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Located higher/closer to the mountains and thicker forests, Stratham is quite the sight. Tall and wide, a lot of this fortress is covered in ivy but stands visible in its meadow, while it's surrounding city lazes down through the mountain and hillsides. There are a little less farms here, but the area can be just as thickly populated as the Kingdom of Aramore.

Stratham
Stratham was born of the brother Ratham, and though he grieved his father’s death, he deigned to rule his half of the Kingdom well and with honor; Stratham is widely known for its rising mountains and the hardy, hard-working miners that delve into them

King:
Aron Eld III | M | 27 y/o | Dragon Shifter

Queen:
to be determined in RP

Heirs:
ask Potato Lord (they play King)/to be determined in RP)


Royal Advisor:
[advises the King and HoW]
Gerard Ward | M | 59 y/o | Pheonix

Head of War:
[leads the knights, but ultimately under the King and Advisor]
Azarius Afanasy | M | 30 y/o | Grizzly Bear

Knights:
[patrol the kingdom. occasionally fight in battles, but only if they come across Aramore knights on their/neutral land. supposed to protect their Kingdom's civilians/commoners]

Ciarán Reveris | F | 29 y/o | Melanistic Central African Leopard
Clovia Panthera | F | 19 y/o | Owl
Chloe Jean | F | 23 y/o | Sarcosuchus
Maddox Varkony | M | 28 y/o | Polar Bear

Shamans:
[or witchdoctors. healers of the kingdom. located in different areas of the kingdoms, normally at their home or as a traveler]

Andrea Skylar | F | 25 y/o | Domest Shorthair Cat
Azaya Qwyn | F | 27 y/o | Qilin x Unicorn

Known Mercenaries:
["those concerned with making money at the expense of ethics"; likely bounty hunters or wanted criminals]

Cŵn (Quinn) | Agender w/ male pronouns | 28 y/o | Longdog
Amice Nash | F | 29 y/o | Mercenary/Thief | Red Fox

Commoners:
[includes any who work in the marketplace or farms: blacksmith, merchant, artisan, rancher, etc.]

Lorelei Forestyne | F | 24 y/o | Pegasus | Gardener/Herbalist/Falconer
Catherine Dagöth | F | 31 y/o | Highland Cow | Farmer/Beginner Leatherworker

Others:
[anyone without a defining rank like those above]

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Located in thickly-forested valley area, the Aramore castle is separated from most of its people by gardens, trees, and meadows of horses. The mountains, and eventually Stratham, are to the north. Its surrounding town is thickly populated and furls through the forest and fields around the castle, while it's farms and remaining homes slowly spread throughout the remaining hillside.

Aramore
Aramore was born of the brother Ramora. Although he valued honor, he loved his people more than anything. Aramore is known for its sprawling hills and the farmers that work and live there.

King:
Polaris Vendela | M | 41 y/o | Quetzacoatl

Queen:
Rosalina Vendela | F | 42 y/o | Peryton

Heirs:
Natalia Vendela | F | 22 y/o | African Wild Dog


Royal Advisor:
[advises the King and HoW]
Kutaika Hedlund | F | 26 y/o | Tundra Wolf

Head of War:
[leads the knights, but ultimately under the King and Advisor]
Cole García | M | 35 y/o | Greyhound

Knights:
[patrol the kingdom. occasionally fight in battles, but only if they come across Aramore knights on their/neutral land. supposed to protect their Kingdom's civilians/commoners]

Kenna Castleroy | F | 26 y/o | Ferret
Luciano Varkony | M | 32 y/o | Melanistic Barbary Lion
Christopher Hasbro | M | 24 y/o | Peryton

Shamans:
[or witchdoctors. healers of the kingdom. located in different areas of the kingdoms]

Deana Allerton | F | 30 y/o | Chincoteague Pony

Known Mercenaries:
["those concerned with making money at the expense of ethics"; likely bounty hunters or wanted criminals]

Fulke Church | M | 36 y/o | Polecat
Turah Faye | F | 19 y/o | Mercenary/Thief | Red Fox

Commoners:
[includes any who works in the marketplace or farms: blacksmith, merchant, artisan, rancher, etc.]

Aquila de Escaleriis | F | 23 y/o | Dragon | Blacksmith
Rylen Cristobal | M | 26 y/o | Jaguar | Animal Tracker/Trainer
Casimiro Herrera | M | 26 y/o | Gryphon (Lesser Sooty Owl x Melanistic Jaguar) | Blacksmith
Jael Indra | M | 20 y/o | Alpine Ibex | Rancher/Cattle Herder

Others:
[anyone without a defining rank like those above]

Forest Mikasi | M | 25 y/o | former Doctor, seeks work as Bodyguard | Bernese Mountain Dog
Arnette Bennett | M | 15 y/o | seeks Rancher Apprenticeship | Gryphon (Peregrine Falcon x Cheetah

The approximate time is early morning.
The time of the year is early Spring.
The weather is clear and crisp with little clouds.
There most recent Knight raids have occurred in Aramore, near the low hills and outskirts. Rumor says the King of Stratham ordered them himself to scare Aramore into a peace treaty, though nothing can be provided as proof.
Both Kingdoms are currently known to seek a meeting between Royals, though the difficulty comes in actually arranging one, as there's no real neutral territory between the Kingdoms to meet within. Normally the Royalty would decide to meet within a castle, but these times are strenuous and untrustworthy for all.
For those less concerned with politics, there have been sightings of unknown raiders in both Kingdoms, leading citizens to believe those of little moral-standing have banded together to gather resources for themselves. The Raiders don't care for either Kingdom and are killing citizens that challenge them or can't defend themselves. This is also a concern for the Kings and another reason they seek a Royal Conference.

