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Post by The Forsaken Subtle Sin Saint on May 8, 2006 20:29:00 GMT -8
This is the land where Subtle (in her former Madrecuerva/Forsaken Blackbird incarnation) once fell years ago, and was located at long last by her sister The Royal Consort Tien e. It's not part of Beyond, but portals can be opened to and from it by those who have the magic to do so. (Think of it as the land where everyone rps when in the chat rooms; there's usually forrests, a lake, a tavern, and a village somewhere) This is not Earth, but Terrans, as humans are called, are known to live there, as well as every sort of creature from every system known. Just remember that if someone gives you modern technology here, it can't be brought into Beyond.
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Shadow
Hatchling
First Princess of Ormrland
I am the voice in the still night that will end the restless slumber
Posts: 88
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Post by Shadow on May 8, 2006 20:37:45 GMT -8
Sin and Saint struggled in her arms as they walked through the portal. Unlike their elder twins, who'd been hatched here, neither Sin nor Saint had ever been to the common realm, and were eager to see what it was like. Shadow set them down and held their hands as they walked, noting the sombre troupe's air of total despair. She softly sang a song about recovering after a great loss, and quietly added Calmalos to the song, so that even if the pain wouldn't be completely healed, they'd be calm enough to handle whatever it was that their mother had brought them here to "prepare" for.
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Jasmine Renegade
Fledgling
Daughter of General Striker
"The good die young that they may not degenerate..."%\2\%
Posts: 142
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Post by Jasmine Renegade on May 8, 2006 20:41:45 GMT -8
Jasmine hurried through the portal to take James' hand and was surprised to note his hand was already full, though it appeared empty. A little shaken, she moved silently to his other side, taking his and and leaning her head against his shoulder as they walked. She didn't speak, but she willed every ounce of her strength to him. It wasn't easy, being without a father, but she'd only lost one. He'd lost two. Now his younger brother was technically King of Ormrland. She didn't know how he'd be feeling, but it couldn't be joy. "I'm here, love," was all she could whisper in solace, and squeezed his hand as they appeared in the Common Realm.
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James Draconis
Registered Members
Mouthpiece to the Crow King, 1st prince of Ormrland
I am destined for great things
Posts: 134
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Post by James Draconis on May 8, 2006 20:47:01 GMT -8
James looked at Jasmine and blinked, as if he'd just been woken up. He'd forgotten he was even holding his fa- Viper's staff. Holding Jasmine close, he said, "Thank you, dark angel." He didn't consider that she might not know what an angel was, but he did, and she was as close to an angel as he'd ever met, inspite of their dual vampiric heritage. Looking at his sister who was silently tending their younger siblings, he felt a great hatred. He didn't know whom he even hated, but seeing his twin in such great pain made him want to destroy everything in his path. His eyes grew black until he saw Sin stumble. The madness subsiding, he hefted Sin easily onto his shoulders, releasing Jasmine only long enough to situate him comfortably.
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Souls
Fledgling
Former Lawgiver of the Crow clutch
Loved, but at what cost?%\2\%
Posts: 172
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Post by Souls on May 8, 2006 20:55:46 GMT -8
Souls felt like sixteen kinds of a traitor. She alone in this group had any cause to be happy on this day. She didn't want to leave Kiba behind, not so soon after he'd proposed marriage to her, but she needed to be here for what had become her family. Her mother and father were long residing in Lawgivers, and she never had any siblings. But these Dragons, Avians and mixed breeds were the most family she'd ever know, and she'd never fail them if she could help it. She saw Avenger walking behind them all, keeping to herself, and pulled up short to wait for her.
"This must be so hard for you, Mere- that is...you're calling yourself Dark Avenger these days, aren't you? If you would like, I can restore your skin to your natural color, your hair as well. I'm no longer a Lawgiver, though, so if you'd rather I not speak to you, I understand."
