These Old Familiar Woods (Closed)

[Karuka]

3442 Bunnies approved!

“D’you remember Concordia, Taodoine?”

Karuka remembered. Even after a decade, she knew the feel of its loam underfoot, the smell of its broad leaves on its old trees, the cool kiss of its sun on her face as it reached through thick branches. The scent of it washed over and through her, and she knew it, too. It was the scent of stately old hardwoods and young softwoods racing toward the light. It was the scent of new moss and ancient stone. It was the scent of history - and her history was mingled with it.

“I’d guess not. Y’were just a wee hatchling, last y’ saw this place.” The redhead reached a tawny hand up to stroke the golden phoenix on her shoulder. So much had happened since she left Greater Althanas for Kebiras. New scars crossed her flesh, old wounds in her spirit had healed, and these quiet woods had seen none of the events that had re-shaped her.

“Here was where I really met Althanas. I was just a lass, Taodoine, not so much older than you are now.” The great bird crooned at her, understanding the soft, warm joy in her voice, even if he couldn’t quite understand the strange mouth-noises of his master.

Pomegranate lips blossomed into a smile when a town started peeking shyly through the trees. “I know this place, Taodoine.” A bright bell of laughter pealed through the forest. “Oh, I know this place.”

The juvenile phoenix shifted on her shoulder, watching her growing enthusiasm as feet bared to the mossy ground picked up speed. “I’ve met its people, slept on its straw, drank its ale…”

That thought momentarily cooled the warm wave of nostalgia that had been rushing through her core. “Hmm. Well,” she mused at last, “even if it’s still not the finest Althanas has t’offer, the first draught will still probably taste of home.”

Concordia was a bit bigger and busier than Karuka remembered, full of people going about their lives. Shops were open to cater to the needs of its citizens and passersby. Looms hummed, weaving sturdy vlince and hammers rang as blacksmiths worked their forges. In her long absence, the town had prospered.

Despite the phoenix on her shoulder and the long spear she carried openly, Karuka hardly merited more than a second glance or a lingering look from the townsfolk. People like her, adventurers, were not uncommon here, it seemed, and anonymity settled on the redhead like an ill-fitting pair of trousers.

In Jalaan, an island nation in Kebiras, she had been the Duke’s bodyguard for nearly a decade. She had fought in his wars and advised his leaders, and even in the markets, where she often walked to clear her mind, people turned and stared at her. Shopkeeps cheerfully tossed her fruits or pastries if they saw her coming empty-handed, and mothers told their children tales of her latest exploits. They called her a great hero - the brave Karuka O’Sheean!

But here, where she had been a stranger for more many years, she was just another passerby, maybe here for the night, maybe here to go to the castle just beyond the town, maybe going to the Comb Mountains or any other Coronian settlement. She wasn’t stalking through town like a troublemaker, and so she was invisible.

After a few minutes, she adapted. For a long time she had sacrificed privacy in the wake of the fame that followed her adventures, and for once it was nice, having no one know who she was. Maybe it was time to embrace anonymity permanently. She could settle down, maybe in Corone, have a normal life…

A tassel of giggling kids rushed past her, running from the school building as quickly as their little legs could carry them. Taodoine trilled contentedly on her shoulder, and a soft smile touched Karuka’s lips. “Oh, y’ like it here, do ya?”

This would be a nice place t’ rear some wee ones…

The scents of fresh bread and hot stew drew freshly-booted feet to a pub, where the woman might take a good meal before deciding whether to press on or remain in Underwood for a day or two. Granted, she was in no rush, so it might take her a day or two to decide.

Karu had barely found the local watering hole when trouble caught her eye. A man with light brown hair faced off against a half-dozen shaven-headed roughs. All seven looked similarly aged - young men, not quite sure what to make of themselves yet. That probably explained the damage on the turner’s shop that the lone youth was guarding.

He had a sturdy broadsword in his hand, and wore an emblem on his shoulder. He looked a little intimidated by the sheer number of his opponents, but valiantly stood his ground. The gang’s weaponry was as roughshod as they were: a simple farming scythe, a couple of kitchen knives, an iron dagger, a length of heavy chain, and one who had nothing but huge, brutish muscles.

Taodoine shifted on her shoulder, leaning forward and lifting his wings in preparation to launch, but was stilled by a whisper. The phoenix squawked his confusion, but settled down, loosening his grip on the vlince of his master’s shirt. For the years they’d lived in Jalaan - all his life, almost - they had fought as a team, and impending violence had been their call to action. But Karuka wanted to see if it was bravado, foolishness, or honest courage that made the lone youth stand against such odds. They could always interfere later, if the boy couldn' handle himself.

Either there were no words between the thugs and the youth, or they’d already been said, because at some signal known only to them, the gang attacked. Bravely flashing but inexperienced steel was quickly felled by the greater numbers - the sword went flying thanks to a swipe of the scythe, knives dug into weak flesh on the boy’s arms and torso, and a heavy blow from the unarmed brute knocked the lone defender to the ground. Chain whistled through the air to finish the fight for good, but a screaming streak of fire intercepted it, then wrestled it away from its owner.

Six shaven heads turned to the hand where the phoenix, unleashed by a word, had returned to deliver its jangling prize. Six pairs of eyes narrowed at the slender woman, red and gold as her bird, who looked back at them. “Y’ve made yer point, boys. Don’t do anything y’d further regret.”

“This isn’t your business, whore! Go away before you join this punk on the ground.” The lad with the dagger stepped menacingly toward her, twirling the blade, while she just flicked a lock of salt-stained hair out of her face, unperturbed.

“Lots of angry young men eventually become fine grown men. That lad is done fightin’. Kill him, and you’ll regret it all your days.” Her tone was patient; although she’d thought herself very grown up when she was their age, the intervening years had shown her just how far she’d had yet to go. She didn't think this boy was any more an adult than she had been.

The dagger-wielding boy kept advancing. “I said it’s none of your bu-” He went flying back into the dirty street, where he laid holding his ribs. Karuka watched him struggle to stand for a moment, then looked at the other five when he gave up. Their bulging eyes brought a smirk to her lips; they hadn't even seen her move.

“Are y’ leavin’, or do y’ want to try to fight some more?”

The boys, in their reckless foolishness, thought that the same tactics that had worked against other, more helpless opponents would still serve well against this one, and the remaining five swarmed her. Taodoine launched himself to the roof of the turner’s shop, where he could keep an eye on the downed boy. His master would want these five to herself. She was selfish like that.

Phantom images rushed through her mind’s eye in the seconds before the boys followed through with them. Compared to her, all five of them dragged through the air no faster than a falling leaf. Her lithe body spun and twirled around stabs, slashes, and punches, nimble feet danced and twirled away from clumsy kicks, the wooden end of her spear flicked out to inflict punishing blows on limbs and torsos. With a few moves, she could have had all five of them twitching on the ground and begging for death, but she had no wish to do more than teach them a lesson. Thus, she restrained the business end of Consequence from the boys; she didn't need to traumatize them.