Natalia Grace Vendela | F | 22 y/o
Aramore | Heir | African Painted Dog
Castle > Marketplace | Mentions: n/a

It was always difficult trying to escape the two guards Natalia's father had stationed at her side for the past three years. Sometimes the knowledge that they'd surely be sent home and stripped of their Knighthood would hold her at bay and she'd find herself grumpily stalking the Castle's halls in her favorite red and gold gown, glaring at her Knightly captors whenever she found a chance. But today was not one of those days and Natalia was as restless as she could be. The two guards stationed beside her door followed her down the stairs as she headed silently for the garden. The Princess usually tried to dress normally when she planned on sneaking away that day, but the guards had been a bit more stressed than usual, so Talia had planned something that would surely leave them unconcerned with her escaping.

Stepping out into the fresh and crisp air, she inhaled deeply and tucked a loose strand of brunette hair behind her ear. Her Knights turned with her as she headed away from the usual flowers she tended and towards the rear garden. This morning Natalia lacked her red and gold gown and instead favored a simple cream and brown dress that made her look more like a peasant girl than a Princess. The Knights placed themselves against two of the walls opposite of the other and began their watch as she crouched among the vegetables and fruits she adored so much. After a good half hour of work, she continuously found herself glancing towards both Knights, who were more concerned with watching the walls and entrances for any sign of disturbance than with keeping their eyes actually on her.

The first closed his eyes to yawn for just a second and the other was turned away from her for the moment, looking towards where one of the castle cooks was dumping something into their rubbish pile. Within an instant Natalia was shifted and bolting away, a few specks of dirt flying up behind her as the Painted Dog skirted a wall and slipped through the garden entrance furthest away from her guards. Far enough away, she let out a joyful yip and ran towards the town beneath the castle, smiling and enjoying the feel of the dew-coated grass under her paws.

Natalia shifted again when she reached the town, behind a few trees just outside the marketplace, and took down her hair so that her gown matched with her messy hair made her less of a suspect for Royalty. She kept some change in her gown pocket at all times and before she knew it, the young woman had a small basket of fresh fruits she was snacking on as she made her way through the rock-paved streets of her beloved city. Most of the commoners were already up and working, and Natalia's hazel eyes curiously watched their morning routines as she walked.
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Rylen Val Cristobal | M | 26 y/o
Aramore | Animal Tracker/Trainer | Jaguar
Farm > Marketplace | Mentions: unknown Knight(s)

Early mornings were the usual around the Cristobal household, so when Rylen came trotting back down the hillside on his favored Pegasi, he was unsurprised to find his two younger sisters already tending their gardens and feeding the few smaller farm animals they kept, like chickens and sheep. He smiled towards them as he dismounted the silver horse, gently caressing the wings as they folded against its back. Maisie, with dirt smeared across her cheek, bounced over to him to hold the reigns while he opened the gate and prepared the stall. Once his Pegasi was in and fed, he turned to her and mussed her hair with his long fingers, tempted to lick them and wipe the dirt from her face.

"Did you and River find anything new?" Maisie asked, still bouncing around his feet with more energy than Rylen himself could muster. He picked up the ten-year-old and swung her around for a moment until he saw his mother through one of their open windows. She was working on something at the table, likely new tack for the animals, or some new pretty gadget to try and wrangle a Royal into buying.

"No, not yet Mais. There were some Griffin tracks near the base of the Stonewall Hill, but we can't really afford to keep one of those yet, since they prefer meat." She nodded in understanding and after he pecked her on the forehead, she bounded off to continue helping Rora with the fields. Knocking his shoes off outside the door, he wrapped an arm around his mother as he came inside the kitchen, startling her into dropping the leather she was working with. "Hey ma," he murmured as he kissed her cheek. "I'm about to go into town. Do we need anything?" he asked. After a short conversation, Rylen headed towards the horse stables and picked their sturdiest stallion to take into town.

The steady click clack of the horse's hooves distracted and soothed Rylen and before he knew it, he was nearing the market place. They didn't have much ready to sell, so instead, he was here to buy some things they needed. Mainly the fruits and vegetables they didn't grow at the farm and a few materials his mother had requested. He was moving to dismount the stallion when he heard a commotion to his right and saw a Knight charging after someone Rylen assumed to be a thief or other criminal, a few fruits left scattered across the ground. Holding the reigns in one hand, he gathered what was on the ground and carefully handed it back to the little old woman that ran the fruit stand there.
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Azarias Makar Afanasy | M | 30 y/o
Stratham | Head of War | Grizzly Bear
Castle | Mentions: King Aron

Azarius wasn't normally one to complain, but... he'd hardly held his position a half a year and the Kingdom was already knee-deep in this war. Often in recent times, he found himself pacing back and forth in the War Room, his arms crossed across his thick chest and his brows furrowed in thought. This was about nearly what was occurring now, but instead of pacing, the tall man stood stock still in front of the map of Idris, glaring at the border where Aramore and Stratham met and where the marks on the map told of the recent raids in both Kingdom's outskirts. He knew their citizens- in both Kingdoms- were getting restless and needed resources... just as his own King needed resources for this war.

With a hefty sigh, Azarius turned away from the map and board and rubbed at his temples. They needed to call a Royal Conference and soon. Before these raiders turned their citizens on one another and the war escalated past what the Higher-ups, including himself, could handle. He turned back around to stare intently at the map for a moment before heaving another sigh. "We can't even call for a Conference yet, in all reality," he grumbled to himself. "We haven't had a neutral territory in years. The only way to do it... is to have a Castle Conference."

