Geoterra, Fantasy Midievil FUN!

Shouting. You'd be forgiven in thinking that a man like Hereward would be used to it, working in the various dives, inns, and taverns that populated Vael. He'd seen his share of customers of all shapes and sizes, tempers and tantrums, races and creeds. You name it, he'll bet he's seen it at one time or another. Of course, you'd be foolish to take the bet, a lie is no weight on his conscience, and no additional weight in your coinpurse either.
But there it is, shouting. Somewhere, down the street, in a home, in a bar, who cares where? That it exists, is bad enough.

Hereward opens an eye, he can see darkness out of the open window and it's enough to tell him that he should still be asleep, working late into the night means the little sleep he can get is precious.
He hauls himself upright, the tattered linen sheets falling into a pile on the bed, as he forces himself to stand up and stumble towards the window. The room is warm, and the cool night air washes over him, sending a icy shiver of satisfaction down his spine as the sweat on his neck and back dries off.

He sticks his head out, drinking in the cool breeze.
the street below is plain, wooden framed buildings with thatched rooves and daubed walls. The ground a patchwork of various types of mud and dirt. The familiar smell of "civilisation" on the breeze served as a reminder that all was well in the world.
That is, until Hereward stops taking in the sights and scents of society, to notice the shouts from down the street.
It's too dark to pinpoint where they're coming from, Hereward isn't sure he could tell even if it was daylight, the sleep deprived eyes that clamour for the comforting embrace of his eyelids are simply uninterested.

Through his bleary eyed demeanour, he spots movement. It was brief, but the figure was unmistakably leaving the building, it stuck to the shadows and remained out of the light. He could hear the shouting still, the figure must have been on the "recieving" end of business. Racketeering? Debt collection? Maybe attempted murder? Who knows.
What he did know, is that the city guard might come a'knockin' to his door with questions. The kind of questions that are preceeded, interrupted, and usually followed, with a beating, a charge, and a fine or jail sentence.

"Fuck..." He groans, as he rubs his palm up the side of his face, pushing his hair back. He knows something is going on, but it's too late and he's too far away to get there in time.

It can wait until the morning.
He leaves the shutters open as he turns back to the bed, banging his shin against the wooden frame and cursing under his breath. Clearly someone above has it in for him tonight.

Vael was settling down for the night. Candles of magic, fire, and technology being snuffed put to bathe ghe town in darkness. Torches lit on streets and in the hands of guards. Their feet filling the air as they marched about, shifts were changing, and taverns were starting to fill with late night patrons after a hard days work, and a pocket of money. Though there was more than simple guards roaming. Thugs, bandits, and evil was a foot. Shadows moved through alleys, shady characters stepping over trash and bum alike. Kusenai was witnessing a robbery caused by some thugs spotting Kusenai with a large emerald. Whilst imps and demons crawled the streets, looking for trounble to stir up. This town was anything but asleep, and Matt felt it.

Matt could feel eyes upon him, though he breathed in and settled his shoulders. Eyes closed before openijg again, settling upon a small red figure heading to the southwest. Matt grit his teeth and growled out, "Imp." Before walking forward, left hand grabbed the pommel of his sword as he strose forward. Long and powerful legs propelled him, though even if he was trying to his stealth wasn't very well developed. Thankfully the Imp wasn't too perceptive as it made it's way through the streets to Belvin's and Matt's home. Perhaps this imp was going to burn down the shop like Kusenai's, perhaps this was the culprit.

The cold air stung at his skin, as he ran across the road. Not to any exact location, but just away from the growing shouts behind him. The two culprits where quick to catch up with him. Kusenai rounded a corner, and saw Caidy's jewelry store. He could've went for help, but he would be damned if harm found its way to her, or her shop. Instead he bounded into an alley where he saw the gnome from earlier, snoozing. "F**k!" He cursed out loud.

