Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Spyrion recieving guests... (sorry I'm so late to the game guys, but I'm here and ready to go!)

Airisk was just straightening his armor as the procession of guards and their lord appeared at the gate. He took a deep breath as he watched them enter and walked toward them. Airisk tried his best to appear casual, but this was the most excitement that House Spyrion had received in what he could possibly perceive as - well - forever. Being a rather peaceful town never really provided a lot of work for the guard. Not that he wished ill will on the town.

No, he hoped it remained peaceful forever, but part of him always hoped that he could somehow be what he always imagined himself to be. The man that he always daydreamed about in his lessons. Airisk had spent years polishing his lancer skills, but he felt like they were going to waste here. This was the biggest job he had gotten since he joined the guard, and it was simply escorting their new guests to their rooms.

"Welcome to House Spyridon!" said Airisk with a sweeping bow. He hoped he didn't sound as stiff as he thought. His own voice sounded alien to him. He mentally groaned as he stood up straight with a bright smile. "Lord Vykinn and honored guests. I am Airisk Sollari and I am here to guide you to Lord Spyridon." Oh geez... Someone kill me now.

-------

Kina had been setting up her stall for the past three days. In the first two days she sold well. She was certain to sew Zade's name into this town. She hoped so. Kina had to jump through hoops just to get such a popular spot in the marketplace. If she sold well enough, maybe they wouldn't mind her coming back to sell her wares again, instead of having to go aimlessly from town to town to town.

That was the dream anyway - to have a stable business relationship with a town close enough, but the marketplace had been totally dead today. She had even had enough spare time to brush her mare TWICE from head to toe. Kina was so desperate for customers that she hadn't left her stand the whole day, hoping to snare a customer. She was getting rather hungry.

The seemingly gaping hole in her stomach only seemed to deepen when she saw a man strut by with some meat buns in hand. She frowned and sighed. Maybe she should lock up for a while to go get herself some lunch... Kina didn't realize that she was staring at the man's food while she mulled the decision over in her head.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Spyrion preparing for guests..

Lord Theseus Spyridon was no longer the expected image of the lord of a warrior house. He was once a mighty force on the field. His powerful arms had struck many monsters and invaders down. He could smash rocks with his legs, and stare a man down to a puddle.

 Now, his prime had passed. A once taut torso now held excess weight around the stomach. Hair receded. His arms carried little now, and the muscles of his legs had softened. So had his eyes.

 While bemoaning the events that lead to his becoming the heir of Spyridon Castle, Theseus had found it to be happiest change of his life. Mourning had quickly been replaced with responsibility. That of his older brother's widow and daughter.


These are matters of long ago, however. Now, he prepared to meet with the convoy that approached the castle. Lord Jadis Vykin and his troops gathered in the courtyard. Hardened and grizzled. One could easily look at them and tell they lived in the outer towns. Lands that were still unruly.

It was times like these he wished for his stronger, younger self.

"Damn this unyielding metal!!" he gave a bellow.

Around the doorway came the mint-haired head of  his niece, Nausicaa, who had grown up in all those years since her father's loss. "Uncle, what ever is the matter?"

"It's this confounded armor!" Theseus grumbled. Servants were about him, trying to fit him back into his former battle armor. However, the old armor had obviously crafted for a leaner man.

Nausicaa tutted with a shake of her head. "Why not wear your ceremonial armor? It's been recently fitted.."

"Lord Vykin is a true warrior, who continues to wage battles each day. I'd not have him see me as some posh layabout."

"Uncle..." Nausicaa chided. "Perhaps you no longer carry your blade on a daily basis, but any who would underestimate our forces would receive a quick comeuppance. Our men are still quick with a blade, and strong of heart. Lord Vykin has every reason to be asking for our soldiers."

 Theseus couldn't help but smile at the young woman before him. Her spirit was one of the reasons he had spoiled her growing up. "Very well, my ceremonial armor then. Nausicaa, be sure you're prepared as well."

"Of course, Uncle!"

---

Elrin checked over his uniform. Nary a thing out of place. It was important to maintain appearances with another lord visiting. Truly, being in a warrior house in a safe town like this didn't add to much excitement, so a visiting noble gave much to do about the castle.

