forum The Age of Kings and Calamity (Closed Small Group, 3/3)

Started April 18, 2023 by @lord-of-the-carnival group

tune

Ariella didn't have time to react as Calamity cast them away. She had barely had time to clutch her book to her chest, much less try to open it and counter the spell. This was not what she had signed up for. In all honesty, she hadn't really signed up for any of it. She had been caught and dragged to the palace. Had it been her choice, she was be at home with her mother helping her run the apothecary in peace and silence.

But no, she had to be born with the Mage mark and now here she was, having been cast somewhere far away. The ground was frozen and she was shivering. Her clothes were not meant for cold weather. Her breath came out in cold puffs as she panted. She wanted to go home. This was not for her. She was not brave or courageous. That was Hero. Her skills were barely useful beyond helping in the apothecary. She was useless.

As she heard the woman her head snapped up and she scrambled back. A bow, she was holding a bow. Ariella did not have a death wish and certainly did not want to find an arrow through her. Subconsciously, she shifted closer to Ronnie. If anyone could protect her it would be him. She pulled the book up to her chest. Oh, she didn't like meeting new people, especially not in a place either.

The woman was certainly angry, that was easy to tell. And Ariella was not the one to deescalate the situation. Her mouth was opening and closing like a bobbing fish. She looked at the other two men but neither of them looked like any help either in this. But it was the earth beginning to Florida that caught her attention and she froze. The early melted and plants began to bloom nefptr promptly dying and freezing again. It hadn't been her. So it could only be one person, the woman in front of her.

Erin glares at the group.

"Well? Do you want to freeze or get mauled by one of the baloths, or do you want to come with me?" she asks bluntly. She was quickly losing interest in them anyways. No point in dwelling very much on what they could have done, now that Calamity's back.

Ronnie glanced at King Cassius, as the man plopped down and began worrying. A normal reaction, with his family, his people, and his home on the line.
The Hero stepped in front of his King, and knelt, so that he wouldn't be looking down at him.
"Give me a moment, my King, and I'll secure your siblings."

Over Huldir, where Ronnie had been hovering, keeping an eye on things, there was a brief flash of light, like lightning in a cloud.
In the next moment, the Hero appeared back in the Palace, and quickly evacuated the Royal family, making sure the Hawkins' family were safe. His incorporeal body guided them out, and whisked them away to safety, for the time being.

It took a bit, but the part of him still with King Cass was able to report that "Your family is safe. Ariella might be able to let you scry through to them, if you require it."

He stood and turned as the girl began spitting venom and lies. Or at least, laying blame where it didn't belong.
Good King Cass had most definitely sent aid out this far. Ronnie had seen to it himself. So the girl's anger was misplaced.
What her local leadership had decided to do with the money was out of their hands. If the magistrates and elders had decided to hoard the relief funds, so that the people received no benefit, that wasn't the fault of the Mage, the Hero, or the King. The people simply needed to put better leadership in place.
"We don't need to answer to you, kid. Watch your tone with your King." This, again.

He glanced at Ariella, who was clearly struggling, then back at King Cassius.
"Sire? I'll leave it your call. I can transport us somewhere warmer, less hostile, if you'd like. We needn't put ourselves at any discomfort. Or at the mercy of whiners and complainers."
Plane-walking had been a useful skill many times before, and it was times like these that Ronnie was willing to put out the energy to do it well. "This upstart is not your only option."

Cass struggled for a moment, trying to regain his bearing and then aoghed. "Ronnie, be nice, just because she's angry doesn't mean we call them names." Cass lightly scolded the Hero, and then turned to Erin.

"Madam, I'm sure you are mistaken. I have sent money and aid this far. I have the checks and papers to prove it. It's what the leaders of your town decided to do with it where the line gets muddled."

He turns back to Ronjie, "I don't care for comfort, you, of all peple, should know that Ronnie. We'll stay here, gather ourselves together. And then plan." He runs his forhead, still slightly tense and worried.

