Open - Diplomatic unrest

_____Kaede truly disliked being used as a pawn in political negotiations, however with the debt she owed to the man who called her daughter in the game she much little choice but to try and repay in ways she felt balanced the debt. Most times she was asked to simply help work other nobles in the area to work together, while it was still annoying there was times kaede got more from the trip. Clicking the butt of her staff to the carriage floor by accident as she started dozing off from the decently long ride they had already crossed to reach this specificity noble.

”I am sorry the longer trips are not always appealing to you my daughter, however this nobleman has one of the greater yladian generals within his walls for treatment since the battle and with his guidance we might be able to train those who need it so we don’t get pushed further south.”

I am well aware father, you have explained this to me a number of times already and that is the reason I’m here to try and help bring him around to aid us. Besides, I also hear there is a lovely tavern near his estate with both drinks and woman to go around.~”

_____If not for Kaede being a player one could almost call them truly related. Both had black hair and crimson eyes, and seemed to think similar and know decently what the other was feeling. Kaede knew the man, Alexander for almost six months now. He was the father she never had, caring and understanding about her habits and desires and while ok with them did try to help keep herself contained.

_____However as the wagon slowed to a halt and the horses whined Kaede’s focus met her father’s both unsure what was happening. After a few moments Kaede could hear fighting outside and stood up, her father moving his cane to block Kaede as he shook his head not to go outside. Growling lightly at the idea she could not check to make sure the guards had been ok she sat down and glared at her father for his choice.

”While I know you can spar decently well if that is fighting those are not practice weapons my dear. If you stepped out the guards would not only have to protect you but fight off the attackers. Our best choice is to stay in here where they don’t have to worry as much.”

_____Moving her focus to the door as the fighting slowly came to an end and silence fell over the area. Another few moments would pass before the door swung out violently and a mountain bandit walked up the steps holding a sword just slightly from the hilt and a rather smug grin on his face. Tipping his head as a sign for the two to exit Kaede watched her father exit first and she followed calmly after him. Some of the bandits began whistling and mumbling at the sight.

”Let’s make this nice and easy, everything you have of value on the ground, the woman comes with us and we let you leave nice and easy you noble pointy ears.”

_____Kaede slightly sighed under her breath, this was one of the many reason Kaede disliked males. Eyes slowly scanning the area, fifteen bandits, two badly wounded guards and the one day she did not have her dagger under her dress, not to mention she was still not trying to show her father she could seriously fight, not just manage in a sparring match. Moving slightly to avoid one of the bandits trying to touch her before growling towards them.

”Now gentlemen I am sure we can come to some better terms. Why not we give you what we have, you can escort us back home and take anything of value from our home. I just ask you kindly not to take my daughter from me.”

____Kaede wished her father had not said such words, watching with slightly closed eyes as the leader swung his fist against the older man’s jaw sending him to the ground. Kaede trying to step forward only to watch her father lift his hand for her not to act, a laugh breaking in the group before the leader waved to silence them and kicked the downed noble at the stomach. Watching with bitten lip as the bandit pulled her father’s hair so he could see his face.

”I made the terms very clear, now unless you rather I kill you and take from your corpse start taking out your valuables.”

_____Kaede could only growl more, then watch with sadness as her father did what he could to keep things peaceful. It was always his way to avoid conflict, they had guards to deal with, and Kaede could hold her own maybe long enough for her father to get people to bring her home. It would be so much easier if Kaede fought back, but her mind was set on making sure such would not happen. Slowly starting to remove her valuables and preying someone might show up to stop this from getting out of hand.

”So boss, want us to chain her up now or should we make her dad watch?” - ”We had been told to bring the Yladian girl as quickly as possible, that mean no fun, we can do that with the pay we get from the employer and selling their stuff.”

_____With the focus set on Kaede and her father it would be now or never to get the jump on the group of bandits if anyone was out there willing to help. However with each item Kaede removed the more her temper rose, and the desire to start fighting despite not wishing to show her father such side of her was growing greater. Why was it the day she was most annoyed Bandits had to attack and she was asked to ride across astorea? Such bad luck again.

Hidden: OOC

This is events using changes to come from Meta shop including identity change, race change, and FC change. The art for Kaede is likely to change once it is finished. For now using one of the stronger influences to her look.

 

Haru was taking a walk. This was something not of much import, as he was almost always walking ever since he got into Terrasphere. Naturally, it was the surprise he received during his walk that was of far more interest. Namely, the sound of a rather one sided scuffle, from how only two people were screaming. That would usually be the sound of an even fight between two people, but boy were there quite a lot of strikes on metal sounding off. No, that was certainly a beat-down. A short detour was all he needed, soon arriving at the scene before him.

