Reunion of the unexpected
Part 1
Memories of a life long past
308 AD 26 March
Late evening
The sun descends as the evening begins to set itself upon the lands of Ithania. A young woman in a navy gown makes her way up a flight of stairs into a brick house furnished neatly with items from varying origin, ranging from regions across the Archipelago. The woman, tired and panting, pushed open the door with her right hand, the other holding stacks of papers near her chest.
"<D'I> Coming home just to do papers again… A repetition I seem to not be able to escape from."
She muttered out under her breath as she slumbs the stacks of papers onto the light oak wood table before turning on the oil lamp. Two fluffy felines of a brownish color made their way to the woman, one eagerly jumping on her lap while the other found its space on a nearby pillow. Night has now fully set into the lands with the moon shining down at the citizens below, Mothers calling out to their children to return back to their huts and houses. Lamps turned off, rendering the streets empty without a single life in sight. Even so, not at all houses were dark and silent, for the blonde woman inside of her own home was forced to continue her work through the stacks of papers she had brought. Pouring herself a bottle of vintage Inthanian wine to her glass. One hand holding the drink and the other flipping sheet after sheet for long, grueling hours throughout the night. As time passed, her eyes slowly began to feel as if the heaviest of metals hung from them, head leaning back and forth trying to keep herself awake.
"<D'I> So much work still needs to be done…."
She takes a sip of wine as she leans herself back against the chair, her hand idly petting the sleeping cat in her lap.
"<D' I> A small break couldn't hurt, I suppose…"
She muttered out as well before gently lifting the cat up in her arms, getting up from her seat. She went to place the ball of fur next to the other, giving them both a stroke before taking a small stroll around the room. Her eyes glued themselves towards the paintings that were neatly placed around the walls. They were all depictions of different things, ranging from scenery to animals, but one of the paintings resembled a group of people, a family with a crest of a ram adorning the frame. She stared at that painting for a moment, her chest aching. Her eyes widened up and her teeth began grinding against each other.
"<D' I> I wonder how they are fairing nowadays… If it all fell apart, then.."
Muttered out from her lips with a soft tone as her heart began to weigh with sorrow. Her fist clenching tightly into a ball, a single tear began to roll down to her cheek, more threatening to follow.. Memories flow into her mind as if a wave had just hit her...but alas the blonde woman snapped back into reality, her heart thumping heavily and her eyes widened with a gasp. Her head pounding, her hands moving to gently wipe the wet streaks from her cheeks.
"<D'I> I need to sit down…"
She slowly makes her way over towards the fireplace, setting herself down on a rocking chair with a bear hide below her as a carpet, the crest once more on top of the fireplace with a rapier below it. It was covered in dust, as if no one has touched it in years. Collecting herself she took a deep breath, giving the floor a light kick as the chair began to sway. She was pondering if it was worth keeping memorabilia of times long past, but like last time she deemed it necessary. Her tired eyes shut, and the overworked, emotional lady was fast asleep. Once asleep, the cat who had previously found her lap the most comfortable spot in the world returned to that spot, as per usual.
Part 2
Blades and shanties
308 AD 26 March
Noon
The sun was beaming its heat down from the skies above, with the smell of sea water covering the air around the ship. Sounds of seagulls flying over the sails and waves crashing on the side of the hull, but no matter how loud they were, the sounds were negated by the cheering and laughter from the ship itself as two men stood in a circle half naked and started boxing with each other.
"Your mom fucks a goat!"
One of the fighters yells out.
The other fighter stood completely still with his hands covering the front of his face, his dark brown hair blew in the wind as his eyes stared back at his opponent, a grin forming at his lips. He lunged himself forward at the man in front of him, the other man proceeding to send a hook towards the brunet's side. He easily dodged it, his knees bending as he sent an uppercut towards his opponent's chin causing him to stumble, tripping on a loose plank and falling on to his back.
"And that is why you do not taunt someone that poorly, think of some better taunts in the future."
The Anglian man spoke with a smug smirk on his face, sliding his black tunic back on to his body before turning his attention over towards the Captain of the ship. The Captain stood next to the wheel, his scruffy black long beard blowing in the wind and his right on the side of the wheel.