Erin rolls her eyes.

"Actually, I am your only option, Hero. Just because you're from the capital and are effectively immortal doesn't mean a baloth or even a greatwyrm can still give you an issue. You aren't anywhere close to as powerful or as old as the things that lurk around these mountains, that's for sure. And as for your whiners and complainers comment? I only mentioned a couple things. It isn't my fault your opinion just so happens to differ." she says. "Plus, you can't actually escape from this area. Most magics and magical energies are mostly blocked for some reason, at least they have been for the past few months. It's a surprised you guys weren't killed being put here."

"As for you, King, if that's the case, once all of this is over I'd love to see those records. Because the elders never recieved it, and no messengers or magic have been detected. If you've sent money we've seen neither hide nor hair of it." Erin shrugs.

Ronnie flatly ignored the girl. Her babbling didn't require a response from him, especially given that she was wrong about nearly everything.
He was that powerful, he could leave, and take the King and the Mage with him if he wanted to, and there was nothing blocking his power here. Maybe lesser people, but it didn't apply to him, apparently.
However, arguing that was only going to keep her talking to him, and he was more interested in that ending than in proving his might.

Her comment about the records made him smile, just slightly. They absolutely had the records, though he had no doubt she was telling the truth about the elders saying they'd received nothing. Obviously the breakdown in trust and communication was out here, and didn't sit at the King's feet.
He kept his silence, though. The King had made a decision, and Ronnie was loyal.

Cass smiles at the girl, nodding, “Of course. If what you’re saying is true, either they are being honest, and something has intercepted it, or they are, as Ronnie suggested, keeping the funds from you.”

He turns and glares at Ronnie, his anger apparent for the Hero. “Ronnie.” He snaps, clearly frustrated with the Hero. “Stop being arrogant. You know that is not how we portray ourselves, because that is not what we are. Your powers have limits, just like the rest of ours, so act like it.”

Cass looked to Ariella and sighs, walking over to her, “Are you okay, Ariella? Do you need space or time?” He smiles, trying to be comforting, “Is there anything you need?”

King Cass snapped at him, and Ronnie gave him a sympathetic look. The man was clearly under so much stress, an outburst in his direction was to be expected.
He bowed his head, respectfully, and kept his voice low. "As you wish, my liege." He could pretend to have lower limits if that's how the King wished things to be. He wasn't here to intimidate, if the King was willing to be treated without the respect due his position. And that fact didn't surprise him either.
There was a reason the man was called Good King Cass. His heart was huge, and Ronnie had always admired that about him. It was part of why Ronnie was determined to stay loyal, despite the constant murmering in the back of his head that he didn't need to bow, to anyone. He regularly squashed those voices by reminding himself that Cassius had a golden heart that needed protecting. The man was a beacon of light in this world, and Ronnie willingly bowed to that.
Despite being a powerful being in his own right, King Cassius didn't make it known. He was a large part of the reason Ronnie hadn't argued his power in the first place. The King had shown him it wasn't worth it, over the years.
As long as he had the power to do what needed doing when it needed to be done, it didn't matter what others thought, and Cass had made it clear that if it kept the peace to pretend weakness, then he was to do so. It was a hard thing to remember, at times, but. The King's simple reminder had done its job.

Ronnie watched the Good King approach Ariella, who looked thoroughly out of it.

Ariella was not brave or strong like Hero, nor blessed with a kind soul and the ability to speak to others. She was just Ariella and she did not want to be here. Perhaps a few centuries ago, Mage had been this powerful being when dealing with Calamity. But Ariella was not that person. She was not all that powerful. Half the time she tried a spell she got it all wrong and it was a disaster. How was it that it was she that was Mage when Calamity came back? Surly fates wanted her to lose if she had been named Mage during this time. There was no way she could stand up to the woman.