The fight was over almost before it had really begun - each of the boys only got a chance for a swing or two at her before they’d joined their friend in the dirt, and the redhead barely had a lock of hair out of place. When they didn't rise to challenge her, she made her way over to the fallen youth, who was starting to pick himself up.

“Easy there,” she cooed, tracing a stylized B on his forehead. The gold around her pupils flowed into her irises for a moment, a sign of the magic she worked. “Take a minute t’ get yer breath.”

The youth sat back as his wounds began to mend, and when he opened his eyes to look at his unexpected benefactor, his jaw dropped. “You...you’re Karuka.”

A red eyebrow raised. Who was this man who knew her, when she had been gone for so very long?

“I suppose you don’t remember me.” The boy levered himself up to his feet and gave her as proper a bow as he could. “We were on the same boat once, when I was a child. You saved us from pirates.”

There was still no recognition. She’d been on a boat when there was a pirate attack, yes, but she hadn't done very much saving of anyone.

The boy frowned a little. “My name is Timothy Landiner. I… I joined the Ixian Knights so that I could protect other people. Like I saw you do.”

That got a spark of recognition. “Timmy? Wee Timmy? No!” She looked up at Taodoine, who drifted back to her shoulder. “Y’weren’t but up to my knees! When did this happen?” She put a hand on top of his head, now several inches higher than her own. It hadn't been that long since the boat, had it?

[Silence Sei]

One day, all of Corone would belong to Ella Orlouge.

The youngest of Sei Orlouge's three girls was not the strongest (that would be Kyla), the smartest (Anita) or even the most talented (her biological sister, Emma), but what the nine year old girl possessed that her sisters did not was worth its weight in any of those traits: she had the heart of the people. There were soldiers that were loyal to the rule-abiding Anita, or the chaotic crusader that was Kyla, but every single member of the Ixian Knight court would defend the outgoing Ella to their last breath.

Being regarded as the official Ixian Knight 'mascot' of sorts was why Ella decided to visit Underwood today. The soldiers always went about their duties at a much faster, efficient rate in order to appease 'The Dragon's Princess.’ She skipped merrily along, each airborne knee a futile attempt to rise higher than the last. The busy town hushed whenever she neared, in awe of the sheer radiance the girl just exuded. Her ringlet pigtails bounced across her back while the birds seemed to sing their songs at a higher key as if to announce her presence to the people.

The air tasted of the various foods that still lingered; fresh baked breads and warm pies fresh out the oven. The purple ribbon tied neatly across the little girl's dress waved to and fro as she waved with a single hand, true to the nickname the Ixians gave her of Princess. Even the darkened alleys of the normally morally ambiguous city seemed less terrifying when the child cut through to reach her destination. Ella truly loved Underwood in the way her father loved Radasanth.

Her destination was the guard post that the Ixians set up as part of Sei's 'Protect Thy Home First' initative that Jensen Ambrose often joked about. The Orlouge patriarch made it a priority to protect every one of the townships big or small around Concordia, and therefore around Ixian Castle. After all, the towns were kind of like the Knights next door neighbors, and if one could not trust their neighbor, who could one trust?

The girl’s feet stopped for a moment when her eyes caught sight of the scene before her; just a few buildings down from the local bar (a place Sei and Anita both warned Ella never to venture into), laid six young men on the ground. Some of them twisted and moaned, while a couple did not move at all. At the epicenter of this circle of pain stood a red haired woman and a brunette soldier who bared the iconic image of the IX that represented the House of Ixia.

Her eyes widened when the soft green eyes only man standing, albeit with the help from the fiery haired woman, met Ella's own deep azures. She quickly recognized the youth as an up-and-coming soldier that even the great Seth Dahlios admitted to showing promise. In fact, the boy was admitted into the Ixian Knights on the recommendation of the Dahlios family. She rushed to the side of the man, her skips gone in place of a concerned run.

Quickly, she placed a hand on the warrior's chest, her azure eyes shifted towards the visage of the intimidating and imposing female. The woman was only a few inches shorter than Sei, but she still seemed to carry herself in the same manner as the powerful Mystic. Ella took a heavy swallow and tried to fight the lump in its stomach that wanted to force its way out.

"I, that is to say... ummm," her words left her for a moment thanks to the injured boy by her side and the menacing lady beside him. "What....exactly happened here....ma'am?"

Manners. It was always good to remember one's manners.

[Karuka]

Karuka gave the child her most disarming smile. “Jus’ a wee bit of a dust up, is all, lass. Sometimes young men don’t know how far is too far, whether it’s eatin’, drinkin’, or fightin’. It’s all right.”

Around them, the town started going back about its business. So a few thugs were laying injured in the dirt; that wasn’t anything new in Underwood.

Timothy knelt to be closer to Ella’s eye level; doubtless this gesture of fealty and humility would also please the little girl. “Princess, this is Karuka O'Sheean. These men were causing trouble and attacked me when I asked them to stop.” That might have been simplifying it a bit, but the child didn’t need all the details. “I was in trouble, so Karuka came to help me. I watched her and Mister Dahilos subdue a ship full of pirates when I was younger than you are now, if that helps you know how long she’s been saving lives.”

He smiled; he was ten, nearly eleven years little Ella’s senior. Twenty was old to a child so young, old almost beyond imagining. “Karuka, this is Princess Ella Orlouge, the youngest daughter of Sei Orlouge.”

Karuka looked at her phoenix, tilting her head to direct him down her arm. “Taodoine, how d’ ya say hello to a princess?” The bird looked at his master, tilting his head for a moment, then leaned forward and spread his magnificent wings in what passed for a bow.

“Orlouge, did’ja say? I think I’ve heard a bit about yer dad, lass.” Karuka’s lips quirked up a bit as she returned Taodoine to her shoulder after giving him a quick scratch. “Does he know that you’re out?”

“That aside,” Timmy glossed over, “I should escort you to the guard post, miss.”

“An’ I’m off fer a pint of ale an’ t’ see what Underwood has t’ eat these days. Good t’ meet you, wee princess.” Karuka gave the little girl another smile and started back toward the tavern.

[Silence Sei]

It took several moments for the Orlouge heir to connect the dots. The mind of a nine year old darted from place to place so rapidly that it was hard to keep track of any one thing. It was not until Karuka was taking her leave that everything began to make sense to Ella. She felt Timothy tug her arm as she stared at the back of his his savior. This woman not only possessed an altruistic nature, but was a former ally to Seth Dahlios, one of her father's most trusted soldiers.

"Wait," Ella spoke loudly enough to give pause to both Timothy and Karuka, the latter turned back around, "I have something to say."

The older guard released the little girl when he felt her pull away from his grip. As soon as the tension was released from her peach colored skin, she straightened her posture and approached Karuka. The curious girl that stood before the warrior a mere two minutes ago was replaced with a more regal presence. The innocence of Ella Orlouge still remained, but her raised head and new commanding aura seemed to freeze everyone in their tracks.

