Location [Syliras Entrance] The Main Gates

[Nix Mao]

[Adilliana]

Winter, Day 46 AV

The dim light of pre-dawn slipped over the world as the sound of snow crunching beneath ones feet echo round the landscape. The wind pick up causing a bedraggled young girl moving in the early hours to shiver as the cold set further into her bones. Long slender arm grasped a leather cloak around a lean frame. Beneath the folds of the cloak a long sleeved red shirt had been tuck in to the waist band a pair torn black pants, the material faded with age. Licking a pair of chapped lips a small smile crossed her features as she tasted the salt of the sea on the air. A callused hand brushes a strand of hair that has escaped her makeshift headband behind her ear. Deep sea blue eyes scan the horizon as she fiddled with the straps of the backpack that held all her belongings. As she reached the top of a hill the gates of Syliras come into view. The smell of life surrounded her as the sun continued to rise thawing the ground.

With new purpose Adilliana paces quicken. As the grass thawed the texture of her footsteps change from the crunching of snow to a sloshing as the ground became muddy. Dirt flung up from her speedy steps land on the legs of her pants leaving the speckled with mud. The unfamiliar scent of earth fills her nose and in her heart there is a longing for the soothing rocking motion of a boat upon the sea. The bitter taste of defeat fills her mouth as she recalled the sight of the wreaked ship that had been her home. For now she couldn't return to the sea so she continued on till she stood in front of the iron gates.

A sudden awe filled her as for the first time her eyes saw the Fortified city of Syliras. She smiled in relief, surely her she would find a way to return to her beloved sea. As she passed through the gate she was swept up by the noisy bustle of the city. The smell of adventure was in the air and it raised her spirits maybe more than a boat could be found in this teaming sea of humanity

[Lucy Tides]

Winter day 73

The setting sun cast a heavenly shadow on her sharp blue eyes. They seemed to be flowing like the ocean waves through the gently falling specks of white. She licked her lips nervously and grabbed at a piece of loose hair. She began to braid it subconsciously. With a few more long strides, she could see the enormous ironoak doors of Syliras. The tip of her pink lip curved upward just as she spotted the two guards. The wind started to pick up making her long black curls dance in the wind. She shivered but made to attempt at the black cloak hanging loosely around her shoulders.

As she approached the gate, her eyes darted up in curiosity noticing a shadow pace back and forth between the open ramparts. Her eyes darted back down quickly to the guards who stood in front of the gate, looking her up and down with their eyes. Her height made it painfully more obvious. They briefly asked her about her business and she replied back it was just to replenish supplies and find an odd job for the winter. They pointed her in the direction of the employment office and welcome center. She greatly thanked them and headed in hoping that the building was warmer then the winter biting wind.

[Korvathi]

80 Winter, 512 AV

He quietly strides towards the entrance of the gates into Syliras, he stands roughly at 5'10" tall and wears his hood low, casting a shadow across his face and only allowing the light to reflect softly against his messy, but noticeably orange beard. Across his back rests his short bow and quiver, as well as a large sack swung over his right shoulder as he continues to walk towards one of the Knights, while holding the reigns to his horse and companion Ash in his left hand.

"Halt, state your name and business for entering Syliras city." one of the Knights calmly states as he examines the quiet man standing before him. Raising an eyebrow from beneath the shadows of his hood, Korvathi shrugs and leans close so only the other man and himself would be able to hear his words, "Names Korvathi and I have come to bring to this glorious city my exotic pelts that I have collected through my travels of these fine lands of Mizahar...." he whispers and then leans back, with a smirk across his grizzled face. The Knight tries to hold a straight face, so that he does not look visibly shaken by the odd nature of Korvathi, but nods and allows him in, "That is all... you are free to enter and leave as you wish sir." he mutters. Grinning Korvathi turns towards the open gates and enters into the city of his forefathers, Syliras, a place that he had hoped to make a deal with and in return receive a living from it.

