A start to something grand!

[Taoofbalance]

(Before you post please PM me with what character you want to use. This is a mild power RP, no god like characters or powers. The focus here will try to be on story and not so much on fighting.)

The town wasn’t very large boasting only a hundred or so people and that was counting the surrounding farms and woodsmen that didn’t live directly within the wooden walls that designated the town proper. Feygate, a name that the first inhabitants had given it because they bordered an old trail that was said to wind deep into the forest, directly to Elf territory.

One of the reasons the small town survived was because of the elves that monitored the forest, the other was because the people that lived in Feygate were hardy and independent living off the land and always returning what they took. It was because of this respect for nature that many of the towns inhabitants believed the elves watched over them.

Feygate was predominately human with a handful of halfings calling the place home. Only one other that lived there was of a different race and he was another reason the town believed they remained largely untouched. An elf from deep within the woods on occasion visited them, trading furs and herbs for news of the outside world.

The area was also home to a large population of wolfs, the predominant predator of the forests, and the woodsmen and rangers had come to an agreement that Feygate was situated at a point where multiple territories met which explained their activity.

The current day was like any other summer day, the sun was out and high in the sky, the temperature was at its peak and the men, women and children were going about their business. It wasn’t until the sun reached its apex that one of the men pointed out the a glimmer in the distance, like the sun shining off of metal.

In that distance a dozen fully armored mounted warriors road towards the small town, the sun reflecting off the plate mail and telling of their approach. In their midst’s was a crimson banner stitched with a black talon grasping a sword. The war banner of the local lord, it seemed war was fast on the approach and those coming were here to recruit new soldiers.

[Dark Eyed Emi]

Anastas rode elegantly into the town of Feygate. She often visited here, being it the closest city to her tribe and the people who lived there had an admirable respect for nature that only a Druid like herself could match. It was even more surprising coming from the human based population.

Anastas was one of the few elves that would visit the city. She had a strange attachment to the city, being it small. She wouldn't really go for information, but today was a different day. She had just set out from her tribe on a personal quest. Feygate would probably point her in the right direction, if she asked the right people.

Anastas, as always, was wearing her bearskin armour and fox tales. Once she strode in on her horse, a few greetings replied. She wasn't well known, but in such a small town it's hard to not be noticed. She also had a new item with her that she kept under her bearskin and on her back. She also had a skull club resting against her hip.

Anastas was pretty quiet. Although she was excited to seek out information, something had stirred the forest and the animals that day. The numerous wolves that were always about were cautious and stared off in a certain direction. The birds were also quietened. The trees whispered of marching and shining armour.

As she got there, she started to head off into the town. Putting her beloved Cyrus in good hands for a while, she decided to head to the other end and start back here. She was on her way until she overheard a human exclaim that something was coming.

Her eyes flashed with the intensity of the shining armour that came close. The crimson banner was familiar, although she really believed that any politic or parliament didn't affect her. Druids never really dealt with the outside much, not really needing too.

Instead of continuing into the town, she decide to stand and watch with wise eyes, curious on what could be happened.

[Taoofbalance]

They were watching, they were all ways watching. Yellow eyes peered out from the depths of the forest hidden away from the people of Feygate. They watched the people work, the watched the small amount of visitors that came and went and now they watched the armored knights make their way towards the peaceful town.

Among those yellow orbs were a set that belonged to someone special, one different from the rest. That individual sprinted across the forest floor, four paws kicking up dirt as they gripped the earthen floor. A howl escaped his lips as he ran, one that was echoed all about the forest.

The howl caused the knights to pause briefly, glimpsing into the forest to try and see the wolf that had made the call. He was gone, already approaching the town, the warning had been sent and answered in return and was still being answered. The people of Feygate would hear the the howl as well, though to them it would be a fairly common occurrence and had yet to bring any harm down upon them.

Before the knights closed in on the city a rather tall and muscular elf came through the depths the forest, entering through the back of the town. He wore no more then deer hide pants, a spear across his back and dagger strapped to his side. His body was lathed in sweat, yet he was hardly breathing. Tyr was the elf common to these parts, a liaison between the people and the elves that resided in the forest and his appearance could only mean one thing, the elves had seen the war banner and sent their messenger to answer the call.

It was known that while Feygate and a portion of the forest was claimed by the king of Ravenclaw, the approaching army, his claims were not recognized by the elves or the people of Feygate, and that irritated him to no ends.

