[02] Age of Wyrms!

[Kazuya]

The sky was a blaze of deep oranges and fiery reds as the sun came to a slow decent along the rocky horizon. The landscape magnificently painted with dark, long shadows that threw themselves for miles, reaching towards her as if trying to escape that dying light. Kazuya looked onward from a high cliffside, taking in this majestic scene, her heart and soul feeling almost at home. Her body sang with energy as it seeped from the ground, upwards through her mount, and finally, into her. There was something dark within that energy, a taint, that flickered within her like a dying flame. She felt the presence of something far more familiar, something that beaconed for her to come join. It had been far too long since she last felt that energy, but there was no mistaking the flavor of this kind, and while one half of her rejoiced to know that there were kin out there, the other half resisted, knowing that if she followed where she was yearning to go, she’d be lost forever. It wouldn’t be just one half that fought with the demon that resided within her, no; she knew that without someone with far more willpower than she had, she’d be lost to the demonic taint, and she would become that which she feared.

Suddenly, the barren landscape with its growing shadows no longer held the magic it did just moments before. In this strange new land, battles would be fought, and win or lose, she wondered what her place in it would be. Which side would she reside? Would she be a hero or villain? Was the path ever so clearly cut?

“We must move to meet camp, Warden.”

“I know,” Kazuya sighed reluctantly, shifting her weight as she took the bridle of her mount. She’d removed the plated helm, holding it within her lap, but the rest of the armor was stifling, not at all as comfortable as the battle gear she’d donned once upon a time. Her hair was bound tightly against the back of her skull with leather thongs and meticulously crafted sticks, ones she’d placed there because the dipshit that put her in this armor didn’t know how to bind hair correctly. “I am assuming the fire down in the valley below is where we are to gather. How many more Wardens will there be besides myself?”

“Four others,” replied her guide. She never did get his name, and honestly, didn’t think he was important enough for her to know. “I do not know how many have arrived already, but we are wasting time sitting up here and not covering more ground.”

“The horses needed rest,” she half-truthed. She stopped not only for that, but because the scent of demons flared within her body, not unlike being too close to a fire and feeling its heat against one’s skin. The closer she got, the more uncomfortable it became.

“They’ve rested enough, mi’lady.”

“Hai, yes,” Kazuya agreed. “Then let us not waste any more time. The camp looks about an hour’s ride if we move quickly.” Without further conversation, Kazuya wheeled her horse around and down the path they came up, instincts taking over as she found herself at the foot of the large hillside and turning towards the camp.

The brush was sparse, thankfully, and ahead, she saw the faint light of fire as it flickered between makeshift tents, shadowy figures moved around the encampment as she drew closer. The thunder of hooves as the small party approached alerted the guards within the encampment to throw up their torches, and she knew they would be prepared for anything.

It only took a few seconds for one of the men further back in her brigade to throw up their friendly flag, a blue piece of fabric with a white insignia of a bird in its center. It flew loose, billowing in the wind they created, and the torches ahead waved. She guessed that it was a friendly gesture, and there wouldn’t be any unnecessary skirmish upon their arrival. Good.

They entered the camp unmolested, a dozen or so warriors behind her all on mounts that looked like demons themselves as they grunted and snorted, a heavy fog billowing from their flared nostrils as they calmed from the long, hard ride from the cliffs. Kazuya led them to a makeshift stable area, where they shackled their steeds.

Kaz slid off her mount and grabbed her helm and sword, sliding the weapon into the hilt on her back and the plated head piece to her side as she made her way back into the center of the camp, while the rest of her entourage branched off to other areas. There was one familiar face, what was her name… “Suzaku, how very nice to see you again,” Kazuya greeted the silver haired beauty warmly, bowing her head politely. Her eyes darted to a young dark haired man, dressed in dark robes and a cane in his hand. “And you are?”

“Juno,” he replied, face stoic as he took in the former samurai’s features. “You must be another Grey Warden, I assume?”

Kazuya nodded. “So I’ve been told, hai, yes, I am.” She sighed. “Although not so much by choice; this game, it seems, is getting more dangerous as each day passes. I feel something not natural in these lands, so we must proceed with care.”


Juno nodded. “Are you familiar with ze Darkspawn?”

“Not familiar, no. But I do feel…demons.” The word rolled from her tongue like something putrid, her face distorting in disgust. “They have touched this land like a plague.”

“A plague we have been charged with to eradicate,” Juno supplied. “We shall depart shortly, once ze other two have arrived. Ze quicker they come, ze quicker we can be rid of this menace, and return to ze Carnival.”

Kaz shuddered. “I just want out of this game.”

“You and me, both;” Juno sighed. Tamsin nodded in agreement.