A Specific Ring

June 5, 2017

[6:46 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie was on the edge of the camp, with her new blade in hand, watching as a Wyvern and it's master took off to the skies towards Barentia. The time that the master was here were... different for Valerie. For the first time since she joined Finn's army, she felt... relieved, like a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders. It felt really nice to the Sword master too. She was sure that people were going to talk about it, especially the healers, as they treated this outsider back to stable health. After watching until the wyvern was nothing more than a speck in the sky, Valerie examined the blade. It was obviously her father's make, and was just brimming with holy energy. She'd have to ask him how he did it when this little war is over. Looking at the other side of the blade, Valerie wondered how Kristyn was able to use a weapon clearly meant for Valerie so easily. "I might never know besides asking her..."

[7:20 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine's quilltip tapped on an open page. Just a series of black dots. She sighed into it, her notes somewhat discontent and disorganized. She'd been intending to write a letter home about how things were going, replying to some business... She got up, folded her page, and walked along the outer edge of the camp. Where she noticed the wyvern getting further and further away -- it wasn't Neltharion. And she saw Valerie standing beneath, watching them, and the sword in their hand. She crept up, trying to arrange it so what she said next was a surprise. "They're heading back to Barentia, I take it?"

[7:24 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie hadn't been focusing on anything else since she said her good-bye to Kristyn, so when Delphine came up and spoke to her, Valerie jumped a little, but didn't draw a blade as she knew what the voice was. Still sitting with a slightly spooked demeanor now, Valerie responded with "Unfortunately, yes." Valerie let out a small sigh after that. It felt like the time they were together there wasn't nearly long enough. She had almost debated going back with Kristyn, but decided to see this war out to the end since she had come this far. Clutching at the ring on the necklace she wore, Valerie mumbled off to Delphine "But I don't know if it was the right thing..."

[8:23 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine saw the gesture, and the ring that Valerie had been wearing all the while suddenly became abundantly clear. That she wore it on the neck, too, was a touch she observed almost with a smile -- on a hand, it could become a burden on a battlefield, or get lost. It was the sort of thing she'd grown to notice on guards...And soldiers. "The right thing, her leaving, or the right thing, your staying for a little while longer?"

[8:37 PM] NethaEmerald: "... Both." Valerie responded with. She decided to finally start standing up. "And also... my choice for staying here with Finn's Army. The situation before was relatively easy: stick with Finn's army until we were done. But recent events have made it harder. After she 'delivered' this weapon to me, we talked on the field..." Valerie's face went a little red without her realizing. She also just admitted that the reason she gave for Kristyn needing to see the healers was not as accurate as might seem. "During that, some... confessions happened? Not sure it's the right word, but we both knew the meaning behind it. I fear i'll find myself yearning to go home and see her again too much on the battlefield..."

June 7, 2017

[8:05 AM] LadyDeme: Delphine nodded, concealing a sly, kind of approving smile -- of lovers, and of Valerie's tenativeness in terms. She faced that shape, hidden in the cloudline, for a moment, and considered it. "I'm not sure. I think that having something waiting for you helps, at a time like this. As will a new sword. After all... Our opponent," Delphine did not like the word 'enemies,' she found. "Is only getting closer to its strongest heart -- and we've been at this for some time. I think having something at the end will remind you that you get to go home, if you get to go home... That's how I feel about Amarana," Delphine added.

[8:38 AM] NethaEmerald: Valerie nodded. "I suppose so." Just thinking about how things would be when she got home brought a smile to her face; the first one she's had in a while in front of anyone in Finn's army. "And don't worry: I will be able to make it home." Valerie reassured Delphine. "And i'm sure you will too."

June 8, 2017

[7:15 PM] LadyDeme: "Of course; I've got far too much that's interesting," Delphine said, waving a hand airily. She paused, for a second, her hand in mid-arc. Her brow furrowed for a moment. "I have to admit the prospect I might, but I still think it's best to look for the future there. Do you two have a specific plan, for when you get back, or will you just be playing it by ear?"

