Agarest: Broken Peace

[Chaosbahamut123]

Lykala's heart leapt a little when he heard Skadi. He waved, grinned. "Lord Gilgamesh was most displeased with my offer. Not entirely sure that the man's good at business, to be honest. Whatever he does, I don't think customer satisfaction is his top priority."
He remembered, regretfully, that Jason was still around. "You two know each other already, right?" a redundant question; he had seen their fight. "Good. Let's get moving. I want to make Preuron as soon as possible."

[GamerKale]

"Heheh, you'd be surprised. He's actually very good at it. Fortunately for me, matters concerning me throw him off his game. It should be noted however, that he's turned his never ending search for me into an expansion campaign for his merchant empire. That's the only reason his father hasn't pulled the plug on it already." She grasped the hammer strongly, "Oh, and I shouldn't need to tell you this, but for the benefit of our new companion," She glanced back at Jason, "if you tell Gilgamesh I said anything positive about him I will kill you. There does not need to be any more fuel added to that fire." She went back to simply resting her hands on the sledge. "By the way, Ribs, what is your name? You never told me, I suppose that's just to be expected of a bum who sleeps in the middle of the street." She punched him 'lightly' in the arm.

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

“He smacked me across the face, next time I see him we’re fighting.” Jason sighed and took the punch, “My name is… Jason Lycurgus Compson the Third. Moreover, I never told you my name because you ran out of the fight. However, if I saw a gold-clad jerk I would probably leave too. And I’m not really a bum; I just didn’t want to disturb any one in town, minus Lykala over here.” He pointed to Lykala with his thumb. “Seems as though I’m destined to follow him around. First at Gridamas, and then after fighting you, something is leading me his way. By the way, you are not a bad fighter at all! We should fight again sometime.” Jason smiled and reached into his bag for another orange, “Want an orange?”

[GamerKale]

"Sure." She snatched the orange, tossed it up once, and slid her sledge back into her belt behind her. "You shouldn't sleep in the middle of the road anymore, next time you might piss off someone who isn't as kind and understanding as myself." She began peeling the orange, "Oh, and if you want to actually hurt Gilgamesh you'll need more than your fists. That armor's top notch and he's more than merely a capable fighter. He's a good shot and he uses an enchanted rapier of unparalleled quality making all but the best armor little more than weights to slow you down, what's more despite the heavy armor he can move about nearly as good as Lykala here, on top of that he's also a powerful mage, and last but certainly not least he might summon his pet larva to fight. She's stronger than I am, faster than Lykala, and she can send out extremely powerful waves of destructive force. And lest we forget, he's not above having his men help him, and they're not bad shots either. Any one of those things is as hard to fight as cold iron is to mold, and he has them all."

[Chaosbahamut123]

Lykala groaned. "You really know how to pick them, don't you? Well, anyway, let's move. If we can get to Preuron, maybe we'll be able to find a guide to the Cave of Origins. I don't know about you, but I'm not familiar with that part of the continent," he laughed hollowly, more at himself than anyone else; he had travelled a large part of Lucrellia just to get to Gridamas, but the Cave of Origins was a name he had only heard just the once, from Aislin. How was he - how were they - expected to find it on their own? He was beginning to wish Aislin had come along.

[GamerKale]

"Hey, I didn't ask for a stalker. It just sort of happened. And I've only been this way once a couple of years ago, but I didn't pay too much attention to the area so I can't be of much help." She shrugged. "What about you Jason Lycurgus Compson the Third?" She shook her jaw, "Wow that's a mouthful. Also, did you have someone take care of your ribs? Or did I just not hit you as hard as I thought I had?" She raised an eyebrow, concerned that she might be losing her touch.

