[RP] The Magi Saga - The Mandate of Magic

[VeloJello]

Lightthroat Hadran Lurel
Wind Guild (High Speaker)
Lesonia, Raya (en route to Shadow Guild chapter meeting)
ARP’ers: @Saraibre Ryu

Hadran hated Windshots.

Some mode of fast transit was a necessity for most travelers between Skybound City and literally anywhere else, and Windshots were better than most of the other Guilds’ fast travel options. That didn’t mean that Hadran enjoyed being propelled at speeds high enough that friction would have torn her to pieces if it weren’t for the magic, only to be brought to an abrupt halt anywhere from ten to fifty feet above the ground and lowered down by another’s magic. If she was going to fly anywhere, she wanted to get there under her own power.

Aside from the odd case of whiplash, though, the Windshots were reliable and zippy - and were pretty easy to find most of the time, due to the Windshot spell being easier to cast and requiring a lot less focus than most other fast-travel methods. They were also good at carrying multiple passengers, such as the seven Wind Guild members she’d brought with her.

A guard greeted her little contingent almost immediately. “Hold!” the centaur ordered, trotting over to the endpoint of the Windshot. She stopped in front of the group and surveyed them, eyes faintly aglow with some manner of scrying spell. After a few moments, the examination ceased, and the centaur nodded. “Clear of illusions and enchantments,” she said. “Orphus. You are High Speaker Hadran Lurel, I presume?”

“Lightthroat Lurel,” Hadran corrected. She couldn’t tell whether people thought that they were allowed to use her closed name because they weren’t orphi or because she was a public figure. Either way, it grated her. Not that she showed much of the grating; it wouldn’t do to appear as anything but the reasonable authority figure. “There is a small meeting of your local Shadow Guild chapter taking place approximately half an hour from now, and I have been asked to bring some of my own Guildmates to the meeting as well.”

Technically, Hadran had only been cordially invited when she was asked to send a few Wind Guild members whose skillsets complimented the stealthiest of the Shadow Guild - there was no obligation for her to make an actual appearance. The meeting would be presided over by one of the many chapter leaders of the Shadow Guild, and there was no real need for Hadran to go. However, recently, she’d been making as many appearances in public as she possibly could. Not only did she have to be a stronger leader than Jonah had been, she had to make sure that everyone knew her strength. Holing up in the Skybound City would make her appear out-of-touch, possibly even cowardly or hostile. Coming out would show that she was willing to work with the other Guilds, and would give others a chance to get to know her.

Thusfar, it had been fairly successful. Those she worked with treated her with respect for the most part, though she wouldn’t be surprised if others still held doubts about her. Frankly, after Jonah’s performance with Vrell, she couldn’t really blame them. Not to mention that the Wind Guild tended to get stereotyped as one of the weaker Guilds to begin with.

The centaur nodded. “Very well. Welcome to Lesonia, High Speaker, Guild members.”

Lesonia was quite beautiful. An old port settlement, one from whom several of the Skybound City’s founders and migrants had come, it was well-kept and home to many large, elegant buildings. Here and there, Hadran could pick out similarities to the Skybound City’s architecture, though Skybound tended to build upward more due to a preexisting abundance of flight abilities and more scarce land. Most of the commonalities lay in the heavy use of glass and other reflective building materials, and the many ornate pillars that dotted the newer buildings.

During the time of the Platinum Crusade, nearly all cities that had previously lacked local Guild chapters had gained at least some presence from each Guild. So far as Hadran knew, Lesonia hadn’t had much real Shadow Guild presence previously, but their temporary base was easy enough to find. A sign decorated with the Shadow Guild’s emblem showed that they were gathered in a repurposed warehouse.

Hadran checked the watch in her pocket. Early. She took the time to turn around and address her Guild members. “Each of you has been invited here to mingle with the Shadow Guild’s elite spies and saboteurs and to potentially work alongside them in those capacities. I trust that you will represent our Guild well and show your counterparts respect. We are part of a Circle now, which means reaching out and learning from new sources. Are we clear?” The assembled Guild members nodded, and there were a few murmur of assent.

She then turned to the Storm Kyte near her side. “Hazy,” she said. Nicknames gave Hadran mixed feelings - an alteration of an orphus’s closed name was considered an insult, but Aria-Haizen seemed not to mind. As for Haizen’s insistence on being Hadran’s impromptu bodyguard, Hadran hadn’t figured out an opinion on that yet. The Storm Kyte was a bit unruly, but Hadran wasn’t exactly in a position to turn down help. “Just to be clear, you’re not to volunteer for any mission offered here, jointly or otherwise, as I can almost guarantee it will not be at all in your skillset. I didn’t figure you’d try, but I want to make sure that we’re all on the same page. Alright?”