[7:18 PM] NethaEmerald: When the future was asked and talked about, Valerie frowned a little in puzzlement. "Honestly? Not really. We were kind of at each other's throats for a little while, and with things now mended again, there isn't a future that was decided before other than possible death at the other's hand..." Valerie rattled off aloud.

June 9, 2017

[8:57 AM] LadyDeme: "I see." She reached over and patted Valerie's shoulder. The shape of the wyvern had now fully vanished, leaving them looking out at the foothills, and the mountain range that sperated them from Ethysia. "Why were you trying to kill each other, anyway, if you don't mind me asking? It seems... A little odd, to go from that to love. But then again, I suppose feelings that run intense might do such a thing: all burning, and the direction goes where it may."

[9:03 AM] NethaEmerald: Valerie sighed a little when Delphine asked that, figuring she might. "Well, back when we were in military, both training and not, for Barentia, we met. Kristyn didn't really tolerate anyone besides me. So after that, we slowly became friends, despite how opposite we were. As we continued to train and serve the military, we found ourselves becoming inseperable. However... on the night I left to join Prince Finn's army... she noticed. She didn't want me to leave her alone in Barentia, so we had a bout... and I won." She cleared her throat a little. "After that, you're aware of what happened when we helped liberate Barentia, and obviously just now. I don't think she wanted to kill me so much as get me to come back home."

[10:52 AM] LadyDeme: "I see, see. You certainly made it sound dramatic," Delphine strethzched herself out. She considered, briefly, asking Valerie more, but the girl likely felt interrogated enough. "But a ring and a sword are excellent gifts to make sure you can make sure you do come back."

[10:57 AM] NethaEmerald: Valerie nodded along until Delphine mentioned the gifts. A ring and a sword? They sounded like total opposites, which caused some chuckles from Valerie upon realizing that. "Despite how different they are, I guess so? I mean, the sword wasn't something she made or got me; my father made it, and she just delivered it." Valerie spoke, kind of correcting that misconception.

[1:34 PM] LadyDeme: "They're different, but that doesn't mean they're not both helpful, in their ways -- my staff isn't much like your sword, but they both help bring us both home. I prefer rings to swords, myself." Delphine explained, chuckling about it herself. It wasn't as if there weren't all sorts of tools, to see one through a hard time. She felt like she'd catalogued them, in her own way, and waved a hand -- wearing Amarana's Amaranth signet ring on it, as well. She leaned over, getting a sense of the sword Valerie held. "Your father -- he must be very skilled. It's a fine blade."

[1:43 PM] NethaEmerald: "He's been doing it his whole life. I just wish I was there to help him with this one." Valerie remarked about the craftsmanship of the blade. The sword master realized something about seeing the ring on Delphine's finger. "But, you know... i'll have to get a ring before I go back home, seeing as how I got one, but Kristyn didn't get one from me. I don't know where, but i'll have to."

June 10, 2017

[6:11 PM] LadyDeme: "Oh, yes, I suppose you will. I doubt you'll get a chance before the war ends, though... If you end up going through Floribar on your way back, I can look over a few with you, if you like." This just got her beaming; the unspoken, unplanned possibilities in that gesture just seemed so very sweet, and so very pure. To give a specific ring is, in a lot of ways, just a temporary decision; to give a ring at all...Well, all decisions are temporary, but this is different -- a more permanent sort of temporary.(edited)

[9:25 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie nodded at Delphine's offer. "We'll see where the winds take me after we end this thing, because not even I know how exactly i'll get back home."

June 11, 2017

[5:02 AM] LadyDeme: "Good luck, then; to chart a course, you'll first need to chart a far more literal course," Delphine said, with a smile.(edited)

[7:54 AM] NethaEmerald: With a nod, Valerie said "I wish you luck too in your endeavors." as she figured now was a good time as any to head back to the camp.