Castle Conference's were used in the latter years of peace, for both Kingdoms to discuss their needs and the ways they'd work together to achieve those. But with the Kingdoms at war, it was a very high risk to have the Royals of the other Kingdom within their walls. Knights weren't always loyal to their Kings and there were always people willing to "end" the war with an assassination.

Azarius took the small dagger lying on the edge of the thick wooden table and stabbed it into the paper at the border of the two Kingdoms. Then he stalked out of the War Room and down the stone hallways, occasionally catching a glimpse of the mountains and hills outside their windows. A few workers and Knights greeted him respectfully as he passed, but he walked with a determination that begged those of lesser positions than he to leave him be. He currently sought the King, if at least to hear his opinion on the Conference ideal.
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Lorelei Rae Forestyne | F | 24 y/o
Stratham | Gardener/Herbalist/Falconer | Pegasus
Home > Marketplace | Mentions: n/a

It was an early morning for Lorelei- as usual- and she found herself mechanically going through the motions of feeding her birds and tending her small garden of herbs and vegetables that could keep her alive if she ever couldn't afford food from the market. When she was done, the sun was hardly over the horizon and was gracing the mountainous hillside of Stratham with deep golden rays. Cleaning her hands and brushing off the dirt from her clothes, she stood up and glanced at her falconry, where three of her best messenger and hunting falcons awaited and eyed her with their golden gazes. Her favorite bird, a sweet but fierce gyrkin- a male Gyrfalcon- of about two years old, was the largest falcon she owned and enjoyed flying with her when she was a Pegasus, which she found oddly fascinating. He seemed restless and was flitting back and forth in his enclosure in between preening feathers.

As close as she was to the castle's walls, in was hardly a walk to the market and the common streets, where most people met at all hours of the day for any number of tasks. But Lori enjoyed other routes to get there, wherein she could take her bird and they could both get exercise. Closing up her house's doors and windows and making sure everything was secure- the raids were slightly worrying to the lone woman- Lorelei headed out to the falconry she kept behind her home. Her two other favored birds seemed keen to relax where they were, at least for the morning, so she left them alone and released the latch on Saker's cage.

Almost immediately his wingspan was unfurled and he was more than twenty feet high, a victorious screech rising from his yellowed beak. She smiled and laughed to herself before tying back her hair with a thin piece of leather ribbon as he swirled and dipped over their house. He'd never venture too far without her direction, and Lorelei adored the speckled bird for that. He was the first bird her parents had boughten her for her own house.

Standing at the back of her house, the woman shifted easily into a Pegasus, her pelt a mingle of browns and her mane nearly black. She took a few steps carefully near the side of her garden and then with a steady leap, her wings unfurled and caught the wind, dragging her upwards with a glorious gush of air. She soon joined Saker where he was circling and whinnied tenderly towards the young falcon as the large mare turned towards the marketplace. He followed her eagerly, dipping and swirling in the air.

Even when they approached the common square, Lorelei stayed high in the air until she found a place to land where she likely wouldn't be spotted, just behind the back alley of the bakers. With a shrieking whistle, she called her falcon down from the sky. It took him a moment but he soon alighted on her arm, and though his claws were sharp, she hardly winced, almost too used to the feeling.

Turah Faye | F | 19 y/o | Mercenary/Thief | Red Fox | Aramore | Mentions: None (Open)

The cold routinely breeze of early dawn swept down the street, always contrasted to the warm rays that broke through the nearly naked sky. Turah maneuvered her head to avoid the stingy drift that passed through. Currently located outside of the small town inn, that was where she could be found if she couldn't afford to rent a room overnight. Which was a fairly common occurrence for herself depending on how successful the day was beforehand.

The youngster just sat against the wall for some time and combed her long fingers through her curly ginger hair. She stared into Abyss attempting to ignore the loud rumbles of her stomach. Turahs gaze shot up at the all too familiar rattle of metallic keys. A gleeful smile tugged her lips as Mr. Hughes opened up his quaint bakery for the day. She jumped to her feet and rolled her shoulders backwards, resulting in loud cracks of stiff bones. Tugging the scruffy woolen scarf closer to her bare neck as it fell down her shoulders.

Stepping down the coarse stone stairs, she quickly dashed across the graveled road. Pushing the bakery door open, followed by the ringing bell. "Always on time, Turah." Mr. Hughes chuckled and handed her one of the wheaten breads from the freshly made basket as he set up the display. "Psh, i'm never late!" She cackled and bit into the hot bread instantly and glanced out the store window as a few common customers hustled through the door. Turah wasn't even sure why Mr. Hughes was so always so nice to her, not that she wasn't complaining or anything. After a few quick minutes her meal was finished, earning a small pout. She shifted her gaze over to the baker who was occupied with taking orders, and gave a quick wave before exiting the store.

After a few minutes of walking down the side path she was already in the midst of the main markets. Turah carefully poked through the small but growing crowd, the chatter of townsfolk grew louder as she grazed past. Some trades were still setting up and others were already selling their merchandise, browsing past the individual stands in hopes of swiping something and going unnoticed considering the lack of funds she held. Her small plans took a turn as she eyed a pair of tall Aramore knights nearby. Unsure if they were patrolling or what not, Turah started to detour from the main route, deciding to play it safe.

Luciano Varkony | M | 32 y/o | Melanistic Barbary Lion | Aramore
In the lands of Aramore, the mighty lands, the lion sleeps this morning...or so he thought. Much to Luciano's dismay, he found himself wide awake this morning with an itch to explore. After a few moments of debating whether or not to get up out of bed Luciano finally convinced himself to rise into a full stretch, followed by a drawn out and exaggerated yawn. It wasn't long before thoughts of the possible adventures he could come across this day spurred him up and out of bed with a spring in his step. Within moments, Luciano found himself now among a small crowd of townsfolk on their way to the marketplace. Some had their hands full with all sorts of items and wares to sell, others walked with hopeful, gleaming eyes and pockets full of change that jingled all the way there.

