OOC: Possible Solo Thread for Character development, Don't have a choce.
-There No's posting cycle either
-Those who were @, you don't need to post in here If you don't want to, including you Deliri :P

All this time since the beginning, since Merkaba created Kurama through one of her experiements one vile night, he had been forced to carry this monster within all this time and without it's master, it had proven difficult for Seto to control these beast, especially during the horrors of war and battle since Merkaba created Kurama for that solo purpose alone. It had gone on long enough as far as he was concerned, it was either time to destroy the monster or tame it, there was little choice now. He was a Duke or at least he would be as long as Astorea stood and while he remained as a Duke, he would need to get rid of these monster that dwelled within him If he ever wished to rule properly. It had taken a great amount of time and the lives of many but he finally found what he had needed. Deep within Norforva laid ruins of a once mighty fortress that supposedly contained the information that explained the ritual Merkaba used on him to make Kurama for her bidding.

As soon as a surviving scout managed to delieve this information to Seto at Castle Dormont, It was time for him to put an end to this internal conflict once and for all, no more was he gonna deal with Kurama's bullshit. Even though he had wanted to, he couldn't run off right away, this required extensive planning afterall, this ruined fotress was deep in Norfova, quite a journey in it's own right and it was a dangerous one at that! Such an extensive journey required Seto to make significant preparations prior before leaving such as writing up orders for those who were at the castle while the King was absent, preparing rations, camping equipment, repair his ebony armor and Odachi and getting himself a mount and a few other If they were to accomply him. Besides for Oliva that he allowed to accompany him for........personal reasons, he really didn't want anyone else to come either but at the same time those that served under him should know what was about transpire with their lord. He was against it but If they really wanted to come along, so be it he supposed.

Raising his arm, he activated his UI, opening a wide blue UI screen. Using his left index finger, he used his finger to swipe through the pages, going through factions info, inventory etc but he did eventually swiped to his contact list, luckily for him, he managed to favorite those who served him so this wouldn't be a challenge. Scrolling to Aalam, his ranger, he figured he send him a message first since Emmeline was around in Castle Dormont somewhere he thought? He hadn't seen her today but she was bound to show up sometime today he believed. Clicking on Aalam's contact information, he clicked on the send mail button, choosing to send a voice mail over a standard message.

Voice mail

"@Aalam Abungu my Ranger, I am sending you this message in the hopes you understand what will transpire next. I do not know how much you know wether I told you or If you dug up information yourself but once a long time ago when I was a new player, a dark magic user, a witch by the name of Merkaba performed some sort of unknown ritual on me that caused the formation of a demon of sorts to live in me. In short she ripped my soul in half and made my other half vile as a demon. Even though the Witch has dissappeared and a great amount of time has passed since that day, I believe I may have finally found a location deep within Norforva that houses information about this ritual that cursed witch had peformed on me.

​

I intend to go there, learn it's secrets and destroy this monster that lives within me. This will be a long journey for me, I figure I may not return for months or at all for that matter due to the dangers that lurk. The only person that is coming with me is the Duchess herself, she refuses to stay behind at Castle Dormont. I am telling you this in case I do not return, If that is to happen, you shall be free from my service without conquence, of course you could most likely serve the King as well. This is not an order nor a request but If you so desire for whatever drives you, you may come with me and the Duchess. I will be at Castle Dormont until preparations are complete. From: The Black Duke

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After sending the message, he looked up into the sky before sighing, that was a really long message he just sent, he wondered Aalam would process that information, he wouldn't be surprised If Aalam didn't believe, frankly he wouldn't be surprised If no one believed since it wasn't something that could be understood easily. Still though he couldn't relax just yet, he had to send another message out, this time to Emmerline.
Opening his UI again, swiped through the screens yet again until he found himself in his contact list once again. As with Aalam, Emmerline was marked as a favorite as well, clicking on her name as well, he taped his finger on the send mail button which brought up a beyboard and a screen and microphone. He could send her a text message but voice mail was so much easier, at least for the message he had to send to her anyway.

Voice mail

"@Emmeline Valenick my Aqua Maiden, I have not seen you today so I have no idea where you are but I have obtained crucial information on something I must move on. You have served me for a long time, since the formation of Astorea as a player nation, I do not know If you know of my tale, the tale that explains me as the necassary evil of this world. Do you remember the name Merkaba? that woman I was looking for after the battle? No matter If you remember or not, you have served me for a long time now and you have been loyal to me so it's about time I should be honest with you, there should be no secrets between us, I owe you that much Emmeline. In the past when Terrasphere first opened, I was among the second generation of players that had joined this world, well only a short time I was in this world, Merkaba.......that dark magic witch performed some vile ritual on me that caused my soul to split in half, with one half becoming completely vile like a demon.

