Crown Jewel Ceremony

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Ranora Hellgate
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Ranora Hellgate »

Ranora moved through the dispersing crowd atop her massive stead, hauling her raggedy carriage of treasure and trinkets behind them via harness. A litter of jewels, gems and baubles tumbled from her trove of stolen goods but Ranora never once bothered her steed to stop and retrieve them, she left them for the sands to collect. She had already amassed a modest fortune, one more than enough to fetch her shelter within these foreign lands. Or at the very least a place to hoarde her trinkets and riches. Stopping to gather any stray coins would be a waste of time. Besides, she had far more pressing matters pulling at her mind.

..Florum.

She thought to herself, overly fixated on the word. It left its mark and yet, but she felt nothing familiar from it. There were no innate feelings jared loose by its mention. She never heard the word before today, yet apparently it identified her and the symbol etched onto her tongue. Her Birthrune.

Ranora's knowledge of the Hellgate Tribe was worse than amateur, it was completely none existent. And this fact made itself criminally apparaent the further she rode into the city of Solara. Her eyes locked onto the hundreds of faces that passed her by, each definied by distinguishing features she found non too dissimilar to her own. Vibrant eyes, Brown flesh, and full lips speaking foreign languages that tasted like music in her ears. Even if she couldn't understand them.

All of them wore this culture on their sleeves. From the unique sigils on their weapons and wardrobe, to their illustrious cuisines, art and architecture that fortified their realm. Pride swelled in the streets of Solara like living fire and sweltered out to the boarders of the Acrix Desert. It was infectious. In the past Ranora had ventured to dozens of settlements, sacked dozens of towns, and conquered scores more during her eighteen years alive. Even now, her journey through the Acrix Desert was a quest for nothing less than glory and bloodshed. This was the first time Ranora actually wanted to explore upon arriving somewhere new.

"Hmph."

She was aware of who her father was.. What her tribe was capable of. Ranora was a child bred to the planet's deadliest machination of flesh and bone. The Qaaliya were warriors, conquerors, murderers, and killers. Artisans in their trade. They took lives, sew war, and left carnage in their wake. Ranora never met her mother, but she knew the woman was taken from her home as it burned to the ground behind her. She liked to imagined she went kicking and screaming. But eventually this unknown Hellgate gave her father several children, only one of which was alive today.

Ranora never imagined learning about her estranged history, let alone setting foot in its inherent capital city. But the native energies bleeding from the sands called to her and compelled her to do just that.

She was smartest in the tribe. Her father, the few times he did speak, often boasted about his heir's strength of mind and compared her wit to whetted steel. Ranora decided that learning more about the Florum branch would be her jumping point to understanding her Hellgate lineage. Shedding some light on her mysterious bloodline could provide insight on any known weaknesses she shared with them, or strengths she'd been ignorant to. How else could she properly rule these people as their queen without knowing anything about them? She guided her beasts through Solara with sharp whistles and the occasional, fleshy morsel she gathered from her recent hunt. She took a few bites herself as she looked around for.. Well.. She wasnt entirely sure. Still, she felt like she knew where she was headed.

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Ovan Hellgate
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Ovan Hellgate »

"Oh boy, I can't even imagine what to call that. *munch munch*"

The delicious grain patty and meat sauce served in the Desert Canteen was everything Ovan searched for for 20 minutes. It tasted better than most of the other versions he enjoyed across the various observatories and ateliers of the Hellgate Clan. They each had a spin on the sandwich more suited for their local herbs, spices, and palates. his favorite was a spicy one in the Hyperion Mountains where they studied the waves of Vescrutia's moons, measuring the impact they have on Vescrutia's surface. His reminiscing screeched to a halt when some four legged beast carrying one of his distant cousins sauntered into his sight above the pedestrian crowds. Her stern demeanor shocked him, how could she be so focused when the rest of the festival roiled around her? It was a celebration of the best of the best and he saw her leaving form the direction of the registration table, she had to be a contemporary of his. Same with the guy sleeping outside the maze from before, someone that comfortable probably thought highly of themselves to nap somewhere it could be his last.

"You got a sweet ride! How much you rent 'em for?!"

Ovan yelled across the chamber, making sure she could hear him astride her steed. He waved his free hand, choking down the mouthful of food he felt compelled to scream over. Flagging her down, he waved one of the best patties in front of him over his head, hoping the delicious morsel would catch her attention. Maybe the beast would like a treat?
"You collapsed under the weight of idealism, nothing to be ashamed of. Happens to all of us, not just the best of us. " - Sorith, Horus Crown

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Ranora Hellgate
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Ranora Hellgate »

The beast indeed wanted the treat.