He flashed the people a smile of confidence as he moved to the front of the city, to where a naturally constructed gate made of hedge and briar thorn would allow for the only entrance large enough to admit all of the coming soldiers. It was on his way to the front of the gate his keen eyes picked out the details of another elf, one not of his tribe, but who’s appearance and reputation preceded her.

Tyr knew a little about the heroes of Alexandria and the trials they had faced, he knew more about the individual standing before him because of her reputation with the druids and her standing among elves n general. She was a hero by all accounts.

“Master Druid Anastas, my scouts had told me of a guest to Feygate. They had not told me it was on of reputation and of kin.” Tyr swept into a low bow as he walked, not stopping until he stood beside her, his abnormally keen eyes already picking out details of the knights.

Throughout his walk he was accompanied by a rather large grey wolf, his friend and companion, the creature was over three feet at the shoulder in height and was roughly six feet from tip of nose to the tail and weighed much much more then the average wolf. Shade was his name and he remained close to Tyrs side as he spoke, ears perked and body language showing it was clearly excited.

[Dark Eyed Emi]

The howl shattered her concentration on the shining armor coming towards her. Anastas listened to the song that emitted from the great call. From her experience as a Druid, the howls came to her as harsh as words. A warning, it was, and it was being answered. Someone was coming, it seemed. She had sensed earlier when walking into the town that a wolf more special than the rest was also watching the knights although was silent until now.

Anastas had been wondering to herself when the quietness of the wolves would end. This upcoming of soldiers had set everyone off, including the wolves. Silent and watchful, as they always were.

She continued to think to herself about the knights, wondering of their business here and what they would want in such a small city as this. Her concentration, however, was soon broke by a strange presence that came to her. She looked back, her green eyes dark with a hint of crimson. She saw an elf walking towards her, larger than normal. His eyes reminded her of the furiousness that a wolf held, which lead her to the conclusion that the Elf walking towards her was none other than Tyrnea Eplith’Ryl, the wolf lord.

Anastas had heard about the wolf lord through the trees and from the people here. He like herself was a common visitor here. It almost made her wonder why she had never met him before.

His power always intrigued her greatly. She hadn’t personally seen it in action, but the people say that his title is a exact definition of what his power really was. The ability to transform into a wolf or a wolf like creature, the power to summon a great army of silent predators… it was a power that couldn’t be matched by a normal Druid. Her summoning powers and wild shape powers didn’t come close to the intensity of his field of focus, although what she COULD do was great.

She greeted Tyr, a smile on her face. She didn’t really think herself as a famous and well-known Druid, or a MASTER at that, but she took the title and responded. “The pleasure is mine to finally meet you, Wolf lord Tyrnea.“ A quick banter at the Master comment, of course. She also bowed lightly, her red hair gentling falling down for a second. As she stood up, her eyes locked on his until he looked off towards the knights.

“Your wolves are unusually silent, today… including you. I was almost relieved when I heard your call… What do you know of the army that advances towards us?” She asked.

She then looked down to his impressive wolf companion, and muttered a wolf greeting. Being a Druid, the language between animals was a key feature. She smiled a friendly smile and then gently pet it on the ear.

[Taoofbalance]

Tyr was colorblind and as such he couldn’t make out the colors of the banner the knights held, but based purely on the symbol he didn’t have to know the colors or their purpose for coming. Was King Kelt so arrogant to think he could bully the elves into submission? That single thought brought forth a deep growl from Tyr and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Shade accepted Anastas’s scratch without complaint, and merely sat on his haunches taking the time to rest and await a command  from Tyr as he mulled over the situation.

Tyr, without removing his yellow orbs from the knights, answered the druids question in a low voice that resembled a deep growl more then actual words, but he was sure the druid would have no problem understanding him.

“There is war brewing to the east, between the humans of Ravenclaw and the dwarves of Stonehold Fortress. Over the rights to a domain rich of minerals, so I am told.”

The war was not one needed, and over something pathetic between what Tyr considered two war mongering races. Dwarves and Humans, certain individuals of the races were exceptional, but the majority Tyr considered thick headed and corrupted.

“They are here to recruit for their army.” He finished and began to walk out to meet the knights, as he walked he gave a quick swipe of his hand towards the forest which sent Shade bolting off in the direction he motioned, to be lost in the thick trees and brush.

If Anastas followed him as he walked he would continue his explanation, if not he walked out in silence.

“They have been visiting other towns on the outskirts of the forest and single farms taking boys from their families. This is the last stop and the closest to the forest….but they have no power here.”

