asphuxia · 3 years ago
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/ * TRIP TO FRIENDBARR.
The man that arrives at the academy, if only to give them a stiff speech on exactly how they are expected to behave within the empire’s capital, is frazzled with ambition. If anything, he looked as though he shared the sentiments of students unwilling to go along; convinced their presence would be only a nuisance, an interruption in strict routine. But it is as he says: ‘What the church says, goes.’ Neither party could debate that fact, much less anyone so closely affiliated with the monastery. Perhaps that was concerning in its own right—  for the people to lack autonomy beneath the absolute order of the church. Perhaps it is not so different than her mother’s rule... one that Eir would eventually inherit. The Helian watches him turn heel, and leave after an afterthought.
Pale lips fall into a thin line as muttered chatter continues, picking up immediately in the man’s absence. Barked orders from the monastery knights allocated for their journey’s preparations, whispered discussion amongst the students that passed by to observe. The rumours of the monastery are a quiet spark, every here and there, each whisper obediently stamped out before becoming a wildfire. It is an attempt at discretion well done; Eir, too, finds herself at a substantial loss in regards to the missive. Was that purposeful, or for a lack of information from their informants themselves?
Mittelfrank, Enbarr… she had only ever heard it in passing; excited gossip and high praise. They had the foresight to prepare weapons, small rations — it spoke, silently, of the possible risks, the need for such things within a city theatre. But, perhaps, it would also be wise to prepare a mask..?
The Helian aids a struggling knight with the final loads of a carriage, before turning her gaze towards the rest of the group. She spares each student a glance— some of whom she recognised, others hardly at all. They may as well grow acquainted before the journey; she had found that they were always easier with introductions out of the way. As some knights mill off to retrieve the last necessities they would need beyond their personal belongings, Eir addresses the group in its settled silence.
“I am Eir.” — of the Ashen Wolves, of the realm of the dead. She bites down the remnants of her hesitance, scanning the faces of those among them, and continues. “It seems as though there may be trouble ahead for us, so I hope we may make good use of each other's company in the days to come.”
open starter for team enbarr !
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radiantpriamos · 3 years ago
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High Stakes Hide and Seek
FLEnbarr2022 Team Purple/4 starter for @asphuxia @frauleindermorgen
Finally. This was much more Priam’s speed. Ragnell was back in his hands, and there was no more tiptoeing to be had about their enemies. Despite the dire circumstances, he grinned, breathing deep.
“Heh, ready to go, ladies? Our villains won’t know what hit them.”
He rushed forward, trusting the other two to follow close as he headed west outside the villa. They’d been warned about all sorts of traps and nasty surprises an Agarthan could spring, and he felt confident in their ability to field them.
How little those Agarthans knew. Priam himself brought about worse luck to himself than any flimsy trap they could make. Beat that. Ha.
He was truly in a good mood, adrenaline firing through his veins.
“We can turn up ahead- although I think they might’ve moved from the lower west part of the villa!”
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lalamines · 3 years ago
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a street with no name
Over a decade has passed, yet Enbarr’s high street has barely changed at all. Even the crowds are as overwhelming as they are familiar. It takes her back in time, when she’d cling to Mother and Emile’s hands on their shopping trips. Mercedes feels an uneasy chill run down her neck. The urge to look over her shoulder.
There is nothing to fear. House Bartels fell years ago.
She recognises the bookshop, her old favourite, immediately at a brings a fond smile to her face. The clothing boutique next to it still stands too and the jewellers across. The food vendors are different but still stand in almost the same spots. The only glaring difference is a curio shop, decorated with bright posters reading ‘SALE’. It looks out of place in a way she can’t quite explain. As if she’s looking at it through a mirror. 
The smell of baked goods grabs her attention though. Her stomach makes a whine of protest and Mercedes realises that none of them have eaten since arriving. They couldn’t possibly start their investigations on empty stomachs! She pulls out her coin purse and clutches it in one hand, extending the other to her companions.
“We should probably hold hands so we don’t get lost in the crowd.” Even stood to the side they were bumped and jostled by passers by. It would be terrible if they were to be split apart and lost in such busy crowds, especially as only Linhardt was really familiar with these streets. “Let’s head over the street for some snacks first, my treat. We can discuss where to go and what to do once we’re filled up and energised!”
