RPG Keepers of the Seventeen Seals [PG::LV]

[Katana]

[size=1][color=darkslategray][i]The pages were thin, crinkling at every turn. It resembled the traditional Bibles, and, in a way, it was like that. A relic from the past, one that seemed ancient and yet new.
But the pages never tore, and even throughout the years, they had retained their strength. Perhaps this book held a good story afterall.[/i]

Prologue.VI

[i] ?The Keepers passed on from this world and transitioned to the next. But their purpose was to not go unnoticed. The First Gods realized the danger the world was in once the Keepers had left. Their destinies were handed to a new generation of mortals to keep the world in peace.

?The beginning of an era?and the continuation of a legend. So we begin?the tale of The Keepers of the Seventeen Seals.?[/i][/color][/size]

[center][size=3][FONT=Book Antiqua]Chapter.I[/FONT][/size][/center]

[size=1][color=darkslategray]The stage was set. Eight Keepers were chosen, born and raised, not knowing their purpose until they were set to accept the reality of the world.
Through good and sin, pride and humility, failure and success, they pursue. Each has tasted the tools of the Soulless, and each must make a decision.
Will the last Seal be brought back together and rid the world of the Shai?r? Or will the Keepers be overtaken by the dark, a precursor to the end of the earth?

[center] * * *[/center][/color][/size]

[size=1][color=royalblue]Finding a woman wandering the streets of the port town Makeda wasn?t unlikely. But finding one wearing breeches was.

Cadeillina Nitara glanced around uneasily at the merchants. Their eyes were going from her hair to her clothes before shooting to her sword sheath. The simple black leather was loosely wrapped in a gold-tone metal ? either a symbol of wealth or a sign of a thief. But from the layers of shirts she wore, the obvious answer was: wealth.

?Hello there,? Cade said, turning to a fruit vendor. ?I was wondering if you have any oranges. I?m fresh out and man, they taste good. Packed full of energy too.?
?Ahahaha, in fact, we [i]do[/i] have some oranges!? the bronze-skinned merchant replied, his voice chipper. ?How much would you like? Eight? A dozen??
?Actually, I was wondering?? Her eyes looked at the fruit the vendor held. ?Oh?I?m sorry sir, but I?m not too fond of those?they?re really bland tasting by the point they get that big.? Cade bowed her head. ?I apologize for the inconvenience.? And without further delay, she walked off towards another fruit cart, this one selling foreign fruits.

With her food pack reprieved of its orange deficit, Cade decided to make a stop at a coffeehouse. The aroma of roasting beans drew her to the shop, leading her in like a lamb to the slaughter. Although not a particularly good analogy to the situation, its meaning held true.

?One cup of the dark roast, please!? Cade said happily, suddenly in a good mood. Any place that had a coffeehouse was awesome, in her opinion. But once she had sat down, placing her sword to lean against the wall, her mood turned serious. It had been over six months since she had left her comfortable lifestyle in order to fufill her duties as a Keeper. But so far, she had found no sign of a Seal, nor of any of the others.

It was aggravating.

Afterall, had she not fought so many men with her blade, injuring countless and killing one? Though it had been for her quest, the thought still haunted her. The fact that she had taken a life was nervewracking.

The sudden placing of a cup of coffee at the table made Cade snap from her thoughts. She thanked for the drink, and, once the server had left, resumed her thinking state again. Cade?s gaze was set upon the steaming black liquid in front of her, casting an amber-colored reflection of the girls two different eyes.

?Find the other seven,? she muttered before picking up the cup.

-----------------------------------------------------------

?Writing this made me crave an orange?

But besides that?well, this is the beginning. Aiyanna told me to start, since she?s currently off at some conference band thing. Ahem.
Your character doesn?t have to be in the port town (Makeda), but if you want to get the characters together faster, then maybe you should. I dunno, nor do I mind what you do.

Just remember that none of the characters have their Seals yet.

So go forth, Keepers, and rid the world of the Shai?r! But don?t forget to have fun! ^_^[/color][/size]

[Aiyanna]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]Mehehe...that band thing was dead tiring...::is half dead right now, and really really tired and sore:: Five hours of playing...five hours...and that's it. Then we performed...><

***********************************

Ciara, sitting against a brickwall somewhere in the east part of town, yawned, and stretched, shifting her shoulders to get the knots out of em. She was bored outta her mind,and was a bit tired of all the searching, and no finding. She had left her home almost a year ago, and still, nothing. All she knew was that she was a Keeper, and that there were seventeen seals hiddin somewhere out there, two of which she was supposed to find, and the rest of which were to go to the other Keeprs, who she also had to find...eventually.

Really, she didn't look like she came from a wealthy family , besides maybe the quality of her Glaive. Her clothes were a bit worn, and her boots were obviously not new. She probably could've passed as a beggar, really. Though, the way she walked might've given her away. After all those Ladies classes she had taken, it was natural now for her to take gliding steps, with her chin high and her back straight.

"I just don't see why the Gods couldn't just mash us together at birth or something...it'd make this a whole lot easier." She grumbled to herself, pushing a strand of her brown hair out of her face. Really, since she had cut it, it had irritated her...She was so used to having it long and in a braid over her shoulder, that she didn't know what to do with it now that it could barely be pulled back and held with a leather tie.

"ANYBODY HERE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND A KEEPER?!" she suddenly, and randomly, shouted. A few bypassers stopped to stare at her, and she flushed a bit, but gave them a look in return. Alot of people just kinda looked in her direction, then muttered to themselves. She caught a few words, like "loony" and "poor thing...".

She grimaced, and then grabbed her Glaive and started to walk towards center of the town. Which happened to be called Makeda. A weird name, she decided, but then again, hers was too.[/COLOR]

[Delta]

[COLOR=#7B075B][FONT=Garamond]So it is true. The view from the mountain pass really is breathtaking.

A thin grey line lies yonder in the horizon, where the perfect azure sky meets with the cerulean waters of Makeda . From here, the busy port town and its fleet of merchant ships seemed lost in sheer vastness of the two entities. How sailors find their way to Makeda through that featureless cobalt desert with the aid of nothing but charts and stars still eludes me.

