Long live the financier- Open to (M)any

[Amber Eyes]

The dusty air of an unknown land filled my nostrils. Already my eyes burned from the strange environment, my nose beginning to grow stuffy. I had been on foot for less than a half hour and quite honestly I was far from sure on my path. Part of me wanted to go back to the boat and forget this whole idea, but even as the though crossed my mind I knew the captain hadn't stuck around to wait. He would return in a months time, once his obligations in the less dangerous parts of the outlands were finished. I adjusted my pack, scanning the sandy nothingness as though it might offer some clue of where I was.

The sun was warm, but thankfully this early it was far from unbearable. I ran through the words on the call for help in my mind, picturing the worn paper the messenger had handed to Sei.


To any who may help

Our settlement is in grave danger. We have lived safely in the wilderness for seven years now. Our group was split into thirds, creating three separate settlements in hope of beginning the civilization of the unknown territories. We have been unable to contact anyone from the other villages in six months, probably much longer by the time this call for aid reaches the mainland. All scouts we have sent out have not returned and recently our livestock has begun to go missing. If anyone out there can assist we would be happy to provide financial incentive for your aid, we have little use for Coronian currency here. Please assist if possible.

The directions seemed fairly straightforward sitting comfortably on the large leather chair in Sei's office, but now, surrounded by blowing sand and tons of clear blue sky I felt quite differently.

Sei told me a group would meet me on the outskirts of the first settlement believed lost, but what if I never found my way there? Just as I considered shadow-stepping back to my bedroom and hiding for a few months so that Sei would believe I did my duty I saw a figure appear on the horizon.

"Hey!' I shouted against the wind, "You there!"

[Elthas_Belthasar]

Elthas oft wandered into the deeper areas of The Outlands to think. To remember. As he traveled through the wild lands, his Elven nature became accustomed to the rules of the land. It was a harsh environment that would test one to their very core and force them to emerge...a Hero. Elthas wandered that area of the Outlands for several weeks, attempting to construct a map for The Trading Company. He oft volunteered for such duties, his boss, Invetisto, trusted him to get these matters done. Elthas was an Officer for The Trading Company, and that's what he was doing out there that day. He was attempting to survey the land so that The Trading Company could expand it's territories into the wild areas.

It was at least a week since he'd last come across anybody. He was expecting to be able to finish up scouting the last parts of this area in another day or two so he could head back home with his field notes. So far, he'd found nothing of interest except for a few decaying corpses. However, they weren't HIS decaying corpses, so he didn't think too much of it. The wind was blowing in heavily from the East, and he wore his hood covering his head. His cloak danced about with the wind. He walked against the wind, when he smelled it. It was a scent that belonged to someone he'd never come across before. Elthas blinked for a moment and smelled the wind. Then he turned in the general direction the scent came from, afterwards, he saw a figure and heard an indistinct yelling coming in his direction. Elthas scribbled a few more notes in his journals, and then put them away in weather proof packs. He started to walk slowly towards the stranger who seemed to be frantically yelling about something.

Elthas couldn't hear her because of the howling wind. He moved towards the figure quickly, happy to see some company for a change. The last few days and nights had proven quite lonely and he was temporarily loosing sight of himself. He'd grown a thick beard in his time out in the wild lands, it made him appear a bit rough around the edged. He didn't bother shaving it, there wasn't enough time and his duty to The Trading Company was first above all.

Elthas narrowed his eyes and walked as quickly as he could in that harsh wind. It held him back from running at his TRUE fleet footed speed. The blue bloods were a gifted people, and Elthas was no different. He had his secrets too. Adourning his attire, were The Trading Company markings. It was a power group that dealt with all manners of crafters, artisans, builders, and other such hard working folk. HONEST folk. Elthas's particular officer's station was visible on his clothing, the marking of the cheetah which was his particular rank in The Trading Company. His cloak was cheetah fur, and it was quite warm. The weather oft fluxed from extremely hot to extremely cold at night. He made it towards the stranger with considerable effort. Elthas had a letter from Invetisto, his boss on his person. It was a letter of introduction if he should come across anybody in his journey in the wild lands. Elthas bowed politely towards the stranger, and handed her the sealed letter of introduction.

"Seems fate has guided us to walk together." Elthas said somewhat loudly. "My name is Elthas Belthasar. I am out here surveying this part of the wild lands." Elthas continued. "Seems to me like you could use some company?" Elthas waited for the stranger's response.

[Dark_Justice35]

The wind blew heavily from the east. Christopher was stunned. One moment he's in China, the next he's in a desert. He looked around. There was no sign of the portal he had come through, or of civilization for that matter. He checked his supplies. His duffel bag contained a crossbow, 7 bolts, and a water bottle. He had his glass knife in the sheath on his belt. Chris pulled out the water, took a swig, and placed it back in the bag. Then, he walked, making sure to travel against the wind, to avoid having any creatures catch his scent.