From what Souls recalled, MereCorbett, now known as Dark Avenger, was the pride of the Crow Hunter corps. The only female Crow Hunter, she'd been formiddible, and gathering how she'd survived the Abyss relatively unscathed, she apparently still had her edge. Maybe since she'd given up being a Hunter and undergone the Contest of Law in order to marry Shio, she'd understand why Souls had given up being Lawgiver, and had undergone the Ceremony of Shame. Of course, the fact that she had to kill a Hunter in order to survive the ritual might not be a fact in her favor.
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Post by Beautiful Avenger on May 8, 2006 21:05:33 GMT -8
Avenger stopped and looked at Souls for a long moment. Shaking her head slowly, she held out her hand. "The things we women do for love. Just once, I'd love to see some man laid low in the eyes of his clutch, or tribe, or whatever, for the sake of the woman he loves." She grinned, which oddly resembled one of Striker's grins, and with her free hand she clapped the former Lawgiver solidly on the back. "Anyway, hear tell that you've been like a sister to Subtle...man that's a weird name...no worse than Beautiful Avenger, I guess..." She grinned a bit lopsidedly. "I don't even remember how I got that name...something about protecting a child in a tavern when I was first reincarnated...anyway, my point is...thanks. She needed you, and you were there." She looked at her sister, and was startled to note that they'd been traveling to Subtle's old Nest, the place where James and Shadow had been hatched and partly raised.
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Post by Striker Renegade on May 8, 2006 21:15:03 GMT -8
Striker would have helped Flowers and her mother through the tall grasses, but where Flowers tread, the grasses parted reverently until the entire party passed by, and closed again as if never disturbed. Sighing, she reached out to her friend Subtle, empathizing, completely unaware of her own plight of sorrow. As they passed a certain part of the countryside, she smiled at the memory of Flowers using a briar to unfortunately stop the King from raging forth into a fight...and how he used to call her Flo, which aggravated her to no end. She felt tears welling to her eyes as she recalled how Steele had always relied upon her, and how she'd never failed him...until today. She hadn't been there; she couldn't help feeling she could have stopped him. She'd always been his military counsel, his voice of reason on the field of honor. Now he was gone, not even a shred of his spirit left to his tiny son Sin... she dashed at her eyes with an impatient fist as hot tears fell silently from them. Looking at the old wooden door, amazed that Subtle's old Nest was still in such good shape, she looked to her Queen and opened it for her.
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Post by Millifiori on May 8, 2006 21:18:09 GMT -8
Flowers hovered low above the ground, near her mother. She was still shaken from all the violence and confusion in the hall, not to mention sensing the King's death. She felt vulnerable somehow, now that she was without Araia, and that seemed a bit odd to her. He used to rely on her for comfort and strength, but more and more, he was becoming her rock and her shield. She looked up at her mother, gave a wilted smile to the purple Oasis spider in her hair, which tenderly touched her cheek with one furry leg.
"Mother...I'm so sorry you found me in such a state, but I haven't had a chance to tell you how glad I am that you have come."
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Post by Spinner Guardian of the Low on May 8, 2006 21:21:25 GMT -8
Spinner looked at her daughter with pride. "My perfect flower, you appear to have blossomed in your absence. I could not be more proud to have found you as you are, indispensible to the royalty of the realm, well loved by all, and still doing your duty as the Guardian of the Thousand Flowers. I'm so glad that I didn't find you hurt..."
Or dead, she added silently, not wishing to offend this party of world weary travelers. She noted the log cabin that they were all entering with admiration. Someone had built this place with much love in their hearts; she was surprised to find it empty and bearing signs of long absence.
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Post by The Forsaken Subtle Sin Saint on May 10, 2006 22:17:23 GMT -8
Subtle waited until everyone had entered her former abode, noting with sadness the remains of the elder twins Nests, which were decaying with age. Her old home still looked liveable, and she was actually surprised someone hadn't taken up residence there. She supposed the Nest itself had so many sad memories, it likely drove away anyone who'd considered the notion. Finding the old cushions in her living room a bit dusty but still quite serviceable, she motioned for everyone to be seated.