This entity that lives within me is called Kurama and at any time, If even for a brief moment I leave my guard down, that thing can break loose out of his cage and take control of my power, I don't need to tell you what a demon wants once it spawns in the world. Even though the witch is gone or at least I couldn't find her since well you were with me and months have gone by, I believe I may have found a possible cure to this.....curse.....one of my scouts returned with curical information that told me that there may be information on how to break this curse by entering a location deep within Norforva.

You know me well enough by now, you know I will goto this place If there's any possibility there could be a cure for this madness. No doubt this will be a long journey, I do not know the future but there is.....always the possibility I may not return for a long time or not at all due to the dangers of such a land. No one is coming with besides one so that is why I have told you this information. If I don't return, let it be known you are free from my Service Emmeline without conquence, there is always the choice that you could serve the King as well If you wished, I doubt he would go against it. Just as I told my Ranger as well, this is not an order nor a request from me but If you so desire for whatever reasons you have in your heart that drives you, you may come with me If it is something you truely desire. I will be leaving the castle once the preparations are complete."

From: Seto

Seto nearly fell on his behind once he finally finished that message to Emmeline, taking in a few heavy breaths before exhaling, he barley breathed when he said all that and he said alot but he felt it was time for Emmeline to know the truth. He had never told her the truth or least from what he could remember but she had served him faithfully for this long so he saw no reason to hide such a thing from her, he didn't believe Emmeline would suddenly change her opinion of him or act differently, he didn't believe she was type of person. Well it was time he supposed that he should return to preparing for the uncoming journey. Shrugging as he looked at the clouds raced passed him in the sky, he entered Castle Dormont and began preparing once more.​

@Solaria - I suppose Sola can join too but she's gotta really watch she does or says or else she might get killed by Seto lol​

 

It's been nearly three days now since he had sent those messages, Aalam and Emmeline haven't yet appeared, it was fine as far as he was concerned, he did tell them it wasn't an order or a request and they could do as they please after all. He didn't waste any time worrying about that, instead he had spent the time he had with Oliva preparing. The preparations he needed to make took far longer than he had expected but with help, he was eventually able to get it done. He did feel bad slightly for the horses they were going to use when he watched two of Castle Dormon'ts servants donn their horses with heavy traveling saddles and tired down the necessary equipment they would need to survive on, particularly bag that held the tent they would be living in, enough to fit a few people in. Seto didn't think something like that was necessary on their travels since he was used to sleeping on the ground in the wild due to experience in Terrasphere and the real world but there wasn't any point he supposed when speaking to Oliva whom he hated debating with since he always felt he was talking to a brick wall.

Looking up into the sky with the sun bearing down on him and Oliva in her steel plate armor, he covered his field of vision with his left gauntlet in an effort to stop the sun's rays from burning into his eyes. Carefully looking into the sky at the clouds, it was sunny and clear. Seto smiled, he was reliefed mother nature seemed to give him good fortune on this day, he only hoped it only stayed like this for the next few days while they traveled into South Astorea due to southern Astorea since it would prove difficult to traverse through with bad weather and little infrastructure. Turning around, he looked to face Oliva and gave her friendly gesture with the hand of his hand while smiling.​

Seto

"Well it seems mother nature was fortune enough to give us a bright and sunny day to work with, hopefully it stays this way while we travel south, especially when we travel into my lands, Norforva itself is pretty tame in comparision since it's a wasteland, well just have to watch out for sandstorms while were out in the open. The tent you had acquired......that you wanted so badly should hold up fine against Norforva's's weather even the sandstorm. Still though, you sure you want to go with me? I know the danger itself itsn't an issue for you but what about your adminstrator duties?

Despite his questions, the armored cladded women didn't speak for a few moments, prompting Seto to ask her If she had even listened to him in the first place. He nodded his head slightly in both directions while sighing at the same time. What was he going to do with this woman? Sometimes she really didn't make any sense to him. One moment she was this cold, calculating and silent character than the next moment she could be the opposite such as being laid back and supportive. Maybe she took her warrior role too seriously? Or maybe she just did it to annoy him? It wouldn't be the first time she had done it before towards him. Shaking his head violently, he managed to remove all those thoughts from his mind to save his sanity. Finally in a cold yet serious tone, she spoke as she stood before him emotionless

Oliva

"It does not matter, I am going with you, I am ready."