"How long before we reach Regalia ?"
He yelled out at the captain while he patted down his outfit, letting the dust fly off the fabrics.
"Should be soon my dear Anglian man! But we have to make a stop at Ithania for a moment. My men need supplies if we are to make it the rest of the trip."
The captain responded, his free left hand moving up to stroke his majestic beard.
The Anglian man sighed heavily at his demeanor, looking over to the other sailors helping his friend up from his shameful defeat. He turned himself around and walked into his private cabin. Inside his cubby was a table and a bed prepared, not the best of conditions but usable nonetheless. To some extent, at least. He sat himself down onto the wooden chair, grabbing a book and placing it on the desk. He opened it, beginning to read through the pages in attempts to make time fly by.
"This book is duller than the meals they serve here…"
He sighed, closing the book and standing. He looked across at his blade which laid at the side of his bed, memories beginning to flow inside of his mind. Memories chosen to be forgotten, a past he dreaded. He quickly snapped back into reality, causing him to stumble back onto his seat, his heart pounding, beads of sweat rolling down along the side of his face. He looked around at surroundings for a moment, seeing if everything was in place. He checked his pockets, pulling out a small heart shaped locket, and within moments more soother memories filled his head of a specific woman he had always an eye on.
"I wonder how she is doing...it's been two..three years at least."
He pondered deeply into the locket, yet a loud scream came from the outside, ruining his short happy moment.
"Pirates!"
The men yelled out, the Captain ordering them to get ready for a fight. Each sailor armed themselves with Puretek weapons to shoot some of the pirates off the starboard side of the ship. The Anglian brunet rises up and grabs his sheathed sword, putting it on his side as the Velheim pirates begin to board their ship.
"Defend the crates! Defend the ship"
The captain yelled out as he fought one of the pirates who boarded. He turned the ship towards the pirates' in an attempt to push them off. The Anglian man makes it out of his cabin to see the sailors one by one get cut down by the pirates, one of them walking towards him with a raised saber. In quick succession he grabbed onto his blade, removing it from it's sheath before sending a slash towards the pirate. The blade sliced right through his chest, dropping dead on the deck as blood pooled around him.surface.
"Who's next…."
He looked over at the group of pirates, both male and female. He rushed in head on, and with the added fighter a proper brawl ensued. Both sides clash their blades, bodies dropping left and right. Blades were swung, punches thrown, the massacre going on for what felt like seconds, but in truth lasted for close to an hour. Both sailors and pirates laid dead on the deck, but the sailors' numbers remained larger. Some pirates began running back towards their own ship, while the rest kept their blades raised as the fight continued.
It wouldn't take much longer before the Captain of the pirates shouted out the order of retreat as their loss was imminent, the pirates left alive gunning it towards their own ship. The Captain of the sailors' ship had remained near the wheel, and once the pirates began to flee he made a harsh turn to the side. The ship tilted, causing men to tumble and bodies to slide along the deck. Soon, the ship was on route away from the pirates, the sailors beginning to cheer in victory. The cheering lasted for a long while, and even with the lost men they were happy to continue their venture. The Anglian looked around at the carnage left behind, his gaze only tuning away as he heard the Captain shout.
"We are almost at the Ithanian port!"
The sailor captain yelled out as he turned his ship towards the direction of the port, finally the breeze and the smell of the bustling town hit the Anglian man's senses and the rest of the sailors around. Finally reaching the harbor, many Ithanian citizens look up at the incoming ship as it docks. They sent their stairs down before one by one the sailors walked off the ship, a set of men having put the fallen on a cart. The cart rolled off down the street, some men left behind to clean the deck. The sun had already begun to set over the lands as evening approached.
"Captain, I request that we leave for Regalia in a few weeks. I wish to stay around for a moment."
The Anglian man told the captain as he began to march around town, exploring and meeting up with the locals with him speaking their tongue fluently, but each time he talked to them he would ask a specific question.
"<D'I> Do you know of a woman with blonde hair? She was a part of a noble family once?"
Some of them nod and point in the direction of the brick house around the hill side.
Part 3
Are we still friends?