"Thank you all for coming here with me. Some of you will recognize this as my former Nest, back when I was still the Mouthpiece of the Crow clutch." She waited, knowing that this would confuse and shock more than a couple of people. "It has been a secret of sorts, but there is no sense in keeping my true identity hidden anymore. I was born Madrecuerva, Namesake of the Crow Clutch and Mouthpiece to the Queen. Not this Queen, of course, but the former Queen. I'm the second eldest princess, or was, before I was ritually consumed by the clutch because I'd ripped my own wings out in grief over some...personal issues." On this day of pain, she couldn't bear to lay bare all of her wounds, but she couldn't hide her past anymore, not this part. "When I was reincarnated, King Steele took me as his wife, and thanks to his and his father Fallen's magic, my body was mostly tranformed into the Dragon you all know. I still have the reproductive organs of a Crow, as well as all my Avian magic, but for all intents and purposes, I am a Dragon. We only hid my former incarnation out of fear that I would be Hunted by the Crow clutch, because I had been consumed, and should be residing in the new Lawgiver's body."
At this, she looked at Souls, knowing it must pain her still to think that she was no longer Lawgiver. "My father and the new Queen chose not to call the Hunt, which would have been within their rights. I can only guess that mostly that was due to the treaty we Dragons enjoy with most of the Avian clutches, but I'm sure it was also out of love for me. Now, once again, I am without a mate, and my children are fatherless. My youngest twin son is now the King of Ormrland. My eldest son..." She cast a look towards James, and a tiny bit of pain came into her eyes "Apparently now wields the staff his biological father once bore." She knew James had the staff in Occulto, but given all the Crow, Thunderbird and Dragon magic, as well as that of the moonlight clan magic her uncle had given her so long ago, there was virtually no one in Beyond whose Occulto would work on her eyes. "Things are changing in Beyond, and sadly, they are not changing for the better. Our young King is but a Hatchling, and therefore can not rule. His elder brother is Mouthpiece to the Crow King, and therefore can not be his visier. Our eldest princess has lost her betrothed to a strange creature of the sea, and his death must not only be investigated, but avenged, if possible." She looked at Striker with a heavy heart.
"And...Striker...it pains me to inform you...while searching for King Steele, Bjorn was also struck down. According to General Wineblood, he was shot down in Raven territory. I don't want to speak out of anger, but if this is an accurate account, it could lead to war. We're not just talking war between Ravens and Dragons, but world war; Avian against Dragon, clutch against clutch. I'm sorry, Striker. General Bjorn was one of the best men I've ever had the priviledge of knowing." She fell silent and waited for the news to sink in to the silent gathering.
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Post by Striker Renegade on May 14, 2006 23:27:38 GMT -8
Striker fell to her knees heavily, head bowed. Her head started shaking, and though at first it might sound like she was crying, she was actually laughing, in a hysterical, nearly maniacal way. When she looked up finally, her eyes were blood red. Without warning, she transformed into full Dragon, her black body taking up much of the space in the room, and likely would send people sprawling. Apparently, Subtle had built this Nest large enough to accomodate her parents, who were Rocs, so Striker didn't destroy the place when she shifted, but she sure filled it. She roared so loudly, the glass in the windows rattled violently, and the door leading to the old bedroom slammed shut with the force. It wasn't a fierce roar, but one full of anguish, and as she roared herself hoarse, she lost herself, and became humanoid again, laying on the floor.
"Well," she croaked, voice and anger spent, "This won't be the first time I was with egg while my mate lay in his grave..." No one knew, not even Bjorn, that the short time she'd spent with him while everyone else was at the ice races or the waterfall, they'd managed to create a life. It looked like Jasmine would have a sibling after all, even though it wouldn't be the one she was expecting. She lay on the floor, curled in on herself, mourning the loss of her beloved once and future mate.