Tonight, and today just wasn't his day. He wheeled around where the two orcs popped into view blocking his only exit. They both unsheathed swords, and readied to charge. Kusenai only had his creation, but he needed an elemental stone for it to work. His knives were misplaced when he was in the fire. His only option left was to wake the gnome from slumber. But then he saw the gleaming metal lying against his resting form.
"It's over! There's nowhere for you to go!" Without looking back, he could tell the two orcs were charging at him. He grabbed the daggers, and wheeled around while using the momentum to fling the daggers from his hand. One lodged into the right orcs chest, and the other cut a line through the left orcs thigh. The right Orc perished to the ground, and the left ignored it. Kusenai rolled under the sword strike, and grabbed the dagger from the other Orc's carcass. He grabbed it tightly waiting for the other Orc to turn.

Getting a mental scale of the orcs body, he threw the knife, and it hit straight into his collarbone. The Orc had a spasm, and dropped his sword, and bag of kusenai's things. Kusenai panted, and pulled the bodies away from the alley. He heard a low gasp. He turned to see a running figure. "No! It's not what it looks like! Argh, damn it all!" Kusenai grabbed his bag, and deserted the bodies in the middle of the street. "Tomorrow is gonna be long..." He grumbled while walking back to his house, bag in hand.

The night went on and on. The person who saw Kusenai panted and ran as fast as they could. A gnoll boy who had stayed out late charging through the night to get a guard. The chill air was typical of a mild summer's evening. The guards were rallied and moved to the alley that Ed was sleeping in, finding the bodies of two Orcs in the street. They looked over the two, seeing there was a fight and how they were killed. The guards shook their heads, grabbing the bodies and dragging them to the morgue. The guards then made their rounds. Banging on doors, questioning people, and shutting down the city.

Matt was following an Imp before he felt his tunic grabbed and pulled by a guard. A quick fist to the gut and the loosening of his belt as his sword was taken. His arms were bound before being drug before the captain of the guard, a stocky man of the Terric race, a race of humanoid anmals. The guard was a boar terric, fat belly, square shoulders and the breath of death. Guards wore chainmail, had swords and shields with Halberds for mounted foes. The captain wore scalemail and had a wicked looking warhammer and a round metal shield. His beady eyes looked upon Matt with judgement. Smirking as he obviously enjoyed his position.

Kusenai sat at the edge of a small pond. His feet peacefully met water. His head cradled upon his palms. Eyes drooped low, as bags collected under his sockets. He hadn't slept an entire day. He knew he had work, but couldn't stop from allowing his senses to take over. His eyes closed momentarily before veering open. "Two marks... In one day. What am I thinking?" He pushed the thought away, and wiped a tear from his cheek due to strained eyes.

Being in a hurry from his house, he had only been dressed in his black shorts. Kusenai reached into his pocket, and withdrew his creation: an onyx sword hilt, with golden wave designs down the side. A small crater allowed a small stone to rest there. He knew elemental stones were at least 325 gold altogether. He had 170 gold, not enough. An elemental stone can be used in any contraption for a deadly edge. With it in the hilt, it allows a spurt of water, earth, wind, or fire (depending the stone) to create any shape or form the caster wishes for. All at the expense of using the casters magic.

Kusenai slipped it back into his pocket, and sighed. It was 2:30 in the morning, and work started in the morning for Matt, and his adopted father. He needed to get sleep, but didnt want to wake them, so he thought to the next option. His own house was out, because more of the damn thugs could be lurking around. So the last option was his sister's. his other family had died long ago.

He walked down the road, his feet cold, and the cobblestone cooler. The air seemed to go against him in every way possible, as it blew across his bare chest. He shivered, and brought his arms closer to block out the wind.

He knocked on the door softly, hoping she would show soon. As expected, her face poked through the small opening between the door, and the frame. "Kusenai! What are you doing out so late? And without a shirt? Come in." She pulled his arm, leading him inside the small house. Pumpkin spice entered his nose replacing that of foul odor. He explained all that happened, and she showed great sympathy.

"Here is another blanket!" She said throwing another blanket over him. "Really! It's ok..." He grumbled. She smiled, "call me if you need anything. Ill be in the other room." She smiled, and hugged him before exiting to the other room. Kusenai didn't reply before a wave of weary washe over him. For once, his lips sported a smile today.