He had been walking for hours and was ready to give up hope when he heard a strange noise, like talking in the distance. He unsheathed his knife and approached cautiously, stealthily. When he was within earshot, he hid behind a sand dune. There were two figures, a woman, and a elf-looking man with pointy ears and green hair wearing a fancy suit. The elf-man approached the woman and began talking.

"Seems fate has guided us to walk together. My name is Elthas Belthasar. I am out here surveying this part of the wild lands," the elven man said. "Seems to me like you could use some company?" Christopher looked to the woman for a response.

[tiff13pikachu]

After many weeks of traveling to get as far away as she could from her homelands, she found herself wondering the desert. The heat, and blinding sun was soon taking the toll on her. Using clairvoyance, she was able to find small lizards and the like to sustain her. As the days of unrelenting weather beat down on Ezra, she began to los strength. Her cause for leaving the woodlands was just to leave the bloodshed memories of her families past, to live out the remaining days as the last Lei in peace. Now it looks like she would die, in the desert, the irony of it all giving her a dark humor.. She fought as hard as she could, unwilling to give up.

Two weeks, no food, no water, and no foreseeable way out. Crawling blindly across the desert sand, she hoped a release would come soon.

She woke up, lying in sand, unable to move from the overwhelming weakness pushing down on her. I have to do something. It cannot end like this She closed her eyes and found enough energy to use clairvoyance. Is that? No, it cant be Just on the edge of her radar, three little blips. I have to reach them, but not like this. I will not be seen groveling.

She pulling herself to her feet, walking up to two figures. A woman, and an elf. She glanced over to see a tiny had peaked over a distant dune.

"I need assistance, please," she rasped to the woman. The woman was pretty, worn from the weather, but her kind eyes gave Ezra hope that she would be ok.
"I noticed the three of you out here. I need water. Food is not necessary, but I cannot last another day without water."

The woman spoke. "You seem like you've been traveling for a while. I'd be happy to take you wherever you need, but--" She broke off, her face worried. Her eyes drifted from me to the elf. "I'm here on a mission for the Ixian Knights. Once that mission is complete I will take you wherever you choose."

Ezra took the canteen the woman handed to her. Hungrily, she took several long drinks. She handed the canteen back, not wanting to take all the water the woman may have.

"Thank you so much. Do you realize that there is a figure staring at you just over that dune?"

[Amber Eyes]

Kyla grabbed the strangers arm, supporting part of her weight and allowing the shadows within her to cool the girl. At the mention of another person Kyla turned, ensuring the girl could stand. She left her draped in shadows, hoping to lower her temperature before the journey continued. She gave the elf a look of suspicion but his surprise satisfied her that this wasn't a trick. With a small smile she held up her hand, prepared to take care of the intruder herself. Ever since her run-in with the assassin Kyla had expected such a moment. His intel on the IK was far from just curiosity, it was planning.

The organization known as the Order wasn't much more then whispers and dreams at this point, but the look in the stranger's eyes told her there was much more to come. Perhaps this was that day. Then again, perhaps this was a lost sheep in the Outlands.

As she took a step toward the dune, shadows began to swirl around her left hand, slowly forming into a dagger. She tensed her right hand, and three steel blades shot out from Sophia's mane.

When she neared the dune Kyla stopped, focusing her energy on the pile of sand. Little by little the sand trailed away, soon leaving behind only a crouched man who seemed more than a bit shocked. "Is there something you need?" Kyla gave a grin, gripping her weapon tightly just in case this all went downhill.

[Dark_Justice35]

Christopher crouched there, dumbfounded. He was beginning to think he'd lost it. Trying to look brave and confident, he talked to the (magic?) woman who had confronted him. Well, at least he tried to. Instead of speech, an odd noise came from his mouth, like a whimper that ended with a question mark. He cleared his throat and tried again, with no luck. He gave up, having embarrassed himself enough. When he noticed the weapon in the woman's hand, he put away his knife. If she could move objects with her mind, his knife wouldn't much good anyway.

Christopher approached the younger woman, who looked odd, though he couldn't put his finger on what was off about her. Without a word, he reached into his duffel bag and pulled out the bottle of water, which was still almost full, and gave it to her.

"Keep it," he said. Then he turned to Elthas.

"You've been rather quiet. But tell me, what are you, and more importantly," he looked at the woman who had moved the dune which he had been hiding behind. "How the hell did you do that?!"

He looked down. "No matter," he said. "Obviously that portal took me a lot farther than I had hoped it would. By the looks of it, another planet. Maybe even another universe, I don't know anymore. Just tell me where I am and where I can find civilization, and I'll be on my way." He looked at each of the three in turn.

"Well?"