The opening of the marketplace always intrigued Luciano. Watching it go from a desolate wasteland to the center of everyone's world was truly amazing. There was always a wide range of folks to be found here; from the meek young man trying to grasp the attention of any passerby, to the more experienced folks who seemed to hone in on potential customers' weaknesses; from the well-seasoned mother to the overwhelmed child that wanted everything within their view. Luciano loved all of it. Every story that fell upon his ears was taken into account and stored away in the back of his mind. If he ever heard the same story being repeated, you could rest assured Luciano would correct you and demand an entirely new story to appease his adventurous spirit.

The sun grew ever brighter, leaving a golden hue on Luciano's black pelt as the lion made his way through various vendors. The townspeople seemed to pay no mind to the giant passing by as they had grown accustomed to his presence here. So much so that it's become more of a comfort to catch a glimpse of the barbary lion maneuvering through the commotion. Luciano found himself lost amidst the early morning rush, his mind left to wander as his ears picked up bits and pieces of stories and sales pitches while his paws mindlessly carried him along. Eventually he managed to pull his mind back to the real world as his eyes focused on a familiar face. Was that the beloved princess of the kingdom he had spotted? Surely it couldn't be; Luciano's fellow knights had been assigned to keep an eye on the girl and they were well-trained men, he thought. Yet, here he was, standing a few hundred yards from that familiar figure, wearing a commoner's dress. She was a very clever lady, that Natalia.

As the barbary lion made his way towards the princess, he spotted another face that seemed to be vaguely familiar. Her features belonged to one whose face Luciano had yet to see in person, but this female fit the description of a well-known troublemaker in town. From what he remembered, this lady didn't cause much of a ruckus other than a few stolen goods here and there, but it was enough that it had been mentioned among the patrolling knights. None of the others had taken much of an interest to her, though. After all, who would want to seek out a lowly thief when there are bounties to claim? Luciano would. He had come to find that the thief's stories were infinitely more interesting than your average bounty claim.

What was he to do in this predicament? With an adventurous princess on one paw, and a potentially interesting thief on the other, Luciano decided to try and make a game of it. He would continue to wander, keeping both ladies in view, and wait to see which one would make for a grander adventure that day. As of that very moment the princess was obviously higher in priority as far as protection went, but the sly fox remained high on Luci's radar. He definitely had a few questions for both regarding their methods of going unnoticed and remaining so for long periods of time.

Aquila | F | 23 | Blacksmith | Dragon | Aramore | Mentions: none (open)

Aquila had been up since the early hours of the morning, in which she would often greet the sun shortly after it had raised. Although she felt well rested, she had stayed up a bit later than usual, making her feel a bit groggy. 'Nothing a quick run in the forest won't fix' the thought popped into her head, and she found herself getting out of bed soon enough. She groaned, as she usually would be at work by now, so she would need to be quicker than usual in the terms of getting dressed, having breakfast and going for the quick run. Taking off her pajamas, which were more just an old shirt and pants, she slipped into a simple brown sleeveless tunic, and some baggy pants. Putting her hair up into a simple bun, she made her way out of the small bedroom and towards the slightly bigger kitchen. Swiping up a random piece of fruit, which was an apple, Aquila made her way outside.

Finishing up her apple, she tossed the core where she threw the other fruit cores, a compost of some sorts, which was near the start of the forest. Breathing in some fresh air, Aquila allowed herself to relax and shift into her dragon form. Clicking her teeth together, she mentally sighed at the fact that she would have to go and eat or gnaw on some flint, or other minerals of the like, in order for her to be able to breathe fire whenever she pleased. Deciding to do it later, she bolted off into the forest, taking in the sights and smells. She would see the occasional squirrel or rabbit, and maybe a few birds, all darting away from her big, predatory form.

As the sight of the marketplace started to come into view, she allowed herself to slow and eventually stop, shifting back into her human form, after checking that no one was watching. She made her way through the marketplace, seeing a few regulars as she passed by. She caught a glimpse of the melanistic barbary lion she would see every morning. She didn't know his name, but knew that he worked as a knight for the kingdom. Walking into the small building where she worked, Aquila made her way around the various tools and weapons she stored there, and stopped to grab her glove, which she slipped onto her left hand, and her apron, which she put over her head before tying it around her waist. Walking over to the forge, she grabbed a piece of flint and steel each, and struck them together until a spark ignited and a flame was created, spreading across the coals. The familiar sound of crackling fire reached Aquila's ears, and she smiled slightly, before putting some iron in, so that it would turn to liquid.

(I have no idea how a forge works properly, so please forgive me if anything is incorrect :'D)

[ Aron Eld III ]
Male • 27 y/o • Wyvern Shifter • Stratham King
Location: Castle • Mentions: {Directly} Azarias

The sky was painted a pale pinkish-gold, the first sign of dawn’s arrival. Warmth fell across Aron’s back as the sun rose above the horizon and he soared higher into the brilliant blue depths, slicing through cloud. He gazed down upon the settlements below, houses little more than dots and roads thin lines from this height. Clusters of trees and snow-capped mountains rising around him offered a break from the monotony of developed land, the few stretches of farmland rather meager in comparison to those found in Aramore.

Once he reached the meadow that held his castle he folded his wings, diving downward at a rapid pace. Moments before crashing into the stone of his fortress, his wings re-opened and he landed with a heavy thump atop one of the turrets, startling many of the knights on duty among the battlements. A forked tongue flicked out of his mouth in resemblance of a snake and Aron scanned the men closest to him, finding an equal amount of fear and awe on their faces.

