the invitation

talon and aeros get invited to the big(ish) leagues

Hundreds of miles Northeast of Solunarium proper at the Vasta River Delta sits the only other major settlement in the kingdom: The port city of Tertium- so named because it is the third settlement to occupy this location. Originally founded as Vastium Orientem (East Vastium), the city has been razed to the ground twice, after being conquered by foreign powers and rebuilt to serve as a port of trade and a tether to the world without. As the once reclusive Solunarian government is beginning to make diplomatic inroads with many nations abroad, Tertium’s star is on the rise and many of Solunarium’s less fortunate are flocking to the city in search of new opportunities to prosper.

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Talon
Posts: 1060
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:54 pm
Location: The Northlands of Karnor
Character Sheet: viewtopic.php?t=127
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D A E M O N
Ash 15, 122

The rest of the matches had not been ended as quickly and decisively as the first. While none of them had truly posed much of a challenge for him, he had gone into them fully expecting that. It had been aggravatingly painful to slow himself down to that degree but it had been necessary. Even holding back, it had been glaringly obvious that he far outstripped the majority of the opponents who went into the ring with him. To their credit however, the fighters he had gone up against had put everything they had into it. A few of them he had even let land a few hits on him but in the end he had defeated every single challenger who he had gone up against, making for a total of ten defeated fighters.

After the second fight, he had started prolonging the matches, going out of his way to put on more grandiose displays of struggle. Some of the fighters he’d gone up against had appreciated the showmanship. Others had become irate as his actions had been perceived as toying with them. Both responses proved to be something the crowd wanted as the former put on an entertaining show that dazzled them with both feats of martial prowess and displays of magic. The latter had a greater undertone of brutality as his angry opponents sought not only to defeat him but to injure him with everything they had. In both cases, he came out unscathed. Through it all he remained a silent attacker. He never taunted. He never roared to the crowd. He never spoke. To those fighters who had garnered a measure of his respect in the ring for their efforts, he offered a nod of acknowledgement, defeating them but leaving them conscious and still standing.

To those fighters who resorted to dirty tactics and disrespected him in the ring, he left in an unceremonious unconscious heap on the ground. By the time he walked away from his last fight and made his way over to Aeros and Mathias, there was a dark skinned robed man two others who were clearly his guards. He was eyeing Talon quite openly. As he neared, the man smiled and offered a flourish of the hand followed by a bow. The man immediately began speaking in Vastien, a language that he did not know. He was clearly addressing him so Talon kept his focus on the man. He opened up his senses in order to bring the man’s aura into focus but found that it was wrapped tightly around his frame. It was either being concealed by him or it was being concealed by something on his person.

Ah! I have watched your fights throughout the whole of the night, Daemon. I must say that I am immensely impressed. You clearly have a talent for both war and magic, talent that is wasted here in this rabble. I would like to invite you to a more suitable arena. One where your skill and talents can be more readily tested.” Talon understood only a few of the words that came out of the man’s mouth. When he finished speaking, he looked to Aeros. He really would need to learn Vastien. Relying on another to translate for him was dangerous and not something he was inclined to allow for much longer.

Dominus?” He posed the word as a question. As soon as he said it, the man’s attention switched from Talon to Aeros. Recognition and then curiosity sparked in the man's face.

"Ah! Is he your property then?" Again, the man spoke in Vastien.

word count: 635
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Aeros
Posts: 523
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2022 2:18 am
Location: Solunarium
Character Sheet: viewtopic.php?t=3625
Plot Notes: viewtopic.php?t=3636
Character Secrets: viewtopic.php?t=3644

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To Dæmon upon his return, Æros offered a soft smile and a light tilt of his head, though it appeared that there was a sort of bitterness in the man's mouth that hadn't been there before. Initially, he said nothing as the robed man beside them spoke his offer, no interjection to clarify that Dæmon did not, in fact, speak Vastien. All he did was stand, regarding his company with a sort of uncanny amiability laced with…maybe annoyance? but he was distinctly suppressing his expressions.