I could spend hours in blissful idleness in a place like this yet as enchanting as the view was, the sun is already nearing its zenith. Come noon, I shall have to meet with Cirdan the shipwright and deliver him this package, as per instructions of the client. After a sleepless, moonless night?s worth of riding through the treacherous merchant trails, Asfaloth still hasn?t outrun the sun. She is weary and so am I.

I do intend to return to this place, if circumstances permit it, take repast and rethink this whole messenger business. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[Random]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=Navy]Marrick stood in the shadows of a groove of trees. He glanced around him, making sure noone was around, and took an apple. He then proceded to sit back against the tree, eating his prize.

[I]Too easy,[/I] he thought to himself. [I]This Makeda is certianly different from Tarmi. Hell-uv-a-lot bigger, that's for friggin' sure. Easier to snatch things, too...Marrick! Stop thinking like that. You have to now, seeing as you've been chosen as a Keeper.[/I]

Marrick, having finished the apple, threw the core aside. He glanced up at the sun, and saw that it was nearly noon.

[I]Wonder where Jade got to...[/I] he wondered as he walked absently through the small orchard. He brushed a length of silver hair away from his face that had fallen out of it's brown, worn, leather strap. The wind was picking up steadily, and he could see clouds forming and gathering in the distance.

[I]Better get myself into the city soon.[/I] He gave a short, shrill whistle, and an albino falcon came soaring over the trees.

"Jade, finally. I was beginning to worry," he remarked as his companion of three years landed on his protectively clothed right arm. He pet Jade's head affectionatly, then re-positioned her onto his shoulder. "There, missy. Now you can't get into trouble."

Marrick smiled as he walked towards the city gates. He loved Jade. She was the only one in the world that cared about him, now that his parents were gone.

[I]Mom, Dad...wherever you are, your constant love makes me stronger. Sleep eternally in peace - know your son is safe - he is now a Keeper.[/I] As he thought these works, a tear fell down his face. He missed them greatly, but now he had to rely on himself, and Jade, to find his fellow Keepers.

"Jade, hopefully we'll find at least one of them here," he said, his voice filled with hope, yet sounding doubtfull all the same.

Once inside, he walked over to the first dock he could find. Growing up in the mountains, he never saw the ocean. He was blown away.

[I]Wow,[/I] the only thought that passed his mind. Jade pearched contently on his red gauntlet, seeming to gaze at the vast waters before them both.

And so, there sat Marrick, along with Jade, staring at the ocean, completely ignorant to the winds of fate that were to change their lives forever...

[CENTER]= = = = =[/CENTER]

OOC: Not sure if this is what you wanted. So, at the end I'm just plugging someone, anyone really. First come, have fun!

[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Disenchanted]

This protection business is getting tough?previously two days before, Reeve was assigned to guard a noblemen but as with most things. That went pare shaped, there was a whole bunch of assassins? waiting for this noble at his home. Reeve and her merry band of 5 fellow bodyguards couldn?t hope to hold off 15 and so Reeve barely escaped with her life. The noble and her friends did not.

It had been a long and uncomfortable night, trudging through the forest. Reeve had wounds although moderately serious she couldn?t do anything about them now.
[COLOR=Teal]?Damn it I?m so tired?? [/COLOR]as reeve clumsily walked amongst the leaf litter and broke small branches under her feet a noise cut through the symphony of the forest. She could hear laughing, shouting, horses? hoofs on stone?Makeda.

[I]Thank god[/I] was the only thought that crossed her mind. Walking over to a small stream that ran through the forest she cleaned blood off her face and cloths. A strange woman walking out of the forest cloths torn and bloody might scare people and raise a few questions. And raised questions was one thing she didn?t need.

The forest in the area eventually thinned out and gave way to normal trees. Reeve looked to the sky and found her self in an orchid. She kept walking and the ground beneath her feet changed from dirt to road. Looking around she surveyed they port town. It was an extremely busy place. People everywhere going about their own ways. She couldn?t help notice however, a man with a white bird on his shoulder staring at the ocean. [I]How odd?[/I]

Walking up behind him and standing next to him Reeve proceeded to also stare at the ocean.
[COLOR=Teal]
?Its beautiful...?[/COLOR] So deep the though the man didn?t actually notice she was there when he replied.
[COLOR=Teal]?It sure is I?ve never seen the ocean before?? [/COLOR]The man stood their with a rather perplexed look on his face for a while. Randomly he jumped backwards and stared at Reeve.
[COLOR=Teal]?Hey! Where in the heck did you come from! You shouldn?t go around frightening people like that!?[/COLOR] Reeve bowed to the man although it hurt.
[COLOR=Teal]?I apologize? [/COLOR]her eye was caught by the mans albino bird that sat on his shoulder [COLOR=Teal]?what an unusual bird.? [/COLOR]The man looked at his feathery companion with love in his eyes.
[COLOR=Teal]?Her name is Jade?
?My names Reeve and yours?? [/COLOR]he looked her up and down and screwed his eyebrows up a bit in thought.
[COLOR=Teal]?My names Marrick?? [/COLOR]

[Takamor`e]

[COLOR=DarkRed] So, Tarren finally stared at the gates to the entrance to the port town, Makeda. He?d been journeying many miles, city through city. The last one was about one hundred miles away, he was glad to see civilization again, other than the occasional farm. He had been to many places, but this one took his breath away.
He started off toward the ocean, that had always been his favorite treat when he was younger, going to the ocean, but he had a little time to spare, even guardians do. Tarren kept noticing no one would look at him, at least when he looked, he must?ve frightened them with his stone face. He couldn?t blame them, he was pretty tall, and training his entire life, making him more buff, probably didn?t help either. He continued on ward, then all of the sudden he saw a burly man from behind a fruit stand slap a woman and grab her hand.
?You filthy wretch, you were trying to steal from me!?
?I wasn?t.? She Said
?Don?t play games with me, I saw you? heh, now you?re gonna have to pay, and seeing as you don?t have money, I?ll find something better for you.?
Tarren had seen and heard enough. He walked purposefully over to the man and women.
?Please sir, let the lady go.?
The man looked Tarren up and down. ?And what are you gonna do about it, you filthy hoodlum.? His eye fell on the sword, ?For the life of me you don?t want any trouble.? He pulled his coat over to show a curved blade.
?No, you?re right I don?t want any trouble.? He pulled a money bag out of his coat, and pulled out three gold coins. ?Here take these for your troubles.?
The man eyed the money greedily, but then turned, ?No. She has to pay, no other man is going to come over here and help her.?
Tarrens Rage was getting the hold of him. ?Leave her alone or I will make you.? He had fire in his eyes, the man looked at him, then the blade, then his eyes, he shook his head.
?Fine, but if anything like this happens again, it?s your head and the others.? He mumbled angrily.
Tarren Flipped the man the three coins.
?Are you alright??
?Thank you for saving me, but I could?ve taken care of my self though.?
?I?m sure you could?ve.? He bowed, ?Hello my name is Tarren.?
?My name is Ciara.??[/COLOR]