The sheikah himself was sort of at odds with where he should be. Although his tasks were more that of a servant, he was also a guardian of the young Lady Spyridon. He would be expected to be with her during this visit.

So he quickly traveled out to meet her in the hall. "Ah, my lady, you're already out here."

"Yes, we have guests after all. Granted, I don't think there's enough china for all the soldiers out there plus our own..." Nausicaa pursed her lips.

"They.. will be taken care of," Elrin said simply. With her, he found it best to often just go with her thoughts, than to bother explaining certain things. Such as the fact the servants and soldiers didn't use the castle's good china to eat with. It seemed irresponsible and wrong at times, but it often saved a long time in explaining something she took as given. The privilege of the noble, after all.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Weapon of Choice

As with most of the town's protected by Hyrule's major houses, the streets of Aethros looked pristine, untouched by the skirmishes and death that reigned supreme elsewhere in the world. That was the point, she supposed, of paying tithes and taxes to a noble lord.

The lord of House Spyridon and his family never seemed like quite the warriors though, not in Ahn's eyes. It was an "inner" territory so to speak, the part of Hyrule that had been tamed first by their ancestors. Outlying territories like her lords, well, those required more grizzled warriors. Soft skills wouldn't cut it. So despite what ridicule her lord received for hiring a woman in his honor guard, Ahn knew it didn't so much as flicker in his mind. Jadis Vykinn knew what it took to defend him, to defend Geddon.

But battle-hardened men knew best when the time came for aid. And thus came his visit to Aethros, to the house of Lord Theseus Spyridon.

A small contingent of horses entered the castle's courtyard before dismounting. Ahn came forward to take her lord's reins while the knights waited for the stable boys to escort them away. He gave her a curt nod in acknowledgment, and as much as she hated to admit it, that alone made her swell with pride. Greyr, their captain and a good friend, cast a look and a knowing smirk in her direction and she only shot him a glare in response.

Their lord headed toward the castle entrance, leaving his honor guard standing in ranks with the horses, awaiting orders.

"Well Spyridon is certainly... stylish," Greyr said with a dry chuckle. "I wonder if any of them can fight. With a sword, not a glove."

"Don't be condescending... they protect their people," Ahn gave him a look, falling in rank beside him.

"Yes, but from what? Clashing drapes?" he gave her a sly smirk.

Smiles broke out across the ranks. Anyone with even a mild sense of humor couldn't last around Greyr. "No, clashing flower beds," she shot back. The jib earned her a short chuckle.

"Aye. I can see that."

----------

"I'll spare two rolls, fine lady, just for a smile," Cast replied, holding one out to Jarl first. "The kid's growing. Help keep some meat on him."

His remark didn't get the response he'd awaited, rather, no response at all as Jarl began motioning behind him, speaking about a man. Cast and Cresta exchanged looks, the blacksmith shrugging her shoulders slightly. Others would attributed it to the fancy of a child, but something refused to release its grip around Cast's lungs. He remembered who Garden used to be, even if a scrawny half-starved boy didn't seem familiar to her. He'd bought a Light Parcel from her when they were young, when she was yet in training, for his own mother. Only a fool would dismiss Jarl's words completely, knowing that.

But with Garden's discomfort, only a fool would dwell on it then and there either.

"Two meat buns for a smile. And then throw in the wool just because I'm delightful," he said again.


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Finding out who your friends are....

Garden stood quickly, having nearly fallen asleep while shelling peas for her to fix for dinner that evening.  Business in the district was either feast or famine, and today, it had been famine.  She'd spent most of the morning shelling, giving Jarl a handful of peas to string onto a small stick he was playing with, and settled in to wait until the day was up.

Until now.

"Goddesses, Cast," she nearly dropped the basket of peas, setting them to the side.  But she came over to attend the young man who, periodically, brought her some type of payment other than rupees to finance his mysterious cloth needs.  "I have maybe a bolt and a half of blue wool left, but I don't need any--"

"MEAT BUNS!"  Jarl, leaving off his unconventional toys, came running over to meet Cast, reaching his hand toward the bag of meat buns.  Garden gave his knuckles a small rap.  "Please and thank you, Jarl.  We don't just reach for things."