-Ah, bandits. That would explain it. Haru can't help but frown at the scene before him. These guys... They seemed like a rowdy bunch. Ah, they seemed to have noticed him, as well. Haru wasn't particularly surprised by that, though he could not say the same for the situation at large. A man such as himself, cloaked in pure white like as a winter sprite would, happens to be quite conspicuous against an outdoor clearing such as this, winter though it may be. Standing at the forefront of the ruffian's views, he allows a few ragged, rather dainty slips of decorated paper to rise from his robe, where they began to lazily float around him. These 'charms', he found, were a wonderful replacement for the gnarled piece of driftwood he once had to use as a magical focus, as was the engraved ring on his finger.

It appears that the rugged folk in from of him were beginning to grow a touch annoyed at his silence, though. Haru, knowing full well the dangers that would come with an agitated party like the one in front of him, decided it would be best to keep them talking. "Ah, hello there. Have I run into the middle of something unpleasant?" He's rather nervous. After all, he wasn't quite expecting the situation to be like this. He was expecting some kind of monster in the bestial form, rather than that of a fellow man. Still collecting himself, this would likely be all the time Haru had before one of their folk responded.

 

”For you maybe, if you walk away and don’t try and come back with help your fine.” - ”But boss there is fifteen of us and only one of him, why not just take his stuff also.”

_____Without much hesitation the leader quickly moved to the bandit who kept speaking up and drove his sword into the man’s left calf drawing out a pained yell from the man. Slow pulling his weapon free and watching the man fall down holding his leg the leader looked to the others who grew hestient and slightly loosened the circle around their leader and the two caught in the middle.

”Does anyone else have any objections, thoughts, or the sort to share with me? You, how about you,... no? Then let’s get back to work.”

_____The leader slowly shifted his bloody sword around pointing at his men while he spoke. The red liquid dripping down on the earth and soaking into the worked dirt road beneath their feet as he returned his full attention to the man in white. His free hand lifting to dry the blood on some red and white fur that was likely his common wiping spot for his weapon as he began to address the man some more.

”As my underling had slightly pointed out, you don’t have the advantage if you did try to start something, and I doubt you could muster enough people to help you before we got done here. So word from the wise, get a move on before I change my mind and take up my underling’s offer to rob you also.”

_____His rugged voice held a serious tone behind it, he was not going to stay friendly to the man was the message and to further display such he calmly flicked his sword to signal some of his men to ‘escort’ the man away as he returned to business. Kaede’s father was almost finished removing everything of value her had and to be honest so was Kaede. They did not have much time left and Kaede still could not bring herself to try and fight her way out. That was when she noticed her father stop n his family seal ring, his hand trembling for the first time since kaede knew him.

”Every last item, I made it clear did I not?”

”I simply cannot agree to such terms… You may take everything else but my daughter and my family seal I will not give to the likes of you. As both a father, and as a man I can not leave a woman helpless or with those she does not want to be with!”

_____Kaede watched her father slowly rise to his feet, his hand still holding his family seal, both trembling as he looked the leader in the eyes. For a moment she was proud, but if this was like reality she knew exactly what came next and closed her eyes tightly. The Bandit leader grinning slightly before he made one quick swing of his sword, the flat side slamming into her father’s ribs sending him to the ground with a crack and a thud sound. A quick whistle before five of the bandits began to kick the downed noble who tried to protect his vitals by balling up.

_____With each sound of boot slamming or her father grunting Kaede flinched and tried to close her eyes tighter. She wanted to fight, her fist clenching to the point her knuckles turned white, but there was nothing she could do without a weapon she knew how to use. Without her spear or dagger, and no bandit seeming to have one close enough to her to reach it without getting detained she had no choice but to listen to the pain her father was in, all because of her.
@Haru

 

Well, it's not like he needed all that much convincing. Rugged men, armed to the teeth against him? Oh my, my, my, Haru simply couldn't handle that. It was most certain that he couldn't take on fifteen- oh, now it was fourteen, that was a rather cruel maneuver from the bandit leader- men by himself. And with simply nothing useful it seemed he could do, why should he even try?