@frauleindermorgen @nappingscholar @ulircursed
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frauleindermorgen · 3 years ago
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definitely not an intervention - & team enbarr
@lalamines @nappingscholar @ulircursed
Back at the villa Micaiah and Mercedes have brought back coffee (a particular kind the actors here like apparently), tea, and tea cakes alongside the books Mercedes purchased at her targeted shop and the wooden dice Micaiah had procured from her own. Other than that… well as far as leads, she had to admit they were a bit lacking.
“So,” she says, looking up from her cup of coffee and milk to Andrei and then back to the others. “The curio shop certainly seemed, well, interesting. But if they have another machine like D’Silva’s it isn’t on display. From what Andrei and I could find out most of their wares come secondhand from Fhirdiad. Much of them were… well baubles like this,” she shows them the dice and shares a look with Andrei. He had made his opinions on the subject quite clear already.
“But the girl manning the shop in her father’s place mentioned something interesting. She said he sometimes brought back “contraptions”. And! She mentioned there was a man always buying bones from her father who, of all things, gave them this strange chair in return. Why, it seemed like it glowed did it not?”
Waiting for Andrei to respond she couldn’t help but notice that the other two in their party also seemed a bit downcast, particularly Lindhardt who Mercedes was pushing another confection at. Micaiah should probably talk to her about that too some time.
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ulircursed · 3 years ago
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suffer your existence
     The discussion was ongoing, observations pointing the team towards either one of a pair — a sharp-eyed sorceress named Lidiya, or her companion, red-haired Mercury. Though more seemed to favor the idea of Mercury being the target, he couldn’t help but dwell on what the group that had investigated the opera house had described. Lidiya, and her magical power with unfamiliar energy, capable of nullifying that of his allies. 
     What little he had heard about the lady’s strange magic caused an involuntary shudder, and Andrei shook his head, breaking away from the majority of the crowd and walking off to one side. Edain’s face floated unbidden to the forefront of his mind, current events reminding Andrei of the dark magic that had grabbed hold of his sister’s heart during their previous meeting. How odd. Despite growing up with her, he’d never, ever given her nearly this much thought, compared to the long-absent Brigid, but being away from Yngvi changed things. Changed him, perhaps, enough that he might even worry for the safety of the sister he’d never looked twice at before.
     Eager to banish such thoughts from his mind, Andrei’s gaze quickly landed upon a target, and a few strides took him to face the other, a dark glint of challenge in his eyes. “Nothing to add to the discussion? I wouldn’t be surprised,” he said to Ethlyn, venom coating his tone. Really, for all he knew, she was simply taking a break from the group, just as he was, but it didn’t much matter. For who here would care whether he was civil to an old acquaintance or not?
@ladyleonster
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duskroine · 3 years ago
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ladies’ night and run - & team 2
          fate has pulled the strings of their investigation   —   mercury is not brought down by their hand for it is lidiya that takes him and their combined image fades from sight.  the arrest is halted simply by the lack of a culprit.  while her knowledge on magic isn’t as grand as some of her companions, what ophelia does know is that teleportation magic can only take you so far.  especially if utilized on a whim of surprise rather than thought out and processed terms.  in the chaos of flickering lights and overwhelming sounds, the original team sent to enbarr has been separated.  cut down into smaller, not as coordinated groups.
          (   through the rush to set chase, ophelia isn’t able to see if the cast and workers had been evacuated.  so it’s only to the dragons above that she prays for their safety.  it had been quite the delight to meet everyone she’s seen so far, but the mission called for priority   —   that is why she was brought alongside the team.   )
          the villa is a grand area of halls that shift and floors that constantly change.  this chase will not be easy, but it’s difficult to wish for such a condition when trailing after fake identities and agarthans.  a simple and quick glance at her surroundings show that whichever part of the villa that she’s in is by an average and quite rough shaped building.  her gaze sets upon her two companions   —   ishtar and ethlyn.
          “   i’d advise for us to remain together and attempt, our very best, not to separate,   ”   ophelia turns to the two ladies and smiles,   “   lessening the group anymore may prove fatal to any one of us.   ”   while it’s unclear if lidiya will continue utilizing teleportation magic, it’d be best to follow any traces of her spells.  that retrieval incantation used prior had been the first of what she’s seen   —   her magic had been mentioned in the review given to everyone on each team’s own investigation.
          ophelia pulls at her gloves and before she has the chance to guide their direction further, there’s a tremor but the source is far.  too far to push the team off their feet.  she frowns, gaze moving between the ground and the pathways before them.