[Darth Vectis]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1]Kain walked through the dense forest, not caring where it took him. Just hoping fate would lead him in the right direction. To the other Keepers. He had found out this secret not 2 months ago, this was the excuse he was looking for that would get him out of the Debt collecting buisness; that he longed to be rid of.

He looked about, the forest was starting to thin out, noises of people and animals slowly grew louder. He broke free of the forest and stood on a hill looking out at the city that his feet had taken him too.
[B]
"Makeda."[/B] He said to himself quietly, he made his way down the hill. Sliding and hopping to avoid falling and killing himself. He made it to the cuty gates, walking in casually as he saw the horses trotting through the town streets with carages behind them. People of all sorts selling fruits or vegetables, dancing to entertain, or doing tricks for money. The cultuer here was far more beautiful then his life had shown him. He made his way through the people, his face alone made people move out of his way.

After having to itimidate people into giving what they owe for a few years wears off onto your daily face. He rest his arm on his blade; memories of all the times his blade was required to do the job. He had injured several people; to send them a message of what was to come if they didn't pay soon. He had killed four people before, the ones that fought back. Trying to take his life to avoid their pety finacial problems.

And he fought back; doing what was necesarry to keep himself alive. He was not proud of what he did but survival was what was required these days. He looked around, noticing people who seemed out of place in such a place. Not grouped together, but spread out, as if they were searching for one another. He moved through the crowed; seeing if one of these people were one of the Keepers. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Katana]

[size=1][color=royalblue]The cup was drained, a residue of grounds left in the bottom.
"Ugh. I hate when this happens." Cade sat up, setting coins on the table to pay for her drink. Buckling her sword back onto her waist, the young Keeper left the coffeehouse. A random server called out, "Thank you, come again!"

A wave of salt-tinged air greeted Cade as she stepped into the open street once again. She closed her eyes, grinning at the satisfaction of being by the ocean once again. Her homecity had been located by a lake, which she visited often. But oceans were cooler.
Oceans were large and endless, stretching out to the horizon and beyond. They emcompassed the majority of the earth, having power over everything. It was a power Cade wouldn't mind having.

She walked on from her post in front of the coffehouse, fairly certain they were beginning to think she was a soliciter. The street was now growing into the more culture part of Makeda, it seemed, for there were musicians, dancers, and the random entertainers attempting to earn some cash. But still, the vendors went on, because in a city with docks, there are ships, and ships means goods. It's obvious, neh?

Cade groaned, gazing out onto the sea. "This sucks," she said outloud. "I can't find anybody." There was a moment of silence before sheer brilliance and/or insanity took over.
Turning to the street, she clambered her way onto a stack of crates reaching about eight feet in the air. Cupping her hands around her mouth, Cade yelled, "ARE THERE ANY KEEPERS HERE?!" A ripple of silence, lasting only an instant, flashed through the crowds.

But there had indeed been a response. Two young adults - one a tall and burly male and the other a petite yet roughened female - turned their heads at the calling of Cade. Her eyes snapped across the crowd before settling on the two of them. A grin spread across her face.

"Praise the gods!" Cade shouted, leaping off the crates and landing in a run. It hurt, seeing as how humans don't have shock-resistors, but the enthusiasm and rush she felt surged over the pain.
At last, two Keepers. She hoped.

"Err...you okay?" the female asked, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Cade nodded furiously.
"My name is Cadeillina Nitara," she said, bowing her head. "Please call me Cade."
"Uh...likewise, I guess. I'm Ciara Ayame'Liluye, but you may call me Ciarra."
"And I'm Tarren Archxian." Nothing more, nothing less.

Cade smiled widely. "It's a relief to finally meet you. I am determining that you two are Keepers, correct?"
Their reaction of silence and a smile from Ciarra confirmed the answer of the question.[/color][/size]

[Ikillion]

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Zihark had his sandals off for the moment and had his feat soaking in the water of the bay. He of coursed had his reading glasses on and was reading a book with one hand, with the other he was twirling his scythe around in a clockwise motion. Letting the blade barley touch the water whipping it high up into the air above him. He gently began humming while doing the other two things at the exact same time.

"how dull. I think I have read this book already." he said with a slight sigh as he adjusted his glasses. " Yet I still seem to find it rather interesting...I still need to find out one of these days why I am like this.

He soon after got up and slid the staff end of his scythe back into the slits on the back of his coat. He cringed lightly seeing the sharp end of the blade was almost pointed directly at his eye and he though.[I] Its best...to remember to put that somewhere else from now on.[/I] With a sigh he began whistling and walked down along the edge of the harbor, getting a chance to truly inhale all of the sea air.

"No wonder we always came by the sea." He yawned into a stretch and continued to star out into the horizon" It is really just..beautiful and just a honor to see all of it actually. Well I guess I should continue looking for those keeper people and such. Yet a part of me wants to go to the library first. Maby go and look at some new books and such...Then afterwards I can go and do something like that."

Then he skittered off down the edge of the piers that he was walking on. He did at least want a new book. or at least find one interesting to read for once. He was still suppose to be on the look out for other keepers. However what was he suppose to do? Start yelling out in public [I]Hey! is anyone a keeper!?[/I] Well instead he decided to just walk on..even though he didn?t know what a keeper looked like. He had a feelings that he would just know what one looked like.

-----------
I couldnt think of anything good tonight. I hope that was enough to get my though through atleast.
[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Random]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=Navy]Marrick eyed the girl infront of him. She was older than himself, by at least two years, yet she was slightly shorter. But the thing that really interested him was her eyes. They were so like his, it was scary.

"The ocean really is beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, turning to stare out at the expance.

