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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Apr 9, 2023 20:24:26 GMT -5
It was admittedly a bit of a complicated situation heading back to the temple. Not only did it sustain damage in the fight with Vikram, it was also shaken by the recent activity happening all around Charon. On top of that it had, to some, become a focal point for ire against the sun elves. The temple was at least a place not surrounded by elite guards where people could complain and protest without too much threat of being wiped out.
Today Leandros was on the front line of the issue, though in a much different fashion. While still easily recognizable from just his stature, his clothing bears the emblem of his family, he does seem different outside of his armor. He was not ready for battle today, but to help with food distribution. The ongoing calamities left a lot of people in need across Charon, but Leandros felt the biggest pull here.
Much of the vitriol against the sun elves may have been deserved, but he still hadn't fully come to terms with his own feelings on thoughts on the situation. In any case, he knew that the many people of Sol City were unfortunately caught in the middle. So, he would focus on helping those he knew to be blameless.
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 9, 2023 21:02:55 GMT -5
Cyran should have left Sol City once his business with the Archduke was finished. It wasn’t smart for an assassin to linger around the place of the crime - bigger risk of having to deal with the guards, or the possibility that someone had seen something they shouldn’t have. But considering everything that had happened over the past few months… crustacean infestations that had made a bigger impact on the city’s infrastructure than anyone anticipated, and the damage to the Temple of the Sun, the archduke’s murder was simply the last straw. Guard presence around the city’s ports had increased, making escape impossible.
… Not to mention, he was stuck here for the time being while Shade’s Valley was being rebuilt in the wake of the earthquake in Darkveil.
The tension in the city, and his recent job, had Cyran on edge as he made his way through the marketplace in search of groceries. He ought to have been laying low with the children in the bunker that Veliky had provided them, but idle, nervous hands were the devil’s playground. He had to do… something while he was waiting for the atmosphere to calm down. To shake off his lingering thoughts about the loss of his home.
Unfortunately, groceries did not turn out to be successful in that endeavor.
There was hardly any food in the marketplace, most merchants with nearly-empty stalls, or closed entirely, with exorbitant prices for a single piece of fruit. When Cyran attempted to ask about the food shortage, most merchants would shrug and direct him towards the food drive taking place at the Temple of the Sun on the other side of the square.
Which… seemed a good enough distraction as anything.
With that in mind, he made his way to the temple, in his own casual clothing, ready to help distribute sandwiches and soup to people that needed it. At least it would do him some good to focus on something worthwhile for once. He was not the only one that had lost things in the wake of the destruction across Charon. But at the very least, he was in a position to do something for others.
Cyran would soon learn he was not the only one who'd had that thought. Quest Name: Food Distribution Participants: Requires exactly two people (you and one other, if the other participant does not qualify, they will not gain the reward) Location: Anywhere (Can be repeated for a different region) Post Requirements: 5 post per person, 200 words per post Reward: +10 Security for selected Region (+10 more if your home region) Description: Keeping the region strong means keeping its people healthy and fed. While it might seem menial, preventing our region from going hungry is extremely important. You can help by passing out food to the local communities, or visiting a more remote village and helping them harvest crops, gather food, or hunt. Whatever you can do to help feed the region will keep the masses happy.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Apr 10, 2023 20:29:06 GMT -5
"And here I thought a man in your line of work wouldn't do something like this." Leandros smiles as he comes out of the temple with a crate of more food. He is sure to keep his voice low enough so as not to announce Cyran's presence or cast any aspersions his way.
Subtlety was still nigh impossible for the night and he'd made no attempts to get much better at it, but he was learning a bit more about volume control. That was a big step for him honestly. He sets the crate down, a young halfling nodding his head and taking some of the food. Theobo stands and stares at Cyran a moment before he is scooted off. In the distance, Apogee can be seen helping tend to the injured. The blue bounce of her curls gives her away as the woman Leandros has talked about.
"Should I start looking for you around every corner when people are in need or are the past two times just accidents?" He smiles broadly at the elf, giving him a pat on the shoulder before motioning for him to follow and get more supplies.
