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Post by Nintendo Mastah on Oct 11, 2019 6:11:04 GMT -4
*From the Felbrook Village Streets* As soon as one approaches Felbrook, the most common reaction is a shiver down their spine. The massive, onyx-black gates, covered in spikes, the reinforced gate with demon guards watching it gives it an eerie look. This has over time spread to the surrounding area and most people would describe the entire area as 'gloomy'.Mist was rolling in. It wasn't very thick mist, but it made the already gloomy area outside even more gloomy. There was a clank of a metal spear, and the heavy gates began to roll open. Aeshra walked out of the gates, her bodyguard by her side. It was ironic, really. Aeshra was far more powerful, resilient and durable than her bodyguard, so really SHE should be guarding HIM. He was, however, almost unnaturally perceptive and often discovered threats before she did. To navigate, Aeshra held her hand out and a green flame appeared in her hand, lighting the way. The duo made their way towards the Crusader camp and as she arrived, The Countess spoke. "Hail. I have been told the Crusaders wanted to see me. Well.. Here I am".
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Post by NajaSide on Oct 11, 2019 23:49:03 GMT -4
When Aeshra and her guard drew closer to the campsite, what they found— Well, what they found wasn't exactly extravagant to say the least. A makeshift pavilion had been put together, the canvas covering having been tied high up in the air to several surrounding trees rather than any actual supports. Several banners emblazoned with the crest of the Crusade, its design now modernized since the group's joining into Hyrule Kingdom, hung from the tent's edges.
But it didn't look to be for lack of time or resources that the campsite looked so hastily put together. The envoy's steeds were nearby as well, a pair of horses stood next to a bullbo that stood several feet taller than its fellow steeds. They were each well-equipped, travel bags well packed if only except for what had apparently been used on the way to the village.
And then there were the Crusaders that had arrived. A pair of goblins accompanied by an older Hylian stood together beneath the tent, each dressed in surprisingly well-fit military gear. When Aeshra arrived, the three had been quiet, perhaps having little to say and simply resting after the long distance they had traveled. They were already making their way out from beneath the pavilion and making their way toward the Countess by the time the campsite was actually in sight. It was only as they drew closer to the pair that it grew evident their armor was decorated with a variant of the Crusade's crest, one which Aeshra would be able to recognize bore the emblem of Stellam.
The tallest of the three, a moblin that stood little more than a meter taller than Aeshra, took the lead. Once he stood before her, the moblin let out a hefty grunt, dropping down to a knee and bowing his head. The hylian and bokoblin that joined him followed suit, kneeling before her till their squad leader rose up to their feet once more. "Hail, Countess and Lady of this land." His voice was deep and guttural, strong with accent. "Our Lady sends a greeting from Star Rose." He looked upwards, above and beyond her to the gates of Felbrook. "She sent me to talk for her, and our wait says she was right to."
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Post by Nintendo Mastah on Oct 12, 2019 23:08:00 GMT -4
A moblin? Being a demon herself she was used to them, and it actually made her glad to see their kind among the Crusaders. She put a hand to her chest in recognition and bowed her head ever so slightly in a respectful nod. "Felbrook hears Star Rose", she replied, which was the proper response in this situation. "Please stand, I'm not much for formalities. Now, what message do you bring?". Stellam, huh? From what she heard, there was a "Countess" Stellam running things now. Aeshra never did like Perifidus Stellam, he was always sketchy, and she didn't know whether this one was the same or more trustworthy, but decided to save her judgement until she had met the woman in person. Besides, she was in dire need of help, and the other Countess had provided just that, so this one DID make a much better first impression.
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Post by NajaSide on Oct 13, 2019 4:15:37 GMT -4
"Thank goodness, was making me feel stiff in my bones," the moblin said, shaking himself loose and running a large hand through the exposed portion of his mane. He quickly looked down toward the squad's human companion, throwing a finger in their helmeted face. "Not a word... about human tradition, Clause."