Jarl pulled his hands back, but still smiled mischievously up at Cast, as though to a comrade with whom he shared a big exciting secret.

Garden shook her head, but realized it was nearly lunch time -- and Jarl had been exceptionally well-behaved today.  She silently consented to the trade by throwing Cast a mock-helpless look, then going over to her bolts of wool.  "The only shade I have is a deep royal blue.  Will that work?"

Just then, the blacksmith joined up beside Cast, staring in at her.

"Morning Garden!  I just came to see ho-- oh!  Sorry, Cast, didn't see you there, I was just--"

"Following your nose."


"Maybe..."

"Good morning, Cresta," Garden said as she went ahead to cut the cloth, as it was either royal blue for Cast or nothing.  "Cast, can you spare two rolls?  One for Jarl and one for Cresta.  This top-knotch wool is surely worth that," she intoned with an exaggerated smoothness, batting her eyelashes at him.  "... I don't eat meat rolls anymore myself.  Not sense I watched the butcher gutting a cow to make them last month..."

"One more!"  Jarl grinned.  "For him."

The last word her young son uttered caused Garden to make the last scissor snip a little crooked.  She knew exactly who the "him" was her son spoke of "No, Jarl."

But Jarl was undaunted, pointing toward a figure who was sitting on the ground in the back of the booth, head bowed and eyes focused downward.  "He needs to eat, too!  He's hungry!"

Wordlessly, Garden flopped the fabric onto the counter in front of Cast and walked back toward the figure, reaching to pull a dressing screen in front of him, which she kept around just for the purposes of hiding him.  Her heart was pounding as she feared turning back around to see a completely cleared sales counter, as had happened plenty of times before.  "Sorry.  Anyway, two meat rolls for the wool, right?"

"But Momma--!!"

"Shh."


Monday, November 24, 2014

Follow Your Nose

"The mountains? So far north! I have never even been to Kakariko Village in the foothills. What's it like?" Green eyes sparkled with wonder and watched Cast's lips like every word there would take her away from a dull life. Lady Soehla was the younger sister of her house's head Sayisa, lost in the shadow of a fierce sister who fought like a demon and clawed her way up the social ladder, so the stories told. And that's what made her such easy prey. This time he'd stylized himself as a minor son of House Tisus, Morghan Tisus, free to roam the country as he saw fit. Everything Soehla herself wanted to be.

"Well they say it's hot, the volcano and the Fire Sanctuary up there, but that's all in the summer. In the winter, the more you climb, the more the snows set in. Chills that bit through the thickest clothes. You need furs in your clothes to get very far, but it's the most beautiful sight I've ever beheld." He let a bashful smile send a blush through her cheeks. "Until you."

"I want to come with you! Will you have me?" Soehla asked.

"I'm afraid as a minor son, I don't get much of the Tisus money. They need it for their armaments, their knights that have to stave off the Wolfos plaguing the farms. I don't know when another trip will be in order, I'm sorry," he apologized.

"We can use my money! Sayisa must be able to allow it! I... am... I am a terrible warrior, not worthy of our house's name, but it is my name as much as hers. I will persuade her!" A fire of life warmed her cheeks. "And we'll be able to see the mountains in the winter. I'll pay for everything!"

And there it was. "Really...? You would do that?" he asked, putting an incredulous tone in his voice that crescendoed into excuberance. "You are wonderful, Soehla! Of course I'll take you with me. This is more than I could have ever asked for."

Soehla gushed about her fantasies, her plans for their trip and he listened and nodded along with excitement, a performance she drank like water after days without. When it came time for her departure, back to her family's small manor near Golden Crossing, he promised to think of her and of their adventure.

That's when Morghan Tisus vanished, his clothes packed away, his face--accented in just the right places with a little bit of makeup--wiped off, and his brown hair washed out. The handsome young noble who had swept Soehla Sorbel into a fairytale was replaced by an ordinary looking man with ash blond hair and brown eye, a man no one even looked twice at.