"More hands are here Mother Giselle, make sure to put him to use."
An older looking woman in clerical robes smiles plainly towards Cyran, "Oh don't worry, we'll work you raw here my child. We've got the healers to make up for it."
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 11, 2023 9:21:30 GMT -5
Cyran spotted Leandros before the taller knight spotted him. It shouldn’t have been a surprise - he knew the young man lived in Sol City, and held great love for his home. That, coupled with his seemingly endless kindness and nobility, meant that these causes would attract him like a moth to a flame. The young knight spotted him, making his way over to the assassin. He attempted to keep his voice low when he greeted Cyran - a small mercy.
Cyran rubbed at the back of his neck, sheepish.
“Ah… I was in the area, and had some free time so I thought I’d offer my assistance.” He murmured, flashing Leandros a smile. Even in his embarrassment at being singled out, he was glad to see a familiar face. “In retrospect I should have expected to see you here.” He followed Leandros to the supplies, surveying his surroundings. There was a woman working with the injured that Cyran recognized as the lovely Apogee. The sight, though a melancholy one given the number of people around her, was one that warmed his heart. It was nice to finally put a face to the name that Leandros spoke so fondly of. She was his world, that much was obvious.
He was brought back to the present as Leandros clapped him on the shoulder. He managed a small laugh. “… Just coincidence, I assure you. Though we seem to stand for the same causes.”
He was brought to a kindly old woman who gave him a blank smile. She looked tired, but despite her teasing Cyran felt she was happy for the help.
Though he feared for his muscles after all was said and done.
He gratefully accepted a box of food for redistribution, following Leandros where they were directed next. He eyed the cracks along the walls in the temple, signs of destruction that had been swept and hidden away, but still evident, if one knew where to look.
“What happened here?”
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Apr 11, 2023 20:08:11 GMT -5
"Pick a week, the answer will be different." He offers a small chuckle, certainly dimmer than his usual laugh.
They aren't given much time to chat at the moment as supplies need to be collected and carried to the chefs or blankets to the people in need. Leandros fits at least five or so crates under each arm as they turn to walk.
"A corrupted celestial of some sort tried to free itself from the man it had overtaken in the temple...that fight is what did a lot of damage to the inside of the temple.....then the tremors and strange events that have happened all around Charon have likely damaged the structure as well.....Terramancers have been working on it, but apparently the powers that be are more concerned with architectual history over its integrity."
The last bits of his words came out certainly more bitter than the knight usually sounds. This was a man grating under the weight the sun elves, doing his best to seemingly put Sol City on his back and carry it with or without their help.
He sets a few crates down by Apogee, sneaking a quick kiss to calm himself before carrying on.
"What about you? Things with Del moving along smoothly?"
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 11, 2023 22:14:41 GMT -5
They weren’t lying. Cyran really was put to work.
His own burden was not as large as Leandros’s, who was able to collect five or six at once without breaking much of a sweat - it was only the awkwardness of his grip that prevented him from taking more. Cyran himself was given two, which he carried, struggling a bit under the effort while Leandros walked and talked.
He pursed his lips as Leandros spoke. A demented celestial sounded like a major threat… even moreso than the natural disasters, this incident put him on high alert. Inevitably, it was always the whims of the few, of those that craved power, that harmed the common people. Architecture itself wasn’t truly something he cared too much about, but the damage that these struggles had done to Sol City’s people made him angry.
He was glad to help where he could - the distribution of food would make sure that those that had been affected by the city’s instability didn’t go hungry. The story truly seemed to anger Leandros, though, who stopped to give his wife a small comfort before they moved on.
And then… changed the topic of conversation to Del?
“We are doing as okay as can be.” Cyran replied, trying to keep the heaviness out of his voice that often crept in when speaking of the destruction of Shade’s Valley. “My orphanage was destroyed in the earthquakes triggered by Mount Drakolt. Del and I were caught up in it all. But we managed to get the children to safety. They’re all okay,” Though safe in Sol City in all its turbulence was relative, “And Del and I have been… making it through things side by side.”