They simply shrugged and said nothing. The bokoblin accompanying them grunted. "We'll go watch the horses." Clause glanced to the side away from the others, but after a moment, they stepped away from their squad leader to tend to the campsite. The smaller goblin rolled their eyes and walked after them.
Their squad leader watched the pair for a moment, but sharply returned his attention back to Aeshra. "Name's Mortimer." He drew a deep breath and lowered his lumbering form down onto one knee, crouching down before the Demoness to at the very least stand closer to her eye level. "Stellam sent us on the road here two morning back.
"First attack was maybe three moons back. Bar nearly burned down. Patron went wild, attacked everyone she saw and torched the place. Got me." He tilted his head upward, rubbing a hand along the underside of his neck where a still-visible burn mark had been etched. "Was a Demon, newly moved in. We tossed her out. The Lady thought she might've been some rogue shit trying to sabotage the work she'd put into the Outpost. I regret that.
"Second came two moons later. It hit the market. We were more prepared that time, though. Subdued and imprisoned 'em real quick before they do much. Had to be on our toes, keep an eye out on any newcomers for awhile, we thought. Made sense, it worked. That time. But then it didn't.
"Fortnight later, we got a third. We thought we'd be ready for the third, but we weren't. Third guy? He'd been a member of the village since it'd been built. Helped build it. That was the worst of them. The village sanctuary was torn apart before the Lady put a stop to it herself. Lost lots on that one. A friend." He was drumming the ground with his three fingers, staring somewhere past Aehsra. "Kept getting worse after that. Another fortnight, another two.
"I'd say it stopped then. The Lady, she put aside her duties about the territory, returned to town. then went to the Crusade's fortress. Something she did there. Seemed pretty good after that. Then three days ago, the Lady comes out, sees me. She's the look of a mama grizzle when you get near her babes. Told me to keep these past months in mind and had me come down here to Felbrook on her behalf. Said to me 'it's only the Demons'. Said you had to know that."
Mortimer let out a long, slow sigh. Then he looked up.
"Hope it meant something."
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Post by Nintendo Mastah on Oct 13, 2019 13:01:12 GMT -4
Aeshra listened to the message of Mortimer the Moblin, and let out a sound that was half a grunt of annoyance, and a sigh of relief. It was a bit strange to be relieved about these news, that other demons were running rampant, but it was a relief that others were working on a way to fix it.
"So you are having the same troubles I've been having", she simply replied once Mortimer was done speaking. "It has hit us as well. I was just about to reach out for assistance. It's affecting all of our demons..", she made a pause, hesitating."...Including me. I've already suffered a flit of rage myself, but I have taken.... precautions", she said, jerking her head towards her bodyguard and the shackles in his hand. "So it is only the demons? I had made that guess myself. Do you know exactly what your Lady did to make it stop? I would like to stop this before it escalates.. Before I do something I regret. Thankfully I've only destroyed property thus far, and no lives have been claimed.. Yet".
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Post by NajaSide on Oct 14, 2019 1:31:56 GMT -4
He nodded in affirmation. He'd presumed Lady Stellam was acting on assumption when she send his squad on such a trip, but if that were so, there had been something to grant her such expectations.
"So far, none of us goblins been hit with it."
"Nor those sneaky, scaly bastards that hang 'round the river!"
"Gringel," Mortimer gave a disgruntled snort and glanced off to the side. The bokoblin scout waved an arm from afar. The moblin shook his head and looked back toward Aeshra. "Lad's right though. It's like us pack mates have been spared. And even then, I can still feel it in my blood. Something out there making it boil, trying to rile us up, and whatever it is is pushing harder and harder." He gave a brief glance toward the soldier with her and laughed lowly. "Same reason's why Claude's here. Don't think they're enjoying that responsibility, and who can envy that. Can't envy us either though, can they?"
