All my troubles on a burning pile

[FaithLighty]

All lit up and I start to smile 

    

    A bright light, the strong sensation of magic, the feeling of sadness and remorse. Faith woke with a start from sleep, her heart pounding, the memories of the night’s dreams gone in a moment. Feeling dampness on her face she wondered if it had rained. Touching her hair lightly she felt that it was dry. Her hand traveled down from her head to her face lingering on her cheek, had she been crying? Sitting up she soon forgot. Absent-mindedly she looked around the silent forest of Du Welvarden wondering what to do for the day. Finally getting up she started her daily routine. She bathed, clothed and ate the last bit of her stored food. Only once Faith had finished going around her daily business sitting alone in the forest. There in the silence did the feeling come to her, releasing what she had been trying to avoid. It was an empty feeling, one of loneliness and dissatisfaction. Her life had to long been the same routine with no meaning. She had to go, it was too much. But where she wondered. Wandering was what she decided on. Let the road take her where it may. Gathering her meager belongings she left her home not looking back once.



    She had been traveling for days, the sensation gone and replaced with something else. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she walked on. Why had she left, she loved her home, why? She wanted to go back but she knew that it was impossible. Something was warning her that wouldn’t happen for a long wile. Oddly enough her confusion melted away into peace. She would be fine, she had to.

    Faith’s first encounter with a human had gone horribly. She had wandered for days before coming upon the outskirts of a town. The first building she had walked upon was small farm. Luckily enough there were only few people there, a farmer and his wife. Her mind stretched out easily absorbing their minds. Faith’s confusion deepened as she realized the complexity of a humans mind. She had only dealt with animals previously, she wasn’t even award that humans excised until now. The farmers wife walked outside to see a young girl standing in the middle of her field, walking closer she saw that it was not a girl at all. Faith stumbled backward falling out of her trance as the woman screamed seeing her wings and scales. Quickly as if on instinct Faith yelled “Stop” her voice coming out as a mesmerizing command. The woman shut her mouth. As the woman was frozen Faith walked up to compare herself with her. Wings were definitely abnormal, and so were the scales under her eyes. The woman moved slightly and Faith ran off into the barn hiding. Walking back into her house the farmers wife felt an odd sense of urgency, was she forgetting to do something? Nighttime fell and a new day came. The farmer and his wife went off to town for a day of shopping. Faith hurried in to the house and grabbed a too big cloak. Slipping it on she was satisfied with how it hid her wings. She next rubbed mud onto her face hiding the scales under her eyes. That would do. 

[Deleted]

(OOC- Mind if I hop in? Is there a certain plan you have for this thread?)

[FaithLighty]

(I have no plan! This is an open thread so anyone can hop in if they want)

[Deleted]

(OOC- I hope you don't mind if I bring in my elf Rider, Varda. I read that your character generally doesn't like elves, but, as Varda was an experiment herself, their interaction could be interesting ^^)

Varda sat slumped on Blizzard's back, tired from her scouting of the enemy’s strength and positions. The white dragon's scales gleamed brightly in the sun, making him easily visible in the daylight. As they passed over the towns below, they had no doubt that he served as a distraction for many. With is coloring, it was nearly impossible for the two to go on stealth missions together, unless, of course, they traveled specific paths by night.

The only sound at this altitude was the beating of Blizzard's wings as he crossed the expanse of the Empire. Once enemy territory, it was still strange to Varda that they could fly so easily across it. Varda kept her cowl pulled up over her head in order to keep the sun off her pale face and guard herself from the wind. It was also due to a subconscious need to hide herself. She had escaped the Empire for a reason. To return to it willingly, even if Galbatorix was dead and her brother far enough away that their mental link lay dormant, was a struggle. She pursed her lips at the rising of memories from over sixteen years past.
Eragon-elda and especially Lucian-elda had warned her against wandering into her own confused mind too deeply. Now, however, she could not help it. She could not help but remember that smooth, snakelike voice whispering in her ear, controlling her, manipulating her. She could not help but remember the battles both past and present that she had fought. Varda bowed her head further as the images of the Shade uprising began to mix not only with those of her own battles against the Empire, sixteen years earlier, but the experiences that Galbatorix had implanted in her, and those she had glimpsed through her link with her brother. When she began to grow confused by the turmoil, Blizzard gently intervened, pulling her from the depths of her own confused mind.