          “   come forth, comrades!   ”   the heroine beckons them forward and steps into the left corridor, a brisk jog to measure just how far they need to be to hear lidiya and mercury’s next move.
for @mjolnrr & @ladyleonster
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theofficersacademy · 3 years ago
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                                   Micaiah    Raigh    Ethlyn    Priam                                                                        Eir   Mercedes   Bruno   Mist   M!Kana                                    Andrei   Linhardt   Ishtar   Ophelia  
PURSUIT [ Jan 22 - Feb 3 ]
TAG: #FLEnbarr2022
SETTING: D’Silva’s Villa
It has been a whirlwind few days for your team. You’ve managed to get in good with some of the locals and convinced them to share what they know about D’Silva’s production. Many believe that anything strange going on at the abandoned villa is merely the director’s eccentricity, but Mireille and D’Silva both know why the church has sent you. Mireille confirms that something insidious has taken hold of the production, though she can’t figure out what, so you do what you can to unravel this mystery.
With your combined detective skills, you finally point your finger at the mysterious redhead who frequents the production set: Mercury.
Before an arrest can be made, however, Lidiya grabs Mercury and they teleport away.
What You know:
It’s time to chase down your culprit! Or in this case, culprits. Mercury and Lidiya are a duo that have been working in Enbarr’s downtown area for the last few months. Mercury, however, is human, but serves as Lidiya’s messenger.
Things to do:
It’s time for a game! Look over the rules written here.
Mod Ree will separate your team into four groups for the second segment of this event.
Ask any and all questions, whether about the game or the campaign itself. The investigation period is now over.
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dragon-kiddos · 3 years ago
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Kana seems so young. Younger than even Finn had been when they'd first set out from the Munster District to Chalphy to aid her brother. Kana held his own in that fight against Lidiya and Mercury. He fought with skill that cannot be honed against mere training dummies. She worries for him and the things he must have seen in his young life.
She had not been able to be there for her own son when he was this age. Leif did not have a mother to fuss over him after trying ordeals or a comforting voice to soothe him. Kana is, of course, not her son, but perhaps he too could use someone to check up on him.
"Kana!" Ethlyn greets cheerily during their journey back to Gareg Mach and gestures toward her horse. "Hervor here is a sweet girl. You are welcome to ride for a bit if you need a break."
The journey back to Garreg Mach from Enbarr was a long one. It normally goes that the first trip dragged on, while the return happened in the blink of an eye; the opposite was true now, as day after day passed in the back of a carriage carting along injured warriors too shell-shocked to discuss the carnage.
Ophelia held Kana in her lap most of the ride, and he was more than content to relax against her, but there were unfortunate moments where they had to separate. The fear of isolation creeped up his spine in those moments, but other allies filled the hole. Lady Ethlyn was one such friendly face, taking extra care to offer her support in one of their many breaks of travel.
"Hello, Lady Ethlyn," he greets with a soft smile. His wounds had healed enough to allow him to walk around a little during breaks, but it was still difficult to stay upright for very long. "Hervor is very pretty. May I pet her?"
Kana hadn't the strength to pull himself atop the mare's back, but he could, at least, raise his gloved hands to stroke along her mane and pat her puzzle. "Such a pretty girl. You keep Lady Ethlyn safe, yeah?"
Grey eyes turn towards the woman in question, whom he offers a tired smile to. "Thank you. For everything." The battle. Her company. Her kindness. "We should have tea when we get back. I think that'd be nice."
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nappingscholar · 3 years ago
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Memories from the Past (and Future)
Linhardt had spent much of his childhood in Enbarr. It was almost a second home for him, but there was always this pressure he felt there. 
Stand up straight, pay attention, act like a responsible heir. Linhardt hated it. It was always for the benefit of someone else- his father, his family, the Empire. It brought out the worst in people, gave them a ego boost.
He watched as the pressure got to the other nobles around his age. The Aegir boy would constantly challenge the future Empress to duels even though the result would never matter. They were just kids pretending to be adults, seemingly egged on by their families’ rivalry.
Though it didn’t have to be this way, Linhardt knew. His best friend was Count Bergliez’s second son, Caspar. The Count never got along with his father, and while the two would be arguing in their offices their sons were outside playing together. 
There was one thing that Linhardt couldn’t stop thinking about. That vision he had during his time in the Sealed Forest, what did it mean? Was it his fate to kill his best friend? For them to meet on the battlefield on opposing sides? Linhardt was in Claude’s army, but he wasn’t a Golden Deer. He had no loyalty to Leicester so why was he fighting with them against the Empire?
