Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 19, 2012 15:50:57 GMT -5
Matthias had found a clearing in the woods, and was happy to find it was quiet and serene. Though for how long, he was not certain. Deciding not to waste opportunity, he wasted no time and found a tree to practice on. Drawing his sword, he began to concentrate and would begin.
He started calmly, just another day of practicing and honing his skills. Ever so slowly, his force began to increase, as well as his intensity. His mind, used to going through the motions began to wander. With each strike, as he felt his blade bite into the bark of the tree and slowly work its way to the wood, he began to think of all the combat he had ever been in, all the service he had done, in the name of some useless king.
He had trained hard to be in the king's army, and had served loyally. He had done so since he had been seventeen. Each victory they experienced, they rejoiced and did so in their king's name. He had followed so blindly then, just another pawn in the army. Then came the day he lost everything.
They had been at their camp for the night when the shouts of a fire had awaken every last soldier. Off in the distance, an angry plume of noxious and foreboding black smoke arose in the distance. He could not help it as he ran towards the village, many of the soldiers running alongside him. Reaching his hometown, he tried to run to his family, his mother and father, his brother and his new wife. The home they shared was engulfed in furious flames, and despite his hope, they were no where to be found. When the flames would finally be extinguished, they would find the remains of four people within the home.
Matthias hit the tree as hard as he could and suddenly found his blade embedded in the tree. Grunting, he went to pull it out, having to exert some force to do so. Finally freeing it, he sighed. It was all just memories now, and he would be damned if he ever followed anyone ever again. Maybe if he hadn't been another dog in the army, they would still be alive.
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 16:21:20 GMT -5
Eris sauntered about the dense forest, her cold icy blue eyes looking about and smiled a dark smile as she saw the man, her silent foot steps took her closer as she watched him seemingly lost in his thoughts. She could feel the discord in his heart and she knew the chaos of his life well...she may or may not have had a hand in it....
She leaned against a tree near by and casually changed her look to that of an innocent girl, she still had the raven hair but it was up in a sort of bun on her head with a few loose curls around her face, her armor disapeared replaced by that of a peasent girls attire, red turned to pink and black turned to brown.
Eris picked up an apple that was on the ground and took a rather loud bite of it, she couldnt resist the urge to try to whisper in his mind....'its all the kings fault....if you hadnt been away they would be alive....there has to be a way to bring them back'.... and she left it off there in the hopes the seeds of curiouslity have been planted
Eris continued to eat the apple as she watched him with her now darker blue eyes waiting to see if he notices her
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 16:39:19 GMT -5
It was the king's fault...
The thought seemed to ring randomly in his head and several times. He hacked at the tree a few more times, harder and harder with each swing. Eventually, a grunt evolved into a roar as pulled out a small axe at his side and violently embedded it into the tree. He stood there for a moment, heaving as his furious thoughts raced. The loud noise of an apple being bitten into broke his concentration and he turned to see a girl.
His emotions slowly fell away as a sort of calmness and embarrassment took over. He looked at the girl for a moment before pulling the axe out of the tree.
"I didn't see you there," he said in a low, somewhat gravelly voice. "How long have you... never mind. It really doesn't matter, though maybe you shouldn't be here. I hear these woods can be dangerous at times." He sheathed his weapons as he spoke, keeping one eye on the girl as he did.
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 17:49:33 GMT -5
Eris gave a small meak unasuming smile, she chewed the apple a few times then swollowed, her blue eyes sparkled a little as she tilted her head ever so slightly. she keep the echos in his mind going while she stood there.
She gave him a small shrug as she responded in a sweet voice "no more dangerous then it can be in town. though i dont venture far into the forests" she lied as she had gone to the deeepest parts of the forests, so dence that light barely touched it.
she brushed a few strands of her dark curls aside then picked up another apple before she steped closer to him. she held out her hand offering the said apple to him "you seem very angry, though most soldiers are" she said forgeting he never said outloud he was one
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 19:24:47 GMT -5
He eyed the apple as it was handed to him, the same line repeating over and over in the back of his mind. It's all the king's fault...He felt his stomach rumble a little at the sight of it, as his practicing had caused him to work up an appetite. After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head and politely waved it away. It was a habit of his not to accept food he did not prepare or know where it came from.
"No thanks," he said. "No offense, but I don't even know you." He then sighed a little and nodded his head. "Yes, I guess you could say I am a little angry, but I have learned my lesson. Never trust a king... maybe even no one. Sometimes there is too much to lose." He then looked at her again and looked around before half-joking. "Do you always spy on soldiers?"
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 19:40:22 GMT -5
Eris chuckled a little as he waved away the apple and she let it fall back to the ground "i understand that mister, if i didnt know the apple I am eating came from the trees around here i wouldnt eat it either" though she didnt need to eat it she did enjoy the flavor.
she took a few more bites of her own apple then tossed the rest off into the forest for some animal to finish off, she whipped the juices off on her skirts and shrugs a little while a half smirk crossed her pink lips "not usually no" she again lied "but i was wondering around exploring and i couldnt help but watch" she would step closer to him still if he allowed her to "i dont trust any king either dont really trust anyone since its just me"
she extended her hand in a friendly way "im melody"
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 19:59:02 GMT -5
A part of Matthias thought this all seemed a little off. A girl wandering the forests and coming across a pissed off soldier and acting like it was just another day didn't seem typical. However, he knew there was the possibility that maybe he was over analyzing things. Either way, he knew he wasn't scared of a girl. Taking her hand in his firm and calloused one, he shook it and mere uttered his name. "Matthias."