The grip of his hand around his knee plate tightened and he gave a shake of his head. "Can't say as I do, but wouldn't surprise me if she was asking favor from one of her gods. She seems to think one of them is that man lording over Akkala from the Crusade's fortress," he said, laughing again. "Can't say much about that, but I can't say whatever he'd done to bless the village hasn't worked. Before then, she'd been casting a spell to banish the corruption from the outpost...
"The last thing our Lady told me before I was gone was she would be traveling to the heart of this land. Word is the castle called on someone to represent the Crusade there. Bet you she's gonna take advantage of that invitation, find out what she can."
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Post by Nintendo Mastah on Oct 18, 2019 19:08:21 GMT -4
Aeshra listened to the moblin's words with a thoughtful look on her face. So this Lady was apparently looking for aid already. "Hmm.. Is there any way you, or I, could get word to your Lady? I would like her to know we in Felbrook have suffered the same fate, and would like assistance too. I was, as a matter of fact about to send a message to Hyrule and ask for their insight, as much as it bothers me".
She was not one to ask for help normally, as the Warlock preferred to solve her own problems, but she had to admit this was a bit out of her league. "I was just about to conduct an investigation into the matter myself, before someone else goes berserk".
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Post by NajaSide on Oct 21, 2019 18:36:08 GMT -4
"Even as one of the Crusade's messengers, I don't think I'd be well accepted into the capitol grounds. You and Lady Stellam laid foundations for our acceptance, but I can't imagine those central kingdom folk will take to me as well. Mmm..." Mortimer drew in a breath, holding a hand under his chin thoughtfully.
After a moment, he stood up and lumbered his way back to the campsite. For fiddled with something dangling from the side of his bullish steed briefly and when he returned, he was holding a wicker cage in one of his hands. He lowered it, holding it out for Aeshra to take. "I bring several carrying birds on my missions at a time. The Lady holds the abilities of these little birdies in high regard, these ones especially." The little bird inside hopped over to its cage door and looked out it at the Demoness. Its feathers were a light brown and red and its remaining features were all a plain grey and white apart from its eyes. The eyes, those were a deep yellow, almost as if alight with a fire, and far too intelligent.
"You give it a message, and it will return to our Lady without fail."
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Post by Nintendo Mastah on Nov 27, 2019 10:22:14 GMT -4
Aeshra frowned when Mortimer said the city folks probably wouldn't accept him. When she spoke, there was genuine sympathy in her voice. "It is a shame, is it not? That the Hylians hold their old grudges so deeply in their heart. Understandable, but a shame. Admittedly, I don't trust easily either, but I am the VERY least willing to give people a chance. In due time however, I am certain us demons and the mortals can live side by side, even in the capital".
When he brought out the messenger bird Aeshra studied it curiously. What an interesting idea! She could use something similar, but thought that a messenger-keese would be more akin to her taste. She leaned towards the cage and spoke to the bird. "Tell your mistress that Felbrook is suffering the same fate as they have and that Aeshra Valadaar is willing to meet and discuss the situation, should she desire".
After that she turned to Mortimer. "Do you plan to send one to Hyrule as well? I would need to get word to the King, and going there myself causes more problems than it is worth as the Hylians are not very welcoming to me either. I would be in chains before I reached the castle, even if they know my title". [/font]
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Post by NajaSide on Jan 6, 2020 19:12:19 GMT -4
"Bah... Least we're on a path there," he said solemnly. And would it not be that way either, were it not for Aeshra nor his lady's efforts. He at least had hopes they would not go to waste.
He tilted his head down slightly, looking down upon the cage in his hand as the Countess spoke to the bird within. It glanced between the countess and the small bits of their surroundings that it could see. Then it stepped up to the front of the cage and gave a low warble, as if to acknowledge her words.
Mortimer lifted the cage back up to his face and looked inside at the bird. He was just about ready to free it when Aeshra voiced her other question to him. He paused, lifting a hand up to scratch his chin. "Don't have a bird that would fly on its own there, unfortunately." After a moment of thought, he said, "I think Lady Stellam is near enough the king to pass a message onto that Hyrulean King. I can have the bird pass this message to our Lady as well."
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