originally posted in:The New Dojo
“I am conflicted.” Spoke Cain as he stood alone with his sister on the ship. The two had found a section of the ship where they could speak in private. “I am beginning to think that Cleric lied to me, or at least...I want him to be lying. I know it is war, but what the tribune did to King Armillion and his family...it’s cowardly. Dishonourable. They stuck to be shadows rather then fight travye in open combat.”
Lilly would look at her brother with understanding blue eyes. She knew that this form of conflict was new for him. Back in the days of the coldbourne empire, all Cain had to do was follow orders. He never questioned them. But now...he was troubled. He didn’t deserve this at all. But that was his life as a great warrior. She just knew she had to be there for him.
“Cain...we’ll figure it out. I promise.” She affirmed. “We’ll figure out the tribune. See what they do and how they tick. I was hoping a peaceful solution could have been sought out but...that seems to be nearly gone after their attack.” Lilly told her brother. “We’ll be fighting for the right people in the end, I promise.”
Cain looked to his sister, a small smile dawning his pale face.
“Thanks...Lilly.”
The two would look around, before Lilly eyed the captain. She had picked up a map of Tatakai, but she was unfamiliar of where they were going or how this alternate world was shaped. She was hoping the captain could help. Without further adieu she approached him, leaving her brother to look at the waves.
“E-excuse me, sir.” Lilly greeted the captain.
English
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[i]The captain of the ship was an adorned man, and according to Armillion, was one of the the most prized ship captains that was aligned to the Trayven cause. His light green eyes would meet Lilly's then, his attention going to her small figure.[/i] "Yes, m'lady?"
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Lilly gave a meek smile before she began to unravel the map. “Well...I was just wondering where we were going. And maybe if you could help me and my brother out get some bearings of our locations before we actually get there...could you help us?”
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"I could try, even though.. Armillion's paranoid, about spies in Trayve's nobility. He gave me few details - "transport Coldbournes and invading force to the peninsula of Réth, ensure Coldbourne safety and contact with Trayven spies" - that's all he said. Réth is enemy territory, though. It's a small country, but it's cold there. You'll need a jacket." [i]The captain sighed, shaking his head.[/i] "Sorry, this entire mission.. I don't think it'll end well on our end. An attack, when we've still got boys in Rivelria fighting.."
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“I’m sorry...a lot of what you are saying is kind of going over my h-head.” Lilly would admit to the captain. “I’m not really sure about what else is going on in the world...all I know is the task the king gave my brother and I. So...you know nothing about the enemy territory then? Maybe you travelled it some time ago?”
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"The place has changed.. all I know is our location where we'll be docking. Someone's supposed to meet you whenever we arrive, m'lady." [i]A short, simple, and awfully confused response from a captain. Perhaps the king was paranoid, with his son's disappearance.[/i]
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“Ah....I understand.” Lilly would tell him. “Thanks for the help, sorry for troubling you.” Lilly would then return to Cain. If the captain knew nothing then likely the rest of the crew knew nothing as well. The two would wait until they docked, watching the waves and the sky as they did.
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[i][u]Hours later..[/u][/i] [i]Their location wasn't necessarily a fun place.[/i] [i]The peninsula that the ship, accompanied by eight other ships carrying soldiers, would be blanketed in a wave of thick, ashy grey fog. The few trees that lined the beach and cliffs stood high and tall, while scouts tried to make out any signs of the enemy amongst the smoky fog. So far, there appeared to be nothing.. so far, anyway.[/i]
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“This fog...it’s perfect for an ambush.” Cain commented to his sister. “Ya...g-geez if it is we may as well call off the covert mission already. They’ll already know we’re here and-“ “We need a disguise...” Cain suddenly said. “Huh?” “Yes. We can’t look like ourselves when we enter their ranks. Are you able to do something to help us with that, Lilly?” “Uh...m-maybe? I’m not sure. I guess if I had some thin layers of clay and paint or something I could put something together...”
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[i]The two wouldn't have much that would actively assist them in infiltrations.. yet. As the ships waited in the gulf for scouts to return from their short patrols of the foggy area. Soon enough, the ships would find themselves upon the beach.[/i] [i]The place was.. lush, to say the least. Trayven scouts were set out already in order to scan the perimeter and to counter a potential assault. As Lilly and Cain departed the ship, a random trooper would bump into Cain.[/i] "Oh.. sorry." [i]The man apologized, slipping his hand into Cain's pocket quickly and dropping off a tattered piece of parchment, before scampering off.[/i]
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Cain felt the parchment for a moment, before twirling around Lilly, who was looking around. Cain pretended to be taking in the scenery as he slipped the note to Lilly, who proceeded to open it towards Cain, who covered for her. She began to read...
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[i]The note was intentionally kept short, or at least written rather quickly:[/i] [u]Meet me by the perimeter of the forest. Don't be frightened by the fog.[/u] [i]When the two would arrive, they found a young man leaning against the trunk of a large, looming tree. He was shaven bald, with a sharp, intelligent face, and a sternness replacing what could be seen as joy upon that face.[/i] "Two Coldbournes, right?"
