Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Natalia had to give Velvessa credit; the woman knew people and how to provide them with what they truly needed. After one solitary night watching the brunette crammed into the corner of the Inn’s tavern area, the Inn's owner had provided her young guest with a gift – access to the one place on the building’s roof that Natalia wouldn’t kill herself trying to get to.

Of course, just because there was a low level of danger ascending to the perch didn’t mean it was completely safe. Still, her would-be mentor had taken care of that, instructing her how to safely move out the window, catch her foot on the solid piece of wood just outside, and, using her whole body in concert, climb up to the rather sturdy balcony-like structure nearby.

Before Natalia had begun her ascent, the sultry woman considered her companion for a long moment, giving the young woman a brief smile. “That spot is great for mulling over big decisions – trust me on that.” Before she could reply, the biqaj was gone. The implication was clear; the spot was Velvessa’s, and she was choosing to share it with her - that fact wasn't lost on her.

The young mortalborn looked down upon the street from her perch, invisible, cloaked within the blackness of the night. The clothing wrapped around her lithe figure conformed to every inch and curve – something that Natalia didn’t necessarily flaunt but knew for more athletic purposes, such as climbing roofs, that loose clothing could be a detriment. Hued in the deepest black tones with intention, she looked every inch like a creature of darkness.

Before long, a cold drizzle started, rain seeping into her clothing wherever it could find access. Long curls of the deepest chocolate fell flat against her face, but the mortalborn didn’t care. She was right where she needed to be, feeling the certainity in the deepest part of her being.

Let the storm come.

Eyes of gold caught sight of people down on the street. Some were running, trying to escape the downpour, yet others either didn’t notice or were resigned to getting wet. That seemed to be a common sentiment in the city, she found. Natalia knew there had been a war, but specific details were hard to come by. Was that what happened in war? Some people fought, and others just accepted whatever fate came of it? Dangerous game, that, accepting a destiny or grand design of someone else's choosing. She herself had escaped one such tricky chessmatch, finding herself embroiled in something wildly different in Etzos.

They were but idle thoughts, meant to engage and challenge her mind. Night always had a strange, calming effect on her, allowing her to mine deep and find what it was she desperately wanted to think about. While pondering about this or that was one of the things Natalia did best, a more profound urge occasionally presented itself, prompting the need for a nighttime escapade to get to the root of the issue. That had led her to the solitary perch above the drizzly, dark streets of the city.

So, what was it that was bothering her this time? Well, a few things.


Template Credit: Oberan

Natalia had traveled to Etzos on Grayson's recommendation, seeking a place to shed a bit of her past, if only temporarily, and begin figuring out who she was supposed to be. Had she accomplished that? Not entirely, but the city had provided her a haven when she desperately needed one, allowing her to breathe. For that, Etzos had her deepest respect, and it always would.

Not one to allow debts to go unpaid, she owed the city, but it had never been a place she intended to stay long-term, leaving her with a big decision to make - stay or go.

Promises needed to be fulfilled, which would take time, meaning there was no rush to make a decision, yet it felt like it was time to do just that. Something inside required closure on the matter - was she in or out?

Eyes scanned the dark horizon as Natalia considered what she knew to be true, having seen it herself. It didn't matter where she went in Idalos, something was coming. In truth, perhaps it had already arrived. Scalvoris. Yaralon. Even Etzos had weathered a war. The mortalborn hadn't been of the world for long, but long enough to have witnessed and heard of things that terrified her to the very core.

Terrified but not paralyzed - that was key. One could allow themselves to feel without falling victim to emotion. Acknowledge and act.

Where did she want to be when something finally reared it's ugly head?

Did the people that shuffled through the dirty streets of Etzos know what was coming? Did they care, or had war beaten them down? Natalia didn't know, but the more surprising thing to note was that she did care about the answer. She cared about Velvessa and her husband. About Ladrian, Nish, and the others. Another odd thing about life, it seemed. Even with the stubbornly firm intention that she not form any ties and focus purely on learning skills, said universe had laughed, throwing a strange cadre of personalities into her path and practically dared her to ignore them.

Speaking of personalities.....

Yes, she cared about Oberan. As much as she had fought it and despite his world-class attempts to be a giant, massive, enormous pain in the ass, here she found herself. The pair would probably never see eye-to-eye on many things, and there existed a real possibility she might eventually smack him upside the head, but life was certainly never dull with him in the picture. There was a story with him; Natalia was sure of it. Time would tell if he'd trust her with it.

The plan had never been to remain planted and grow roots someplace, but hadn't she already done that? The mortalborn was far more interested in engaging those in Etzos than anywhere else she had been, but Natalia couldn't let that be a factor in her decision.

Despite telling herself that, the young woman knew she had already lost that specific battle entirely. She'd miss the people if she left, and while loss was a part of life, it came down to choices. Leaving Scalvoris Town and her family behind, Natalia had vowed to make better choices in the future. That action afforded her the privilege of choosing her own family - people who mattered to her. People who would care about her for who she was, not what they wanted from her.

Drip, drip, drip. The freezing rain was unrelenting, but somehow the rhythm of the water helped tune out things threatening to distract from her thoughts. Drip, drip, drip. If she focused on that, the world itself faded away, leaving her with a whirlwind of things to consider.

In Almund, she had almost given up. If Grayson hadn't suggested Etzos, they likely would have remained in Almund, her becoming one of those people on the street who shrugged and just accepted what the world offered.

Instead, Etzos offered something different. Instead of being complacent, the city and its people made her come alive, unleashing a particular fire within her. Natalia couldn't explain it, nor did she want to. Some things had to be accepted on faith, believing in something intangible but knowing it to be true.

Natalia didn't know what was coming or when, but she did know where she wanted to be when it did - she was already there.

The rain slowed, as if sensing her tension melt away, rewarding her for a job well done. Of course, that wasn't it at all for weather didn't have whims like that, but sometimes she felt certain it did.

With her decision made, she knew it was time to act upon it but it was as if an unseen force kept her rooted in place, eyes still scanning the street; a cloaked sentinal waiting for something. It felt right in a way, as if she was guarding something precious, keeping harm from coming to something she valued. Perhaps that's what Etzos was asking for in return for providing her refuge?

Drawing out her dagger, the brunette quietly worked on progression drills with the weapon as she sat, remembering Grayson's advice that she manipulate the blade as often as possible so that Natalia would learn every line, weight and imperfection. Knowing her weapon from pommel to tip by touch was essential.

Whatever the reason, Natalia stayed, watching over Etzos in her own way, letting the night drift by, welcoming the solitude.


Template Credit: Oberan