She had been too lost in her head as the other three had begun to argue. She wasn't very good with conflict. She pulled her book against her chest and drew her knees up to her chest and against the book, and she hugged herself while the others fought it out with words.

She hadn't been expecting for the king to approach her. She hadn't been expecting anyone really to approach her. She jumped at his words, blinking rapidly as she looked up at him, being drawn from her thoughts in her head. She shook her head. "I'm okay." She certainly was not okay but she needed to be. "Will you help me up, I think my butt is frozen to the ground."

Cass smiled kindly and offered his hand to Ariella, “I don’t mean to rush you, but maybe, with the little time we have, you can work on some of your spells without having the pressure’s of court pressing down on your shoulders and taking your time.”

He holds onto her lightly and gently, making sure she was steady before looking away and looking at Erin, “Please, do take us to your town.” He smiles at her warmly, trying to gentle the slight. . . brashness. . . That Ronnie had just displayed.

Erin sighs and nods. She lopes off, motioning for the group to follow close behind her.

She feels her eye burn slightly again and ignores it.

Little did she know the Mark was slowly spreading inky tendrils, starting to move outside of the eye. It would be noticeable.

Too noticeable.

Luckily the burning stops. The Mark doesn't disappear this time, staying perfectly visible.

She turns around and waits for a moment for the Hero, the King and the Mage to catch up.

Ronnie waited till Ariella and King Cassius had followed the girl, before bringing up the rear. He didn't want anyone left behind.

He managed to cover their tracks and make sure they didn't leave sign either, though he wasn't sure it much mattered.

Ariella was definitely taking this the hardest, and Ronnie made sure to keep an eye on her. King Cass had a lot on his plate, but his strength of character had carried him through bad situations before.

The girl stopped, and Ronnie stopped once the other two were right up with her.

Ariella accepted the king's outstretched hand and used his help to stand up. She was clutching her book to her chest in one hand and holding onto the king with the other. She noticed, though, as she stood, that Cassius hadn't let go of her yet. She wasn't sure how to feel about that. She didn't think she had ever had prolonged contact with him.

She merely smiled at him and nodded her head, looking down. Their hands. Right. She was the one to pull away from him, releasing his hand and hugging her book. It was only as a cold wind breezed by that she began to shake. She was not dressed for this weather. Not in the slightest. Her gown had an open back to expose her mark and the fabrics were made of a lighter material to combat the heat the torches in the palace gave off. She wasn't sure she would make it to the town like this.

She freed her right hand and held it palm open. She whispered a quiet word, "ingis," and a flame appeared in her hand. Though it gave off heat, it did not burn her. Not when she was the caster. It offered some heat against the cold, while it wasn't much, it might just help her get through this. She looked up at the king, motioning for him to step closer if he wanted to share her small fire and warm up.

She looked back at the girl they were following, only to stop in her tracks as she was looking back. A mark. There was a mark on her eye. One that Ariella did not recognize. There were only supposed to be four of them. King, Hero, Mage, and Calamity. There was no record of a fifth. "What the fu-"

Erin jumps and pulls out her bow, knocking an arrow and looking around tensely.

She then looks at where Ariella was looking, and it wasn't at the surrounding trees.

Her eyes flash as she grumbles, putting the bow and arrow away again.

"What?" she asks. "Something wrong with my face?"

Ariella blinked at the woman, regarding her. This was strange and she didn't like it. She took a couple steps back, her back hitting Ronnie's chest, making her jump. She stared wide eye. There had been nothing to tell of this. No book, no scroll. There were four of then. There was supposed to be only four. And yet a fifth has emerged.

"Y-your eye," she barely managed to get out. She swallowed visibly. What did she even say to this? She didn't know what thos mark was or what it represented.

In her lack of concentration, her fire went out and she began shivering again. But she was too focused on the other woman to realize just how cold she truly was.

"My- my eye?" Erin asks. She reaches up and touches the area around the eye, then the eyelid, confused.

