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Tales of a NPC: Alsteria

The ice was locking them in quickly, the ship a few miles back didn't stand a chance anymore. Everyday the crew and all the passengers worked relentlessly to keep the ice away from the ship and every night the passengers prayed and pretended to sleep while the crew watched and kept a blistering pace forward. They could stop for nothing or it would be too late. A druid aboard the ship volunteered to keep wind in the sails all night so that they stood a chance but that still didn't mean they weren't cutting it close. It was grueling agony as everyone wondered if their lives would end every night or if they would see the sun one more time as they kept moving forward. Flynn had never been the sort to pray but Alsteria waa sure she had heard him muttering under his breath to one of the gods asking for another day, just one more day, as they grew closer and closer to Ornirim. Finally during the night a sailor yelled the words they had all been yearning to hear, 'Land Ho!' Everyone crowded the deck and leaned over the railing looking at the city in the ice they were approaching. In the darkness of night the lights of the city looked like stars that had fallen from the sky. None of the creatures could be seen around the ship but they could he heard behind them. A small red light was waving them to the dock. They had made it.

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Tales of a NPC: Green Ash

The spell had been stronger than he had thought. Lace had warned him but he rushed into it thinking it would distract him during moments when he dwelt on things best left alone. He had been right but he hadn't expected it to creep into his thoughts when he was trying to focus on work with the village, when he was dealing with the logistical difficulties of moving again, when he was talking to members of the village about their daily issues. She was consuming him and now he had to know her. Wood was gone and Lace still missing making it less than an opportune moment to uproot himself and go halfway across the globe in search of some girl he had never met but that's what he was going to do. If he didn't he might go mad dwelling on it and that seemed to be the greater risk at this point. Cerulean was here and he seemed reliable enough to manage the village for a few weeks.... months... however long it took... Besides, Wood would find Lace without doubt and then he would return to the village and he would know what to do in Ash's absence. It would all work itself out, and he would get to meet here. That's what mattered most right now.

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Tales of a NPC: Clade

The woman was small, coming up to only his knee at the most, yet she showed no fear as she inspected his injuries. She moved quickly seeming interested more in him as a machine rather than as a person but that didn't matter. She worked and made small talk as she did, asking him about his home, why he was traveling along the road, how did he receive the injuries he had. She seemed almost like a child. He felt the urge several times to harm her but something stayed his hand, something almost unseen yet powerful in a subtle way. He decided it must be for the best since she worked to heal his crippled form giving him relief from the pain caused by Viribus. When she was finished she stepped back to inspect her work smiling to herself and beaming with pride. He stood and moved his joints which no longer ached or bled. His body overall felt better, better even than it had when he had been at peak condition. His grotesque figure had not been altered but somehow he didn't feel pain just by being in his natural form. She looked up at him and held out a tiny hand expecting him to return the gesture. He did so almost by compulsion rather than by choice. She shook it as best she could giving her name. He replied his and then released his hand. She put away her things away and moved back toward her wagon opening the back door and yelling clearly and loudly that she had been right. She could fix the warforged here.

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Tales of a NPC: Knox

She had been here. He was sure of it. They weren't as clever at covering their tracks as they had thought. While some had tried to run him out of town when he made it apparent that they were outmatched they quickly backed down and offered up freely any information he demanded. People were weak when they knew they were fragile. They had been spotted working on the ranch for over a week before leaving with two horses, wintersdale breed, off color and headed north. That gave him very little time to head them off, north had to mean they were moving toward Ornirim but winter would soon be upon them and the ice would lock ships in place easily. They had already been gone for a week, there was a chance they had already boarded a ship and left port. If they had he would have to heavily consider if following them continued to be in his best interests. Perhaps the ice would do his job for him.

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Tales of a NPC: Gunner

Winter had come early this year. The ports were almost full which meant that port tax would go up. The city would heavily profit from the poor weather. The last ship to port had told the dock master that there were two more ships struggling to make it in before the ice set and locked them in. One had a shot, the other... well it wasn't looking good. Hunting season had started. The screams would soon be heard as the creatures began to seek out their annual meal, human was a delicacy for them, a nice break from seals and whales. He would have to lockdown the port within a week, there were very few spots left but on the off chance one of the two ships left out there made it, his city would offer an expensive respite from the ice. Meanwhile no one would leave in their right mind, that would he tempting suicide. Portvish was now a city of pleasure and time killing until spring.