"It is," he replied. He took a deep breath, and his nose was filled with the salty air. "Breazy as well...all the time."

"Yes, it is." Having grown up in the mountains, Reeve knew well what it was like to be by the ocean for the first time.

Looking over at the strange woman standing next to him, he noticed that she seemed a little worn out. "Those wounds look new. Need something for that?"

"That's really quite nice of you to ask, but I'll be alright," she replied, smiling. Glancing at Jade, "So, where did you get her?"

"Huh? Oh, you mean Jade?" he asked in return, again lost in thought. "I saved her from an untimely death back in Tarmi. Her mother was captured, then had eggs. When they hatched, Jade here was the only one born albino. She was to be killed, but I stole her and kept her for myself. That was three years ago."

"Interesting," Reeve said in resonse. She shifted her body, standing much like a guy would.

"Reeve, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Marrick."

Marrick hesitated for a second. "You can ask, Marrick. I have a few questions for you, as well."

"Do you know anything about Keepers?" he asked, sure that she would think him crazy. Everyone he asked, they looked at him a madman.

"Keepers? Of course!" Reeve exclamed excitedly. "I'm a Keeper! Are you?"

"Ya," he replied, relieved that he had found one of his own.

"Well then, Marrick, I'm Reeve Barringer, one Keeper of the Seventeen seals."

"Full name, eh?" he commented, ammused at her excitement. "My name is Marrick Reid, Sixth Keeper of the Seventeen seals."

"Why the sixth?" Reeve asked, confused as to why Marrick had a number, and she didn't.

"It's my favorite number," came Marrick's simple reply. "You should pick one, too."

"Okay, but I'll chose mine after we meet up with others," she said enthusiastically. "I guess we should go and find the rest of them, huh?"

"Sounds good," replied Marrick. Looking at her instrument, he commented, "Nice pan flute. Can you play?"

"Sure can! Wanna hear some?" she asked, happy to have a chance to play her beloved flute.

"Go ahead. Then we'll go find the others." Marrick and Reeve sat on the dock, each looking at the ocean lost in their own thoughts. As Reeve played, Marrick noticed a man walking down the beach, just to the left of the dock. He was putting a book into his pocket.

Suddenly, Jade flew over to the man, and Marrick took off at a run following her, closely followed by Reeve.

[I]This is sure an interesting day...[/I][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[CENTER]= = = = =[/CENTER]

Aiyanna, Katana, hope it's okay that I gave Marrick a number...it just fit into my post so well. Any beefs, let me know. Oh, Ikillion, that would be your plug...

[Aiyanna]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]OOC: Hey, you all better start posting! I put alot of work into this! ::shoots a few glares around, then smiles:: I'll give you...uhmmm...::glances around room:: CUPCAKES! ::tries to tempt with a platter of cupcakes, freshly baked and frosted.::

IC:

Ciara smiled at Cade, and, out of sheer habit, curtsied, though she wasn't wearing skirts she could spread. The motion would've made her Instructor proud, still being perfect despite that she hadn't had to do one in over a year. She repeated the gesture to Tarren, since she had never gotten around to it before the new figure popped up.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. And I am so excited that I have finally found [I]two[/I] fellow Keepers! I have been looking for around a year now, and let me tell you, it's been hard! I ran out of money about a week back...so I've been reduced to scrounging around and talking my way into getting stuff." she smiled at them both, and shifted her grip on her Glaive. She realized that Cade was similar in height, maybe taller than she was, while she had to look up to look at Tarren by almost a foot.

"Anyways, enough about myself! I wanna know about both of you, since it looks like we're gonna be traveling together, looking for other Keepers and the seals. I have a small suspicion that they might be found in the mountains to the East, and maybe a few even along the coast. I did a little research before I left, and I think each will be connected to the place of each of the former Keepers' death places, or birth places..." she stopped, realizing she had rambled again from her topic of asking about them. She flushed a bit.

"Sorry, pardon my rambling. I'm just so excited to finally be able to talk to people who won't think I'm crazy for claiming to be a Keeper Reborn...Would you like to sit down?" she gestured to a patch of grass, placed off to the side of the market area.

******************************
OOC: Yeah, I realize it's a bit spread out and not too well written. Forgive me, please! I am suffering form caffein withdrawl symptoms...[/COLOR]

[Darth Vectis]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1]As Kain made his way through the crowd to a group of people who seemed to be reminesing about something when they disappeared in the crowd. Kain let out an aggrovated sigh.
[B]
"Dammit. Where are those three, they looked like people I might want to know."[/B] Kain kept looking around. Seeing over the heads of the people and spotted the tall one on a grass pacth. Kaim cracked a smile across his hardened face.
[B]
"Thank goodness he is bloody tall."[/B] He pushed his way through the crowd, his arm still resting on the hilt of his weapon. He made his way to them and could pick up some words, one word caught him right away. That was "Keeper". Right then he knew these were the people he was looking for. He walked up to them and stood in front of the sun, they all looked up at him.
[B]
"Hello. My name is Kain, and what I can tell from your convertation I am in the right place." [/B]The looked at him oddly, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Kain picked up on this.
[B]
"I'm one of the keepers that you, I am sure of, has been searching for. As I have been looking for you as well."[/B] This changed the looks to a relived happy look, Kain kneeled down next to them. Listening to what they were talking about.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Disenchanted]

Reeve and Marrick caught up to the man as he was making to wards the market place. Jade was the first to arrive at the man and started harassing him, pecking at his head and flapping her wings in his face.

Out of breath arriving at the scene Marrick called Jade back to him, she reluctantly flew to his shoulder, it almost appeared as if the bird was glaring at their new acquaintance.