308 AD 26 March
Night
The anglian man walked down the street, on his way to where the locals say that the woman with blonde hair lived. As Ithania turned dark, the only right being the lanterns and the moonlight shining down upon the city. His eyes looked and stared at the brick building, just as huge as the locals mentioned.
"This must be where she lives… still one of the high class are you?"
He jested on his own, marching his way up towards the door and stood right in front of it with his hand hesitant to raise itself to knock upon the door, smacking his lips as he looked over to the side. Thinking to himself
"Think she is asleep by now...there is no way."
He muttered before his eyes looked over at the window, seeing the dim light of the oil lanter inside still shining.
"Perhaps not…"
Turning his attention back towards the door his hand finally raised up and clutched into a fist, he sighed heavily before knocking upon the wooden door. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!
The woman inside sounded asleep on her rocking chair, back and forth it goes slowly before the knock woke the cat up and jumped off her lap causing the woman as well to be awoken by surprise. Gasping lightly for a moment with her eyes still a bit heavy as her lips opened up for a loud yawn
" <D'I> Coming...Coming…"
Her hands placed onto the door knob and gripped it tightly and opened the door wide open, she didn't recognize the man in front at first but her eyes soon widened up. Gasping for air as she stumbles back from the door and fell backwards in shock
"L-Leon..? Is that you..?"
She spoke, her voice sounding but tired and disbelief as she stared at the man in front of her. The Anglian man stood and stared at her with a smile, a small chuckle escaping his lips. The woman he hadn't seen for years, and even then it was like she hadn't changed a bit.
"You look like you've seen a ghost...well maybe so, but it's good to see you once more…
Solaine d'Vaud."
He spoke out softly with his head poking past the door, taking a small peek at what was inside the house.
"Mind if I come in? Or would you rather see me stay out here in the cold?"
She paused and stared at him for a moment, her gaze locked with his. She hadn't seen him in years, and she could almost instantly tell.
"No...not at all, please do come in, and it's just.. Solaine now."
She gave a tired smile as she held the door open for the man to enter. He looked around the living space, noticing the cats roaming around
"I never thought you were a cat person."
"I always have been. Mocha and Latte stayed with me while I was in Regalia, but Latte was just a kitten back then. They give me company, seeing as it tends to get lonely here."
"Mocha and latte? Funny names... "
He jested, but it didn't seem to put a smile on her face, only managing to get her brow to raise.
"It has been a long time since we saw each other hasn't it? Thought you'd be in the city..not to have real estate and vineyards to boot."
She looked at him with slight confusion, only for a soft and silent chuckle to escape her lips.
"Ithania is a lovely place to live, really. It fits perfectly for my business considering I run a winery and brew store close to the port. It's been able to pay for most of my expenses, including the money I have saved up from before."
"Ever thought of being an aristocrat or perhaps become a noble once more?"
"....I would rather keep my life the way it is… Calm, peaceful, no need to worry about politics. It fits me much better than the stresses of nobility.."
"Hmmm...I see, I'm due to leave for Regalia in a few days but I might stay here a little longer. Can't leave without tasting the seasonal wine...coming with?"
She paused for a moment and looks around her living room
"I...I don't know if I would ever wish to go back… I like my life here, and Regalia is always a pool of problems… Be it due to politics or some other.. Otherworldly event."
"Won't force you...I'll be around here for a moment, you know that I can't go without exploring the place a little… Mind me using one of your spare rooms? If you have one that is.."
She stared at him for a moment before softly nodding her head.
"I have some spare, yes… You can stay for as long as you'd like."
"Sounds splendid, I'll help around the house if you wish. You know I'm a good cook."
"Don't worry about that… I already cook well enough, but we shall see to that matter some other time, for now… I need some rest.. You should as well. There's a room on the second floor to the right."
He nodded and turned his attention towards the flight of stairs, marching himself up towards them slowly before stopping to peer his head over his shoulders look at the blonde haired woman with a smile
"I thank you Solaine...you always have been a kind spirit to me."
OOC NOTE:
Credits to @Mayaran on contributing to the lore story
This lore story is for @Ryria 's writing competition on massivecraft
Also to tease old characters might be coming back to Regalia to start their new adventures after years of absent!