Once she was a foot away from the older woman, Ella cleared her throat, much like a noble would if they wanted people to leave the room. In truth, the child merely needed to make sure she was audible to Karuka. Emma, Anita, and Kyla had always told the youngest Orlouge daughter that her voice did not carry unless she tried really hard. This was one of the times she needed to give a huge effort.

"Lady Carrotka," Ella's voice carried an unidentifiable resonance to it, something that made heads turn and pay attention, "to thank you for your efforts in saving Sir Timmy, I ask you to come to Ixian Castle for a reward and..."

Ella paused for a moment, and her elegant presence left as she slumped her shoulders and pursed her lips to the side. She had been taught the proper way to say the next way so as not to offend people, but she could not for the life remember it. After a few long, awkward seconds, the princess finally conceded to her better nature and finished the sentence. "A sleep over."

She nodded as if she just gave an approval for something important. Timothy's cheeks flared up as he tried to hold in his laughter. The child had done so well in being formal up until that point. The soldier walked to the two and placed a hand on the younger Ixian's shoulder. "Princess, with all due respect, I think that Miss Karuka has other matters to attend to, and I need to finish my guard du--"

"You're not in any shape to finish your duty," Ella turned her head and cut the boy off, "I will have my sister send two men to replace you, and keep an eye out for those bullies. Besides, I think we should get Aunt Aislinn to look at you before you do any more work." Ella was the kind of girl to refer to anyone she grew on friendly terms with as 'Uncle' or 'Aunt' in the same way certain kids called people 'Big Brother' or 'Big Sister'. It fit in well with the Ixian tradition that every Knight was a family member.

Timothy sighed and nodded, for when Ella Orlouge's mind was made up, it would take another Corone War to change it. The girl turned back to Karuka and smiled as she dug the tip of her dirty and torn purple shoes into the ground. "So will you come let Daddy give you something, Miss Carrotka? Please?"

[Karuka]

To her credit, Karuka managed to hold down a laugh at the child's adorably authoritative invitation, but she couldn't quite bite down her smile. The wee bit was taking her duties as "princess" so very seriously, and then just not quite getting it down. But the sincerity was there, and if the child's father didn't want her around after all, he could always simply ask her to leave. It wouldn't be the first night Karuka spent in the woods somewhere, or on a straw bed at a little inn.

"How could I possibly refuse an invitation so graciously extended?" The redhead crouched down a little to be on the child's eye level. "I gratefully accept the hospitality offered by Ella Orlouge of Ixia."

"YEEE!" The little girl squealed, grabbing Karuka by the hand and dragging her over to Timothy, who was just as eagerly pulled into line. Her initial intention quite forgotten, Ella bounced and skipped her way out of Underwood and toward Ixian Castle. She pulled a little more roughly than she intended on the still-hurting Knight, but he bore it stoically, and her honored guest's patient steps kept quiet pace with the child's.

The whole way back to the Castle, Ella chattered to Karuka about the magnificent banquet her father would throw in his gratitude to her, and speculated about what sort of reward her actions might merit. Personally, the warrior thought a flying dragon mount was a bit much for handling a small group of angry youths, but the child was so excited at the prospect that the grown woman couldn't have gotten a word in if she'd wanted to. Besides, she had to keep an eye on Taodoine: those beautifully bobbing blonde curls had his hawkish attention, and if he didn't think he was being watched, he might have tried to take one for his own.

It wasn't his fault, really; while he'd grown up around her red hair, and while everyone else he knew had dark hair, Taodoine had never met a blonde before, and was probably wondering if it made her any different from anyone else.

"Tá sÃ* ina leanbh mhaith Taische," she murmured to the phoenix on her shoulder. He perked up and chirped at something she said, looking around as though he was expecting someone to join them.

"What's that, Miss Carrotka?" Ella looked up at Karuka with her big, clear eyes, and the woman smiled.

"Taodoine likes yer hair. I jus' told him it's not fer eatin'."

Ella's hands went instinctively to protect her head, and once more the two adults had to fight to hold in their laughter. Her concern for her golden locks melted away only seconds later, when the spires of Ixian Castle gleamed through the trees. "Look! There it is!" She ran ahead of Timothy and Karuka, too excited over her big announcement to bother keeping pace.

"I know she's excitable, and maybe a bit much, but we all love Ella," Timothy started, "so thank you for your patience with her. And even if it's not quite what Princess Ella is picturing, you won't be denied a meal and a bed."

"Ah, she's precious," Karuka smiled. "Just as a wee lass should be. And I did not do so much; a night of hospitality is more than enough."

The young Knight nodded, looking ahead at the bouncing form that was Ella Orlouge. "I'm only a junior among the Ixians, not really important. Still, this is twice now my life you've saved. If there's any way I can ever repa-"

An amber hand clasped a strong young shoulder. "Timmy. Y've grown from a terrified wee lad int' a man who will boldly stand b'tween people who do bad things an' th' people they want t' hurt. Can I ask any better from any life I've helped save, even if my part was only so small in th' savin'? No... Seein' y' now, who y' grew up t' be, that's ay so much more than I could ever've asked." She squeezed gently, then let him go.

Karuka looked over the castle, noting its newness - and that some parts were extremely new. In the ripples and waves of time, she saw fire in the recent past, and pain and blood and death. Then, abruptly, all she could see was the castle and its grounds as they stood in the moment that she walked them. No past or future or little visions flitting through her mind's eye; it was just... just still.

"Karuka?" Timothy stopped beside her, gentle green eyes glowing with concern. "Are you all right?"

The redhead nodded. "We jus' passed some sort of magical barrier, didn't we?"

"We did. There was an attack recently, so now no one who holds ill intentions to the Knights or the Castle can get within striking range of it. Will the magic here harm you?"

"No." Karuka moved forward again. How could she even begin to explain that something within the barrier was affecting abilities he couldn't even begin to imagine? Besides, it might be nice to have a place where everything was still, even for a moment. "I'm jus' a wee bit sensitive to that sort of thing."

Now quite a long way ahead, Ella burst through the doors of Ixian Castle. "Everyone! We have company for dinner, and she saved Sir Timmy's life! Someone get Aunt Aislinn to heal Sir Timmy, and someone tell the cooks to make a banquet!" She whirled around, to see the two adults she'd towed along only now reaching the steps. "Come inside! I have to go tell Daddy that you're here!"

With that, she flounced off, leaving a road-weary traveler and a mildly injured Knight to wait.

[Silence Sei]

Ixian Castle was not an easy place to navigate with its multiple stairways and caverns within the fortresses walls. Ixian Knights who were with the group since its inception still had not explored every crevice and corner of the castle's interior. Ella Orlouge however made it a point to explore as much as she could as quickly and consistantly as possible. It was a skill that helped her bounce and skip through to the fourth floor of the main castle, the floor that was home to her father and sisters.

When her lithe form busted through the double oak doors of Sei's quarters, the mute and two more Ixian Princesses turned to looks at her. The explosive entrance (which sent the wooden doors slamming into the walls meant to guard them handles first) was something that the smallest Orlouge daughter was known for. Ella's kin stood unfazed by her actions as she ran over to them.

