[Regional Quest - Prologue] The Annoucement (Questers Only)

[Imass]

Imass talked to any who would gather around him.

Perhaps some who gathered were hired for another specialty skill, but most were sell-swords. The quest was a total secret except for one thing: the use of a strong military force was necessary. This caravan would be armed to the teeth. The Syliran Knights were sending over one thousand highly trained warrior monks on this mission. This was serious business and everyone knew it.

The Akalak's goal was to bolster the moral of the mercenaries. He knew that many could be feeling anxiety and suspecision. In response, he talked with any man or woman that would greet him. A small crowd began to form as the unranked Knight spoke loudly, clearly, and with a cheerful face, "We must retrieve our rightful artifact. It is essential for the growth of the city! This is an honorable quest to make Syliras a better place for everyone! That is why I yell 'FOR SYLIRAS'! It is because this is truly a momentous day. Don't you feel history taking place right now? You are all a part of it! Imagine telling your grandchildren that you took part in this most honorable quest for the glory of Syliras. You will be able to leave a prideful mark on the pages of Syliras history. You will also receive a just reward for your sacrifice... FOR SYLIRAS! FOR SYLIRAS! Have pride for your city today!"

Imass could be considered very cheesy by some, but he was speaking in full truth. He truly believed in the words he spoke. His natural emotion on the topic with cheerful and prideful. The Akalak displayed this through his chatter with the men and women talking to him. The warrior's eyes were not gazing at one person but at all of them as a whole. He had yet to distinguish anyone from the crowd.

[Crescent]

The call to arms had seemed very enticing in the beginning of the whole ordeal, how else would she escape her pursuers. At first she really didn't agree to fully participate on the quest, but then again how else was she to convince those who wanted her dead that she really was going to do some good for the cause?

The trials and questions were quite tricky since she didn't have any formal higher schooling, but she did know enough to pass the questions section. She'd always kept her gaze low since a few faces were quite familiar, she'd run a few rigs in her time with a few sefairing knights and had indeed caused them some trouble-the dark irony of fate- for here she was standing a midst their abode, trying to be selected to join a noble quest-which was really not in her league-why? To survive. As she pulled her hood low over her eyes as she walked through the crowd to the grand meeting hall, her thoughts swirled as angry mental retorts kept echoing in her head.

"To survive put yourself at risk for a cause you don't even believe in! VERY SMART CRES VERY SMART" she seemed to scold silently to herself. No when push came to shove her logic at the time didn't at all seem logical."What did I get myself into this time.." she muttered in a tone only she and those who stood directly beside her could hear.

The hall grew pin drop silent as a distinguished character made his appearance, and judging by the whispers that floated by he was indeed the Grandmaster; the one and only. She felt her heart skip a beat as he began to talk, the words " 5000 mizas" echoed in her mind. She could have herself made if she'd actually had it. All throughout the speech the atmosphere seemed to grow tence in her opinion-tense with anticipation, excitment and even fear. She herself was afraid since she had no real talent as far as she knew, as well as not being an avid fighter nor healer, she really was out of her league. Her stone cold emotionless expression didn't give evidence to this however, and as her eyes wondered at the well colored and armoured knights she couldn't help but feel intimidated. The thought of her aunt's story popped randomly in her head, she'd grown to be a well polished knight her mother had told her. She didn't really know how she was accepted or passed all the questionings and tests set for those who applied for this 'job' but she did have a funny feeling this aunt of her's had something to do with it.

Alas ever since that day she lost her parents, and her liberty to a 'normal' life she didn't really keep in touch with relatives on either side of her family line.
Her thoughts had made her wonder all through out the speech and well after it so that the only thing that broke her thoughts was a fellow who decided to start speaking to the crowd. By his stance he had some military training, but because he didn't look like the other knights, he probably wasn't up to par just yet-thena gain first assumptions were never really true in either case.

Crescent pushed through the crowed and spotted another Konti much like herself, and the man an Akalak of sorts who seemed to be doing all the talking. She couldn't help but quirk a smile, and by then her hood was pulled off of her head so that she could get a better view of everything. She found her mouth speaking "You talk too much" her lyrics were kind and good natured, her eyes were smiling with a playful glint. She didn't mean any offence, infact she decided to add " "What this good man is saying is," she then began as she turned to the audience "We fight for honor! We fight for glory! But most importantly we fight for ourselves, so that we can have hope for a better tomorrow!"

Not a natural publick speaker, and being a person of few words, did feel quite nervous when addressing everyone, she then turned to the stranger who seemed so enthusiastic and wore a small smile hoping he didn't take offence in her action. She then awaited any response that would come from anyone.

[Shade]

The ex-Monk had come to Syliras to see the world. Meeting a young woman in Nyka had opened his eyes that an orphan didn't have to stay where an orphan was made. And though he knew his craft well and most would say the world wasn't a safe place to travel, he'd decided it needed to be done. Zeltiva was the obvious choice but in riding through the scholar's city he hadn't felt the rightness of staying. So he'd moved on, looking for a place that had sets of ethics that matched his own. Nyka hadn't exactly been that place. Corruption ran rampant and godlings were far more important than the plight of mere people.

Shade wanted to do something on a grander scale, to test his worth and to challenge the world to be a better place. As a monk he had to play by the monks' rules, and they were no rules he really agreed too. The strongest at the best, had the most, and took from the weak. And such actions were accepted. So he'd been raised strong, but he had no such inclinations to bully and act like a thug. So he'd moved on, leaving Nyka and his former life behind. He had nothing to offer the city of Nyka anyhow, not really. His Master had understood and let him go. So too had his conscious.

Syliras, however, had a major appeal.

So he stood in the hall listening to Loren Drykas and nodding his head to the Call to Arms. It wasn't anything like he'd heard before. No one appealed to anyone's humanity in Nyka. A slow smile spread across Shadekas' face. Oh yes... he'd definitely help out if he could. The money was astonishing, though the journey in itself would be far more appealing to him.

A white raven perched on his shoulder, toying with the hair on his ear, and he gently calmed the bird. It squacked once quietly and settled with a puff of its feathers. Shade glanced about, surveying the people around him. He'd like to know each and every one of them, he thought, noting the Akalak, and then the quiet knight none of whom he knew their names. The konti in the room perhaps were healers, and there were other women that looked rougher than most.

The ex-Monk leaned on his staff and looked thoughtful. He blinked his blue eyes and nodded again. He heard a second Konti speak and smiled. He liked her attitude. They could keep the honor and glory. But he did indeed appreciate the ideal of fighting for a better tomorrow.

"I agree." He said softly.

[Crescent]

The crowd made her feel
more secure than beyond this fortress of a meeting hall. She couldn't be touched anymore- especially with the fact she was going to help the knights of syliras. 

A voice seemed to stand apart from the rest and as she turned to her right a distinguished white birds perched upon the shoulders of a man a little taller than she with bright blue orbs. She couldn't help but quirk a smile; he looked like a monk of sorts which made her curious for she never met a monk before.  Curious orbs seemed to linger on this young man with the white bird longer than she'd intended an the moment she realized it she feared they'd met eye to eye- though if it was true or not only time would tell. 

Her child like curiosity towards the white bird drew her towards this monk and made a question ring out in a soft toned voice " pretty bird" she found herself commenting absentmindedly. Her aquatic orbs seemed to be fascinated on the creature - her right scarred side of her eye and cheek were hidden under a curtain of long fringes.