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Tales of a NPC: Avarin

In the entire history of his people never had a king lost so much. He was king during a time when no man would envy his position and power. He laughed to himself a little. Power was almost to generous a word to use. What power? He had none left at this point. People looked at him and only saw weakness and poor judgment. Krissaga was always gone leaving him alone to deal with the loss of respect and faith of their people. She didn't see the daily turmoil anymore, her vision being clouded by a growing hate. Something he dreaded seeing take root in her. Both of them had been changed by all of this, anyone would be. It was the way in which the changes showed themselves that bothered him. They weren't the same people who had just started to fall in love with each other, they weren't the hopeful rulers of a strong nation, they weren't even a reflection of the values they had once held dear. Everything was falling apart in a way. Their son would be born soon into a homeless nation and to a broken mother and father. What hope did anyone have anymore? Still he wore a brave face and prayed no one saw through it. He was still king, even if he was king of nothing.

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Tales of a NPC: Cairene

How could they have not known? She was deep in thought as her body absentmindedly put her things into the trunk. They were the leaders of the nation divinely chosen by Pelor, they were meant to keep their people safe, not put them in the grasp of their enemies. All her life she had been raised to be loyal and serve with a full heart the nation which provided her with such a good life. But was it good anymore? Her home had been destroyed, she had watched people become husks of their former selves when put under stress, and now those sworn to protect them all had just discovered that they were consorting with the most dangerous threat. None of it made any sense. The trunk closed and she latched it. Her squire came into the room and offered to take her things away, she waved him on letting the boy struggle with the weight of the trunk. She looked back from the doorway at the empty room. Everything kept changing, stability wasn't in the near future for anyone. She said a quiet prayer and then shut the door.

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Tales of a NPC: Darfur

The city was being vacated in the aftermath of The InBetween and Jacob was making every effort to not be seen talking to Crassus. He had packed up his things the same as most shop owners but when he was done he had sent his pack north but his person had stayed put. He blended in with the crowds who were packing to leave and made himself look busy when someone would approach him asking of he needed assistance of any sort. Warforged were becoming more common and seeing one now sparked heated bickering and fighting. They were suddenly free of their thinly veiled disguise and they now felt emboldened. People had hated them before but the violent outburst had been minimal, now the violence was escalating from both sides. A rift was being widened and nothing could stop it now. Anyone caught dealing with an 'Iron Back' as they were called, would quickly be marked as a sympathizer and outcast from society. Several people had the symbol of The Forge branded or carved into the chest or their face, ensuring that everyone knew they were dealing with a traitor. Jacob had arranged to meet Crassus in an abandoned apartment building to exchange elixirs and information one last time. Darfur made sure he stayed outside the building to trail Jacob once he left. Crassus entered and exited the building taking only ten minutes or so inside. Twenty minutes later Jacob exited the building and began walking to the northern city gate. He had a small package tucked under his coat as far as Darfur could tell from the subtle bulge in the fabric. He followed him quietly giving him a generous lead. He was headed further into Noctavexitium, probably to the Royal City. He had to make sure though.

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Tales of a NPC: Azra

The city was emptying and he has been specifically instructed not to interfere in any way. He had tried to sweeten the deal for as many as he could but now that the Queen had been identified as The Forge it was futile. Most people didn't want such an association on their record. No one knew how this would play out and who would be left the victor. The Forge showed signs of weakness. Letting all these people go like this was one of them. She helped them and when they wanted to abandon her good will she let them without consequence. That sent a clear message as far as he was concerned. She wasn't the real threat here. It was her creation running rampant and destroying things that was. To him it even seemed debatable as to if she had control over them or if they were more loyal to the one called One With The Forge. He was a true commander, he demanded loyalty, respect. The creatures feared him. And to be feared was to be in control. His city had suffered a huge blow because of her. She likely didn't even care what the repercussions would be of this.