After he shook her hand, He could not help but give into his curiosity. "You say it is just you. Am I to take it you have no family? No parents or siblings? What are you doing out here anyway?"
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 20:35:14 GMT -5
Gave him a smile as he took her hand in his and introduced himself, her eyes sparkled again at his questions and she knew he felt something was off, a soldier with good instincts, she thought to herself. Eris' hand was soft and showed no signs of having worked a day in her life She giggled a little then to the curious questions "well i have a brother but hes a soldier off fighting somewhere i know not where" well it was a half truth...her brother was a fighter...god of war infact "so i am here fending for myself...it can be tough sometimes but i get by, i was looking for some food when i found the apples and you" she canted her head some "why are you about these dangerous woods? they say all manor of dark creatures walk here and if you go deep into the forests where the light doesnt shine i hear there is a temple of some kind"
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 21:00:11 GMT -5
Well, the gentle part of him felt somewhat relieved to know she had a brother. At least the girl had someone. He had seen many places where war tore families apart, and out of habit had started to assume maybe she had been another victim, though by the feel of her hands, he family could not have been poor at all, and likely had some coins in their coffers. He nodded his head toward the tree once at her query.
"A mercenary needs to stay sharp, and yes, I have heard there are many strange things about Crete. A few dangerous animals in the woods would be no surprise at all, but let them come," he nearly growled the last bit. "All the more to add to my list of accomplishments and the more to persuade others to hire me over any competition." He then raised his brow at the mention of a temple deep in the forest.
"A temple? Out here?" he pondered aloud. He sat in thought for a moment before continuing to speak. "Hmmmm, to Artemis perhaps?" Was his best guess, or maybe what he would rather believe.
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 21:09:57 GMT -5
She smiled again a coy smile at the mention of mercenary, she loved men for hire and she would have to let her brother know of this one. Eris would kick at some stones by her feet to keep up her im so innocent facade "ah i see, well you are right then mister matthias you will need to keep sharp though i cant help but think something troubles that mind of yours. i've seen it time and time again"
she wringled her nose as he guessed the temple was to artemis "no i dont think its to her, not many people go there out of fear....and those that do have dire need"
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 22:07:36 GMT -5
Matthias frowned a little as she mentioned his being troubled. He let out a long sigh and turned away from her slightly looking off into the distance. The persistent thought rang in his head. It's all the king's fault...
"It is merely nothing more than dealing with the casualties of war," he replied. He was not eager to discuss it. What good would it do now, but yet he still would have loved to spend five minutes with his old king. Looking into the forest, he pondered for a moment or two.
"Hmmm, if the temple is not to Artemis, then I wonder it's purpose. To be in dire need to go there would suggest that its purpose may be nefarious..."
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 22:14:46 GMT -5
She would cant her head again as he turned away, she knew what troubled him and deep down she delighted in it as her words echoed in his mind. she placed a hand on the tree and hung off of a low hanging branch "i know all to well about the casualties of war" then again she was always the last on the battlefield and took delight in the chaos and blood that had been shed there.
she began to climb the low branch till she was sitting comfortable on it and smiled down at matthias "not sure exactly" she lied once more "i heard tell that if you have suffered great loss and know strife that you can go there and ask for something and if you please the one who owns the temple you will be rewarded" a half truth is still a truth at least it was in the goddess' mind
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 22:46:03 GMT -5
He looked off into the forest, seeing where it eventually began to grow dark in all of its wild glory and paused for a moment. He knew strife alright. There were still mornings he woke up expecting to see his wife next to him and finding an empty space instead. Yet, the prospect of asking something had its temptations, of course. But what could he ask for? His family back? That seemed a little too good to be true, and he knew of the gods' natures. They were not necessarily out to serve. He let out a soft "hmmm: sound as he thought before looking back at Melody.
"Perhaps... that is something worth pondering on, something worth remembering," he replied. "Though... I suppose I would feel much more comfortable knowing who it was that intended to grant such requests. I would not do business with certain... individuals if I did not have to." His opinion of the gods tended to be low enough that he definitely was not eager to rush to them in his pain. It would take a lot more than a simple nudge before he moved in such a direction. "Perhaps at some point, it is worth seeing with my own eyes."
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Post by Eris on Aug 21, 2012 22:51:28 GMT -5
'Melody' aka Eris dangiled her feet as she sat on the branch. she gave him a long silent look as he spoke and looked to the darkend forest, she then would atempt to put another thought in his mind 'would it be worth having your family back? what if they are in a bad place, what would you do to have them at peace?' she gave him a smile when he looked back to her.
"if you feel you are in great need then perhaps you should seek the temple. honestly i dont know why others fear it if i needed for anything i would go there myself" she was unusal for just a girl, she showed no true fear and spoke beyond her years but then again it could be because she was on her own....
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Matthias
Settling In
Mercenary for Hire, Loyal to None[A1i:3]
Posts: 60
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Post by Matthias on Aug 21, 2012 23:30:28 GMT -5
Matthias turned his gaze towards Melody as she spoke. There was something about her he could not put his finger on. She was so sure, so unphased. It seemed little bothered her for being a young woman. He slowly looked back at the forest and heard the thoughts in his head. What if his family was in a bad place? What then?
Grabbing the hilt of his sword, he could no longer hold back the curiosity. He began to wask towards the darker parts of the forest. "Well there is no harm in looking, is there?" he would ask rhetorically as he began the trek to the temple.
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