[Dark Eyed Emi]

Tyr’s growling tone startled Anastas. It rumbled into her stomach. She looked into his fierce eyes, almost saddened by the anger that showed. She listened to what he had to say, understanding him with ease. A war over the splendors of the land, as usual. She wasn’t so surprised. It seemed as thought that’s what the wars have always ever been about. It made her sick.

“So they come here… Doesn’t seem that smart of a choice. I don’t think that their Lord has thought about how this town is protected…. Or maybe he has…” Her eyes also narrowed. Another human king messing around with things he can’t control.. And for what? Power and greed.. Humans are almost despicable.

She watched the wolf run off, and then continued to follow Tyr. She wanted to hear everything that he had to say about this matter. Tyr was right, they didn’t really have much power here. The thought of boys fighting war made her almost sick. Children have no purpose in war.

She followed him in silence, not wanting to share her opinions.

[Taoofbalance]

The knights approached in a wedge fashion, the senior knight taking point as was evident by the captain bars displayed proudly over his breastplate. He looked down off his horse with obvious disdain at the two elves approaching him; the kings’ advisors had warned him about the elves. Though they hardly seemed something to worry about, this was a human affair after all.

“Halt and state your purpose elf.” He called out, he had no force in his voice and it seemed it was merely a habit for him to greet others this way. The knights around him sat at ease in their saddles, gauntlet covered hands resting nonchalantly on the hilts of their respective weapons. They too seemed bored with the situation.

“I believe it is you that needs to state their purpose here.” Tyr came back, stopping a good fifteen paces from the knights formation.

“I have to do no such thing, I am in Ravenclaw territory. YOU are the trespasser, and for such I could have you killed…” The Captain had expected a meeting of sorts, and so far it had taken the path he had assumed it would.

“Could you?” Tyr asked, fighting back his initial urges he put on a friendly smile. “Well, the people of Feygate are under my peoples protection and within our domain. Your king has no say here, nor do you.”

“I thought you would say that.” The Captain said with a smile his own, reaching into a sack at his side and pulling forth an old looking map. “According to this document, the land and it’s forests are under rule of King Kelt. You keep your forest simply because of his good graces… you should be thankful tha..”

“Fear is why your King does not try to take the forest. He is a coward.” Tyr said matter-o-factly, the smile fading from his face and something resembling more of a snarl took over. “Your declarations mean nothing and are of no consequence. If you think you own something because a piece of paper says so…then you are sorely mistaken..”

The tension only grew, the Captain did not reply right away and the knights at his side ready their grips and wondered what their superior would do. Killing the Elf, who obviously represented those in the forest could lead to open war…but a few had to wonder if that was so bad?

[Dyew]

A man had come up the road and now waited to enter the town.  The knight's troupe blocked the entrence.  He was on foot and garbed in mostly leather.  His upper body was wrapped up in an ivory mantle and short cape with script in patterned chains.  He was not unarmed.  On his left hip rested a magnificent sword.  On the man's back was a leather pack with many tooled pockets and pouches as was the case with his belt.

He had been humming softly and slowly strumming a lute that now rested easy upon his right hip.  He was silent now.  Most would say that this stranger was a ruggedly handsom human.  Only the truely observant would see the shimmer behind those blue eyes.  Only the attuned would percieve the magic that hung about him.

[Dark Eyed Emi]

Elf. Anyone with the wrong tone can make their superior race sound like a slur. She couldn’t help but harden her normally calm face.  Anastas peered at the knights, seeing their hands gently resting on their weapons in case anything tries to happen.  

The banter between the two was obviously tense. Snappy comments, although self satisfying, weren’t the right things to be saying at this current time. The fight between whether this territory belonged to the Elves or the Humans was a ridiculous one. The war was a ridiculous one.

Anastas concentrated on their faces as they talked. Tyr’s face soon turned dark, and she feared for the worse. She didn’t want to start a fight or end one.  She believed that Tyr could handle himself just fine, with her help. But, an open battle with a messenger of the Elves and a near by tribe? That could lead to something worse.

She was almost tempted to just tell the knights to continue on with recruiting. She wanted them in and out as fast as possible. It was hard for her to remain neutral on this matter, since it didn’t effect her much yet.

Just in case something got bad, she slowly slid the relic that was under her bearskin armour down and pressed it against the ground, disguising it as a cane. Only those truly magical inclined would notice the brilliant green that radiated from the dark oak staff.

