closed [Ellwood] TODAY; again

[Aleksei 7474]

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"If they can't be found, then maybe they can be remembered properly. At least give them something to rest peacefully." 

 

'Though we are not able to build pyres, they will be remembered, and their names carried through the history of the Legion.’ He stated firmly. ‘Even if their sacrifice is forgotten here.’

 

Leoa blinks away the hazy memory; her eyes bewildered and her heart pounding with desperation inside her sensitive chest. It's been so long she nearly forgot the beginning of their relationship, that fateful little day when his eyes were gold and she was impetuous at most. The beginning of their various other beginnings. And just the same, the memory comes to her in the silence of her dreams, assaulting her with the vivid pictures of their interaction. 

 

She assumes that it has to do with where she is at and what she has been planning for some time now, that the memories are flowing back into her veins and heart like a euphoric poison. The memories are fond and fleeting, but they leave behind a feeling of desperation and want for that past. 

 

Why they startle her, she is unsure. It could be the years since that time, it could be that her excitement is distorting her feelings and causing uncertainty to dig underneath her fingernails. It could be a plethora of things and none of them make any sense, so she will simply blame her over-activeness to be the cause of her caught-off-guard heart and sensitive mind. For now, she is on a precious mission that hits close to home and she would like her soul to settle itself from calling forth the insecurities of her emotions. 

 

The woman sighs. One day has come and gone, leaving her to think over the few reliable choices she's made in those fleeting hours critically. The Freedom Pass had not appeased her any, thus she departed it quickly to traverse the forest without the guidance of a properly functioning road. She had questioned a few travelers about the lost village, wondering - while knowing - about the story encompassing the place. A few were only willing to give her scraps of information and the rest scurried away from her, fearful that if they spoke of the place that it's going to haunt them for the rest of their lives, or demand they give over their first born. 

 

The Lion curls her lip in disdain as she stands, slapping away a few strands of debris from her attire while doing so. Above her golden head branches sway and glide against the subtle breeze teasing the tree's branches; the entire forest floor is covered in a thick fog, indicating that midday has yet to arrive and that is a bit behind schedule - or ahead, who knows! All that matters is that she makes it there alive and makes it out just as so, but with the souls of those that had been lost so that she may put them to rest after so long. 

[Jomber 26]

Irikune walked alone in the woods. Well, more like stalking an invisible prey. He didn't know where, even if it still existed here, but if it was, then he was going to find it. Rumors, and whispers had been carried on the wind about a small town hidden within the Ellwood forest. There wasn't much to go off of. Mainly stories of horror, baseless speculation, or fearful superstition, but there was a common theme among the various scraps, enough of which to spur Irikune to explore the area.

 

Whatever happened with that town had something to do with the undead. Either that, or ghost stories were unbelievably popular. Well, among the three he had heard. Not many even dared to speak of the place. If this place weren't fictional, then it certainly seemed dangerous simply due to the fear it brought among people.

 

But, this was all just hearsay. What if it proved that this village didn't exist? That would be a lot of time and supplies wasted chasing some fantasy. Still, the place seemingly oozed with a kind of dread that made it hard to ignore, and if undead were involved? That would be something that needed to be dealt with, not feared. Granted, a normal civilian wouldn't have the tools to deal with such a threat, and Irikune wasn't exactly an army, but if he found this place, he could come back with help, if anyone wasn't warded off by the superstitious atmosphere of the area.

 

All of this, was speculation on speculation, and the only true way to put an end to these incessant rumors was to investigate them. See for himself if this was true or false. Thus, he found himself wandering the woods, with only the most vague of clues to go off of, and of course, a pack of supplies to last a few days, and perhaps even a tent shoved in for good measure.

 

"This fog is making hard to see anything..." Irikune remarked to himself, slowing down and taking more care to observe his surroundings. Having four eyes didn't help much here.

 

A few moments later, Irikune spotted something, "There's something!"

 

Tracks! Recent too it seemed.

 

They certainly belonged to someone humanoid in nature. They didn't shuffle, although not all undead lacked coordination. It could be a traveler, it could be his quarry. Only one way to find out. Irikune ducked down low, and quietly started following the tracks, keeping out his crossbow, just in case. You could never be too cautious, especially with stories such as those he had heard.

 

Unknowingly, Irikune was following Leoa's tracks. He would keep a quiet but brisk pace, as he wanted to catch up with whoever left the tracks.