Do not become lost again, little one, he rumbled in his deep, masculine mental voice.

Varda nodded, breathing deeply as she let her memories drift away. There was a moment of silence between them. Then Blizzard spoke again.

Why do you not try meditating? It usually works to calm you after a battle.

Varda frowned lightly. She did not wish to meditate. She had meditated so often in the past sixteen years, at Lucian-elda and Alorah-elda’s request. Still, Blizzard was right. It did help, despite her distaste for it.

...If you insist, she replied.

I do.

Sighing, Varda stretched out her mind, immersing herself in her surroundings rather than what lay within. As they passed over a town, she sensed the people and animals and so many other lives within it. She did not allow them to know of her mental presence, barely ghosting past them with her thoughts. However, a moment later, she encountered a strange consciousness, the likes of which she had never sensed before. Her thin brows drew together. She slowly opened her eyes.

Blizzard, do you sense that?

The white dragon sniffed.

No, but I smell it. It smells…strange.

Varda frowned, extending her mind and once again brushing up the alien consciousness, warily, her thoughts a curious tendril that could be immediately drawn back behind her barriers should need arise.

…It could be something of the enemy’s. They’ve been experimenting, and it’s difficult to tell when something is Shade. Their minds are…warped.

This did not feel like any Shade she had felt before. Still…

We should take a look, just in case.

Blizzard rumbled in response and changed course by tilting his wings.

[FaithLighty]

(Shes just feels uneasy around them. She wont genuinely dislike them until she discovers that she is an experiment. So its fine!)

    Faith had backtracked to where she had been before the farm house. From there she walked around the town following the main road off in the trees. Walking around the town had been stressful. So many intelligent minds in one place was hard to cope with, especially when you didn't speak the same language as them. She could pick up one thing though. Many people were distracted by something flying overhead. Stretching her mind in that direction Faith was greeted by confusion and fear. She felt another mind intervening and became scared herself. The second mind was powerful and as the first person calmed she could feel they were as well. A mental conversation started and she hastily removed herself. Faith stopped walking and crouched down trying to become less visible from air. As she hid she reached out her mind once more to gouge how far away the strangers were. Surprised she found that the mind was completely blocked off. Just as she was going to put her own barriers up one mind reached out and brushed against hers. Instantly she flung her own barriers up. It was almost as though her mind didn't exists. They could see and smell her but in place of where her mind was there was nothing. Looking up again she could see them, they were approaching. At least they cant find me now she consoled herself knowing she had to be calm. So she crouched low. Hiding and waiting for them to pass.

[Deleted]

Varda’s expression tightened as the mental presence suddenly disappeared. The fact that the being had so completely hidden itself proved that it was proficient mentally, which raised the chances of it being some sort of being like a Shade. Blizzard snorted, sensing her growing worry. Part of their mission, and duty as Rider pair, was to halt any and all activity of the Shade Uprising that they could. If the Shades did have a spy of some sort in the midst of a small town like this, it would be up to them to apprehend said spy and ascertain why this town was targeted. She did not feel up to a fight at the moment and hoped desperately that it did not come to one. Even with the endurance of her kind, she was exhausted from her long period of travel.

Blizzard spiraled downward until he came to the proper position to glide into a landing, stretching his great, translucent wings and ghosting through the air almost soundlessly. When he reached the proper point to land, he gave a great flap, gusting wind across a wide radius before dropping first onto his back legs then to his front. The ground trembled as his great bulk rested upon it. While he was not as large as some, Galbatorix’s magic had made him large for his age and, when combined with his past twenty years of growth, he stood bigger than many of the houses within the town. He gave a rumble as he sniffed the air.

They must have sensed your search and hidden…they have not left, for I can still smell them.

How could they have fled without exposing themselves to us from the air? Varda asked, slipping from her saddle.

Blizzard only snorted agreeably in reply, smoke drifting from his nostrils.