He did not mention the fact that they’d even gone undercover as a married couple aboard a ship, though his cheeks were stained pink as he spoke.
“… And what about you? What of you and Apogee? It’s lovely to put a face to the name.”
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Apr 11, 2023 22:35:57 GMT -5
"I am sorry you were caught up in it, Charon is a small world though...I might have been there that same day....or the unfortunate thought is Darkveil was hit twice...We were there when some shaking rocked the city, there was a...metallic person there. I am not sure what to call them, they weren't made of flesh and blood it seemed, but helpful nonetheless."
He lets out a little breath as he sets down the last bit of crates for this run at least. The knight takes a moment to stretch his shoulders and back. "Apogee is well, as are we both, though it would be nice if we could meet the friends I've made adventuring under more kind circumstances it would be appreciated...Though I imagine in the days to come peace and rest will be hard to find."
A hand rakes through straw-blonde hair to push it aside as he looks over to the keep in the center of the city. Who really knew what was coming ahead for this world? There were certainly good people like Cyran, Del, Astrid, people he knew would help protect people, but how many would still be lost? It was hard not to lose sleep thinking about some nights.
"Sorry, I do not mean to burden you with those thoughts....Were you there in the Arid Mesa? Whatever is happening now seems to be a result of those ripples, but I was not there. Getting a handle on the sudden sweeping changes is hard.....do you believe what this Scern said? The gods truly dead and all."
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 12, 2023 12:49:12 GMT -5
Cyran straightened, eyebrows raising. “You were in Darkveil the day of the quake?” His shoulders slumped. “You are lucky to have made it out unharmed. That day… it was pandemonium.” He thought he recognized the description of the person Leandros was describing. It had been a while, but it reminded him of the metallic construct he’d once encountered so long ago during the hunt for the Sol Stone. Socket. It had been some time since he’d seen them, but he was glad to hear they were doing well.
“Well. If you arrange a dinner, I’m sure Del and I would both be more than happy to attend.” He wasn’t sure he could handle a large gathering, but he did hope to meet Leandros, and by extension, Apogee, under more pleasant circumstances as well.
Speaking of the Sol Stone, though…
The mention of the Arid Mesa left a sour taste in Cyran’s mouth. His memory of those events were… hazy. Though he remembered the important parts. The fight with Ziev, Scern’s confession. Hell, it was all overwhelming to process, and he’d been there. He couldn’t imagine the fear and confusion of everyone who’d heard of the events second-hand.
“… I was there at the Arid Mesa.” He confirmed.
“It was a harrowing experience. I know it is impossible to believe, but…” He tapped at his cheek on the right side of his face, where his insight rune lay. “I’m quite good at discerning truth from lies. Everything Scern said, he believed wholeheartedly. Whether those are the ramblings of a madman or the real, genuine truth, I suppose that’s up for the people to decide. But I believe him. The evidence is too great to ignore. And since then, the world has only begun to fracture at the seams. If the gods were alive, would they not step in to intervene against Ziev’s meddling?”
Then again, he’d never put much stock into the gods before he learned the truth, anyways.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Apr 13, 2023 19:49:11 GMT -5
"With how often you two travel it might just be easier for you to just drop by some night." He gives a soft laugh before Cyran's expression and tone turns a bit more serious.
Leandros gives the man his time to speak, listening to each word with a quiet intensity. As he finishes, they are called over to cover more supplies. It was a touch unwelcome, but also a chance to let the elf release the tension for a moment. The knight would wait until they were walking in relatively privacy before he spoke again.
"Impossible is almost an impossibility at this point.....He may have believed it, but the funny thing about truth is it is unfortunately malleable at time....My grandfather used to tell me that with every problem there are two sides to the story and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle...Still." He sets a crate down with a sigh.
"We would hope so...but in times like these I feel better in placing my faith in the men and women of Charon...with what is going on right now, faith like that might be the only thing people have. Dead or not, people are resilient so long as they have some hope to hold on to...faith that they will survive this...whatever it is." Leandros looks over his shoulder to the people in line for food and healing. The tired mass of people just trying to survive.