"Daddy, Nita, Emma!" Ella's eyes shifted to her father and sister as she called to each of them, "I brought someone home! She helped Timmy fight off some bad guys! Can we keep her?! Can we, can we, can we?!"

The energetic nature of his daughter brought a smile to Sei's pale face, while Anita and Emma simply sighed at the prospect of another random guest Ella just brought home. There were times when the girl would try to bring someone who wished harm upon the castle, only for them to be stopped by the barrier erected by the Tantalus. Ella was also notorious for exaggerating the truth, so the concept of the stranger rescuing one of their professionally trained knights did not sit easy ith the elder daughters.

"I... think you should wait here, Papa," Anita Orlouge, second eldest of the little women tucked in her blue shirt into her green, forrest-colored pants, "Emma and I will greet the new guest and make sure it is safe for you to meet."

"That is completely unnessecary, Anita," Sei replied as a hand waved off the girl, "if this person got through the barrier, than they obviously hold no grudge to us and our ilk. I will greet this person myself. The two of you can supervise whatever elaborate banquet Ella has no doubt declared for our new friend." The mute knew that his daughter was looking out for his well being; a kill on Sei Orlouge would impact Corone immensely and quite possibly send the country into internal war once more.

"Ella," Sei turned and bent downwards to look his little princess in the eye, "What is the name of Timothy and yours new friend?" A hand ruffled the little girl's hair, which caused her to giggle emphatically.

"Carrot-ka Ocean! She says she knows Mr. Dahlios!"

Sei's body stiffened for a minute at the name. Seth Dahlios was not a man known for making friends easy, and if the psychic was right about Ella mispronouncing the name as he thought she was,, then the guest was much more important than the Mystic could imagine. Sei stood up and took a heavy swallow as he turned to his elder two girls. "Spare no expense on the banquet."