Matt sighed as he stood up before the captain, both men looking each other in the eyes. The captain asking about the night and Matt giving him an honest answer, but having no alibi, but producing his Paladin's mark, and the captain's eyes open wide and he yelled at his meto release Matt. Paladin's words and actions are believed to be in the right, this was a great pressure and responsibility upon his shoulders. Having to uphold the law and be a righteous protector, and having to answer greatly for misdeeds.

The guards who showed up at houses did a similar investigation, asking people about the night, what they heard, what they saw, very general. The inveatigation was quickly dropped as guards returned several stolen items found upon the thug's bodies that obviously belonged to people the guards knew or were told by citizens of the nightly hours. Nobody would be pursued and the case was dropped on account of gang violence, which the various gangs in Vael were hard to take down, or that some citizen defended themselves.

Matt grumbled and strapped his sword upon his left hip as well as rubbing his arms and shoulders. Loud yawn given as he walked through the streets, walking by Caidy and moving towards his and his dad's shop and home. Looking to settle for the night. (I'm out, play nice.)

~dreamscape~
There was a girl. Her hair raven black.
Her eyes, pools of onyx. She was leaning on a man. His hair, scarlet red. And his eyes, crimson red, without pupils.
Kusenai knew the man was him. But who was the girl? Caidy? No. Kurenai? No.
She was dressed in a black skirt with designs on the bottom, with a medium sleeved black top. And a maroon tie. She wore black boots that matched the rest of her outfit. Kusenai felt oddly attracted to her, but all too soon he was whisked away from the peaceful dream.

He awoke to the sound of birds outside of the house. Time for a new day.

Letting himself out of bed, the gentle sound of snoring sounded from the other room. He chuckled before setting a pot of tea to boil over the fire. He withdrew a couple of mugs from one of the wooden cabinets, careful not to make a sound. Poring the contents into the two mugs, he set the pot aside. Kusenai grabbed them, and paced into his sister's room. Silently, he set the cup on her bedside, and walked into the kitchen.

Finishing his portion of tea, he grabbed a black coat from her closet, and exited through the front door. The air was cool, as a gentle breeze prodded against his shoulders. He noticed several shops setting up. It was going to be a long walk to Blevin's shop, so he decided to stop by Caidy's shop to reserve an elemental stone. She would probably be happy to sell such an expensive item.

15 minutes later, he strode forward to the front door of her shop. Noticing she wasn't open yet, he had a few minutes to spare before she would open up. He would settle for meditating on his religion. Sitting, he closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.

A lone figure stood upon a hill in the distance that overlooked Vael. Skin was as black as night. His head as bald as could be with thick veins crossing over his temples and scalp. Three pairs of horns extended from his skull and curled back and forward. Eyes were a pale silver color as his red pupils looked over Vael. For now it seemed this figure was content with watching, though a chill would run throufg everyone's spine.

Matt got home late, and dreamt of nothing, just darkness till he was awoken by his dwarven father. Grumbling as he stood up. Full six foot four height with broad shoulders and muscles to match. Clearly of warrior stock. Body twisted and bent this way and that as he did his stretches. Pale eyes focused on his armor on a stand in the corner, smiling as it looked pristine. After stretching Matt strode to his dresser, grabbed some clothes and drew himself a bath. Washing up before donning his padded clothes.

Belvin grumbled, that morning he dreamt of fire and demons, not a good omen. Waking up his lazy son, then heading downstairs to cook a hearty breakfast of sausage, eggs, fried potatoes, and juice. The dwarf was shirtless, wearing just leather pants. The skin of dwarves was fabled to be like the stone they wrk with and claim to be born from. Belvin's skin was a fleshy peach color mixed with a slight gray. Scars from battles not burns scattered across his body. Clearly he was a warrior before a smithy, though it goes to show how deep a dwarf's ability for crafting runs. Belvin felt uneasy and scared this morning, even with that famous aura his son had.