There was no way he would abandon his best friend in the middle of a war. There was no way it was true, he shouldn’t think about it anymore.
As Linhardt was packing his stuff for the mission he ignored the lock he received after the last mission.
It was better to forget about it anyway.
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asphuxia · 3 years ago
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/ * REVUE STARLIGHT.
As opposed to outward appearances, the villa is all but abandoned within; the sets and people shift as easily as sand. It is a mess of organisation and as busy as a hive, the chatter of the crew only ever overpowered by D’Silva’s shouting. The castmates and stage crew are both assembled on set, and it does not take a keen eye to understand that they had no wishes to speak with them— if they were interested at all. They meander behind the productions, and Eir catches Mireille, D’Silva’s supposed ‘daughter’ keeping her eyes on them. Beside her is a youth who introduces himself as Donnie with a grin, though he seems clueless of his purpose here. Constantly on standby, and yet only ever needed to act as a stuntman— though he notes that none of the actors resemble him in the slightest. Eir frowns, slight, though she does not press further. Perhaps the both of them would warrant a revisit.
Pale eyes glaze over the structure of the rest of the building, and Mireille’s eyes follow them as they leave to observe the rest of its space. Rats follow their courses within the corners of the kitchen of the ground floor, slipping behind cupboards and leaving their spoils. It’s cluttered with evidence that crew members frequent the place, with dishes and pots stacked upon the countertop. It is nothing compared to the great kitchen within the academy’s dining hall, brimming with chefs and their assistants. The main stairwell is out of bounds, roped off for the safety of the crew— though it did not seem that anyone would wish to risk going up with it. Eir inspects it from where they stand; it seemed victim to rot, breakage, and general poor maintenance. But there are two more floors and plenty of other rooms within the villa left for them to explore, with the grace of the smaller stairway in the back of the kitchen.
They proceed upwards. Though the second floor seemed largely reserved for sets and other aspects of the production, the uppermost was intended to host dressing rooms and apartments. The third floor is mostly empty, with nearly all of those working on the project on set. A breeze whistles in through an open window, and the silence of the floor is nearly gratifying. Eir skims over the names upon the plaques as they proceed, taking note of what she could remember. A girl loiters around what is labelled as Adela’s apartment while the songstress performs below, possibly one of her attendants. Somehow, she reminds Eir of heroes within the Order— when they had little to do, substituted in battle for someone else. Bored. The Helian steels her nerves, and approaches. If they were to start anywhere, it may well be here.
The girl is leaning against the doorframe as they walk up to her, idly waiting around. As Eir introduces herself and the rest of her group, she exchanges her own name— Esa. Her demeanour seemed to glow far brighter than it had been only moments ago. Eir smiles; it was true, such simple greetings alone gave way to better days. She asks about the crew of whom Esa works with, to which she replies: “Oh the crew? They seem like OK folks. I haven’t been here long, but they’ve been nice enough to me. Why do you ask?”
“How long have you been here?” A pause. Eir hesitates; she tries to place her words carefully. “We are… looking for someone. Have you noticed anyone or anything… strange during your time here?” Eir glances at Adela’s plaque behind them. “… Or anyone notable at all?”
“I used to do maintenance for businesses around the opera house for… hm, probably a year. D’Silva asked me to come work on a new project he was starting a couple months ago, but he kind of made me think I’d be doing… well, more maintenance. Didn’t think I’d be waiting on a songstress.” She wrinkles her nose, but she doesn’t seem entirely displeased by the situation. She leans back against the doorframe as she gazes up at the ceiling to consider whether she had seen anyone of interest lately. “Anyone notable… To be honest, the staff is always changing. I couldn’t tell you who’s been here for months from the folks just visiting.”
Eir’s interest rises at that. So unused to the work, though she does not seem to be troubled with where she has landed. A slight tilt of her head; Eir studies her closely. “Adela, yes? What are your impressions of her?”
“What are you, reporters?” Esa laughs. “Miss MacFhearghail is nicer than you’d expect. Honest. I know she’s got some bad rep with folks but— I mean, I don’t know the details— but she’s been in this business a long time and she’s got the record to prove it. I don’t mind waiting on her, even if she can be fussy and ill-tempered sometimes.”