Songs for the mood of the story
Part 1
Part 2
part 3
Memories of a life long past
308 AD 26 March
Late evening
The sun descends as the evening begins to set itself upon the lands of Ithania. A young woman in a navy gown makes her way up a flight of stairs into a brick house furnished neatly with items from varying origin, ranging from regions across the Archipelago. The woman, tired and panting, pushed open the door with her right hand, the other holding stacks of papers near her chest.
"<D'I> Coming home just to do papers again… A repetition I seem to not be able to escape from."
She muttered out under her breath as she slumbs the stacks of papers onto the light oak wood table before turning on the oil lamp. Two fluffy felines of a brownish color made their way to the woman, one eagerly jumping on her lap while the other found its space on a nearby pillow. Night has now fully set into the lands with the moon shining down at the citizens below, Mothers calling out to their children to return back to their huts and houses. Lamps turned off, rendering the streets empty without a single life in sight. Even so, not at all houses were dark and silent, for the blonde woman inside of her own home was forced to continue her work through the stacks of papers she had brought. Pouring herself a bottle of vintage Inthanian wine to her glass. One hand holding the drink and the other flipping sheet after sheet for long, grueling hours throughout the night. As time passed, her eyes slowly began to feel as if the heaviest of metals hung from them, head leaning back and forth trying to keep herself awake.
"<D'I> So much work still needs to be done…."
She takes a sip of wine as she leans herself back against the chair, her hand idly petting the sleeping cat in her lap.
"<D' I> A small break couldn't hurt, I suppose…"
She muttered out as well before gently lifting the cat up in her arms, getting up from her seat. She went to place the ball of fur next to the other, giving them both a stroke before taking a small stroll around the room. Her eyes glued themselves towards the paintings that were neatly placed around the walls. They were all depictions of different things, ranging from scenery to animals, but one of the paintings resembled a group of people, a family with a crest of a ram adorning the frame. She stared at that painting for a moment, her chest aching. Her eyes widened up and her teeth began grinding against each other.
"<D' I> I wonder how they are fairing nowadays… If it all fell apart, then.."
Muttered out from her lips with a soft tone as her heart began to weigh with sorrow. Her fist clenching tightly into a ball, a single tear began to roll down to her cheek, more threatening to follow.. Memories flow into her mind as if a wave had just hit her...but alas the blonde woman snapped back into reality, her heart thumping heavily and her eyes widened with a gasp. Her head pounding, her hands moving to gently wipe the wet streaks from her cheeks.
"<D'I> I need to sit down…"
She slowly makes her way over towards the fireplace, setting herself down on a rocking chair with a bear hide below her as a carpet, the crest once more on top of the fireplace with a rapier below it. It was covered in dust, as if no one has touched it in years. Collecting herself she took a deep breath, giving the floor a light kick as the chair began to sway. She was pondering if it was worth keeping memorabilia of times long past, but like last time she deemed it necessary. Her tired eyes shut, and the overworked, emotional lady was fast asleep. Once asleep, the cat who had previously found her lap the most comfortable spot in the world returned to that spot, as per usual.
Part 2
Blades and shanties
308 AD 26 March
Noon
The sun was beaming its heat down from the skies above, with the smell of sea water covering the air around the ship. Sounds of seagulls flying over the sails and waves crashing on the side of the hull, but no matter how loud they were, the sounds were negated by the cheering and laughter from the ship itself as two men stood in a circle half naked and started boxing with each other.
"Your mom fucks a goat!"
One of the fighters yells out.
The other fighter stood completely still with his hands covering the front of his face, his dark brown hair blew in the wind as his eyes stared back at his opponent, a grin forming at his lips. He lunged himself forward at the man in front of him, the other man proceeding to send a hook towards the brunet's side. He easily dodged it, his knees bending as he sent an uppercut towards his opponent's chin causing him to stumble, tripping on a loose plank and falling on to his back.
"And that is why you do not taunt someone that poorly, think of some better taunts in the future."
The Anglian man spoke with a smug smirk on his face, sliding his black tunic back on to his body before turning his attention over towards the Captain of the ship. The Captain stood next to the wheel, his scruffy black long beard blowing in the wind and his right on the side of the wheel.
"How long before we reach Regalia ?"