Æros stared at Dæmon expectantly when the stranger had regarded him, offering nothing, as if to say that it was he who had the floor. To that, the warrior then regarded him as he…had no understanding of Vastien, a fact the Fæ was well aware of. To the robed man's surprise, however, but he then quickly rolled with the shock and gave Æros his sheepish proper regard, realizing it was he who held rank here.

To which, "...that he is! Correct," Æros nodded along with words of affirmation. "Regarding your offer, I accept on his behalf. Representing my tastes, he is, but due to his distinctly foreign nature, it was here we had to start." He spoke with a smooth cadence, emotion in his tone again, friendly, music to his voice again.

"Full glad am I that you noticed and made your approach. I am Len'Sælyan Æros– and I will be more than pleased to negotiate terms regarding him."

With his introduction, the warmth that had waxed into him was clearly faked to folks of a more perceptive nature. Vexation and a distinctly large amount of irritation remained roiling within like Sorokyn's magma. Glowing and red-hot, yet he let none of it show in his features, not a hint in his voice. The only way one would be able to tell the extent of it would be to gaze at him through a magical lense, though there was subtle venom reflected in his eyes of both bright gold and abyssal night. The target of which, however, was ambiguous at best.
- - -

'Thoughts'
"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"
"Vastien Tongue/Speech"
"Valasren Tongue/Speech"
"Common Tongue/Speech"
word count: 478

Say goodnight, to the weakness that you hide behind
Leaving the lies, leaving the fear inside
Never once were you truly alive
So scream all you like, no one can hear you


Soul laid bare,
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Talon
Posts: 1060
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:54 pm
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D A E M O N


Ah! Many radiant blessings upon you and your house, Dominus. I am Len’Rassidius Cassius. If he is your property, then I have a most generous offer for you. A fighter of this caliber is a rare sight indeed. If you are amenable, I would be willing to negotiate terms of purchase. I am quite partial to the Games, you see.” He smiled brightly. It was the smile of a merchant who had now come to the table with money in mind.

I am always on the lookout for talent that can be added to my ludus. I would be willing to make the purchase worth your while.” Cassius eyed Talon from head to toe with obvious appreciation.

Though he did not understand the words being exchanged, Talon had a feeling of unease creep up his spine. Mathias stepped closer and though his squire did not speak, he was staring at the conversation with a pointed blankness. The guards beside this newcomer were eyeing him as though he were a piece of meat being shelled out in the market. He did not like that look. He expanded his aethereal awareness and pushed deeper. He searched for the edge that could be found around most aura concealment techniques until he found the telltale sign of mirage that rose up like heat from a rift. He pushed past that edge, unraveling the layers beneath it.

What he found was nothing remarkably impressive. The man himself was not a mage of particular skill but rather one of the rings that he wore on his fingers emanated the signature of concealing Semblance magic. Whoever this man was, he possessed wealth. To be able to afford such a masterful ring had likely not been cheap or he had inherited it from another. With the man’s aura revealed to him however, he could more easily follow the undertones of the conversation at hand. The robed man was excited. He was also hungry. Not the physical hunger of a man in need of food but that of a man with ambition. Another glance at Talon and he saw that hunger swell.

He saw the man’s emotions shift toward…some manner of attempting to please while also being cautious. He recognized the nuance of a man sussing out the motives of an opponent, not in a ring but in a trade. Talon immediately grew suspicious but he kept his mouth shut. He looked at Aeros, bringing the man’s aura into focus alongside that of the robed man. He saw anger simmering beneath the surface. He saw suspicion. He tasted the sickeningly sweet oil of fake pleasantries. Aeros was slathering himself in some manner of pleasing appearances that made his stomach want to turn.

His mind drifted back to their earlier exchange. Aeros suspected something. He did not have to ponder long to think on what. His comments about blending in, words carefully pointed toward the illusion of mortality. His jaw clenched.