[Trainer17]

Character/s: Arus (Half-Dragon) & Munchie (Mohawk Mouse Pet)
Location: Fire Guild Headquarters, Dracora, Raya
Destination: Tyanis (Dyrin) via Wisp Islands Harbor


It was a bright, sunny day, just like any other. The Fire Guild was bustling with activity and with recent rumors about the Platinum Crusade making rounds almost every day, this guild rarely is without any liveliness. In this very Guild, Arus joined not too long ago, in an attempt to find more about himself, his lineage, his lost memory. He climbed through the guild ranks quite steadily, but didn't want too much popularity which might obstruct him from his own goals, so he decided to slack off a bit for a while. Arus was just making his way back to the Fire Guild HQ after completing a quest in a town situated nearby Dawnwood Forest.

---



Quest Log - #1 The Disappearing Act

A case in which most of the town's men have gone missing in the Dawnwood Forest. Arus has a knack for finding missing people, especially a given for since he's a part dragon, and his senses are much more heightened than any other average human being. He was the only one assigned for this mission, as Arus prefers to go solo, most of the time. It was a quick work for Arus at the end of the day, as it seemed like the men from the village have been abusing the forest to an certain extend by extinguishing and ripping the entire place of its trees, which angered the Forest Guardian; Marigold. Soothing an angry human would be a feat, and now it's a Forest Guardian to boot. But much to the contrary, non-humans tend to give more of a listening ear than your average humans nowadays. Arus also has gift with his words. So much that it doesn't matter if his oppressor was a human or non-human, he would find his way through and turns the favor to himself without too much hassle. Marigold was a gentle soul, and she saw Arus' genuine heart when she peered straight into his eyes. She calmed down quite fast, but was still stricken with fear that her beloved forest might not last long. Arus made a quick deal with Marigold, which was favorable for both the Forest Guardian and the village, so it was good at the end of the day. The forest would be visible only to the village folks who bears a insignia blessed by Marigold. They will be the Forest Guardian in her stead, refurbish and take care of the forest, and in return, they are paid with invaluable gems and minerals as a gift of appreciation by Marigold. It was not all that bad, so Arus thought this deal would be able to put the forest back to its fertile self and maintain it in a long run, while Marigold doesn't have to reveal its presence to the outside world, considering the latest Platinum Crusade and King Vrell's tyranny which is throwing the world into chaos and turmoil.

---

"...heh, that was a very short quest, but I'm glad things worked out at the end, Munchie!" Arus looked at his pet mouse which was perched upon his right shoulder.

"It's just that sometimes, human beings are just so selfish and heartless. I'm beginning to doubt what my dragon parent saw in my human parent. This is like a curse. Walking around in this form. I can't even fully transform into a Dragon yet. It has been 2 years since I left the village, you know?" Arus sighed.

"Mmmmmmm..." Munchie hopped about, trying to cheer Arus up.

The walk was quite short, as the Fire Guild HQ could be seen. Arus walked to the doors, and greeted the sentry before making his way into the Guild's Tavern. His primary hangout spot, he quickly shuffled his way over to the Pub, to report his just completed quest. The Bar Owner, Khelfi, was out on a hunt for ingredients as usual, so Arus had to look for the assistant, Noma. She was dealing with some Guild Adventurers herself, handing out the rewards and updating the completed missions and quests in the Guild's Database. Arus queued up like the rest, and had to wait a while for his turn.

"Hey Noma! Why does Khelfi disappear at a time like this?" Arus asked as he stepped up towards the elfen girl.

Noma - Maroon
Arus - Fire Brick

"You should know this more than I do, you brat! She's always gathering new ingredients and the like to fill up endless stomachs like yours! You better be thankful for all this. And what happened to that quest of yours now? We tried to contact you from time to time, but you never ***ed to pick up the call as always!" Noma was clearly frustrated, but she deeply cares for Arus, ever since he turned up at the Guild as a kid.

"Eh..REALLY?! ****. I must have missed that again. Sorry about that Noma. It's a mission well done as always! Hahaha, what do you expect? A screw up?" Arus chuckled as he handed over the report.

"...you're surprisingly good at these kind of quests. Why are you so obsessed about non-humans or creatures so much? It doesn't hurt to feel for the humans sometimes, you know?"

"Heh, that coming from a full fledged elf like you surprises me. But that's what I love the most about you as well! You're so loving and caring to everyone regardless. But hey, let's stop the chit chat. I need the rewards, as usual. I need to get some rest. I'm all worn out."