It had never experienced such exquisite smells. Meat and spices whiped together into an aromatic storm of flavors overwhelmed its operant conditioning. Ranora did notice Ovan's genial invitation from within Desert Canteen, but she was otherwise uninterested in fraternizing with someone she very well could be picking out of her teeth later. She figured he was another face attracted to the bevvy of treasure she hauled behind her, which meant he was either a merchant or a theif.. She wasn't interested in either.

But their gaze met anyway. Her beauty disguising blatant indifference as a coy, doe eyed glance before she turned away. She was clearly focused on something else. Existential crisis and the like.

However, that didnt matter to her steed. Who decided to aggressively reroute their course toward the Desert Canteen and the heavily seasoned chop of meat Ovan was waving around. Ranora tried to regain control through some sharp whistles and leg cues, but to no avail. The Terrorfhang thrashed brazenly through the food court; knocking tables and people to the wayside in its stride toward Ovan's hand. Carefully, the 8 foot beast gnawed on the morsel in Ovan's hand before helping itself to whatever was left on his table. It then went on to lap up the traces of food left on Ovans face. It was cute at first, but soon Ovan would learn just how rough a Terrorfhangs tongue could be.

"..ugh, now look what you've done.. You've gone and spoiled his fury."

As she spoke, the creatures affectionate kisses grew more and more aggressive until its tongue felt like sandpaper against his flesh.

"Go on.. he'll lick you and everyone here down to the bone if you don't offer him more."

She was clearly agitated. Not that Ovan would have known, but Ranora was purposefully curbing the creature's appetite so that its blood lust would magnify its senses before battle. It was hard enough managing its combative nature in large crowds such as these. Keeping it from mauling Ovan and everyone within the Tavern would exhaust more energy than she was willing to expend. Hopefully he had more treats to barter with..

"He is not for sale."

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Ovan Hellgate
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Ovan Hellgate »

Ovan laughed as the beast's tongue assailed him, growing from affectionate smooches to intimate assessments of his body.

"Haha, alright guy, I'm not on the menu today."

The beast growing more forceful garnered a more heavy handed approach, pushing the beast's face towards the second helping plated on the table. Another plate was on its way and he thought it rude to eat and talk at the same time. At least her companion was entertained.

"I didn't mean to buy him, maybe ride sidesaddle for a bit."

The beast looked terrifying, but gentle in its own, monstrous sort of way, at least while it ate. Ovan got a good look at its rider, covered in gold, trailing a chest whose heft also exuded a valuable aura. With the number of tables turned over and the diners who scurried off in terror, they were still able to scurry in the first place so he seemed to have great self control, an asset to such a sculpted face in this festival setting. At least it would be elsewhere on Vescrutia, many of the Hellgate line joining the Crown Jewel Ceremony kept to themselves, an ambient air of superiority pervaded the arena, visibly weighing on most of the crowd. Everyone had something to prove and just having a meal could never get in the way of that.

"And even with all that treasure, you don't seem to be flaunting it very much."

He muttered to her with a coy side eye, making sure to keep a good brush going in her companion's soft fur. She seemed to be royalty, but her branch sigil was unrecognizable. Ovan enjoyed maintaining a level of anonymity around him as well, traveling around with such a garish cache of wealth felt out of his personal scope. This woman, on the other hand, looked disillusioned with the entire ceremony to just get to dominating her opponents. Maybe she and her steed were both sniffing out trouble.
"You collapsed under the weight of idealism, nothing to be ashamed of. Happens to all of us, not just the best of us. " - Sorith, Horus Crown

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Ranora Hellgate
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Ranora Hellgate »

"I didn't mean to buy him, maybe ride sidesaddle for a bit."
"..you would not find us good company."

She said, yanking her reigns and bringing the hungry beast heel. After tearing through what Ovan offered him, the Terrorfhang was far more obidient.

"As for my treasure, perhaps we can arrange something for the both of us.. What can you tell me about the Florum tribe? Where can I find them?"