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Jasmine Renegade
Fledgling
Daughter of General Striker
"The good die young that they may not degenerate..."%\2\%
Posts: 142
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Post by Jasmine Renegade on May 14, 2006 23:35:02 GMT -8
Jasmine flew backwards as her mother shifted, then raced to her side as she shifted back. Did she mean...? Stars, when did they even...? It didn't matter. She knew her mother meant that she was breeding, and with a child of Bjorn's. While she rejoiced that she'd have a sibling after all, she bemoaned the fact that this hatchling would be without a father, like she was. Somehow, that thought instantly bonded her to the tiny life forming in her mother's womb. Silently, she gathered her mother into her lap, holding her close, rocking her gently. Her mother was taller and stronger, but at this time, she was the strength this family needed to pull itself together. She looked up at James, a helpless sorrow in her eyes.
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Shadow
Hatchling
First Princess of Ormrland
I am the voice in the still night that will end the restless slumber
Posts: 88
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Post by Shadow on May 14, 2006 23:42:20 GMT -8
Shadow knew about her mother's past of course, but Sin and Saint didn't, and were confused. Before any of them had time to ask, Striker had transformed and made her own shocking statement. This was a day for the history scrolls of Beyond, to be sure. Never had there been such a mix of joyous and devastating news issued on a single day. The younger twins went to their mother, and Shadow walked, almost hypnotized, towards her own old Nest. Nearly oblivious to everyone else, she gingerly laid a hand on the soft blankets, and instantly a thousand memories of her infancy flooded through her. It was as if something had glued her hand there, and she couldn't snatch it away. She watched as images from the past shot past her, "Uncle" Steele feeding her and James from his own wrists, their mother, wasting away because of the flight feather she'd given their birth father, and even scenes from outside the Nest, when Steele and Viper clashed in the Dual Claim Contest of Law, and the Hunter, her uncle Kei, who'd later become King of the Crows before succombing to his own Madness. Memories of joy and pain barreled through her mind at lightning speed, and any trace of herself was wiped away. She sat down hard, released from the Nest but not the past, and her gaze was blank as she retreated to the recesses of her own mind.
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James Draconis
Registered Members
Mouthpiece to the Crow King, 1st prince of Ormrland
I am destined for great things
Posts: 134
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Post by James Draconis on May 14, 2006 23:49:25 GMT -8
James looked at Jasmine, the promise of love and support in his eyes as she cradled her mother, when he saw his sister heading for their old Nests. When she seemed riveted, then fell, he raced to her side, taking the now visible staff with him. He called Souls and the younger twins over, and turned Shadow towards him, astounded to see the look of blank madness in her eyes that her mother once held when she'd thought him and Steele dead, while they'd truly only been trapped in the Abyss.
"Oh no you don't, Shadow! You come back to us!" Not waiting for his younger twins to sync with him, he opened his mind and silently and gently entered Shadow's. It was ablaze with dark memories, faint good recollections, and terrible tragedies. He saw her mind's self cowering before the events of both the past and present. He called out to her softly, "Shadow...sister mine. Do not trouble yourself. We love you. Do not be consumed by events you could not foresee." His voice was finally joined by that of Sin and Saint. "Big sister," they chimed in tandem "We need you. Don't stay here, there is no good dwelling on these things. Come, be well, with us." They all slowly approached her, encircling her with the strongest magic any three Avians ever produced.
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Souls
Fledgling
Former Lawgiver of the Crow clutch
Loved, but at what cost?%\2\%
Posts: 172
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Post by Souls on May 14, 2006 23:52:27 GMT -8
Souls looked at Avenger, and raced to Shadow's side. She silently joined them, chanting Calmala before entering her mind, and saw the ring of power they'd formed around her. She didn't have any powers as a Lawgiver, but she was still an Avian to be reckoned with, and she lent her strength to the three as they tried to repair her broken spirit.
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