"YEEE!" Ella jumped for joy while Emma and Anita glanced at each other. What got into their father at the mention of that silly name?

~~~~

Several minutes later, Ella came bouncing back down the stairway she disappeared to, her small hand held in the larger hand of her father. Sei Orlouge trailed behind the girl, clothed in the draping white robes of a strategist proper. He heard legends of one Karuka O'Sheean, and the very thought of having such a prestigious guest made the Mystic dress the part of welcoming host.

Upon seeing the crimson strands that made up the woman's hair, Sei was instantly aware who his princess had returned home with.

"I welcome you to Ixian Castle, Miss O'Sheean," Sei' 'voice' gently entered the warrior's head, hoping to not send her up in arms about the sudden psychic presence, "I thank you for helping young Timothy in his duties. If you would like, I could give you a tour of our home while the chefs prepare dinner in your honor?"

[Karuka]

Jensen used with permission.

Karuka had been standing nonchalantly just inside the castle doors with Timothy, talking to the young man and learning how he'd come to be part of the Knights. He was very passionate about the good they were doing, and much more sure of who he was and what he wanted to do with his life than she'd been at his age. Of course, at his age, she'd been dragging a Hex Ghoul around Fiorair... That counted high up among the list of distractions between her and her destiny.

The voice in her head came as suddenly as a gunshot, a tone and timbre she didn't recognize sounding from closer than beside her ear. In what would not be her finest moment, she flinched a little. Her shoulders dropped, her legs tensed, and the hand that loosely gripped her weapon clenched it for just a split second. She straightened up immediately after identifying the source of the sound, so quickly that the young Knight at her side couldn't react. The child might not have even recognized her movement for what it was.

"I'd heard y' were a mute, Sir Orlouge. Hadn't heard y' could talk in someone's head. Thought we'd need a translator." She walked forward with an easy grace, a dark-skinned redhead covered in road dust contrasting severely with her pale and immaculate host. "As for what happened in town, wasn't anythin' but a wee dust up, hardly worth such an honor as yer princess bestowed." She smiled at Ella. "But I thank y' for yer hospitality, and would like t' see y-"

"Hey kids!" A voice interrupted from several stories up, drawing all eyes to the dark-haired man with a maniacal smile. "Want to see a dead body?!" He gave no one a chance to answer, simply flinging himself down. When he impacted the smooth stone, he did so with the terrible clap of flesh on floor. An old woman grabbed him by the ear, starting to yell at him despite his condition of being one without a pulse.

Little Ella looked up at Sei, whose face was firmly in his hand. So much for an elegant first impression. "Daddy, Uncle Jensen's dead again."

The corpse breathed, then chuckled, then got dragged off by a much smaller woman who was yelling the entire way about him being a bad influence and making a mess.

Karu watched the spectacle, a little dumbfounded, then glanced back at Timmy, who shrugged. "Just another day at Castle Ixia."

The Celtic warrior and her phoenix exchanged a dubious look, then Taodoine fluffed and shook himself off. "Right. I'd love a tour of the castle, jus' perhaps not t' meet th' floor so intimately as that man, there."

[Silence Sei]

Sei rubbed the bridge of his nose at his bodyguard's latest antics. Jensen Ambrose was a man who knew just how and when to rub the Mystic the wrong way. When the Ixian leader removed his digits, he smiled once more at Karuka and he acceptance of a tour. He placed his hands together as he managed to take the last shaky step off from the castle staircase. He did well to hide his phobia of the inanimate objects.

"It is our honor to show such an esteemed guest around. Unfortunately, Master Dahlios is currently away tending to personal matters, so myself, Ella, and Timothy will be your guides for the tour. Normally we have established friends show off all the bells and whistles of our humble abode, but sometimes exceptions must be made." The Mystic looked down to Ella, whom returned the glance towards her father. "Where shall we show Miss Karuka first, Ella?"

"Fluffy's Room!" Ella touted with a jump into the air. Sei thought for a moment on this, but reluctantly nodded his head in agreement with the little girl.

"If you will follow us, Lady Karuka..."

The mute turned and began to make his way out into the large courtyard of the castle, where several groups of soldiers were busy at work with weapons practice. He could hear Timothy tell the red-haired warrior of the many adventures and fights that had taken place in the middle of the seemingly open field. As they got into the middle of the yard, Sei bent downwards and wiped away some accumulated dust from the ground to reveal to large golden handles.

"There are secret passages like this all around the Ixian grounds," he explained without ever looking at Karuka, "We're still discovering them all. It makes the castle a great place to launch ambushes from but also used to make it difficult to defend. Our friends with the Tantalus took care of that problem."

The mute pulled on the handles, and two large redwood doors opened up from the grounds, pounds of dust sliding gently off and onto the ground. Several flied escaped from the 'makeshift 'basement' and Ella skipped down the small staircase, followed quickly by Sei.

The interior of the room resembled a swamp more than anything else. A floor of water washed just over the feet of the Knights and their guests, and several moss covered vines hung carelessly from a room. Occasionally, there would be a 'thud' like sound from above and a few specles of debris would fall into the liquid below. The area smelled better than its looks would lead someone to believe, a hint of lemon wafted through the air.

"We had to make some potions so Ixian Castle didn't stink!" Ella alluded to the odd fragrance, "See, Fluffy likes to feel like he's at home, but his home smells. So we had Aislinn make some potions that make the place smell better when it's mixed with swamp water!" Ella looked around, as if there were someone she were expecting.

Meanwhile, a large shadow hovered over the forms of Timothy and Karuka...

[Karuka]

"Seth is actually th' reason I came back t' the area," Karuka explained. "We traveled t'gether for some time, so when his latest bit of real trouble cropped up, I came t' see what I might do about it. It's far too late t' stop what happened... but there may yet be time t' fix what is broken." Maybe. Either way, someone needed to act. "D' y' know where he is, or am I going t' have t' hunt him down th' hard way?"

"Seth does not wish to be found, so he has proven elusive... even to me," Sei explained. "I doubt you will be able to find him if he does not expressly wish it. You might be able to get a message to him through his cousin, though. She is here in the Castle."

Karuka smirked. "Oh, I'll ay find him, whether or not he wants. But I'll talk t' his cousin. Th' less work I have t' do t' track down the mopey ba-" she glanced to the bouncing blonde curls ahead and amended her sentence, "...man, th' better."

Taodoine grumbled as they descended into the humid morass of "Fluffy's Room." As a creature native to Fallien, he wasn't overly comfortable in wet environments, and he never hesitated in reminding his master about that. Karuka rubbed his neck, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness of the interior. Booted feet slid carefully along the floor, slipping over slick moss and making sure there were no holes to fall into. "Ah, it's hardly a proper swamp without th' smells."

The phoenix spotted the creature above them first and let out a warning hiss, drawing the attention of both the traveler and the young knight toward the ceiling. It was Timmy's turn to flinch, letting out a startled cry and splashing back a few steps toward Sei at the sight of the monstrous creature above his head. This creature, "Fluffy" as Ella called him, was tall and broad, a man made of plants. His gnarled skin twisted over hard muscles as he made his way down, glowing red eyes fixed on the foremost of the visitors to his abode. A vicious vertical slit formed his mouth, though it couldn't open far for having been sewn shut. Shaggy moss covered most of his face and traveled down his back like hair.

Karuka watched the creature shift around her curiously, hunching down a little so as not to scare her with his huge size. But this was not a creature out of Karu's nightmares. She'd been born and raised a Druid, and the concept of this creature was familiar to her.

"It's a portaigh faireoir!" A smile blossomed on her face and she reached out a gentle hand to him. Calloused fingers were first met by the tree roots that served as Fluffy's hands, touching, exploring, experiencing, and then the shaggy head moved in so she could stroke and pat him. "I never thought I'd see one of these again. What a wonderful creature t' live b'side! How beautiful are you?! Oh, and your poor mouth! Who would do such a cruel thing t' such a sweet creature?"

Taodoine looked askance at his master's delight. Finding no sense in it, he flapped over to Timothy, selecting him as a new perch while Karuka fawned over the swamp creature.

[Silence Sei]

Sei reached his hand out towards the woman and creature. 'Fluffy' (Or Misery as it was known by those who didn't find it as cute and cuddly) was not the kind of creature to instantly take to strangers. It was strangers that were responsible for sewing the monster's mouth shut in the first place; townsfolk that once thought the monster killed their own. It was not until Sei, Kyla, and William Arcus discovered the true culprits that the villagers began to accept the beast for what it was; a gentle giant.

Yet, instead of a fallen Karuka and a plant monster in atonement, Sei found his 'pet' releasing a gentle purr-like noise from its ensnared mouth. It was a sound that made the water below ripple, as if the monster controlled it through sound. Misery took to Karuka like a bird to the sky, and Sei dropped his hand and smiled at the scene before him. Meetings such as this were what the Ixian Knights were originally founded for; to prove that even the scariest monster has good in them.

The strange sound was one Sei did not hear very often. The first time the creature ever showed such signs of joy was when the Mystic and his allies saved it from several large crocodile-shark hybrids. Something about Karuka filled Sei with a familiar feeling from many years ago, not just when he had taken in Misery, but Anita and Kyla before that.

Ella was not at the older woman's side, giggling as her elder petted the vertical plant mouth of the Ixian creature. Sei stepped towards them as his shoes splashed into the water. He looked to Karuka and then Ella.

"So, if I may be so blunt Lady Karuka," Sei looked back towards Timothy, whose trembling body and distance from the group still gave away his opinion on Misery, "What is your child's name?"

[Karuka]

"My child?" Karuka looked at Sei, both hands nestled in the creature's mossy hair. She hadn't mentioned anything about a child; she wasn't even able to send word to her friends about the happenings in her life since she'd left the West for the East. Even so, there were things she knew about people without having to ask; it was hardly surprising that someone else had similar skills. "Children. Th' phoenix one is Taodoine, the human one is Taische. She's a wee lass, not so far from her ninth native day."

Ella looked up. "What's a native day, Miss Carrotka?"

Karu smiled at the girl. "The day of yer birth."

"Oh, a birthday? I've had a ninth birthday!" The big blue eyes turned from the clairvoyant to the psychic. "Daddy, I'm only a little older than Miss Carrotka's daughter! Where is she? Can Tash-ka come play?" The little girl bounced on her toes, adding ripples of her own to Misery's purrs.

The queries were met with a laugh. "Maybe someday. I left her with a trusted friend while I came back t' see if there was a calm enough place t' rear her on this side of th' world. He's bringin' her here now; their ship's due t' arrive in a bit more than a week. I'm thinkin' we might stick t' Corone or Scara Brae, so I might bring 'er by t' play one day." Her attention went back to the poor, sewn-shut mouth of the plant creature in front of her. "All right, wee bit. We can't have this anymore, can we?" The redhead held out her trusted weapon to the adult male at her side. The crook of her arm was fine for holding it when she wasn't doing anything complicated, but not when she needed both hands. "Will y' hold this fer a moment? Don't touch th' head. It'll zap y' right good. Not somethin' y' want in here."

With Consequence temporarily fostered off, she dug in her satchel for a pair of tiny thread shears. "I don't s'pose y' have a light?" This would be really difficult to do without it. A wry chuckle came from a few paces away, and a little girl giggled at her side.

Darkness fled from the room almost on cue, providing light as bright as the midmorning sun. "Perhaps," was the smugly sardonic answer.

Karuka's eyebrows raised for a moment, then she shrugged a shoulder. "That works. All right, now," she turned her attention to Misery, putting a hand gently but firmly on the creature's cheek. "We're ay going t' get yer mouth fixed, an' it's not going t' hurt even a wee bit, but I need y' t' hold very, very still."

She kept talking to the creature, tone warm and reassuring, accent lilting and rolling, voice soothing and almost hypnotic. Snip! Went the shears at the bottom-most stitch, and the creature growled in startled confusion. "Shhh...see, yer all right. Doesn't that feel better?" She let him settle, then cut the next stitch, carefully avoiding the fleshy flora. Each cut was careful and slow, each time she let poor Fluffy settle down and remember that she didn't mean to hurt him, and occasionally slender fingers slid overgrown plant matter away from the entangled thread. It took nearly ten minutes of delicate work, but finally the last stitch broke free. "Better, ay?"

She frowned, though. "Hmm. I don't know if I can pull th' threads out without hurtin' him some." At the moment, the poor sweet creature was happily opening and closing his mouth freely, she didn't want to wreck that joyful moment by causing him pain. Maybe it wasn't worth it. She sighed. "Is Ella yer only, or d' y' have more children?"

"I have three sisters! There's Kyla and 'Nita and Emma! I'm the youngest!" Ella immediately volunteered.

[Silence Sei]

"Ella is correct," Sei said as he continued to focus on the overly happy Misery, "I have four daughters, all adopted, though Kyla is actually my niece. It's complicated..."

"Our family is weird!" Ella volunteered Sei's thoughts to the world, which brought a smile to the Mystic's face. He shook his head and placed it within his hand once more.

"From the mouths of babes..."

The Ixian leader was about to speak once more when a sound came from above the ground. It was the voice of Andrew Octane, the young adviser of Ixian Castle and one of the top minds of Althanas (at least in Sei's opinion). "Yo, grubs on in fifteen, guys! Hurry and get ready before someone starts another fight over something miniscule and insignificant. I swear, sometimes we fight more than Scara Brae warriors fighting for independence, if you could all just...."

Octane's voice trailed off. No doubt the young man left to ramble on about his complaints, or go get food, or both. Sei looked up, towards Karuka and nodded. "I suppose that means that we should get going then. My people have a tendency to be rather impatient, especially if there's a banquet to be had."

"Yay! Banquet!" Ella bounced up from her position and darted towards the stairs. Sei could feel Timothy's concern for the princess as he stumbled awkwardly after her, and the Mystic allowed Karuka to lead the way as a gentleman would.