[COLOR=Teal]?Your bird is nuts!? [/COLOR]the man shouted and pointed towards jade. The hawk squawked defiantly back. Marrick blushed with a serious look on his face.
[COLOR=Teal]?She thinks you smell of fish?? [/COLOR]The man went red with slight annoyance.
Reeve looked between the two men.
[COLOR=Teal]?Calm down boys?? [/COLOR]looking the man up and down Reeve smiled and tried to fill the awkward silence. [COLOR=Teal]?My names Reeve, this here is Marrick and I believe you have already meet Jade.? [/COLOR]The man looked Reeve up and down momentarily before smiling. Reeve had a gift for calming down awkward/potentially hostile situations.
[COLOR=Teal]?My names Zihark, pleased to meet you both.?[/COLOR] Zihark kept looking towards the middle of town; no more than a few moments ago he had heard a shout.[I] ?Are there any keepers!??. [/I]
[COLOR=Teal]?What?s the matter?? [/COLOR]Reeve asked Zihark. He looked at her again still mostly un-sure of what to make at this sudden acquaintance. Smiling once more he shifted his position and looked at Reeve.
[COLOR=Teal]?I heard a shout calling keepers? [/COLOR]Marrick and Reeve?s eves lit up at Zihark?s mention of the words ?keepers?. After a brief convocation about muttered apologies and the mention of keepers, the three set out to the market place now properly acquainted, where Zihark had originally heard the shout. Walking though the streets the three found a bunch of people sitting on the grass, after a few attempts at eves dropping they decided that they had indeed found the other keepers. Walking over to the huddled group Reeve was the first to introduce her self followed by Marrick and Zihark. Finally they had found the others they were looking for.

[Katana]

[size=1][color=royalblue]Cade raised an eyebrow. Not even fifteen minutes ago, she had been in the coffee shop. Thirteen minutes ago, she was on top of crates, yelling. Ten minutes ago, she was introducing herself to Tarren and Ciara. Five minutes ago, they had gone to the grass. Now, it seemed that hordes of people were suddenly coming to them, claiming to be Keepers.

[i]"Though...it's not exactly like everybody knows who or what the Keepers are."[/i] She stood up, stretched, and shook her head. "Alrighty! We're all Keepers? Keepers of the Seventeen Seals?"
Various ways of saying 'yes' met her ears. "That's good." She paused. "Um...now what?"

Tarren groaned, but stood up to assist. "If we're all here, then I assume...first, we need to know each other's names."
"That would be good," Ciara said from her spot, a smile on her face.

"Well," said a young man, a bird on his shoulder, "I'm Marrick Reid."
"My name is Reeve Barringer," said a fairly tall female, bowing her head slightly.
"Zihark Zunova is what I'm called," replied another male, not even looking up from his book.
"You can dub me as Kain Crushak," said another young man, a wide smile on his face.
"Nice to meet you guys," Cade said, putting her arms behind her head, "I'm Cadeillina Nitara. Call me Cade."
"Tarren Archxian," he said, his expression finally relaxed a bit.
"And I go by Ciara Ayame'Liluye," Ciara said. Everyone besides Cade and Tarren looked at her, confusion on their faces.

"You and your damn long name..." Cade muttered, her eyes drifting off to the hillside. She squinted her eyes, making out the shape of a human. Turning to Marrick, she said, "Hey, bird-guy...Uh...Merrick." He looked at her, eyebrow cocked. "Can you send your bird over towards the hill?"
"Jade, you mean? Why?"
"There's somebody there. Somebody...I think we want to know."[/color][/size]

[Delta]

[COLOR=#7B075B][FONT=Book Antiqua][COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR][b]While[/b] pulling on the reins of her horse, the rider shielded her eyes from the high sun and looked back at the city. Something shot up from the foot of the hill. Her horse halted and the rider searched the skies. A lone falcon soared and circled overhead, its wings dark against the bright firmament.
[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR]The rider would have taken it as another bird of prey but the emerald band around one of its legs marked it as a scout. The rider raised her right forearm and on it, allowed the bird to alight. Heavy as it appeared, the falcon nimbly shimmied its way up the rider?s arm, flapped its wings ever so slightly and tugged at the chain slung on the rider?s shoulder. Then it flew in circles just a few feet above the path before them and zipped on ahead.
[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR]The fair steed shook its mane and turned its snout towards the rider, who then replied with a nod. It started to trot after the bird and when it saw that the falcon was picking up speed, went into a canter and then a full gallop.

[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR][b]Led[/b] by a rather excited falcon, the rider and her horse sped to the city proper. When they entered the crowded streets of Makeda, the falcon took its place back on the rider?s shoulder and guided them with a series of gentle tugs. After a good ten minutes of maneuvering through a labyrinth of roads, the falcon squealed and flew off to a company waiting idly on a patch of grass. There, it perched on the waiting arm of a silver-haired man, which the rider assumed was its handler. Though a good number of the falconer?s company, the rider saw that they were about her age.
[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR]The rider dismounted and led her horse towards the falconer. A bronze-haired girl in baggy garments broke away from the group and ran to meet her. [b]?Are you a Keeper??[/b] the girl asked.
[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR]Taken aback by the girl?s candor, the rider had no time to fabricate a half-truth. She blinked and muttered [b]?Yes? Yes, I am.?[/b]
[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR]The girl grinned at her reply. [b]?Good, ?cause you know, we all are. What?s your name??[/b]
[COLOR=#EDEDED]_____[/COLOR] [b]?Alena. Alena Eredluin,?[/b] said the rider. She nodded towards the other Keepers as a gesture of acknowledgement. [b]?Pleased to make your acquaintance.?[/b]
[/FONT]

[b]OOC:[/b] Wai~! I'm really sorry for the delay![/COLOR]

[Random]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Marrick stood watching his new traveling mates. [I]Sure are a few interesting people here.[/I] The older girl who had just joined them, Alena, was dismounting the hoarse she rode on. Then, he glanced at Reeve...something about her was quite alluring...but he couldn't tell what it was. Just, something.

Suddenly one of the large group, the girl with the baggy pants, faced them all and addressed them. "So, everyone here is a Keeper. Quite the thing, all of us meeting up on the same day-"

"Almost fate, one would say," interrupted Marrick, almost wispering. But, as he felt the stares of the others, his face went red. He distracted himself as best he could by petting Jade on her white beak. Beside him, Reeve giggled.

"I'd have to agree with Marrick," she said inbetween giggles.

"I think that we should all tell the others where we come from," Marrick suggested, always eager to find out things about others he meets.

"Then go first, since you suggested it," said Reeve. None of the others looked like they were going to start, so, looking at the ground, Marrick started.

"My name is Marrick Reid, I'm 17 years old, and I'm origonally from the mountain town of Tarmi. " Marrick hesitated for a moment, as he ususally did when trying to be open with others. "I don't know whether you want to know, or if you care, but I have no family. I just wanted to say that it's nice to finally have some people that, although we just met, seem to want to get to know me."