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Tales of a NPC: Frederick

He rolled another barrel onto the cart and looked up at the wooden rabbit affixed above the door. The paint was chipped and dingy. He waved his hand and the sign pulled away from the building and landed securely on the cart amongst the barrels. The White Rabbit needed to go back home. It was his first shot at setting up somewhere else, at expanding and it had ended in scandal. All the vendors were told they could stay, that nothing would change. But everything had already changed so drastically. Some were going to stay but for the most part the city would be abandoned. The once great Tournament City, would be in shambles and left to the shadows of its former glory. He had seen Garnet walking to the market a week earlier with the same man who had come to visit her when she worked for him. Clearly she was in love with the beast, he couldn't change that, he didn't want to. He knew she was safe and happy, that's what he wanted. The great city of Amacord was waiting for his return, the regular patrons would be thrilled at his return, life would carry on.

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Tales of a NPC: Erza

The city was being evacuated. He had been watching them from his perch upon a neighboring hill and debating. It seemed like a lifetime ago when he walked through the castle gardens and talked with people who needed his sage advice. That man had eroded into a shell that needed to be filled with something other than disappointment and resentment, yet that was all that seemed to be pouring out from those around him. Discovering the identity of The Forge had been just another blow to add to the growing list of betrayals and let downs. He hadn't suspected. Normally he would be the one giving directions on how to proceed in a matter and for the life of him he couldn't say that he would have seen this coming. He knew Noctavexitium had an unsavory history but he had hoped that Queen Gwendolyn had been trying to turn everything around. He had hoped the goodness in Parthax had been enough to inspire the nation. He had wanted so badly for the suffering at the hands of the warforged to end. Instead they discovered human hands puppeting the mechanical hands of destruction. Those same hands welcoming them in warmly like a snake luring its prey into its hole. He had walked just as blindly as others where he should have been wise. Clearly the wisdom gathered from his youth had been spent and it was time to go out into the world and gather it again.

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Tales of a NPC: Edwin

Everything was not going according to plan. The Queen had been sobbing for two days now locked in her room. No one knew what had been said between the Queen and Parthax in the aftermath of the In Between but he had not been to the castle since and she had been in tears since. Edwin tried to coax her to eat but every meal was left ignored in the hallway and every servant who walked past at any time day or night heard the upset in the room. Soon the Queen would need to attend to her rituals, they couldn't be ignored for long. It was sad to watch such a power crumble at something so trivial. With Mulroy gone Edwin had been promoted to head servant and he hated to admit it was a job he had been ill-prepared for. He hadn't mentioned to the Queen that a servant named Helen had gone missing the week before and now the timing seemed even less appropriate. It was his job to ensure that she overcame this hardship and that she remained the strong leader she was meant to be. The nation was only as good as its leaders and the leaders were only as good as their help. He took put a pocketwatch he had made in his youth and opened it, as always it kept perfect time. The Queen needed to bathe for the evening. It was imperative to keep her strength up. He knocked on her door and listened to her sniffling. As he turned the knob he was excited that the door gave to him. He had to ensure she was ok.

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Tales of a NPC: Gwendolyn

The heat rising up beneath her singed the bottoms of her bare feet and she relished in the deserved pain. The crystal held itself against her chest strengthening her heart and her magic. She channeled its energy into her own. Without the orb there had been little options for how to accomplish the task, of she had left it to One With The Forge it would have taken days rather than minutes and time was precious. She breathed again watching the people below scurry like ants as the fled the destruction. Their lives didn't matter. Live, die, all she needed was the city. It didn't take long for him to appear, his presence was always known to her and hers to him. He knew what was happening and he saw for the first time what he was in love with. She was glad in a way. She didn't have to be the great evil lurking in the shadows anymore, she didn't have to pretend for his sake. Now everything was open between them. She was being completely honest with him and it felt freeing. He came up to her and began talking. The power pulsing through her veins made it impossible to hear him over her own rushing blood and beating heart. She moved him aside and he came to her again earnestly pleading. She didn't have time for his surprise right now, she had to finish what she had started here. She would deal with him later, and just like that he was gone.