He drew twenty rupees out, part of the advance Soehla had given him to secure a guide for their journey up the mountain, and purchased a small bag of steamed buns from a vendor in the lower ring of Golden Crossing. The city was a trader's haven, but that didn't stop the "high class" merchants from making sure their clientele wouldn't have to share the same air as a street rat.

He continued down from the Diner's Alley to the Artisan's District, munching on a meat bun as he headed straight for a small dye and cloth shop off the square.

"Mornin'." He plopped the bag of meat buns down on the counter and leaned against it. It was hard maintaining a dozen different lives without some props for the act. The whores his mother counted as friends had taught him to sew, make some basic clothing. Some years of practice and he'd refined the craft into something passable, but the cloth itself needed to come from somewhere.

"Garden, I have a bag of meat buns to split if you can tell me you have something wool in blue," he said, pulling out a meat bun with an enticing smile. "They're still warm."

-----------

Sweat trickled down the back of Cresta's neck and she wiped it away with a rag as she left the forge for the front counter. They only had one commission for the day. For the week for that matter. A full suit of armor, embellished, for some young knight who fancied himself a hero, at least there was that. However, the trickle of orders still pricked at her nerves.

She pulled her long braid out of its hair pin and tugged it over her shoulder as she stepped into the morning air. Just roll with the punches. She took in a deep breath and with it came the scent of meat buns. Fresh ones.

Cresta crept further out of her shop and glanced around. She frowned at the familiar face leaning one Garden's stall.

Cast gave many of the artisans honest business, but the man was mum on exactly what he needed any of this for. Cloths, silver ware, a necklace. None of it made any sense and it stunk to the high heavens as far as she was concerned.

But she wasn't above letting it slide for today if she could have a chance at one of those meat buns.

"Morning Garden! I just came to see ho-- oh! Sorry, Cast didn't see you there, I was just--"

"Following your nose," he said with a small smirk.

"Maybe...."

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Airisk Sollari and Kina

Name: Airisk Sollari
Age: 23
Race: Hylian
Gender: Male
Personality: Airisk is what most people would find to be an ordinary boy. He is perfectly average in every way. He comes from a middle-class merchant family, he is the youngest of three boys, he’s never really known much struggle, he received a normal education for one of his stature, and even his looks are downright average. He was spoiled as a child, being the youngest of three, especially by his mother. The only thing exceptional about him is his determination. Whenever he sets his mind on something he never stops until it is done; however, it has left him with a terrible case of tunnel vision. His determination pulled through when he decided he would join the Aethros guard as a teen. He became exceptionally good at wielding the lance through rigorous self-training. Though he is diligent in his training, he’s a slacker at just about everything else. When he’s on his breaks he’s often seen napping under a large tree behind the Spyridon gardens. He’s a care-free, gentle young man with a contagious smile.
History: Ever since he was a child, all Airisk dreamed about was joining the Aethros guard under House Spyridon. As soon as he was old enough to get his hands on a lance he trained day in and day out for just that purpose, and because he was the youngest of three he had no family obligations to tie him down. This often made Airisk the target of his eldest brother Quinn. Because Quinn was obligated to inherit the business while his youngest brother just did whatever he wanted on a whim put him on edge. However his other brother, Marith, and his mother gave him all the encouragement and support that he needed, and did everything in their power to make sure he had the best teachers. Boot camp was grueling. It is still the hardest thing he has ever done in his life, but once he reached his knighthood he passed with ease and became a knight under the House Spyridon.

Apperance: He is the typical Hylian young man with shaggy blonde hair (pulled into a low ponytail to keep from hindering his vision), bright blue eyes, fair skin, and a gentle smile. As mentioned before he has an average appearance, including an average height of 6 feet.