[Taoofbalance]

For any listening it was obvious that diplomacy was neither Tyr’s or the capatains strong point, the knights had come here armed for some sort of resistance and Tyr was always ready. The primal growl that escaped  Tyr’s lips was akin to thunder in the sky, deep and resonating.

It was enough to make even make the well trained horses the knights road whine and step back. Still, Tyr wouldn’t attack… the humans might have been under his people protection but  they still had their free will and to strip them of that would make him no better then the knights before him.

“Very well, go recruit for your war.” Tyr spat through pursed lips as he looked towards Anastas at his side, then back towards the knights. “But know this, if you attempt to take any against their will you will not make it past the briar gates of the town.”

While the exchange was going on a knight in the back, a private based on the fact he had no rank, turned to regard the man all of them had failed to notice until he was already upon them, so focused were they on the words their captain and elf shared none had paid attention to their surroundings.

Peering down from atop his horse at Dyew he first noticed the instrument the man carried and groaned audibly. 

“We got ourselves a traveling minstrel.” He commented to the soldier across from him, both sharing a laugh. “Tell ye what, drop that thing and we’ll show ya how to properly use that sword on your belt.”

“No better way then to run it through the bearded unwashed bastards of the mountains. Three meals a day, pay and you can make a man of yourself.”  The two laughed again from atop their mounts, obviously thinking highly of themselves and as their positions as Knights.

[Dyew]

Dyew did not like this man's lack of respect for life but he did force a smile.  It was a genuine enough to fool everyone but his beloved.  "Even a bard such as I needs to defend himself.  I must pass on your gracious invitation knight.  Perhaps some other time."  If these men wanted to believe that he was only a simple traveling mistral then so be it.  They were foolish.  The sword he wore upon his left hip was worth many mountains of gems and precious metals.  The weapon was fit for a king of kings.  Only a foolish man would think that a man that carried such a blade could be a simple bard.  A man who could not defend himself would be killed and quickly stripped of such an artifact.

[Dark Eyed Emi]

Anastas watched Tyr closely. He seemed to be getting more angry by the second. She stayed calm, however, and watched with wise eyes. When the growl was released deep from within Tyr’s throat Anastas tensed. Primal warning to anyone that they need to stop what they were doing or their demise was near. She peered over to him, trying to give him a look to calm down. However, she didn’t want to control his actions. After all, she was on his side.

Once he calmed a little bit and looked towards her, she flashed a look in her eyes, trying to tell him that meddling with humans was futile at this moment. In Elven, she muttered to him that she would be at his side when things got rough. She didn’t want to knights to hear, nor understand her.  After the debate had seemed to cease, she started to walk back into the town. She muttered some more to Tyr quietly that she will be within the town if he needed her, but she was off to gather some information she needed. As she was walking away, she looked back and then muttered Elven advice...:

“Stay strong, wolf lord.”

Then, she was off on her own adventure.

[Taoofbalance]

It seemed the two men speaking to Dyew weren’t going to be satisfied with that answer, their friendly grins quickly turning to stern looks. No wasn’t an answer they were going to take, perhaps the bard simply needed  a friendly reminder of who ruled these lands.

“Listen here…” The private that spoke first said in a low tone.

“MOVE OUT!” The captain barked at his troops, and the private quickly straightened in his seat his eyes locking onto the back of his commander. Who by now was trotting ahead towards the town, the elf he had been speaking to had stepped to the side and allowed them passage.

“A pity.” He spoke to another knight near him, seemingly forgetting about Dyew as he spurred his horse to catch up with the other knights.

Tyr wasn’t happy with how things had went, but blood shed for no reason was something he wanted to avoid. It would only bring harm in the end. As the knights rode past  his yellow eyes looked over to the traveler that had came up upon the conversation.

“I’d turn around if I were you.” He said evenly, and then turned his back and began his own track off to the side. Tyr wasn’t about to head back to the town…but he would be watching, waiting and planning. Already he knew his people, wolfs and elves alike, were about the perimeter hidden within a bows reach of the town, or the path that lead out.

[Dyew]

He watched Tyr leave as he repositioned the lute so that he could once more strum it.   Then as if someone had jabbed him sharp in the small of his back he straightened and he turned to look behind him.  There was no one there and yet he stood looking over his right shoulder with the town to his left and the direction where he had come from, his right.  For a long time he stood like this, a statue against a backdrop of green and brown.   He then shivered and spoke as if to himself.  “I stand alone, naked, and in the dark.”  He paused briefly and then shook himself, turned, and walked into town.