"They need to see people like you and Del, people they can see themselves in. It's easy for me to be out here." He gives a soft laugh. "I am supposed to be here helping, The duty of those above is to help those below. What I do is the bare minimum."
Leandros pauses a moment before a little embarassed smile creeps at the corners of his lips, "Sorry, I doubt you came here to be proselytized too Cyran."
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 14, 2023 18:23:53 GMT -5
Cyran nodded along silently to Leandros’s words. There was no doubting he was a passionate man. Firm in his convictions.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong.” Cyran shook his head. “I am in no way a man of faith.” Why bother putting your wishes in an uncaring deity who could not comprehend mortal struggles, who abandoned their people in times of need? Those in power were meant to help those in need, and yet, time and time again everyone was let down.
Better not to bother with it all in the first place.
But there were people who needed that pillar to lean on. Believing in the gods was what gave people hope, and far be it from him to take that away from them. But then again…
He hated looking around this place, where people waited for rations and healing - disillusioned, beat down, still praying to the gods for a miracle when the real help was being done by people, not unseen, uncaring faces in the sky. The thought gave him a headache. This was why he preferred to stick to himself.
But those people needed help.
Help he could give.
Cyran would give everything he could to the people who had been harmed in all of these pointless divine struggles.
“There’s no need to apologize.” Cyran replied kindly. “I’ve been around a long time… and during those centuries, I’ve seen all kinds of people. But I think you’re the first noble I’ve ever met who actually gives a damn about his people. And that in itself is priceless.”
He nodded over towards the other people in line, all waiting for food.
“Whatever the future holds for Sol City, they will be lucky to have a pillar like you to support them.”
He bent down to pick up one of the last boxes.
“And right now, the bare minimum - bringing them sandwiches - that is more than enough.”
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Apr 15, 2023 10:04:05 GMT -5
"It may strike you as odd, but the gods hold little sway over the Aurthurian family as well....It may be why we are only a minor noble house, but we are a long line of people resistent to being told how to act." He laughs gently. "Our family teaches that it really doesn't matter from whom you descend or claim to if that man is to be believed, we are all the same basic people with the same basic needs. These people need to feed their families just as much as I do...so if I can use my station to help people, then I have to...When gods and kings fail, man must stand for themselves."
Leandros sets down the last crate of his supply run and once more stretches his arms, looking over the people still queued up for food even as the sun is beginning to set. This was going to be a long night it seemed, yet somehow that filled the knight with more vigor to get this done.
"What I fear is whatever is causing these quakes, the fissures across Charon, something is stirring and soon each country will need more than simple sandwiches to heal. I would say to get somewhere safe, but I don't know if there is a safe place in the world right now."
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 15, 2023 20:42:18 GMT -5
Cyran was a little surprised to learn that the Arthurian family was not particularly devout, either. It made sense, given the way he held himself and the beliefs he spoke of. He’d met other noble families who were not particularly religious, of course. But it was not common in Sol City. “Well.” He gave Leandros a reassuring nod. “It is no coincidence that the Arthurian family and its members are the only ones that I feel safe putting my trust in, either.”
Truly, he found Leandros’s ideas admirable. Perhaps one might consider them idealistic given the reality of the world, but… when he listened to Leandros speak with such conviction, he couldn’t help but believe that the young man could make that happen. As Cyran had told him before, he could sense when people were lying - and every single word Leandros had spoken was the complete and utter truth.
There was still a great number of people waiting to be fed - the time for small talk had come to an end in the face of the task in front of them. Cyran rolled up his sleeves, getting ready to throw himself into the work. His own problems didn’t matter at the moment. Not when he could make a difference here, at least.
He nodded at Leandros. “The same goes to you. There may not be anywhere safe in the world, but… all we can do is protect our loved ones until that is no longer possible.” He gave Leandros a sad smile.
“I wish you luck, my friend.”
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