The noble nods, committing the information to memory. Perhaps it was worth speaking to the songstress when next she had time to herself… A slight frown pulls at the ends of her lips, puzzled as the Helian’s thoughts return to Esa’s previous words. “Is D’Silva so prone to sending home those who work for him? Surely he must keep more than some around with greater permanence.” On a project like this… and with mismatched talents? It seemed odd to need so many people if they were not adequately fitted to their purposes. Eir glances around, though she knows the only occupants of the floor were members of the crew. “Who visits the sets?”
“I don’t know if D’Silva is actually firing people or if they just… stop showing up. This ain’t exactly a standard job, and most of the crew is used to producing operas. Not to mention the actors… I get the impression they don’t think D’Silva’s vision will amount to anything in the end.”
Eir blinks. They did not think highly of this project— of their director’s ambitions at all, and yet would see it through to its end. Perhaps it is the marvel of D’Silva’s ‘miracle device’ that convinces them to stay? But if Esa is right, perhaps few are staying at all..
Esa stops to think again, this time for a long time, obviously digging deep into her memories to draw out an answer. “No one really stands out… Oh! I’ve seen a redhaired guy show up once or twice. Doesn’t hang out for long, but his hair—“ She makes a gesture like combing fingers through her hair, which is black and braided nearly to her waist. “It’s the color of an apple, I swear. You can’t miss ‘im.”
A furtive glance is given in the direction of the three who had accompanied her, to suggest that they approach the man Esa had described whenever he may appear. If he would be remembered for anything beyond the colour of his hair, it would be well for them to remember him as well. The possible suspects were far too many within this place… they must narrow down their search. Eir looks to Ophelia, who seemed that she might burst with questions to ask— and thinly smiles. Go ahead.
@sheereccentric , @valaskjlf , & @mjolnrr !
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radiantpriamos · 3 years ago
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A Scripted Scheme [Mist & Priam]
Starter for @valkyrist for flenbarr2022 event!
While Raigh and Ethlyn are sneaking away, Casper has something of a lengthy talk with August before August finally relents and allows Priam and Mist into the theatre. He and Casper both follow them in though - presumably to stay on the lookout for anyone who might be coming back to resume rehearsal. 
The first, obvious comparison to the theater they’d just left was the sheer size of the new one. Three times as big and with seats even higher up, the grandeur of the stage couldn’t be lost on anyone entering the room. For all its size, it still didn’t sacrifice a gilded inch of the quality of its interior compared to the more elite theater behind them.
“Wow… this place is really something.” Priam whistled lowly as he stepped into the theater, wandering towards the front of the stage down the aisles between the rows of seats. With props and scripts laying about from the day’s rehearsal, it seemed best to look at those first, though he wasn’t sure about what might actually register as out of place without knowledge of the play.
He stepped onstage, eyes scanning downward at one of the opened scripts. The hero of the opera (if he tried out, he would definitely go for that role) seemed to have burst into a trial or kind of meeting to save the female lead.
Well, how exciting of a play was it? He looked around again, interested in any kinds of weapons. Priam expected to just find props, but a few more strides offstage led him to a few rapiers that were most definitely made from real metal. He winced, realizing just at a glance that the blades were dulled. A necessary precaution for a stage play, he was sure, but to see weapons dulled and left so uncared for, just strewn about on the floor... Although, if in the hands of someone desperate, or careless, they could still cause injury.
“They might be dulled, but those are real,” he mused, assuming Mist was somewhere near. ��Guess they’re pretty committed to their effects.”
He looked over his shoulder, trying to find Mist and make eye contact if she perhaps had found something intriguing to her.
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lalamines · 3 years ago
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hunt or be hunted
Lidiya had vanished in a flash of bright light, intent upon defiance until the very end.
They had been wrong about Mercury’s identity but not his affiliation. There was precious little time to ruminate over the matter though. Lidiya had revealed herself and disappeared, leaving them to make chase through the villa. In the chaos, the group had been separated. Although given the vast scale of the villa and the fact Lidiya could disappear and reappear at will, perhaps that was to their benefit. At least they could cover more distance in smaller groups than as a baker’s dozen roaming blindly about.
Mercedes found herself with Bruno and Kana, near the wall of one of the villa’s smaller chalet-style buildings. She smiled, despite the tension in the air. This was turning out to be the complete opposite of a peaceful summer break in Enbarr.
“Well, at least I know I’m in good hands,” Mercedes said, glancing between the two young men beside her. She knew both to be kind and reliable - Bruno in a quieter way than their young swordsman. They had both more than earned her trust and she would do whatever she could for them. “I’ll do my best to keep us safe. There’s a door ahead - perhaps we should check inside?”