He slipped down into one of the castle’s baileys, a swift transformation following as soon as his bare feet touched grass. He gave a friendly salute to the guards still watching from the battlements before entering the palace. Snorts of amusement or huffs of disapproval followed him as he made for his quarters, still dressed in little more than his nightwear. Upon turning a corner he nearly collided with his head of war. “Ah, good morning Azarias,” he greeted, tone warm. “You look like a man on a mission. Looking for me perhaps?”

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[ Cole Pérez García ]
Male • 35 y/o • Greyhound Shifter • Aramore Head of War
Location: Marketplace • Mentions: None [Open]

The sound of water hitting water as fresh rain drops broke on the river’s surface was almost soothing, lulling Cole into a tranquil state as he sat beside Adeline’s grave. She had loved the river from the first moment she caught a glimpse of glittering blue under the noon sun. It had felt right to bury her here. He leaned against the tall slab of stone that marked her grave and closed his eyes, uncaring of the wet soil soaking through his clothes as his thoughts returned to countless memories he once shared with his beloved wife. Nearly ten years had passed since Adeline’s death, taken by an awful sickness, and yet the sting of that lose still felt so raw and new. She should be here with him, watching their children grow together and leading the pack in unison.

Now the burden was his alone to carry, but instead of a pack he was in charge of an entire army and there were no children to brighten his days. Faint chattering reached his ears, and even through the rain Cole drew in the scents of the shifters he had accompanied to the river, watching over them as they fished or washed their clothes. Guilt rushed over Cole and he immediately rose to his feet, making quick work of rejoining the fishers. He couldn’t afford to lose sight of them for even a second. Not with how often raids occurred. Even Aramore’s own people were turning on one another in these trying times and if even a single one of these men or women were harmed under his watch he would never forgive himself.

As he left the shelter of the trees cold drops pelted him in an unrelenting stream, as if the formally mild storm was more powerful around the river. He ignored it, a sense of relief filling him once he found all his company were accounted for and continued to linger close by. When the time came to return to the village the rain had ended, the road leading to the marketplace dry and undisturbed as if raindrops had never touched this part of the kingdom. The morning sun beat down on him and the warmth its rays offered were welcomed, slowly drying his dark hair. The market was already bustling with activity by the time he arrived, but it seemed to be a peaceful morning thus far. He could only hope things stayed that way.

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[ Casimiro Vicario Herrera ]
Male • 26 y/o • Owl-Jaguar Gryphon Shifter • Aramore Blacksmith
Location: Marketplace • Mentions: None [Open]

Heat rose from the forge, the area surrounding the blacksmith’s small hut radiating warmth as he worked. A rod of the finest steel was inserted into the heart of the fire, the other end held firmly within a gloved hand. When the rod grew soft enough to mold the sound of a hammer hitting metal could be heard above the bustle of the crowded marketplace, a blade was slowly chiseled and shaped. Casimiro referenced the provided blueprint often, making certain the finished piece would match every requested detail.

Many moments later the sword was put aside to cool, its maker removing the thick leather apron worn over his clothes and hanging it on a large hook off to the side, gloves quickly following. Sitting back on a stool near the entrance of his workshop, the man grabbed a pear that was generously left for him by one of the market’s fruit stand owners and settled in for a modest breakfast. His hut’s location was optimal in his opinion, close enough to the market that it drew in enough customers to keep the business going, but with enough distance to offer him a bit of privacy.

{{I'll add my girls later. Running out of steam here unfortunately.}}

Kenna Castleroy ||26 y/o || Knight || Aramore Marketplace|| Tagged: Casimiro (directly), Luciano (indirectly)
The early morning air held the hint of rain, the smell sweet and soothing as she walked. The earth beneath her bare feet was warm and comforting and her pace was unhurried as she made her way into the marketplace. Already the place was bustling with life, shoppers and merchants alike hurrying to and fro between stalls. The air here was heavy with the mouthwatering scents of fresh bread that mingled with the smoky smell coming from the blacksmith's hut, a unique blend of smells that only confirmed that she was where she belonged. Pausing next to a stall with a vibrant array of fresh fruits, the young woman quickly selected a few apples before paying the merchant and continuing on her way.

The sound of paws hitting the ground quickly claimed her attention, but it was a smile that spread across her lips at the sight of the huge lion making his way through the marketplace. He was a common sight here, in fact she would have been worried if he hadn't been there. Tossing the male a friendly wave, the knight kept walking and it didn't take long for her to arrive at the blacksmith's hut. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the steel blade he'd just set aside to cool. Surprise filtered through her as she realized that he had already made such progress on what appeared to be her blade in such a short time, and she couldn't help the pleased smile that touched her lips as she drew closer. "Good morning Cas! Is that my sword you're working on already?"

Maddox Varkony || 28 y/o || Knight || Stratham Marketplace|| Tagged: Lorelei (indirectly)
The metallic sounds of his armor clanking as he walked was a familiar and soothing sound, almost imperceptible among the noise of the busy marketplace. Due to the recent raids he'd been assigned to patrol the area, a post he didn't mind in the slightest. There was always plenty of activity here, but this early in the morning it seemed almost fevered as farmers prepared their stands and shopkeepers opened their doors for the citizens. The marketplace would be a dangerous but fruitful target for any raider, and Maddox was determined to keep the people here safe from such harm. However, that didn't mean he couldn't do some shopping of his own.

Stopping at several different stands, he purchased an array of fresh fruits to snack on throughout the day before continuing his patrol. His sharp eyes danced over the people gathered there, looking for anything out of place or anyone he didn't recognize. A sharp, commanding whistle briefly claimed his attention until he caught sight of the bird the whistle had been meant for and relaxed. It seemed the local falconer had also come to the marketplace this morning, and brought one of her impressive birds with her. Once he'd determined the sudden sound was not indicative of a threat, he kept on with his rounds.