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Tales of a NPC: Ira

He watched the woman above the city closely as he held the door open letting people run into the building. She was getting dangerously close now and he needed to ensure there was enough time to lock down the building to ride this thing out. His wife was safe inside and that was all that mattered, everyone else was just at the right place at the right time. Very few people knew about the catacombs underneath the library, they were well protected and warded, if there were any place that someone could survive through this, it was here. She was too close now. He closed the doors and barred them shut. Several people ran up to them and pleaded with him to open them but it was too late for them now. He turned and ran toward the back office trying to block their cries from his mind. Everyone had gone down the stairs into the catacombs, there was a storage area with food and water, it wasn't much but it would last them a few days. He climbed down the spiral staircase quickly and once down he walked over to a wall covered in dials, switches, knobs, levers, and lights. He began working and the stairs began to fold up into themselves. A gush of air was pushed down as they rose up and the heat in the air stung his skin. Soon it sealed. All they could do now was hope it held.

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Tales of a NPC: Wind

She saw the child's hand reaching out of the window several stories up. Smoke poured from the window as well almost obscuring it. She jumped towards the window easily floating up the distance and grabbed hold of the child's hand pulling the small boy from the building. He clung to her covering her in the soot and ash from the smoke as he coughed and struggled to take a clean breath. She held him close and ran back down the alleyway yelling at passersby to follow her as she did. When she reached the opening there were already too many for one spell, she would have to make two trips. That was all she had left in her anyways. She had been at this for sometime now, she didn't know how many she had evacuated. She held the boy close and and counted out the number she could take this time. It took much reassurance to the remainders to make them believe she would come back from them. She vanished taking half the small crowd with her. Her home village was ready this time after being surprised at the sudden appearance of panicked and frightened people the first time. They took over allowing the woman to vanish again. The alley was hotter than before and the air was knocked out of her. She began counting again, a few more had found their way to the group while she had been gone. As she was about to take the last group she looked up and saw a man enter the the space. He was ruggedly handsome and he stared at her for a moment. She gestures for him to join the group and they vanished.

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Tales of a NPC: Sentris

He ran through the street towards his home. Around him the heat coming off the buildings was overwhelming causing him to stumble and struggle to see his path. Finally he reached his home and threw the door open. He ran to the bedroom and grabbed the bag that had been so methodically prepared for some time now, everything else in the house could burn for all he cared. He ran back to the livingroom and began looking for Bill. He called out to him several times but got no response. Bill must have ready fled when the commotion began, it was a wise decision. He ran out of the house in time to see the woman above the city moving closer and he began sprinting away. There had to be a way to get out of the city without running straight into the underdark, it was easily more than fifteen miles to the transition zone anyway and there was no way his legs would last that long. As he ran he noticed a few people ducking down an alleyway and decided to follow them in hope of a way out. The alley curved between the buildings tightly and the heat from the street bled into the small space making him dizzy as he ran. Finally it came to an opening where a striking woman covered in ash and soot was counting people. She looked up and saw Sentris holding his gaze for a moment before beckoning him into the group. She looked to the alley briefly before muttering a few words under her breath. Flames crept down the alley eating away at the buildings that lined it. Everything was destroyed, even the stones of the empty streets.

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Tales of a NPC: Black

The door slammed behind her and she hurried into the back room. She didn't have long until the fires reached her building and she couldn't afford to lose all the precious things she had spent years collecting in the cramped space. She threw a large suitcase onto the small messy bed and began cramming papers and books into it. As she worked a small rat moved along the shelves pushing bottles off and letting them fall into an open bag on the floor. The bottles never made a sound as they entered the bag and it never seemed to fill. Both of them worked quickly and silently. Her apprentice had offered her shelter amongst his companions and she accepted only because it would take time to find another place she was truly comfortable in again. Options were limited at this time and it was more important that she survive and that her knowledge and craft survive. The suitcase slammed shut and she forced the latch to close before moving on to help the rat finish with the shelves. Screaming echoed through the streets alerting her to how little time was left. She looked at the suitcase and it vanished along with the bag. She grabbed the rat and moved into the front room. Flames could he seen outside the crowded window and for the first time she began panicking. There was still so much here that she needed. She grabbed a sack and began throwing anything she could easily reach into it. She only had a few minutes before the rat began squealing in fear as the flames engulfed the doorway. She was here, above them. Black looked longingly at the remaining items but scooped up the rat and vanished.