"Yeah, it's a surprise you've traveled to that place by foot. It takes a day even by a ride on the road. But impressively you took the same time as well. Are those feet of yours filled with some kind of fuel? Did you torture Munchie with your lame *** jokes and crappy attitude?"

Munchie jumped over to Noma and started playing with her hair.

"Hahaha, you look well, dear. Have you been hungry? I've got some snacks for you! A couple of spicy cheese and cold cheese."

"...man, you can spoil Munchie a bit too much, you know? Oh well. Noma, where are my rewards?"

"Jeez, here you go. A bag of 5000 gold coins, and a parcel came for you just before arrived. It's signed Magnolia. Who is Magnolia?"

"She's a good friend of mine. Well, I'm heading to my quarters. If there's anything else, you know how to get to me. Come Munchie, it's time to scoot."

Items Obtained:
1 x bag pouch of 5000 gold coins
2 x Spicy Cheese
2 x Cool Cheese
1 x small parcel bearing a dragon-like insignia

"Wait, Arus! There's a letter for you!"

"....what....You know if its not reward or anything, I will kindly refuse, Noma."

"You fool! This is a request from the Guildmaster. You know what happens when you refuse requests from the Guildmaster, don't you?"

"....how does the Guildmaster know specifically who I am. Damn it. I wanted to lay low for a while too. What is this request about, Noma?"

"You know the nerds, the Platinum Crusade, yeah?"

"...the snobby king's underlings. What about them?"

"I'm going to tell this once, so listen well. They have set their eyes upon Mavi. It could be anytime they're going to overrun that continent, but Mavi wouldn't give up without a fight."

"So am I being sent there to die fast?"

"...let me finish. Mavi's going to need some help. There are rumors of three places which under the unity of King Vrell's Platinum Treaty are waiting for an opening to overthrow his hold anytime soon. All they need are some reinforcements. To one of the three places you're being called upon. The good news is that you're not going in alone, but the bad news is that the place you're going to is Tyanis. Previous home to the Barbarians. Of all the tribes which existed back then only three of them remain now. Gather whomever you may find, and take back Tyanis"

"If indeed we reclaim back Tyanis, you reckon the Empire is going to keep quiet about this? Won't they come back with a bigger army and make siege once again?"

"This is where your smart *** is being handed to me. The border which divides the Tyanis from the Empire, The Shattered Badlands is experiencing some heavy tremors and landslides throughout for the next few weeks. It's strong magnetic field also disrupts any machines which would travel by land. The only chance that spoilt brat of a king is going to have is either by the sea or air, by which either Skybound City or Mavi would be aware off and I don't think Vrell would take any chance which depletes his army. It's a win-win situation, only if you successfully reclaim Tyanis. This is a Priority S Class Mission. Finish this and you can expect big reward from the Guildmaster."

"...Tyanis. I've been wanting to visit that place sooner or later. There's a particular gem I'm looking for and it's only found deep within Icehorn. What are my travel options?"

"I just received a call earlier from the Chief of Wisp Islands. He's willing to give you a free coastal ride, however, it will be a few meters away from Tyanis mainland for some obvious reasons. Still, it's free, so don't complain. You will travel there by air due to time constraints, so after you've done with your essentials, get out of the Guild and look for our HeliBalloon (helicopter and hot air balloon contraption) pilot, Ari. You might be thinking why not fly into Tyanis straight off, but if your sorry *** gets shot in mid air, don't expect backup from the Guild. Also, that chief also mentioned he had something to give you as a form of thanks since you sorted out their certain "fish" problem the other day. Jeez. He wouldn't even hand it to me, he said he wanted to give it to you personally, so all in all, it's not a wasted trip."

"Bahaha! That guy is sure a handful, alright. Okay. I'm going to pack a few things back in my quarters before I move out to Wisp Islands. Update my database will you? By the way, I forgot to ask, but who else is coming along for this less-of-a suicide mission?"

"You will find out when you reach Tyanis. The recce point is somewhere on the outskirts of Tyanis. You will know when you get there."

Arus smirked a bit as he made his way back into his room, which wasn't too far away from the Tavern. He got a shower, and a quick change of clothes in a matter of minutes. He repacked his pouch and inventory and made his way towards Ari, the hybrid Dwarf & Human Airship Engineer well known around the Guild. He was ready with the airship, and within seconds, they were off to the Wisp Islands.

"....Munchie, hold on tight yeah! God knows what will happen to us in Tyanis, yeah!"

And so, Arus & Munchie made their way to the first pitstop before their Destination in Tyanis, the Wisp Islands...