Turah Faye | F | 19 y/o | Mercenary/Thief | Red Fox | Aramore | Mentions: Luciano & Natalia (Indirectly)

After a opposing journey in the opposite direction of where the previous knights lingered about. It was actually rather odd, usually there was just a lone guard out on the single panel at this early point in time and even then they didn't just stand around together. Raising a brow at the thought, Perhaps they're escorts.. She mused but dismissed her speculation, it didn't make much sense as she thought about the logic behind it. Unable recall seeing anyone of particular importance other than a few well off looking common folk. Turah just stood there, lost in deep thought remaining oblivious to her surroundings for quite some time as she tried to piece together the occurrence. everything just consisted of blurs of passersby and muffled voices. Only to be brought back shortly by the sudden yelling of a small group of men that seemed to be in a vigorous dispute.

Dazed by the sudden draw back to the disappointing reality in front of her. With a small sigh Turah placed her hands on her hips and kicked at the small rocks scattered in the rough gravel with her worn out leather boots, sending the mottled pebbles a small distance off the ground. She raised herself up on her toes to try and look over the gathering of people surrounding her. Quickly losing her balance and tumbled backwards as a pair kids bowled into her, they both let out a small high pitched shriek and bolted away within seconds. "Stupid kids." She mumbled with slight agitation, shaking off small stones that got caught in her loosely woven clothing. Now venturing closer to the occupied fruit shop nearby.

Nimble fingers slid over one of the bright red apples on the shelf, dropping it down into her pocket as she pretended to browse the stand. Walking off with a big goofy smile thankfully hidden under her scarf while the tenant was occupied with restocking the shelves. Turah trotted over to one of the empty benches and proceeded to plop down, unraveling the her fresh treat from the cloth in her pocket. Taking a bite out of her well earned apple, in fact she almost bit her lip when she noticed an odd lion. His pelt was a flat black, most likely a melanin trait of some sort. Turah tilted her head marginally, unsure if the barbaric looking brute was watching her. She chuffed and waved her gloved hand at him to check she wasn't being delusional. Either way if she was wrong she could easily outrun the brute considering the endurance difference.

Forest Mikasi
|25Yrs|Bernese Mountain Dog|Male|Prospective Bodyguard|Aramore|
|Loc: Aramore Market|MD: Natalia|MI: Aquila, Luciano, Turah, Market Folk|
"Hmm hme hm hmm hmmm, hm hmm hm hm..." The click of Forest's boots upon the pavement served as interesting background music to the man's hums, interweaving with the light baritone to create an ear-catching melody. Off course...this wonderful tune was completely overcome by the traditional hustle and bustle within the market square...unfortunately not even the keenest eared creature would be able to distinguish Forest's heart throbbing musical piece. What a pity. Perhaps he should pursue a career in song instead...but like his former job, healing, song was dominated by magic users....Forest Mikasi sincerely doubted that any fine person from the youngest tike, to the oldest crone, would wish to listen to his dog howls when they could entertain themselves with the sweet sound of enchanted music or the light tones of an avian shifter.

Besides, Forest had heard from his grandmother...the straight and narrow gossiper, not the mob boss, that the King would be holding interviews with prospective bodyguards for his daughter this afternoon. The proposition was a lot more entrancing than trying his hand at being a regular Knight. So here the shifter was, quite early, dressed in formal attire strikingly similar to the his eye color: so blue it could be declared violet. The suit was strategically lined with bronze (a color strikingly close to Forest's hair) at the shoulders, pant legs, buttons, and arms. This stunning piece of clothing was supplied by his grandmother...the mob boss, not the straight and narrow gossiper. He was her favorite...thank the stars above.

After stopping at a fruit stand, owned by a nice old lady, and purchasing a ripe peach Forest found a spot in the sun to lean against a stone wall while he ate. Citric juice dribbled down his chin, spurring the man to wipe it away with a cloth tissue while he watched the assortment of people wandering through the crowd. He often people watched in the area when he had a chance, and he enjoyed playing a game of guessing what creature each person shifted into. The old blind woman begging at the side of a building? Forest had the pleasure of knowing that she was indeed not blind...no this lady was a cockatrice, an old one at that...so old that even in human form her gaze could slow people down. The entertaining muscle man by the fountain? He shifted into a beautiful flamingo. Black lion, knight. Noblewoman, lioness. Woman blacksmith? Hmm now that one was a mystery...perhaps a bear? Or maybe a large snake...a python? Young woman, fox of some kind...either arctic or red...sneaky that one. Oh and there was two of his brothers...both dogs of course, Mastiff and Husky. A cousin checking out the bakery...a doberman if he was remembering correctly. Another young woman, African Painted Dog. A straight laced matron...who happened to be a babo....the young woman. The young woman had been familiar....strikingly familiar more than usual and his mind had automatically named the creature she shifted into. Oh dear.

Almost choking on his last bite of fruit, Forest shoved a hand through his bronze curls. What was he to do? There the princess was, walking around like a commoner...if anyone found out. Well. Forest well knew that Aramore's capital jewel was not the safest place in the country. The young woman could catch any poor bloke a pretty penny. Or Strathum some more land. Oh dear.

A few minutes later, after having a quick conversation with his two brothers and a quick trip into a building, Mikasi trotted his way through the crowd in his canine form, a stick in his mouth and a leather collar around his neck reading the words "Buddy". Onyx eyes glanced around until they found the form of the princess...here went nothing. Dancing up to the young woman, the canine dropped the stick at her feet before looking up at her and giving out a soft melodic bark before wagging his tail. In dog speak this clearly meant PLAY WITH ME.

