Misty Days and Starry Nights

[StandbyRanger]

Deep within the forests, far from the home of the Paladins on Adumar, Cartann City, a handful of tiny, fiery beings danced in the early dawn. This was where the band of fully armed men women, and others made camp just the night before after her day-long trek.

Sat before one of the fires, watching it slowly flicker out, was Squire Rouslyn Tiberium. She had been one of the few official Paladins to join the band of criminal seekers on their justful mission out into the wilds, and was probably one of (if not the) youngest amongst them. This didn't bother the young Squire; she knew she could handle her sword just as well as any of the older members, and she was planning on proving so when they finally came across their prey.

Rouslyn had been one of the few (barring the night watch) to wake up before the sun had fully rose; she had watched as the star’s rays struggled to break sleepily past the numerous tree branches. The shrinking fire still provided the most light for the groggy Paladin. She shifted her sitting position a bit and used the log which she had her back against to get at an itch she couldn't scratch. Satisfied, she pulled her blanket closer around her (and her greatsword, which rested in her lap and across her chest) then yawned, waiting for the rest of the troupe to awaken and for breakfast to be prepared.

@Dawnrider

 

[Shax]

It had been a long time since Volken had been to Adumar, far too long. His assignments on other worlds had taught him much about the greater galaxy, but it had served to separate him from some of his peers. This didn't sit well with him, but he couldn't go back to who he was before he had left the planet he now helps to defend.

He had volunteered, along with a few others to help a band of criminal hunters, there were a few paladins who joined the group, though the regular people far outnumbered the Paladins. He had been assigned night watch, which was fine, the nights had been clear and summer was just beginning on Adumar, leaving skies clear of clouds and the grasses green. Nighttime was beautiful this time of year, the fires, which he and a few others had maintained throughout the night, danced off the trees casting ever shifting shadows to relax and watch. Volken himself had just finished gathering some larger sticks and pieces of wood, and was returning to the group he was with.

Quietly and carefully, he placed the pieces of wood so as to maximise heat, which would quickly burn down to a good cooking fire. He sat back against his pack, which carried his armour and his sword, and watched the fire. He couldn't determine whether or not anyone else was awake, and though dawn was breaking, he didn't want to wake anyone just yet.

 

[StandbyRanger]

Rouslyn had actually been on the verge of falling back asleep when she heard someone approach her camping area. The sound and heat of an invigorated fire caused her to tune in fully to the surroundings. Force Sight told her that she had been joined by another Paladin of the Order, one which she had never met before. Rouslyn's mouth opened but was promptly shut once again when no words came out.

Rouslyn couldn't remember the exact day she went mute, or how it even happened for that matter. Her slave days tended to run together the further the years went on. It felt like an eternity since she last spoke even a simple word, and though her telepathy allowed her to continue communicating with those she met, it still felt as though she was missing part of what made her her.

“Thank you,” Rouslyn finally “said” once she found a way into the man’s mind, "It was starting to get chilly again.” She sat up from underneath her blanket, her sword clinking against the log as it slid down.

 

[Shax]

It was a strange thing, hearing another persons voice in your head. Volken's head snapped up, wondering if he had simply not seen the speaker, he then looked around wondering if some strange entity of the forest was speaking to him. He turned back to the fire as the voice spoke again, and the woman on the opposite side of the fire shifted into a sitting position. She was partially concealed by the fire, the right side of her face was covered sporadically by the fire danced.

He didn't recognise her, though he knew she was also a Paladin, or Paladin in training at least. She had the proper garb for the role, and the sword she carried differentiated her from the others in the group. Volken saw she was Miralukan, the eye cover was a giveaway. He hadn't met any Miralukans as of yet, so he was as of yet unsure of what they could do.

He simply nodded, assuming that it was the girl in front who had spoken to him. He really was unsure how to approach the situation, it wasn't common to be talking to someone in your head. Regardless, it would be impolite to ignore it. He smiled politely, before speaking quietly so as not to wake anyone else "It's no problem, wouldn't want any of us to freeze. I'm Volken." Introductions are always polite, and so far he held no titles to extend his name. Not that he would add them in anyway.

 

[StandbyRanger]

“Rouslyn Tiberium, Squire to Marshall Belisarion, and Knight in training,” this was the first time she had referred to herself as such. She was proud to hold a formal identity again after so long. The first thing they try to beat into you after becoming a slave is to forget who you are, and instead consider yourself to be the galaxy’s waste, someone it had no use for so it decided to make you work just to survive. “Just Volken, huh? Fair enough.”


The sun still struggled to fully rise above the horizon, but the camp began to awake more and more by the second. Rouslyn leaned closer to the fire, outstretching her hands to catch as much warmth as she could from the now thriving fire, “I guess you were on the night watch? How was it? They say if you stay still enough while out at night, you can catch the sounds of the forest spirits’ melodies and be entranced by them. They’re rumored to be so melodious that they’ll draw your spirit away from your body to become one of them.” She had no idea why she was asking someone who was more than likely not from Adumar about a local children’s tale, but the question was asked nonetheless. Maybe it was because she was bad at small talk, “Do you believe in spirits, Volken?”

 

[Shax]

Volken nodded in greetings when Rouslyn introduced herself, he had never met Marshal Belisarion, but he had heard he was a formidable fighter. He didn't see a reason to treat the woman like a squire, considering their location and situation, formalities were the last thing on his mind. Volken was pleased Rouslyn was "talking," there weren't many people around here he knew, so it was always welcome to have some conversation.