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Jason cracked his knuckles, “I’ll beat him even with his best armor, his strongest spells his Larva, and whatever else he’s got up his sleeve if I train hard enough.” Jason rolled his shoulder and smiled, at least Skadi was nicer than Likelala, “You can just call me Jason you know, and that’s not even my full name, I’ve got a Richmond in there too!” He laughed a little to himself, but then realized she asked about his injury. This was his chance to say that she was not as strong as she was and that he had actually done better in the battle. “That girl Gil-uh… the big guy was with, I think she healed me up, I can’t be sure though, she was really weird and vague, you know?” He stretched his arms out and sighed, “Hey! Likelala, do you at least have a map? If so I think I could read it.”

Edit: I forgot my middle name! D=

[GamerKale]

Skadi cocked an eyebrow, "Really? I didn't know he kept any magic users in his group asides from himself and his larva. I'll need to look out for her. What did she look like?" She popped the last piece of fruit in her mouth and tossed the peel on the side of the road. She pulled her sledge back out, gauging it's weight and finding it's balance. "Needs a little shaved off." She said to herself as she thumbed the base.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Lykala glanced across to Jason, with a brief shrug. "I know the way to Preuron. We can secure a map there. And it's Lykala." he replied, slighlty cooler than before. It had taken a while, but the tangling web of anger at the youth was beginning to unravel. Some of it still clung to him, though, and he was sure that if he did even the slightest thing to agitate him, the threads would drag his tongue and fists into a frenzy. He sighed, longing for some peaceful company.

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Jason sighed as he though of the woman, “She had blond hair, and I think she was a Dark Elf as well. She looked fairly similar to you, though she didn’t have scars, and as I already said, she was blond.” Jason pondered for a moment more, “She seemed a lot friendlier too! But I guess that goes without saying.” “I know the way to Preuron. We can secure a map there. And it's Lykala.” Lykala had said immediately after Jason had finished describing Angela, “Ly-ka-la your name its Lykala, right? I am sorry, I am not very good with names, do you have a nickname that is easier to remember by any chance? Regardless, where are we going, maybe I know the way already? Where I lack in names, I've made up in Geography, or at least I'd like to think so...” Jason scratched his head drawing out his own map of Agarest in his head.

[GamerKale]

Skadi dropped the sledgehammer, it landed on her foot, but the pain either wasn't felt or it was overwhelmed by her sheer laughter. Skadi howled loudly, a tear coming to her eye from the laughter. "Ahahaha, oh her. You have good taste. She's a lovely woman, to be sure, and I dare say she did cast a spell on you, but she has no magic in the sense that Lykala does." She stamped on the ground and immediately regretted it hopping on one foot, "Angela's a concubine, and she's very good at her craft. It's unlikely that you're feeling any pain, but I assure you, the wounds are still there. That said, Angela's about as close a friend as I've ever had. Those occasions where Gilgamesh is in town, but away on business, I often spend time with her. If you manage to get Gilgamesh to let her go, assuming she wants to leave at that point in time, I'm sure the two of you could get together. But last I checked she's quite happy where she is. A life as luxurious as the one Gilgamesh offers to those women who please him is hard to compete with. And only the foolish, or those in love, decline his offer." She picked up her sledge and began walking awkwardly, to avoid causing unnecessary pain to her injured foot.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Lykala shook his head. "Even if you did, let's think realistically - we don't have the supplies to get all the way to wherever the Cave of Origins is. We'll need to stop at Preuron regardless, so if we can get transport as well as food and tents, some better equipment, or even some general direction, we'll be better off than just walking all the way to this place,"
He had come to a stop now, turned to face Jason. He sighed, closed icy eyes to the world and focussed on calming himself down. This guy had a knack for getting on his nerves. "And only my sister had a nickname for me."

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Jason’s cheeks turned red as Skadi teased him, “Oh shut up! I didn’t mean it like that!” He turned his face away trying to hide his embarrassment. Jason remained silent for a while, and then suddenly asked, “Wait, did you say she was a concubine? What is that? Does that mean my ribs are still broken and my face is still cut up?” Jason was calm again, and then he thought hard for a moment or two, “So… Which are you? Are you a fool, or are you in love?” He grinned hoping he would at least throw her off for a second. “Do you need a hand? I’d be glad to help.” Jason turned to offer Skadi assistance, and when their eyes met, Lykala's eyes seemed icy and cruel "And only my sister had a nickname for me." “Yeah yeah, I apologize, but listen; I think we should slow down. Skadi dropped her hammer-gavel-mallet on her foot.”