[1:14 PM] LadyDeme: == RP End ==

Yiinghua, the Blossom Blade

May 31, 2017

[6:38 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie found herself sitting atop a hill, weapons in tow, watching the bridge to the North of the village. Seeing all the figures and flying things was sort of mesmerizing in a way. She was imagining what must be going through their minds. Things like “Death to all other nations”, “Ethysia for life” and so on. Amidst her own thoughts, Valerie let out a small chuckle at the random things she was imagining them say. In her own self-amusement, she had missed a pretty obvious sight in the sky: a Red Wyvern with Yellow eyes. By the time she looked at the area it first came into her view, it was gone. Being ignorant to that, Valerie pulled her bandana from her head. “Oh father, I hope to be back home soon…” Valerie softly spoke to the bandana, clutching it tightly. The bandana was the only thing she still had on her that came from her father, and it meant a lot to her. While clutching the bandana with closed eyes, a faint noise way off in the distance caused Valerie to crack an eye open and look to where it came from. She saw it, and went back to closed eyes, before processing what she had just seen and cracked both her eyes open. What she saw in the sky genuinely caught her off-guard: A red wyvern with a figure riding it. Casting the bandana hastily into her clothes, Valerie watched it come closer and slowly drew Cherry Blossom from it’s scabbard and held it firm in the direction of the Wyvern. As the wyvern approached the scene, the figure only grinned. She recognized the bandana being stuffed into this woman’s clothing from anywhere: Valerie. Pushing Zoralth to go faster, the figure slowly sheathed her signature axe and drew out a sword with a slightly pink blade. The blade felt seemingly unnatural in her hands, but she felt she could use it well enough in a battle. Once the distance was closed enough between them, the figure shouted “So i’ve finally found you again.”

[6:42 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie held her ground firmly as the duo approached her. “What are you doing here?” The Sword Master asked the Wyvern Master. Kristyn simply laughed as her first response. “I know. I ‘promised’ I would go back home and wait for you, but I got sick of waiting. I wanted to take matters into my own hands. Especially since you took the ring that was mine.” Kristyn started to explain before Valerie cut her off with “What? I thought you gave that ring to me.” “Oh really?” Kristyn remarked, almost offended. “Why would I go and willingly give something like that out? Anyways, that’s only part of the reason i’m here. I’ve been thinking… what if just aiding Ethysia in winning would bring easier peace than sticking in Barentia, sitting on my ass waiting for things to happen-” “So you joined the Ethysian army!? Have you no pride in your homeland?” Valerie responded loudly. “I still have pride; maybe more than you. I never deserted to join some other army until now. Though my main goal is not to fully aid Ethysia; it was to find you.” Kristyn responded with a stern expression. The Wyvern Master held the sword she had out towards Valerie. The Sword Master was first puzzled about why she was using a sword… until she saw the touchmark stamp near the hilt. It was the stamp her father put on truly custom weapons. “I-is tha-” Valerie started out with before being rudely cut off.

[6:46 PM] NethaEmerald: “This sword? What? Recognize something on it? You should: it’s your father’s work. He wanted me to just simply deliver it to you and come back to Barentia like an errand girl. So you know what I did? I told him I wasn’t going to simply deliver it. He tried to stop me from taking it by force; oh how cute that was…” Knuckles turning white against her sword, Valerie responded back with with a livid tone of voice; “You better not have shed a single drop of blood on him…” “And what if I did? I couldn’t guarantee his safety…” Kristyn remarked with a grin. “And now I hold this sword he meant for you… oh, what should I do with it? The possibilities are endless.” With arms trembling in rage, Valerie burst out with, coupled with a deathly glare and intense focus; “Stop! That sword is meant for me and me only, so hand it over. Now. That blade was not meant for you!” Zoralth eventually landed on the ground to Kristyn could step off him. “Oh yea? Well, I still feel like things weren’t properly resolved after last time with how you’re acting towards me, so if you want it to bad, you’re going to have to fight for it!” as she held the blade somewhat awkwardly on the ground towards Valerie. With rage in her eyes, Valerie muttered “Bring it.”