Time was running low, and soon enough Kusenai hadn't anymore time to spare. He sighed, and made a mental reminder to return here after work. Turning to the left , he scratched his head. The woman from his dreams was rushing towards him. "Ehm.. Do I know you?" He asked looking down as she clinged to his chest. "I thought I would never see you again! I was following you when you went down in the fire. I heard you were transported to the hospital, but when I went, you weren't there!" She cried into his chest.
"What... Do you mean? I don't think I know you." He said, and she backed up a step. "Stop playing, Kusenai. It's me, hatsune!" She waved her hands. "I'm sorry... I don't know who you are." He apologized.

"You mean... You don't remember?" She asked sadly. He shook his head cautiously. "Remember what?" She looked up, slowly.
"Do you remember how you got here? To Vael?"
He racked his brain for the memory. "Mmmm. I was... I think I woke up in an alley.. And a girl my age... My sister.. No, step-sister, Kurenai found me..where she took me to her home. That's where I met her family.. I was 14 then when they adopted me."
Hatsune nodded, and asked loudly over the roar in the streets. "Do you remember anything before that?" He shook his head, and she slowly smiled. "There's a chance.. You have suffered from amnesia."

Kusenai widened his eyes. "Allow me to refresh your mind." Without warning, she leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss. When she leaned out, kusenai's face heated to the same color of his hair. "Uuuhhhh..." He faulted as gears in his head turned, and he blinked. She giggled, as he touched his lips. "Umm. I need to be somewhere!" He rushed off, and she chased after him.

'What the hell' his head screamed at him, as he ran frantically away from the woman.

HatsuneKusenai
<---pics
He moaned as she clung to his arm. Blevins shop in sight, he walked along side his "lover".
"You know... I will make you remember me." She leaned into his warmth. "I'm not sure if I should be happy about that." He chuckled. The truth was, he had partially remembered his time with hatsune.

Running around at night in the grasslands of Geoterra. Sitting under a tree, while snuggled in each others warmth at noon. Although at a young age, they were inseparable. Now, it was only a matter of time before she realized he was joking. Part of him wanted to drop it, and run to her. But he stood unmoving.

Rather, the pair walked into the store. He then thought what in the hell was He going to do about her. 'I don't think I can work here with her breathing down my neck' he thought. His thoughts interrupted as he felt the paladins gaze upon him.

Matt looked upon Kusenai. Eyes traveling over his form, easily reading his discomfort and maybe troubled sleep, or dirt clinging to hia form. The human paladin merely shrugged, uncaring on either accounts. Personal information was not part of their deal, only being partners. After shoveling the last few bits of food into his belly he wiped his mouth and stood at his full height. Walking over to the pair, boots thudding heavily upon the wooden floor he gazed upon them. Studying them for a few moments before smirking at them.

"It appears you brought a friend, our deal only extends as far as you. If you wish to ring her with you on adventures, her pay comes out of your pocket. And she cannot work with you and Belvin, Da doesn't like women in the forge." Smirk still on his face as he motioned towards the back where they were eating. "Go ahead, fill up. I need to assess your abilities, and we'll do a couple quests, then Belvin will assess your smithing abilities."

Belvin grunted slightly and nodded. "Aye boy. Ye best make shoorr yerr arrm es up to et!" Smile given from the tall Dwarven figure. Readying more breakfast for himself amd whomever was to join them. Though a slight frown was on his face, as if something weighed him down, then it was quickly replaced with a somber serious face. It seemed neither of them cared to really ask about Hasune, assuming it none of their business.

An eerie chill was in the spines of everyone even upon this nice bright sunny summer day.

Kusenai nodded, and glanced over to Belven. The blacksmith had a serious gaze, overlapping in power the other one held. As if he was expecting, or cautious about something. He shrugged, and looked over to hatsune. Her expression somber. He found too that his emotion was tainted with a dark atmosphere. "She isn't much the fighting type.. But her magic is quite the edge in a battle." Realizing he slipped up, he looked over cautiously. She stared at him, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Oh, boy... Ill be back in a second!" He yelled, as he was dragged by the ear out of the shop.

Kusenai dusted himself off, and hatsune just pouted. "Right, so what's it going to be today?" He asked stretching his arms. His manners were never too great, as he never really had anyone to talk to, besides Kurenai. But she never really had manners either.