Daemon…” Mathias spoke softly. “...why does this feel like a sales pitch?

He looked between the auras in front of him.

Because it is.

word count: 547
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Aeros
Posts: 523
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2022 2:18 am
Location: Solunarium
Character Sheet: viewtopic.php?t=3625
Plot Notes: viewtopic.php?t=3636
Character Secrets: viewtopic.php?t=3644

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Æros stared with placid curiosity at the man before him and then the shoe dropped. Disappointment crossed starlit features and he sighed, appearing somewhat wary. He felt rather exhausted on the inside, but he didn't let the whole of that show, or even any more than a sliver, for that matter. Foolish was he to have thought that the man before him was more of a scout working on behalf of a better ring. Nay, he was here to poach away the golden goose Æros had managed to stumble upon. As stony and cold as said goose was, he nonetheless glittered, opulent in his majesty, and therefore…the Færie had utterly zero interest in parting. Whatever offer this man had, he knew, was a scam. Dæmon’s potential for profit was beyond anyone outside of the royal family.

"Apologies– I had been under the false impression that you were here as more of a recruiter than to make a purchase, but this warrior is mine. I am well aware of the value that he has and, consequently, I must decline any and all offers." Æros paused, then quickly added, "...and mind that I mean no disrespect, I assure you. Your name speaks of wealth, but as my own house has no struggles, I am, unfortunately, not to be swayed by the quick pay of a buyout. Rather, I am content to hold onto my asset and let it mature, so to speak. I reiterate my sincerest apologies and wish you luck in collecting yet more fighters."

His pleasantries were, once more, amiable. Standing straight with composure, arms across his chest in a posture more defensive, he afforded an equal with all the respect he was due. Even despite the poisonous nature of the creature before him, miasmatic in his greed, decorum was required yet still. Æros was fine to be polite and usually, other nobility were more inclined for subterfuge and sabotage as opposed to outright violence. At least, in the relative havens of Luxium and even underneath in the Umbrium. There, he was used to posturing and more petty squabbles, so he didn't even bother to engage his Mesmer, thinking very little of this encounter.

However, this was, in all likelihood, a mistake on his end. For he was not in the gilded halls of the Umbrium nor Luxium's golden roads. This was Tertium, a city he'd never been, and further, he wasn't in a part of it that was to be considered at all secure. Bit of a fool, he was oblivious to what risk he may or may not be in, which was why, in the end, it had been wise for him to hire the other on as protection in addition to offering the man his sponsorship. And while Æros was tall and many found his galaxies to be false flags of more daunting magic, it was unlikely this was the case here.

When Mathias spoke behind him, Æros did not react, as Dæmon had already answered his query. Should the boy have further questions that his mentor knew not, the Fæ would likely be willing to answer, as he knew neither party spoke the language or were privy to what words had been said.
- - -

'Thoughts'
"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"
"Vastien Tongue/Speech"
"Valasren Tongue/Speech"
"Common Tongue/Speech"
word count: 668

Say goodnight, to the weakness that you hide behind
Leaving the lies, leaving the fear inside
Never once were you truly alive
So scream all you like, no one can hear you


Soul laid bare,
User avatar
Hector
Posts: 355
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:19 pm
Location: Gel'Grandel, Gelerian Imperium
Character Sheet: viewtopic.php?t=3187
Plot Notes: viewtopic.php?t=3339
Character Secrets: viewtopic.php?t=3335

Special

Review

Talon (Dæmon?)

Lore: 8 lores reminiscent of the desert sands
Points: 10 n/a magic
Injuries/Ailments: n/a
Loot: None

Æros

Lore: 8 lores with a vaguely divine glint
Points: 10 n/a magic
Injuries/Ailments: n/a
Loot: None

Notes: 'till next they meet in more current seasons, then :)
word count: 95
"And as you lay down your grace to me,
the skies begin to bleach red,
and the stars begin to fall,
I feel myself changing,
as my world starts dividing–"
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