 

[Aleksei 7474]

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Leoa frowns at the shocking pain rolling down her arm to the tips of her fingers. The sensation often enough catches her off guard; appearing only at the least wanted times and causing problems on her end. If it's not her arm, it's her damn sight, and if it's not her sight, it's her arm. The two are having a back and forth battle across her body, and she is going to be on the losing end no matter the outcome. She'll be blind and feel nothing on one side of her body; she'll have no feeling on one side and be able to see. 

 

She is rather unsure how she feels about her oncoming age. It's not the number of years that are making her her body be disobedient, it's the years of constant abuse she has put it through. Leoa has never been kind to her form, always knowing that once death accepts her, she will have no need to worry about flesh and blood. It just never occurred to her that she should at least consider the degradation of her body before death. 

 

The ucissore is not that occupied to not notice the tracker. Covering her tracks was not a thing she considered to do, believing that no one in their right mind would actually follow her steps into the heart of Ellwood. Corvinus would be very disappointed with her nonchalant thinking. There are random dangers in this pretty little forest, and she should be on her best behavior while trekking through it. It also doesn't help that she is a uninvited guest to Orisia; ruffling feathers isn't on the agenda for the day. 

 

Giving up on her hand, she turns her attention to her follower. Leoa had felt the intruder a bit ago, but decided to say nothing, thinking that maybe the person would realize that she is not going out of the forest, but going deeper and deeper into it. Their company will not be denied, unless they are going to dismantle her intentions, then they will have to discuss how to progress forward. 

 

"Hello?"

[Jomber 26]

Irikune carefully proceeded. Objects were quickly came and were lost to the fog. Sounds of the forest would occasionally break the silence. A leaf falling, an animal scurrying just out of view, it was enough to put Irikune on edge. He wasn't used to being entirely alone. He had been trained to work others, although mainly those of his own kind. Still, he wasn't a total stranger to working solo, and he wouldn't be out here if he didn't feel confident in his own abilities, but still, someone to watch his flank would be comforting.

 

Besides, was there any real danger to be had here? Well, other than predators, mostly everything he knew about the place were rumors, and stories. Irikune couldn't let mere superstition and tall-tales unnerve him.

 

Focus Irikune, he thought to himself.

 

He heard first what he couldn't see. Straight ahead, someone had called. For whom? Irikune guessed it was for him, but with the fog, one could not be so sure. Perhaps the voice called to someone else? The voice also ruled out a variety of undead, but not all of them. Woe to Irikune if he had stumbled across a necromancer. Still, there was no point in assuming hostility where none presented itself.

 

He also, evidently, needed to work on his stealth.

 

Irikune advanced, keeping his crossbow ready in the event that he was attacked. The silhouette of a figure slowly unveiled itself, before Irikune lowered his weapon at the sight of a living being standing before him. Well, at least she looked like she had a pulse. He failed to identify if this person was of any status or importance. Being new to the region, he hadn't really spent the time taking note of political figureheads. Not that he would assume a noble would be in a forest, far from it.

 

"Excuse me mistress for following you," he began, "But I wasn't sure if you were undead or not, given the current circumstances." Irikune wasn't sure if the person standing before him was actually deserving of such a title, but from what he had learned, it was better to give someone a title rather than inadvertently sully someone by leaving it out.

 

Provided that he wasn't interrupted, he would quickly begin with the next part.

 

"I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Irikune," he would give a short bow, "and you are?"

 

Hopefully the sight of an oversized bug wouldn't spook her into hostility.

[Aleksei 7474]

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"That is completely understandable."

 

She comments easily on his uncertainty if she was dead or alive. They may not be that deep into the forest yet to witness the moaning and groaning wandering dead, but it never hurts to be a little cautious.

 

Leoa is pleased to know that her follower has manners and is not looking to pick a fight, or at least that is the quick impression she is getting. At least, the best impression you can get from such a creature? Would that be the appropriate word to use here or would be insulting him? He is not the most unusual thing she has ever encountered in her life, so she is not at all caught off guard by his overall appearance. If anything, she is pleasantly intrigued by the polite gentleman that has asked for her name.

 

The tall woman counters his bow by bending at her slender waist hidden under fabrics of whites and reds. It's been awhile since she has been able to appreciate a honest bow, and her appreciation shows in her grand gesture. After taking her pause to bless him, she stands straight and ready. 

 

"It's a pleasure to meet you Irikune. You may call me Leoa."

 

She omits her last name and various titles to make their first meeting more cordial. Over the years she has learned that throwing out your titles to the wrong people can make enemies, and she is not in the right land to be making any of those. 

 

"I hope you don't find me too bold, but what brings you out here all by yourself?"