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Ovan Hellgate
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Ovan Hellgate »

..you would not find us good company.
"I'm not hard to win over."
What can you tell me about the Florum Tribe?
"Florum? I think they say something like anywhere with verdant pastures and running water, right"

The Florum. They could be found all over, typically lining verdant river valleys where they could easily live among the flora and fauna. Ovan's own projects kept him from visiting his family in the valleys very often, but when he was in their home he always felt welcome, like a cousin breezing through town on business. He loved the food and he always left feeling energized for a few days afterward. Could it have been the food or just the good times? Maybe the stories woven with lessons in every quip. 'Where were they?' is such a broad question and there are so many answers, where should he start?

"Anyone you meet here could be our Florum family. And that's not an answer I can take any payment for, literally everyone is here."

Ovan dramatically motioned to the general area around the food hall, encompassing the Maze of Thassigur and all of Acrix Solara for the duration of the Crown Jewel Ceremony. All of the Hellgate lines from Vesta to Myotis were repersented and in attendance for the distillation of the greatest of their kind. Enduring the Trials of the Founders invited all of the family to the occasion, so her close brethren could be sitting right next to her.

Ovan hid his own face with a deep hood, deep enough to cover the brooch around his neck emblazoned with his birthrune. He recognized a few of his colleagues from observatories afar, but aimed to keep to himself, lest the elephant in the room grow out of his control. But even through the brim of his cowl, something struck him about Ranora's appearance. He recognized her rune as Florum but didn't see it on her body right now. Maybe it was on her shoulder or something.

"You should know that better than I do!"
"You collapsed under the weight of idealism, nothing to be ashamed of. Happens to all of us, not just the best of us. " - Sorith, Horus Crown

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Fate I
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Re: Crown Jewel Ceremony

Post by Fate I »

-After several days of intense combat, the combatants of the Crown Jewel have finally returned from their arduous trial. Some of them bask in the electric energy of the mesmerized crowd-who watched the entire spectacle through a unique psychic projection in the sky. The triumphant warriors feed off the exhilaration, their spirits soaring with each cheer from the enthralled onlookers. Meanwhile, others retreat to more secluded corners, tending to their wounds and injuries, reflecting on the taxing battles they've just endured. The atmosphere were a mix of euphoria and solemnity, as both victors and those in recovery find their place amidst the aftermath of the grand spectacle.-


-A commanding presence entered a crowded room in deep within the stone fortress, drawing all eyes to the tall and muscular figure adorned in resplendent Black and gold robes. His tightly coiled, bushy hair framed his amber brown skin, adding to his aura of strength and authority. The atmosphere shifted as he strode forward, his every step exuding confidence. Within the room, most of the seven formidable Hellgate crowns, each representing the body and voice of their respective tribe within Solara, stood in humble reverence and extended their open hands, igniting a brilliant golden flame that danced atop their palms—a mark of utmost respect for their visitor.

Amidst the grandeur of the room, with its intricate maps, imposing war table, and an array of military equipment-they gathered to deliberate. Their mission, to converged their voice of the nine tribes and discuss vital matters of the Solara security and dominance. Among their deliberations, they analyzed the triumphs and challenges posed by the recent survivor of the perilous Crown Jewel trial—a demanding ordeal designed to test the mettle of younger members. The details of combat, wit, and resilience displayed by the victor were dissected, demonstrating the importance of fostering a new generation capable of maintaining their legacy. As the Golden flames flickered and shadows danced, the room buzzed with anticipation, echoing the weight of their decisions and the fate of the unforgiving desert land they commanded.

The boisterous clamor of an eager crowd filtered through the sturdy stone walls of the castle, creating an audible tapestry of excitement and anticipation. Laughter and animated conversations intermingled with the rising hum, like a symphony of enthusiasm echoing through every corridor and chamber. The castle seemed to pulsate with the energy of the throng beyond its walls, each murmur and cheer reverberating as a testament to the collective spirit that bound the crowd together. It was as if the very stones of the castle had absorbed the fervor of the gathering, allowing the essence of their shared enthusiasm to permeate even the most hidden recesses of the ancient fortress.-

???:It is an Honor to be welcomed by the Crowns of Solara.

*The visitor said humbly. His commanding presence emerged with a voice that effortlessly cut through the clamor of a buzzing crowd outside the fortress.*

Holgurd Crown: I haven't heard this much excitement from Solara since the last coronation of Xelphis., nearly several millennium ago

*The elderly gentleman sat back in his chair, eyes closed in contemplation, his weathered face etched with a stern yet thoughtful expression. His strong arms were casually placed upon the table, fingers crossed, a silent display of his deep introspection. Despite the passage of time, his physique retained much of its former glory , a testament to years of hard work and dedication. His linen suit, though form-fitting, draped elegantly over his frame, showcasing his timeless sense of style.*

Ahkia Crown:That's just you finally recognizing how much your hearing has degraded over the centuries of being cooped up in that library.