The priest took light, tentative steps forwards, hugging the exterior wall. Her breath was caught in her throat, terrified to breathe too deeply and give them away. If they were attacked and assaulted because of her carelessness - oh, she didn’t think she could survive the guilt. Instead she lead the way, sneaking forwards and keeping an ear out for any signs of movement coming from inside or around them.
@dragon-kiddos or @valaskjlf
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frauleindermorgen · 3 years ago
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Yet again, the two are put in separate teams. It's okay, Pelleas tells himself. Micaiah wished for the two of them to be able to grow as people individually given the fact they'll be likely to work together plenty in the future.
He can't be selfish. Not now. But he allows himself the excuse to go at least see her before the mission, harried as he tries to find her in the crowd of students and faculty alike. They were all soon to leave; he doesn't have much time, and there's a chance he might not even get to her in time.
So when he does finally spot her, he sprints towards her with a speed he normally didn't exert, calling out her name. “ M-Micaiah...! ”
He allows himself a moment to catch his breath once he's within arm's reach of her before he hands her what delayed him so. In his possession was a singular white hyacinth. His fingertips and the edges of his sleeves still have soil staining them, fresh from his recent picking.
“ Here, please. I'm not sure if you already know this, but white hyacinths are given to pray for one's success... ” Though, in truth, he had just wanted to give a flower after she had done the same to him for his birthday. “ In general, hyacinths are used to represent hope and give a vision for tomorrow, which is why we give them in prayers... I-I know that you're capable, of course, and you'll find a way back, but... I, um, thought you might want something extra since... Well... it's not a good substitute for Yune, but... I just... ”
He really was blundering this now, wasn't it? He realizes in his haste, he hadn't thought nearly enough of what exactly he wanted to say. He hangs his head a little, wondering if he should be withdrawing his gift at all.
“ I... I wanted to support you in my own way, even if I can't be with you myself. Is that alright, Micaiah...? ”
She’s put herself together and gathered her thoughts, mostly, by the time Pelleas finds her in the courtyard. Elincia had helped her put up the last of her hair in the ribbon Pelleas had gifted her with the addition of the Crimean queen’s embroidered rose there too.
Gripping Thani to her chest, she feels stronger. Thinking of Daein and looking at all of the new people she has to protect around her helps center her.
She turns hearing her name and another important person under her protection comes into her vision. She’s over at Pelleas’s side before she’s even thought of it, worried because she’s never seen him run like that but he’s caught his breath before she need help him and his expression is one of determination.
She listens to his explanation, curious as she’d never learned the meaning of plants outside their immediate uses in the medicinal arts the old woman had taught her. He must have read this in the palace library, she muses, and thinks back on when Pelleas would read up on things other than magic fondly before returning to the matter at hand.
“It’s a wonderful gift, thank you so much,” she says, nodding at him because of course it’s alright. She takes the flower gently out of his hands, appreciating the feel of the granular soil that tickles her fingers, and admires it. After a moment she slips it through the lapel in Yune’s cloak.
“See,” she says, gesturing to the flower on her breast and the flower Elincia had made her tied up in Pelleas’s ribbon in her hair, “right here and now I have the best armor a queen could ask for.”
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ulircursed · 3 years ago
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she was hesitant to see him off again. he had made her so aware of her own flaws, of how she failed their relationship as siblings. the thought of physically confronting that anymore than she already had was terrifying. edain still approaches him anyways, because she knows she can't just sit there and feel sorry for herself for decisions that she had chosen to make.
she would leave regretting having not talked with him at least one last time in that case. she didn't want that anxiety following her around . "andrei." she keeps her distance from him; doesn't dare try and touch him. "we're both going our own ways for the sake of the monastery. i just wanted to say goodbye before then—" she pauses for just a moment. what would andrei want to hear from her? "and- and don't die out there." the last line that follows is stilted and awkward, words that clearly don't come out of edain's mouth very often. "make the yngvi family proud, okay?"
     Edain too was heading off on a mission this time, a fact that had never exactly escaped Andrei's consciousness from the moment he learned of it, as much as he didn't want to let it bother him. I just don't want you to die, he'd said to her, and meant it, and even after the panic of the moment faded and the mere memory of the incident caused him to double down on his efforts to avoid his sister, he couldn't deny that his long-standing bitterness seemed to have lost a bit of its edge, in the wake of her apology.