He yelled out at the captain while he patted down his outfit, letting the dust fly off the fabrics.
"Should be soon my dear Anglian man! But we have to make a stop at Ithania for a moment. My men need supplies if we are to make it the rest of the trip."
The captain responded, his free left hand moving up to stroke his majestic beard.
The Anglian man sighed heavily at his demeanor, looking over to the other sailors helping his friend up from his shameful defeat. He turned himself around and walked into his private cabin. Inside his cubby was a table and a bed prepared, not the best of conditions but usable nonetheless. To some extent, at least. He sat himself down onto the wooden chair, grabbing a book and placing it on the desk. He opened it, beginning to read through the pages in attempts to make time fly by.
"This book is duller than the meals they serve here…"
He sighed, closing the book and standing. He looked across at his blade which laid at the side of his bed, memories beginning to flow inside of his mind. Memories chosen to be forgotten, a past he dreaded. He quickly snapped back into reality, causing him to stumble back onto his seat, his heart pounding, beads of sweat rolling down along the side of his face. He looked around at surroundings for a moment, seeing if everything was in place. He checked his pockets, pulling out a small heart shaped locket, and within moments more soother memories filled his head of a specific woman he had always an eye on.
"I wonder how she is doing...it's been two..three years at least."
He pondered deeply into the locket, yet a loud scream came from the outside, ruining his short happy moment.
"Pirates!"
The men yelled out, the Captain ordering them to get ready for a fight. Each sailor armed themselves with Puretek weapons to shoot some of the pirates off the starboard side of the ship. The Anglian brunet rises up and grabs his sheathed sword, putting it on his side as the Velheim pirates begin to board their ship.
"Defend the crates! Defend the ship"
The captain yelled out as he fought one of the pirates who boarded. He turned the ship towards the pirates' in an attempt to push them off. The Anglian man makes it out of his cabin to see the sailors one by one get cut down by the pirates, one of them walking towards him with a raised saber. In quick succession he grabbed onto his blade, removing it from it's sheath before sending a slash towards the pirate. The blade sliced right through his chest, dropping dead on the deck as blood pooled around him.surface.
"Who's next…."
He looked over at the group of pirates, both male and female. He rushed in head on, and with the added fighter a proper brawl ensued. Both sides clash their blades, bodies dropping left and right. Blades were swung, punches thrown, the massacre going on for what felt like seconds, but in truth lasted for close to an hour. Both sailors and pirates laid dead on the deck, but the sailors' numbers remained larger. Some pirates began running back towards their own ship, while the rest kept their blades raised as the fight continued.
It wouldn't take much longer before the Captain of the pirates shouted out the order of retreat as their loss was imminent, the pirates left alive gunning it towards their own ship. The Captain of the sailors' ship had remained near the wheel, and once the pirates began to flee he made a harsh turn to the side. The ship tilted, causing men to tumble and bodies to slide along the deck. Soon, the ship was on route away from the pirates, the sailors beginning to cheer in victory. The cheering lasted for a long while, and even with the lost men they were happy to continue their venture. The Anglian looked around at the carnage left behind, his gaze only tuning away as he heard the Captain shout.
"We are almost at the Ithanian port!"
The sailor captain yelled out as he turned his ship towards the direction of the port, finally the breeze and the smell of the bustling town hit the Anglian man's senses and the rest of the sailors around. Finally reaching the harbor, many Ithanian citizens look up at the incoming ship as it docks. They sent their stairs down before one by one the sailors walked off the ship, a set of men having put the fallen on a cart. The cart rolled off down the street, some men left behind to clean the deck. The sun had already begun to set over the lands as evening approached.
"Captain, I request that we leave for Regalia in a few weeks. I wish to stay around for a moment."
The Anglian man told the captain as he began to march around town, exploring and meeting up with the locals with him speaking their tongue fluently, but each time he talked to them he would ask a specific question.
"<D'I> Do you know of a woman with blonde hair? She was a part of a noble family once?"
Some of them nod and point in the direction of the brick house around the hill side.
Part 3
Are we still friends?