"Like, my actual eye or the area that's around it?" she inquires further, genuinely not knowing what was going on. She gets an idea.

"Wait, there's a stream nearby. It can act as a mirror. It's pretty clear and smooth flowing. I'll head over there and check what's wrong." she sighs, loping off like a wild animal, of to the left. She disappears quickly, then returns a few minutes later, looking pale.

"Is it- is it still visible?" she asks shakily. She knew what the answer would be: yes. Because the Marks couldn't be hidden when they were fully inscribed. They couldn't be gotten rid of, either.

Cass blinks and drops his hand, moving towards the small flame slightly. He stops along with Ariella and stares at Erin, his mind trying to pick up on anything hed read. Not a thing was coming up.

He clears his throat and motions to the mark on his neck, "You have one, around your eye, madam." He murmrs, " I'm going to guess it's new? "

Erin was freaking out.

"No, I've had it for years." she snarks. "Of course it's new! I don't know anything more about this than you do! I'm not some- superpowered wizard destined to fight a literal fucking goddess! I'm struggling to fight my hunger most days so everyone else can be fed because nobody's bothering to check what's coming into the town!"

She looks like she's in denial for all of the next few seconds before she sighs and her shoulders slump. She stands up straight and stretches before looking everyone square in the eyes.

"Whatever. It's not something to worry about right this second. It can wait until we know what exactly has happened to cause her return." she says, turning and starting to walk again.

Ronnie had his eyes on their surroundings, and hadn't really looked at the girl directly.
Ariella's exclamation drew his attention, and there, on the girl's face, was yet another mark.
Ronnie tensed, his power rippling, before realizing that if she'd really intended to do them harm, she probably would have tried already. Or maybe just left. Ariella and King Cass were cold out here.
So he relaxed. Especially as the girl herself freaked out a bit. That was… a good sign for their safety, but a bad sign for her. He didn't wish her ill, despite her accusations and disrespect, so he hoped they could all help figure out exactly what was going on. Ariella and King Cass were the brains of the operation; he'd let them work on it.
Ronnie had always, understandably, been the brawn, and had quickly learned keeping up with the other two mentally wasn't his strong point. As long as he could still do all the things he could do, though, he had use within the trio.
The girl continued walking, squaring her shoulders and handling the situation with… remarkable, and probably fake, composure. Certainly, given what the mark might mean, Ronnie didn't fault her for being nervous, but her ability to set it aside for now was admirable.

They kept walking, Ronnie still securing the rear.

Cass cleared his throat, “Please, refrain from yelling, Erin.”

He leans back on his heels, watching mutely for a moment and then looks to Ariella, “Do you know of anything about a fourth mark?” He murmurs quietly to her.

(Brain go burr)

Ariella looked back at Ronnie. She was not comfortable with this. Even mess so now that another mark had emerged. What did it even mean this mark? What else did they need? They had Mage, Hero, and King. There was no need for another mark. Not that Airella wouldn't have gladly given her mark to someone else.

She shook her head at Cass. "No, there's no mention anywhere. If there was, we'd know about it." She kept her voice low so only her king would hear.

This changed everything. After they figured out who this woman truly was, well it changed the game. She only hoped the woman was a friend. They were already contending with Calamity. They couldn't afford to face another foe. They wouldn't survive it. Ariella didn't think they would survive against just Calamity.

Erin, being a hunter attuned to hearing things most others wouldn't, catches the whisper and rolls her eyes.

"Even I know this is unusual. Stop whispering about it please. There's no secrets to be had about this." she mutters, loud enough for everyone to hear her. "Especially since the one you're trying to whisper about is only a few feet away from you."

She hadn't turned around, and had simply kept walking.

"Oh, and once we get to the town, make sure to keep your heads low. Lots of us aren't exactly fans of you three due to some. . . unfortunate rumors." she sighs.