Weapon: Lance


Name: Kina
Age: 21
Race: Sheikah
Gender: Female
Personality: Kina is quiet and withdrawn. She takes her studies as an herbalist very, very seriously. She often comes off as cold and aloof to those who try to speak with her, because she never speaks more than she has to. The truth is, however, that she is simply too cowardly to speak to people, so her social skills aren’t quite what they should be for a woman her age.
History: Kina is an orphan who came from a very, very small village. She has never known her parents, and, in a sense, was raised by the entire village in which she was born. She could see spirits for a while, but since a lot of other people couldn’t, she assumed she should keep it a secret. Because she tried to keep her spirit seeing a secret, as a child she never really understand how to speak with people without coming off as aloof and stand-offish. She could never find the courage to speak to the other kids. Instead, she helped the local apothecary with her garden. She always enjoyed working in the garden. The idea of growing something in order to help people always settled well with her. When she was old enough she became a full-born apprentice. Though it was tough memorizing all the formulas and components to the potions, it was always well worth the effort in the end. At the age of 20 she became a partner with the old apothecary, and she travels to neighboring towns in a cart in order to sell her potions.
Apperance: She has long silver hair that is pulled into a braid that stops at her shoulders. Like most Sheikah, she also has red eyes, pointed ears, and tanned skin. She is rather small and skinny (around 5’1” and only 100lbs). She wears small specticals to help her read.

Weapon: None

Character Profile: Cast Silarion


Name: Cast Silarion
Age: 27
Race: Hylian
Gender: Male
Personality: Liars breed liars. Cast was born and bred among people whose existence depended on how well they could portray exactly what someone wanted, and he picked up the skills very well. Instead of being reliable and concrete, his personality is adaptable and fluid and he is very hard to read or anticipate. On the contrary, he reads people and behaves in a way suited to that person. He’s adept at portraying exactly he wants to in both his mannerisms and body language. 

Despite all this, there is a formed personality in his core. His ability to manipulate people has made this natural personality a little arrogant and playful, but because he’s grown up digging out his own existence in society, he’s no stranger to seriousness either. Most people have a hard time seeing his true nature for what it is, knowing what is the real Cast. 

Appearance: Cast is fairly tall, standing about 6'1" with an average build. He's relatively successful at his chosen profession, so he's filled out rather nicely with muscle over the years, looking nothing like the scrawny street rat he used to. His hair is a darker, ash blonde color contrasting against his honey brown eyes. He also keeps a very short beard, which he keeps trimmed and neat like his hair in an effort to remain relatively nondescript.

History: The bastard son of a whore, Cast was surprisingly well cared for in his early years. The house his mother worked for was very communal and had a habit of caring for one another’s children like their own. Local street rats and orphans were often jealous that the children born to this particular brothel were fed, clothed and sometimes even educated by the women, so they targeted them anytime they set foot out of the whore house. Cast was small and scrawny, but he never backed down from fights, which lead to him losing more than his fair share. Many of the children simply took the beatings and teasing in stride and refused to stand up for one another. This wasn't what their mother's were teaching them, he reasoned, so he would argue and confront the others about their cowardice. His words never amounted to anything more than his own isolation from the rest of the children, much to his mother’s dismay. But it didn’t bother him quite so much. He was fearless and long decided his mother was the only one important in his life.

Her death from syphilis hit him hard. The rest of the whores took him under their care in his mother’s stead, but Cast barely ate or slept for months. One day he simply disappeared. None of the women could find him or figure out where he went, so they simply gave up, praying for the goddesses to take care of him.

Already a budding idealist, Cast became determined to protect women from his mother's fate, protect them from resorting to prostitution. Reality burned this naivety to ash, leaving only a hollowed existence in its place for years, as the boy grew into a man. He became a simple thief, working alone, picking off the masses to drag his own existence through life.

Well into his teenage years, half starved one day, he woke to the reality that this path would kill him and soon. He contemplated letting the hunger eat him heart and soul... and found himself met with a visage of his mother on her deathbed, writhing in pain until nothing remained in her eyes. Terror lodged itself in his heart and drove him to reclaim his life. So using every tool at his disposal, he set out to do just that.

Cast now maintains himself as a skilled con-artist, using a variety of assumed names. Only contacts he uses to acquire certain tools know him by his real name.

Weapon: Street fighting and a hidden dagger.
Other: Cast possesses strange magic that he generally ignores because he has never understood it.