~~~

The Ixian dining hall was huge. There were rumors that the castle's 'cafeteria' was near two miles long, though that was mostly due to the rows of table as far as the eye could see. At the end of the tables stood the special table that Sei had put in for situations such as this. The redwood furniture was round, and large enough to easily sit the twenty or so chairs that surrounded it. Such precautions had to be taken when the world saw him as a king of sorts. It would be bad to slight fellow dignitaries as well as his own people by not offering them a position at the behest of the dining hall.

The table was littered with all sorts of delicacies. Roasted turkey, fried chicken, and a slices of ham adorned almost every seat. Several people stood around with condiments such as gravy, which did well as a compliment to the mashed potatoes that graced the round table. The mixed smell of the various foods wafted through the mess hall, and brought some soldiers into a frenzy of eating (namely Jensen Ambrose). Sei rubbed his temple as he looked at the chaos before him.

To his right side would sit Karuka, and to his left sat Ella. He looked towards the empty Karuka-less chair and sighed.

"Father, pass me a drum stick," Emma Orlouge said while munching away at a slice of roast beef.

This is life when you're part of the Ixian family... the orange haired mage sighed as he picked large plate decorated with a roasted turkey and passed it downwards.

[Karuka]

Freshly clean and dressed in a snug cerulean bodice and a matching skirt that flowed to her ankles, Karuka brushed out her long hair. "What d' y' think, Taodoine? A simple half braid, or a woven knot?"

The phoenix looked at his master and gave his response in a pithy chirp. "Really? I'm already runnin' late." Woman and raptor looked at each other for a second, then the former sighed. "All right, then. Come over here an' help."

Nimble fingers (and one sharp beak) wove half of the deep red hair into a quick but intricate design that looped over and around itself. The rest was left to fall over her back in a cascade of flowing curls. When the last part was pulled snugly into place, Taodoine hopped for his place on her shoulder, only to be rebuffed.

"Not t'night." Karu set Taodoine on the footboard of the soft bed that would be hers for the evening. Calloused hands grabbed his red-gold head and ruffled the feathers. "Y' won't eat anything they have down there, y' ate this mornin' anyway, an' I can't trust y' fer one minute with wee Ella's yellow curls."

Taodoine clacked his beak and squawked his discontent, but Karu was firm. "I'll take y' out t' fly later." She smiled when he kept grumbling and gave him a kiss on the top of his head. "Yer all right."


~*~*~

When Karuka O'Sheean stepped into the Ixian dining hall, many heads turned her way. For some, the sight of a fit female body would have captured their attention even under full robes. But the guest, who walked barefoot and wore a silver ring that glinted from her navel, made no attempt to hide herself. Her top covered from her shoulders to the bottom of her sternum and her skirt cinched comfortably on her hips.

Other Ixians couldn't take their eyes from the many scars that carved their brutal ways up her arms and torso. Some were small and thin, others knotted and gnarled. Some were relatively new, others pale with age. A few looked like they'd been deliberately, ritually inscribed. Some wondered why she chose not to cover the evidence of the dangerous life she'd led.

For a select few, the tapestry of old injuries only added to their appreciation of her. Despite the scars - some obviously life-threatening - she lived, and walked without shame. How many of the creatures who had inflicted those scars could say the same? She was beautiful and a badass; what wasn't to like?

The clairvoyant ignored the eyes on her while taking in the scene. People of all types and walks of life ate side by side at the tables - skinny clerks joked with swarthy soldiers, hardened mercenaries conversed casually with young healers, and what few children wandered around did so without fear of even the surliest-looking Ixians.

It probably helped that they were all engrossed in the truly spectacular amount of food before them.

As large and full as the dining hall was, Karuka took several minutes to make her way to her host, where she sat at his invitation. "It's quite a gatherin' y' have here, Sir Orlouge," she said, loading her plate with a spicy vegetable dish, a piece of chicken and a small serving of mashed potatoes.

[Silence Sei]

He nodded to the warrior girl, “We take pride in our dining halls as much as we do for each individual soldier.”

Ella seemed quite excited at the sight of the very pretty Lady Karuka and her presence beside the young girl. The nine year old trembled and hopped in her seat as the kitchen staff handed out a new dish to the little princess. Timothy even seemed in awe, with his jaw agape in admiration for the fiery haired warrior. “While we have your presence with us, lady Karuka, why don’t you tell us of some of your exploits with Mister Dahlios?”

Karuka began to regale the group of the various adventures between herself and Seth. Sei, in turn, shared a few of the Lavinian Demon’s latest escapades with his brethren. As they spoke, food flew in every direction, a trademark within Ixian Castle. Almost every meal ended with some form of a food fight, no matter how small or large said food fight was.

As Sei talked, he brought up an empty plate, and some mashed potatoes splattered against the porcelain dish. He motioned over to Karuka, and blocked a handful of macaroni and cheese as well. He shook his head in frustration, but smiled the whole time, as though theflying and flung food did not seem to matter.