As they began to beat on the older man, he was able to answer his own question in record time. 'My, it's like they're asking for it at this point.' It's not like he needed much convincing. The two people were full of life, people more important than someone like him, yet it was so very unsightly to see people such as these have terror and desperation painted out upon thier faces. That girl there in particular looked rather spring-loaded, and she could do any number of things that Haru couldn't really guess, and all she needed was an opening. Haru smiles as a few bandits move to him to 'escort' him out. It's not like he feared dying all too much, anyway. If he did, it would simply be valuable experience for when the time really came for him outside of the game.
'It seems they've given me a nice opportunity.' There certainly were a few bandits coming his way. Things could have been awkward if he had only sent one but this was nice. Over the course of their exchange, Haru had been cracking up a plan. Unfortunately, he laments, he will only be able to assist the girl and not the other man. There were simply too many circled around him. However, while it would seem the same is true for the woman, it was in the bandits there which gave him his opportunity.
Five bandits occupied beating on the old man. One on the floor, stabbed. The boss overlooking what Haru does. A few more walking out to meet him. With all of these bandits performing tasks, the circle of bodies surrounding the woman had thinned dramatically. Haru looks at the two furthest away from him. One leered unpleasantly at the girl, while the other stood stock still, ready to professionally restrain her should he move. These two would go.

Pulling his hand out of his pocket, a trail of beautiful light follows it out, attached to a ring on his finger. Before the folk in front of him had time to discern it, he tossed it into the grass below him. The spell, already written in the air from light, surged, travelling beneath the feet of the men in front of him, and the feet of the leader, the woman's father and the woman herself, cutting off at the feet of the two bandits behind the noble girl with a brilliant burst of light. The grass beneath their feet erupted, grabbing at the ruffians hungrily, twisting and snaring to lock up the two men. Arms, legs and torso were wrapped and anchored to the dirt below by the greenery. The grass locked their hands and feet, and strangled at their necks. With this, he had given the girl two options.

One: These two bandits, previously threats armed to the teeth, were now restrained, glorified weapon racks to pick something from. A sword on one, an axe on the other, and a few rather fine daggers between them, strapped to their hips- she might grab something to defend herself.

Two: With the circle of bandits thinned by a split of focus, and two of them tied up, Haru had created a hole in the circle surrounding her. Should she wish, she now had a chance to flee as fast as she could while he kept their attention.

"Fight or flight, girl! I don't care which, but hurry up and pick one!" Honestly, he expected the noble girl to flee, and then have a chance at escaping the bandits. He then expected to die for doing this. He may have immobilised two, but that was simply his limit. He was not yet experienced enough to stop more at a time. He would simply be overwhelmed here.
Haru was fine with that. He lets his floating charms drop to the ground. With that Haru smiles, maintaining the entanglement spell and preparing to learn what it felt like to die, should he be unable to flee when the time comes.

 

_____No matter what Kaede was still against the idea of fighting if there was even a chance her father saw her. But as she heard some of the bandits growling about something she quickly opened her eyes and heard the man. Biting her lip Kaede moved to take action without worry this time. Frame moving towards the downed bandits quickly stealing their daggers and spinning them in her hand a few times testing the weight and other factors before turning on her heel and rushing the leader.

_____Kaede’s attack choice was both reckless and in her mind the best choice she had at the moment. If this group was led by fear of the leader you simply had to cut the beast off at the head. Spinning the daggers to get ready as Kaede moved very, well un-noble-like to say the least. Frame breaking the noble pose as she snaked around her target, body turning and bending out of his strikes overall trying to find his weak spots she could exploit. Most the Bandits taking notice and started rushing over however stopped when the leader growled out an order with another missed swing.

”Deal with the other person, this bitch is mine.”

_____While Kaede did not care for the name calling she just wished he kept it down to lower chance of her father looking to see Kaede trying to fight for his safety. While the bandit seemed to strike reckless Kaede was still very aware he was not using his second arm and could not let the fact go without some level of worry. He could have magic, or a hidden weapon ready if someone tried to strike that side of him. Decidinged risk might be wiser Kaede rushed his ‘open’ side ready to deal with this.

_____Her fear coming true as his arm bent oddly, rather something moved the sleeve a dangerous angle lashing towards the attacker. Kaede quickly trying to jump away as the odd black claw cut into Kaede’s arm causing her to bite down as the pain started surging from the small cut. Sliding back and dropping one dagger to hold her wounded arm as the leader chuckled and allowed the black claw to be seen fully. Kaede truly hated magic, much more when others seemed to have it and keep it hidden.

”Must say i like this armor they gave me, maybe I’ll ask to keep it as payment for making sure you won’t fight back against them.”