He hoped he hadn't woken anyone up by speaking out loud, but it didn't really matter, they would all be waking up soon anyway. Rouslyn spoke of spirits, and Volken found himself interested in the tale, local legends were always interesting to him as a kid. Sanistus, his homeworld, was a very superstitious, so it was in his blood to at least be wary of legend. He nodded again, and said in an even tone "Yeah I do, but it depends on the spirit. Night watch was quiet, nothing but silence really. It was pretty though, the sky was clear all night."

The sun had crested the horizon and was now shining a light orange light on the assortment of campsites, Volken could hear others beginning their own conversations or preparing some food. He looked back at Rouslyn "What about you, do you believe in spirits?" He didn't expect her too, he understood his own thoughts on the matter were uncommon.

 

[StandbyRanger]

Rouslyn shrugged, “I used to believe in them, when I was a kid. I remember sneaking out with my sister on clear nights trying to find them. You always try looking for things that aren't there when you're a kid; something that could take you to some mystical, far off place.” She rubbed her hands together, dispersing the gathered warmth evenly between them. She then leaned back and “stared” at the ground. Because she was blind, but was able to see through the Force, she didn't need to look directly at the other person in a conversation. Her natural connection to the Force, coupled with her other heightened senses, gave her a unique mental “picture” of her immediate surroundings. It was flawed, and lacking any intense detail, but it was clear nonetheless.

“After a ton of failed journeys, I just gave up; on the trips and on believing there was something ‘supernatural’ out in the world…” An appetizing aroma wafted over from a nearby campfire, causing Rouslyn’s stomach to growl. She rummaged through a nearby pack, producing a neatly wrapped bundle of dried meat strips. She promptly began gnawing at one of the salty snacks; a trained eye could notice the immediate change in expression on the young woman’s face as food met her lips; from groggy to chipper, it was as though food was her miracle drug.

“Ironic, considering how I ended up fighting for an order of warriors who can move things with their minds.” Soft munching sounds accentuated Rouslyn’s speech. Maybe these things were made a little too salty, she thought to herself.

Rouslyn grabbed another stick of jerky and offered it to Volken.

 

[Shax]

Volken smiled and accepted the jerky with a polite nod, it saddened him that she had given up on the belief in spirits. The presence of the force and its power had always convinced him of the existence of things beyond the material realm, even if it was a childish delusion. He still believed in the Maker of All, and that could very well just be a myth, and the force could be something else entirely. He chewed on the jerky slowly, and let the conversation hang for a few minutes while the rest of the camp began to wake up to the sounds of each other, and the smell of food.

He looked around and stood up once again, it was almost time to move, and it wouldn't do to leave anything behind. Thankfully, he had packed light, he only brought some snacks, a sleeping bag and his weapon maintenance kit. "From what I understand, we should reach the group we are after at around midday. Assuming we don't get sidetracked or slowed down." He sat back down, there was still some time before the greater group was ready to move, but Volken wanted to be ready just in case.

"So, how far have you come in your training?" He didn't really know what to ask, at least not what to ask to continue the original conversation.

 

[StandbyRanger]

“I'm not really sure how to measure that.” She removed the blanket from on top of her as Volken prepped himself to move out. Rouslyn decided to follow suit; she swallowed the last bite of her jerky, exchanging the now empty rag with a small maintenance kit for her sword from within her pack. The kit was nothing more than a whetstone and polishing rag. As whetstone met blade, she found odd pleasure in the scraping of stone against metal.

“I've been with the Church for two years, half of one I spent in a hospital bed; I expect not very far.” The rag brought a nice sheen to the raven black sword, “Lord Leonatas is a good teacher, though. Maybe he’ll make me a knight faster than most," she said with a hint of belief in her own boasting.

A large grouping of bandit hunters congregated not far from where the duo was residing. Rouslyn assumed it was the beginnings of the calvalcade. She continued to polish her sword, “How long were you a squire for? Please don't tell me it takes a decade to finish. I don't have that kind of time.”

 

[Shax]

Volken hadn't paid much mind to Rouslyn's sword, though when he heard the telltale sounds of a whetstone he glanced over to take a closer look. The sword was in good condition, though it seemed much too large for Rouslyn to wield it proficiently, but maybe Volken was underestimating her, the blade seemed plenty sharp, probably in better condition than his own weapon, which reminded Volken to take better care of his gear. He didn't feel the need to ask about her mention of a hospital bed, events that can incapacitate someone for so long are hardly easy talking points for most people, and he knew a few of those events from first hand experience.

He had to think back when she asked how long he was a squire, he was essentially part of the Paladins since he was a young child in one way or another. "I was a squire for maybe fourteen years, It would have probably lasted longer had the Blackguard not invaded." He gave he a reassuring smile "Though I doubt you will have to spend that long, I had and still have conditions beyond my control that slowed my training and growth into a Paladin." He let the smile slip slightly "Regardless, with the state of the Church and with how often the Grandmaster has been handing out titles and ranks, that should only speed up the process more." He spoke with the hint of bitterness, he had worked hard to get where he is, but he knew of others from the greater galaxy who had been granted the title of knight without having completed the proper training, and Volken held resentment because of it.

He perked up, and grabbed his pack of now gathered gear off of the dewy ground, and watched as the hunters began coming together. It was almost time to move, stragglers were stamping out fires and packing up the last of the groups gear before joining up with the larger body of people. Volken himself was ready to move, and he looked down at Rouslyn "You've fought before?" It was a silly question, it was readily apparent that she had considering the care she put into her blade. He smiled in excitement, hoping to increase the energy of the moment as the sun was finally shining brightly over the campsite. He offered a hand to help Rouslyn up, knowing full well she could do it herself, but hoping she would appreciate it as a gesture of friendship.