Seeing that Marrick was uncomfortable, Reeve took the chance to take the heat off him and introduced herself.

[CENTER]= = = = =[/CENTER]

Sorry for the short post, everyone...limited time on the net today. Just wanted to get the story moving, and get everyone a chance to give a bit of a verbal background to their characters.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Disenchanted]

Reeve took the chance to step in.
[COLOR=Teal]?My names Reeve Barringer?[/COLOR] Reeve made a slight bow with her head [COLOR=Teal]?I?m from the mountain forests of the west region. Professional body guard at your service, I have been known to travel with bandits as an in-between thing umm, what else. I like to play the pan flute. And I?m a perfect shot with a Bow and Arrow.?[/COLOR] She smiled to everyone.

A thought crossed her mind that this sort of sounded like a help group inwardly laughing?shrugging the stupid thought off she looked around at the other so that one of them may take their turn next.

[Takamor`e]

[COLOR=DarkRed] Tarren cleared his throat, gesturing that he would go next. All eyes focused on him, he didn?t easily get nervous around people, but something about this group made him feel different. Again he cleared his throat. ?Yeah, as I said I?m Tarren Archxian. I was born in the mountains of Bauldrea. My parents had been some of the most elite warriors, ever. They had been body-guards for kings and queens, and had never incurred a loss. They decided to calm down, and have me. They moved to the mountains, and must have grown soft; a group of assassins killed them, and missed me. My father?s best friend had been warned if something like this happened to take me to his training grounds, as he was. The training ground is secret and I cannot speak a word of it its whereabouts. I was head of my group. I graduated with honors above that of even my parents. Soon after, I was given the special sword my fathers family has held for generations. I had a calling, and soon found out I was a guardian, and I?ve been searching for the others since.? [I]Jeez, this sounds like some sort of self help group, like for those people who just couldn't cut it at the training grounds.[/I]
The others stared at him open mouthed. Tarren cleared his throat once more and looked down. The only thing that broke the silence was the white hawks screech, Tarren looked up and smiled. ?So, who?s turn next?? Everyone stopped staring and was waiting for whom next to begin.
A large crash had occurred on the street opposite of them, half the group jumped up to their feet, Tarren among them, and all had their weapons drawn. They peered over, and saw that a fruit cart had gotten away from its owner, and smashed into a wall. As luck would have it, it was the same man that was harassing, Ciara earlier. The man looked over at the group and eyed Tarren and Ciara, but looked away from the group at disbelief of his cart.
[/COLOR]

[Aiyanna]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]Ciarra supressed a smile at the other man's misfortune, and glanced quickly over at Tarren, though her gaze flicked immediately away when he noticed her looking. Her face flushed a bit.He really wasn't her type...a bit too...disciplined, maybe...Almost like...a perfect warrior.She blinked at the thought that had drifted across her head. Where did that come from?

"Poor guy..." she said to distract her thoughts, and sighed, shifting her grip agian on the glaive. Since nobody else was talking, She guessed it was her turn. She sat back down again, placing her weapon across her knees, almost unconsciously demanding a small space between her and others with it. She cleared her throat, and smiled warmly at everyone in the group, her eyes bright.

"I guess it's my turn..." she said, when everybody had returned their attention to each other. All eyes shifted to her, and she noted that they ranged from brown to green, to weirdly coloured- Cade's one blue one brown. She remembered though, that her own eyes were touched with more than just a spattering of pecularity. Really, there might've been more lavender at times...though if she recalled correctly, she had been told her eyes seemed suddenly to shift from Green-tinged lavender to lavender tinged green. She shrugged at her thoughts, and fiddled with the staff part of her weapon, her fingers playing across the slanting words carved upon it.

"Well, I grew up in a small but weathly town. I started off in the orphanage, and I can't remember anything before the age of about...five. Though, really, I don't even know if it was five, because I couldn't remember. The people there just dubbed me as five." She shrugged again, and shifted her gaze down for a sec, swallowing, pressing back wonders that constantly wracked her about her parents and who she was before she had been found and adopted. "Anyways. A fairly wealthy family took me in, and from that point on I was put in an intense study of how to be a Lady. I don't really remember when it dawned on my that I was a Keeper. Maybe it was a realization that came with my feeling of not fitting in with the rest of the family. Something always kept me apart. But, I did learn in that time how to hold a fork properly. And I can still curtsy to perfection to today. I left about a year back to an inner calling, taking the glaive my weapons master had given me, and the little money I had. Which, I guess, leads me to where I am today... broke, but finally among those who I might be able to connect with." She grinned at them all, but shifted awkwardly as silence filled in once more. "Uhm...who's next?" She asked, then my eyes drifted to Cade. "I nominate Cade."

That elicted a roll of the eyes out of the girl, and a grumpy glare shot in her direction. Though the girl in baggy clothes spoke non the less.

"Well, unlike those who have spoken so far, I did have a real family. Though they annoyed me a bit. I was the tom-boy who liked to romp and explore and stuff. I too took Lady's classes, but I used them more to tick off the teacher than to actually learn the little prissy things of being a lady." She grinned, apparently at the memories. "It was pretty much hell, those classes, since I wasn't really into all the makeup and stuff, and I learned the sword against the wishes of my parents, just because they were irking me by making me take those stupid girly classes. I really didn't think it would help me, since I've always loved adventure and stuff. " She shrugged apparently bored with speaking already. Ciara noticed that her fingers were moving around in the dirt by her feet, drawing random patterns. "Anyways, I left about last year, leaving a note behind, and taking my sword, which, by the way, is called the Gold Rune. And blah blah blah, you can guess the rest frothere.Oh...and my dad was a doctor." She shrugged, adding the last comment quite randomly, which, Ciara decided, fit who she was.

