Fuedal Era

[ATTN: OPEN]

Nymaeria stood on guard next to Everland's castle gate. As night approached, her shift ended and her replacement soon arrived. She nodded to him, then went to her room in the guard's quarters. She placed her sword against the wall, then changed out of her armour and into a nightgown.

She picked up the envelope that was sitting on her dresser. It had arrived this morning, but she hadn't had time to read it. She opened it and saw that it was a letter from her mother. They didn't get to see each other much anymore, so her mother quite often wrote letters saying how proud she was of her daughter.

I need to go visit her soon. She must be so lonely...


[ATTN: OPEN]

Zhelyr stalked through the trees outside of Anchorsaur. This time he had been hired to retrieve a gem that had been stolen by a group of lesser demons. They were out here somewhere, but his eyesight was only sharp during the day. People didn't seem to understand that, but he had taken the job anyway, because he liked the challenge. He relied on his hearing to guide him.

He suddenly heard footsteps off to his left, sounded like a group. He would track them down and kill them, then check and see if one of them had the gem. If they didn't, he had at least had some fun.

He followed at a distance, trying not to lose them in amongst the trees.

[ATTN: Open]

Another long day of training had passed for Uteke. He sat in his chair outside as he cleaned his sword, looking up into the night sky. Uteke could feel the pain from sore muscles all over his body. "Dad's training sure was tough. I guess that means I'm getting better. It won't be long until I get that special mission and become a General." He shifted slightly in his chair. There was a throbbing pain the shot throughout his body as he moved. "...Maybe I'll accept that mission after my body heals...." He closed his eyes and began to doze off to the quite sounds of Skyland.

Attn Hatake, Open

This is Kalena's favorite time of the day. It not quite dark, but the temple is quieting down. Hatake is doing his typical rounds of Kyoshi village, and she is alone in the temple. She starts to light the more of the candles to illuminate the room as darkness settles in. She's been here her whole life living with the High Priestess and Hatake. She was happy with temple life, up until the death of the high priestess.

She grabs a broom and begins to sweep. She is grateful for all that the temple has taught her, but knows there is more out there. Besides it is not like she would be leaving Kyoshi empty, Hatake already expressed interest in becoming the temples Monk. If she did become a high priestess it would only fuel the rumors going around about her and Hatake. Unfounded rumors that started when she started to “grow up”. A smile crept on her face. Hatake is nothing more than a brother to her.

She’s been intending to leave for a while, wanting to see what is outside of Kyoshi’s walls. She is been training hard with her crossbow, and is very comfortable with it. Well with target practice at least. She mentioned her intentions to the High Priestess before she died, and was warned to stay away from the cities, especially the elven ones. For she is a half breed although she looks more elven than human. She hasn’t told Hatake of her intentions, not outright at least. She doesn’t know what he would do if he knew.

After the sweeping is done she goes to the kitchen and begins to prepare dinner for both her and Hatake. He should be back soon. It is all part of the routine, a routine she is bored with and hopes to break soon.

[ATTN: OPEN]

Zhelyr continued to follow the lesser demons through the forest. He figured they were heading back to their nest, but it must be deep in there. Finally, they stopped. They seemed to be fighting over something, so he used this chance to sneak closer to them. As he was sneaking, though, he stepped on a fallen branch, causing it to snap.

The demons' heads shot up and looked straight at Zhelyr. Of course, they had night vision and could see him clearly. One of them moved off to the side and appeared to be hiding something. He figured it must be the gem.

The other demons advanced on him; there were about six of them. Zhelyr didn't back down, he'd been doing this for many years and was always finding himself in unfavourable situations. Plus, these were only lesser demons and weren't anywhere near as intelligent as normal ones.

He drew his daggers and assumed a ready position. He could hear the demons spreading out, trying to surround him. He charged the one that was moving to his right and quickly shoved a dagger into its heart. It screamed, then fell limply to the ground. He grinned cruelly, his demon instincts kicking in. He pulled the dagger from his kill and quickly flung it at a demon that was approaching at his left, embedding it between its eyes. He slashed open the throat of another.

The remaining demons fled before Zhelyr got a chance to kill them. Too bad, he was really enjoying this. He walked over to where the demon had been hiding the gem and retrieved it. He considered taking it for himself and selling it off, but after looking it over he could tell it was a fake and he would get more money from the client than from any potential buyers.

He stuffed the rock into his bag and started back the way he came.

[Attn: Open]

Darkness was shifting, swirling in and out of itself, and it was heavily charged with energy. Anger, cries of pain, death... it all surfaced in the darkness, but nothing was to be seen. A hand pushed out of the whirling mass and a voice called out to someone.

"Kaz! You gots a bad dream! I called the Baku." The small girl said as she stepped out of the darkness and poked it a few times.
"Gee that's horribal stuff!" She said as she wiped the feeling off on her already smudged kimono. A creature lumbered from the land of dreams. It resembled a small elephant that had been crossed with a sloth. It was a Baku, and many others followed it. They sucked the darkness away in their long snouts and left.

Nobusa awoke slowly and pulled the covers off that were wrapped around his body. He was sweating heavily.
"Hotaru! That dream was important... but now the Baku have taken it away!" He shouted, but not angrily. There was still a tinge of fear to his voice. He went and splashed some cold water on his face from the nearby basin.
Hotaru, the hearth spirit, appeared near his door, "No thanks from you Kaz? I was only helping." She said with a small pout. Her violet eyes looked up at him dejectedly.

Kaz ruffled his hair in abashment, "Uh... thanks Hotaru, really, but I feel I needed to remember that dream."
She shrugged and started humming an old tune. Her tramping little hops could be heard down the short hall.
"To show my thanks I will make you some rice cakes with plum sauce, Hotaru. I know that's your favorite." He shouted to her as he put on his shugenja attire.
She suddenly reappeared standing on his head and looking down, "Really!? Yay-ya-yayayay!" She rejoiced and ran to the kitchen after hopping off his head.

Kaz laughed to himself, and shook his head at how easy she was to please.
"What kind of day has this ominous dream woken me to? Everything feels calm... But war spreads like a plague." He whispered thoughtfully to himself.
He went into the kitchen only composed of a table, a wash basin, and an area to cook.
"After we eat, I need to head down to Anchorsaur and see if some of the people are still troubled by malicious demons." He told Hotaru as he gathered the plums for the sauce.