Lithely, Varda moved down his foreleg, dropping to the ground in a light crouch. She stood slowly. They had landed just outside of town and, already a crowd was gathering. While Riders were not an uncommon sight, it was unlikely any of these people had seen one, much less one who was an Elf, or a dragon up close. Ignoring the stares, whispers, and murmurs, Varda began to glide forward with the natural grace of her race. Her face was impassive and her dark eyes fixed ahead. She disliked crowds. The attention always made her want to withdraw into herself. Blizzard followed close behind, his footsteps thudding over the ground.

[FaithLighty]

Faith hunkered down as low to the grown as possible. From her position she couldn't see her two pursuers but she knew they were closing in. Though she did not know their intent, Faith was scared by their strong minds. She watched and waited hoping that they would pass her by. As soon as they came into view she knew that wouldn't happen. There was a large beast that had feature similar to her own. Faith touched her face lightly feeling the bumps of her scales underneath the dirt. She also became aware of her wings pressing against her shirt and cloak uncomfortably. Next she spotted a smaller figure next to the beast. Unease swept through her as she viewed its pointed ears and slender body. That made up her mind. It was obvious that they were still heading for her so Faith decided to flee. Under the cover of the foliage she leaped up and sprinted away swiftly not caring how suspicious she looked. Though her dash was fast it wasn't good enough. Once she reached what seemed like a reasonable distance away Faith shed her cloak and took flight. It felt good to be in the air again and she soared off effortlessly. She was naive to think she could escape but she tried.

(Her personality in the beginning is so bad. She takes being antisocial to the extreme XD)

[Deleted]

Varda ignored the approaching townspeople, focusing instead on finding their quarry. Blizzard sniffed the air, his large, white head swaying and bobbing. Just as he began to think he had found the vicinity of their target, the foliage at the edge of town began to rustle frantically. Blizzard gave an alarmed snort and Varda’s sharp eyes moved to follow the movement. She tensed to give chase, however, was stopped short as a humanoid figure took to the air some distance away, wings bearing them into the sky.

What is that? Varda’s thought to Blizzard burst from her in surprise.

The dragon cocked his great head, blinking his silvery eyes.

I do not know…it smells dragonish…

Unwilling to let an unknown element go free in a time of war, Varda quickly clambered back into the saddle. Blizzard spread his great wings and, with a mighty push of his legs, took to the air before she was truly strapped in. Varda quickly tightened the straps that held her legs, unwilling to lose her seat should their quarry prove proficient in aerial combat. Blizzard’s large, translucent wings flapped powerfully as he gave chase, steadily pushing him closer to their target.

Varda waited until she was sure they were gaining before touching her throat, muttering a spell to amplify her voice. Then, she called after the creature, which seemed to be a human with dragon’s wings.

“Blöthr!” she cried, voice ringing, though her words lacked magical power, “Vae ach néiat threyja eom haina ono.” (Halt! We do not desire to harm you.)

Though she did not know if their target could understand the Ancient Language, she knew that all creatures were effected by its meaning.

[✧♏arie✧]

(hello may I join at this point)
Marie sat straight up in her saddle, enjoying the view she had from her dragon's back. She was happy to be flying again, and in a place she knew somewhat. She had been all over Alagaesia back in the days she had struck out on her own. Not by choice of course, but by the will to survive. She'd lost a lot before then due to her father being a rider in times that were not good for neutral riders. She didn't think her case special considering many people lost so much more besides parents during the time of Galbatorix. She did not lose her lover either as some did, no he was just misplaced. That was her way of thinking. She was supposed to be gathering information about the shades, not searching every place she visited for any tiny trail of him. Something split up Baviel and her sixteen years ago and she was still obsessed. She knew the best thing to do was to help with the problem of the shades, and also knew that it bothered Jason that she wasn't as into the efforts as she could be. He, however was a great friend who would stick by her side through anything. She had one other reason she considered herself lucky, Marie had experienced the luxury of only having to had fought in the last battle against the empire and a few more. Maybe she wasn't as lucky as she perceived, because being as young as she was she wasn't the best fighter back at the time and had to learn just how evil shades could be with their spells. She had gotten a curse or something of the sort. Once in a while the spell would drain her of a random amount of magic energy as if there were some invisible energy leech attached to her. Most people she described her problem to wouldn't think it was possible to have such a curse. She and Jason, who was riding the almost too dark black dragon next to hers, had a theory that the spell had been designed to be a death spell that was meant for something weaker like a human and not an elf like Marie.