Azaya Qwyn
|27Yrs|Qilin/Unicorn|Female|Healer|Strathum|
|Loc: Border Forest>Strathum Market|MD: N/A|MI: Aron|
Azaya was angry...and tired. It wasn't unusual for the woman to be the occasional,or more than the occasional, grump...but this was different. The forest Azaya had moved too after her father had passed away lay right on top of a sizable section of the Aramore and Strathum border...and as a result the woman had a front row seat to the bloodshed that had resulted in the raids that Strathum had sent to Aramore. She had done her best not to get too involved...but that plan had quickly gone up in flames. She had shown up to heal both for the injured of Strathum and Aramore whom found themselves wandering around in HER forest, Antiquorum Forest. Could she get in trouble for healing victims of the enemy as well as her home country? Yes, probably. Did she care? Nope.

Last night she had said farewell to the last victim who had found her...a young man, barley out of childhood, who had almost lost his eyesight from the confrontation. She hadn't asked which country he hailed from, and he hadn't offered the information. Smart kid. Some visitors were a lot more unpleasant. Taking a seat, a deep breathe escaped from Azaya's lungs...many, too many, of the victims of the raid had been seriously injured. Some of their wounds had been able to be healed after the application of magical herbs...but many more had to be healed by Azaya's own magic. A few had been serious enough that the woman had been forced to shift into her creature form to patch them back together. The result of that nearby raid? Twenty three injured individuals had made it from the low hills to Antiquorum Forest. Sixteen had been seriously injured and had required Azaya's personal magic. No one had died, and only a few would have scars. As for Azaya herself? Her hair had been striped with lines of silver and undoubtedly she had looked closer to forty than thirty. She would heal...her body would heal as time passed. The change in appearance and physical age was not permanent...she would be back to normal in only a day or two. Hopefully. Before she slept though, she had a few things to write down...most notably a list of the plants she would need to buy from the Strathum market. There were several that the woman would not find native to her forest. Her gray cat jumped onto her lap, curling up to take a nap as Azaya worked by the light of her lamp.

(One Day & a Night Later)

The morning air was crisp on the meadow hill-side, nearly cold, a breathe of winter that hadn't yet abandoned it's hold on the world to spring. Tugging her cloak close around her, Azaya leaned against her newfound cane (though she was calling it a stave in her mind...much cooler and she didn't feel as much like an invalid)...she hadn't yet completely healed from using so much of her magic in so little time. Still, she had made the journey to Strathum city...she doubted that the raids would stop so soon, and she didn't want to be caught with her metaphorical pants down, low on healing supplies, when the injured haunted the countryside. Plus a few other errands she had to run. She didn't want to think about the injured who were undoubtedly in need of her now.

A fearful squawk caught the doctor's attention as Ro, the shifter's magpie, alighted on her shoulder on the border of panic. He calmed when he touched the Unicorn hybrid, caught in the woman's natural magic. It'd didn't take much looking for the woman to spot the dragon...the King, flying toward his castle. Before the raids she had been indifferent to the ruler...but now? Now her turquoise gaze was smoldering with dislike and anger, bordering on hate.Oh, if she found even a HINT of burning caused by dragon flame on any of her patients. The female expelled a breathe, trying to calm herself. It was the first time she hated someone without meeting them. It was a new experience for her...and it undermined her self-control making her even more grumpy than usual. In short, it was illogical, and ridiculous...but when had emotion ever been logical?

A tired sigh escaped from Azaya's lungs, her eyes shadowed with weariness. Closing her tapered eyelids, the woman counted inside her head wondering if the few individuals she knew in town would recognize her...she looked around thirty-five right now, though she could feel herself getting better by the second. Opening her eyes, and giving out a short piercing whistle Azaya called her dog, Woval, before painstakingly making her way down the hill-side, toward the city, and eventually into the market.

(These suck I'm sorry lol...I promise I'll do better in the future.)

Natalia Grace Vendela | F | 22 y/o
Aramore | Heir | African Painted Dog
Castle > Marketplace | Mentions: "Buddy" aka Forest lmao

The sweet but tart blueberries were a pleasant breakfast and easy to eat from her small basket as she continued down the rocky streets. It wasn't ever surprising to Natalia that none of her people recognized her. After all, her father had only so shortly ago become King with the passing of the late King Vendela. But, now that she was thinking about it, she'd been on "display" as the Princess a number of times with her mother and father. Perhaps she was good at disguise. The brunette girl paused to fix the heel of her simple flat shoes and then glanced around to see if there was possibly anything else she could need. There were vegetables and fruits ahead of her, and there was no way the castle needed any of those.

However, to the corner of her eye, the Princess caught a splash of color and before she knew it, she was standing in front of a few brilliantly constructed paintings of Aramore's farther landscapes. Places she'd likely never visit, now that her father was King and there was a war raging on the hillsides. She sighed and gazed intently at the paintings before discovering a small table the artist had set up just out of sight. On a small, smooth stone, was a gorgeous forest with a tiny, silver and white wolf watching from within. Picking it up with an awed expression, she stared at it for a moment before dropping her largest gold coin onto the table where the pendant had rested. The artist was nowhere in sight as she turned to walk away.

Natalia had just tucked the pendant into an inner dress pocket when a large brown and white dog pranced up to her. She was quick to hide the panic she felt, her heart beating fast until she saw the collar around his neck. And then he dropped a stick at her feet and she blinked in relieved surprise. Tilting his chin back gently as he wagged his tail at her, she grinned when she saw his simple but effective name. The dog was certainly sweet and well-taken care of, so Natalia couldn't find it in her to just leave him here.