     And so he listened halfheartedly to her goodbyes, not quite meeting her eyes and unsure how to react, but not poised to dismiss her and walk away as he might before. That is, until she mentioned Yngvi, and his gaze snapped up, surprised. That she would say so, that disgrace wasn't still and always the first and foremost on her mind when it came to him...
     "...I intend to do so," he said, staring into her eyes, and a sudden hint of desperation flickered into his expression before he could stop himself. Sister, will you understand? I've never, ever intended anything else.
     He huffed out a tired sigh, breaking the gaze once more. "You would do better to worry for your own survival," he said, "I bid you well in the mission ahead, sister." Packaging his words into that distant, polite veneer once more, the stay safe this time withering on the tip of his tongue as he turned to leave. Not quite yet.
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duskroine · 3 years ago
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"OpheLIA!"
If ever there was a sound that could shatter glass, this would be it. Little dragon comes barreling down the hallway of the villa, candy bag in hand, not a care in the world that he might be disturbing the other occupants.
"'Felia! 'Felia!" he shrieks, not bothering to slow until he practically tackles the poor girl over. "Look at what I got—I didn't even know I had this one! This lizard lollipop is yellow, just like you!"
Lo and behold, a single yellow candy in the shape of a lizard suddenly appears in front of her face. Lemon flavored, perhaps?
"Mercedes told me to stop eating the candy I bought 'cause we're supposed to be focusing on the mission 'n stuff, but it's downtime right now, so I don't have to worry about the mission. Hey, will you come investigating with me, later?"
He leans in close, grey eyes narrowed into slits. "Like, a secret nighttime investigation. We'll figure out everything we need to know!"
          if it had been any other individual, they would have surely been struck with shock at the sudden screech   —   rocketing off of the villa’s high walls and catching the ears of everyone nearby.  fortunately, OPHELIA DUSK is not your average individual.  the moment she hears the first hint of a yell, she dropped the equipment carelessly and immediately turned around, arms wide and feet squared with space between.  kana crashes against her front and although she almost stumbles, she’s quick to regain her posture and pull the boy into a tight embrace.  while arriving back from the stage set, word had easily spread of her beloved friend’s presence had accompanied them to enbarr as a last minute addition to the group.  a fairly pleasant addition it was!
          while she pouts at the lack of breaks in kana’s voice, not allowing her even a moment of script, she can appreciate the enthusiasm in his actions.  there are a few workers that stare at them   —   more so at the boy in her arms but if they’ve seen her at all these past few days, and they have, then they know of the volume that this interaction will reach within a minute.
          ophelia giggles as kana’s arm moves from in between them and the lizard shaped candy is directly in her sight,   “   oh by the dearest of heavens!   ”   she fakes a gasp, letting kana go and raising her hands over her mouth.   “   such a dazzling golden that delicacy is!  as well as the honor that swells in my heart to see it take after a color i so boldly represent.   ”   one hand moves to her head and it’s the natural wink of her expression that snaps the final tone of her act.  a flick of her bangs upwards before she turns to kana as he continues to marvel at his adventures.
          and, of course, ophelia makes sure to pluck the piece of candy from him and stare at it.  she lets out a small laugh at the mention of mercedes and her attempt at keeping kana focused on the mission.  while she cannot blame him for his desire to venture away from the objective, he cannot act like a child here.  underneath the eyes of an agarthan, there could be no time for messing around.  but.... this would title her a hypocrite.  and no matter if she wanted to see it or not, kana is a child.  he’s a kid and this behavior is expected.   (   if the church brought him along the mission, then surely they must have known of this.  it’d be stupid to bring a kid along and expect them to fill a role so easily.  this is not the war.   )
          she perks up at the idea,   “   a secret quest stricken by the moon’s gaze, you say?   ”   ophelia leans forward, too, and with a smile on her face, she shifts to the side and whispers in his ear.   “   luckily, it seems that i’ve been gifted with the hidden corridors and pathways in the villa’s construction set.   ”   although, taking him there would be too risky   —   just remembering the stupid exchange between her and those two workers... it leaves an embarrassing shiver on her spine.