 

Slender arms cross her chest while she waits for his answer. It's inappropriate to think that he could be some sort of spy sent by the higher ups who loom over Orisia with iron clad reason. A brief look over, she can guess that her suspicion has no solid ground to stand on, but she can't afford any mistakes in this little adventure. If he proves to be some sort of spy to make sure she is sticking to her manners, Leoa will have to persuade him to remove himself from her business.

[Jomber 26]

First impressions were always important, regardless of what anyone said. Irikune was glad that they already seemed to be on a friendly start, although where this would lead, he didn't much know. Leoa seemed to be wearing some colorful clothing, although he didn't recognize if the attire belonged to any sort of people. Clothing didn't tell much on how battle-ready she was. Wizards wore cloth, and could be some of the most terrifying opponents one could face. Irikune didn't exactly run around in armor either, but his carapace acted like it.

 

He would nod when Leoa gave her name, before answering her question.

 

"The local populace seems to have deemed this area cursed. Nobody wants to give me a straight answer on what has happened here, but I did hear whispers of undead roaming these parts. I was hoping I could confirm or deny these rumors, and deal with the threat if it happened to be true."

 

Irikune saw no real reason to lie about his presence here. He didn't know many individuals who were opposed to the idea of destroying the undead, and if they were, then all the better if they objected. Then Irikune could really see where their alliances may lay, and cut them down in turn. He didn't really expect Leoa of being a supporter of the undead however, although there was the question of what was she doing out here as well.

 

"If I may, I would return the question, and ask what you are doing out here as well? Everyone else is deathly afraid of this place."

 

Irikune reasoned that Leoa must not have been a local inhabitant if she were to venture out here despite all the superstition and dread that drenched this place. Of course, she could simply not be superstitious, or perhaps be an uninformed outsider. No, she had to have heard about the rumors, or else she was have commented on his own mentioning of the undead with more confusion than understanding. He would soon have a few more answers regardless. Well, hopefully.

 

 

[Aleksei 7474]

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Leoa takes a long look around them to note the lingering fog and the deafening silence that can make the skin crawl, while the mind creates tasteless tales of what lurks behind each looming tree. Cursed or just simply haunted by wagging tongues, her mission remains unchanged and she will face whatever ghosts and goblins haunt this area with no fear and certainly no hesitance.

 

"Some time ago there was a great fight that broke out in these woods."

 

Battle, fight, war, whatever you may want to call it, there were many lives lost that day and most of them still wander around, adding to whatever rumored curse that has painted this forest. It's because of that random day in history that she finds herself with a need to fulfill a passionate promise made some time ago to a loved one. She will make sure that the people who lost their lives will be put to rest, or at least attempt to give them their final rights the best she can.

 

"I only know snippets of the story and offhanded remarks from people willing to say anything, so I can't be terribly honest with the information."

 

The tall woman turns and begins walking forward once more, though this time she assumes she will have company trailing after her. 

 

"There are undead wandering through the forest, haunting it, and of course there are the infamous poppy flowers to be cautious of. There are various dangers surrounding a specific village."

 

She waves her hand lazily to the air, as if she is wiping away all that she has said. Leoa has already allowed her husband's opinions shape her own, so she is trying her hardest to remain unbiased with the snippets of information fed to her previously. There is only one thing for sure: the men and women who had fought alongside her husband that fateful day. Be there dead and hateful poppies, she will cut through such nuisances to achieve her goals of the day.

 

"Back on track though. During that battle, many lives were lost, and some of those lives remain a great importance to me and others. I intend to find those lost souls and take them home with me."

[Jomber 26]

So there was some truth to the stories and rumors told. If this woman was to be believed, then indeed, undead roamed the land. At least his journey here wasn't in vain, although Irikune was sure he would have found some other way to make the journey worthwhile if it were not to remove at least one cursed soul and send it onwards. There weren't too many other details, although Leoa did mention something he didn't hear of yet.

 

"Poppy Flowers? I take it they aren't normal flowers."

 

Irikune knew that plants shouldn't be underestimated. For practical purposes, they served as powerful medicines or enchantments. On the flip-side, giant carnivorous plants weren't unheard of either. Strange things and magic tend to be synonymous. Not that he knew that magic was involved, although he did suspect some if undead were present.

 

The statement that she'd bring back the lost souls with her was a bit ambiguous. He wasn't sure exactly what that meant, although from their conversation so far, he didn't feel ill intent from those words, but it was probably best that he ask for clarification regardless.

 

" If, I may ask. What do you intend to do with the lost souls? Perhaps I can help?"