Even though what she said was short, he could feel the chills coming from her words as she walked passed him and saddled up on the white mare on him, there she lowered her great helmet's visor.​

 

Why was it always wolf they seemed to have something against him in a significant way for this was the third time that day he was begin attacked by what looked like the remains of a pack. It made no sense to him, and he knew beast they shouldn’t be this aggressive not this early in the season. There was still prey in the forest so a human target wouldn’t make much sense for it was too big a risk a fact that was proven since he had already killed the other two wolves that had tried to attack with the third. It was then a message alert popped into his side screen he spared a glance to look it to see if it was anything significant the wolf noticing his lack of concentration attacked. Lunging at him throwing its entire weight behind the attack forcing him to the ground his back slamming against the hard floor, his longbow the only thing that was stopping fangs from sinking into Aalam’s neck. Pushing those teeth away from him as he moved his foot under the wolf kicking the beast off. Rolling quickly to his feet as the beast lunged at him again, with the intent to kill him and rip his body asunder, nocking an arrow as promptly as possible drawing a bead on the jaws that were so close to him and let loose. The arrow punching through the beast’s jaw and exiting out the back of its neck killing it as all of its weight landed on top of him. Pushing the corpse off of him taking a second to catch his breath after the fight, he needed a moment to gather himself after almost no stop fighting sucking down lungs full of air. The oxygen whether it be virtual or real was still lovely; it was then did he check his message alert.

Reading the message once then a second time to make sure the understood everything that was being displayed. Then a third to see if he could understand what was being said. It seemed that his lord had been cruse at the beginning of the establishment of the kingdom by a witch. Asa result he was weighted down by the fact and pain of missing half a soul. That half of soul was made to be a demon, and the shoved back inside in body. Now he has planned a quest to master the beast the lived within the darkness of his soul and destroyed returning to what he once was. He wished to leave alone with just the company of the Duchess?! He could respect the will of the duke wife, but that was a risk too big of a risk. The message even states what do to if he doesn’t return from their expedition. Pulling the arrow from the wolf’s head and replacing it into his quiver. Tighten down his coat and adjusting his pants slinging his bow onto his back. If his lord thought that he was going to let him do this on his own, then he did understand the vows that Aalam had made in this Contract. He was about two and a half day from the castle at a walking pace right then so he set out making tracks. Through tall grass and forest, he walked through both day and night resting only for short periods of time enough to recharge his batteries but never enough to stop moving forward. Until the Castle Dormont came into sight, he was home, and by the Gods, he was not going to let the leader of his home kill himself off on a quest alone.

Picking up speed as he got closer to the castle he was already later he knew the area from the time Aalam had spent there, and he knew where the Duke was most likely to set out. It was refreshing to see that he was right there was the Duke, and possibly the Duchess saddled up and ready to ride, sprinting fulling now he had to catch them before they left the area, or he would never catch up. Sliding to a stop in front of the pair it might have been a lovely day, but Aalam was gasping for a bead of sweat rolled off of him as he kneeled in front of the couple.

“When I swore myself to your service …. My Lord on that day I made my contract. I swore that I would come when you called. It took me some time, but I am here to pay respect to the Contract I made with you. As for that offer to serve the king I refuse I made my Contract with you and you alone no one else. So I will follow you and your wife until the end of the line.” Standing back up and taking place at the side of their precession.

 

Oliva

The armored woman seemed motionless as she stared at the man in front of them out of breath after he spoke what he had to say. There was silence between the three of them before Oliva decided to take action. Lowering her white lance, she took one good look at the man in front of them before she took aim at Aalam with her white lance. With her serious yet cold voice, she finally spoke.

".............Very well, I shall allow this man to come with us."

For a brief moment, she continued to have her white lance aimed at the man in front of her before raising it again upwards in it's resting position with her right hand. Afterwards, she gave the man one more glance before ignoring him. Gently kicking the side of the White Mare's stomach, Oliva took the reigns of her horse as her Mare began to pull away from the young man and Seto towards Castle Dormont's gatehouse.

The Palm of Seto's right hand laid firmly against his forehead as he sighed, he couldn't believe Oliva was being this cold to Aalam and himself, he really would never understand why her personality changed so drastically once she donned her armor, he was sure Aalam wasn't expecting that ether. Still he was somewhat surprised Aalam manged to get here on time or at all, after all he simply told him what his plan was, he didn't have to come If he didn't desire to do so, perhaps Aalam was similar to himself more than he had thought orginally? Walking over to an exhausted Aalam, Seto gestured his Ranger warmly with a friendly wave of his hand.

Seto

"Apologies my ranger, You now understand what I meant by the Lioness of Astorea. I wouldn't......mind her too much, she's like two people in one body. On the battlefield, she's a brave Knight willing to charge into hell for the sake of the world If need be,she........takes such her role seriously as you can see. Off side, she's completely the opposite as you probably see at some point.

Either way I am surprised somewhat you choose to come since it was only voluntarily but it seems you are serious just as I am when it comes to such things. No matter, it is good you are here.

With his left hand, he rubbed the back of his head while nervously smirking.

Between me and you, the Lioness would have most likely droven me insane on this journey once she wasn't in warrior mode....damm women and romance.

Returning to normal, Seto brought his hands behind his back in a parade rest position.