_____Kaede growled more as she got back into her stance, dagger outward and wounded arm behind her back. While the dagger was not the best choice for a parry stance Kaede was going to have to make it work for this fight. Rushing forward once more to lunge for the leader, using both her speed and underestimation of her skills with the dagger to tip the scale with this clash. Her arm quickly moving to connect with the sword and push it downward before stapping into his free handed shoulder and twisting the blade to destroy the muscles and nerves that allowed the arm to move hoping it would help later.
@Haru

 

"My, my, please walk away. Your weapons are very scary." Haru held his hands up, staying where he has been the whole time as the bandits in question take a moment to draw their weapons. Intent and confident, they lunge to strike from three directions. Admirable, but nobody came to circle around to his back. He kicks himself backwards, narrowly avoiding fatal wounds. Even so, he was not perfect nor was he quick- trickles of blood now trailed down his ripped cloak.

They were exactly where he wanted them to be, though. They had lunged to strike, and he had stepped back. Now, they stood where he once was- and exactly where he had left his charms on the ground. Lifting his left hand which was missing a ring to match his right, he simply snaps his fingers. From the charms releases a charge stored within them, detonating a wave of unseen, non-material force, rattling the poor folk's souls directly. Conscious or not, those sorry folk were down for now.

He stepped over their bodies, over to the main group. He didn't have much he could do at the moment, but he would do anything he could do to help. Holding a charm in his left, drawn from his cloak, he simply holds it forward and whistles sharply. The little paper charm is blown to shreds by a bolt of force, which now barreled towards the bandit leader in hopes of doing anything, even simply knocking him off balance to give out an advantage to his ally. This was going to be a slog of a fight, wasn't it..?

 

_____The wave of force not only gave an opening, but the chance to end the fight quickly. Kaede’s frame weaving aside as the Bandit fell forward before driving the blade into his spine and to the heart, a quick twist to confirm there was no way he would be getting back up before Kaede backed away and looked over the blood on her hand. If her father saw it she would be doomed, a quick glance to double check he was still balled up and then moving her gaze to the male and whispering ‘thank you’ before she moved to wipe the blood from her hand and then rushed to the guards to check on them.

____Index and middle resting along their necks before Kaede slammed her free hand to the ground in frustration, neither lived long enough to try and save them. Moving her hand to close their eyes slowly before returning to her father’s side and gently resting a hand on his shoulder. She could still feel his body shaking, her free hand clenching tightly for getting him hurt over something she had no real reason as to why it had happen.

”It’s ok now father...”

_____Kaede’s voice gentle as she carefully moved her hand along the man’s back to comfort him while he slowly looked up to see the area around them and the blood leaking from the leader of the bandit. Kaede moving her hand out of his sight as an added precaution in case she did not fully clean her hand. Slowly setting his focus on the white cloaked man the Yladian rose and reached a hand out for the male to take, however if he did he would get pulled into a hug.

”Thank you for saving my daughter and myself… but… You don’t seem like a woman so why would the bandit leader say the words he had…?”

”There had been a woman here father, but she took off as soon as she had dealt with the leader.”

_____Kaede shot a look to the male not to say otherwise while her father slowly let go if he was given the chance to hug the male, a firm handshake as the more ‘professional’ thank you before turning his focus to the guards. Much like Kaede her walked to check their pulse before sighing lightly and moving to pick one of the bodies up and turning his focus to the cloaked male. A troubled gaze in his eyes.

”I know this might seem a lot to ask of a stranger, but could you assist me in getting these two inside the wagon and those bandits off the road, hopefully tied up if you have anything to do such. My last request being if you might be willing to escort us the rest of our travel, I assure you I can pay a small to decent price for your time and trouble we impose on you…”

_____Kaede watched her father struggle to keep the guard's body on his shoulder but still waited until he finished speaking to the male before breaking his focus from them. Kaede did not like the idea of her father doing such things in his beaten state, but she knew he would not let her do it or not do it himself due to his kind nature. Moving aside to avoid getting in the way of the males like the stereotypical princess had to do.
@Haru

 

Haru was a man of giving. A big hug one moment, and another's silence the next. He was rather surprised at how affectionate the other man was, but didn't really see any reason to not hug the guy. He was in a pretty dangerous situation, right? Haru didn't see any reason to not let the guy live a little bit. It was always good to have some warm emotion in your life. That girl over there could use some warm emotion, too. Jeez, what a glare...

-Ah, he was musing on a tangent. What was that man saying now?