Jason, a taller elf with much darker brown hair than Marie's, looked to his right to see Marie enjoying herself despite her hair annoyingly almost flying into the very edge of her eye. She'd had to be stuck in bed for a few days just because of the spell the shade had cast on her around sixteen years ago. So they'd taken a break from gathering info about the shade uprising just to fly for once and give Marie time to relax. Marie had gone a little too far and flew the group to a town. Perfect, someone's going to want to go shopping!

Oh leave her be, you know she likes visiting the towns. Midnight, his dragon chimed in.

But let her only buy some food or useful things, right? Jason smiled, not caring that Marie said, "Jason?" to question his random smile. Not looking at her he shook his head to say "nothing."

Good plan.

It is a good thing I manage our money.

"No Jason pay attention to me. I was trying to get your attention. Look over there." Jason realized the mistake he'd made and looked toward the town, and then up a little to see the dragon that was finally in view. It was flying after something that looked like a very strange creature from where he was.

"What in the? I think we ought to check that out. That dragon and rider might not be friendly so be careful." Marie and her dragon, Amber, whom was actually amber-colored flew forward closer to try to see what was going on.

"What? What is that...?" Marie said.

"It looks like... wait what?" Jason was using a spell to see better and saw the little flying human-dragon girl. The he reached out lightly with his mind and brushed the rider's mind and drew back quickly trying to figure out if anyone was friend or foe in this event. So much for a normal day to relax, they took it upon themselves like the other good riders to investigate things like this. Jason and Midnight hovered in front of Marie and Amber just in case one of them wasn't friendly, considering Marie was probably still a tad weakened from her previous incident.

[Deleted]

(OOC- Welcome! The more the merrier! If your characters are aligned with the Riders or were formerly of the Varden, they will probably eventually recognize Varda and Blizzard, as they were of the Varden and now are active agents of the Riders, and vice versa on Varda recognizing them. Just throwing that out there in case you want to factor it in. If not, that's cool too ^^)

[✧♏arie✧]

(ah yes they are but I figured they wouldn't have interacted all that much and after 16 years they might not remember seeing them. yes they were never really active with the riders after the vardens last battle and they are sort of good loners for the time being. semi-members of the riders i guess. I just chose that they didn't recognize her yet or maybe wont. you can have Varda do what she will. Just some OCC info, varda might have heard of the little group that was with the varden, but didn't exactly stick with the riders. She might have also heard about Marie taking down another dragon rider that attempted to lure her far away from the main thick of the fight so shed be easy pickings. if you don't want to use that, thats fine )

[FaithLighty]

Faith had been heading toward the cloud lever aiming to loose them there. As the rider and her dragon took off after her she beat her wings frantically speeding up even more. She had retreated into herself not searching with her mind anymore instead focusing on powerful shields. She stopped her flee dropping a few feet after hearing Varda speak. Knowing that the words were true Faith replied "Ono thorta du Ancient Language?" (You speak the Ancient language?) she asked surprised. Before their thoughts had been in a language she didn't understand. Just as she calmed a bit the two other riders appeared. Faith glanced between the three dragons and their riders tense and ready to flee again. "Hvat ach ono threyja?" (What do you want?) she asked fear obvious in her voice. Making a rash decision she pulled out her small dagger and flew a bit farther from the group. "Ach neit kausta eom sé.(Don't come near me.)she snarled glaring. She acted like a caged animal, terrified for her life. Her first experience with other people had gone badly and she assumed all were bad. It was an immature way of thinking but Faith was new to social interaction. And she was failing horribly.

[Deleted]

(OOC- Because I’m too lazy to look up words to piece together sentences in the ancient language, I’ll write in English XD)

As their quarry came to a halt, Blizzard did as well, fanning his wide wings to hover awkwardly rather than continue pursuing. Neither he nor Varda wished to frighten this creature away before they had a chance to discern what it, or rather, she was and if she was dangerous. Varda stood up slightly in Blizzard’s saddle in order to better see this…girl.

“I do,” she responded, continuing to speak as such.