We shall be leaving in a few moments, I do want to wait a bit longer to see If Emmeline, my most trusted maid is coming with us. I know what your thinking and no she's no ordinary maid, she is quite skilled in magic and in rogue like abilities, she is.........very useful for political situations shall we say. You think a NPC Maid could do that?"

He couldn't help it, Seto chuckled a little bit, he like many probably wanted to see whether an NPC maid could fight as well as a player. He still did want to Emmeline to come, he believed the two could grow a closer bond, hopefully with Aalam as well, this wasn't going to be a short journey, he honestly had no way of knowing when they would return. It didn't matter since his land was undeveloped and while it was true he was the finest warrior of Astorea, he didn't believe he would be needed for any military action for now. Putting his left hand on Aalam's shoulder, he nodded his head towards the path behind him that led to the other side of Castle Dormont.

Seto

"How about we talking a short walk hmm? Well need to get you a horse from the stables here in the Castle's courtyard for the journey, there will be lots of traveling after all. Oh and don't worry about Oliva waiting, we probably don't even exist in her mind right now until we make our presence known once again."

With the gesture of his right hand pointing to the path behind him, Seto took the lead, walking slowly and silently down the dirt path around the castle itself, it only took a few minutes to pass the many servants and soldiers performing their duties before they reached the two reached the stables itself. There was the main building itself which was a small cottage, presumely where the stable master lived? next to it was a large walk in barn with many exterior windows for the horse's head to pop out of and interior doors to the pens themselves. In the middle of the barn was a large opening for the horse to walk in and out from the barn to the outside pen. Before them were nearly a dozen or so horses in different color coats and breeds. he raised his hand to the pen with the many horses.

Seto

"While I speak to the stable master about lending you a horse which they will approve, pick out a steed you wish to travel, it doesn't matter to me. I do not have extensive knowledge of the horses here, some are retired warhorses, some are the mothers of others. Oliva's mare and my own stallion are Appaloosa's, I do believe some of these are Appaloosa's.

After he finished speaking, Seto took his leave from Aalam for the time being, making his way to the cottage next to the stables.​

 

Well, it seemed that the duchess wasn’t too much of a fan of well his general personal or life, the color of the lioness on the Duke's crest was making more and more sense by the moment. He was just relieved it seemed that she wasn’t going to run him through with her lance for a second there it seemed as though that could be a real possibility. At least she seemed to recognize that he was a person in their service at least. He could live with that for right now, but well his Lord could pick some interesting women. However, he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of release when she orders her horse to move towards the main gate. She was something he would have to remember not to find a woman like that if he ever got married in here.

It matters not. However, the lord was here, so he jumped to his feet standing up straight as he was addressed. Whipping every trace of his thoughts about the duchess from his face and mind in general, there was no need to make a dangerous situation worse. He could at least make conversation with his lord, however, but he would have to choose his words carefully. “Well, sir I made a contract with you didn’t I, What kind of man would I be if I let you go off to do this alone” Making sure that the longbow was properly secured he started to with his lord. A slight smile making its way across his face at the mention of the Duchess, he might not have understood their relationship, but he knew that love could do to a man. If he loved her then well it was for the best everyone could do with a little of that. “She does seem like a good woman though sir, I wish you happiness. However, if this Lady Emmeline will be coming, I will wait for the more we have, the safer you and yours will be during this quest.”

Being pulled along alight into a steady walk with them towards the castle stables, it seemed as though he would be riding with them to the objective. However, the comment about the duchess watching did not fly over his head and ducking down a slightly to be shorter hopefully to keep out of her sight. That was not a lady he wanted to be mad at him. Well at least the barn was well made, and animals looked to be taken care of and well feed. It seems that being a duke’s man came with a great deal of choice when picking stead. Well, it was one of the perks he guessed walking past the row of a horse taking each on the measure in a glance. The duke was right there were a good number of a war horse and a few mares an excellent collection. If the stable master had any brain, he would breed a few of those warhorses with some of the stronger mares could make the horse in the dukedom well know at least. That could be talked about after they came back from their trip. However, the horses would be going anywhere.

After glancing at the collection he settled on an old warhorse, it still had a few scares from the battle it was in, but its stance was firm. It didn’t seem to have problems putting pressure on its limbs and had a healthy shine to its coat. Pulling the horse and grabbing a saddle and a blanket is strapping them to its back. Strapping a pair of rains to the beast and attaching them to the seat, this one would do quite fine. Grabbing a pack of supplies from the barn and strapping it to the saddle also it would do to run out of oats. He had everything he needed to take care of the horse on the journey but its name. So he looked at the beast calling out different names until it seemed to shake its head at one. “Hmm so Stallion that’s your name then, well stallion I trust myself to you.” Pull stallion along until they were in the waiting area of the courtyard, the duke was still expecting one more person to join them, might as well wait here until they reached.

@Seto Kurama