"Well, hello there Buddy. I bet your kid is missing you. Why me, huh?" She kept her voice low as to not draw any unneeded attention and leaned down to pick up the stick. "Do you want this?" Waggling it in front of the dog's face, she turned to walk towards where most of the houses were nearest the marketplace. Maybe if she got close enough, he'd find his way back and go home himself. She wasn't certain she'd willingly be able to talk to anyone to find out who the dog's owner was, in fear of herself being found out. Glancing over her shoulder, she waved the stick at the dog again and called, "Come on, Buddy. This way. Follow me, puppy."
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Azarias Makar Afanasy | M | 30 y/o
Stratham | Head of War | Grizzly Bear
Castle | Mentions: King Aron

Azarius hadn't thought be'd been moving that fast, at least until King Aron rounded the corner in front of him and he almost didn't stop in time. Rocking back on his heels, his wide eyes took in the King's state of dress and his brows raised slightly in alarm. He hardly managed to stutter out a sentence. "Er, sir, are you-" The King greeted him warmly, and the Head of War relaxed instantly but still found his brows raised as he heard the question asked.

"Ah, good morning, sir. I was indeed looking for you, but... Would you like to go to your bedchambers first, before we spoke? I'd imagine you'd like to get dressed for the day," he couldn't help the amused grin that spread across his lips but he kept a respectful tone with the King nonetheless. He could say he didn't often find them in situations like this, though the King was a younger one, and certainly peculiar if not an intriguing shifter, to say the least. Oddly enough, it wasn't all that much of a surprise to find the King as so. He hadn't forgone tradition as of yet but he seemed almost more relaxed than the other leaders of Stratham. Azarius wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing, but then again, he was fairly new at his own job as well.

"After all," he decided to add, if just to give a few details so the King didn't think much more of it than he should. "We've talked about the dilemna of the Royal Meeting, sir. It's not as if it can't wait a little while longer. I've come up with a few conclusions, but..." He favored falling silent, instead finishing in his head. But I'm not sure you'll like the ideas either. And I wish I had more than two.
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(I'll get the other two soon. There wasn't too much going on yet with them.)

Polaris Vendela
M | 41 | Aramore King | Quetzalcoatl
Location: Aramore Castle
Mentions: Natalia, Rose

Times had been hard recently and the strain was clearly getting to Polaris. He paced back and forth in his room, trying to find the right words. He knew a Royal Meeting would be set up, he knew they'd have to agree to a place and a time, but how could they? He'd heard the rumours; that King Aron had sent the bandits to harass their towns. Polaris wasn't fool enough to believe them... but in every rumour there's a thread of truth. The paranoia was chewing at him, and every time he sat to write, he ended up staring at a blank letter. What would he say? How would he deal with this? And where would they hold this bloody Meeting? There was no way he'd go to Stratham and walk into that dragon's den, and Aron would hardly waltz into Aramore willingly. They could meet at the border perhaps, but they'd be a prime target out in the wilds. They had to meet somewhere. He couldn't just ignore this and let it play out. Desperation bred war and the last thing either kingdom needed was war. They'd barely recovered from the bickering of the past kings.

Polaris let out a short growl of frustration, pacing to the window. He leant against the stone and stared out at the garden below. It always calmed him, the sea of flowers swaying in the wind. He let himself soothe and mindlessly named the flowers. There, a bush of lavender, he could smell it even from this distance. A patch of tulips, their cups just beginning to open. Crocuses, daffodils, bluebells, lillies, within a few weeks their colours would be in full bloom. Towards the gazebo, a gathering of sunflowers, withered by the winter and waiting for summer. Sometimes he'd sit out there in the sun and read, sharing the sunflower seeds with birds. He glanced towards the wall which was lined with roses. Decorative, yes, but practical. Many would risk their luck with a guard, but few would tangle with a rose's thorns. He smiled, thinking of how many times he'd scaled those walls as a child, and how many times he'd slipped and fell into the bushes. He was wondering how things could have changed so much when he noted three people enter the garden. His daughter and her two guards. A sigh of relief. At least she was letting them follow her for onc- he'd not even finished the thought before Natalia shifted and sprinted off, leaving the guards in a panic. No doubt they'd think he'd strip their knighthood, but he'd do no such thing. He knew his daughter, she was too much like himself. She needed space to run and be herself, just like he had. There was no point punishing them for a fight they couldn't win. He sighed as he watched his daughter scamper out the castle, no doubt heading to the market. He'd need to figure something out for her. She needed to be protected, and she wouldn't be if she kept slipping by her guards. Hell, he'd let her go all the way to Stratham if she'd bring the guards. Polaris pressed his forehead against the stone wall. He'd have to have a word with his daughter on her return.

The beating of wings caused his eyes to raise back to the garden. It seemed his wife, too, was restless. She flew gracefully over the walls, her white coat mingling with the clouds of the sky and her tail trailing behind her. Every part of him wanted to join her. To sore above everything in quiet contemplation. He felt his body shift, his skin growing scales, his hands turning to claws. He yearned to be there with her. He couldn't. He needed to protect their kingdom, he needed to write this damned letter. He growled and crumpled it, tossing it to the floor. To hell with the letter. He climbed to the windowsill of his chambers, crouching, hand firm against the wall, and then he leapt. And instead of falling, he flew. Relief washed over him, like stretching your legs after a long horse ride. His body twirled up into the sky, and soon he had caught up with his wife. He smiled, as best he could with a beak. She was beautiful, graceful, she soared through the sky like a dancer. "Any success with your letter?" He asked playfully. He guessed she hadn't. She'd hardly be wandering the skies if she had. He supposed luck wasn't favouring them today. Perhaps now wasn't the time for writing, but for flight.