[Jess Carraway]

44 Winter, 512 AV



The Benshira merchant who owned the goods had fallen asleep at the reins. Jess Carraway shook his head softly, hearing the other guards chuckle as they noticed. The blonde Drykas muttered "Without us he'd be dead in a day." Jess smiled and nodded his head. The Drykas had said it as a joke, but it was the truth. The young human had learned firsthand just how deadly these roads could be. Shaking the old man awake, he turned his attention to the gate.

The crunch of frost under his boot brought a smile to his face as he hopped down from the cart and patted one of the mules on the flank. He checked his gladius it its scabbard and took out his tobacco pouch, rolling a thin cigarette with one of the leaves. The other guards watched as he released a tiny ball of res and ignited it, lighting the tip carefully. He tossed the flame into the dirt in front of him, and stomped it out as he walked over. "Syliras in winter." he thought, slowly exhaling and looking around, "A sight to behold." Here, just before sunlight, the coastal land was in its prime.

The great stone walls had always impressed him, but before they were always a passing sight, simply in and out, offload one set of goods, and hire on with another caravan. And now it would be home.

Home. An interesting concept, to a man who'd never had one.

The gate guards were waiting at the entrance. The merchant explained their business, and the Knights began their inspection. Tobacco, spices, a few small pieces of knock-off Inarta glass, nothing too fancy overall. The Benshira had hired him on two weeks prior, for little more than a pittance. It didn't matter. The money wasn't important, it was about reaching Syliras in one piece. Jess considered himself a decent fighter, but no smart man travels the roads alone.

Approaching the merchant he gave a few clipped phrases in his native tongue, and with a nod, the old man opened a satchel and handed him a map of the citadel. Jess turned to one of the Knights and pointed a location out on the map. "Is this still where a man would go if he wished to join your order?"

The young Knight smiled and nodded. "Indeed it is my friend, and an early thanks and congratulations. The Knights are always in need of men, and the city will be glad to have you." With that, he clapped Jess on the shoulder and turned towards the gate. "ALL CLEAR!" he bellowed, and walked away, head held high.

Jess heard the mechanisms working, and a wide grin spread across his face. He rubbed his thumb along the pommel of his blade, and felt the cool ocean air and the warm morning sun. When the great gate began to open, the young man stepped forward, off of the road, and into a new life.

[Rock]

82nd Day of Winter, 512 AV
The Main Gates

Rock wove between the bustling feet of the people going to and from the city's open gates. Their voices were a constant din that battered his sensitive ears; one thing he hated about the city. The second, was the smell. At least it was already better than Sunberth. But a city was still a city, and couldn't compare to lying out on the grass, bathing in the sun. A leg clipped his hip as he and what appeared to be a merchant passed each other, and he quickly shifted away, ears pinned back to his skull as the man spat a curse at the 'mangy stray dog'. What stray dog so casually carried a backpack in its teeth? He grimaced as much as he could with a muzzle, and redoubled his speed toward the looming gates, breaking into a brisk trot.

The pair of Knights standing guard were far too busy watching the people passing by on two legs to pay attention to a dog moving among the crowd, and so he crossed the threshold with barely anything more than a glance thrown his way. Just another pet off its leash in their eyes. But it was all easy, not that he'd been expecting it to be anything less. Rock stopped, dropped his pack at his front paws and sat in the middle of the milling crowd. Children ran by laughing wildly, and so many other people bustled about on their business. Syliras was already far more different than Sunberth, but also similar in visible ways. And he'd already ran into one big problem. What am I supposed to do now?

Rock

[Azcadelia]

46th Day of Winter, 512 AV
The Main Gates


The late winter's breeze swept through Azcadelia's auburn hair. She had just returned from a short walk in the Wildlands. A smile creased across her red lipstick stained lips. Home. Syliras was her home even if it had its Knights and cramped style of living; she would always recognize this as her home. Her birth place. She nodded to the guards as she approached the main gate. Blowing a kiss or two as her emerald coloured robes fluttered in the heavy wind. "Move along," said the guards dismissing her flirtatious advances. She merely smiled and muffled a laugh behind her lips.