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“Coldbournes? Who are they?” Lilly would reply with. There was a thick coat of joking to what Lilly said, but at the same time it would help her recover if this man actually wasn’t from travye. [i]”Jeez...I’m more paranoid than I thought...”[/i] she thought to herself.
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"Some weird little family. Their daddy.. power-hungry git. Oh, the family though.. one a true daddy's boy, the other a dumb whоre, and one with hopes of making the world a better place. Those four are dead. And surviving them.. Lady Lilly and Sir Cain. Amazing to meet you both. Letter, please - just checking if I fuсked up on your identity's." [i]Well.. he seemed to be with the Trayvens, though no distinct emblems or uniforms made him stand out. Out from the woods came a scout, a female judging by her form - the one who had slipped the note to Cain.[/i]
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Edited by Inflatablepants: 1/10/2018 10:26:07 PMCain eyed the woman out of precaution as Lilly handed the note to the travyen man. “I think you forgot the psychopath brother, but either one could be mixed up really...” Lilly would comment, criticizing her deceased relatives. Alex and Cain were the only ones she really cared for. The rest meanwhile...well she would have trouble sometimes even imagining she was related to them.
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"Yeah, knew I forgot one.. Yep. That's Lu's handwriting. Lu has met you too, don't worry." [i]"Lu" would remove her hood, as dark tangles of deep black, almost blue, strands of hair fell down to her shoulders, with ocean blue eyes meeting Cain's own gaze.[/i] "She doesn't talk, just can't. But she's a good gal, nonetheless. Edwin. Pleasure to meet both of you, but we've got business."
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“Right.” Lilly said. “No point in hanging around. I’m assuming you have a plan for allowing Cain and I to infiltrate the tribune?”
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"Yep. Y'see, these Tribune guys enjoy their scouts: no scout's moved this far, nor have they moved too far to this place at all. No, their little perimeters usually stop about.. two miles away, nice little field meeting our tree line. Point is - we're hidden for a time. You two could try getting uniforms.. or we could. If you two go, it'll be easier and quicker to get your mission finished. If me and Lu head in, get some appropriate garbs.. it'll take longer, but the longer we take, the better your disguise. You dig it?"
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“It seems pretty sensible to have you two get us disguises.” Lilly would say. “But I’d had to put you both in danger at our expense...”
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"Hey, we're used to danger. Trayve isn't exactly all sunshine and pretty gold palaces.. except it is, on the bad days anyway." [i]Well, Edwin was an odd, foreboding individual already.[/i] "But if you are staying here.. you might want these." [i]He would reach into a satchel before retrieving "Edwin's Top Secret Maps - Guide to Friends (And Enemies Too)".[/i] "Just so I'm not found dead with 'em, if we.. well, fuсk up, to be blunt. That whole map covers this place.. I think. And before you ask.. yes, I've been out here before. Weren't you asking the captain on the ship about that or something?"
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“Yes I-“ Lilly halted her speech and her eyes went wide. “Wait, How could you have known that?!”
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"You catch on, good. You think we're the only spies out here? You've got eyes all around you, princess." [i]Edwin didn't intend for "princess" to sound offensive, as he would scratch the back of his bald head.[/i] "Anyway.. unless you two have more to ask, we should be heading out."
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“Uh...no! I-I think we’re good. Right Cain?” Lilly asked her brother, who nodded in confirmation. Lilly was a little uncertain of there being spies...everywhere...but then again, she was one of those spies, so it should not have really been THAT weird. “Let us get on with it.” Cain put bluntly.
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"Welp, see y'all in a bit. I'd take a look at the maps.. they'll definitely help." [i]Edwin would nod towards the two, as he would pat Lu on the shoulder and nod towards her. The two would then move on, through the thick blankets of forest and trees.[/i] [i]Returning to the small encampment and being lead to their tents, Cain and Lilly had enough time to study the maps.[/i]
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Cain almost immediately committed everything he saw to memory, as his training as a soldier made it so knowing the terrain was critical to a missions success. Lilly meanwhile grazed over it, more interested in the art of it if anything. “So? What’s the news, brother?” Lilly asked Cain, trying to get some insight as the warrior looked over the map again and again.
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[i]The terrain of the land, as described by the map, was spectacularly flat and coated in forests, according to the key in the bottom right corner. The very left of the map - where "TRIBUNE CAMPS" had been labeled - was more hilly, even mountainous though, while those higher steeps were likely hidden by the thick fog of the wilderness. Rivers ran from the mountains to the coast of the land, considerably close to "TRAYVEN CAMPS", allowing for a way to get closer to the Tribune if necessary. To the very north, there was an "OFF LIMITS", accompanied by a bright red "X" in the center. Something of value, maybe?[/i]