"...of a stranger, but could you assist me in getting these two inside the wagon and those bandits off the road, hopefully tied up if you have anything to do such. My last request being if you might be willing to escort us the rest of our travel, I assure you I can pay a small to decent price for your time and trouble we impose on you…”

Was that all he wanted? He was walking anyway, so why not? Haru hardly cared where he ended up at the moment.That's the beauty of exploration! "Ha, sure. All you need to pay me with is a nice view when we get there. Point me to a tourist spot, would you?" He takes a moment after writing his spell to tie the two men up in weeds to whistle into the forest. After a brief silence the sound of rustling is heard, and a dire stag emerges from the treeline. Haru simply points down to the two men and the deer assists him in lifting the heavy weight. A serene grin adorns the robed man's face. "I am Haru. I hope you don't mind if Headwind here assists in the heavy lifting, I'm far too weak to start lugging armored men around." He gives the noble an opportunity to lessen his slack in the form of a compliment.

 

_____The Yladian male nodded to show he was fine with the animal’s aid before working to make sure the two, even though dead rested safely inside the wagon. Moving to the front to check on the horses, a moment of brushing their manes and whispering to them gave Kaede chance to approach Haru and lightly tap his shoulder. She looked a bit skittish about something but with a light exhale she regained a bit of her composure to hide it.

”Thank you for not telling him… Sorry about the glare… it’s just… He already worries enough when I leave for a couple days… If he knew i could fight and sometimes do…”

_____Kaede stopped and moved away quickly as the older man began to turn around to face them, one hand waving to the front seats of the wagon with a bow. Kaede staying still and looking to haru with a light nudge of her head to hint the offer was for him to sit down first. Should he, the male would move after and offer a hand to aid Kaede up also before he grabbed the reins.

”I rarely get to meet travelers nowadays, I used to be one myself back before I got the title and a small area of land to oversee. Where have you been so far, while I might not be so up to date on what is where I do know some old spots that might still be worth checking out…”

”Father I don’t think he would enjoy your countless stories you tell along with each location you have been to…”

_____Kaede lightly sighed as her father looked to @Haru for his side of the matter while giving the horses a light sign to start moving once more. They had a bit of ground to cover still, and hopefully no other turns of bad karma would find the group. Such was the hope of Kaede and likely her father as she watched his hands still slightly trembling from what happen. His vow to fight was overturn long ago, he likely regrets the vow of peace her took over it.

 

"Hmm..." What an offer. A time to spend sitting down instead of bruising his poor feet further in the forest? Not like he had much to do in this place. The wagon seemed perfectly fine for him to hop into at first glance. A free ride was a free ride, right? He'd been doing nothing but walking, and so he should probably take a break. Progress was icing on the cake for him. After waving off the worries of the troubled girl and motioning Headwind to follow the carriage he takes a seat thinking that everything would be just fine.

...Oh man was he wrong. Haru had forgotten what it was like to just relax somewhere without being able to wave your legs around. Just like the bloody hospital... He needed something to listen to besides the endless cacophony of rolling wheels and crushing dirt-
-Ah, something to talk about? "Well, I haven't been to many places. At the most, I've been in little Honeyhome down around Brisshal and traveled up to Astorea for an expedition from Zeus into the north. I'm sure you could tell me far more than I've found myself, yes?" The topic brings a smirk to Haru's face. Not because it was something to pass the time with, but because the older man looked like he would genuinely enjoy telling his stories. If it would make the other man happy than he was game for relaxing for a little bit in conversation.

 

”Well I'm not sure how much has changed since I last visited honeyhome, but then again that was rather long time ago by human years. Considering how the state of things had been back then… There was likely some ruins there now to the northeast of the village. It used to be a watchtower the fladerns set up to keep us Yladian away from their areas but it had some decent structural foundation that should have lasted the test of time.”

_____Kaede tried to smile a bit as her father seemed to start going once again now with the encouragement of the traveler. Not like Kaede truely minded her father’s happiness, but sometimes she just wished he would get to the point or give cliff notes rather then flooding her memory with things she would not forget and felt no need to clutter the space with. Moving to focus on the forest to her side of the wagon as her father kept going.

”For Astorea there should be a recently built Yladian emersary building with some of our original architecture around it, it’s not as good as some of the ruins back in our homeland but the masons are trying to help the rest of our people feel more at home despite having to leave our lands because of growing hostility of the northern border…”

_____Kaede’s ear twitched as her father mentioned hostility, while she did not like conflict she did like the mention of it. Mostly because from what she read in her father’s archives the Yladians had some unique combat strategies, and as a daughter to a real army man in the real world it was natural to hear about tactics and the sort. Shuffling uneasily as the horse neighed and the carriage rocked from hitting a small bump in the road.

”I suppose there is also Vintergard, the so called adventurer capitol’ might be another spot to visit. My daughter here is one of those adventurers. She does not fight though, I’m happy for that since she tries to find the peaceful side to end things like most should do to keep this world out of chaos…”

”Really Father… you could leave out the bragging about your adopted daughter…”

@Haru