          “   as the dynamic duo—”   she straightens her posture and flashes another pose, voice a tad bit louder than it should be.   “—there are NO secrets that will burrow in the void where we will never find them!   ”   a pause.  a single beat before ophelia holds the candy in front of kana.   “   as a sign of friendship and brotherhood, we shall raise our sweet, sweet weapons and wish the stars to bid us a grand result to this investigation!   ”
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theofficersacademy · 3 years ago
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                                    Micaiah    Raigh    Ethlyn    Priam                                                                               Eir   Mercedes   Bruno   Mist                                     Andrei   Linhardt   Ishtar   Ophelia  
INVESTIGATION [ Jan 5 - 19 ]
TAG: #FLEnbarr2022
SETTING: Downtown Enbarr
As one of the oldest cities in Fódlan, Enbarr is a place rich with history and culture. Tourists from all across the country flock to see it every month, but the summer months are easily the most popular for visitors. The streets are bustling and crowded, the marketplaces loud, and the famed Mittelfrank Opera House has its shows sold out weeks in advance. In a sea of so many shifting faces, it would be easy for anyone to slip in unnoticed.
The man who has (begrudgingly) agreed to take your group on calls himself D’Silva. Those familiar with Fódlan’s theatre might recognize his name from a few mediocre operas and plays, and at first you expect that the opera house will be your destination for the duration of your assignment. Grumbling, he takes you instead to an empty building at the edge of the canal on the city’s southwest side. Inside, you’re greeted by a dozen new, unfamiliar faces, and a bizarre landscape of pulleys, lamps, painted cutouts, and sets.
What You know:
Those familiar with the Agarthans from the last big mission are aware that they’re masters of disguise. The Church has received information that one might be hiding in the area. Your goal is to investigate the theatre troupe - or whatever D’Silva has decided to call his project.
CAST
D’Silva : A B-list director among Mittelfrank’s elite. He recently acquired a miraculous new device  that he swears will revolutionize theatre as the world knows it, and he isn’t afraid to show it off to anyone curious about it. At a glance, it appears to be a metal box with a glass eye on one side. When D’Silva points it at something, a moving image is transferred to an equally bizarre, glowing tablet where it’s “saved.” You don’t have time to sit around while he plays back all 32 hours of his recordings for you though.
Adela MacFhearghail : A well-known singer and frequent star in Mittelfrank’s productions, she’s found that she’s been gradually replaced by younger actresses in recent years. D’Silva promised her new fame with his eccentric vision, and he’s more than pleased to have her name on his script (evinced by her private dressing room and the way attendants wait on her like royalty). However, this new format requires a different method of acting and Adela has grown increasingly frustrated with what is being demanded of her.
“Prince Starlight” : The male lead in the production. He’s a young, up-and-coming actor whose new fame has gone straight to his head. His real name is Stefan, but calling him that on set will earn you his ire (if he doesn’t ignore you entirely). He insists that you only ever refer to him as Prince Starlight so that he never breaks character, and he and D’Silva butt heads constantly over the vision for the production.
Mireille : D’Silva’s “adopted” daughter and assistant for the last ten years. She’s polite and quiet, but you can’t help but feel like she’s always smirking when backs are turned. Of the crew, she’s easily the most in-tune with D’Silva’s volatile moods.
Emmett : The newest addition to production and the most out of place, this kid looks like he was picked up off the streets and handed a to-do list. He doesn’t say much about himself even though he’s almost always running his mouth (much to the irritation of everyone else), and the only thing you’ve managed to figure out about him is that he’s not from “here” and he’s been fired by D’Silva at least three times now.
Additional cast will be added as they’re met
Things to do:
D’Silva hardly has time for you while he’s constantly shouting orders at his crew and reshooting scenes 40 times, but the one thing he’s more than happy to talk about is his “Miracle Device.” He says he recently acquired it, and will gladly tell you how to works (as much as he can anyway), but you notice that he’s oddly tight-lipped about where he got it. Maybe investigating the shopping district will lead to clues.
The old building where D’Silva has set up his production is a three-storey villa with severe, but overlooked structural issues that likely led to its abandonment. There are plenty of rooms for his seemingly ever-changing crew, and the main floor is a constant flurry of shifting sets. There’s probably plenty to learn here, but try not to get in the director’s way.
While he doesn’t talk much about himself, you notice that D’Silva talks even less about Mittelfrank. You also notice that Emmett serves as the go-between for the director and the company’s coin purse. Might be some bad blood to sniff out at the opera house.
Talk to Mod Ree for any additional information and NPC dialogue. The team will also be split into three smaller groups to tackle each of the main tasks. Threads will be created in the event channels for collaborating and theorizing about the investigation.
Set up a document for tracking information.
Settings will constantly change. You can choose to manually move time if you feel that you might get more information for a theory that way, but keep in mind that you cannot turn back time. Mod Ree will change the setting every few days.
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