Another silence decended as they all waited for someone else to speak.[/COLOR]

[Darth Vectis]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1]Kain looked about, scratching at the stubs on his chin. His beared was growing in and it annoyed him greatly, he could see no one else was going to speak so he spoke this time.
[B]
"Time for me to go."[/B] He rolled his head and his neck poped he looked at the others with a light face, but managing to keep it straight and blank of true emotion.
[B]
"As I have told a few of you, my name is Kain Caznim. I don't really have a place I was born, because I was born while on one of my parents many jobs. We never really setteled down so they though it best to teach me the tricks of their trades. They were, debt collectors, for lack of better words. They did the work cruel kings, corrupt knights and noble men requested they do."[/B] He looked at the others as someone of them showed a slight distaste for his family life. He waited a few more moments before starting up again.
[B]
"Well, they skills they taught me was of intimidation and proper meathods of interrogation. If someone has vital information and they aren't speaking, I can get it out of them."[/B] He watched again to see more faces show slight signs of distaste.
[B]
"I took up swordsmanship as a way to provide more useful protection then just being scary, that sometimes doesnt work. I personaly like my blade because it gives off the illusion of a very old and very weak blade, but it is actually very strong and shows that looks can be deciving and I named it, the Fellblade. I learned I was a keeper a few months ago, not really sure how but I figuered it out. And the life my parents chose to live and the life I wanted were two different things, so, I left. Didn't leave them much of anything, except for an empty bed and empty drawers."[/B] Kain scratched the side of his jaw, getting an itch that was bothering him, he drew one of his daggers and twirled it slowly through his fingers. Waiting to see if anyone else had cared to share their lives.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Katana]

[size=1][color=royalblue]With the self-help group looking awkwardly at each other, Cade decided it was time to do something...else.
She (the girl with the baggy pants/clothes) escaped from the conjoining of Keepers and shifted off about fifteen feet away. After a moment of silence, Cade exhaulel, drew her sword, and turned back to face the group. Somebody was now muttering one thing or another. The help session was still going.

In a split-second decision, Cade charged forward, her sword crossing her abdomen, and made noises like that of screams, yells, and challenges.
Her target, Tarren, noticed the crazed baggy-panted girl charging at him, but didn't have any time to move. Right when Cade thrashed her sword to the front and almost struck Tarren's collarbone, she stopped.

"Spar?"

There came silence. The murmur ceased. Tarren stared at her, eyebrow cocked.
"What...the...hell..."
"Spar dammit, spar!" Cade waved her sword around. "C'mon! I'm bored, this is boring, we're not a self-help group!"

Zihark had gone back to reading. He flicked a page lazily, muttering a reply of, "Nah, we're not stable enough to be a self-help group..."

"Doesn't 'self-help' mean 'one helping themself'...?" Kain added, receving glances from Marrick, Reeve, and Alena. "...Whaaat?"
Marrick grinned. "Of course. And in no way, shape, or form are [i]we[/i] a group meant for helping."
"Helping mankind," Reeve replied.
"Ah geez, don't be so lame," Kain answered. Reeve replied by sticking her tongue out.

"Now now, children..." Alena said, removing a small flask from her belt. She popped off the cap, raised it to her lips, and, in a manor that didn't seem relavant to her, swigged it down.
"Chain drinker," Kain murmured to Reeve, who snorted before slapping her hands to her mouth.

"Dammit Tarren! I challenge you to a freakin' spar! What, do I have to glove slap you?"
"Might assist," Ciara replied, swinging the glaive off her back.
Cade looked at her, sword brandished. "What? What's with the glaive?"
"I called Tarren in a spar."
"When?"
"Five minutes ago."
Cade swung her sword down. Ciara quickly responded, bringing her glaive in a circle before counting the move. She pressed down, sending Cade off balance.
"Damn you and your legnth extension! Guess it's what you want for being so short."
Ciara grimaced, released her weapon, and flung backwards, knocking herself into Tarren and Merrick before pushing herself forward.

And Cade moved out of the way, sending Ciara sprawling into the grass.

"God dammit," she muttered, a slew of swears coming from under her breath. She stood up, rubbed her chin, and turned to Tarren, walking towards him.

Peeling off one of her gloves, Ciara grasped it in her free hand and sorta slapped his neck. "I challenge you...to a duel!"[/color][/size]

[Aiyanna]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]Ciarra grinned at him, and laughed at the look on his face. Finally a little emotion had appeared through his stone-set features. And that was suprise.

"I can't duel you. That would be improper." He said simply, though is eyes did shift to her glaive with a touch of interest.

Ciarra raised an eyebrow, and rested the glaive against her shoulder as she tugged off her other glove, casually tucking them into her belt. "So, you're saying that you can't fight me because I'm a woman?" A flick of irritation darted across her features.

"Yeah, basically." He said, not reading the undercurrent she was sending off. But then...when did men ever?

"Oh. I see. You think I can't beat you, huh, with all your militaristic training and the like? Well, we'll just have to see. Sure, I may be a bit rusty. But I started learning weaponry almost at the same time as I started Lady's lessons." A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and her eyes, now mostly lavender, sparkled dangerously. She strode over to a clear spot on the grass, and shifted her feet about shoulder length apart, holding the glaive point down in her left hand, her whole body shifting into a fighting position, like a panther waiting to spring. "You gonna come and spar, or are you wimping out already?" she said, her voice taunting.

Tarren shook his head, and fingered his sword hilt, appearing to consider this offer to spar.[/COLOR]

[Takamor`e]

[COLOR=DarkRed] ?Okay, let me rephrase myself, I find it improper, to fight someone in this group. The fact that you are a girl has nothing to do with it, considering I?ve got my ass whipped by a few.? He smirked. He stood up raining in his full height over Ciara?s. ?But if you insist.? He slipped out his Menacing looking blade, and all of the sudden, it split apart, dispensing a pole between two blades. He stared at his opponent, [I]she may be pretty, but I know from experience, they can be deadly. [/I]
Tarren leaped up into a twisting flip landing in front of Ciara. Before he could say his next remark, Ciara held her weapon as a pole staff, and attacked Tarren, who just in time brought his up to parry the attack. She became relentless, attacking high, then trying for the off guard at the feet, then drifting the blade near his head, to pull back and stab at the midsection with Tarren jumping away.
Ciara became frustrated, and swung blindly at his midsection. Terrin saw frustration as a weak moment, and jumped over, and behind her, and swung the pole section at her feet. She was caught off guard, and started to fall. On her way down she contorted her body to land in a spinning fashion on her back, swinging the pole at Tarren?s feet, and bringing him down upon her. He looked down at her and smiled, she smiled for a second and kicked him off of her, and Tarren adjusted himself in the air, and landed on his feet with the blade pole rapping around his arm and back. He started the attack this time spinning his blade rapidly so that every attack Ciara through at him got deflected, and nearly through her Glaive out of her hand.
Ciara noticed an opening every few seconds between the spins. Just as it occurred again, she stuck her glaive in and stopped the attack, and kicked Tarren into a wall. She took his momentary time of weakness, and pinned him up against the wall, pole to his throat and one hand held behind it as well.
?I?ve got you where I want you.? Ciara said haughtily.
?Or do I have you, where I want you?? Tarren said, poking Ciara in the gut with a dagger. He smiled and laughed, she began laughing too. ?Was that enough of a spar?? He said.
?I suppose it?ll do.?
They walked back over to the grove everyone was sitting carrying on conversations, Cade looked disgusted that she couldn?t be the one to have fun. They sat down in front of everyone.
?I didn?t think self help groups were supposed to fight amongst each other.? Terrin said jokingly. ?Kinda ruins the point doesn?t it.? He started laughing and a few others joined in.[/COLOR]