She loved the Knights but hated them all the same. She had to keep her small crime syndicate small. Though she wanted it small she didn't need any rats in her little circle of petty thieves and hired bandits. She was the queen of her criminal domain. All inherited from her lovely father -- if you could call him that. He threw her out when she stole her first apple from the marketplace at the age of sixteen. How ironically awkward it was when she discovered that he ran an underground crime circuit.

She quickly took the spotlight of her father's domain when his crimes were discovered by the Knights. That's what he got for allowing it to grow into a full scale organization. Not just a small, call on it when you needed it thing. That's what her's was. She only called on her small battalion of thieves, pickpockets and highwaymen when she needed the extra coin. Hmph, which she needed now as she spied out, with her jade eyes, a new amulet to bring home. Too bad that her little circuit had dissipated because of her inability to control and manage the lot.

She disappeared in the bustling crowd after the afternoon's market day. Her auburn hair whipping behind her. She loved this city.

[Jaai]

Winter Day 83, 512 AV

Jaai walked up to the gates of Sylirus with growing enthusiasm. It was a new adventure. A new place. Anything could happen. He led Lija along by the reigns and she trotted happily alongside him.Today was going to be a good day. Hopefully.

As he approached the guards, they stopped him and asked him what his business here was. Jaai grinned and said: "Oh, I'm going to pillage and conquer and take over the city, no big deal" The guards were not amused by his joke, and both of them looked to be losing patience with him "Okay, okay, I'm just passing through, alright? Would you people mind putting aside your sparkling sense of humour for a minute and kindly point me in the direction of some stables?"

The guards grumbled like they would rather tell him to piss off, but they pointed him in the right direction "Thanks!" He yelled over his shoulder as he skipped through the gates. He could hear them talking about him after he left. But who cares!

[Caweyre]

Season of Winter, Day 74, 512 AV Water slid from his pale blue skin as Caweyre rose from the Ocean. He took a moment to look his stolen seahorse in the eyes, and silently wished it safety on its long journey home before he released it. The creature would do him no good on land. For a long while, even after it had disappeared into the ocean he watched the churning waves wistfully. He sang a quiet song of parting then, in the tongue of of his people. His voice was filled with melancholy, but through the course of its verses his singing rose to echo across the waters, filled with hope. As the song ended, he dipped his hands into sea once last time, strode onto land, and made his way towards the gates of the Syliras. Unfamiliar beasts, and races he'd only heard of in lore greeted his eyes. Their scents co-mingled to overwhelm his senses, but he took it in stride. Every sight confirmed what his dreams had told him. He was headed in the right direction. Every step he took towards his destination brought him one step closer to where he was meant to be. At the gates the good reputation of his people as pacifists, and gentle folk meant the guards gave him little hassle. He was asked few questions. He gave few answers. He took a moment to inquire after lodging, and was directed to Traveler's Row. He stopped to eat at The Herald's Arms on the way there, and spent a few mizas on the first hot meal he'd had in some time.

[Fallon]

5th Spring 513
Early Morning

"You, woman, what's your business?"
Fallon let out a yawn as she was stopped by the guards of Syliras. She had made herself rise early that day just so she could reach the city by sunrise. To be honest her head was consumed with the notions of sleep, so her answer was still sluggish. She inclined her head up to him, a bemused expression on her face. On all her times in the city, the guard never seemed to change. It was no doubt because of this that she had grown use to the city in her younger years.

"Woman?" she blinked as her expression turned sharp, "This woman's business is with joining the knights."
"What, a dainty little thing like you?"
Fallon let out a sigh before meeting the eye of the guard. She simply shook her head at him "Size isn't everything."
"Might not be, sure as well helps," the Guard pointed into the city "Recruitment office is Dyres District. If you think you've got the stomach that is."

Fallon cocked an eyebrow at the guard. Of course she had the stomach, she managed to bring herself this far through the wild lands, what could possibly cause her to hesitate now? Fallon gave a snort as she hoisted up her bag and set herself forth into the fortress city. It was a new chapter in her life and the story, alas, had only just begun. Her path now set before her and there was no turning back.