-A soft chuckle filled the war room and carried with it a touch of nostalgia, a reminder of the excitement that had bound the crowns to their homeland and its aspirations. Their camaraderie and shared history allowed for a moment of lightness, a genuine connection that transcended the weight of their responsibilities. A moment broke by a paper map floating in the wind, falling on the flat crystal table that centered the room. The Holgurd Crown slammed his hand onto the table and shouted over the soft chuckle of the room.-

Holgurd Crown: Well, I believe that's enough idle chatter. In the matter of three days we've lost several key members of parliament nobles, the last two vesta Civil protection classes, a myotis elv is walking in the streets and a fucking cannibal is next in line to be crowned?!

-The same individuals who had just shared a warm moment now shifted their focus to the troubling news that demanded their attention.-

Ahkia Crown: You're old and naturally afraid of change, text book for your kind. May even be the hallmark of aging cowards– Dare I bother to point out your inherent prejudice towards elves and outsiders.
* Her stiletto nails, sharp as daggers tapped against the massive crystal table that most of party were sitting. Her tone was as deliberate as her words- leaving an indelible mark on those who have the privilege of witnessing her in action.*

Holgurd crown:It'll take more than luck and a sharp tongue to survive as long as I have. I harbor no ill will or misguided hate towards elves. We all know why they chose to live in secrecy and it's not from the hate of their brethren; but, the blood that forever stains their hands.

Tyre Crown: His tone is off but his words have weight. A single vesta killed off every participating recruit for the civilian protection unit and between her , the Elv and the cannibal most of the nobles who participated as well. We're... talking about the most powerful members of our country losing their children in one event. The roar of the excited crowd can only hide the brewing storm for so long. Not to mention the damage to our reputation, the surrounding countries watch the Crown Jewel, scouting our military potential. The top branch may be of the nine families, but they are outsiders. Hell, now that im mulling it over, if it wasnt for the Tyre finalist -Aerys, you'd see soldiers at your doorstep by dawn. He ended his thoughts with a hearty laugh, one that he relished in alone. The old man's voice carried the weight of years gone by, yet it still possessed the unmistakable cadence of joy that had weathered the test of time.

???:I believe this is a an act of war by the missing crown, Zeik Hellgate.

-a chilling silence descended upon the room, freezing the atmosphere with unease and apprehension.

Horus Crown : How do you know about the missing crown, Andover?
*As they cautiously posed their question their voice took on a hushed and reverent tone. There was a gentle lilt in the way they spoke, a musicality that invited you to lean in and listen closely. The irises, like pristine snow under a pale moon, seemed to shimmer with a soft, ethereal light. They held a depth that hinted at a vast reservoir of knowledge and experience, and their gaze was both penetrating and soothing.*

Andover: I know his daughter spares the cannibal, assisted the white haired boy and fought along side the myotis a few months before the jewel. I know with certainty that the vesta crown, Zeik, has erected his own city...somewhere hidden with the Forest of Resonance and I'm certain that this knowledge is as common among your neighboring countries as spiders in the Arid Azure.

Horus Crown: But...
*His snow white eyes and his silence perfectly hid his emotions, before he could pose his statement he was interrupted by another.*

Holgurd Crown I've grown weary of the vesta's crown intentions since he fled the Acrix unannounced and even more suspicious after his participation in the fall of Arcturus.

-As the point resonated within the war room, a subtle yet palpable shift occurred among the seven Hellgate crowns. Their collective agreement manifested in a low, murmured affirmation that rippled through the room like a breeze passing through leaves.-

Obius Crown: You're accusing Solara's greatest living champion. Known in the hearts of all nine families as a harbinger of peace and The Dawn of Hell to our enemies. You want us to suggest to the people war is on the horizon and their Great champion heralds your demise--The very atlas to our country? Based on a whim that his daughter is in collaboration with a myotis and some deranged florum outsider? That's madness and im sure I dont stand on this alone.

Andover: I want you to offer them the truth.

Obius: Truth?! What proof do you have that Zeik wants war with his own?

Ahkia, Horus and Obius silenced the soon to be interrupting remaining crowns. Demanding that their visitor answer on his own.

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