308 AD 26 March
Night
The anglian man walked down the street, on his way to where the locals say that the woman with blonde hair lived. As Ithania turned dark, the only right being the lanterns and the moonlight shining down upon the city. His eyes looked and stared at the brick building, just as huge as the locals mentioned.
"This must be where she lives… still one of the high class are you?"
He jested on his own, marching his way up towards the door and stood right in front of it with his hand hesitant to raise itself to knock upon the door, smacking his lips as he looked over to the side. Thinking to himself
"Think she is asleep by now...there is no way."
He muttered before his eyes looked over at the window, seeing the dim light of the oil lanter inside still shining.
"Perhaps not…"
Turning his attention back towards the door his hand finally raised up and clutched into a fist, he sighed heavily before knocking upon the wooden door. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!
The woman inside sounded asleep on her rocking chair, back and forth it goes slowly before the knock woke the cat up and jumped off her lap causing the woman as well to be awoken by surprise. Gasping lightly for a moment with her eyes still a bit heavy as her lips opened up for a loud yawn
" <D'I> Coming...Coming…"
Her hands placed onto the door knob and gripped it tightly and opened the door wide open, she didn't recognize the man in front at first but her eyes soon widened up. Gasping for air as she stumbles back from the door and fell backwards in shock
"L-Leon..? Is that you..?"
She spoke, her voice sounding but tired and disbelief as she stared at the man in front of her. The Anglian man stood and stared at her with a smile, a small chuckle escaping his lips. The woman he hadn't seen for years, and even then it was like she hadn't changed a bit.
"You look like you've seen a ghost...well maybe so, but it's good to see you once more…
Solaine d'Vaud."
He spoke out softly with his head poking past the door, taking a small peek at what was inside the house.
"Mind if I come in? Or would you rather see me stay out here in the cold?"
She paused and stared at him for a moment, her gaze locked with his. She hadn't seen him in years, and she could almost instantly tell.
"No...not at all, please do come in, and it's just.. Solaine now."
She gave a tired smile as she held the door open for the man to enter. He looked around the living space, noticing the cats roaming around
"I never thought you were a cat person."
"I always have been. Mocha and Latte stayed with me while I was in Regalia, but Latte was just a kitten back then. They give me company, seeing as it tends to get lonely here."
"Mocha and latte? Funny names... "
He jested, but it didn't seem to put a smile on her face, only managing to get her brow to raise.
"It has been a long time since we saw each other hasn't it? Thought you'd be in the city..not to have real estate and vineyards to boot."
She looked at him with slight confusion, only for a soft and silent chuckle to escape her lips.
"Ithania is a lovely place to live, really. It fits perfectly for my business considering I run a winery and brew store close to the port. It's been able to pay for most of my expenses, including the money I have saved up from before."
"Ever thought of being an aristocrat or perhaps become a noble once more?"
"....I would rather keep my life the way it is… Calm, peaceful, no need to worry about politics. It fits me much better than the stresses of nobility.."
"Hmmm...I see, I'm due to leave for Regalia in a few days but I might stay here a little longer. Can't leave without tasting the seasonal wine...coming with?"
She paused for a moment and looks around her living room
"I...I don't know if I would ever wish to go back… I like my life here, and Regalia is always a pool of problems… Be it due to politics or some other.. Otherworldly event."
"Won't force you...I'll be around here for a moment, you know that I can't go without exploring the place a little… Mind me using one of your spare rooms? If you have one that is.."
She stared at him for a moment before softly nodding her head.
"I have some spare, yes… You can stay for as long as you'd like."
"Sounds splendid, I'll help around the house if you wish. You know I'm a good cook."
"Don't worry about that… I already cook well enough, but we shall see to that matter some other time, for now… I need some rest.. You should as well. There's a room on the second floor to the right."
He nodded and turned his attention towards the flight of stairs, marching himself up towards them slowly before stopping to peer his head over his shoulders look at the blonde haired woman with a smile
"I thank you Solaine...you always have been a kind spirit to me."
OOC NOTE:
Credits to @Mayaran on contributing to the lore story
This lore story is for @Ryria 's writing competition on massivecraft
Also to tease old characters might be coming back to Regalia to start their new adventures after years of absent!
Songs for the mood of the story
Part 1
Part 2
part 3
Last edited:
