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Post by Gabriel Duros on Feb 23, 2023 17:30:46 GMT -5
He found himself just outside of the Lantern Light Woods, a place that was typically quite beautiful from his experience, except much of what it was named after was not visible from the tree line as it usually would be. This was precisely what he was there to investigate, as the locales had begun noticing that the Lantern Light Bulb plants had been dwindling as of late, taking away from the breathtaking ambiance of the Woods themselves. This caused a two fold problem for the local government as it could diminish tourism as well as possible give it to another if someone nefarious was at work here, trying to harvest the plants for themselves to plant them elsewhere.
The nature of the job he took or was given, was not always as important to him as simply furthering the name of his Order, but in this particular case he was quite interested in what might be occurring in the relatively idyllic woods. To this end he was hunched over just past the massive wooden bridge that led to the woods entrance, looking at a cluster of Lantern Light Bulb plants that looked to have been haphazardly harvested or possibly eaten by whatever made off with them. The immediate notion of something not quite being right here didn't sit well with him as he remained hunched over looking at what remained of the plants, "This is curious....".
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Post by Ilaria Adrastos on Feb 23, 2023 23:42:34 GMT -5
It wasn't often she found herself with an excuse to leave the Capitol. The effort and coin it required to reach the mainland was typically more trouble than it was worth. But every few seasons, she made a point of visiting a very dear friend of hers in Starlight City, and spent a fortnight shopping, sightseeing and visiting. To cut the trip any shorter than that would have been a waste. The last thing she had expected to find herself with, however, was work. But something had been troubling Moira, and after a little investigation, she conceded that the steady decline on the region's tourism front had left her fretting over the financial repercussions that would undoubtedly affect her and everyone else living in Moonglade before long. Apparently it could all be traced back to the overharvesting of the lantern light bulbs that made the Lantern Light Woods so famous. A suspect had yet to be apprehended, and the uncertainty of it all had left everyone in a state of agitation and anxiety. With all of the favors Moira and her family had done Ilaria over the years, it really was the least she could do, to try and make sense of the situation. So with her bags packed and her cloak clasped about her shoulders, she set out on a hike through the Eclipse Jungle.
Truly, she had not been expecting to find anything of consequence. So upon crossing the bridge and spotting a shadowy figure hunched suspiciously over a cluster of plants, she felt herself start. Had she really been lucky enough to catch the culprit red-handed? With slow, careful movements, she bent at the waist to snatch a fallen branch from the forest floor, and crept up silently behind the miscreant. The branch was solid and heavy in her hands, if not a little cumbersome, and she made a point of prodding the faceless individual in the shoulder with it to catch his attention, before hefting it in the air in preparation to swing.
"Stop what you are doing immediately, sir, and lift your hands above your head. Or I will have no choice but to persuade you with force." She waited half a beat before clenching her jaw, and added: "Do you hear me?"
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Post by Gabriel Duros on Feb 27, 2023 19:25:12 GMT -5
While he was looking at what remained of the Lantern bulb plant in his head he tried his best to listen to his surroundings despite his mind both wandering over a dozen possibilities and thinking specifically about what he should do next, as pushing deeper into the woods should be easy enough as it were. After all the chances of him encountering something out there that he couldn't handle was slim so to speak, that is, unless whatever was devastating the Lantern Bulb's was something dangerous which he found laughable without context.
Apparently his mind had wandered too far however as someone had caught the drop on him so to speak. Moving with the speed of a trained knight he very quickly stood to his full height and rotated his body so that he could face the one who had accosted him, what he saw before him however was a much different circumstance as a more then mildly attractive half-elf stood before him with a stick of all things levied towards him. He couldn't help but chuckle softly as he flashed a wry smile and narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, raising his hands in compliance before him. His sides exposed he clearly carried no weapons save a shield strapped to his left arm that seemingly was like a kite shield to him but would have been a tower shield to a lesser man.
"Pardon me, you seem to have the wrong idea about me or whatever it is I am doing here miss?....", the question itself was purposefully trailing at the end as he even faltered a little to make it enticing in a way as if he was the one who had control here despite him being the one held at... stick point, its intent clear that he was asking for her name. The wry smile and confidence in his voice never left as he scanned her with his golden amber like eyes, "If we are making demands here, may I know what you are doing out here? Something has been disturbing the Lantern Bulbs as of late you know...", it was as if he was accusing her of having something to do with it, or at the very least making note that this was a dangerous place to just be in of late.
Making a concession he gave his name, "Sir Gabriel Duros of the Knights of Duros."
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Post by Ilaria Adrastos on Feb 27, 2023 21:28:13 GMT -5
She found herself caught off-guard by a number of things in the scant moments that followed. First and foremost, she had not anticipated that he would move so quickly, so fluidly or with such practiced finesse. His swift movements and speed indicated he had trained his body to the furthest extent, but beyond that, she could discern little. Secondly, she had not anticipated that he would be so roguishly handsome, with dark, attractive features, golden eyes and a powerfully built, well-muscled silhouette. She suddenly felt impossibly small and delicate in comparison, and blinked up at him with parted lips and wide eyes. The third and final source of her surprise came with his title. A knight. But not just any knight. One belonging to the prominent and highly esteemed Knights of Duros. Even as someone as insignificant as herself - a lowly tavern maid - she knew the far reaching influence and reputation of the Order he belonged to.
Even still, doubt lingered, and she leveled the branch in her hand squarely with his chest once more. She had learned long ago not to trust strange men, after all. Especially not ones as devilishly good-looking as this one.
"Am I really to believe a Knight of Duros ventured out here on his own, unarmed?" she began, lifting her chin in a show of bravado she wasn't entirely sure she believed herself. But she quirked a brow all the same, deliberately refusing to give him her name, despite the fact that he seemed to have been fishing for it. "How do I know I can take you at your word? News of the Lantern Bulbs has been circulating quickly. The fact that you know of it doesn't make me feel inclined to trust you." After a thoughtful pause, she added: "What sort of knight allows a girl to sneak up on him anyway?"
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Post by Gabriel Duros on Mar 4, 2023 20:47:58 GMT -5
He watched her and her movements as he waited for her to react to him however that would be. He didn't feel threatened by her in the slightest at the moment but if spells started slinging that might be a different story, or he supposed if she was a surprising secret master of the stick as it were. His golden orbs were transfixed upon her as he waited and once she had spoken after he took in her reactions he took a deep breath with a slow sigh before he responded to her, his voice still warm and friendly, "Yes. As I am not truly unarmed miss. See the edges on my shield? Razor sharp. Not to mention these muscles are not just for show....", her subsequent words gave him pause as he thought about how to answer them.
"You don't, but that stick means nothing to me and as I am entertaining this line of questioning that should tell you enough. Besides... I have a feeling that whatever is actually after these bulbs might not be human given the signs here.", he would gesture down at the bush beside him with a cock of his head as if inviting her to take a look for herself, "Those don't look like they are clipped, at least not in a way that I have ever seen a flower be clipped...", her last words about what kind of night made him wince in a way that was obviously light hearted as he answered, "A preoccupied one. If you had been an assassin or dishonorable I might be in real trouble right now, now wouldn't I?".
He paused for a moment before turning his head slightly to the side and adding on, "I think you can lower the stick miss. It's clear to me at least that this isn't going to go anywhere that involves that stick anytime soon. Unless you want a duel? I think we would have more fun with some good food and drinks though.", he was still smiling as he looked at her, his cool measured and vigilant as he seemed unfazed so far. Mostly because this wasn't the first time that he had been in a situation similar to this at least.
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