[6:49 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie vs Krystin Valerie attacks! Hit! 7 damage! (48/55) Krystin counters! Hit! 24 damage (36/50) “Grr… I can’t lose… I won’t lose!” Valerie remarked on this horrible start. Valerie attacks again! Hit! 5 damage! (43/55) Valerie attacks! Hit! 7 damage! (36/50) Krystin counters! Miss! Adept Activates! “This power… Let’s see how long you’ll last.” Kristyn remarked. Krystin attacks! Miss! Valerie attacks again! Hit! 5 damage! (31/55) Valerie attacks! Hit! 7 damage! (24/55) Krystin counters! Hit! 24 damage! (2/50) Valerie grunted. “I’m not out yet…” She remarked. Kristyn laughed and remarked “You almost are.” Valerie attacks again! Hit! 5 damage! (19/55) Valerie attacks! Hit! 7 damage (12/55) Krystin counters! Miss! Adept Activates! Krystin attacks! Miss! “Just die like the vermin you are!” Kristyn shouted in anger. Valerie attacks again! Hit!

[6:49 PM] NethaEmerald: “No I will not!” Valerie spoke back, full of wrath. Crit! 28 damage! (0/55) Krystin was defeated!

[6:50 PM] NethaEmerald: With that last hit, Kristyn sent both of her hands clutching her pained side, Cherry Blossom finishing the deep slash. The other blade tumbled in the air, and Valerie caught it with ease. Even with holding it in one hand, it felt so natural to her; almost like it wasn’t really there, but at the same time, was. “Heh… I’m two for one now, Kristyn.” Valerie remarked. Zoralth tried to step between them, but Valerie held the new blade out towards the Wyvern… and it backed off, scared. The Sword Master looked down on her Wyvern Master ‘rival’ and yanked the scabbard for the new sword from her and sheathed it next to Cherry Blossom. Once the swords were in their rightful place, Valerie held a hand out to help Kristyn up. “Why?” Kristyn spat out before coughing a bit. “Why help me? I lost; just finish me.” Valerie shook her head no, hair moving as she did. “Sorry; I don’t work like that; you of all people should know. Now c’mon; get up. I know you’re not done with this world yet.” Kristyn at first seemed to refuse the hand, but eventually, with a slightly wet eye, took Valerie’s hand and yanked against the winner, pulling herself up. Instead of just standing up and dusting herself off or addressing her wounds, Kristyn pulled herself into a hug with Valerie. With a sniffle, Kristyn said “Where did I go wrong?” She said first, struggling to keep any composure anymore, letting a few tears fall. “Where did I go wrong? All I wanted to do was to help Barentia out… but all I did was aid the enemy. How?” Valerie, feeling something swell inside her too, patted Kristyn’s back and said “Maybe you just lost sight of what was for the best because I left. You let your rage, your jealousy, your attitude to always be right, cloud your judgement. I admit… it was not the wisest thing for me to do, but it was the right thing, and I apologize for it.. I’ve helped Prince Finn’s army out so much… we’re getting close to ending this war. And when we do…”

[6:52 PM] NethaEmerald: Valerie reached around her neck and pulled up on some string. At the end was a ring Kristyn knew very well. It conferred no power to Valerie in this way, but there was no way she was letting someone else every get a hold of it. “I’ll be back. This ring is a promise.” Valerie said, finishing off her little speech with a sweet smile. Kristyn, losing most control of her emotions, only squeezed Valerie tighter. “You… you kept it… I was certain you forgot or discarded it. After all, who would keep a promise with someone like me?” Kristyn laughed a little at that. “Well, nonetheless… i’m happy you did. It means more than you think.” Kristyn eventually let go of Valerie and wiped her eyes, clearly in pain from the wounds.

[6:56 PM] NethaEmerald: “I hope you know what this means…” Kristyn remarked, trying to hide her red face. Valerie nodded in response and remarked with a slightly red face of her own, voice a little trembly: “...I do” Finally taking a deep look at Kristyn’s wound, Valerie snapped back to some sense and said “But we need to get you looked at. Prince Finn’s group should have some resources with where we currently are to help you out.” “But-” Kristyn started before being cut off. “I’ll handle everything. I’m sure they won’t complain if I said I found you like this, fighting off Ethysian soldiers. Besides, last time they saw you, you helped us liberate Barentia.” With a small smile, Kristyn nodded. “Well, let’s see if it will work… Zoralth.” Zoralth finally came over to the scene and let both women get atop him. Actually taking control, Valerie guided them back to the camp.

[6:56 PM] Mappy | Best Dog: [Valerie obtains Yinghua!]

[6:56 PM] NethaEmerald: == End RP ==