She was prepared to introduce herself, however the appearance of two more Rider pairs surprised her. She had not sensed their approach, as she had been too busy chasing this strange girl. Her worry at their appearance spilled through her bond with Blizzard.

Do not fear, he replied, They smell familiar…though I cannot quite place them…continue as you are. I will ascertain their intentions.

[/i]Varda nodded, though the action was unnecessary.

The presence of the others obviously put the girl on edge, as she immediately reacted unfavorably. Unsure if she would attack, Varda nervously gripped her sword.

“We do not wish to harm you,” she repeated in the Ancient Language, “Only to ascertain that you do not mean harm to the people.”

As a Rider, it was her duty to protect the people, especially in this time of war. To ask if the girl was an enemy may be unfavorable, as she could very well be an enemy to the Riders or Varda and Blizzard as individuals, but have no intentions of harming the people of the Empire.

“We will keep our distance. However, I ask that you speak with me,” she paused before adding, “The others will not harm you either.”

Meanwhile, Blizzard, in a display of trust, reached out with his mind to the other two dragons, sending a mental knock.

[✧♏arie✧]

Jason saw the flying girl stop suddenly and could somewhat hear the woman speaking in the ancient language from this distance. He blinked his eyes due to the wind blowing into them. At first the creature/girl had turned around and seemed calm, but at Jason and Marie's approach she suddenly became tense once more and drew a weapon. Though not having heard the full sentence, Jason knew the woman had been simply trying to communicate and he and Marie had messed that up for her. He didn't trust the woman yet but an apologetic or guilty look crossed his face. He dearly hoped he was right about what he'd picked up about the situation.
Lets back away just a little, so maybe she will calm down. Jason thought. Midnight and Amber tilted and flapped in a motion to back away a little. The two dragons made gusts of air. Midnight knew Jason was much less worried about the woman now but Midnight kept watching the white dragon.

Midnight and Amber felt the dragon's mental presence. Midnight's mind grew tense in a way and defensive as well. He guessed that the dragon got more than it bargained for because both Marie and Jason entered the mental connection. Midnight and Jason warned the dragon that any attempt to attack would get a mental strike from all of them. They did this with a slight mental push but backed away and waited for the dragon to say whatever it wished. Jason's mental presence was definitely more relaxed than Midnight's as he simply wanted to let him know the riders weren't staying out of any conflict. However it wasn't hard to sense that the two were also trying to hide the fact that Marie was weak at the moment.

Marie thought Jason was being uptight, and she picked up from the woman and dragon's demeanor that one was busy with the girl and the other was trying to figure their group out. She guessed the rider pair was non-hostile. She could tell the girl was simply in a defensive position. Besides Marie's group had the advantage here. There were more of them. We mean no harm, we are not riders of the Shades, but you and your rider? What is your business? She spoke in the ancient language to prove her sincerity. We only came here because we felt it was our duty to check this out. She thought her hunch was correct, but if not he put herself at risk. Marie looked unthreatening, but Jason's uptight defensiveness could be taken for something else.

[FaithLighty]

(yeah same)


Faith still gripped her dagger but she no longer held it out in front of her. She hovered in place easily as she listened to Varda. "I can tell you know I mean no harm to the town. I was just passing through." she spoke warily glancing over at the other riders all the wile. "I trust that you wont harm me? But how can you vouch for them." motioning toward the two riders again she looked back at Varda and her dragon. It didn't really matter though, they others were to preoccupied talking to Varda's dragon. Faith could feel the mental presence of the dragon closest to her. It was hard for her not to check it out but she didn't want to expose herself in anyway. Instead she flew closer to Varda to talk ignoring her own uneasy feelings. "We can talk now." she said simply. Though she wasn't searching out the mental activity behind her became to noisy for her to ignore. "One moment." she muttered before reaching out her mind once more. With her presence masked Faith didn't have as much energy to use as usual. Leaving Varda's and Blizzard's minds alone she focused on the four new people. She skimmed their minds not going deep enough to be noticed. She could pick up emotions and surface thoughts. From there Faith could tell that the female rider was weakened and the male one didn't think of her as a big threat. She snorted softly amused by his underestimation. I can use that to my advantage if need be she silently as always.

(sorry I posted that by mistake)