move both countries forward together. So lets not ruin everything in the very first hour, yes? At least wait a couple of weeks."

[Aurorix]

Something felt off about the girl's speech. She didn't even acknowledge his question but rather kept throwing her own at him. This was compiled with her inching ever closer to him. The was quickly turning from awkward to uncomfortable, this wasn't helped when she kept coming closer,  "Miss, please, could you stop with this? Not to be rude, but you're making this a little more than uncomfortable. So could you please give me some space?" The swordsman said trying to not get the lady angry while also continuing to back away. Needless to say he was never treated like this back at home.

[ElfCollaborator]

Michi remained silent at the newcomer's approach. They remained equally silent when they complained about being too noisy, despite having not really spoken all that much at all (save to say the exact same thing he'd decided to come over and chastise them over and then introduce themselves).

 

How disappointing. Two rather unpersonable people already and they hadn't even gotten to meet the rest of the Guard yet. The giant armored person simply shrugs and crosses their arms, the sound of light clanking accompanying it.

[rustytengo]

"Its not that bad some places are better then others. You should come to my home after all of this it's quite nice....sometimes." Kris said as she started to move towards the man with the sword again but then stops. 

 

"What? Really?"  She said a has her eyes finally focused on the swordsman and not the sword. 

 

"I'm sorry where you saying something?" She said has she cocked her head to the side a little to look at the swords man while licking her ice cream. 

 

[Chevaleresse]

Quote

 

Oh, Argos knows whats going on. These guys are testing his strength of heart and his convictions! He knew they would be good but geeze. Alright, time to not disappoint!  "Do you know who I am? You're calling me, the Invoker of Mayhem, a child!? The mere mention of my name sends terror into the hearts of all brigands out there!"

 

"Yeah, and I eat steel and shit gold. If you were as scary as you said you are, you wouldn't need to tell me."

Quote

"Hooooh?" Naomi jumps up onto her feet, scaring away the butterfly. She calmly walked over to the armored brunette, getting within breathing distance of her. With a wide grin she locked eyes with the brunette. "I'm not very impressed by you either, Ms. Fancy Armor Pants. I'm here to have fun, and I bet you and your killjoy butt can't even keep up with Miss Butterflies. If you think you can intimidate and look down on me because you are taller or have large armor, you're mega mistaken." She then took a step back and stretched out her hand breaking her grin into a genuine smile. "So with that out of the way, I'm Naomi nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends!" 

"I'm not trying to scare you. If you feel intimidated, that's because you're not ready for this." She looked slightly taken aback at the abrupt change in tone, but she couldn't help but smile back slightly at the girl's spirit, at least. 

"Rhian," she replied simply, returning the handshake with a firm grip.

Quote

"Already, they noticed. I hope you know what you're doing, comrade. Making enemies so early on is not good for whatever you intend to be doing here."

"I'm not here to make friends, either. Only thing I plan on doing is beating the hell of whoever needs it, and then going home."

Quote

"You all are way too noisy already. We're here to work together, represent our countries, blah blah blah. Even if we hate each other, we've got to shut up and play nice, you know? Same applies to flirting, etc. We're here to be professionals and move both countries forward together. So lets not ruin everything in the very first hour, yes? At least wait a couple of weeks."

"If someone hates me for being honest, I don't give a damn about their opinion anyway."

[Aurorix]

Wait, was she not talking or paying attention to him? If so who was she talking to? This is weird on multiple levels.  "Yea, um, I am very confused right now and have many questions. First, who are you? Why are you here? Why did you start inching closer to me like that? Were you talking to me and if not who were you talking to?"

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"See was that so hard?" Naomi smiled brightly. "It's nice to meet you too Michi." After she shook Rhian's hand she place her hands behind her back again and leaned forward. "I wanna beat up bad guys too. It sounds like fun! Letting loose, butterflies and explosions are all we need in life. Wouldn't you two agree?" 

[krim]

Fallon leaned with his back against one of the garden walls, and watched as his new comrades introduced themselves. If he was younger or less...known...in these parts, he would have done the same, but he had decided on the trip up here that it was best to keep a low profile. This close to the mountains, someone was bound to recognize him eventually, and he wasn't sure he was ready for what that meant.  

 

Of course, that was before the incident. So maybe not...? Either way, his single eye kept a watchful gaze over two of them more than the others. He had known Naomi for years, of course, but the boy swinging the sword around....he wasn't sure where he recognized him from, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he did.

 

But that wasn't enough to make him go over there. He was sticking to the plan. 

[The Nonexistent Tazz]

Seymore, in his own opinion, was not antisocial. He pretty much knew, quite well, almost everyone in his hometown; they were too tight-knit for it to not be so.

Seymore also had near-zero experience in dealing with people this... Colorful. But he has to learn, does he not? These are his coworkers, like it or not.

He looked towards the unfamiliar man in the eye-patch, keeping his cool at a remove from the others. He at least does not look like the type to... Overwhelm him, as the purple-haired madwoman did naught but a moment ago. It was helpful that he was distanced from the others, so Seymore can himself give some much-needed distance from the colorful personalities in the middle. He walks up to the man and put his spare hand onto the garden wall, leaning against it.

"Uh, howdy. You're here for the first meetin' of the Allied Guard, right?"