[Random]

[COLOR=Navy][SIZE=1]"True, support groups shouldn't fight amongst each other, but we're not only here to "support" each other. We need to know each other's weaknesses, and everyone's strengths." As Marrick glanced around the group, some seemed almost shocked. Although it seemed out of character, Marrick stated the obvious. "So, in light of that, Cade? You said you wanted to spar."

Looking up, Cade's face changed from depressed and pissed to melevolantly happy. "Is that an open invitation?"

"Take it as you will," Marrick replied, attatching his Tiger Fangs to his left hand. They were usually tied to his waist, on the left side, by a rope.

When she saw his move towards his weapon, Cade drew her own. Then, suddenly, a loud, high-pitched wistle rang out. Jade shot into the air, and rushed at Cade. She jumped out of the way, yelling, "That's not fair! Call off your friggin' bird, Marrick, or I'll make it into a pincushion!"

Marrick just laughed. "She's to fast for you, Cade. If she'll let me, I'll entrust Jade to Reeve for now. That ok?"

"Sure," came Reeve's simple reply. "Be careful, Marrick. Cade seemes to be a real spitfire."

"Trust me," was all that Marrick said in reply. "So, Cade. Ready for me?"

In response, Cade charged at Marrick, her sword point aimed at his neck. Marrick easily sidestepped her attack, spun around, and kicked her in the back. For the second time in a few minutes, she had fallen to the ground.

Rage engulfed her face as she slowly picked herself up. She spun slowly, facing Marrick. Then, she smiled. "Now, boy...you ready for [I]me[/I]?"

Cade reached inside her clothing, fingering something. Marrick started to get worried. In preperation for what she had, he grabbed Soul from his right hip, and held it like a dagger. Cade assumed a fighting position, as did Marrick. Both watched the other's movements, blind to everything else around them.

Cade erected her arm towards Marrick in a snapping motion, and a wizzing sounded just beside his right ear. His eyes grew wide, and he turned to look at the tree just a few feet behind him. There, planted deeply into the wood, was a tri-blade. It looked deadly, and he was glad that Cade had hit the tree and not him.

"Good thing you missed, because you guys'd be one Keeper short." Marrick laughed uncertainly. Then, facing Cade again, "Alright, Cade. No cheap tricks now. Only our main weapons: your sword, and my gauntlet. Got it?"

The only response he got was her war cries.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Katana]

[size=1][color=royalblue]Her war cries were nothing more than a series of deep (for a female) yells, echoing around the forest but stopping right at the bustle and noise of the town. She could see the look in Marrick's eyes. A look of certainty, and yet, with an undertone of sympathy.

It was revolting. He was doubting her.

Cade swung her sword down, being immediately parryed by Marrick's gauntlet. She grinned. He smirked.

"You think I'm doubting you?"

The two rushed back, skidding against the ground. Cade winced slightly as dirt dug into her fingernails. Dirt was annoying to pick out, and always seemed to mutate into more. She quickly stood up and ran forward while Marrick stood stationary. His torso was only protected by his unarmed right arm.

Cade was almost at a perfect attack position. But right at the last moment, she ducked to the right. Marrick flung out his right arm, landing a punch to her shoulder. Cade winced, her sword flying down out of reaction rather than her own force. Marrick's eyes shot open wide, and had just enough time to redirect her sword with his claws. The sword, however, nipped [i]his[/i] shoulder.

"Neither of us is winning," Cade said, rolling her shoulders. She was already imagining the bruise that was to come.
"Now now, don't give up yet," Marrick replied, brushing a hand over his slightly wounded shoulder. "I asked to spar with you because you looked pissed."
"I was. I thankith thee for that. Now c'mon, how about [i]you[/i] attack [i]me[/i] for once, neh?"

Marrick quickly took the invitation, rushing forward with speed Cade wasn't quite expecting. Her body tensed for an instant before she rasied the sword, shifting it into an easily moveable position.

The gauntlet struck. The sword held.

But what Cade noticed, however, was if she were to twist her sword around, and have the gold wrapping shove off his wrist..

She quickly twisted her blade. The gold smacked right where she had planned it to. And, as a final manevour, Cade pushed in a surge of strength, shoving Marrick off.

The two looked at each other, eyebrows tight, eyes in clear focus. They were panting in unison. If one listened closely, they could've heard their hearts beating in unison as well.

"I'm...not..." Cade stopped, blinked, and stood up straight before sheathing her sword. Marrick raised an eyebrow (like in a "what the hell?" fashion not a "surprised expression?" way) as she went to the tree her tri-blade knife had embedded itself into. With a jerk, she managed to free the blades, running her fingers over each grove before flipping it back into a circle and into her jacket.

"You're not what?"

"I'm not...I'm not...I'm hungry."
"You know what, so am I." Marrick slipped the gauntlet off his wrist and tied it back around his waist. "You're a good opponent, Cade, if a little weird."
"Same goes for you, dearest Marrick."
"Even the weird part?"
"Even the weird part."

The two stood there, looking straight into each other, expresionless. Finally, the expressions cracked, revealing grins.

"Alrighty folks, I think it's agreed, we're hungry. So...we're off to raid - I mean buy - things from the vendors. Less go."[/color][/size]