[GamerKale]

"I'll be fine." She picked her hammer back up and cringed as she began walking normally. "If you don't know what a concubine is then I see no reason to tell you, just yet. As far as Gilgamesh is concerned, I know full well how easy of a life it would be to be married to Gilgamesh, but I love adventure and combat. And yes, you're still very much injured, she just made you ignore the pain by causing an overload of other sensations. So what did you mean 'it' like?"

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Jason’s cheeks grew red with embarrassment, “I just meant to say that Angela seemed to be a friendlier, kinder person than you, who also share her appearance. That is all I meant to say so let’s leave it at that.” Jason removed one of his gloves and felt his cheek, then his ribs. He felt gently and indeed could sense his ribs were still broken. “Angela… That stupid little monster of a deceitful woman, should I have ever placed trust in her? Some fool I am.” Jason cursed her name, knowing now that she had fooled him. “Is there any magic that is real in this world?” Jason said inaudibly, more to himself than to any other.

[GamerKale]

Without warning Skadi swung the sledge into Jason's other ribs with brutal force. "Not four seconds ago you had nothing but praise for her, and now you curse her? What did she do to deserve those scalding remarks?" She held the sledgehammer threateningly. She would not stand for such lies being spread about her closest friend.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Lykala groaned, hung his head. "How did I get stuck with you two?" he mumbled to himself, before yelling in a much louder, sharper tone, "Children, please! Stop bickering. You're doing yourself no favours hanging around with Gilgamesh still looking for you, Skadi. And Jason... Just think before you speak and listen to what people have to say. Jeez..."
He'd had enough, and his feet were rough on the ground when he started walking again, taking up a rapid pace in no general direction. He took out the small, tattered map that had guided him to Gridamas and examined it. They were quite far from the road, and that settlement they'd just passed was off the beaten track. They needed to get back as soon as possible, in order to make any real headway. He turned due east and made a beeline for the trading route between Gridamas and Preuron.

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

The strike tossed Jason off balance, sending him spiraling towards the ground. “What the hell is your problem? I never gave her praise! I just assumed she was friendlier than you, and with that last hit that stands strong!” Because of the spin, Jason’s injury was not very severe; however, he began to feel the pain of his broken ribs. Luckily, Lykala had stopped the two before they had started another brawl. “I didn’t say anything wrong! I was tricked by the concubine creature, and I’m quite pissed.” He stood up and began limping; it was getting harder to breathe again. “Are you sure we aren’t lost Lykala?” Although Angela had told Jason to follow Lykala, he sensed something from Lykala that led him to believe Lykala was someone he could have faith in, regardless if he could or could not believe Angela.

[GamerKale]

She glared at Lykala briefly, but sighed and slipped the sledge back into her belt. "Saying someone is friendly is generally a form of praise. And she's many things but dishonest is not one of them. If you feel that you were tricked you must have misunderstood her." She kicked a rock off the road, settling to vent her anger and frustration on inanimate objects. If Lykala weren't here I'd really knock his block off. Calling Angela a trickster like that! She doesn't even not tell Gilgamesh whenever I visit her.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Spinning on his heel and beginning to walk backwards, he shot a cold glare at Jason. "Yes, I know the way to Preuron, thank you very much. I did travel from there to get to Gridamas, y'know.
The trees bristled with his frustration, but eventually they gave way to something all together more sinister. Lykala was beset by a cold grip on his heart, vice-like, doubtful, fearful. He hesitated to turn around, but saw nothing. Warily, he continued walking towards the source. Nothing. He peered around the closest tree, but only air greeted his eyes. "Hey, Skadi. Shall we keep moving?" he asked, nerves forced down his throat.