“Perhaps we should take the conversation elsewhere, Lady Karuka,” the mute suggested as he shielded the both of them from a turkey leg, “The night sky is typically very pretty in the courtyard, if you would be willing to join me there?”

[Karuka]

The lord of the keep and his guest quickly abandoned the chaos of the dining hall, breaking into the cool evening air. Little Ella's great-grandmother grabbed her before she could join her father and new friend; it was late and time for little girls to go to bed. Cacophany gave way to calm, bright electric lights surrendered to stars that sparkled in the clear velvet sky. The change of setting affected Karu's mood immediately, toning her down from vibrant to relaxed.

The scents of stone and water, oak and elm, night-blooming blossoms and impending rain filled her nostrils. Ten years and more it had been since she'd last breathed in the air of a Concordia night. It hinted at danger, but the warnings would have been lost on the clairvoyant even if she'd been walking into a spider's den. It whispered of lost treasure, but she wouldn't have cared even if it was screaming. More than anything, Concordia's old growth sang to her of familiarity; though she was strongly bound to other lands, this place would always be special to her.

"It's quite a group y' have. It's good t' see a group that can bounce back t' bein' so lively after so many hardships."

"We do what we can to keep up morale," Sei told her with a smile. "Though everyone was exceptionally energetic tonight. It isn't often we have such a famous guest grace our humble house."

"Ah, I haven't had fame in these parts fer an ay long time. An' not much, even back then. Much was happenin' on grand stages, but I kept t' th' smaller ones. Even when I was with Seth, I tried t' keep 'im out of too much trouble." That was a nightmare; Seth's name spelled trouble.

"A thousand small acts of kindness, courage and chivalry can change the world just as much as a grand battle. The seeds you sowed a decade and more ago have had time to grow and bear fruit; just one example was covered in pea soup when we left him."

Karuka giggled at the Mystic's description of Timothy. She hadn't changed the face of Althanas, no... but how many lives had she saved or preserved over her long career? Had she not effectively kept their world turning? And on the other hand... the lives she had taken, had she not ended the world for them, a vengeful valkyrie on the wings of Ragnarok? Maybe it would be good to get back to wandering according to her dharma, helping where she could. Taische wasn't so little anymore that she couldn't handle herself for a minute or two...

"The Knights have endured hardships of late, as you noticed." Sei's voice intruded on her thoughts. "Everything I have heard about you, everything I have seen, tells me that we have the same ideals. I would like to invite you to join us."

Karuka's eyebrows drew together. "It's a very kind offer, but I can't see why I'd be a good part of a group like yers or what th' benefit t' me would be." She removed a lodestone pendant from her neck, letting it swing idly in the breeze. "I go where I'm needed, not where I might want t' go or where I'm told."

"The benefit would be protection."

The redhead stopped in her tracks, letting out a brief, involuntary laugh. "I'm ay sorry, Sir Orlouge, but look at me." She motioned to her bare abdomen and the scars that violence had painted on its golden canvas. Scars she had survived and often triumphed against. "I don't need protectin'."

[Silence Sei]

Sei looked at Karuka’s body and listened to her boast. A smile formed across the Mystic’s lips as he shook his head. “Lady Karuka, I am afraid you are mistaken. I did not mean that you need protection from anything. Quite the contrary, actually.”

“Then What d’y---“

Sei brought a solitary finger up and nodded. The mute reached into his strategist robe and winced. Small plumes of smoke escaped from beneath the attire of the Mystic yet he still managed to withdraw a small six-sided crystal. The crystal glowed a deep purple with small shadow-like swirls occasionally appearing in the jewel. His hand trembled as he reached towards Karuka with the gem while his hand hissed and sizzled like meat on a spigot.

“Please…Lady Karuka…” the Mystic’s face contorted as though he had to register all the sensations that were sent through his body at once, “Take this…”

Sei did not know if the warrior woman did so out of respect, fear, or concern for the telepath, but she did indeed grasp the jewel when asked to. Her face seemed very confused as she looked at the gem. The object did not burn her hand, nor did it leave a bright red imprint upon her palm as it did the Orlouge’s. He flexed his fingers to try and get some feeling back into his hand, the pain of being ‘branded’ still echoed throughout his body.

“What you hold is something called Miasma. To any other race, that crystal is harmless, but long term exposure on a Mystics bare skin is death.” he showed the woman his hand, still red from the brief seconds of simply holding the crystal. “I want you to have it as a sort of insurance policy for the Ixian Knights.”

He rolled his shoulder, the sting from the Miasma still radiated through his form. “You see Lady Karuka, there have been times where I have given into the darkness that lies in the hearts of all men. Not just myself, but Kylana has as well. Those are times I am not proud of for my family, or for the Knights as a whole, but a good leader needs to accept that such things have happened.”

He looked up to the stars and sighed, his shoulders now slumped. “If something were to happen, if I were to go down that dark road again, nobody would be able to kill me. It’s not that we don’t have people with such capabilities, but that they have grown so fond of me as a father figure that they could not bear to do it. I was asked this request of Seth before, one of the most ruthless men I know, and he told me he would never need it. You have all but just come into our lives, Lady Karuka. You are a face that has no attachment to me or my family.”

His eyes shifted back towards her. “That is why I ask you bear this heavy burden. If things look grim, if I look like I may once again become a disciple of the dark, I wish for you to take that Miasma crystal and jam it straight into my heart. That is the protection I ask, that I need from you.”

The mute’s eyes shifted towards one of the towers, the part of the castle where Ella was supposed to be nestled away in bed. He could clearly see the girl looking out her window, he lips a mutter of something along the lines of ‘please say yes’. It seemed as though Sei had gotten predictable in his age. “In exchange, we offer you and your family a roof, three square meals, and the chance to allow your girl to live a life you would want for her. Do we have a deal?”

He stretched his non-burned hand out towards the woman in hopes that she would take it.

[Karuka]

Karuka twirled the Miasma crystal in her hand, weighing what Sei had asked of her against what he offered her. The lives he wanted to safeguard, the life he was willing to sacrifice. The immense amount of trust. A safe place for her daughter to grow, learn, and thrive. A place to which she could return to find rest and refuge after fulfilling dharma's demands. So long as she was willing to kill the man who offered them to her if he strayed from the path of righteousness.

She bounced the crystal on her palm, letting it glimmer in the pale starlight. Miasma might mean murder, it might mean mercy. It might mean both. She tucked it away, where it might not do any further harm that night.

"Yer life is not th' first I've held in my hands. I'll gladly be yer safeguard, but I don't see why I need t' join yer Knights t' do so. As y've said, I'm an unfamiliar face here, with ay few ties t' you an' yers. How'm I t' know that this is th' place for me? I've misjudged people in th' past, as I've no doubt you have. How can y' be sure of me, either?"

She reached for one of his hands, but not the one offered. Calloused fingers gently gripped the injured hand, coaxing it open. Her other hand traced a stylized B over the burn, using the same insistent gentleness as she had with Fluffy.

Sei's pain lessened immediately, courtesy of Karuka's healing spell. "How could I not be sure of you, just from meeting you today?" He smiled. "But perhaps I am rushing things. Your travels have been long, the hour grows late, and though you are among friends, those friends are still strangers to you. Please take some time to consider. Get to know our people and maybe test the strength of our arms. Not all of us are crass knuckleheads like Ambrose or hermits like Seth. Nor are we all as bloodthirsty, for we realize there are many types of strength. We would be honored to count you among the Ixians, but no less honored to count you as an outside friend."

The strategist’s soft hand, nearly completely healed, closed gently around the redhead’s rough one. �Whether or not you choose to join us, will you at least be our guest for a few days? You are more than welcome at Castle Ixia, Ms. O’Sheean.�

Pomegranate lips curved into a smile. “I will gladly accept hospitality so gen’rously offered. An’ if th’ offer extends t’ after my daughter arrives, I’m sure she’d like t’ play with yers at least one day.�

�I don’t think Ella would ever forgive me if I said no,� came the cheerful reply. �Let me show you back to your room. These halls can be confusing for anyone unfamiliar with them.�


~*~*~

Half an hour after Sei had dropped her at her door, Karuka stood at one of the highest points of Ixian Castle. She swung a lure over her head, using an enchanted silver bell to light its path. Taodoine stretched his wings, following his target. Sometimes he swooped down to nearly grab it, other times he soared so high he might have seized a star.

Many people had asked Karuka to join their causes in the last decade and more of her life. Rarely had she joined; her path meandered too widely and called too strongly to let her longer. Oftentimes, when she accepted the invitations, she had regretted staying.

But Taische.

Taische wasn’t a baby anymore; when they found trouble (for it was not a matter of ‘if’ for an O’Sheean), she could handle herself for a little while. But she was not an adult yet, either. Five or six more years of safety, where she could grow, learn, and hone her skills, would be the best thing for her. Yes, Karuka could show her daughter the world’s wonder by taking her over hill, field, dale and glen, but could she risk that so precious life by pulling her through darkness and horrors she was hardly guaranteed to survive?

Karuka had already sacrificed almost a decade for the safety of her child; she was certainly worth another few years. But were the Ixians?

I’ve got a lot of thinkin’ t’ do… An’ not so very long b’fore Taische’s ship arrives.

[Quentin Boone]

Thread Title: These Old Familiar Woods (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?27768)
Judgment Type: Full Rubric
Participants: Karuka, Silence Sei



Plot: 24/30

Story- 7/10
A good story was told here, demonstrating a clear knowledge of how to craft a simple but effective tale to drive future stories and alliances. The plot was realistic for the most part and kept the reader interested in what was happening. There was good linking to previous events and the ending left enough questions to make the reader want to know what will happen in future threads.

A higher score could have been achieved had certain plot elements not felt a little too convenient, or slightly out of place. For example, meeting with Timmy just as he was getting a beating, or the food fight in Castle Ixia.

Setting- 7/10
From the onset, the setting was brought to life through all the senses and felt dynamic and alive throughout the thread. A higher score would have been achieved had he same attention to setting been maintained throughout: while it was brought to life all the way through, at times it seemed to lack the same immersion. The banquet in the hall is an example of this; while the reader was given a rough outline of its size and layout, it really lacked the bustle and noise that one would expect.

Pacing- 8/10
The thread maintained a steady pace that kept the reader engaged. Moments of speeding up and slowing down where appropriate (such as the fight scene) meant it did not stagnate. A top-tier score would have been achieved had there not been problems in Mechanics, discussed below, that occasionally jarred the reader and forced a couple of re-reads of sentences.



Character: 20.5/30

Communication- 7/10
Communication was consistent and matched well with the characters. None of the communication felt wasteful, and it all served the story well, helping to progress it. A highlight was certainly how well Karuka's accent carried through, leading to her voice resounding well in the reader's mind. While there were uses of unspoken communication from Karuka, if both writers had used things like body language and facial expressions more, a higher score could have been achieved here.

Action-6.5/10
For the most part, actions were used well in this thread. They made sense and helped to convey character. A highlight here is when Karuka was helping Fluffy with his stitches: The little details of how she calmed him really added some depth to that moment. A higher score could have been achieved if this had been used more: The small things can make all the difference in bringing characters to life. As mentioned in Setting, both writers missed out here during the banquet - with so many people, action could have been used to really bring the scene to life.

Persona- 7/10
Overall, characters were brought to life in a way that gave them substance and realism. Even minor NPCs' - such as the one who announced that food would soon be ready - personalities shone through. Had there been more introspection, especially from the viewpoint of Ella, a higher score could have been achieved. Points were also lost due to Ells's child-like qualities sometimes feeling a little bit forced.



Prose: 22/30

Mechanics- 6/10
Overall, mechanics were very good in this thread. Karuka had very few minor errors, but a higher score was missed out on due to several obvious spelling and grammatical errors from Sei. These could have been avoided with a proof read or running through a spellchecker.

If either writer wants specific details here, feel free to contact me.

Clarity- 8/10
The writing was clear and easy to understand throughout the thread. Any references to past events were explained sufficiently to make sense within the context of the thread, and it was easy to place the characters within their environments. A top-tier score was missed out here due to an occasional lack of describing characters' appearances, which would have made things even clearer in the reader's mind's eye.

Technique- 8/10
Each writer has a contrasting style that they are clearly comfortable with. Karuka offers the reader a rich, imagery-full read that doesn't feel too heavy, and Sei gives the reader a simpler, yet equally effective, prose that is very easy to read. Karuka's use of imagery was brilliant within the first few posts, but it fell off a little as the thread progressed. It would have been nice to have a similar deep flair throughout. Sei gives the occasional metaphor to add colour to his writing, and any more would feel forced against the backdrop of his plainer writing. It was only Karuka's 'dropping off' that prevented a top-tier score here.



Wildcard: 6/10
I really enjoyed this thread. There was real flair in your writing, Karuka, which I found an absolute pleasure. And Sei's use of his multiple characters helps to add variety that can sometimes be lacking in duet threads. I would have awarded at least one extra point here, but had to dock points because of Ella's portrayal. To me, she came across as a kid at least a couple years younger than she really is, and with the added responsibility she has as Sei's daughter, I'd kind of expect her to come across as a little more mature for her age. Apart from that, a job very well done.



Final Score: 72.5/100

Karuka (http://www.althanas.com/world/member.php?2215-Karuka) receives:


1740 EXP!
131 GP!
A Miasma Crystal that is toxic to Mystics and can cause death with prolonged contact with a Mystic's bare skin.


Silence Sei (http://www.althanas.com/world/member.php?30-Silence-Sei) receives:


2235 EXP!
Note: Sei loses 618 GP to cover the cost of the requested spoils.


Congratulations!

Please reference this post as and when required to prove spoils reward. The Miasma Crystal can only be used for quests; if you want to use it in battles, it will need to be upgraded in the Bazaar.

[Lye]

EXP & GP Added!

Karuka gets a Miasma Crystal.

Please link this thread where proof of acquisition is required.